I, Hal Harem Von Raymond, am currently staying in the former royal capital of Schwerin, the former territory of the Yangas Kingdom, which is Liliana’s homeland. This is part of the Second Expedition Trip, and I am accompanied by my fiancée Alicia and twelve Party Members of “Princess Harem.”
Regarding the relationship between Alicia and me, I must properly make it clear, or she will become displeased. When Alicia and I were ennobled, my father, Dalos Raymond, had interpreted our engagement as having been nullified. However, it seems Alicia had already made the necessary arrangements regarding that matter.
Alicia was confident before embarking on the Second Expedition Trip. However, seeing as I continue to form new bonds with beautiful girls throughout this journey, I wonder if she has become jealous.
The twelve Party Members are: Vice-Captain Elise, Mai, Swan Hilda, Ly, Kirika, Tirna, Edele, Freya, Dietlinde, Liliana, Shera, and Eria. This does not include Sophie, who temporarily left during our time in the Former Yver Duchy Territory, or Ilisha, who is under protective custody.
Furthermore, the Holy Spirit Serena, also known as the Sex Spirit Oyajin, is perched on my shoulder. And Miss Safiya Brilia Von Collanda, a current Count’s daughter, has ended up accompanying us, as if led by a strange twist of fate.
Safiya is the sole daughter of Amiya Kogyo Von Collanda, the Magisterial Count of the Espana Imperial Kingdom, which provisionally governs the Former Yangas Kingdom Territory. She should have been an irreconcilable enemy of Liliana, who was exiled from her country.
However, Safiya, who should have been a Count’s daughter, was found near death under a bridge spanning a canal in the lower town, with a severe wound on her right flank. And not as a noble daughter, but as the wanted Phantom Thief Le Vina☆Star.
It turns out that Safiya, after falling asleep, was manipulated by someone into disguising herself as Phantom Thief Le Vina☆Star, stealing money and goods from corrupt merchants engaged in illicit wealth accumulation, and distributing them to the poor, acting as a righteous thief. We happened to discover her while gathering information in the Former Yangas Kingdom Territory. I healed her wound with “Healing Magic,” and the Holy Spirit Serena then purged the “evil” influences, restoring her to normal.
There were further twists and turns afterward, and Safiya has now entered into a vassalage under Liliana, whom she had secretly admired for a long time. And it is suspected that the mysterious fortune-teller Astarotte is the cause behind Safiya becoming Phantom Thief Le Vina☆Star. Astarotte is an old woman living in a dilapidated mansion in the lower town, living with her grandson. Swan Hilda, who scouted the place, sensed something strange.
Furthermore, according to information gathered by Kirika, there is a group called the “Knights of the Azure Moon,” composed entirely of women, within the rebel forces led by Liliana’s half-sister. We have also received information that her half-sister, Yuliana, should not be alive. We are utterly bewildered.
Our objective is to gather information and pave the way for Liliana’s enthronement as Queen of the New Yangas Kingdom, but the path ahead is fraught with challenges. For now, we are considering visiting the mysterious fortune-teller Astarotte.
“Regarding Astarotte, I’ll go and get a reading myself.”
“Hal, isn’t that dangerous…?”
When I declared that I would visit Astarotte, Alicia looked at me with a worried expression. Meanwhile, Elise, Liliana, and the others watched with interest.
“Well, I should be fine. It seems she’s quite popular as a fortune-teller, so I don’t think there will be a lull in customers. And she’s just an old woman, right?”
“In that case, I’ll go with you.”
“Of course, I’ll accompany you too.”
“Thank you, Swan Hilda and Serena. The rest of you, please provide support.”
In response to Alicia’s concern, Swan Hilda, who volunteered to guard me, and the Holy Spirit Serena agreed to accompany me. Of course, Serena will remain invisible so as not to be discovered by others.
“Hal-sama, Astarotte’s fortune-telling parlor is over there.”
Guided by Safiya, who had visited for a consultation about three months prior, we arrived near the dilapidated mansion where Astarotte lived. The fortune-telling parlor was located in a downtown area of the new city, accessible by crossing the River Leete via ferry. Although the new city has canals, we used a carriage this time due to the large number of people. During the journey, Safiya was engrossed with Liliana and Ly, her admiration for these breathtaking beautiful girls, who once dominated the social scene of the Wahl Imperial Kingdom, seemed genuine. Meanwhile, Tirna, who felt Ly was taken from her, was endearingly flustered, and Eria, who teased her, was also quite charming and a delight to behold.
The old brick mansion was two stories tall; the first floor appeared to be the shop, or rather, the fortune-telling space, and the second floor was likely the living quarters. Upon opening the entrance door, we found a waiting room filled with customers seeking fortune-telling, and Astarotte was said to be waiting in a room in the back. Peeking in from a short distance, I could see occasional visitors, presumably customers, arriving. It wasn’t a bustling crowd like a popular shop, but for a fortune-telling parlor, it seemed to be doing well, consistent with prior information.
“Well, I’m going in.”
