Chapter 87

That night.

After dinner, as the lights in the mansion began to dim, I felt thirsty and went outside to head to the well... Under the moonlight, I saw Gurai practicing with his sword in the garden.

He must be training. He looked so focused that he didn’t even notice me.

"Quite dedicated, aren’t you, Gurai?"

"Ah...? What do you want, Seika?"

Gurai, wiping his sweat, looked at me with an annoyed expression, and I was at a loss.

I didn’t even know why I had spoken to him.

"Nothing much. Hey, how about I be your sparring partner? I still remember a bit of swordsmanship."

"Don’t be ridiculous. Your sword skills aren’t even fit for practice."

I thought, "Probably not."

In a past life, I had accompanied a disciple who lacked talent in curses and learned the art of the sword from a famous warrior.

I was taught a few techniques and became somewhat proficient, but I never reached the level of my master, and I was quickly surpassed by the disciple. I simply lacked the talent for the sword.

Now, with my skills rusty... no, even back then, I doubt I could have been Gurai’s match.

"You have a talent for the sword, Gurai."

"What, you? That’s creepy."

"I’m complimenting you. After all, you were chosen as one of the Holy Knight to the princess."

"... Huh."

Gurai said this and took a drink from the water bottle beside him.

The Holy Knights are the magic swordsmen who guard Fiona.

They are essentially just guards, and their number is less than ten, but their strength is unparalleled. They have defeated numerous assassins and powerful monsters... so the bards sing.

When Fiona visited the eastern garrison during an inspection, she saw Gurai and chose him as a new Holy Knight, according to a letter from Luft.

However, the official appointment must be made at the palace, so they need to return to the capital.

Being chosen as a Holy Knight from his own regiment is a great honor... so General Petrus, the regiment commander, ordered Gurai to lead his squad to escort them to the capital.

They are now on the way, and to give the soldiers and Fiona a rest, they are staying in the Lamproug territory, where Gurai’s family lives... this is the sequence of events I heard from Luft.

After a brief silence, Gurai spoke.

"Do you know why Fiona’s guards are called Holy Knights?"

"...? I don’t know."

"Fiona herself spread the name. It sounds good to the ears of the people and is easy for bards to sing about. Essentially, it’s part of political propaganda."

"... So it’s just a facade, and the substance doesn’t match?"

"No, that’s not it."

Gurai took another sip of water.

"Their skills are real. I’m probably at the bottom. There are two of her maids who are really strong. This morning, they stopped Fiona. During the march, they said it was practice and beat me up. If they’re at the bottom, you can imagine how terrifying the others are."

"Wow, I thought they were all left in the capital... but not."

"Yeah, the maids... I remember they had a certain presence."

"Hmm... So, what are you trying to say?"

"I was probably chosen not for my skills. Fiona... she has some plan. She’s a politician, after all."

"... A politician."

I mulled over Gurai’s words.

"She doesn’t seem like one."

"That’s just how it appears. Do you think it’s a coincidence that she managed to escape her house arrest, her existence became widely known, and her name started being mentioned in discussions about the royal succession?"

"... You mean, she planned all of this?"

"Yes. Including the title of Holy Princess and the impression she gives to the common people. She explained it herself."

"... If she achieved all that at her age, she’s not normal."

I said quietly.

"If we say she has a natural talent for politics, that’s that... but..."

"It’s not just that. It’s beyond what talent can achieve, especially gathering such a group of Holy Knights."

"... If it’s not talent, what is it?"

Gurai exhaled and said,

"Do you know about the Oracle Priestesses, Seika?"

"... No? Are they in the central temple in the capital?"

"No. They are an unrelated clan that existed in the past. They predict the birth of a hero and a demon king every few hundred years."

"...!"

Gurai continued,

"Fiona’s mother was a descendant of that clan. The blood of the Oracle Priestesses flows in the Holy Princess."

Gurai said,

"She can see the future."

****

"The future...?"

"Yes."

In response to my question, Gurai continued,

"It appears in her mind. A scene, a memory of something she sees at a certain time and place. During the day, a building in the city collapsed, right? Looking back, she must have seen that scene. I don’t know what it meant, but that’s why she went to such a place. And... the day you returned, she probably saw me losing, too."

"... But that didn’t happen. You suddenly said you were quitting..."

"The future can change. It makes sense when you think about it."

I pondered for a moment and then spoke.

"You mentioned a clan that predicts the birth of a hero and a demon king... are you talking about the priestess from the fairy tale?"

"Yeah, but it wasn’t a fairy tale."

"Then it’s strange. The priestess in the story didn’t have the power to see the future. She only had the ability to sense the birth of a hero and a demon king just before it happened."

"I don’t know. The royal family is blessed with magical talent. Maybe it combined with that blood and resulted in this."

"Is all of this based on what the princess herself told you?"

"Yeah, that’s right."

