Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Duke's Visit (5)
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There was a time when I thought stars were massive fireballs floating in the infinite darkness of the universe, burning for hundreds of millions of years through hydrogen nuclear fusion reactions.
Of course, in my original world, that definition held no issues whatsoever. Aside from being a touch imprecise in astrophysical terms.
But in this world, stars weren't physicochemical phenomena.
Stars were the closest things to the Heavenly God—Her traces, Her incarnations, Her mirrors.
Thus, astrology, the art of reading the future by observing constellations, was a legitimate skill.
But if anyone could do it casually, no one would ever feel anxious about the uncertainties of the future.
Astrology was an exceedingly difficult skill.
And an exceedingly dangerous one.
"Isaaz, Yerah, Sowilo, Tiwaz." I inscribed rune letters at the four cardinal directions on the outdoor table, then divided each direction into three parts.
One for each of the twelve months, to place the twelve zodiac signs.
"Finger, Eyes, Navel." The spring small triangle.
"Shoulder, Lips, Hair." The summer trihedron.
"Elbow, Thigh, Round Breast." The autumn great triangle.
"Ribs, Collarbone, Toes." The winter tripod.
I covered the center of the twelve signs with a white cloth.
Even in this audacious act of peeking at the goddess, there were lines that must not be crossed.
"Lady Tiona."
The preparations were complete.
"What would you like to ask the stars?"
Tiona, who had been staring entranced as the garden table transformed into an astrologer's stall, lifted her head.
"You said... I have potential."
"Yes, I did. And I still believe that."
"Then, show me. Whether I truly succeed in realizing that potential."
It was an unexpected question.
"Shall we ask the stars?"
"Yes, let's ask the stars."
"Then, let us peer into the future."
I placed the glass from the table atop the exact center, now covered by the cloth.
I channeled mana and chanted the spell.
"[Oh, night sky.]" ⟨ Sacred Tongue ⟩
The sacred tongue.
The language recorded in the scriptures, still used by church priests in worship, and awakened overnight by saintesses chosen by the goddess.
"[Forgive the sinner who lifts your veil.]" The scene we wished to see was the future.
Tiona hadn't specified a time, so I had to choose.
After she graduates from the academy or during her studies, alongside Cynthia Frey awakening as the Black Saintess, and after they've repelled all the Outer God cults... about seven years later should do nicely.
"Sowilo, Ehwaz, Perthro, Tiwaz." I touched the rune letters and their corresponding constellations in sequence.
The runes my mana touched began reflecting white starlight, like the moon reflecting the sun.
Starlight flowed from the four directions, gathering in the central glass.
And an image formed.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Even before the image fully formed, Tiona stared at her tutor's fingertips as if entranced.
She could feel the flow of mana moving along those fingertips.
She sensed it transcending the scene before her eyes, resonating with the vast starlit sky above.
The prescribed order and form evoked mystery in itself.
Religions have rituals, but for the first time, she realized rituals weren't the exclusive domain of religion.
Tiona recalled the day she first learned the basics of numerology and encountered the existence of magic.
Suddenly, she felt a deep desire to properly learn it again.
A longing that went beyond mere curiosity.
It felt like she'd found something worth sacrificing her own value for.
Something she could devote herself to, spending her finite life resource without regret—in fact, feeling a sense of satisfaction from having spent it well.
And then, the image formed.
'...Me?'
Her future self, years from now, was different from the present.
Her face was elegant, brimming with confidence and grace.
A soft yet haughty pride enveloped her body alongside dignity, creating a lovely majesty no noble dress could replicate.
Her hair was straight, uncurled in vertical rolls.
And dyed a beautifully fiery red.
'Dye...?'
Tiona had never once wanted to change her golden blonde to another color.
Was her future self desiring that? Or would some reason force her to?
Looking closer, the figure in the image wasn't alone.
Tiona realized her future self was walking arm-in-arm with a man.
Or rather, dragging him along. With an utterly thrilled expression.
Who on earth could make her that happy?
After a day filled with melancholy, disappointment, and betrayal, her future self's smile felt especially radiant.
