WETRIED TRANSLATIONS

Wizard of the Abyss

[Translator – Aren]

Chapter 65 - Undercurrents (4)

[The morning after I had my Soul Fever, I ran to my father in tears. I begged him not to die, that he was in danger. He just dismissed it as a nightmare.]

[Two days later, he became victim of an assassination attempt.]

[Of course, it ended with just an attempt. My warning hadn’t really changed anything though. But I came to the realization that what I saw were fragments of a future, possibilities.]

I calmly read the letter and asked,

"...Since when have you been watching me?”

I had wondered when exactly I had started appearing in her visions.

[This is the first time. To be precise, the first time I saw you was in connection with this incident.]

[Soon, monsters will appear in the capital alongside a great fire. Something that cannot be done through ordinary means. Only someone with enough authority to deploy private troops and capable of influencing the entire capital could possibly cause this.]

"Ah."

I nodded.

I finally was able to understand what was going on here.

"So that’s why you rounded everyone up?”

[Yes. I never intended to do something so drastic at first. But I can see whether a future is changing as I take various actions. But no matter what I did, nothing had changed. So I became quite anxious, so, erm…I may have used a slightly more extreme approach.]

Her handwriting was quite soft and elegant, but the content was absolutely not.

She did say that her foresight wasn’t perfect, so she couldn’t figure out who caused this catastrophe or how, only that it would happen, so she detained every noble who might have been capable of it.

That was why Aletus was accused of treason.

But there still were some questions remaining.

"Didn’t you say you can’t see results? Then how can you be sure this disaster will happen?”

[Because everything I mentioned is a process]

"?"

[I have so, so much already. It may sound a bit arrogant for me to say this—but from trivial administrative reorganization to crucial issues affecting national power. From the day I awakened this gift until now, I have worked without rest. You could even say that the Empire before my involvement was a completely different nation.]

"You’ve worked hard."

[Hearing that makes me happy.]

...All I was doing was reading letters, and yet it felt like I was having a real conversation here. It was quite the fascinating experience.

[I have done this since I was 10 years old, for one reason. I saw a truly terrifying future.]

[A future so horrifying that it cannot be undone or changed.]

[Dozens of calamities approach us. Some of them we have already narrowly avoided.]

"Such as?”

[Have you heard of the Bloodletting Plague that started spreading from Eolane, killing seven out of ten who caught it? A nightmarish event that wiped out half the Empire.]

"...I never heard of it. It must have been decades ago."

[No. It was three years ago.]

"What?"

[Of course you haven’t heard of it. I stopped it before it ever began. The people of Eolane were quite curious about why so many epidemic research facilities appeared overnight, but when they learned it was at my command, they just let it go.]

"..."

There was a reason why the Empire was enjoying such a long period of peace.

That was only one example. But it was enough to make me wonder how many disasters she might have already stopped. This prophetic ability, no matter how imperfect, was practically invincible when used for governing a nation, not stocks or coins.

[I saw the flames consuming the capital back then. I thought I had prepared enough, but… this calamity is proving quite difficult to prevent. No matter how hard I try, no matter how extreme my measures are, the process just won’t change.]

"I see. I understand now why you came to me."

I replied, looking at the maid with a bewildered expression.

"But I have no idea why you chose me. What could I possibly do to affect that future you saw? I’m just a kid struggling to survive each new day.”

[Because…you showed up too often. So I wanted to take a chance on you.]

"Huh?"

The letter, which began in such an absurd way, only continued with even more absurd things.

[Jern, you always show up in every single possibility after I detain the nobles. Without fail.]

[At first, you tried to get information through some Knights, using some trick to convince them to introduce you to me. Then you would demand to know why I was investigating Lord Aletus.]

[If I were to refuse to meet you, you’d immediately sense that something was off and begin acting on your own.]

[And out of 106 futures, in 21 of them, you came to the conclusion that I was a prophet.]

[You even tried to assassinate me, even if it was only once.]

"I…did?"

[Yes. I can’t tell you the details, but I will say that it was the boldest and most terrifying assassination attempt I have ever witnessed.]

No.

