Chapter 83
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 83
Colin rested his chin on his hand and began to interpret the prophecy.
Prophecies were, by nature, vague glimpses into the future. Since even the one who performed the divination often didn't know the exact meaning, it was better to interpret it himself rather than leave it to others.
The meaning isn't that difficult. Three meetings and three opportunities. Two failures and one chance. Seize it, and you find a benefactor; miss it, and you meet the Reaper.
Interpreting it literally, it meant Colin had three chances, and he had already blown two of them. If he could seize the final opportunity, great fortune would follow, but if he missed even that, he would die.
The frustrating part was that he had no idea what those "failures" were.
I certainly have failed twice recently. I fled from Bornholm and Krepelt without even getting paid properly. But those were just commissioned jobs; I wasn't targeting anyone in particular.
A benefactor and a Reaper.
Who on earth was this figure in the prophecy who could become either?
If there had been fewer people around, he might have been able to guess. But both Bornholm and Krepelt were places where entire armies had clashed. There was no way to know who had been among the swarming crowds.
"Is the interpretation difficult?"
"No, the interpretation itself is easy. The problem is the word 'meeting.' Can 'meeting' be used as a metaphorical expression?"
At Helen's question, Colin handed the paper back and asked. After a long moment of thought, Helen shook her head.
"It’s usually not a metaphor. If the prophecy said 'meeting,' it likely doesn't mean anything else."
"Good grief. I haven't met anyone twice recently."
"Perhaps the failure lies in the fact that you had the opportunity to meet them but didn't."
"Failing to meet someone I could have met?"
"Oh dear, I've said too much. A prophet is not supposed to interfere further once the prophecy is given."
Helen ended with a vague smile and refused to say another word. Colin wanted more help with the interpretation, but her mouth remained firmly shut.
Sighing, Colin stood up and spoke.
"Well, if the prophet says so, I'll just have to do my best to interpret it on my own."
"That's a good attitude. I truly hope you seize your benefactor, Senior."
Colin left the cave, leaving his fellow disciple's brief well-wishes behind. He didn't bother telling her to be careful. Thanks to her astrology, she was better at looking after herself than anyone else.
What mattered now was the safety of Colin himself, the one the prophecy mentioned the "Reaper" to.
Three meetings, two failures... Dammit, who the hell is this benefactor?
On his way to the hideout, Colin tried over and over to deduce the benefactor's identity. But no matter how much he racked his brain, no one came to mind. Just as his head began to throb from overthinking...
"You're late, charlatan."
"...Sir Palmyr. I believe I asked you to contact me in advance if you were coming."
Colin frowned at the sudden slur. Turning his head, he saw exactly who he expected looking down at him.
"If you use sorcery, shouldn't you be skilled enough to figure that much out? Calling yourself 'The Living Miracle' when you don't even know who's approaching from outside."
"As I've told you many times, magic varies wildly depending on the school. Someone who is good at handling a horse isn't necessarily good at handling a wolf."
"Is that so? It sounds like an excuse to me, but perhaps I'm mistaken."
"I doubt you came here just to mock me. What brings you here?"
Colin cut Palmyr off and asked bluntly. Continuing the conversation would only lead to more insults.
Palmyr clicked his tongue briefly and finally got to the point.
"There is someone I want you to handle. I heard you know how to call down lightning?"
"Are you planning to disguise it as a natural disaster? It's possible, but people will find it suspicious if dark clouds suddenly gather."
"It doesn't matter. I don't intend for you to do it in front of an audience. It just needs to look like a natural disaster."
"If you say so."
Even as he accepted the commission, Colin felt a bitter taste in his mouth. He was supposed to be a mage, a scholar, yet here he was taking another hit job. Though he had no choice if he wanted to survive, self-loathing occasionally weighed heavily on him.
"I'll let you know the specific date and time later. Gather your strength in preparation. If you waste it elsewhere and give me excuses on the day of the operation..."
"That won't happen, so don't worry. However, I would like to know who the target is."
"Lucian Valdek. The third son of Grand Duke Valdek."
"Aha."
The House of Calix is walking a dangerous path.
Colin thought so but didn't add anything else. As a hired hand, the client's risks were none of his business as long as he got paid.
"Then I shall be ready. Let me know when the date is decided."
"Hmph."
Instead of answering, Palmyr snorted and disappeared down the hill from the hideout. Colin spat out a curse at the man's attitude, which remained full of contempt until the very end.
"A man who threw chivalry into the gutter long ago, yet he still clings to his pride."
Clicking his tongue, Colin went inside the hideout and calmly organized his vials. He planned to make a few catalysts to amplify his magic in preparation for the operation.
By the way, Valdek. I seem to get strangely entangled with them often. Like when I went to Bornholm, and when I joined the side at Krepelt. This will be the third...
Clack.
Colin froze as he set down a vial. Goosebumps erupted all over his body at the thought he just had.
The third? Did he say the third?
Three meetings, two failures. Perhaps the failure lies in the fact that you had the opportunity to meet them but didn't?
An inexplicable sense of dread dominated his entire body. He felt that if he ignored this thought, the "Reaper" would truly come for him.
Colin immediately abandoned his vials and headed outside. He needed to find out exactly what kind of person the third son of the House of Valdek was.
As soon as Lucian sent his reply to the House of Calix, he decided to move quickly with his retainers. Since things had come to this, there was no need to give the opponent time to regain their senses. It was best to strike like lightning and finish it before they could even try anything.
"Viscount, won't you come with me? You'll get to see many interesting sights."
"I am truly grateful for your offer, Your Grace, but my territory is unstable, so it is impossible right now. I must hold the center until my second son arrives."
