MTM 56

“It looked like you had lost your way… but it seems that wasn’t the case. You only needed a place to catch your breath.”

As soon as the two of them entered the tent, the woman spoke words that were hard to understand. Up close, she was beautiful. Her skin was pale and translucent, her long eyelashes cast distinct shadows on her face, and her blue dress outlined her figure, giving her an otherworldly air that made her look like a goddess.

“I am the fortune-teller Reina.”

The fortune-teller spoke with a soft smile.

“Perhaps it wasn’t your will that brought you to me, but destiny that called you here.”

After she said that, the fortune-teller gestured to the girl who had been standing at the entrance like a guard to leave, then lit the four candles set on the table one by one. When the red flames flickered, the tent filled with a dreamlike atmosphere.

“You plan to head south.”

Harto was momentarily dazed by the fortune-teller’s captivating beauty and couldn’t answer. Leon stepped forward instead.

“We followed the road here properly. Besides, don’t most travelers staying in Hipora head south? Since this place is near the border.”

The fortune-teller looked at Leon, then her eyes glimmered.

“A mage, then?”

Leon touched his star-shaped earring and answered calmly.

“Anyone could tell that.”

“Hm…”

The fortune-teller brushed her fingers over the crystal sphere, intrigued. Her fingertips hovered above it, then she gently caressed its surface. Soon her brow furrowed, and she let out a soft groan.

“What is it? Do you see my fate?”

Though Leon spoke bluntly, he clearly expected something. His eyes sparkled with curiosity as he waited for her answer.

“You there, do you have money?”

“…A little.”

Leon’s shoulders stiffened at the mention of money, and the fortune-teller smiled while stretching out her hand. Understanding her meaning, Leon emptied his pocket and handed over three gold coins.

“Ahem, give only one. You should keep your ears open and listen carefully to what I’m about to say.”

“I’m listening.”

“Let’s see…”

The fortune-teller placed both hands on the crystal sphere again, muttered softly, then suddenly opened her eyes wide.

“You left the place where you had long belonged and came here. That wasn’t your choice but the path guided by fate. A time was soon coming when you would have to join forces with the ‘Heir of Light,’ who will decide the fate of the world… but that fate has been reversed.”

“R-reversed? What do you mean, reversed?!”

Startled, Leon asked, and the fortune-teller extended her hand again. Leon, nervous now, handed over another gold coin.

By then, Harto realized the fortune-teller’s words were nothing but a scam for money.

“Um, Leon…”

“Shh. Too noisy, I can’t focus….”

He had only called out softly, but the fortune-teller sighed with an unpleasant look on her face.

“Harto, you might find this boring, but could you wait a little longer? I need to hear something important.”

“But…”

“A soul that should’ve long crumbled now clings to life, wearing the shell of a monster!”

“……!”

At that instant, the fortune-teller shouted loudly. Harto froze, unable to speak.

“A sprout has begun to grow in your heart.”

The fortune-teller fixed her violet eyes on Harto.

“But you must not defy the fate that has been given to you.”

“Wow, it seems Harto has some grand destiny too.”

Leon’s eyes sparkled in fascination as he admired the fortune-teller’s words about destiny.

Harto, however, felt crushed by the fear that she had somehow seen through the secret he had been hiding. He didn’t want to stay here any longer.

“Leon… l-let’s go out….”

“What should I do, Harto? I still need to hear more. Could you wait outside for a moment? It won’t take long.”

“O-okay…”

He wanted to leave together, but since Leon was determined, Harto had no choice but to step out of the tent alone.

Once outside, all the waiting customers were gone, and only the lights of the noisy street flickered around him.

“Ugh… my stomach hurts….”

Leon had said he’d be out soon, so he couldn’t go far. But the crowd pressed in on him, and the smells in the air made his head throb. The sights that had seemed exciting moments ago now looked grotesque, and the mix of all the different food scents made him feel sick.

He wanted to turn into a monster and hide deep underground. The earth would be damp and cold, but that seemed far better than staying here.

