ICTFF - Chapter 68




You, be my colleague (7)

Even though the snow had stopped, we couldn't return to the castle... We had to wait a few more days for the accumulated snow to melt.

In the meantime, I squeezed out memories of my past life and told them about the small cracks that were opening around Eldern.

"It looks like a rocky area. There are a lot of large rocks around. There is a cave between some very large trees, and that is where the cracks open. Judging from the light clothing of the victims, it seems like it is summer."

Ian, Kalit, and Rahon's eyes were simultaneously drawn to the map at the cryptic explanation.

After a moment of silence, Ian marked a spot on the map.

"If It's a rocky area, It would be Stonewood."

Kalit shook his head and pointed next to him.

"You said it was like a rocky area, but I'm not sure. Aren't there more rocks in Blackwood? It's a mining area."

"Blackwood is not a very good tree."

"It's not like it doesn't grow at all."

"..."

Ian, who eventually couldn't find a clear answer, checked the expected places.

Kalit sighed softly as he looked at the five signs. Feeling sorry for no reason, he changed the subject.

"Next is a very large lake in the mountains. Herbalists are resting by the water's edge when they are attacked by a monster that jumps out of the lake. It must be spring. They are talking about spring herbs."

"It seems like a strange crack has opened up in the lake. Little Duke, can you guess where it is?"

"There are two lakes along the path frequently traveled by herbalists. This must be one of them."

The way for the 'first walker' to know the future is through 'observation'. It is a format where they watch the scenes that come up the moment they use their power.

So, although we can know the general situation, it is difficult to know the detailed background.

For example, let's say you see someone being chased by a monster. You can't tell where it's happening or who's being chased.

So in my past life, I had to look into the future repeatedly.

It is about finding out information by connecting scenes with the same background and characters one by one.

It was very similar to solving a puzzle, as I once heard from Tail.

"I'd like to explain in more detail... I'm sorry."

"Just letting us know is enough. Thank you for your hard work." 

Ian took my hand lightly, let go, and looked out the window.

"It looks like the weather has cleared up. I'll go take a look around and see how much snow has melted."

"Shall we go together?" 

As Kalit and Ian left the villa, Rahon, who had not said a word until then, finally opened his mouth. 

"You know what I mean? Silly Sir Timothy."

"I know, it's a famous story." 

Long ago, there was a knight named Timothy who was chosen one day to be the 'keeper.' Although it was an honorable thing, Timothy was not at all happy because he had a lover he loved.

'The first walker' cannot see the present, and 'Savior' can not heal the most precious person.

Lastly, the 'keeper' cannot be connected to his loved one.

This was the price of power and the destiny of a guardian given by the Gods.

Timothy, despairing over the fact that he could not be with his lover, came up with a solution.

If the power disappears, won't it be possible to escape the fate of a guardian?

From then on, Timothy abused his power indiscriminately.

Despite expending all his strength and enduring the condemnation of the people, he was not able to escape the fate of a guardian but was branded a public enemy and executed.

I too lost my powers in my past life, but my eyesight remained the same.

It is only after death that one's foresight disappears and one begins to see the future.

In the end, the only way to escape the fate of a guardian was death.

"If you know it, use it appropriately. Don't abuse it recklessly and regret it like Timothy."

"It would be best if I let them know as much as possible before I go home. I don't think I'll be using my powers for a while."

He picked up his teacup with a cynical expression.

"Don't be sure, life is about not knowing what will happen."

"..."

In my past life, I was left in the desert, my power gone. I knew better than anyone what would happen if I lost my power.

I spoke, my eyes fixed on the large hands holding the teacup.

"You told me not to come inside the line."

"...However."

"But you gave me advice. I guess you're worried about me."

"Who was worried about you? I was just giving you advice because I thought you'd be used and then abandoned."

"Oh, I see."

When I answered in a deliberately indifferent tone, Rahon furrowed his brow.

"Isn't that answer too rude? And why are you sitting next to me? I told you not to come near me."

"Rahon is sitting next to me."

Rahon closed his mouth. After thinking for a moment, he quietly got up and sat on the edge of the sofa.

As I looked at his flushed cheeks, a memory from a few days ago suddenly flashed through my mind. His face turned bright red as if he was going to die the moment our lips touched.

"..."

I pretended to grab the teacup and then hit it. The cup tilted and the tea that was full of it spilled.

"Hey!"

Rahon came to me in surprise. He quickly pushed the spilled teacup away and grabbed my hand.

"Are you okay? Where are you looking? Where are you?"

His Image from a few days ago was superimposed on Rahon's face. At that time, he had said this while snatching my teacup.

"Why aren't you a woman to me?"

"Why aren't you answering? Are you in so much pain that you can't speak? Should I use my power?"

I raised my hand to Rahon's forehead, who was asking urgently. His purple eyes widened.

"Millenia?"

Without answering, I slowly swept his silky, smooth hair.

I felt a tickle in my palm as I stroked his bulging eyebrows. He was blinking rapidly in embarrassment.

"What, what are you doing?"

"I was curious what you looked like."

As I said that, I stroked the bridge of his perfect nose.

By the time my fingertips finally touched his lips, his face was slowly beginning to turn red.

I asked the question, anticipating his answer.

"Are you going to the blue one?"

"Man... What?"

"Do you like guys?"

The face that had been red with shame instantly changed to shock.

Rahon threw his hand away as if he was throwing it away and stood up abruptly.

"Do I look like a blue guy?"

"I don't know what Rahon looks like. I can only guess. You seem handsome, but I don't know if you look like a man."

"What's the question? Why should I like that stinky little bastard!"

"Then what is the tattoo on your back?"

"What! Of course, I'm a slave-."

"..."

Rahon's voice suddenly cut off.

He was a slave. I clearly heard he was from commoner origins, so what happened?

Rahon, who finally realized that I had misunderstood, stared at me.

"You knew me as a blue-haired man?"

"Yes"

"That's why you said weird things to me like I wasn't  into a woman."

"Yes."

"Somehow, you seemed to have no problem being with me."

Rahon laughed hollowly and sank down on the sofa.

"My parents sold me when I was six. The marks on my back are the work of the pervert who bought me."

"..."

"I didn't know he was that kind of guy. He was really normal at first. But after about two years, he showed his true colors."

"That must be the person you killed when you were eight."

"I killed that man and was put in prison. I was about to be executed, but I was released after being chosen as a 'savior."

I was speechless at the unimaginable misfortune.

I wanted to ask young Rahon, how did you survive that time?

"You can break the contract."

"Is it a contract?"

"I said I'd go to your house after work here."

"Do you think I would want to break the contract?"

"Do you know why the Pope adopted me as his son? The same power becomes sacred when used by the Pope's son, but becomes unpleasant when used by a slave. And I am that kind of slave. I killed him before I could be harmed, but, naturally, I do not even want to be with him."

Oh, I'm upset.

What kind of treatment did he receive to have such thoughts? I suppressed my boiling anger and opened my mouth.

"To me, it's the same as blue."

"What are you talking about?"

"It means it doesn't matter."

"Don't you ever think it's dirty, gross, or anything like that?" 

"Well, I think it's rather respectable."

"I ..am respectable?"

"You survived in the end, even in that terrible pain."

Rahon's expression became blank.

I guess you don't understand what I'm saying. That makes me feel even sadder.

"If I had met eight-year-old Rahon, this is what I would have said."

As I said that, I reached out. I lifted the hand that had touched his shoulder and gently stroked the back of his head.

"Good job. You held on well."


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