---

Fortunately, the atmosphere of fear dissipated quickly as misunderstandings were cleared up.

Thanks to the kindness of the era’s intellect, Duke Alexandra Petrovna, everyone’s questions found resolution.

“I forgot to mention. Jeynab has had poor eyesight for a long time.”

“Are you saying that the Priest of Al-Yabd has a vision problem?”

“That’s right.”

It was hard to believe such a tale. That Archmage, the powerful shaman of a bygone era, couldn’t even maintain her eye health.

I had heard tales of her grappling with diseases like glaucoma or cataracts within the Magic Tower. A knight had mentioned it a few times, and since I had worked at the Magic Tower, I was aware.

Nevertheless, it was utterly unbelievable that a priest who had achieved an equal standing with the duke had suffered a decline in eyesight merely due to illness.

Yet, the explanation from the Archmage was logical enough to sweep away my doubts.

“The mysteries she has dealt with since she was a girl have taken their toll on her eyes.”

Mysteries.

The moment I heard that word, everything fell into place.

“What… what are mysteries?”

Camila wore a perplexed expression at this unfamiliar term, and the duke gently patted his disciple’s head.

“My child. Mysteries refer to a totality of the inexplicable, which can’t be defined by science, magic, or faith.”

The authority on magic, the Archmage, said mysteries were matters of the unfathomable.

“Throughout history, it refers to everything that humanity’s knowledge cannot understand or interpret. Have you not seen it? The red sandstorms that lasted for seven weeks. The monsters that burned their lives before the bullets imbued with the wisdom and virtue of saints.”

The “Wrath of God,” which rules the northern part of the Mauritania continent, and the “Demon,” the infernal monster encountered in the Kien Empire and Zambia.

These are the things that the world calls mysteries.

“People who typically deal with mysteries gain a new power that is distinct from magic or divinity. We call them ‘mystic users.’ However, sometimes that power can harm the mystic user, much like unpredictable waves that capsize a ship.”

“Is it true that the power harms its master? Why does that happen?”

“Who knows? All mysteries lie within the realm of the unknowable. You understand that the universe exists, but you don’t know the exact moment it originated or the clear principles governing it, do you?”

As expected from the authority of magic, it was a clear enough explanation that even a seven-year-old could grasp.

“Ah-ha!”

The seven-year-old (Camila) let out a squeal of delight upon realizing this.

She casually began to praise the professor, exclaiming he was the best, making even my skin crawl a little.

Meanwhile, the duke’s delighted acceptance of these compliments was quite….

“Alright, that’s enough. Ahem, what mischief are you up to?”

Anyway.

At least I understood now why the priest had acted like someone who couldn’t see. I learned the reason and felt less fearful.

Yet questions still lingered.

“…….”

To my knowledge, the priest was not a person associated with mysteries. At least according to the data collected by the Abas Information Agency.

Yet the duke claimed that the priest possessed mysteries. If this was true, it meant that no one had realized she held mysteries for the past few decades….

Is that even feasible?

I shot a skeptical glance at the duke’s face, as if requesting further explanation.

Did he somehow perceive my intent?

The long-time friend of the shaman began to add words in a familiar manner.

“Ah. Jeynab’s mysteries are of a kind that doesn’t display themselves outwardly. To be precise, it’s a power that only she, the user, can know.”

“Is there such a mystery? This is news to me….”

“It’s normal not to know.”

The Archmage grinned.

“The mouth of a seer is always heavy with secrets.”

—

**Episode 20 – Who Was Threatening with a Sword?**

“Seer? You sure say things to your friend.”

“Because he’s a friend, I can.”

The Priest of Al-Yabd and the Duke of Kien had a casual conversation. Their bond forged on the battlefield continued to this day, so it wasn’t particularly strange.

The breath of crimson blooms. Alexandra grabbed a single fig from the dish and playfully inquired.

“Still cooped up in this room?”

Jeynab, having set aside her pipe, breathed out a thin wisp of smoke.

“This is my home.”

“The Azadi Palace is indeed a nice place.”

With a nod of agreement, the Duke of Kien acknowledged this.

“But staying in the same place might get dull. Aren’t you bored?”

That was rather decent banter. A perfect setup for a leading question.

