Chapter 246

A person’s character is their fate.

Long ago, a prophet said this.

So then…

If we change our character, can even luck change anytime?

It probably wouldn’t…

But it might waver a little, right?

“Hey, you’re asking because you don’t know. If you have that kind of power, why are you acting so meek? There’s gotta be a reason, right? Carriel? Are you listening?”

“…”

For days now, except when resting, they’ve practically been avoiding her, but whenever they stay in one place, she soon shows up defiantly.

“…”

Delica glared at her with an unnerved look while deliberately ignoring her, whereas Reiman seemed bewildered the whole time, wondering what was going on.

And as for Carriel…

“…”

He maintained his stance of not associating at all.

Like, I have no clue. What’s he got in his head?

Anyway, since neither her face nor eyes were visible due to the helmet, there was no way to guess her intentions.

“…”

The Delica remembered this woman, Era Esdina, who would later become the empress.

In this world, things may differ, but in the previous world Delica remembered, Era was famous in many fields.

Though not obsessed with alchemy, she manufactured multi-purpose drugs that significantly influenced the empire’s pharmaceutical industry.

Later, she was the one who simplified the recovery potions used by adventurers and in wars, originating from her family, the Esdinas.

Additionally, through numerous inventions aiding long expeditions, travels, and explorations, if time had continued, she might have been renowned historically as a special empress.

‘But…’

Right now, she looks… clearly out of her mind.

On the surface, she seems fine, but…

Something feels off, an unknown madness.

“Yeah. Witches felt exactly like this.”

Witches.

Once, women who practiced magic were called witches, but now such terms refer to magicians and mages; calling someone a witch doesn’t happen anymore.

Because witches and mages now mean entirely different things.

Traditionally, those who handle ancient spells, sorcery, and mystical arts.

Modern mages, on the other hand, have a gap with them that cannot be bridged, like a vast ravine separating their relationships and distances.

Most importantly, the origins of witches are often ominous, suspicious, dark, and gloomy.

Since most mythological witches were sources of vengeance, resentment, and tragedy.

But they’re hard to understand normally, even abnormal people find it tough.

The origin of the term ‘witch’ likely stems from fear towards beings dealing with the unknown.

“So, this time you’re heading straight to Dabas? Last time you swept away a bandit gang, and before meeting me, you stopped local conflicts and minor battles. Not doing that here?”

“…?”

Reiman blinked as if hearing it for the first time.

“…”

But beside him, regardless,

Carriel knelt on one knee, maintaining a rigid posture for a long time.

His thick gauntleted hands rested quietly on his thighs.

Without a sound, his massive presence sometimes faded like mist if you lost focus, which was truly bizarre.

“My master noticed your existence because something visible suddenly became invisible. Your very being interferes with foresight, right? You should’ve seen the look on his face!”

“…”

“To mess up the future or make it unpredictable means you can change or decide it, right? Is it possible to escape a world God designed?”

She, Era, asked repeatedly as if possessed.

Through her, Delica and Reiman learned various things.

Whether this was intentional neglect of Carriel’s plans or an unavoidable situation, remains unclear.

“Why are you two following him?”

“…”

“This one’s introverted like someone else. How about you?”

“Uh, me?”

Delica furrowed her brows sharply, but thanks to Era’s persistence, Reiman reluctantly replied.

“It just happened this way.”

“Just happened? Does such a thing exist in this world?”

It’s awkward.

“Ugh.”

However, despite giving hints, Delica didn’t seem to care what he babbled and stood up, leaving the scene promptly.

Carriel remained rooted like a tree in silence.

“Do you know who he is and follow him?”

“No.”

“Should I tell you?”

“…”

Curiosity did arise.

After all, this person, once an enemy, ultimately rescued her in the worst situations and offered her a path forward.

“He’s none other than the bloodline of Radiance, the eldest son of Knight Ruelde of Radiance.”

“…What?”

This exceeded expectations… it’s something…

As Reiman clutched his head in confusion, Era placed her hand on her cheek and sobbed pitifully.

Of course, it was fake crying.

