Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Prophet (2)
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Methods to meet the Prophet.
Jack said he didn't know the exact details himself.
He'd heard rumors spreading through the capital like wildfire.
-There are plenty of people who claim to have met the Prophet. But whenever you ask them how, they all give different answers.
-How so?
-Some say they bumped into him while walking down an alley. Others say it was when they got lost in the bustling market. There's even one who said it happened while escorting a lost child home. Honestly, there doesn't seem to be any clear method.
-Hmm. Wonder why that is.
-Who knows. Someone asked the Prophet himself, and he said, 'To meet me, you need permission.' Not sure what that means exactly, but it looks like meeting him isn't easy.
As expected of a Prophet—there's something shady about it.
Just run into him, and that's that. Permission needed? And the meeting method itself is unpredictably vague.
Suspicious. Super suspicious.
-So, what about the people who've met him? Any word on what they heard? Or what kind of guy this Prophet is?
-Hmm. These are just street rumors, so I don't know for sure. But apparently, he has the ability to see into other worlds.
-What the... What does that even mean?
-Beats me. One reason the rumors about the Prophet are so inconsistent is that people's memories fade after meeting him. They say he might have the power to make memories hazy on purpose.
-Hmm. Got it. Thanks.
I parted ways with Jack and left the Lotus Palace.
My target: the capital's markets.
Lots of people claim to have met the Prophet there, so I figured I'd check it out.
By now, nobles arriving late for the Cluster of Stars gathering were probably parading in.
The streets would be packed with people.
They say the odds of running into the Prophet go up in crowds like this, so why not.
I walked the main boulevard stretching from the imperial palace.
Luxurious carriages lined the road, all heading in.
No doubt, participants for the Cluster of Stars.
I stuck to a side street off the main drag, scanning my surroundings.
Shops were teeming with crowds.
One of Jack's methods: meet him in the market bustle.
'Hmm.'
I kept walking, waiting for him to show, but nothing.
Should I head to the back alleys?
Or hunt for a lost kid?
That's when whispers reached my ears.
"Look at that. That's Red Mask's carriage."
"The guildmaster's inside? Wonder what she looks like."
"They say she's stunning. I wanna see."
Red Mask's guildmaster?
Intrigued, I glanced over.
In the center of the boulevard.
A carriage even flashier than the nobles' ahead and behind it rolled slowly toward the palace.
"But isn't the Cluster of Stars nobles only?"
"Didn't you hear? Red Mask is sponsoring big this time. Nobles buy tons from their shops, so they're on good terms. They got special permission to attend."
"Impressive. First time a commoner gets to watch, right?"
People's eyes were on Red Mask's carriage more than the nobles'.
Everyone seemed to like Red Mask.
Rare for a new merchant group to get such praise. Weird.
Red Mask's window was open.
The guildmaster inside waved to the crowd like she was responding to them.
She was definitely a beauty.
Her age showed maturity, but she held her own against the flower-like young ladies in their prime.
And one striking detail.
'Glasses.'
Their signature product, right.
They perched on the bridge of her nose.
"Thank you, everyone. I can enter the palace thanks to all of you."
Woooah...
The crowd clapped wildly.
That much goodwill for Red Mask's guildmaster?
Honestly, I didn't get their reaction.
Every time I saw her, something felt off.
'Strange.'
Visually, she was flawless.
Downright likable, even.
A commoner attending the social event—what an achievement.
But my instincts—my eyes, precisely—were tilting their head.
Why?
'...The glasses?'
Something about those glasses bugged me.
No evidence. Just my eyes saying so.
"Oh my. You there, young man. Staring awfully hard?"
Then her gaze turned to me.
I met the blue eyes beyond the lenses.
Leaning on the window frame, she smiled warmly at me.
"Something on my face?"
"Ah, sorry. You're just so beautiful."
"My goodness."
Her lips curved into a sly grin.
She chuckled genuinely, waving it off.
"Quite the charmer. Careful, kid—talk like that too early, and you'll get in trouble."
Then she waved to the others again.
"......"
I stood frozen, staring into her eyes.
Blue eyes through the glass.
Even as she scanned the crowd, they flicked back to me now and then.
Red Mask's guildmaster.
Our first meeting.
**
Tch.
After meeting the guildmaster, I wandered the alleys.
I didn't care about the dust sticking to me, but no luck.
This has to be bullshit. They said he'd appear naturally if I walked around.
Where is he?
'And now I'm lost too.'
First time in the capital.
No way I know the back alleys off the main roads.
Plus, I've been away from Lotus Palace too long.
The servants probably check on nobles in their rooms periodically.
I'm hungry anyway. Time to head back.
Just find a way out.
That's when I took a step.
"Oogoo."
An old lady appeared ahead.
Grunting under a heavy load, she shuffled along.
She might collapse at this rate.
"......"
I almost kept going but stopped.
Damn. Saw her once, now I can't ignore it.
If I hadn't noticed, I'd have passed by.
Now that I have, helping feels right.
"Haa."
Fine, I'm late anyway. A bit more won't hurt.
I approached and took her burden.
"Granny, let me help."
"Eh? Who're you, young man?"
"Not quite young yet. Just helping out."
"Oh dear. Thank you. Hehe."
The load felt light in my hands as we walked.
I'm no saint, but I don't ignore what I can do.
"You'll be blessed, lad."
"Thanks. Where to?"
"Up ahead there. Just to that spot."
"Got it."
I carried her load to the destination.
She bowed repeatedly, thanking me, then went inside.
Phew.
Lost some time, but spent it well.
Now back for real.
-That moment.
"Huh?"
The scenery shifted.
The alley I'd just walked with granny blurred.
Magic ambush? I focused my eyes.
"......"
Weird.
Can't see clearly.
My eyes can read the Flow of All Things.
Like another world—the flows twisted unnaturally, out of sight.
'What is this?'
I took a cautious step forward.
Unreasonable phenomenon.
But instinct told me something.
Ahead, the one I'd sought waited.
Step... step...
I walked the back alley.
The ground rippled strangely—hard to tread.
Carefully, I reached the end.
"......Huh?"
Leaning against the alley wall.
A strange old man shrouded head to toe in a black hood.
"A guest?"
He turned slightly, eyeing me.
His face under the hood was hazy, even straining my eyes.
In that instant, I was certain.
'The Prophet.'
This guy's the Prophet.
I rushed to him.
"You?"
"What?"
"You're the bastard who dared call my little sister a calamity, right?"
"......"
The old man froze.
He looked up at me, frowning.
Then he clicked his tongue.
"Storming in like that with no manners. No respect for elders."
"Answer straight. I respect my elders fine—until my sister comes up. Then I don't give a damn."
"Tch! Fresh punk with a mouth on him. Fine. Sit down."
"What?"
"We need to talk first. That's your goal, isn't it?"
"......"
I glared, then sat.
Better play along for now.
Unknown world, unknown old man.
I won't go down easy, but let's hear him out.
The old man stroked the crystal ball on his mat.
"What do you want to know?"
"Everything about my little sister."
"Without saying who you are or who she is?"
"You'd know. Mr. Capital Prophet."
"......Hmm. You came prepared."
He sighed, pulling his hand from the crystal.
Then he stared piercingly and murmured one line.
"Nice to meet you. Heaven-Defying Child."
Uttering the words I'd only seen in my status window.