What the hell did my future self go through to come to the conclusion to attempt assassinating the princess?

Suddenly the chair I was sitting on felt like a bed of spikes.

[Do you know the kind of things you did in those futures? Flooding the city by opening the sea-gates, propping up a false traitor, impersonating enemies, and in some possibilities, actually bringing them here—honestly, I started to wonder whether you were another disaster I had to prevent.]

"...My apologies."

[It’s fine. Your intentions were ultimately for the Empire’s and everyone’s good. And so, I became quite curious about you… and did a background check.]

"Is it even possible to do a background check on some orphan like me?”

[Yes. It’s difficult, but not impossible.]

I couldn’t even begin to imagine what method she used that even the princess would call it…difficult.

[I’m sorry to say this, but even though we both worked towards the same goals, we would always fail. So, I started to wonder. What would happen if we worked together?]

"Thank you for the high praise. I don’t really know if I can actually be of much help, but I will do my best.”

I still didn’t get the full picture.

But there was something I absolutely couldn’t overlook. I needed information about myself from her.

There was a reason for that.

The picture that had been attached to one of the letters. The woman who was holding me in their arms was dressed in clothes that no commoner could ever wear.

'Don’t tell me…'

My shrouded past was likely connected to the Abyssal Sea in some way.

Looking at Ren, the cause of her fall was closely tied to her and had quite some impact. Knowing my past seemed absolutely crucial to me because of that.

[Whew, finally! Finally.]

After that explanation, the content seemed to have gotten a lot more emotional.

The handwriting suddenly seemed as if it had been scribbled down with excitement.

“What do you mean by that?”

[Jern. Do you have any idea how hard it is to get you on my side? If I just ask for help, you pretend to go along while secretly asking Lumia to investigate me. If I mix in some subtle threats, from that point I become unable to grasp your future, prophecies or not. And if I try offering money or rewards, you immediately go, “Hmm, the princess is asking me for a favor, so why is she trying to pay me? Something’s off,” and you start getting suspicious of every little thing. After checking all those futures, this was the only way left to get you to cooperate. To reveal every last one of my secrets and beg you for help!]

[And about this letter-conversation we’re having? This normally wouldn't be possible. The only reason this little trick works is because I’ve already had hundreds of conversations to figure out exactly what you’ll say. For you, this is a chat that doesn’t even last 30 minutes, but for me, it’s been three days of nonstop talking...]

"I don’t know what to say… I’m sorry.”

It seemed like I was a massive pain in the ass in most futures she saw.

Of course, if a princess wanted to have a chat with me, I’d definitely consider every possibility I could think of.

Fortunately, the princess was merely venting there. From the next letter on, her tone went back to calm and elegant.

[Please don’t apologize. I don’t expect an apology for something you haven’t done. If anything, I’m truly grateful you’re helping me.]

[Use any means necessary to find that noble who will betray us.]

[I’ll handle everything that might happen afterwards.]

Those words were quite reassuring. But I still had to ask.

"I understand that you can’t see the outcome, only the process, but…”

[Yes.]

The reason she had gone to such extremes to recruit me was quite simple.

[Whenever I help you, you manage to resolve this issue.]

I could do it.

***

"And lastly, please take this bag."

I accepted the bag the maid handed me.

"Her Highness said everything you’ll need is inside.”

"I see. Thank you."

"Then, I’ll take my leave.”

As the maid stood, I gathered up the pile of letters, then asked something that had been on my mind for some time.

"By the way, Lady Sharmia, you didn’t really have to write all that down towards the end, right? Were there that many possible futures where I didn’t notice who you were?”

"No, you always noticed.”

"Then why did you go through all that trouble…?”

"I just wanted to tease you a little. Sorry.”

"Ah, I see…”

Sharmia gave me a mischievous smile and then left the teahouse.

No matter how close she was to her maid, there was no way she would tell her she was a prophet. Once it became certain that she actually was one, there was no longer any possibility that she wasn’t the princess herself.

Coming here alone without any Knights was proof of her confidence. Well, if she’d already seen dozens of futures where she hadn’t been exposed to danger here, I guess she could afford to act the way she did.

