Chapter 21
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 021
Chapter Title: Bandits and Relief Holy Knight Order (5)
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"In the time of future chaos, one shall be born without a mother's mark. Unfettered by the world's customs, unbound by knots, he shall at last set right the natural order."
While I was still taken aback.
My master gazed into my eyes and slowly recited a passage I'd never heard before, enunciating each word clearly.
It seemed like this was the prophecy he was talking about.
"The prophecy heard by Eremus's leader when he founded the organization. The part about 'one born without a mother's mark'—that's exactly 'the child without a navel.' That's why the black mage was shocked when he saw you."
"I see."
"And 'set right the natural order' is interpreted as bringing down the organization known as Eremus."
To sum up the prophecy: the child without a navel would wipe out Eremus.
Realizing that sent a chill down my spine.
Even if I wasn't the protagonist of that prophecy, the black mages of Eremus would surely try to kill me.
"So the people in Eremus will try to kill me outright?"
"Report immediately upon discovering the child without a navel. That's what you hear the moment you join Eremus. In other words, the instant black mages find out you have no navel, your life is in danger. You're right."
"Ah..."
My master's firm confirmation.
Hearing that made the world go dark before my eyes.
To think that a physical quirk I'd dismissed as trivial would put my life at risk from black mages.
In that case, I had no choice but to get stronger just to survive.
The best outcome would be keeping the fact that I have no navel a secret, but who knows what the future holds?
It was wiser to prepare for the worst.
"Looking at the whole world, you're probably not the only child without a navel. And yet... for some reason, I have a feeling you might be the one from the prophecy."
"Me?"
"Think about it—our meeting was unusual from the start. I came to find you after hearing that prophecy myself."
"What prophecy did you hear, Master?"
"An old woman I met by chance told me: 'Seek the boy with sunlight woven into his hair and clear water in his eyes. Guide him on his path, and your deepest wish shall be fulfilled.'"
"Oh..."
My master had sought me out after hearing the old woman's revelation, while Eremus's leader was searching for me because of an ominous prophecy.
I couldn't quite wrap my head around the situation.
Did oracles really exist?
If they did, that would be proof that gods truly existed in this world.
If gods really exist... then he would know why I came to this world, right?
Miscellaneous thoughts began to multiply.
There were just so many questions.
If my master hadn't continued speaking, I probably would've stewed in my thoughts for a good while.
"I think fate is guiding you somewhere."
"Fate?"
"Yes. There are too many suspicious coincidences to call them mere chance. Your lack of a navel, the old woman's prophecy leading me to you, the transcendent being residing in your soul... all of it is too odd."
Whether fate truly exists or not, I still didn't know.
But my master seemed convinced it did.
He believed my future was set.
If he was right, then no matter what I did, I'd end up fulfilling the prophecy.
But... so what?
"Then I guess I need to get stronger first."
"What makes you think that? If fate leads to a fixed end, nothing you do can change the future. Wouldn't it be better to just relax and let it come?"
My master asked me.
He seemed genuinely curious about my reasoning.
"You said fate brings a fixed conclusion, right? But the path to that end doesn't seem set in stone. I want to choose my own way without being swept up by outside forces or circumstances. That's why I need to get stronger."
Well, that was just a plausible excuse I'd come up with.
My real motive was different.
Even if my future was set, I couldn't know what it was.
Fate might not even exist.
But one thing was clear: staying as I was put my life in danger.
That was the key point.
It had been two months since I met my master and left the village.
In that short time, I'd already encountered black mages twice.
I'd lost count of the bandits and highwaymen.
And I still had to watch out for the Silent Compliance Society, whom I hadn't even met yet.
With all these enemies gunning for my neck, how many people could afford to take it easy?
Of course I had to struggle to escape the danger.
"You decide the path to that conclusion yourself. That's your resolve. Excellent."
My master didn't argue further.
He seemed to respect my decision.
The Relief Holy Knight Order successfully extracted information from their prisoners that the bandits' camp was empty.
They occupied it without a fight.
The place was neatly stocked with everything the bandits had plundered from people up to that point. Bernard didn't hesitate to order his men to take it all.
Since the owners were gone anyway, he figured his order could put it to good use.
Fortunately, he looked out for us too in the process.
"Take whatever you need. I won't stop you."
"We're fine."
My master declined Bernard's generosity.
Probably to avoid extra baggage.
It was a choice he could make because he trusted Bernard to give us proper compensation later.
Ah, of course—if a grimoire or magic item had turned up here, my master's decision would've been different.
