22. Why!? Why the Hell!!?!??!!?
22. Why!? Why the Hell!!?!??!!?
Anyway, I'd ended up having a consultation with the fortune-teller lady I'd run into by chance.
Normally, meeting a fortune-teller on the street would set off alarm bells, but I already knew she was nothing like those shady types.
The first time we met, she'd already seen straight through my personal history and past actions, even though we'd never met.
"...Mr. Woo Hyosung."
Right, this was my chance to learn her true nature—something I hadn't grasped during all that earlier commotion.
Realizing that, I faced her seriously. She quietly began writing on a slip of paper placed in front of the crystal ball.
"First, before I read the future I've seen for you, I'd like to ask a few questions about the events leading up to your arrival here."
"Ah, sure. Go ahead."
"Do you know the name Tachia Piloi?"
A name I recognized.
And a name she had no business knowing.
"Yes, I just met with her a short while ago."
"The light armor and weapon you're wearing—she crafted those, didn't she?"
"Yes, that's right. Especially the weapon I'm carrying on my back..."
"An Ego Weapon made of mithril."
Before my answer could even finish, she spoke up. As she did, she flipped over the paper and revealed its contents to me.
Written inside were the exact words she had just spoken.
"That is what you were about to say, wasn't it?"
"...Yes, precisely."
A feat impossible unless you were thoroughly acquainted with someone's past.
You could see it as a kind of performance to prove her abilities as a fortune-teller.
But even though she'd demonstrated her power, the look on her face as she regarded me was far from approving.
"It may be unpleasant to hear, but since your conduct seems precarious, I will venture to give a word of advice..."
Soon, she was staring at me with half-lidded eyes, parting her lips to deliver a grave voice.
"Regarding remarks like the one you just made, I believe it's wise to exercise caution in your answers, even if the other party speaks the truth."
"...Excuse me?"
"It's a harsh world. When you never know what might happen or where, if people learn your weapon holds considerable value, the malice of many will surely aim for you."
Was her solemn advice something she'd seen in my future?
No, it was closer to a warning about behavior with an obvious outcome, even without precognition. After all, in this world, it was stranger if nothing strange happened.
"Ah, you don't need to worry about that. I'm cautious about that sort of thing myself..."
I was aware my earlier actions had been problematic, but even so, I didn't think I'd done anything truly terrible.
Because, well, I believed the person sitting in front of me wouldn't do such a thing.
"More than anything, I can say this because... I like you, Ms. Airi."
"...Excuse me?"
"Oh, uh. By 'like,' I don't mean it that way. More like... my first impression of you wasn't bad at all?"
Leaving her face aside, her speech is mature, her aura mystical.
That atmosphere could easily seem suspicious, but at the same time, she's got a human side that makes mistakes in front of others. So in this harsh world, isn't she the kind of person you could feel a little more at ease around?
"On top of that, judging by how you're giving me advice like this, you seem like an incredibly kind person..."
"......"
Airi silently lowered her head at my words.
Was that because she found my assessment of her unpleasant? Or because she was embarrassed, taking it as a compliment?
"...Even though you're going to do terrible things to me."
"Sorry? What did you just..."
"I said we'll begin shortly."
Ahem, with a clearing of her throat, Airi glossed over her earlier muttering.
What she said earlier bothered me, but when she put on that serious expression, I ended up letting it go.
"Then, let us now confirm your future."
-Wooong.
A sweeping hand gesture before the crystal ball.
Along with the vibration that arose, the radiance seeping from the crystal ball began to illuminate the surroundings.
The same phenomenon I'd witnessed last time.
But this time, no sound was openly audible.
Had she blocked the noise on her end?
"...Mr. Woo Hyosung."
Just as I was thinking that, the woman watching the crystal ball spoke to me in a solemn voice.
"Following this, you planned to head to the Adventurer's Guild and complete the formal adventurer registration process there, correct?"
"Yes, that's what I would have done."
