128. Oracle (Part 2)
“I am the leader of Arenja, and currently, I’m acting as the Oracle of Cornseim.”
Seongjin blinked in surprise.
The Oracle, whom he had tried but failed to find any information about, had suddenly appeared.
But what did it mean to be acting as the Oracle?
Anticipating Seongjin’s confusion, the leader quickly added an explanation.
[The Oracle is a prophet of the Cornsheim tribe, guiding the tribe towards the right future and the path they should follow. However, unfortunately, our tribe has long lost such a prophet. Thus, I, with my albeit limited ability to understand causality, am serving in their stead.]
In essence, it meant that Arenja was the ultimate decision-maker regarding what information to share.
“So, what about the most important part you left out in your introduction?”
Puzzled by Seongjin’s question, the leader asked in return.
[What important thing are you referring to?’
“What’s your name?”
[Ah!]
Caught off-guard, the leader’s face showed a moment of surprise before he promptly responded.
[In our clan, one’s position is their identity, so I apologize for the discourtesy. My name is Rebecca. I have come to speak to you, albeit in this manner, due to an urgent message that suddenly arose.]
As the leader spoke, faint gray lights occasionally flickered in Masain’s eyes.
That strange glint in his eyes. Seongjin thought it felt eerily familiar.
[Your Highness, there is much I want to explain, but time is short. His Majesty probably does not appreciate my interference.]
Father?
“Yes. the Holy Emperor wishes for Your Highness’s path to be laid upon complete uncertainty.”
…Complete uncertainty?
Before Seongjin could inquire about the meaning, the leader of Arenja hurriedly continued.
[The reason for this abrupt meeting is to minimize the repercussions of the message I’m about to deliver.]
According to the leader, there would be a total of three instances of information disclosure: from him to an internal agent, from that agent to Commander Bruno through channeling, and finally, from the commander to Seongjin.
The consequences of this chain of communication could be quite unwelcome. This, too, was a side effect of tampering with uncertainty.
“So, what is this important message you’re so eager to convey?”
[Yes, Your Highness. It is to urge you to meet the Saintess before visiting the Scarcepino estate.]
“The Saintess? Do you mean Sisle?”
[…….]
However, no further response came.
With that final remark, the leader bowed his head as if to say goodbye and then seemed to stagger for a moment before lifting his head. By then, his eyes had returned to their original deep green color.
Seongjin asked skeptically.
“…Commander?”
“Yes, Your Highness, it’s me.”
Commander Bruno frowned and rubbed his forehead.
“It seems difficult to maintain this state for long with my abilities. Having someone overlay my body… it’s not a pleasant feeling.”
After massaging his temples for a while, as if suffering from a severe headache, the commander added.
“Hmm, the leader of Arenja asks for understanding for not properly saying goodbye before leaving. And he insists that you remember the message.”
Meet the Saintess before encountering Scarcepino.
“Why such an out-of-the-blue message?”
“Who knows. Perhaps the predictions seen by Arenja have suddenly changed.”
Bruno, straightening his slightly disheveled attire, continued.
“It’s just my guess, but it seems to be because Your Highness has just decided to meet Scarcepino young lord in person.”
“…What?”
Just for that?
“If Your Highness intends to do something, it happens… or so they say. I’m not quite sure of the exact meaning.”
“Wow, that’s some detailed prediction. Was the young lord of Scarcepino that important a figure?”
If so, they should have hinted at meeting him earlier!
“But Commander, about the Saintess that the leader mentioned earlier…”
Seongjin started to say something more but then abruptly closed his mouth as Commander Bruno silently brought a finger to his lips, signaling for discretion.
“Please, Your Highness. Understand that the whole process that just occurred was meant to minimize the repercussions of the message.”
“….”
This is complicated.
Referring to her specifically as [the Saintess] rather than Sisle – was that an intentional avoidance of naming a specific person, or…
‘Could it be referring to that suspicious woman?’
But if it really means Seo Yi-seo, how can I arrange a meeting so suddenly? Now that she’s grandly inaugurated as the Saintess, it’s not easy to just call her over.
Besides, for some reason, I don’t feel too keen on meeting her.
[Why? Something bothering you?]
The Demon King, who had been quiet until now, suddenly chimed in.
‘Well, I have this strong feeling of dislike and annoyance.’
[Is that so…]
The Demon King seemed to ponder for a moment before cautiously suggesting.
[Hmm… In my opinion, if Arenja hadn’t mentioned it, you wouldn’t have known, right? How about just doing nothing and see what happens?]
‘…Huh?’
[I’m not an expert in causality, but matters involving it are often too complex to judge in a single moment. The guy from before must have thought it wouldn’t cause a big problem and thus advised you, but maybe there’s a reason your father insists on such uncertainty?]
‘…….’
[As you know, he’s a character who recklessly meddles with causality, balancing on a fine line. Who else could be more adept at judging causality than him? If your father says not to do it, then don’t. Whatever is meant to happen will happen eventually.]
Hmm, the Demon King’s words sounded quite convincing.
Seongjin glanced at Commander Bruno, still grimacing and clutching his head, and made up his mind.
It might be a bit unfair to the commander who had struggled with this unexpected role of medium, but…
‘Alright, let’s just ignore it!’
Deciding this, he felt an unexpected sense of relief.
‘Ah! That reminds me of a thought.’
[What is it?]
So, the leader of Arenja believed that his message wouldn’t cause a major issue in causality, right?