However, the response was disappointingly monotonous.

“Boredom? How could there be such a thing? There are so many things in the world to enjoy.”

“For example?”

The shaman appeared to muse for a moment before resolutely retorting in a drab voice.

“…Watching TV?”

The Archmage’s face lit up with worry as a deep sigh escaped her lips.

It was as if she were witnessing a child locked away in a room.

Whether she was unaware of such a gaze or willfully ignoring it, the greatest shaman of Mauritania tilted her head in confusion.

“It’s better than before. Sasha, you know, until 50 years ago, Shizuya had no proper broadcasting companies.”

“I know. The only entertainment back then was the foreign broadcasts we could catch with magic crystals.”

“You recall it. Ah…. I still think back to that documentary I watched. Horses sprinting on the plains. The sound of hammering resonating from the underground forge.”

Jeynab gazed at the pale gray smoke, reminiscing of the past.

“We all said we’d go together if the timing was right. The plains, the kingdom of dwarves.”

“That’s right.”

“We used to get upset that we were wasting the transmission fees when we left the crystal on until noon as we fell asleep.”

“I remember. When you woke up, didn’t you scold the one who fell asleep without turning off the crystal?”

“Yep. But actually, that was me.”

“What?”

“I was watching to the very end but dozed off at the last moment…. You know, I tend to sleep a lot.”

Alexandra chuckled as if she were dumbfounded.

“You really are the same as ever. Back then and now.”

Jeynab also smiled knowingly, as if well aware of his own nature.

“You haven’t changed much either, Sasha. Oh, maybe you’ve changed a bit in terms of gambling?”

“What nonsense….”

“Why? You’d always stay up all night playing Asnas whenever you came here.”

“Stop it!”

Laughter filled the room, vibrant and rich. The priest clapped her hands in mirth while the duke struggled to cover her mouth.

Observing this, I was left speechless.

“…….”

Is this really how conversations amongst centenarians unfold? Seriously?

“It’s just ridiculous….”

What a mind-boggling comedy! No wonder all the entertainment in this town had fallen flat.

For many reasons it was absurd.

Firstly, it was a chat fest between a religious leader and an imperial elder (or an old folks’ nostalgia trip), and secondly, the Priest of Al-Yabd, also the leader of Ashtistan, was just a homebody.

But most importantly—

We were crammed in the corner like a sack of barley.

“But why are we even here?”

“I don’t know….”

Camila and I, having followed the duke to Ashtistan, found ourselves unable to join in the conversation.

Why?

Because these two centenarians were the only ones passionately chattering away!

“I saw cars on the road on the way here. That relic is still running.”

“You’re talking about Peshahot? Since trade is embargoed, we have no choice. But it still works.”

“Spare parts must be hard to come by. It’s a discontinued model, so not many use it even in the Empire.”

“We have inherited technology. We replicate what we can. For unknown knowledge, we take technicians from Kien…. Oh, don’t get me wrong. They were retired.”

“The officials from the Protection Bureau would be somewhat lenient about that, but technicians? If they are the head office’s technicians, they must be defense industry technicians as well. You didn’t replicate the imperial army’s weapons, did you?”

“Umm, well, it’s been so long I can’t quite remember….”

The duke and priest were thoroughly enjoying a duet of noise.

It was remarkable how they danced between topics A to D, then jumped to J and P at random.

“I met the celestial beast recently.”

“It’s been a while since I heard that name. Is the High Priest still lively?”

“He seems full of energy. His speaking style hasn’t changed either.”

“To handle a celestial like Aquila, you need to have some spirit. I’ve been thinking about keeping a pet myself….”

“Please don’t. Any animal raised in this dank, eerie place would surely become a monster.”

“Oh, how could I forget about the marine rescue.”

—-

It was all too much.

I’ve encountered many bizarre individuals and visited countless fantastic places, but the Duke-Priest duo was a breed apart.

At this point, I almost wondered if they were as legendary as Saint Veronica herself.

I sighed.

“…Why am I here?”

“You might not know the reason, but eat this. It’s date fruit.”

Regardless of whether the old folks yammered on or not, Camila had reached a state of transcendence beyond ennui.

To stave off her boredom, she practiced some magic, but as that began to lose its charm, she turned her attention elsewhere.