Because saving up money until now and getting my equipment today—it was all to become an adventurer.
That sense of purpose had only grown stronger after I realized I wasn't even free to stand beside the woman I cared for.
"After registration, you would have headed to the bulletin board to look for job postings, and there you would have chosen the request you deemed most suitable. A mission that guaranteed the most stability, appropriate pay, and opportunity for your inexperienced self."
Right, whatever it took, I needed power first.
To build strength, I figured I had to go on adventures, gain experience, and pursue wealth and fame...
"Without knowing that such a choice would drive you to your death."
But what came out of her mouth was about the futile and miserable end awaiting me as I dreamed that dream.
Making my hopes for a brilliant future on the path I'd boldly chosen seem utterly pathetic.
"...Do you find it hard to believe?"
"No, I believe you."
Right, because it was a far too realistic outcome.
All this time working as a porter, I'd seen countless adventurers die without ever achieving their dreams and goals.
In a world where even the Heroes are dying like dogs, would having slightly better gear meaningfully increase my odds of survival?
"In a world like this, walking into a death trap on your own two feet and coming out alive would be the strange thing."
"...You're very detached."
"It's the only way to keep your peace of mind in this world."
But still, hearing such things directly from someone I'd come to trust came with a fair share of heartache.
If I'd known nothing, I might have at least attempted it, then accepted failure. But now that I knew that future, I realized even the attempt itself was meaningless...
"Then now, please tell me the future you desire."
Just as I was surrendering to that fate and even considering giving up the path of an adventurer, Airi moved to draw an extension from the current prophecy.
My eyes, not expecting that reaction, slowly began to widen.
"The future... I desire?"
"Mr. Hyosung. I certainly possess the power to read the future."
A serious expression set before the crystal ball depicting the future.
But unlike the bitterness she'd spoken of before, there was considerable strength in her eyes now.
"And the future—the moment it is observed, that observed future becomes fixed, and those events will unfold exactly as seen. Unless a variable large enough to affect the movement of the stars arises suddenly, the future read by people like me can be considered 'absolutely certain'."
Right. So if I went to the Adventurer's Guild as planned and started my first adventure, I would die just like that.
"But Mr. Hyosung. You were thinking of giving up the adventurer's path after hearing my prophecy, weren't you?"
"...Excuse me?"
"Yes, you definitely would have given up. In order to preemptively block a path that holds a future where you die."
Certainly, just as she said. If it's already determined I'll die, there's no need to aim to be an adventurer.
Even if I did a quest other than the one I'd had in mind, the future might still not change. So not aiming for that path at all might be the correct move in this situation.
"If by doing so, you can truly escape the danger of death, then it means that those who glimpse the future can indeed change it."
She was saying that by taking that action, the future would change.
The instant I grasped that truth—something I'd been aiming for but had overlooked—a gasp slipped from my lips.
"The future... can be changed?"
"It can be changed. Because the very act of observing the future is, in practice, no different from intervening in a predetermined future."
-Wooong.
The crystal ball shimmered with a brilliant light as she waved her hand.
Facing that orb, Airi, with an expression more serious than ever, gave me the conclusion of her story.
"And a destiny that hinges on human hands is, in the end, inevitably influenced by the desires of the person walking that destiny... If you can intervene in the observed future, then the direction of that change can also lead to a result faithful to your own desires."
"Th-then that means..."
"So here and now, I will ask you resolutely."
With an expression of utmost sincerity.
The moment she offered a choice—something she did because she was seriously contemplating my future.
"Mr. Hyosung, will you abandon the adventurer's path to preserve your life? Or will you tell me your wishes, and 'stake your life' to advance toward the possibilities that match them?"
A safe and empty life.
Or a dangerous one, but with the chance to change a fixed destiny.
When those two choices were spoken by the woman who had read my future, I immediately gave her the answer that surfaced in my heart.
"I am..."
Even though I should have taken time to think.
My honesty burst out before I could even realize.
"I want to become an adventurer."
