Chapter 33: Visit (4)

“Hello, Osera.”

“Nice to see you, esteemed one.”

Some time ago.

Acella Praus visited the Tower of Space-Time.

The Tower of Space-Time welcomed her warmly.

Though they maintained a closed-off policy, they were always open to talent for their ultimate goal.

Acella Praus perfectly fit their criteria for genius.

Naturally, they had no choice but to receive her warmly.

“Do you still hear strange whispers every night?”

“Hehe, it’s fine. I barely hear them these days, and as always, I’m perfectly okay.”

“That’s a relief. So, what brings you here?”

“I have a request.”

Acella handed over a piece of paper.

It contained information about [Evan Alkart].

“Evan Alkart. Please [observe] whether he’s lying or not.”

“Hmm, lying?”

“He’s been deceiving the entire continent with lies about his talent. You don’t know how much damage I’ve suffered because of him…”

The type the Tower of Space-Time despised most was a fake genius.

They wasted the tower’s time, which was meant for finding true talent. 

Sometimes, their jealousy even buried real geniuses.

The tower didn’t directly intervene to punish them.

After all, it’s not like they went around shouting, “I’m from the Tower of Space-Time!”

“But intervening isn’t within my jurisdiction. We’d need to discuss it.”

“Of course. I’ll wait here for your answer.”

It was the first time she’d made such a request.

Normally, wizards associated with the Tower of Space-Time were indifferent to worldly matters.

To directly ask for something to be dealt with?

A discussion took place within the tower.

Was it right to intervene, or not?

Evan was rumored to be a genius, but he hadn’t caused harm to anyone.

His influence was mostly in the underworld.

Normally, they wouldn’t get involved.

However.

“To recruit Acella Praus, isn’t granting a request like this worthwhile?”

The opinion of the eldest elder in the tower was strong.

“This is an investment. An investment for our long-cherished goal!”

“Didn’t you say you were retiring soon?”

“My final investment in my lifetime. Don’t you know? Her talent is precious. We must secure her.”

Didn’t he ruin things with gambling several times before? Is this really okay?

The Tower of Space-Time didn’t have many opportunities left to take risks.

Time wasn’t infinite, and the space they could stand on was finite as well.

Sometimes, they had no choice but to gamble.

If Evan was a true genius, that’d be great.

They could bring him in as a comrade or accept him into the tower.

If not?

A warning would suffice.

At that moment, Osera stepped forward.

“I’ll go.”

“Osera, you?”

“Just to get some fresh air. I’ll do a quick [observation] and return.”

“If it’s Osera, we can trust you. Go, and if he’s exceptional, don’t forget to recruit him.”

“Of course.”

Osera was one of the wizards loyal to the Tower of Space-Time.

Her talent was considered on par with the [Oracle of the Starry Sky], who had left the tower, and she was seen as the future.

A wizard trusted by the entire tower.

They sent her off without any suspicion.

Unaware of Osera’s true thoughts.

Maybe I’ll get to meet Big Sis.

The Oracle of the Starry Sky and Osera were very close.

Rather than rivals with similar talents, they saw each other as companions walking the same path.

Like family.

Jealousy?

None.

Neither was petty enough to be consumed by such trivial emotions.

Their bond had frayed when the Oracle left the tower, and they hadn’t met since.

This was her chance.

She wouldn’t miss it.

As soon as she left, she secretly sent a letter, and fortunately, the Oracle responded.

“It’s been a while, Osera. How have you been? I’m currently… in the Knight Kingdom of Demisia.”

The Knight Kingdom of Demisia!

Outside the empire.

A kingdom ruled by the strongest knight, Gyeonbaek, said to rival the empire in martial prowess.

However, its geography wasn’t ideal.

Close to a desert, with barren land where food didn’t grow well, and regularly attacked by monsters.

A country that suited the Oracle’s personality—she couldn’t ignore those in need.

“But don’t come yet, Osera.”

“We’re not ready yet.”

