Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Spreading Out the Mat (1)
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After moving my luggage and buying various items to set up the shrine, there still wasn't a single person in sight.
Only ghosts were coming and going nonstop.
No, there were people, actually.
Parmon and Closel.
The ever-curious old man Closel was more of a nuisance than the ghosts.
Ghosts could be ignored or chased away, but Closel kept striking up conversations.
Buying furnishings had left my pockets nearly empty.
So in the end, I spread out my mat.
Right in the middle of the street where I'd been dragged off last time.
murmurs
murmurs
"Come one, come all! I'll read your future!"
The dignity of a shaman who'd received a great spirit wasn't something to take lightly.
To think I'd end up out here on the street, hawking my services.
"Curious about your future? Step right up!"
There are a few fields no human can resist out of sheer curiosity.
"Wondering how much money you'll make? Right this way!"
And things that set young people's blood boiling.
"Want to know the true feelings of that special someone? Then this is the place!!"
murmurs
murmurs
"What nonsense is that? Reading the future?"
"Hah, like he can know Serena's heart."
People just snorted and turned away from my hawking.
"Ugh..."
It was more or less expected.
This world didn't even have the concept of fortune-telling.
So all I had to do was show them what it was.
And right on cue, a perfect target appeared.
A burly mercenary with a longsword at his hip and leather armor, sporting a thick beard.
He would be my first demonstration subject.
"Hey, you! Mercenary uncle!"
"Hm? You talking to me?"
The mercenary I pointed at looked baffled as he turned to me.
Even the people selling goods or passing by wore intrigued expressions.
"Uncle, I see your moving star. You switched mercenary bands recently, right?"
"Wha...? How did you...?"
"I can see it all! But after switching bands, the jobs have been pretty scarce, huh?"
"What?!"
His reaction told me I'd hit the mark.
The surprised response drew curious stares from around us.
This was my chance to draw in customers.
"That's because you're dodging the fortune laid out for you. Come sit down quick."
"H...here?"
I was literally sitting on a straw mat right now.
The mercenary hesitated, embarrassed to plop down on the main street like this, but eventually shuffled over and sat.
In moments like these, seizing the initiative was key.
I slammed my hand on the small table in front of me.
Thwack!
"Tsk tsk... Uncle, your mother passed away, didn't she?"
"H...how'd you know that?"
Not exactly pleasant, but it wasn't a low blow.
She really had passed, and my intuition told me so as I held the rattle.
"Your father's in poor health, doesn't earn much, right? That's why you're heading to another band now."
"Th...that's right...!"
"Ahem... Let me see..."
As I nailed the mercenary's issues one after another, the crowd buzzed again.
"He's...he's really getting it right?"
"That guy's not some con artist in on it?"
"Nah, come on! Carlson's a straight shooter."
The reactions were better than expected.
I deliberately shook the rattle for all to see.
"Hmm... Yep! It's matching up!"
"Wh...what's matching?"
The mercenary looked tense as he stared at me.
"Uncle, you..."
"T...tell me!!"
"You shouldn't switch mercenary bands. Better to stay put."
"Why's that?"
A quick scan showed his hardships would soon end.
Like how bad luck sticks sometimes, no matter what you do.
Dawn is darkest just before sunrise, and this mercenary was right there.
"Jobs will come soon, and things will turn around. Stay where you are."
Misfortune washes away near a bundle of good luck.
And I was that bundle, blessed by the gods.
I still had plenty of luck from Closel left to burn through.
Since all my good fortune had been used on others, some might transfer to this mercenary.
Assuming he'd lived decently, that is.
"Uncle, you're in luck."
"Hm?"
"Good fortune's rubbed off on you."
I felt his tangled misfortune and luck unravel like they'd been cleansed.
His pent-up blessings started rampaging free too.
"Uncle, stay still for a sec."
"R...right here?"
Sure enough, three men approached from behind the mercenary.
"Hey, Carlson!"
"Whoa? Bark? Thought you were off today."
"Ugh...been looking everywhere for you. Got a job! We gotta head out now."
"N...now? Right now?"
"Yeah, you idiot! If we couldn't find you again, I was gonna leave you behind... Sheesh...Lucky bastard."
"I...uh......"
"Figured you'd signed with someone else... Tsk."
Carlson, the mercenary sitting before me, gawked blankly at me and his comrades alternately.
He glanced toward another inn—probably where he'd planned to meet his new band.
Carlson still looked puzzled as he started to stand.
