Chapter 292

My friend is getting hit with a cane by an old man he knows. Choose what to do in this situation.

First, even if I don’t know the circumstances, I should at least step in.

Second, I should call for help.

Third, I should just watch.

“What a wretched brat! Look at that mouth!”

“I-I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m sorry!”

“Not knowing means you deserve more hits!!”

I chose the third option. I don’t really know what’s happening, but it seems Luna did something wrong.

Seeing Warden getting all worked up about her manners, I’m 100% sure of it.

Luna has this way of making people feel weird, and since Warden doesn’t get that, he probably thinks she’s just a rude kid.

If I jump in unnecessarily, it could turn into a hassle. Everyone’s eyes are glued to the scene.

“An academy student being hit by an old man. Not an easy sight to watch.”

Not only is it rare, but it’s also quite an embarrassing situation. Ignoring it seems like the better option.

Just then, Eli happened to walk by, so I figured I wouldn’t stop it. I simply watched.

“Ah! S-Sivar! Don’t just watch, intervene!”

But that Luna girl has some sharp eyes. Or maybe I’m just too noticeable.

Now that she’s pointed me out, ignoring her is tough. I muttered to myself as I moved to intervene.

First, I had to separate Warden from the old man swinging the cane. The old man was surprisingly strong, making it hard to pull him away.

There’s a reason why I could come to the academy barehanded. Despite his appearance, his body seems fit.

“Whooo… It’s been forever since I’ve felt this way. There was someone like him back in the day.”

“Who?”

“I don’t want to think about that guy. He’s probably somewhere around now.”

Is he an old rival? I barely calmed down the fuming Warden.

Meanwhile, Luna was gently petting her head, but it seemed she got hit pretty hard with that cane.

Anyway, what on earth did she say that made Warden this angry?

He’s a bit quirky, but he’s not really someone who loses his temper easily. He’d probably just click his tongue and let it go.

“Luna, what did you say?”

“Nothing. I just… said I was worried about the elder…”

“That kind of kid, is she asking if he’s losing it? What a complete brat!”

Losing it, huh? Warden pointed his cane at Luna angrily.

As I mentioned earlier, Warden isn’t losing it. He’s just an oddball who loves to read palms.

Luna probably didn’t know that and thought he was losing his mind.

I had to clear up Luna’s misunderstanding, so I explained instead.

“He’s not losing it. Just a weird old man.”

“Oh, really?”

“What do you mean ‘oh’? These two little brats are just causing a ruckus!”

He is a weird old man after all. I’d say it’s better than being senile.

Seeing my puzzled expression, Warden let out a sigh and shook his head.

“Sigh… Oddly fitting in another way. The fates themselves are quite the opposite.”

“The fates are opposite?”

“Yeah. You two have fates intertwined in a strange way. You seem to be walking a similar path while being completely opposite.”

I looked at Luna after hearing that explanation. Maybe she had the same thought, as she turned her head at the same moment.

Perhaps Warden was talking about the path we would face ahead, the story, in other words.

At times like this, he’s truly insightful. He’s definitely not a phony.

“So, being on opposite paths? What does that mean?”

“Just what it says. I don’t know the details, but that’s all I can tell.”

“Are you really losing it…?”

Luna murmured quietly, genuinely worried.

Warden, however, looked like he was about to blow a gasket. He hurriedly opened his mouth before swinging his cane again.

“Is it not in sync with Luna?”

“Not at all. Just like light has to have shadow, there might be a compatibility in another sense.”

I think I get what he means. It sounds like he’s referring to the story Luna and I will be unfolding together.

From now on, Luna and I will be steadily progressing through the story. At least our direction is the same.

I’m not sure what Luna’s goal is, but as long as our paths align, it should be alright.

While I was pondering this, Warden sighed again.

“What a pity. Such a pity. It’d be better if you both had independent fates.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Luna asked, as if she didn’t understand. I was just as puzzled.

Luna and I are already in the same boat. This is possible only because our interests align perfectly.

But it seems Warden doesn’t like that. I wonder why.

“When one person suffers, the chances of the other getting hurt are very high. You could call it a community of fate.”

“Hmm… You’re not suggesting that Luna and I are getting married, right?”

“Such a horrifying thought.”

For the record, I didn’t say it. Warden reacted that way immediately after hearing Luna’s question.

To me, it just sounded like Luna was rambling, but Warden didn’t see it that way.

“Calling it horrifying is a bit much…”

Thanks to that, I could see Luna’s expression looking a bit hurt. She pouted her lips, looking annoyed.

I think I’ve never seen her make that face before. She doesn’t usually get upset.

But with all those harsh comments, it seems like she’s feeling emotionally wounded.

“Calling it horrifying is right. I’m worried your mouth might get contaminated.”

“Contaminated? What does that even mean?”

“There’s a saying in the Eastern Empire. ‘Those who are close to ink become black,’ meaning that if you’re near something bad, you’ll end up like it.”

I get what he’s worried about. But Luna’s way of speaking is something you can’t just mimic.

It rivals Chaos, or maybe even surpasses it. I’ve never seen such a way of speaking in my life.

It’s a definite insult, but it doesn’t feel like one. Truly a double-edged sword, especially knowing Luna as a person makes it even more confusing.

“So, you two better not get too close. If not, it could end up hurting you both.”

“I’ll think it through. What about you, Sivar?”

“Me too.”

“Geez. Ignoring the advice of an adult like this. You’re going to regret it one day.”

Warden clicked his tongue. It’s obvious he’s not pleased with our answers.

But since we decided to unravel the story together, we can’t avoid getting hurt together.

Even if Warden’s palm reading is incredible, it doesn’t mean he has all the answers.

“So, do you have any other questions? I can just wait here.”

“Not really. What about you, Luna?”

