Chapter 92
Chapter 92
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: Precious Items Have Owners (2)
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"Haa..."
I figured my fate wouldn't be smooth sailing, but I didn't expect it to be this tangled up.
Every connection tied by divination or fortune-telling seemed destined for hardship.
Even the first orc pup I bonded with was like this...
At this point, shouldn't I suspect every single one?
"I get a rough idea about Parmon, old timer..."
Flick—
I whipped my head around and glared. Closel flinched.
This old man's pretty suspicious.
If you look closely, everyone has some backstory.
Except this one. He doesn't.
"Old timer, tell me the truth."
"Truth about what?"
"No major roadblocks in life? No painful stories?"
"Heh heh, who lives without those?"
That made sense when I thought about it.
No one's without a story or struggles.
So the next suspect is this guy.
"Hey, Headless."
-...?
"Having the time of your life?"
-...
Something was off with Headless.
Headless was like the shrine's errand boy.
It notified me of guests, checked candles, and ran to me if anything was wrong.
A stray spirit that could enter the shrine itself.
"The guardian posts aren't a joke these days, huh?"
-...
Just look at the other strays—they kept their distance out of fear of the posts.
But this one wandered freely, like it didn't care.
And with the yin energy filling this place, it had grown pretty strong.
Not like the wraiths here—more like an Eastern-style minor deity.
"Isn't it about time you went on your way?"
Flinch.
"Think it's time to start preparing?"
Flinch.
Headless trembled with every word.
"Got a lot of lingering attachments to the living world?"
-...
Thinking back, it had always been fearless.
It was the stray that came to mess with me, after all.
Closel stared into space with interest.
"So this is Headless, the spirit that helps with the poltergeist trick?"
"No need for titles. It's just a stray."
"Mystical power. Physical manifestations, no less. Come to think of it, don't you do something similar?"
I could, sure.
But...
"Yeah, but it's super inefficient."
"Hm?"
"Like buying a single log with gold..."
"High consumption, I see."
I could do way more with that power elsewhere.
It was a side effect, not the main purpose.
No real need to develop it.
"Anyway, warp magic circle again this time?"
As I asked, the old timers exchanged glances.
And their answer was...
"Do as you wish."
"...?"
"That's right."
"Is that okay? Isn't this urgent?"
It involved a necromancer, after all.
A massive-scale issue.
Felt wrong to decide on my own.
Parmon spoke like he was wronged.
"Truth is, what's the point of racking our brains for strategies?"
"...?"
"You shake that rattle a few times, and everything resolves itself."
"...?"
First time seeing an old timer this aggrieved.
He must've suffered in the last battle.
Complaints poured from him.
"I used my power worrying about you at the church, and it was over before I arrived. You even showed up carrying the saintess."
Come to think of it, something had been sent my way.
Probably when I was labeled a heretic?
"This battle too. What happened to the strategies we prepped all night?"
The strategies hadn't worked out great, had they?
Without their help, casualties would've been worse.
"We dodged as told, only to find a magic circle. Fire, then calling elves, even making it rain. Never saw kidnapping the pope and saintess coming."
"Th-that..."
The old timer had bottled-up gripes.
"And that's not all. We followed your words, and the whole world aided us. Everything went smoothly."
People with shamans in the family say that sometimes.
Follow instructions, and it's smooth sailing like a ship with the wind.
But this old man...
Seemed a bit sulky.
Not like him to complain over this.
"My carefully prepared speech got less morale boost than your rattle."
Ah, that was it.
"It was our first muster in ages..."
Right.
Closel chuckled beside him.
Slightly defending Parmon.
"Even if Ramon says that, we know your help wasn't easy."
The old man popped a salad piece into his mouth and continued.
"Simple reason we're saying this. Your choices are always the best path."
"But on a grand scale, isn't this about the continent's fate?"
"Aren't you the one who sees that fate?"
True enough.
No denying it.
Divining fortune and misfortune was part of my job.
"Since it came up, how about a peek?"
I lifted the rattle from the table. Drant's eyes followed my hand.
Ting-a-lang—
"...?"
Ting-a-lang—
"Huh?"
Half-army position.
Signifies a general's deputy.
Often means promotion to high office.
And it surrounded us thickly.
"Old timers, did you get promotions? Some position or other...?"
"We're retired from positions already. Don't want more."
"It's on me too..."
I'd nearly gotten a title recently, so it lingered.
Ting-a-lang—
Something faint appeared.
Next to Drant.
"Some item..."
"Me?"
"Sword, then fan... maybe a ritual blade or execution sword..."
Shape was vague.
Constantly shifting.
Not finalized yet.
And this was...
"Mine."
"Hm?"
Ting-a-lang—
My mind drifted away.
Fishy sea smell hit me.
Whoosh—
Waves crashing.
Ting-a-lang—
"A snake's in the house."
Not small.
Thick, long python coiled, facing the sea.
A rock python.
"Like a prosperity python..."
Rat-eating warehouse pythons bring wealth and glory.
The python eyed the sea fiercely.
Ting-a-lang—
A flag flashed in my mind.
White cloth and wood.
Dragon King banner, symbolizing the Sea Dragon King's body.
But chewed in spots.
Like rats gnawed it.
"Urgh..."
Blue flames near the shore.
I shook the rattle once more but stopped, lowering my arm.
"What's wrong?"
"For now, no big issues..."
"But?"
"Not sure if you'll believe this, but the spirits are busy lately."
Everyone looked baffled.
Even Aluerd.
"Around next year, lots of babies will be born."
"Could it be...?"
"The deity I serve is in that line of work. Seems swamped."
Aluerd looked shocked.
"What kind of deity does Chris serve...?"
"I'll tell you later."
"Hamu!"
"I know she takes Grandma's form, but..."
Luna wriggled, like explaining to Aluerd.
"Hamu, Luna. Auu...!"
"Right, right. Luna, Grandma divined for you too?"
"Kyak."
Aluerd gaped, looking between us and Luna.
"How does Luna know that?"
"Babies remember stuff like that at first."
Closel's intrigued admiration and Aluerd's shock.
"Hoo..."
"Why didn't we know?"
"Didn't ask, so no answer."
Babies have a mystical side.
Folklore says whether they exit the womb with door open or closed.
Open means next kid soon.
Luna, born a saintess, sharper than most—natural.
Good memory's no surprise.
"Anyway, spirits are busy, so the vibes are faint."
"I-see."
"The more I learn, the more mysterious you are."
Luna babbled, displeased at being cut off.
"Auu! Au!"
"Lu-Luna! Sorry!"
"Jo!"
"Speak."
"Kka!"
"...???"
Luna reached for Aluerd.
Odd tone.
In the silence, Luna reached again.
"Jo! Kka!"
"Lunaaa!"
I, raising Luna, was flustered.
Didn't expect this.
"She wants... a cookie."
Pfft—
Laughter burst out.
"Hamu?"
Not my laugh, per Luna.
Grandma's pleased chuckle.
My mouth opened on its own.
"She'll grow fast. Carry her close."
"...Chris?"
"It's starting."
My hand gently stroked Luna's back.
Expert motion.
Now intuition hit—not mouth.
Leave now for smooth trip.
"Better go now."
"Didn't you need prep?"
Thought so.
Heavy yin energy.
But no harm to me.
"Just pack and go. Easier now."
Didn't expect immediate departure, but oh well.
Delay, and guests would swarm.