Leaving most of the party members at a café with a view of the fortune-telling parlor, I proceeded towards it with Swan Hilda and the Holy Spirit Serena.
“Hal-sama, I’m coming with you! Let’s go in with the mindset that we’re boarding a sinking ship!!”
Swan Hilda, walking behind me, was spouting some ridiculous nonsense, but it’s best not to dwell on it.
“I am also here, so we are completely prepared.”
Serena, on the other hand, offered an unfounded guarantee. I wonder if it would be problematic if she transformed into the Sex Spirit Oyajin during negotiations, but since Astarotte is an old woman, perhaps that aspect is reassuring. As I thought this, the Holy Spirit Serena became invisible.
Though the group feels a sense of unease, it will probably work out… maybe.
The fortune-telling parlor in question, at first glance, appears to be just an ordinary house. There’s no sign, and you can’t peek inside. It’s simply closed with a rather grim and sturdy wooden door. Frankly, it’s intimidating for first-time visitors. Safiya mentioned that she was told about it by an acquaintance.
*Knock, knock, knock*
“Excuse me. My name is Hal Raymond. Is this the residence of Astarotte, who practices fortune-telling? If so, could you please announce my arrival?”
*Creak, groan*
As I announced my arrival by knocking on the door, after a moment, the doorknob turned, and the old, poorly fitted door slowly opened, revealing a young man’s face. The young man’s complexion was pale and listless, his cheeks gaunt, giving him a melancholy impression. He’s not someone I’d particularly want to get close to, but perhaps it’s stage makeup for his role as a resident of the fortune-telling parlor.
“Hal Raymond, this is your first time, isn’t it? Please wait in that seat.”
When Swan Hilda and I bravely entered the fortune-telling parlor, the slightly pale young man who opened the door politely guided us. However, his accent was strange, or rather, his speech was halting, as if he was merely reciting a string of words. This young man must be the grandson living with Astarotte.
My gaze shifted indoors. As expected of a place calling itself a fortune-telling parlor, it was filled with peculiar furnishings. The entire interior was dimly lit with blackout curtains to create an atmosphere. For lighting, tallow candles were lit in candelabras designed like mummified hands of a criminal, and a peculiar odor permeated the air. Our shadows danced in the flickering candlelight. Occasionally, moths would fly into the candle flames, and a “sizzling” sound could be heard.
“What can I say… they really put effort into the interior design.”
“Is it any more suspicious than my damn father’s study?”
Even the waiting room was already focused on manipulating the customer’s impression. But still, this surpasses the study of Gandalo, the current Demon King… Well, given that demonkin are often brainless brutes, perhaps it’s understandable, I thought.
“Still, just waiting here… I’m getting the chills.”
“My nose is twitching again.”
At the same time, the moment we stepped into the fortune-telling parlor, I was overcome by a sense of unease, like a chill. Looking to the side, Swan Hilda was also twitching her nose, and the Holy Spirit Serena, who had become invisible and blended into the air, seemed to be glaring at the young man.
“I feel like just this waiting room is enough for me.”
This visit to Astarotte’s fortune-telling parlor is not directly related to Liliana. However, from the perspective of Safiya, who has entered into vassalage under Liliana, it cannot be ignored. After all, even the wildly depraved Sophie had followers, but Liliana’s ranks were severely depleted as her influential supporters all met their demise. Moreover, my intuition insisted that Safiya’s unconscious wandering and transformation into Phantom Thief Le Vina☆Star was an abnormal situation that needed its cause investigated. What exactly happened in this fortune-telling parlor…?
Suddenly, I noticed sweat beading on my palms. To dispel the unpleasant atmosphere, I tried to joke that I was full, but Swan Hilda, sitting next to me, was also restless. Come to think of it, bringing Swan Hilda, a goddess, might have been a bad omen from the start. By the way, the Sex Spirit Oyajin was purely an extra. Well, since the Sex Spirit Oyajin is also a collection of Holy Element Spirits created by God, the Holy Spirit Serena, perhaps she could be of some help. However, the Sex Spirit Oyajin, who loves the breasts of beautiful girls, claimed that old women were outside his jurisdiction…
Nevertheless, the Holy Spirit Serena is a sacred being created by God to guide heroes. I believe she should originally be with the Hero Party of Albert Sandia, the current hero.
“Hal-sama, my intuition tells me something is dangerous…”
Swan Hilda unconsciously reached for the short sword she wore at her waist. This short sword was borrowed from Mai. The reason was that although the power of the divine sword Swan Hilda creates is immense, it is difficult to handle indoors. Still, the fact that even Swan Hilda, a goddess, has a bad feeling… it’s not a laughing matter.
“I also have a bad feeling.”
As if to deliver the final blow, the Holy Spirit Serena whispered a similar sentiment into my ear. As we all waited meekly, overwhelmed by the surging sense of unease, the young man reappeared.
Thank you for reading.
Episode 36-2: A Maiden’s Heart, Dream Divination, and Fate. Scheduled for publication on August 22nd at 0:00.
