The Web of Fate
I experimented with Jerry standing right in front of me.
"Use the Roaring Wheel."
"Yes."
Vwoom—! A motor-like hum filled the air. I devoured Jerry's Roaring Wheel with the Flame of Gluttony. Inside the flames, the wheel shattered into countless fragments—neatly broken down, easy to digest. If left alone, it would have turned into mana and strengthened the flames, but before that could happen, I pulled the pieces out and reassembled them. Moments later, the Roaring Wheel activated inside the lantern.
So that's how it works.
"How did it go?"
"It failed."
"As expected. Simply devouring a spell isn't enough to claim it for myself."
Thanks to the Flame of Gluttony, I could now reenact any magic I devoured—but only once. Eating one spell granted a single reenactment; I couldn't repeat it multiple times based on a single consumption. After all, I was merely dismantling the structure of the magic and reassembling it, not analyzing and learning it. It felt like becoming a modern person who uses a smartphone without understanding how it works. Impressive, certainly, but still far from what I truly wanted. Disappointing.
"Lady Ruina, you really are greedy."
"I've always been a greedy person."
Still, I had learned something valuable. Simply using magic wasn't enough to satisfy me. I needed to possess it and use it myself before the craving was quelled. I couldn't help but wonder what I might have done without the Balance. What would I have done? The possibilities were endless.
Through this, I had uncovered the principles of digestion and disassembly within the Flame of Gluttony. The Flame had now reached the third tier. If the understanding of Equity—previously at the second tier—had deepened instead, the tier itself might have risen to the fourth. A slight regret.
Finishing the experiment, I left the workshop. The battlefield where we had fought the Evil God's priests was utterly devastated. The house was nearly collapsed, craters dotted the yard, and scorched marks everywhere evoked the aftermath of war. I approached Elera, who was lounging in a rocking chair in what had become an open-air house.
"Are you satisfied?"
"More or less."
I didn't know exactly what future Elera had seen, but I could tell this was the closest to the outcome she had desired. How did I know? The absence of worry on her face said everything.
"Couldn't you have told me in advance?"
"As I explained, the future is changeable. If I've seen a good future, why risk speaking it aloud?"
"That's fair."
But now that everything was over…
"Why did it have to be me?"
"The future," Elera said, "is ultimately predetermined."
"You just said it changes."
"I misspoke. What is predetermined is the number of possible futures a person can experience."
The future was the result of countless choices. At first glance it seemed infinite, yet for any human, the number of choices—and thus the number of futures—was finite. That was what she wanted to convey.
"So among those predetermined futures, this one is the best for you?"
"Correct."
"I don't quite understand."
Elera was a high-ranking mage. Though prophecy magic was classified as non-combat, it was still her unique magic. Seeing the future was an immense power in itself. If she had wanted, she could have easily shaken off the Evil God's cult unless the entire organization came after her. Why had she stayed put? I had some guesses, but I asked anyway out of courtesy.
Elera adjusted her witch's hat and replied.
"You already know."
"Raising a child is hard work."
"People must take responsibility for what they've done."
"And for what they've said."
It came down to this: among the futures Elera had seen, the best one for Noa was this one. Entrusting Noa to me was the optimal path. It was puzzling, but what could I do? This was simply how prophecy mages operated.
"So that's why you kept emphasizing that Noa was a pitiful child."
"Take good care of him."
"Aren't you going to ask his opinion?"
Maybe Noa wanted to stay with Elera. Regardless of what future she had seen, the judgment was hers alone. Subjectivity was inevitable, and the future she chose might not align with what Noa himself would consider best. Yet Elera merely chuckled.
"What does a child know?"
"That's harsh."
"Noa understands. He's a clever boy. He even knows what my unique magic is."
"What is your unique magic, Lady Elera?"
"My unique magic?"
Elera transformed her right eye into a crescent moon and spoke slowly.
"Destiny."
Unique magic: Destiny. The name alone made its function clear.
"So among the people Noa will meet, I'm the best one?"
"For now."
"Better than you?"
"Yes."
"That's subjective. How about this: we give Noa the choice, and whatever he decides, we follow it."
"Tsk tsk."
Elera clicked her tongue. Why the sudden disapproval? Ignoring it, I brought Noa over and explained the situation. After listening for a long while, he spoke.
"I'll go with my master."
"How could this be?"
"Didn't I tell you? Noa understands."