She clearly made herself look like that using makeup. I sighed and opened the bag.

There were several tools inside. The most eye-catching one was a black metal mask.

Besides that, there was also a necklace, some kind of insignia, and several other items. Each had a note attached that explained what they were for. I looked at them one by one.

[This is an artifact engraved with perception-suppressing magic. With this mask on, you’ll appear taller, so no one will think you’re a child. And yes, it’s yours to keep. You don’t have to try to replicate it.]

[This is the insignia of an Imperial Inspector-General. Show this to the guards, and they’ll open the gates for you even at dawn. I’ve already told them, so please wear the black mask and bring people from the Inspection office with you.]

[These are identification papers. Yes, you can keep using them.]

If you need to report anything, please use this orb.]

It seemed like she hadn’t lied about the fact that she had been talking to me for quite a while.

She provided me with exactly what I needed along with notes clearly explaining where and how much I could use the items.

[It’s not that I don’t trust you, but I am exploring various other options as well, so please don’t feel too pressured and just act as you see fit.]

[The conditions are as follows:

1. The traitor currently doesn’t know they’re a traitor.

I don’t quite understand what that means myself, and that’s the biggest problem.

I’ve gone to interrogate them several times, but every last one of them sincerely believes that they’re innocent. I’m certain that the culprit is among them, but if they don’t even know they’re the culprit, questioning them is almost useless.

Because of that, even with my prophetic ability, I can’t see who would actually carry out the crime. I can only observe the process of it.

2. It’s highly likely that the group called Scarlet Abyss is involved.

I still don’t know how exactly they’re connected, though.

However, it’s not a simple case of someone impersonating them at the very least.

3. The deadline can’t exceed one week.

The incident should have happened quite some time ago already. It’s only in a state of suspension because I forced those rebellion charges onto the nobles.

But in a week, all these nobles who have no idea what’s going on will start getting restless and angry, filing formal complaints.

If we haven’t found the culprit by then, well, we’ll have to assume that we can’t stop this disaster. The method may change, but it will happen.

I’ll be in your care from now on. If you lend your strength for the future of the Empire, I’ll also do one thing for you in return, Jern.]

"Hmm."

A traitor who doesn’t know they’re a traitor, huh.

First, I made sure no one was watching me, and then I slipped on the black mask.

After that, I went up to the counter and checked something.

"I’d like to pay.”

"Y-yes…?”

The staff member jumped as soon as they saw me and glanced around.

"S-sir, which table were you at?”

"The one where the kid was sitting.”

"Aha, I see! My apologies, I didn’t realize you were his father…”

So that was how tall I seemed to other people.

The staff member’s gaze wasn’t directed to my actual head but focused a good bit above it. Perhaps that was where people would now think my face would be.

"Thank you very much!”

I stepped outside after paying and rubbed a hand over the mask.

...This really was an incredible item. I could see why the me from the future tried to replicate it.

Walking through the capital’s streets, I went back over the conditions and goals written on that note.

The nobles listed were about 21. Among them was Aletus.

"They don’t know, huh…”

The simplest explanation that I could piece together for this was that someone with an inner world that let them control people without them realizing that they had been tampered with manipulated the nobles.

I couldn’t jump to conclusions, though. If the princess herself had investigated every single one of them, she wouldn’t have just asked them stuff like, “Are you a traitor? Yes or no?” and called it a day.

She must have thoroughly investigated them in various ways and still ended up with the conclusion that every one of them was clean.

Even so, the biggest reason she picked me was probably because Fallen can recognize another Fallen as long as the other’s world isn’t larger than their own.

And even Decay, who lived in a world of deathly cold, still moved within a world smaller than my inner world.

At the very least, I had to confirm that none of them was being controlled.

Only I could do that.

"Alright."

After much deliberation, I made my decision and headed toward the inspection office.

And 1 hour later.

-Bang!

"Defendant Aletus, open the gates!”

"?"

With a dozen inspectors behind me, I stood before the gates of Aletus’ estate.

... Suppressing the pang of guilt coursing through me, I tried to convince myself.

That this was something that had to be done.

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