“I do have one. Old man.”

“What is it? If it’s a strange question, I won’t answer.”

“It’s not a strange question.”

Which just makes me even more uneasy. What will come out of that mouth?

Luna’s speech really stirs up people’s curiosity.

Even calling her a linguistic magician feels insufficient. I quietly waited for her to speak.

“Can you read the fortunes of animals, not just humans?”

“Fortunes of animals? What on earth does that mean?”

“I have an animal that I raise with Sivar. My friend has one too. Is it possible?”

Maybe she’s just a bit dim.

She’s definitely smart, but she can be off the wall at times.

Having grown up in the countryside and just entering the academy, she’s probably lacking in many ways.

“Isn’t it said that knights were uneducated back in the day?”

I think I’ve heard that somewhere. Medieval knights prided themselves on being illiterate.

While the academy requires proficiency in the common language, I bet she didn’t care about much else.

Moreover, Luna’s talent is solely focused on martial arts. She doesn’t use her brain much, despite having one.

“Wow! That’s quite an interesting question. What animal is it? Is it a spirit creature?”

“Huh?”

But Warden’s reaction was unexpected. He stroked his beard, showing genuine interest.

He even picked up that there are spirit creatures among the animals. Because of it, Luna’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Can you really understand spirit creatures?”

“The intelligence of spirit creatures is not different from that of people. In other words, it means they can carve out their own fates. If you look closely, they will even have palm lines.”

“That’s fascinating. But I don’t have any spirit creatures. They’re just similar…”

“That won’t do. To be a spirit, they must not only understand human speech, but also speak themselves.”

So, Neoburi and Pijon-tu wouldn’t work. That’s a bit disappointing.

I’d want to bring Porori along, but I held that thought back. Luna seems to feel the same way.

“Then does that mean it’s possible for animals or birds without hands?”

Now, that’s the fantasy world for you. It’s a fascinating place.

There’s so much I don’t know compared to what I do. I’m solid on the story but have never heard anything like this before.

“Ah, time to go. This has been a refreshing conversation after such a long time.”

Warden got up from the bench, stretching his back. It looks like he’s about to head somewhere else.

“Where are you going now?”

“I told you earlier, right? To meet a friend’s son. He should be around here somewhere…”

“Old man!”

A man’s voice cut through the conversation, making me turn my head in that direction.

When I looked, lo and behold, someone I had seen before was rushing towards us.

“Oh, there you are. I’ve been looking for you for a while.”

The announcer for the upcoming performance. The one I would be participating in.

I had completely forgotten about him when I went up to the stage for the performance.

“Making an old man wait like this? I thought I was going to die from back pain.”

“You look perfectly fine. By the way, who are these people…”

The announcer looked at us. I matched his gaze.

Dressed in a neat suit with sleek green hair combed back, his face was pale with red lips painted on.

It looks like a clown makeup you’d see in a movie. Not to the extent of having cut lips, but definitely clownish.

“Being an announcer, I guess he needs to attract attention.”

Performances aren’t just about singing and dancing; there’s also a circus.

Since it’s a special occasion, I can understand the clown get-up.

I also remember that not only the announcer but several other performers were dressed like clowns too.

“We were just chatting as we walked by. Do you know them?”

“I know this guy. I hear he’s participating in the performance.”

“The performance? You’re doing it?”

Warden looked at me with surprise. Even though my face was hidden by a hat, I could feel it.

Participating in the performance isn’t a big deal, so I nodded. Warden stroked his beard in thought.

“Interesting. You don’t seem like the type to jester around… Do you have confidence?”

“A bit?”

“That’s exciting. Let’s see you later.”

“This way, please.”

Warden followed the announcer’s lead, who was helping him walk comfortably.

So he was the announcer for my friend’s son. It seems like the old man is in on the performance too.

“Ah!?”

Just as I stood back, watching them leave, Luna let out a painful noise beside me.

Turning my head to look at her, I wondered what was wrong. She was covering her eyes with her hands.

“Luna? Are you okay?”

“Yeah. I’m fine. Just my eyes hurt a bit…”

“….They’re bleeding?”

It’s not just a bit. Blood was flowing from Luna’s bright red eyes.

Something similar happened last time. Was it when I lost my status window?

I quickly panicked and rushed Luna to the hospital. If anything goes wrong with her eyes, it’ll be a serious problem.

“Did you use too much power…?”

“How much did you use?”

“I haven’t stopped using it since yesterday. I was worried a demon might sneak in. Guess that was my limit.”

With that much use, it’s normal for her to bleed from her eyes.

It looks like there’s pressure on her eyes every time she uses her power, and I worry she might pop them.

“Sivar.”

“Yeah?”

“About what that old man said earlier.”

After deciding she’d stay in the hospital for a day, Luna, with her eyes bandaged, asked me.

I hadn’t told anyone else. I didn’t want to impose on them during a busy time.

“You and I are fate partners. What do you think that means?”

“Who knows?”

I guess it literally means sharing a fate. I added that it’s like light and shadow.

They are one but can never truly become one. And one cannot exist alone.

To have only one means either only light exists, or only darkness does. It suggests the balance of the world is shattered.

“So, it means we don’t need to fight, right?”

“Why would I fight with you?”

“Just… something feels that way.”

Luna scratched her cheek and evaded the question. Does she know something?

When I tilted my head in confusion, Luna spoke again.

“Sivar.”

“Yeah?”

“I like you.”

“…..?”

She’s confessing all of a sudden? This is a bit unexpected.

“So let’s not fight. Got it?”

“…..Yeah.”

No, that’s not it. She said that out of anxiety.

Flustered, I could only respond a beat late.

Honestly, anyone else would be struck dumb by that conversation. It’s only natural.

“Why was your answer late?”

Wouldn’t you be late too?

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