Though we were crammed in a corner like a sack of barley, the Azadi Palace, being a guest, had prepared a reception, and among that, it was food that caught Camila’s eye.

It wasn’t a grand feast but rather focused on snacks. Though the style of snacks and desserts in Ashtistan tended towards sugary delights.

Regrettably, sweet foods were exactly up Camila’s alley.

“Mmm—”

From traditional sweets prominently featuring nuts and pistachios, Pashmak that melts in the mouth like cotton candy, honey-soaked and hardened dates, to fruits of high sweetness and traditional Persian cakes.

“Hehe.”

Surrounded by dessert, Camila wore the happiest expression I had seen in recent memory.

It was amusing and ridiculous. I mean, could she really eat all that without gaining weight? Is she really just a mystic user? A mystery that burns calories? I genuinely feared it might be true.

I observed her with an indifferent expression and suddenly threw out a question.

“Camila.”

“Yes?”

“Do you remember what the priest said earlier? He was curious when we would arrive, and now we finally did.”

“When we met?”

Lost in a sugary world, Camila mumbled and searched her memory.

After a while,

Having finished her brief reflection, she nodded earnestly.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“I’ve been thinking….”

I leaned forward, my hands clasped against my lips and chin.

“Isn’t something off?”

“What do you mean?”

“The duke said so. The priest is a mystic user and possesses the power of foresight.”

But think about it.

“When the priest met us, the very first thing he said was that he was curious about when we would come.”

If the duke’s claim was accurate, and the Priest of Al-Yabd really did possess the ability to foresee the future,

“It implies that someone who can predict the future was unaware of our arrival.”

—

The duke’s assertion collided with the priest’s words.

One claimed that Jeynab Esikandar was a ‘mystic user who could foresee the future,’ while the other said, ‘I was wondering when you would come and now you finally have.’

“Language and expression imply much. You cannot hide the sentiments that remain unmasked.”

I compared the claims and statements of the two individuals, finding the contradictions that clashed.

And in that moment, a hypothesis naturally formed.

“Future foresight….”

“It sounds like something out of a fantasy novel. Perhaps akin to Greek or Roman mythology or even the Bible?”

“What do you mean by Bible? That’s a scripture.”

Camila shrugged and hastily retorted.

“It’s been a bestseller for thousands of years.”

“That’s true.”

In any case, the crux is this.

The Priest of Al-Yabd possesses the ability of foresight. Specifically, this information about handling such mysteries came from the Duke of Kien.

Meanwhile, the priest’s words and actions had some suspicious aspects that did not fit the image of an oracle.

“She didn’t know the timing of our arrival. And that’s coming from an oracle….”

“It does seem like she couldn’t provide a precise prediction for the future. Timing is a crucial element, and it certainly seems to be omitted.”

Certainly, as Camila mentioned, timing is extremely important.

For example, if someone claiming to be from the future left a message telling someone in 2010, “Bitcoin will skyrocket to 20 million, then crash! Sell off!”, although they gained information about Bitcoin, 20 million, and the upcoming crash, they wouldn’t know when the crash would take place.

Would the price fall right at 20 million, at 25 hundred, or would 29 hundred be the line?

If time is miscalculated, it could potentially lead to losses. Timely, accurate predictions are pivotal.

“What’s the possibility that it’s not foresight?”

Camila reacted.

“If the professor mistakenly interpreted something for some reason, that would be possible. But if that’s the case, why didn’t the priest correct that misunderstanding?”

“…….”

I crossed my arms, lost in thought.

There are analytical techniques typically utilized in information-deficient scenarios, but the grounds to analyze the hypothesis of the ‘duke’s misunderstanding’ remained insufficient.

Starting from the relationship between the duke and priest, and why the priest wouldn’t correct a misunderstanding, etc.

“That part can’t be checked right away. If she had been benefiting from foresight, it would’ve been a different story….”

In the first place, I encountered the notion of her being a mystic user today for the first time.

Did the Kien Empire and the agencies engaged in a three-way battle with the cult not know about this? It’s fair to say practically all information agencies were unaware.

After all, who was the head of the Inquisition, famous for employing zealot groups through HUMINT?

“This will be pushed back.”