“I miss… those days. Not the current tower, but the old tower, when we played together under the starry sky in the fields…”

The current Tower of Space-Time had changed.

Its original goal was to protect the “stars,” but at some point, it had shifted to a completely different purpose.

Disappointed, the Oracle had left.

Her overwhelming talent was unmatched, even by Osera.

“P.S. I’m sorry, little sis.”

Big Sis…

Still, Osera was happy.

It had been a while, but she’d exchanged letters with the Oracle.

With her goal achieved, Osera felt at ease.

She’d just finish the job and return.

Evan Alkart?

She wasn’t particularly interested.

Despite his notorious reputation and rumors of talent, he wasn’t someone to be wary of.

The Alkart family’s prestige was notable, but it was ultimately the emperor’s domain to manage.

Evan was just an excuse to get involved.

Or so she thought.

…I never imagined his talent would be invisible.

The failure of [observation].

It was a first for her.

Though not as great as the Oracle, her talent was considerable.

Her spatial awareness, honed by the blindfold covering her eyes.

Even her ability to sense souls, invisible to the naked eye.

Yet she couldn’t sense anything.

His talent must be so great that even Osera couldn’t perceive it.

And finally.

His reaction to the Oracle of the Starry Sky.

He’s definitely not asking casually.

Evan’s talent was so extraordinary that even Osera couldn’t observe it.

A talent capable of ascending to a higher dimension.

And he was interested in fate.

Rather than simple curiosity, it was more likely he had a plan.

Impressive.

Osera was in awe.

To have such talent and remain humble, striving for a better fate.

What kind of grand picture was he painting?

Acella’s request had long been erased from her mind.

This wasn’t just any level of talent—it was transcendent.

Acella’s request was naturally overshadowed.

…With someone like him… maybe…

Could she meet the Oracle again through Evan?

A small greed.

An emotion someone dreaming of a greater cause shouldn’t have.

Yet it stirred within her chest.

“The Oracle’s location? Yes, I know it.”

“Really?”

“What? How do you know? Did you stalk her after driving her out?”

At Egis’s words, Osera’s lips twisted.

“No way. I just happen to have a ‘connection’ with her.”

“Tch.”

“Do you want to know the Oracle’s location?”

“…Yes, if it’s not too much trouble.”

A polite tone.

It piqued her curiosity in many ways.

What kind of person was he?

Someone unobservable.

I want to see him in person.

At that moment.

“Evan, Evan.”

A young voice.

Osera flinched and trembled.

A body and soul she could observe.

A soul so vast and ominous it seemed to consume the body.

She knew but had been half-ignoring it…

Wrath, is it?

Red, so red, and redder still.

A distorted soul.

She couldn’t help but swallow dryly.

Could it ever return to normal? The question popped into her mind.

The answer came immediately.

The moment it approached Evan, the soul normalized.

As if Evan wasn’t the target of its “wrath.”

“Can I ask one thing?”

“Of course.”

“Who told you to check on Evan?”

Osera flinched in surprise.

How did she know?

“It’s not like you came here on your own. Someone sent you, right? You keep looking at me and Evan with that weird [sense], and it’s annoying.”

She noticed the [observation]?

[Observation] wasn’t ordinary magic.

It was a type of celestial magic.

Though now altered and classified as space magic, no enemy could detect it.

How did she figure it out?

“I won’t say anything.”

Evan didn’t seem too offended.

Her eyes couldn’t see, so she had to rely on that.

And wasn’t it half her choice, half someone else’s?

If anything, it was pitiful.

He should show some consideration.

“Will you just answer?”

“I apologize for my rudeness. It should be fine to tell someone as esteemed as you.”

Osera offered a polite apology and spoke.

“Do you know of Lady Acella Praus?”

That name again.

Evan wrinkled his nose.

By now, it almost felt familiar.

“I know of her, but why?”

“She asked me to confirm whether your talent is real or not.”

Now I’m the target?

In the original story, Leo was the target, not Evan.