“How could you not inform him of such things and drag him around? So stingy!”

“…Then, what relation does this lady have with him?”

“Once friends, enemies at times, but now I’m not sure.”

“…?”

My mind is getting hazy.

So, what’s the point?

More importantly, enemies? Does that mean Reiman’s situation is similar?

“Did you ever fight against him?”

“Eh? Why do you say that? Are you talking about your experiences? Could he have broken your arm?”

“…”

“Looks real since you’re not denying it! Checked once, didn’t expect it to be true…”

Era turned her head back to Carriel.

“What are you thinking by dragging this guy around? Do you feel guilty? About casually cutting people down?”

“…”

“By the way, about his childhood or his time in the empire…”

Era talked freely about Carriel’s private life.

Listening to it, Reiman was surprised in another way.

‘But how did he become what he is today?’

Apparently, he was dragged around from country to country when he was very young.

The details are unknown.

What’s certain is that Era, the woman speaking, seemed determined to malign him, which Reiman keenly understood.

If your awareness is slow, surviving in the alleys becomes pure suffering.

There, everyone deceives and exploits each other.

Magic can be a trick, but Reiman, missing an arm, was undoubtedly weak there.

Not confident in magic either.

Especially not in places where groups fought over territories—Faceulan.

Even beggars and vagrants climb up there to show off their tricks with various kinds of magic.

As Reiman’s older brother always said, the gap between mages and the incompetent forms the foundation of Faceulan.

Still, handling magic but failing to use it properly, Reiman couldn’t fit into either category—the incompetent or the mage—a dropout.

“Excuse me, why is your ladyship chasing us?”

“To predict, I must keep an eye on you.”

“Predict…what?”

“Yes. The world, in a way, follows rules and order.”

Era pointed at the sky and the ground while speaking.

“We are also within those boundaries and cannot escape them. However, it seems like that doesn’t apply to him.”

“…?”

Can’t you explain it simply?

“I wasn’t using difficult words. Simply put, destiny has no meaning to him. He’s the freest soul in the world.”

“…Is that so?”

“I’m just retelling what I heard. Such beings are incomprehensible, so it’s best experienced firsthand rather than trying to understand with your mind.”

“So…did you get what you wanted?”

“Seeing him just makes me irritated and angry. I thought I had great patience, but apparently not.”

She smiled brightly as if without malice, but judging from her tone and content, it sent chills down the spine.

Things don’t add up.

It’s an indescribable feeling.

“Trying to understand madness is naturally like this.”

When did Delica return?

“Too harsh!”

“If what I’ve heard is correct, I’d have killed you long ago.”

While saying this, Delica glanced at Carriel.

“And the fact that you deceived and framed him, which has already spread throughout the empire, yet you conveniently omit that part and tell only what suits you—how does that feel?”

“What? You knew?”

When Reiman looked at her questioningly, Delica ignored him.

“With the involvement of the imperial prince, you ended up being exiled and excommunicated by the princess, right? Era Esdina. Ah, now expelled from your family, aren’t we equals in status?”

“Are you attacking me to defend him? Isn’t that too narrow-minded? Carriel, even if you don’t want to step forward, using a kid like this is bad, right? You could’ve just said it directly instead of doing something dirty like this…”

“Let me advise you: trying to deal with this person verbally is futile. I want to kill this guy immediately, but I’m following him because I can’t.”

“Really?”

Era seemed surprised, keeping her hands together silently for a while.

“Strange companions, all of you.”

Honestly, there’s no way to know what he saw to form this group.

However, the next day.

Departing from the eastern region, they reached the central continent.

They entered a quiet village.

It was led unilaterally by Carriel, but…

He guided the horse as if he knew the way well.

Similarly, riding Caligula, he moved along with Delica and Reiman, leaving Era behind, who would need some time to catch up.

Most villagers eyed the black iron-armored warhorse and the dark fully-armored knight who rode it with great unease.

However, the atmosphere here was clearly different from the east.

Some villagers and children even approached him curiously or followed behind.

