Chapter 17
The owner carefully packed the purchased items onto Claude’s shoulders and added one more thing on top—a small tin with a fuse, looking like a tiny amount of gunpowder.
“Since you bought so much, this is a bonus. You can use it in the dark like fireworks.”
“Oh, like a flashbang? To blind the enemy?”
“No. Do all your things look like weapons to you? It’s just something for fireworks. I’m giving it since you came together as a pair.”
“If you’re going to give it, give two. There are two people, why only one?”
“The governor really has no manners, even now. And you shouldn’t say that in front of a lady. So foolish.”
The shopkeeper gave Claude a slightly disdainful look, then ushered them out once their business was done.
Curious about the clinking sound when shaken, Taeri and Claude took turns shaking the cylinder. It rattled like sand or small balls inside, making an oddly satisfying noise.
“Have you ever watched fireworks? I’ve seen them many times.”
“I’ve never even watched them.”
He still sounded a bit sulky in his reply.
“Ah, right. The governor must have always been working. To sit in that position at your age… or maybe you accidentally became a hero while doing tedious chores.”
Though casually spoken, her words struck true, and Claude stopped in his tracks. The princess seemed to understand him fairly well, yet he knew almost nothing about her. That thought compelled him to ask:
“Then why have you only watched, Your Highness?”
“Similar reason. I never had time to play; I was always working.”
Debuting professionally at a young age, she had begun her social life early.
People might think gaming as a job is fun, but in the professional world, play doesn’t exist. Trying to break free from her grandparents’ oversight, she never knew rest.
Knowing the profession was short-lived, she worked relentlessly, pouring effort beyond her talent.
As a result, she earned her rewards: global fame as a gamer and a good amount of money. But life has its twists, and here she was.
She handed Claude the cylinder while taking her own bagged items.
“I didn’t want this, so even though it’s shameless, I won’t repay the cost.”
“I never intended to receive it.”
“Instead, take this. At least I got to watch a little.”
Since the items were purchased with his money, it felt awkward to assert ownership.
Claude hesitated, unsure whether to take it.
“You didn’t want it?”
“I was just curious, not wanting it.”
“But that’s exactly wanting it.”
She forcibly placed it in his hands. He fidgeted with it, then finally gripped it firmly. The sight was so puppy-like that she almost laughed out loud.
“Take it. Let’s work hard like oxen from now on.”
“Like oxen?” The words sent a shiver down his spine, but Taeri responded with a perfectly confident smile.
Even if he sometimes acted badly, he wouldn’t do anything truly malicious—and while they were together, he wouldn’t. That was the protagonist’s default setting.
“Then see you later.”
She waved to leave, stepping forward, but Claude had grabbed the edge of her sleeve.
“Why?”
“……”
“Do you have something to say? If it’s about changing your mind and wanting me to pay, that’s already settled. Actually, I don’t have money. I gave it all to Bridget earlier.”
“It’s not that.”
Claude loosened and pressed his lips repeatedly, lowering his brows with concern. In a careful tone, he offered unexpected advice:
“Just a word of caution—don’t go anywhere just because you have weapons. Stay at the hotel. I’ll come to fetch you when your schedule is set.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“It’s dangerous to enter the forest alone.”
Ah—he was worried about that? That she might bravely walk into a monster’s den alone?
What a relief. She pulled her sleeve free and shook it.
“Stop it, stop it. Don’t give me more motherly lectures.”
“Mother…?”
Claude couldn’t fathom it. Who’s whose mother…? He gritted his teeth.
The mana barrier served as the front line for wizards who had once fought near-miraculous defensive battles against the monster overflow. Now, it marked the boundary between the Black Forest and the Old Town.
Past the barrier lay the forest and a hellish stretch where mindless monsters roamed. While inhospitable to humans, a few scattered settlers were occasionally spotted.
Most were fugitives who had escaped from somewhere or were hiding from pursuers.
The old fortune-teller was among them. Once a warehouse keeper at the castle, he had stolen a few precious items and keys from the cursed castle’s treasure room, becoming a wanted criminal.
Now, in the middle of his yard, which looked trampled by wild boars, he cursed endlessly.
“Damn it! Who stole all my lettuce?!”
He couldn’t believe it. Lettuce and carrots he had carefully grown were gone. A thief stealing crops near the barrier—what kind of scoundrel does that?
He crawled on his aching knees, digging through the soil, but found nothing. All gone.
“Ah! I’ll break your wrist! Eat it and die! Just eat and die!”
He stomped and cursed as if the empty garden were the thief’s body, spewed saliva, and jabbed the mossy staff into the dirt, screaming at the top of his lungs.
It was so grotesque that a guest waiting in the hut could see it.
“Someone must’ve taken grandpa’s lettuce. You can’t just take others’ things.”
A young lady in a beret appeared. She had noticed him wandering near the barrier and coaxed him to let her give a cheap reading.
If she had known about the rumors of the princess who once made a hole in a marble wine bar, she would never have done this—but the barrier town was isolated; news traveled slowly.
Seeing only the axe at her waist and a gun in her holster, the fortune-teller judged her an ordinary hunter. Muttering curses, he entered the hut, needing to do business in such hard times.
“You must’ve worked hard to live here. And now thieves too.”
“Whoever stole this will die for touching what’s not theirs!”
“Of course, that’s the thief’s fate.”
Unlike her sophisticated face, she was friendly and even pulled a silver coin out preemptively.
Ah, today’s customer is a big catch. The fortune-teller rubbed his dry hands, hiding his annoyance with a sly grin.
“So, what do you want me to read?”
“Just a simple fortune, please.”
“Oh, little girl, if you’re asking for your fortune already, it’s usually bad news. But I won’t refuse—you’re paying me!”
“Really?”
Taeri tilted her head slightly but realized he had a point. She had never cared about horoscopes or tarot before; there was no pressing worry. But now life had become tangled, and she occasionally wanted guidance from even a nonexistent deity.
“Yeah, I’m kind of desperate.”
“That’s good. My cards are lucky for those with such feelings.”
Suddenly, dozens of cards appeared in the air, fanning out. As a former magician, he had a flair for showmanship.
“Pick five. Be careful… hey!”
“All five are picked.”
Despite his warning, Taeri casually grabbed five cards in one swoop.
The fortune-teller, ready to curse her for her sloppiness, instinctively flinched at her forced smile.
“Read the fortune, fortune-teller.”
“A blue young one commanding me….”
He shivered. Pushing through the pressure, he flipped the first card.
“Let’s see… you are… oh, trapped in a tower?”
“Is that good?”
“Don’t ask such a stupid question. You can’t tell from this alone. The tower might be bad, or being trapped there might make you the villain.”
“I’m perfectly innocent.”
Such shamelessness. Irritated, the fortune-teller flipped the next card: a hanging man, a condemned figure, and laughed loudly.
“You are indeed a bad one! The second card shows your desire—do you want to break free from the tower? Escape it? That requires enormous sacrifice and trials!”
“What a terrible prophecy.”
“It’s the truth!”
Pouting, Taeri poked the third card, urging him to continue.
“The third shows what you don’t wish for.”
“Why are all the cards bad? I just wanted a simple fortune—wealth, health, business…”
The fortune-teller lined the three cards and exaggerated his eyes:
“Ah, now I see—you hate being alone, don’t you?”
“No, I enjoy solo life. Not lonely at all.”
“You don’t dislike loneliness—you dislike the guilt of being alone, don’t you?”
For a brief moment, Taeri paused, inhaling sharply. Then a smooth, bright smile returned to her face.
