Chapter 128
Chapter: 128
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 128
>Chapter Title: Oracle (2)
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[I am the head of Arenza, currently acting as the oracle of Cornsheim.]
Sungjin blinked.
The oracle, whose information he hadn't been able to find no matter how hard he searched, had suddenly appeared.
But if you're the oracle, why mention acting as one?
As if anticipating Sungjin's question, the head immediately added an explanation.
[The oracle is the prophet of the Cornsheim clan. They are the one who chooses the correct future and guides the clan along the path they must follow. Unfortunately, however, our clan has long been without that prophet. Thus, I, who possess a modest ability to grasp causality, am acting in their stead.]
In short, she was the top decision-maker on how much of Arenza's information to disclose.
"So, what happens if you skip the most important part of your introduction?"
At Sungjin's question, she responded with puzzlement.
[What important thing do you mean?]
"What's your name?"
[...Ah!]
The head wore a momentarily caught-off-guard expression before promptly replying.
[In our clan, position is our very identity, so I was momentarily rude. My name is Livga. An urgent message arose suddenly, forcing me to convey it to Your Highness in this manner.]
As she spoke, a faint gray glow flickered intermittently in the head's eyes.
That strange light. It felt strangely familiar.
[Your Highness, there is much I wish to explain, but time is short. His Majesty likely does not favor my interference.]
His father?
[Yes. His Holiness the Holy Emperor desires that Your Highness's path remain in complete uncertainty.]
...Complete uncertainty?
Before Sungjin could ask what that meant, Arenza's head hurried on.
[I have appeared so abruptly to minimize the aftermath of the message I wish to deliver.]
According to the one called the head, it was like this.
She instructed an internal agent to relay the message, that agent channeled it to Bruno the captain, and finally, the captain informed Sungjin—a total of three disclosures.
And the resulting aftermath would be quite unwelcome. This, too, was a side effect of disrupting uncertainty.
"So, what's this important message you're delivering with such caution?"
[Yes, Your Highness. It is this: before visiting the Scarcafino estate, please meet the saintess first.]
"The saintess? You mean Sisley?"
[.......]
But there was no further response.
With those words, the head bowed as if in greeting, staggered slightly for a moment, then raised her head again. By then, her eyes had already returned to their original deep green.
Sungjin asked skeptically.
"...Captain?"
"Yes, it is I, Your Highness."
Bruno the captain furrowed his brow and rubbed his temple.
"It seems difficult to maintain this state with my abilities. Having someone overlay themselves on my body isn't exactly pleasant."
He rubbed his eyelids for a while, as if the headache was severe, then added.
"Hmm, Arenza's head apologizes for not properly greeting you before departing. And she asks that you not forget the message."
Meet the saintess before facing Scarcafino.
"Why such a sudden message?"
"Well. Perhaps a prediction from Arenza suddenly shifted."
Bruno the captain straightened his slightly disheveled attire and continued.
"My guess is that it's because Your Highness just now decided to meet Young Lord Scarcafino in person."
"...What?"
Just for that?
[When Your Highness intends to do something, it comes to pass... or so they say. I don't know the exact meaning.]
Wow, that's some detailed prediction. Was Young Lord Scarcafino that important a friend?
If so, they could've given a hint earlier to meet him!
"By the way, Captain, the saintess the head mentioned earlier..."
Sungjin started to ask more but promptly closed his mouth. Bruno the captain had silently raised a finger to his lips and given him a look.
"Please, Your Highness. Understand that this entire process was to minimize the aftermath of the message."
......
Man, they're picky.
The deliberate use of [saintess] instead of Sisley—was it to avoid specifying a particular person, or...?
'No way, is she referring to that suspicious woman?'
But if it really meant Seriseo, how was he supposed to arrange a meeting tomorrow? She'd already been grandly installed as saintess, making it awkward to just summon her at will.
Moreover, he strangely didn't feel like meeting her anyway.
[Why? Something bothering you?]
The Demon King, who had been silent until now, suddenly chimed in.
'Yeah, I just feel extremely reluctant and annoyed about it?'
[Is that so.......]
The Demon King seemed to ponder something, then cautiously suggested.
[Hmm... My thought is, if Arenza hadn't told you, you wouldn't have known, right? How about just doing nothing and seeing what happens?]
'...Huh?'
[I'm not exactly an expert in that field, but things involving causality are usually hard to judge at a glance. That one probably thought there'd be no major issue and advised you accordingly, but don't you think your father insists on uncertainty for good reason?]
......
[As you know, he's the type who toys with causality right on the edge. Who else could judge it more skillfully? If your father says not to do it, then don't. Whatever happens will happen regardless.]
Hmm, the Demon King's words actually sounded pretty convincing.
Sungjin glanced at Bruno the captain, who was still grimacing and clutching his head, and steeled his resolve.
He felt a bit sorry for the captain, who'd been forced into this shaman-like role out of nowhere.
'Alright, let's just ignore it!'
With that decision, his mind felt so much lighter.