Come to think of it, Elera hadn't said "Noa will understand." She had stated it as fact: "Noa understands." Had she already seen this far? Thanks to her, I had learned one final rule about dealing with prophecy mages.
Never engage in a prediction battle with a prophecy mage.
Prophetic abilities were terrifying.
With that, everything was decided. Only one matter remained. I stood before Elera.
"Lady Elera."
"Yes. I must keep my promise. The Holy Grail is—"
"Give me magic."
"I knew you'd do this."
Elera sighed. But I was serious.
"When I asked for magic last time and you stayed silent, it was because you'd already read this future, wasn't it? In essence, you hired me not only to teach Noa but also to handle troublesome matters, so you felt guilty."
"Fine. Take it."
"I'm excited."
Elera transferred a spell to me—not her prophecy magic, but one of her other spells. I was satisfied after creating a kind of stone cannon by gathering rocks. With this, I now possessed fire, water, wind, and earth magic. I still had a long way to go before fulfilling my wish, but it felt like I had taken the first step. The feeling was good.
"Now it's time to pay the other price."
"The Holy Grail, you mean."
"Where is it?"
"Honestly, I don't know its location."
"Chris! Bring the rope right now!"
This swindler. I knew it. At my reaction, Elera frowned.
"Listen to the end. I truly don't know where the Holy Grail is, but I do know how to meet the person who can tell you its location."
"Your magic sure takes the long way around. Why not say that from the start?"
"I did say from the beginning that I'd help you find the Holy Grail's location."
"You phrased it in such a roundabout way."
…Thinking back, she really had.
"Prophecy mages are truly exhausting to deal with."
"That's why they have no friends. Remember that."
"I've learned something new."
So.
"Who will tell me where the Holy Grail is?"
I had no guesses. The current emperor? He didn't seem likely to know. The pope? If he knew, he would have sent paladins to retrieve it. The Evil God's priests? Same issue. After racking my brain and giving up, I waited for Elera's answer.
She spoke quietly.
"It's someone you know."
"Someone I know?"
"Yes."
"What's their name?"
Elera glanced at the distant sky for a moment, then met my eyes. Her lips moved.
"The one who will tell you the Holy Grail's location is…"
"Yes."
"Adelian Croft."
*
Hargen wiped the sweat from his brow and stopped in front of the half-destroyed house. He had been a messenger serving the previous emperor, and even after the current emperor ascended the throne, he continued in that role, delivering the emperor's words. Hargen eyed the ruined house suspiciously, then recalled what the villagers had said.
"A tree giant suddenly appeared, and then there were explosions."
"Where? That's the house where the Witch of Wisdom lives."
A tree giant. One of Lady Ruina's signature spells, and she was the target of the recent title conferment. Convinced he had come to the right place, Hargen cautiously called into the house.
"Is anyone there?"
"What is it?"
The reply came from behind him. Turning around, he saw an old woman wearing a witch's hat. Her appearance was the very image of a witch, and color returned to Hargen's face. He asked,
"Are you the Witch of Wisdom, Lady Elera?"
"I am."
"I heard there was a battle here recently. Is that true?"
"Anyone with eyes could see that. Why are you here?"
"I've come to find Lady Ruina. She has been granted the title of hereditary baroness along with a fief and various rewards. I've come to deliver them."
"What in the world has that madwoman been doing all this time?"
"Watch your words."
After a sharp retort, Hargen delivered the important message.
"So, where is Lady Ruina? Has she stepped out for a moment?"
"That incident happened ages ago. Why are you only arriving now? Did you come here while napping? Of course she's already left."
"…I came as soon as I heard the news."
Hargen let out a sigh of disappointment. To think she had already departed. She really did move quickly.
"Do you happen to know where Lady Ruina went?"
"Of course I do. I'm the one who told her her next destination."
"Really?"
Color returned to Hargen's face once more. If her next destination was known, his mission was essentially complete.
"Could you tell me where it is?"
"That's easy."
After a casual reply, Elera pointed somewhere with her finger. Hargen followed her gaze. The rising sun came into view. East? So she had gone to some city in the east?
"……"
"……"
"Why are you staring at me?"
"Is that all?"
"Of course it is. Why would I tell you more?"
"You're saying that's it, just pointing east?"
"I was only told to go east myself. So I can't say anything beyond that."
Suppressing a sigh, Hargen quietly looked up at the sky.
Maybe he should just quit being a messenger.