We swiftly delved into the topic of the Duke’s misunderstanding.

After clearing the snow, I returned to the original hypothesis.

If the Duke’s claim is true, and if the Priest truly possesses the mystical ability to foresee the future…

It’s time to put this to the test.

“Future predictions… Honestly, it doesn’t seem utterly impossible. There have indeed been figures referred to as ‘prophets’ within the Cult or Al-Yabd.”

“Religion.”

That’s right.

A Priest predicting the future? Being a religious figure makes it plausible. With oracles in existence, it stands to reason there should be prophets.

However, even if future foresight is certain, questions still linger.

The Duke’s assertions and the Priest’s reactions seem contradictory.

Camila interpreted this as ‘imprecise foresight.’

“Perhaps it’s similar to the vague prophecies of the Delphic Oracle? For example, just like how Croesus attacked the Persian Empire based on the oracle’s declaration that ‘the strongest empire will fall.'”

“Ah, the legend of Lydia attacking Persia?”

Yes. Camila nodded in agreement.

It’s a well-known tale. I know it well too. It’s a prime example of the typical ‘ambiguity’ of the Delphic Oracle, from which the term ‘Delphic analysis technique’ is derived.

I remember using it a few times while analyzing policies during my active service. The precise origins were something I heard from a senior with a degree in public administration (who even earned a Ph.D.).

I nodded in affirmation.

“Certainly, it’s not like the Cassandra style.”

The second hypothesis was ‘indirect revelation’, a theory based on the religion of this region.

“Revelations in this area generally present the cause, timing, and result clearly. However, some lacked clarity in either the timing or cause, serving more as indirect warnings or hints.”

“Is it credible? It feels too cult-like.”

“The oracle that marked your associates was itself unclear.”

“Ah…”

These indirect revelations existed both in the Cult and Al-Yabd.

Of course, most of those revelations were handed down thousands of years ago, and amidst historians, there’s been all sorts of talk about it being an exaggeration of religious power or a magical hallucination.

Nevertheless, if we sift through the information we have, this is the conclusion we draw.

“It seems clear they were aware we were coming. The statement ‘finally, you’ve come’ implies they had some certainty about it.”

“But they didn’t know the timing.”

“Exactly.”

Hmm. Camila rested her chin on her hand, deep in thought.

“What could have been the reason behind their certainty? Not prophecies or predictions, but a more rational motive.”

A rational motive…

I translated this into a scientific basis.

“The only somewhat convincing motive would be that prior information was obtained. Information that we would come to Ashtistan, and that the Duke would be accompanying us.”

The diplomatic relationship between the Kien Empire and the Republic of Ashtistan is quite tight-knit. The ties forged from the war between the Magic Tower and the Cult during the kingdom era have only strengthened since the coup (officially referred to as ‘revolution’ here) when the Priest and revolutionaries took power.

Alexandra Petrovna, a senior member of the Smirnov family, was also a comrade and close friend of Zeynab Eskender. Though there are many other political, social, economic, and military motivational factors, it was likely necessary for Nikolai VI to show consideration for his aunt.

The Duke of Novo-Nikolaevsk is someone who certainly deserves that kind of treatment.

The crux of this hypothesis lies right here.

“Since the relationship between the two countries is set at an ambassadorial level, the mutual embassies are established in the capitals. Kien has its embassy in Shizuya, and Ashtistan has its embassy in Petrogard.”

“Since exchanges are frequent, information must have flowed among the diplomats?”

“Perhaps.”

In fact, there was something the Duke said to the officials of the foreign palace who demanded the wearing of the Lusari. He asked why they hadn’t informed him through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the embassy beforehand.

This was clear evidence supporting that the Abas Ministry of Foreign Affairs had prior knowledge of the Kien-Ashtistan Foreign Ministry’s earlier contact.

“When it comes to someone of your mentor’s stature, they receive state-level treatment wherever they go, especially more so if they’re allies or in a partnership. To avoid mistakes, prior coordination at the level of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would have been necessary, and that information would have likely reached the Priest through those channels.”

However, if this hypothesis is correct, it doesn’t explain the lack of knowledge regarding the timing.

From the moment we entered the country, the Priest must have received information that Camila and I had arrived in Ashtistan.