Gurai said,

"No one knew that Fiona’s mother was a descendant of the Oracle clan. But apparently, she made a prophecy right before giving birth... the birth of a hero and a demon king."

"..."

"Maybe that’s why, but her mother died shortly after. Fiona learned about her power from her foster parents."

"..."

Gurai continued,

"At first, her mother’s prophecy was thought to be delirium after the pain of childbirth. But the empire’s intelligence confirmed it was true. The demon race also had similar information, though they didn’t know about the birth of the demon king."

"..."

"Fiona was under house arrest for a while, probably because of this. She’s the only known descendant of the Oracle clan that the empire has. The ability to see the future was unexpected."

"..."

"If this is true, it’s too perfect. It can’t be a coincidence. The emperor must have known that Fiona’s mother was a descendant of the Oracle clan..."

"Maybe. It’s unlikely, but... given the emperor, it’s not surprising if he planned it all."

"..."

I thought for a moment and asked,

"Does the empire or the Holy Princess know who the hero or... the demon king is?"

"How would I know that?"

Gurai said dismissively,

"She was just a baby when the hero and the demon king were born. She didn’t receive the true prophecy. But... she probably knows. With her ability to see the future."

"..."

"I thought it was strange that she wanted to meet a mere student so much... but after the sword duel, I realized. That woman, Ami, is probably the hero. ...Why are you making that scared face? Do you know something?"

"..."

I lowered my eyes, and Gurai said,

"Don’t get too involved, Seika. With the hero and the demon king."

"..."

"You’re worrying about me, Gurai? That’s unexpected."

"No, it’s not that."

Gurai glared at me and said,

"Don’t interfere with her. She’s looking at the future of the empire."

"..."

"The future of the empire, huh."

A politician, indeed.

I exhaled and said,

"You’re telling me not to get involved, but you’re talking a lot. Was it okay to tell me all this?"

"It’s fine. She’ll probably spread this information to the people eventually. If you doubt it, ask her... but don’t tell the maids. I’ll be killed."

"..."

Gurai has been thinking a lot. It’s surprising.

I was just expecting him to be elated about serving a beautiful woman.

"Hah, ridiculous!"

Gurai said, swinging his sword with disgust.

"Women are trash!"

"..."

I was confused.

What happened... he’s so extreme.

"Seika, be careful. It looks like she’s heading towards destruction. With so many women serving her..."

"I-I’ll keep that in mind... but why did you accept the invitation to be a Holy Knight? From what you’ve said, it seems like staying at the garrison would have been better."

"At first, I thought it was a promotion. I didn’t expect such complicated circumstances."

"..."

"Then what will you do? It’s not too late to decline, right?"

"No way, idiot! Besides... I’m curious about the future she sees."

****

"Master Seika."

When I returned to my room, Yuki poked her head out and spoke.

"Is what that person said true? I thought he had a grudge against you..."

"At least, he didn’t seem to be lying."

I couldn’t think of a reason for him to lie.

But...

"Fiona’s power is hard to believe."

"The ability to see the future, you mean?"

Yuki said, looking puzzled.

"Why...? Can’t Master Seika do that with divination?"

"Divination and future sight are different."

I explained,

"Whether it’s astrological, geomantic, or divinatory, they can only predict specific outcomes for specific events. For example, predicting one’s destiny from the stars, judging omens from the cracks in a turtle shell, or predicting good or bad fortune from the structure of a house or city."

"What’s the difference with seeing the future?"

"Divination requires information, tools, and knowledge, and the results are limited. The methods are established, and anyone can learn and teach them. Future sight, on the other hand, is completely different."

I continued,

"Future sight reveals the future from nothing. There’s no method, and it can’t be taught. It’s a supernatural power, separate from the wisdom of magicians."

"Ah, is it like the premonitions of the Kappa?"

"Kappa premonitions are technically divination. It’s closer to... Western prophets or the Kappa."

"Kappa, you mean..."

A creature with a human head and a cow’s body that can speak human language. It predicts significant events at birth and then dies, and its predictions always come true.

"I’ve only heard about them, but I’ve never seen one."

"Actually, I have one."

"Really!? How did you get it? I thought it would die after making a prediction..."

"A Kappa predicted the birth of a Kappa. It was in a village in Tango Province, so I stayed there for a while, waiting for a cow to give birth."

"You must have been very patient!"

"Eventually, one was born, and I sealed it before it could speak. I can’t show it to you, though. If it leaves the phase, it will make a prediction and die."

"..."

Yuki looked exasperated and then raised her head, regaining her composure.

"Anyway, what will you do? Is the princess a threat to you?"

"No... I don’t think so."

I said,

"Even with the ability to see the future, it’s not omnipotent. Prophets and Kappa can’t see the future at will. As long as I don’t use my power, such a future shouldn’t come to pass. Being a politician is troublesome, but... well—"

I smiled.

"I just need to avoid getting too involved."