'Oh! That reminds me of something.'
[What?]
So, Arenza's head judged that relaying that message wouldn't cause major issues with causality, right?
Doesn't that essentially mean that even if she'd told him, he wouldn't have listened properly anyway?
[Oh? You're right.]
Whether oracle proxy or whatever, she was a skilled prophet in her own right.
* * *
"Is that so? Milo's trading company and the gray plague—now that's an unexpected combination."
That evening.
Dasha, who had visited the Pearl Palace, tilted her head after hearing the new information from Sungjin.
"I never imagined they were involved with the gray plague. Milo's is a foreign trading company primarily distributing liquor to Asine and Rohan. Aside from supplying wine to some taverns, they don't operate very actively in Delcross."
"Since it's a foreign-based company, maybe remnants of the dark church fled outside Delcross and hid there?"
"That could be."
Dasha nodded and said.
"Anyway, let's track Milo's movements. We'll focus on connections to the dark church, gather intel as quickly as possible, and report back."
Sungjin nodded in satisfaction.
She was always so capable, no matter when he saw her.
"Oh, and if the info on those two people from Arenza checks out, just monitor them for now—don't touch them rashly."
Dasha asked curiously.
"Aren't they leads to the dark church we finally found? Shouldn't we grab them and extract information?"
"Well, I don't think they have info that valuable. If we pull them out carelessly and alert Milo's, it'll make future investigations harder."
The fact that they were sloppily detained at the trading company might prove they were low-level grunts who knew nothing. The whereabouts of key inquisitors and priests among the missing were still unknown.
If there were signs of the company trying to silence them by killing them, he could extract them then—it wouldn't be too late.
"That's a valid point. I'll handle it that way."
Dasha replied crisply.
Even with all these investigations piling up lately, she didn't seem strained. He'd asked for so many favors that he couldn't even bring up the heretical group probe.
But with few people he could command, Sungjin had no choice but to rely heavily on Dasha.
Meanwhile, everything he personally handled kept going awry.
He'd gone to the judiciary for an investigation and found the plague; sought the heresy tribunal and a gate opened. The woman he'd tracked down about Dileria ended up becoming saintess out of nowhere.
"Sigh, why does everything I do turn out like this..."
"Pardon?"
"Oh, nothing. By the way, how's Mother been lately?"
Elizabeth Consort hadn't visited the Pearl Palace at all recently. Since he'd tasked Dasha with investigating her, he got occasional updates that way.
The consort, who usually spent much time on social activities, was apparently quite busy these days receiving dignitaries from Asine.
"Any particular places she's sponsoring?"
"Everyone knows the Consort loves ballet performances. Besides the Chatlet Theater she's patronized for years, she's recently long-term rented the Orange Little Theater to invite Brittany's famous ballet troupes in rotation."
"Hmm..."
So it wasn't the consort sponsoring the heretical group under Mores's name?
At any rate, she seemed to be doing better than he'd thought.
"That's a relief, then."
He'd been subtly worried she might be ill somewhere, since she hadn't shown up.
Dasha then asked curiously.
"In that case, couldn't you just send a servant to Ruby Palace with a message? Doesn't Your Highness visit Ruby Palace in person to pay respects?"
...Huh? Come to think of it?
Sungjin blinked.
'Why haven't I ever thought of going to see the consort myself?'
Even with the Holy Emperor, whom he hadn't seen often lately.
With the birthday celebration approaching, it had been a while since their regular audience, but Sungjin would drop by the main palace now and then to share news and check on him in person.
'Have I been too neglectful of the consort all this time!'
Sungjin reflected deeply.
He wasn't in a position to call Mores unfilial. Sure, there were suspicious aspects, but she still treated him with affection, believing him to be her son.
"Right, go directly to Ruby Palace..."
As Sungjin unconsciously pulled a sulky face, the Demon King asked.
[What now? Something bothering you?]
But, what to do?
He did feel guilty, but he still really didn't want to and it seemed like such a hassle?
[...Is that so.......]
The Demon King seemed to mull it over, then spoke cautiously.
[Then don't go? She's super busy anyway and can't pay attention here, right? You'd just be a nuisance if you showed up.]
'...Yeah, probably.'
Right. He didn't know the consort deeply, but she had a subtly obsessive personality.
From the updates, she seemed to pack her days tightly. If he showed up out of nowhere and messed up her schedule, what then?
'I'll see her at the birthday celebration anyway.'
Sungjin convinced himself.
That thought lightened his mind again.
* * *
Whatever happens will happen regardless.
The Demon King had said that yesterday, but Sungjin had dismissed it as a convenient excuse.
However, the next morning, after finishing training and entering the palace, unexpected visitors were waiting for him.
"Hello? Oppa. If it's alright, could we talk for a bit?"
......
Dressed in white priestly robes, Sisley greeted him with a face as expressionless as a carved doll. Just like last time, she clutched a small book-like item preciously.
And standing behind her was.
"Hiss!"
The saintess, Seriseo, glaring at him warily like a bristling cat.