Seeing Leo fall for the rumors, does she think she’s already taken one down?

“It seems she misunderstood. Your talent is so vast that I can’t even see it.”

Maybe it’s not vast, but too small?

Could it be a speck-of-dust talent?

That might actually be better.

He could live quietly, unnoticed, and move on.

It’s just bad luck that things turned out this way, but he’d return to normal soon enough.

“There seems to be a misunderstanding.”

“?”

“It’s not that my talent is too vast to see. It’s too small to notice.”

“???”

“???”

“???”

Lapis, Osera, and Egis.

All three stared at him as if he were spouting nonsense.

Why don’t they get it?

He felt wronged but didn’t say anything.

Their gazes were too scary… Well, that was part of it, anyway.

“As compensation for my rudeness, I’ll offer you a Time Herb and one Space Magic spell.”

“But.”

“It’s my apology, so please accept it.”

Her tone was firm, as if she wouldn’t allow objections.

Evan nodded, and Egis shot a fierce glare.

Cheater!

Feeling their gazes, Evan was dumbfounded.

They’re fighting over this too?

“I’ll tell you where the Oracle is.”

At Osera’s words, Evan leaned in to listen.

His posture was already impeccable, so it didn’t make much difference.

“In the outskirts of the Demisia Kingdom, the holy land of arenas.”

Osera said in a calm voice.

“A place where the stars are always visible… She’s there.”

Ah.

Evan’s mouth dropped open.

Of all places, the Demisia Kingdom?

Demisia.

The country ruled by the Mad Knight Gyeonbaek.

Naturally, it was far.

It’d take a full two weeks to get there.

Tch, should I just not go?

“The last contact was two days ago, but… she said she’d stay there this month.”

Oh, it’s too good an opportunity.

A chance to meet the Oracle in person.

A chance to meet his favorite character—how could he pass that up?

No way he could resist.

Even if Evan was a safety-first kind of guy.

Evan nodded.

“I see. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome… This is the Time Herb.”

Swoosh!

Osera took something out of the bag at her waist and handed it over.

A Time Herb.

An ominous herb.

Its blue and purple hues mixed, looking like poison at a glance.

Evan carefully accepted it.

Of course, through a golem.

“What Space Magic would you like?”

“I’d like a Subspace Magic spell, please.”

“Is that enough? How about a spell that erases all the air in an area—”

“That kind of magic…”

“It’s fine.”

Evan politely declined.

Ugh!

Why learn such a shiver-inducing spell?

It wasn’t to the taste of safety-first Evan.

Something like Dimensional Armor would be better.

A spell that uses spatial anomalies to infinitely extend the distance between you and your enemy.

They say it’s super safe.

No contact with enemies, apparently.

“This is the incantation and the scroll. I’ll teach you step by step. Oh, and this…”

Osera hesitated as she pulled something from her pocket.

Was it okay to give this?

After a brief pause, she handed it over.

“If you meet the Oracle… please give this to Big Sis.”

It was a single letter.

Hmm, this should be fine.

Evan accepted it, again through the golem.

“Understood.”

He wasn’t planning to leave right away.

He needed to learn the magic, prepare gifts, and make protective gear.

Thorough preparation was essential.

He probably couldn’t deliver it immediately.

Giving it later should be fine, right?

Meanwhile, Egis.

She wore a desperate expression.

***

The outskirts of the Knight Kingdom, Demisia.

A high mountaintop where the stars were always visible.

“Cough, cough.”

The usually calm desert was filled with the screams of the dead.

Corpses covered the mountain, blood flowing like a river.

From the pile of bodies, a lone wandering knight barely raised his head.

A beautiful night sky studded with countless stars.

Beneath it, a figure stood atop the sandy peak.

A robe unstained by even a drop of blood.

The wandering knight, seeing this, muttered in despair.

“The Oracle of the Starry Sky…”

The culprit behind the corpses covering the mountain and the blood flowing like a river.

It was none other than…

The Oracle of the Starry Sky, known as a saint.