Camila added in a serious tone.

“Have you considered the possibility it was just a guess?”

“I have.”

“And?”

“I really don’t feel like it was just a random guess.”

This is hard to express, but when you take on a profession dealing with people, you develop a knack for perception.

You can often tell whether someone is bluffing, speaking without genuine intent, or expressing true thoughts. Of course, being human myself, I’m not infallible.

Even taking that into consideration, there was definitely something suspicious about the Priest’s tone, speech patterns, word choice, and non-verbal behaviors.

Fortunately, Camila believed my argument. That was why the conversation progressed quickly.

“Hmm… If it wasn’t from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where else could the information have leaked from?”

“There would be several places: the media, the Magic Tower and Ivory Tower, businesses dealing with magic stones or magical tools, and so on. There are simply too many people interested in the Duke.”

“…Companies too?”

This implied whether it included the Information Agency.

It was a very simple question.

“Of course.”

There were many suspicious groups, but none could provide a clear answer. Both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Information Agency were the same.

Just relying solely on reports would not suffice, as the certainty held by the Priest was even stronger.

Knowing the nature of my friend, I could surmise that her belief was based on conviction rather than guesswork.

Where did that belief stem from? Camila might not know, but as a citizen of the enemy nation, I couldn’t guarantee that I would end up in Ashtistan.

“…….”

As I contemplated, Camila, who had been lost in thought beside me, suddenly muttered.

“It’s strange.”

It seemed she found it quite fascinating, as if she were facing a riddle crafted by aliens, repeatedly tilting her head in curiosity.

“How can one have such belief without seeing it firsthand? I wonder what visions look like specifically. I want to see one.”

“…Camila.”

“Yes?”

“I’m genuinely curious without any malicious intent, but… You’re not thinking of gobbling those visions up, are you?”

“…….”

*

A lengthy discussion ensued, but ultimately, no conclusion was reached.

The fired-up Camila unleashed a ‘Kraaang—!’ Dragon Breath, rampaging around like never before.

Of course, that uproar was quickly subdued.

“Oh my. Did it start again?”

Alexandra Petrovna, the authority on magic, founder of the Elemental School, and original fire mage, personally stepped in to quell the chaos.

The process was simple.

She dashed around, then grabbed the flailing Camila by the scruff like a kitten caught by its mother and lifted her effortlessly to restrain her.

In just a few seconds, it was over. Camila swung her legs in the air like a kitten dangling from its mother’s grip.

“I was just provoked!”

Camila defended her actions as justified rage, claiming her behavior was immoral and illegal (using unauthorized magic in a secured area poses a significant threat to national security).

“Be quiet, you brat!”

“Kyahhh….”

“How could you be so reckless like a wild horse?”

Surrounding her thumb and index finger with azure magic, the Archmage clamped a high-tech lock onto her student’s lips. It looked as if she was threatening, “Today is your funeral.”

But that fury faded quickly.

Behind it was the involvement of an old friend.

“How cute.”

Zeynab Eskender, Priest of Al-Yabd, looked at Camila with a bright smile.

Her gaze was filled with keen interest.

“You’re full of energy. Magic emitted through one’s mouth… Have you learned sorcery?”

“Auwuuu…?”

Caught off guard by the sudden question, Camila struggled to even respond. To put it more accurately, her expression seemed to question why she was being asked such a thing.

At that, the Duke said:

“The three major schools of the Magic Tower are Elemental, Sorcery, and Astrology. Magic users skilled in sorcery are defined as ‘Shamans’. Do you remember the characteristics of sorcery?”

“Um….”

Faced with a sudden question number two, she squeezed out an answer.

“Unlike elemental magic, which can be cast over long distances, sorcery can only activate in specific ranges—near the sorcerer or in a predesignated location, so you have to distance yourself from your opponent?”

“Anything else?”

“Sorcery requires a beastman and a key phrase, so if it’s needed, you… Kyahhh…! Professor!”

With a sound reminiscent of being squeezed, the Archmage shook her head vigorously. Curse it. I taught her with a focus on practical skill, and she forgot all the theory.

