Chapter 165
Chapter 165
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Fortune Teller
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-Sploosh sploosh
I broke out in cold sweat as I stared at the woman smiling at me with evident interest.
After all, I had the true strongest figure of the Central Plains right in front of my eyes—the one I'd only heard about in tales.
"Are you nervous?"
-Gasp!
When she spoke first upon noticing my state, my body trembled involuntarily, and I realized I hadn't even greeted her properly yet.
"Th-this lowly fortune teller greets the Leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult."
"Ah. No need for that. I have no intention of forcing such titles on someone who's not a member of our cult."
'But what am I supposed to do if you refuse it?'
She's being unnecessarily kind.
The problem is, now I can't think of what to call her.
"Ahaha... then..."
-Sploosh sploosh
I averted my eyes to hide my fluster, only to lock gazes with the Heavenly Demon.
Those strange eyes gazing at me with such fascination were intensely burdensome.
Boredom, ennui... and a hint of expectant chaos mixed within them—I couldn't help but glance away slightly.
Even as I did, my mind raced to come up with a suitable title.
What I really wanted was to just call her Leader too, but she'd already said it was fine not to.
'She'd hate it if I called her Heavenly Demon, right?'
As far as I knew, the Leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult wasn't the same as the Heavenly Demon.
In the Central Plains, people used the terms interchangeably for convenience, but within the cult itself, they were strictly distinguished...
'What the hell should I call her then?!'
Heavenly Demon was out. Leader was okayed, but aside from that, she didn't have any notable aliases, making the title awkward.
If I had to pick, something like Great Hero might work...
'Ah.'
Then, a fitting title flashed through my mind.
-Gulp
"Then... may I call you the Heaven of the Divine Cult?"
I figured it suited the highest figure in the Heavenly Demon Cult, the one called Heavenly Demon in the Central Plains.
"The Heaven of the Divine Cult..."
The Heavenly Demon closed her eyes and tapped her arm with her finger.
"Not a bad ring to it."
'Phew.'
Fortunately, she gave the green light.
That settled the title issue for now.
Between people who'd just met, the matter of address was more crucial than it seemed.
As I sighed in relief having resolved it, her voice flowed into my ear again.
"I assume you know why I summoned you."
-Flinch
'...Summoned me for what?'
I jolted for a moment, but a quick think revealed there could only be one reason.
What other reason would someone of the Heavenly Demon's caliber have to call a fortune teller?
"This lowly one has nothing to boast of but a minor talent for divination."
Not wanting to raise false hopes, I offered my services with excessive humility...
"...Divination?"
A quizzical expression briefly flickered across the Heavenly Demon's face,
"...Ah, right. That's it. Hm."
before returning to her previous look.
I wondered why she'd react that way, but decided to finish what I had to say first.
"If you tell me what piques your curiosity, I can try wielding my modest skill... But since this involves reading heavenly secrets, it may be affected by heavenly leakage, so please forgive any unclear parts."
"No need to be so cautious. I have no intention of taking your words as gospel anyway."
"...Thank you for understanding."
Though it meant she didn't trust me, it didn't bother me at all.
Quite the opposite—it was a relief.
I'd begged clients not to take my words blindly, but rumors of my skill led many to act solely on them, only seeking me out after trouble arose. And those were the more ordinary ones.
If something happened to the Heavenly Demon because of me...
-Tremble tremble
'Please don't believe me.'
I wanted to plead with her instead.
Not just disbelieve, but ignore me entirely.
It'd be disastrous if something went wrong and she blamed me.
Better if she'd only called me because of persistent rumors despite not believing in divination.
But...
-Stare
'Why! Why are you staring so intensely?!'
It didn't seem that way.
Those curiosity-filled eyes had been fixed on me since earlier.
Her expectations were at 1000% for whatever reason.
'It's not like she'll see my face anyway, so why stare like that...'
"What a mysterious Bloodstained Cloak. Even looking straight at you, your face isn't visible."
'...Ah.'
So that's why.
Even someone like the Heavenly Demon, who's seen it all, found this intriguing.
"Think of it as a type of formation."
"A formation that can fool even my eyes..."
"...Please don't be angry. I went through great trouble to obtain it."