Lucian nodded at Harald's regretful words. Because the eldest son had committed treason, unrest still lingered, and above all, they didn't know what other tricks Calix might pull. Until the second son returned and a proper heir was designated, it would be difficult for Harald to leave the territory.
Left with no choice, Lucian's group left Harald behind and headed for their next destination. It was Vaile, the village that served as the only territory of the House of Grimaldi.
"I've heard stories, but this really is the middle of nowhere."
Lucian let out a hollow laugh as he scanned the village. Despite being a ducal territory, the population was no more than that of a rural hamlet.
"Believe it or not, eight hundred years ago, it was quite prosperous because of two rare metal veins. It gradually declined as the veins were exhausted."
"How long ago was that? Eight hundred years is enough time for a kingdom to fall and be rebuilt twice."
"That's true. In a way, it's a village that should have perished long ago, but it has survived until today because of its historical value."
After finishing his explanation, Raymond's gaze turned toward the Duke's manor. In contrast to the village, the manor was so clean and grand that it felt out of place.
It looks like a desperate struggle to keep from dying.
Was this the last of the North's pride? He had heard that when his maternal grandfather was alive, the lords had chipped in to cover the insufficient maintenance costs. After his passing, the House of Calix had maintained it at great expense just to make use of it.
Perhaps because of that, the exterior of the manor looked perfectly fine to live in right away.
"Halt! State your identity!"
As they approached the half-crumbled inner castle, soldiers blocked Lucian's path. Lucian clicked his tongue when he saw the crest of the House of Calix engraved on their armor.
"Who are you?"
"We are in charge of security here."
"I'm not asking who you are, I'm asking why you're standing guard. I never hired you."
"Excuse me?"
"I am the master of this house."
"...!?"
At Lucian's words, the guards looked at each other. They seemed utterly confused, their minds unable to keep up.
Just then, a knight appeared from inside with the clanking sound of armor.
"I do not know which family's young master you are, but you speak nonsense. This is the private residence of His Grace, Duke Grimaldi. Have you perhaps mistaken this for another house?"
His tone was polite, but his voice was sharp enough to cut. However, Lucian stared at the young knight without blinking.
"No, I've found the right place. I am his grandson."
"...Are you perhaps Lord Lucian? The third son of the House of Valdek?"
"You know me well. I'm truly grateful that you've looked after the place without even being asked. Now, will you step aside?"
"I'm afraid I cannot."
The knight spoke the words of refusal without a moment's hesitation. Or rather, he tried to. But before he could give a reason, someone else appeared in front of him.
It was Glen, who had been dispatched from the Imperial Family as an inspector.
"There is no 'cannot.' We are here for the inheritance proceedings of the late Duke's legacy, so step aside. This is an Imperial order."
"What...!?"
The knight's eyes widened at the mention of an Imperial order. Soon, he looked dismayed after seeing Glen's seal.
Territorialism and local hostility only worked within a closed environment. The moment "rightful procedure" intervened like this, they couldn't play those cards.
"What are you doing? Step back at once. The grandson of the late Duke has come to inherit the title and his legacy. Do you need any more justification than that?"
"But... the House of Calix is the one that has maintained this mansion until now!"
"How truly wonderful of them. To think they would manage it so dearly even though it wasn't their own legacy. I shall surely repay them someday."
"...."
The knight bit his lip but stepped back without saying anything more. If he talked about being a Northerner in front of an inspector, he would only be rebuked for talking nonsense.
Above all, the opponent had said he was here to inherit the "title" of the House of Grimaldi as well. It would be one thing if he just took the legacy and left, but taking the title meant he would become a member of the North.
I can't label him an outsider anymore; no fellow Northerner would agree. Dammit, there's no other way.
The knight gave a subtle nod to an elite soldier standing slightly to the side. Understanding the signal, the soldier slipped away inside.
It was just as Lucian's group crossed the drawbridge and was about to pass through the main gate.
Thud!
Neigh!
"...!"
Suddenly, the main gate closed with a thunderous sound. While they were calming the horses that were startled by the noise, Felicia shouted in anger.
"What is the meaning of this!? You pretend to step aside only to shut the gate!"
"It is a misunderstanding. It seems the gate mechanism has broken. Would you mind waiting a moment until it is fixed?"
It was a ridiculous excuse. There was no way the gate, which had been working fine and was even maintained by the House of Calix, would suddenly break. They were almost certainly pretending it was broken to stall for time.
They must be desperate to use such a transparent excuse. Is there something they need to move before I get inside?
The House of Calix likely wanted to occupy this manor for its symbolic value. Since there were no other competitors, they probably felt safe leaving the items inside as they were. But now that Lucian had suddenly arrived to claim the castle, they were moving in a hurry.
I'm sorry, but I can't let that happen.
Even if the items were nothing more than symbols, everything belonging to Grimaldi's legacy was Lucian's. He had no intention of giving Calix so much as a single dish or a rag for free.
Dismounting, Lucian drew his sword and shouted toward the gate.
"If anyone is behind there, get out of the way. Don't get caught up and hurt."
"You'd best stop. That gate is an Adamantium alloy; it won't be cut. Just give up and wait."
The knight's tone was polite, but it was laced with sarcasm. However, Lucian actually smirked and raised his sword high.
At the same time, he released the maximum amount of mana he could currently use, enhancing his entire body.
Vroooooom!
"What is this...!?"
The knight recoiled in horror. Shock was etched in his wide eyes, as if he were seeing materialized mana for the first time.
Just before the knight could snap out of it and shout something...
KABOOM!
With a violent burst of mana, the sword swung and struck the gate.