"Hold up."
Was he planning to just walk off mid-reading?
"5 copper."
"Huh?"
"You just snagged a good opportunity thanks to me, right? Hand over 5 copper."
I pointed to the sign beside me as I spoke.
It boldly read:
- Divination: 5 Copper
After the mercenary left, curious folks started lining up.
An intriguing service at a cheap price.
Plus, they'd seen one mercenary score a job right there.
No wonder they thought, Why not give it a shot?
"I...I'm planning to open another inn soon. Will I make good money?"
"Uncle, your fortune's rough for a while. You're borrowing to start it, aren't you?"
"Spot on!! Nailed it!!"
"Don't overreach. Stick to what you know. Next!"
Money piled up in the little basket by the table.
"I...I'm gonna confess to Serena soon... Can you tell me if it'll work?"
"Tsk tsk... Your ancestors guided you here well."
"Is there a problem?!?"
"If you get with her, you'll be alone forever. And she seems to have someone already."
"H...how...?"
"Total trash? Get lost! Next!!"
As readings continued, the line grew longer.
Some even stood by the mat, watching in awe.
"Whoa...! How the heck does he know?"
"He really tells the future?"
"Hey, folks! Once you're my age, this stuff just comes into view."
"So that's why you blew your fortune gambling, old timer?"
All sorts gathered.
Like a tarot booth at a tourist spot that hit the broadcast circuit.
Then the murmurs grew louder.
"Isn't that Sir Randolph?"
"What's he doing way out here?"
The crowd parted as a knight in silver armor strode forward.
"Hm? That uncle's name is Randolph."
The stern knight who'd dragged me off before.
Not him again?
"Did the count summon me again?"
A summons on my first day of business?
But Randolph's words were the opposite of what I expected.
"Thank you."
"Pardon?"
"Just as you said, that man was a corrupt knight."
"...?"
Oh, the guy I'd tried to pawn the rattle off on last time.
"Thanks to you, the knight order's honor is preserved."
"Uh... well..."
"He's been severely punished and stripped of his knighthood."
Good to see the guilty one pay properly.
For something so minor, a knight seeking out a commoner...
Maybe he wasn't as stern as I thought.
"This is the reward for your report."
"Reward?!?!"
The pouch Randolph pulled out looked heavy.
"It's the count's reward for apprehending a criminal. Consider it an honor."
Money was money, whatever the reason.
My mouth watered thinking of blowing that fat pouch.
"Of course!! Absolutely an honor!"
"Hmm..."
Randolph's gaze shifted to the sign, then to the surrounding crowd.
The sudden appearance and reward had eyes sparkling.
"Even Sir Randolph got a reading."
"If a knight endorses it, must be real."
"W...well, not sure yet."
As the stone-faced Randolph scanned the area and turned to leave, an urgent voice rang out.
"Y...you! Can you find people too?"
"People? That's for mercenaries..."
"Please, I beg you!! My daughter's missing!"
Hm...?
Sounds familiar.
Right, when I was dragged off, I'd heard about someone's missing daughter.
That guy's name was...
"By any chance... Hans?"
"Y...yes!! That's me, Hans!!"
Admiring gasps rose from the crowd.
"Now he's nailing names too!"
"Bet he'll find Hans's daughter next."
I'd never searched for anyone before.
Asking the ghosts around might make it possible, though.
Shouldn't knights or soldiers handle this?
Randolph met my look and answered immediately, reading my expression.
"We're searching, but no luck yet."
Randolph's eyes changed.
A glimmer of hope that maybe I could find her.
"No... uh... Uncle! Don't you have something your daughter carried?"
"I do!! Here!!"
Hans rummaged in his pouch and pulled out a small hair tie.
"I always tied her hair with this. She loved it most!! Please..."
"Hand it over."
If it was something she loved, it might work.
Master had found people this way.
Something about the lingering attachment connecting to the owner.
I gripped the hair tie, closed my eyes, and shook the rattle.
Warmth flowed from the hair tie in my hand.
Hans's love, his daughter's joy.
But that wasn't what I sought.
A faint image rose in my mind.
Green leaves.
And dirt.
A little girl with brown hair.
The image sharpened in my head.
I shot to my feet.
"She's alive!"
No time for this.
Goblins prowled near the little girl.
"She's hiding from goblins! Randolph, hurry!"
Randolph didn't answer.
"We'll go."
Turning, I saw Parmon and Closel standing there.