"Understood."
She verbally accepted, but her gaze still pierced toward my face.
'...Does she want it?'
Worried she might ask for it, I clutched my cloak with one hand and began preparing for the divination.
Already fretting over how to respond if she did.
* * *
"...Are you satisfied?"
"Mm. I heard you well. I've told them to pay you properly for the long journey."
"Ah, no need. I can decline."
"Nonsense. If you've received, you must give in return. No need to refuse."
"...In that case, I'll gratefully accept."
I gave a suitable divination for the Heavenly Demon Cult and tucked the wooden plaques back into my bosom.
I'd been terribly worried at first, but she was kinder than expected, easing my fears somewhat.
'Is she really the Heavenly Demon?'
Not overly friendly or kind, but compared to her reputation, her personality was decent.
She responded appropriately, added affirmations, without dismissing or looking down on me—it felt far more comfortable than I'd feared.
-Stare
'If only that gaze would stop...!'
The problem was that unrelenting stare—it was too burdensome.
What was there to see inside this invisible cloak anyway? Yet she kept piercing through it.
It felt like her gaze alone might tear the cloak apart.
And she was someone who could do it if she wanted.
"Ahaha... W-well then, I'll take my leave. It was an honor to meet y—"
Seeing her continued interest in my cloak, I worried she might really take it and started my farewell.
"Ah. Wait."
-Flinch
Her voice stopping me as I rose froze my body solid.
Whether from my excessive tension around her or some technique she used, I couldn't tell,
"I-is there a problem?"
"If you're amenable, I'd like one more favor."
"I-is that so?"
"Of course, I'll have them pay extra accordingly."
"Name it."
Whoops.
I answered reflexively.
Not that I needed money anymore, but old habits from my Faceless Golden Ghost days kicked in...
"That's fortunate."
'...Well, I've already answered, no backing out now.'
I couldn't retract words spoken to the Heavenly Demon.
Words once uttered can't be taken back—a timeless lesson across East and West.
'Whatever it is, handle it quick and bolt.'
With that thought, I waited for her to speak.
More divination, perhaps.
Or Central Plains intel.
Ye Socheon's words came to mind—her staying put in the Demonic Cult because of me, maybe now heading to the Central Plains—stirring unease.
'What if it's bad?'
Who knows. It might demand staking my life.
No matter how kindly she seemed now, she was the Demonic Cult's head.
Her amiability so far could be a ploy to lower my guard for this moment...
"Care for a drink?"
"Pardon?"
I reflexively repeated it.
The sentence reached my brain via my ears, but processing it took ages,
"...You mean alcohol?"
and even after understanding, I had to ask again—it was that unbelievable.
"I have a hobby of enjoying fine liquors. If you're willing, I'd like to share a cup with you."
"..."
Alcohol.
I loved it enough to wake from sleep for it, but I knew timing and place.
No matter how much, sharing drinks amicably in the heart of the Demonic Cult with its top figure wasn't...
-Slurp
Ah. Drool.
"...Um..."
"I hear you're quite the drinker in the Central Plains... or am I wrong?"
...Whoever investigated did a thorough job.
I only gained real fame after the Sword Empress incident, so the rumor of my drinking shouldn't have spread that far.
'She didn't call me for divination, but for drinks, did she?'
For a moment, I wondered if that was the true purpose, given her seeming disinterest in divination.
Even if she seemed amusingly approachable now, surely not.
Probably just an afterthought post-divination.
My head screamed to back out—it was risky—but my body was already salivating.
The Heavenly Demon herself admitted to enjoying liquor; what must hers taste like?
Undoubtedly, top-shelf stuff that made other expensive ones pale.
[You're insane! Even if she's seemed harmless so far, drinking with the Heavenly Demon? How do you know she hasn't poisoned it!]
[True, but if she wanted to drug me, why bother with the drink?]
[Oh, right?]
The angel-devil debate in my head ended with one side conceding instantly.
Even as Demonic Cult qualms tugged at me, her decisive blow landed.
"Our cult has liquors you won't find in the Central Plains—plenty of them. Have you tried Western Region brews?"
"..."
When I came to, my briefly lifted foot was already planted back on the floor.