Chapters Chapter 124. Plan for the ball, successful! (Pt. 2) (1/2)
It was a strange thing to say.
He smelled like someone that can see the future?
The nuance of this was strange enough to grab Kang Chul-In’s attention. He knew the future? Did she guess the fact that Kang Chul-In had returned to the past too?
... There was no way.
“The smell of a fortune-teller… I don’t have any thoughts to set up a place anywhere.”
Kang Chul-In spoke calmly.
“I also am not interested in things like tarot cards, or crystal balls. You’ve got the wrong man here.”
“No, I haven’t.”
“What do you mean then.”
“I can smell a the ability of a fortune-teller, or more precisely one who can somehow foresee the future with his ability.”
Thankfully, Skadi didn’t seem to know the truth.
“I didn’t think that the Lord that was ranked 5th would be one that was this deep into the occult. I thought you were a mage?”
“Magic and Occult has a very close relationship.”
“Is that so?”
“Of course, most mages tend to want to disagree with this statement.
“Well… that’s your problem, not mine.”
Kang Chul-In turned his head around. It wasn’t interesting for him to talk about magic or occults.
And… Skadi was going to die soon anyway.
She had died exactly three days after she had risen to the rank of Overlord. Just like Baruk Al Yusuf, she was a dead man standing.
“I don’t want to talk to you anymore. Go away from my table.”
Kang Chul-In said.
It made sense.
What would he gain from talking to a person he knew was already going to die anyway? After 3 days, she wouldn’t be here.
“No, wait a minute.”
Skadi held on to Kang Chul-In.
“What else do you have to say? If it’s about this fortune-telling or occult nonsense…”
“You know about it.”
“About what.”
“The future that’s coming. Even if you say no, you cannot trick my eyes. You have the same aura that comes from those that can see the future. Though your powers may not be powerful, it should be enough for you to look into the future by a few days…”
And what Skadi said afterward was enough to pique Kang Chul-In’s interest.
“Meaning… that you probably know that I’m going to die soon.”
Actually, it more than piqued his interest. She had completely surprised Kang Chul-In.
T-This woman… she knew she was going to die?
It was something new.
A person who knew that she was going to die.
“Sometimes, a little learning isn’t good at all. What, are you planning to suicide or something?”
Though Kang Chul-In was astonished, he didn’t show it outwardly. An experienced Lord shouldn’t show emotional changes so easily.
“You don’t seem to trust me.”
“Maybe I’ll trust you if you say something that makes sense.”
“And isn’t it just you trying to hide the fact that you can also see the future?”
“Haha!”
Kang Chul-In laughed.
“Skadi… Skadi Andvari.”
And for the first time, Kang Chul-In turned his head to face Skadi.
Lush black hair.
Purple eyes.
Jade white skin.
Light pink lips.
Skadi seemed more like an innocent girl than a Lord.
“If you’re going to talk about this ridiculous nonsense, go somewhere else to preach.”
It was the truth that he knew the future. Because he was a returner.
But predicting it?
If he had the power to foresee the future, he wouldn’t have been betrayed by Aleister in the first place. Same for his head being chopped off and his heart being stabbed by that damned Rothschild.
“B-But…”
“I thought I told you already.”
Kang Chul-In cut off Skadi’s words.
“I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”
“...You’re very adamant about this.”
“Well, of course. Why do I need to talk to someone that has no worth talking to?”
Though Kang Chul-In wasn’t sure how Skadi could foresee her own death, he wasn’t planning to change the future by saving her.
Skadi ‘had’ to die.
The Esmerelda territory that she controlled was an absolutely key strategic point that lied between the Baldur Area, and the Gulveig Area.
Once Skadi died, her territory would become the area where a lot of terrible fights would take place. The never-ending fights between Alex Rothschild and Albrecht Vilhelm to take control over this strategic checkpoint.
But the person who would reap benefits from this would be Kang Chul-In.
The reason Ishtar was able to maintain a three-way power balance was through the distrust between Rothschild and Albrecht, after the death of Skadi.
“...Is that so.”
Skadi’s face darkened.
“My fate doesn’t change. My death.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I’m sure you saw an unavoidable death for me. I thought maybe it would be different in the eyes of another person that could see the future, but… I guess it’s the same.”
At this point, even the cold Kang Chul-In was speechless. He didn’t have the powers of foreseeing the future, yet he was being treated like someone that did.
“No matter how much I shuffle the cards, how I like into the crystal ball… The only thing I see is death. This is the first time I felt such a strong certainty about the future. Maybe… I’ll be able to live another 3 days. No matter what, I’ll probably die within that time. If another foreseer, like you felt the same…”
Skadi seemed as if she was going to cry at any moment.
“It seems that destiny cannot be overwritten, huh.”
“That depends on how someone sees it.”
“That’s right, I spoke foolishly.”
“Go now.”
Kang Chul-In said once more.
It was a meaningless conversation.
Though he didn’t understand why Skadi thought he had an ability to see the future, Kang Chul-In didn’t have the slightest intention to save her or do something for her.
Though people may see he was being terrible, or ruthless, there was nothing worse than having worthless sympathy.
If Kang Chul-In helped Skadi, he would be causing a huge problem.
And the price for that…
Would be something that Kang Chul-In, and his citizens would have to pay for.
“I mean… I’m sure you don’t have much to say… For someone who’s going to die soon.”
Bitterly, Skadi rose from the table. It meant that she would finally stop bothering him.
“Thanks for your precious time. Goodbye.”
Answering politely, Skadi rose from the table and started to walk away.
“Don’t tell me…”