“Girl, didn’t I clearly teach you? The core elements of sorcery are the beastman and the key phrase, and the spoken words from the mouth of the sorcerer are their most significant weapon. So those who can produce sorcery just by using their mouth without making a pact with a beastman are masters.”

Did you forget? Should I remind you?

The follow-up was left out, but it appeared she asked in that manner.

Camila seemed to recognize that to some extent.

“…Ah!”

Suddenly realizing, she hurriedly began to recall the advanced sorcery technique her mentor had taught.

The name of that technique!

“That’s right! If you mess it up, you’re taught to pull out your tongue—”

“Wait, you little?”

The Archmage started chastising her disobedient pupil. She’s unmoved before shamans, saying everything without filter. Does she have any common sense at all?

Of course, Camila was not equipped with such knowledge. The Duke hadn’t informed her.

If he had warned her not to make such remarks like ‘pulling out a sorcerer’s tongue’ or ‘cutting off hands in front of shamans,’ she would have been more careful.

However,

The student preferred a hands-on approach to learning, and the mentor, too busy conversing with her old friend, had no time to teach theory or manners.

The consequences of throwing the textbook away had finally come back to haunt her.

Or perhaps the professor’s memory issues due to aging were to blame.

In reality, the shaman herself didn’t seem to mind.

“How unusual for a wizard to cast magic using their mouth. So you’re not a shaman.”

Zeynab Eskender, the greatest shaman of the Mauritania Continent, wore an expression of someone who had just witnessed an interesting spectacle.

“Your disciple?”

“Yes.”

“Your prized disciple?”

Alexandra Petrovna nodded with a slightly forced expression. It was clear she felt compelled to acknowledge her disciple, although she might have been embarrassed.

The Duke’s reaction appeared amusing enough, causing the Priest to smile even wider.

“Unexpected. You said you quit being a mentor because it wasn’t suited to you.”

“Time changes landscapes, and people change too.”

“Indeed, you’ve changed. Sasha.”

“Yes, a bit.”

The Priest nodded with a smiling face, as if to say it was certainly a relief.

Perhaps delighted by having witnessed something entertaining, she started a conversation with Camila, discussing various topics, mostly related to magic or the Duke.

“You’ve been putting Sasha through a lot, haven’t you?”

“Yes!”

“Oh dear.”

“What… are you guys?”

Teasing her friend and conversing with the young magician, the Priest had a lengthy exchange with Camila. In her demeanor, there was not only interest but also intrigue, and a hint of remorse.

Perhaps she felt guilty for being so engrossed in conversation with the Duke.

“What a funny magician. Your name is Camila, right?”

“That’s right.”

“I’m sorry for earlier. It’s been so long since I’ve met my friend, and you’re my only remaining one.”

Upon that, Camila smiled, as if understanding.

“Sure. I’m glad to meet you. Please come by again tomorrow. You can visit anytime if you like.”

The Priest ended their conversation on a gentle note. It was a brief exchange, yet undoubtedly left an intense impression on Camila.

And now it was my turn.

“So, it’s you. I’ve heard a lot about you. The Nostrim Family of the Kingdom of Abas; the third son… right?”

Third son is correct, but I corrected it to second son. It wasn’t an essential discussion, but still.

Once the Duke and Camila stepped away, the Priest had me sit right in front of her.

I didn’t feel this was a particularly crucial meeting. To be frank, I was someone far removed from the Republic of Ashtistan and the magical community.

Moreover, the Priest of Al-Yabd was not someone involved in military, diplomacy, or intelligence matters either.

That’s why.

“I wanted to meet you.”

“Me?”

“Yes. You.”

I was slightly surprised when an unusual remark came from the Priest.

“Since I left the Defense Attaché section at the Jamria Federation… So, what is your current position?”

Position, huh.

I didn’t have any designation after being dismissed from the Defense Attaché role. Officially, at least.

Unofficially, I’m on dispatch within the Royal Intelligence Department, but that’s not something I can disclose. This is Ashtistan and also the adversary state of Abas.

So I tried to word it as positively as possible; I simply mentioned I was an idle person.

“I see. So you’re not a military officer.”

Zeynab Eskender took a puff from her pipe, half-closing her eyes.

Then, gazing off into the void with her eyes half-open, she murmured:

“I thought an operative had been sent from Abas.”

 

---