Perhaps Delica and Reiman’s presence eased their suspicions somewhat.

Eventually…

Carriel dismounted and approached a small cottage.

Caligula and the others waited near a tree away from the cottage.

In their sight, a small boy and a frail-looking woman presumably his mother appeared.

“Why did we come here?”

“…Don’t talk to me, idiot. What kind of familiar act is this?”

“…”

Their relationship was still strained.

Despite Reiman’s continuous apologies… this might really be beyond help.

Getting angry or upset here wouldn’t make sense, so Reiman slouched like the first human expelled from paradise with original sin.

Soon, Carriel handed over the sword in its scabbard and quickly returned to the warhorse.

“Do you know them?”

“No.”

…Then, why visit strangers? Why?

“Remember these people and this place.”

“Why?”

“…The next one is this child.”

Next? What next?

“If I’m alive and well, it won’t matter much.”

“Again with incomprehensible talk.”

“Isn’t Sūrus repeating?”

“That incantation?”

“Yes.”

“Yeah, I am.”

Reiman also responded accordingly.

“Then it’s fine.”

“But can you teach that to others?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Carriel answered while placing his hand on Caligula’s back.

“Those without ties of karma and connection can’t reach this realm no matter what methods they use.”

“…Another strange statement.”

Mounting the horse, he positioned Delica in front and Reiman at the back, then departed.

The small child standing at the cottage entrance, holding the sword scabbard, watched them leave with an enigmatic gaze.

And…

A few hours later, the cottage door was knocked on again.

“Isn’t it you? That strange knight came and went earlier, didn’t he?”

Era.

She asked the child with an enigmatic smile.

The boy’s mother was nowhere to be seen.

Was that why?

The boy looked up at Era with a troubled expression.

“What sins have you committed that you’ve reached a state where you cannot even die?”

“What are you talking about, kid?”

Era asked irritably, addressing the boy who uttered a curse that was both praise and blessing in a certain sense.

“Our ill-fate runs deep.”

“Can you see something I don’t know about? Why keep saying meaningless things?”

“He will neither destroy nor cut you, but intends to make you firewood to illuminate me.”

“Did someone tell you this? Did he make you say this? Thinking I’ll be scared…?”

“Someone who can manipulate their own destiny might also alter others’, right?”

That statement was precisely the anxiety Era had always concealed…

The fundamental fear she harbored…

And the reason her teacher sighed and lamented about her.

Era, Era, how did your life come to this?

“…”

Suddenly, her teacher’s sigh echoed in her ears.

Why did the same content flow from this childlike mouth?

“May death be a blessing. I shall deprive you of that blessing.”

“…”

“The message he conveyed. He said if you commit suicide now, you can escape that fate.”

The last mercy.

“There will be no next, he says, pass it on.”

“Who are you?”

Suddenly, should I kill this child?

Such an impulse arose.

“Me?”

The child spoke calmly, aware of Era’s inner thoughts.

“I am nothing special.”

The boy’s steel-blue eyes faintly sparkled.

“Let’s just say I’m a nobody who desperately wants to inherit whatever he has accomplished.”

“…”

“When Mother arrives soon, please leave. I’ve delivered my message. Is there anything else you wish to say?”

“…”

“Our ill-fate runs deep, you said. Then what if I do something to you here?”

“That’s up to you.”

The boy was unperturbed.

“Not knowing what you’re doing or planning gives you peace, doesn’t it? But I know the state of your soul.”

Too terrifying.

Too frightening…

Every moment of life…

Will become a nightmare, a hell.

Even though it hasn’t arrived yet.

Just imagining its shadow…

“Ignorance is a sin, but on the other hand, it’s consideration for you.”

We suffer because we don’t know.

Conversely, knowing means being trapped in shackles and abysses forever.

“Think carefully about what to do. Since you’ve persistently chased him, he granted you mercy.”

“You guys…”

What are you looking at?

Exactly what do you know that we don’t, making you act like this!

“…”

I can’t see it.

This child in front of me, like Carriel…

And the children with him similarly.

Neither predictable nor foreseen.

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