“Hey, are you alright?”

When he was staggering, unable to find anywhere to lean, a man in a gray suit caught his arm.

“Ah… thank you….”

When he turned his head to thank him, he saw a middle-aged man with a mustache that looked like something out of a comic. The man stared at Harto’s pale face and smiled.

“Are you the new boy at Honey? Hm… your clothes are in rags, but your face is quite fine.”

“‘Honey’…?”

Of course, he didn’t mean honey. Confused, Harto looked around. At some point, he was no longer in front of the fortune-teller’s tent but in front of a place with a sign that said “Honey.” There was no door at the entrance, and people walked in and out looking as affectionate as lovers. On the second-floor terrace, couples were kissing.

“…Ah.”

Realizing what kind of place it was, Harto stepped back, avoiding the man’s hand.

“Where are you going? I’ve never met a boy who ignores my kindness like this.”

The man still wore a gentlemanly smile, but his eyes gleamed with a greasy shine that made Harto feel danger.

“I-I’m not… human.”

Panicked, Harto tried to deny and move away.

Tap.

“Ah!”

The man grabbed Harto’s arm.

“You’re a shy one. The more I look, the more you suit my taste. Hey, Master!”

When he shouted, someone in flashy clothes came out from inside the shop.

“What is it, sir?”

“Isn’t this boy one of yours?”

The man pointed at Harto, and the Master’s eyes lit up.

“Oh! Wasn’t a new one supposed to arrive today? Let’s see….”

“New… product…?”

Harto froze at the word that treated a person like an object. The Master pulled a ledger from his coat and checked it.

“They said a helper was coming tomorrow to do odd jobs. You must be that kid, Harpo, right?”

“What? No, that’s not me! I’m Harto! I don’t know anyone named Harpo….”

Startled, Harto shook his head. How could a name differ by just one letter? He only hoped they wouldn’t misunderstand.

“Harto? Seems the name was passed on wrong. I only planned to have you do chores, but at this level, you could start working right away.”

“What?! No, I…ah!”

Before he could finish, the Master grabbed his wrist and pulled him inside. The moment he entered, he saw half-naked people. Shocked, Harto couldn’t find anywhere to look, and when a hand gripped one side of his hip, his body went rigid.

“Small and soft. Feels like it would be nice.”

“……!”

When Harto turned around, the man who had caught him earlier licked his lips. Goosebumps ran over his whole body. He couldn’t endure it any longer. Without another thought, he stomped on the Master’s foot.

“Argh! You brat!”

“S-sorry…!”

Harto freed himself from the man’s grip and tried to run for the door, but large men suddenly appeared and blocked the entrance. He turned toward the window instead, but the furious Master grabbed his cloak.

“Catch him!”

Harto ran, leaving his cloak behind. He ran up the stairs to the second floor. A man and a woman entangled like snakes were kissing there. Harto gasped in shock and jumped past them, he then ran toward the darker back area.

“W-what is this place…”

The hallway branched into many directions like an ant’s nest, and there were countless rooms. The strange atmosphere made him hesitate, but he couldn’t turn back. As he passed doorless rooms, he heard strange groans from inside and avoided looking in, running forward without stopping.

“This way!”

Then he heard someone shouting from behind. There was nowhere left to run. Harto had no choice but to ran into the nearest room.

“Huh? Who are you?”

Inside, a beautiful young man with blond hair and blue eyes sat neatly on a round bed. The young man wore a nearly transparent outfit and looked Harto up and down without much surprise.

“S-sorry! Please pretend you didn’t see me…!”

Harto shouted and quickly shoved himself under the bed. It was tighter than he expected, but he managed to squeeze in.

…Tap, tap, tap.

A moment later, the guards chasing him didn’t enter but called out from outside.

“Sir Ser! Did you see anyone running this way?”

Ser tilted his head and smiled as he patted the bed.

“Who knows… maybe he crawled into my bed?”