"Without dying, naturally?"
"Yes. I want to try as far as I can go."
No sooner had that desperation left my lips than a radiance erupted from the crystal ball.
Airi, having etched the scene inside that light into her eyes, smiled contentedly, quietly withdrew her hand, and lifted her pen.
"...Take this."
A single slip of paper was finally presented to me. But unlike the ones she'd handed over before, this one was folded several times over.
As if telling me to be careful about opening it right away.
"After you finish the registration process at the Adventurer's Guild, please unfold this note and follow exactly what is written inside."
"...You won't tell me directly?"
"Precisely changing the future is, unfortunately, no easy task. To minimize even the smallest variable, it's best to minimize actions that could cause variables until the critical moment."
Minimizing variables...
In other words, it meant I should follow the actions I intended to take before hearing this prophecy exactly as they were, and only take action when the crucial moment arrived—thereby reducing unexpected variables as much as possible.
Because if I tried to block the future from happening from the very start, that attempt itself might lead to a path that spawns another danger.
"Mr. Hyosung. Your choice is not something a mere fortune-teller like me should interfere with, but please know this."
Having handed me the note containing the advice I needed, she firmly clasped the hand holding that note with both of hers and spoke quietly.
"I... am hoping that you survive. Sincerely."
Soft and fair hands.
The kind of hands that had never known direct hardship...
But the fact that even such hands would boldly hold those of a worthless man like this—that meant her sentiment was genuine.
"Thank you for the encouragement."
"Yes, then until we meet again..."
Our farewell after she let go of my hands was as short and brief as her resolute voice, but I didn't feel disappointment about it.
Because if following her advice could let me escape a future that was almost certain to arrive, then today's meeting wouldn't be our last.
"I don't know if things will be okay just because I got a prophecy, but well... let's give it a shot!"
Whatever it takes, let's stay strong.
Tucking the note I'd received into my chest like a talisman, I felt the long-awaited moment had arrived and strode energetically toward the Adventurer's Guild.
And then...
***
"A being once called the greatest calamity before the world's decline... it's only natural I couldn't predict this."
Right, decayed as it was, it was still a dragon.
With such a being so suddenly changing its mind, it was only obvious that even the far-off God of Destruction overlooking this land couldn't read its movements.
'The most certain solution would be to tell him to return the weapon, but...'
Despite the risk of that creature rampaging, Airi had chosen to encourage the man before her to walk into a lion's den.
Even though he might not properly follow her advice, or might make a mistake even if he listened, and fall into an irreversible situation.
'But advice like that would ultimately be no more than deferring the problem. Even knowing the future, change is a right granted only to those who act.'
Destiny is like a tower.
Distant future events are built upon the past, so to reach the future you wish to change, you must build it up step by step from the past.
But if you only choose the option of running away without avoiding danger, the more you repeat that, won't the possibility of changing the future gradually dwindle away?
'Yes. Even if a calamity awaits in the days ahead, if you cannot change even a single person's future, you could never save the world.'
The future offers no opportunities to those who stand still.
Remembering her father's teaching that an astrologer must always make this clear, she once more channeled her power into the crystal ball.
To confirm how the future had changed through her contact with him.
-Wooong.
The crystal ball emitted light with a vibration.
The scene revealed at the end of it was far removed from the gruesome one she had seen before.
Right, since the dragon wouldn't rampage if the promise was kept, everyone in this land, including herself, would survive.
So she ought to feel relief, and yet...
-Hehe, Mr. Hyosung~ ♥
"...Huh?"
-Ah, I can't hold back anymore. Hurry up and ruin me~♥
"Huh? Huh?"
A dumbstruck breath escaped Airi at the scene revealed in the newly revised future.
But what appeared in the crystal ball was undeniably reality.
To be precise, a future with a high probability of being realized very soon now...
"Why......"
"Why!? Why on earth!!?!??!"
From Airi's lips, as she watched that scene,
a shock greater than when she had seen her own death began to burst forth.