Naturally, she grew curious about the man who could make her smile like that.
But the man's position was at the curved edge of the glass, severely distorted.
"Hmm...?"
As Tiona squinted to see better...
"!"
Her tutor hurriedly swept across the table that had become the astrologer's stall.
Like snuffing out a candle, the starlight vanished, and so did the image.
"Tea...!"
Tiona nearly called him "Teacher" for the first time—usually, she deliberately mangled his name.
She was overwhelmed by his presence.
It was the first time she'd seen it.
Him looking afraid.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Astrology has taboos.
One must never make oneself the subject of divination.
If the one committing the audacity of peeking into divine providence is the same as the being glimpsed through starlight...
It's like pinpointing a location with trigonometry—the existence beyond the stars can focus on the astrologer.
Not the Heavenly God.
Beings from other universes.
It meant your position would be exposed to the Outer Gods lurking outside this world, eyeing it covetously.
Beyond the starlight, an ominous hue writhed.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ In the profound underground darkness where even time was forgotten, a grotesque statue—twisted as if inspired by deep-sea creatures—vibrated with a low hum.
By rights, the statue should convey the will of the great being its surrounding cultists worshipped to those devotees.
⚙ OUTER GOD COMMAND ⚙ -Located the rival's position. -Find it and exterminate. But.
The underground temple had collapsed long ago. The entire structure caved in, the ground above settling directly atop it. Along with the Outer God's apostles inside.
The work of Jarvis as a young boy wizard, who knew the temple's location from the original story.
The statue continued broadcasting commands, but there were no receivers.
⚙ OUTER GOD COMMAND ⚙ -Exterminate. -Exterminate. -Exterm... It shuddered once more at the end, and the statue's function ceased.
The Outer God, too distant to interfere, truly became a being incapable of any influence.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I sighed in relief as the sky beyond the stars quieted.
"...Phew."
I'd cleared it in time; the Outer God hadn't pinpointed me.
'That was close.'
Who would've thought I'd appear in Tiona's future? And in that pose, no less.
Why?
Did it mean Tiona was still using me even then? I planned to get her into the academy and then step down from tutoring this hothead lady.
No way.
Was mighty Tiona, the Red Witch, keeping me around to get revenge for my harsh education all this time? And that smile—was it the glee of vengeance?
Chills ran down my spine.
'Damn. I hadn't considered that...!'
I'd traveled, achieved some results, picked up a few skills... but I knew my level.
I was weak.
My role was strictly a supporting one in this world.
A side character who could only assist the true protagonists in shining.
If Tiona, born with the fate to save the world, wielded her full power and turned it against me... could I resist?
No.
I'd just have to silently endure being her arm-candy plush toy.
'Gotta plan an escape.'
Originally, I planned to enroll her in the academy and quietly retire as home tutor. I still had rewards due from the duke, after all.
But maybe... I'd just submit my resignation and bolt in the night.
At least prepare for it.
"...Are you alright?"
"Ah, yes."
I gave an awkward smile to the lady before me.
"I nearly made a slight mistake, but thankfully, no issue."
"Is that so? Good."
After one breath.
"Jarvis."
"Yes, my lady."
"A few days ago, Cynthia asked me if I knew your name."
"My name is Jarvis."
"That's your surname. I mean the name your parents gave you."
"...That one."
Actually, I'd suspected as much since Cynthia came up.
She was asking for my first name, or given name.
But... I didn't like my name much.
My relationship with my second parents, met through reincarnation, was good.
But when they said they'd name me that, even as a newborn, I'd resisted fiercely. Futilely, of course.
"Truth is, I don't like my name much."
"Why not?"
"Doesn't suit me."
I was, at best, a side character in this tale.
A bit above an extra.
"I'll be the judge of that."
Tiona's eyes didn't waver.
For a moment—just a moment—that gaze resembled the proud, beautiful Red Witch of the future.
In the end, I sighed once.
"It's Arthur."
Revealing a name too grand for a side character, I lightly bowed to our lady in greeting.