Doesn’t that mean he thought that even if he told me, I wouldn’t have taken it seriously anyway?
[Oh? That’s true.]
Whether it’s an acting Oracle or whatever, that side must have a capable prophet too.
* * *
“Really? The Milo Trading Company and the Grey Plague, that’s an unexpected combination.”
That evening.
Dasha, who had visited Pearl Palace, tilted her head in confusion upon hearing the new information from Seongjin.
“I couldn’t have imagined their involvement with the Grey Plague. After all, Milo is a foreign trading company that mainly distributes liquor in Asein and Rohan. Besides supplying wine to some taverns, they aren’t known to be very active in Delcross.”
“Since they are a foreign-based company, perhaps the remnants of the Dark Cult, who fled Delcross, might have found refuge with them?”
“That does seem plausible.”
Dasha nodded and said,
“Anyway, let’s track the activities of the Milo Trading Company. I’ll focus on their connections with the Dark Cult and gather information as quickly as possible to report back.”
Seongjin nodded with a satisfied expression.
Always so competent, no matter when.
“Ah, and about the two individuals tipped off by Arenja, if their information turns out to be true, just keep them under surveillance for now, without taking any rash actions.”
Dasha then asked with curiosity,
“Aren’t they just minions of the Dark Cult we’ve finally found? Shouldn’t we interrogate them for information?”
“Well, I don’t think they are the kind to have valuable information. If we capture them rashly, it might alert the Milo Trading Company, making our investigation even more complicated.”
The fact that they are loosely held by the company itself might indicate they are just low-level underlings who know nothing. The whereabouts of the key Inquisitors or priests among the missing are still unknown.
If there’s any sign that the company might kill them to silence them, then it won’t be too late to extract them.
“That makes sense. I’ll proceed as advised.”
Dasha responded briskly.
Despite the increasing workload with various investigations, Dasha didn’t seem overly burdened. Seongjin hadn’t even brought up the investigation into the heretical organizations, given how much he had already requested.
But as Seongjin had limited manpower, he had no choice but to rely heavily on Dasha.
The tasks Seongjin personally undertook often ended up entangled in odd situations.
A visit to the Judiciary led to the discovery of the plague, opening a gate at the Heretical Judiciary, and the woman he sought information about the Dileraria Butterfly suddenly became the Saintess.
“Ah, why do my endeavors always end up like this…”
“Your Highness?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. By the way, how is my mother doing these days?”
Queen Lizabeth hadn’t visited Pearl Palace recently. Seongjin had asked Dasha to keep an eye on her, so he only heard about her through occasional updates.
The queen, usually active in various social engagements, has been busy recently hosting dignitaries from Asein.
“Any particular patronages?”
“It’s well-known that Her Majesty enjoys ballet. Besides her longstanding support for the Chatellet Theatre, she has recently long-term rented the Oranje Theater and is inviting famous ballet companies from Brittany to perform.”
“Hmm…”
So it seems Empress Lizabeth wasn’t the one sponsoring the heretical groups in the name of Morres?
In any case, it was reassuring to hear that she seemed to be doing relatively well.
“That’s a relief, though.”
He had been quietly worried, not seeing her for so long and wondering if she might be ill.
Then, Dasha asked with a hint of curiosity,
“Why don’t you just send a servant to Ruby Palace to check on her? Don’t you usually visit the Ruby Palace personally for such matters?”
…Oh? Now that she mentioned it?
Seongjin blinked in realization.
‘Why haven’t I thought of visiting the Queen myself?’
Even with the Holy Emperor, he had been keeping in regular contact lately.
Although it had been quite some time since the regular audience due to the upcoming birthday celebration, Seongjin often visited the main palace to share news and see the emperor.
‘Have I been too indifferent towards the Queen all this time?’
Seongjin felt a deep sense of self-reproach.
He was hardly in a position to criticize Moress for being unfilial. There might be some dubious aspects, but still, she was someone who believed in him as her son and showed affection.
“Yeah, visiting the Ruby Palace directly…”
As Seongjin unconsciously made a blank expression, the Demon King inquired,
[What now? Something bothering you?]
But then, what should I do?
Feeling guilty is one thing, but I still can’t help but feel it’s a huge hassle and annoyance, right?
[…Indeed…]
The Demon King seemed to ponder for a moment before cautiously continuing.
[Then don’t go? You’re extremely busy yourself, so it’s understandable if you can’t spare the time for this. Besides, if you visit, you might just end up being a disturbance.]
‘…That makes sense, doesn’t it?’
Right. I don’t know the Queen well, but she always seemed somewhat obsessive-compulsive. Hearing about her recent activities, it seems she’s tightly scheduled every day. What if my sudden visit disrupts her plans?
‘I’ll see her at the birthday celebration anyway.’
Seongjin felt convinced.
With that thought, he felt an unexpected sense of relief again.
* * *
Whatever will happen is bound to happen, regardless of what I do.
Yesterday, the Demon King said something along those lines, but Seongjin had taken it as a mere excuse, not seriously considering it.
However, the next day, after finishing his morning training and entering the palace, he was greeted by unexpected visitors.
“Hello? Big brother, if it’s alright, can we talk for a moment?”
“…….”
Sisle, dressed in her white priestly robes, greeted him with an expression as blank as a sculpted doll. Like before, she was carefully holding a small book-like object.
And standing behind her.
“Shaaak!”
It was Saintess Seo Yi-seo, hissing at him like a cat on high alert.