Is it finally over?
In any case, after looting the bandits' camp and cleaning up the battlefield.
We finally received our reward from Bernard.
He handed over a hefty leather pouch and what looked like a carnivore's fang.
The pouch was obvious enough.
Money, no doubt.
But... what was this fang?
It's huge.
The fang was over 20cm long.
Practically a dagger.
Even gripping it one-handed would leave more blade exposed than covered.
While I was pondering the fang's origins.
Bernard spoke up.
"A relic I found exploring an ancient temple in my youth. Probably some monster's fang from ages past. What, you think it's a dragon's tooth or something?"
Even in this world full of monsters, dragons were treated as mythical beasts.
So Bernard's words were clearly a joke.
But purely by size, it was big enough to pass for a dragon's tooth.
"It's not just any fang. Simply holding it boosts your mana recovery rate—a real treasure. Might not help me much, Digori, but it'd be useful for Heros."
Hearing that, I examined the fang again.
Awakening my senses, I could feel the vast amount of mana contained within.
And it was steadily drawing in ambient mana even now.
A fascinating item.
"We'll gladly take it."
I wasn't the only one who recognized its value.
My master swiftly accepted what Bernard offered.
Bernard watched the fang go with a hint of regret, then looked back at us and said,
"Let me know when you leave. I'll pack you some solid provisions. I plan to report your exploits to the order too. Once more, thank you for your help."
While Bernard expressed his gratitude, my master handed me the fang and focused on his words.
Then the adults' conversation truly began.
Topics ranged from the order's situation, the current state of the war, the aftermath of the peasant revolt, and more.
Amid all that, I kept my eyes and ears on them while my hands busily fiddled with the fang.
And soon, I reached an astonishing conclusion.
It really... speeds up mana recovery!
The increase was slight, but I could definitely feel my mana regenerating faster than before.
Ah, to be precise, it wasn't speeding up the rate.
Mages normally recovered mana from the atmosphere—just sitting still let it refill naturally.
Ambient mana flowing into the mage's body.
Similar to what the fang was doing.
But when I held the fang, the mana inside it slowly absorbed into me too.
So it felt like my recovery was faster.
Drawing in external mana and the fang's mana both—it added up.
It's like a backup battery.
My master had an enormous mana pool to begin with, so this would probably end up with me.
A valuable reward.
That afternoon.
We dragged our weary bodies back to the village.
Planning to rest up for the day and leave tomorrow.
"Somehow, it feels unsatisfying."
I said to my master as we entered the ruined house we'd been staying in.
"What's unsatisfying?"
"The reward from Sir Bernard."
We'd profited handsomely in coin and gotten something money couldn't buy.
Yet the dissatisfaction lingered.
Probably because we hadn't found a grimoire.
Human greed really knows no bounds!
"Greed is written all over your face."
My master saw right through me.
But that wasn't the end of it.
"I figured you'd say that, so I prepared something."
"Oh!"
My master pulled a book from his robes.
A mysterious tome with a red cover cracked open, faint light leaking from the fissures.
Moreover, the glow pulsed rhythmically, like a heartbeat.
In short, it screamed "grimoire" on sight!
"When did you grab this?"
"From the black mage who used the fireball. I buried it completely, then pocketed it separately."
"Oh..."
I looked at my master with eager anticipation.
The mana emanating from the grimoire was substantial.
It had to contain powerful spells.
"Here, give it a read."
My master handed me the grimoire right away.
I snatched it up quickly.
My hands grew warm.
The book itself seemed to radiate heat.
Let's check the name first.
Poker Grimoire.
The cover, the aura from the book itself, even the name—all screamed fire.
High chance it held fire magic.
Great news.
Flames were easy to use offensively.
Now, what favor will you ask of me?
I gazed at the grimoire, brimming with expectation.
And soon, its voice rang out.
A very gravelly tone.
《Light a fire!》
Alright, simple request.
I was satisfied with that thought when the grimoire continued.
《Make it strong enough that it won't go out easily!》
Similar to the Little Flame Grimoire.
Fire magic grimoires seemed to often request fire-related favors.
Still, that's easy enough.
I was about to eagerly start a blaze when the grimoire's voice came again.
The request wasn't over yet.
《Then thrust your hand into it! Only one who fears the flame can wield it properly!》
I stopped, about to light the fire.
I needed time to think.
Stick my hand in the fire? Me? Why?
Hearing the Poker Grimoire's demand made one thing crystal clear.
Just how kind all the grimoires I'd read before had been.