CH 14

Chapter Title: The Fortune Teller

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「What do you think, Obaba?」

The fortuneteller, holding his hand over the crystal, furrowed his brows while saying……

「No doubt, my king. The boy Elt is still alive.」

Everyone in the room gulped. There were whispering voices around me. I picked up the words among them, 「How in the world?」 「How did he survive the sacrifice ritual?」 「Is there a request from the evil god?」.

Only a few people in the kingdom have been gathered to prevent the chaos from spreading. In such a situation…….

「I knew Elt was alive!　Ah…… Elt. I’m so glad.」

Alicia was happy with tears in her eyes.

This time, Alicia discovered that the transfer magic circle was still operational and reported the fact.

The kingdom was aware that this year’s sacrifice rituals were over, so this was truly a surprise.

That’s why I asked the country’s number one fortune teller to confirm Elt’s survival.

「Obaba. Where’s the boy?」

Unlike Alicia, as the king, he can’t just let Elt live and be done with it.

「There’s no sign of him on the ……………… map!」

In a panic, one of us brought a map and spread it out on the table.

The fortuneteller crawls his finger over the map.

First, he points to the location of the Kingdom of Ilkut. The Kingdom of Ilkut is a medium-sized nation located in the east of the continent. From there, the fortune teller turns his finger in a wide circle and brings it to the west. He crawled his finger to avoid the sea in the middle of the continent.

「Here……」

Alicia frowned. Her eyebrows furrowed as she realized from the movement of her fingers that this was a very distant place.

「He is in the territory of the Erivan Kingdom. This deep green forest is called the [Lost Forest] and has a den of powerful monsters and it’s said that if someone enters the forets they won’t be able to ever return back alive. My fortune tells me that this is where the sacrificial boy is.」

I felt the same shock as before.

「Wouldn’t that mean that the boy would die shortly?」

「The transportation magic circle is a magic circle that sends you to the Evil God. Does that mean that the evil god has his stronghold in the Kingdom of Erivan?」

「In any case, it’s not a place that we can mess with.」

The important people are exchanging opinions with reluctant looks on their faces…….

「Elt will not die!」

Alicia interrupted their discussion.

「He was sacrificed to the evil gods, but he still survived!　Elt must be alive and well even now!」

Alicia glared at everyone in the room as tears welled up in her eyes, as if the worst expectations had come to her mind.

King Jamgan of Irkutu was stroking his beard and observing Alicia. And…….

「It’s no use talking about it here. The sacrifice system that has plagued our country until now has become abnormal. That’s what’s so unusual about this. The demands from the evil gods have ceased.」

Either way, we don’t have enough information. Jamgan thought to himself.

「I don’t know if the boy is alive or dead, but we should do what we can……. Alice」

「Yes. Father」

A beautiful woman stepped forward when her name was called. It’s Alice, the princess of this country.

「You are to go to Erivan immediately. Gather information there and find out what happened to the boy in question.」

This matter needed to be handled in the strictest confidence. In order to do so, Jamgan thought it best to send his daughter, the most powerful woman in the kingdom, to the scene.

「Very well, father. I have certainly received your order.」

Alice bowed in a dignified manner. She was about to leave the room to carry out her mission, but…….

「P, please wait!」

Alicia interrupted her.

She ran up to Alice and said…….

「Take me with you, please. I can use healing magic, so I won’t slow you down!」

「If you are a user of healing magic, there are court mages. In some cases, they may go near the Lost Forest. You think you can follow me to such a dangerous place?」

Elt was a mere townsman, so he was not familiar with this kind of information, but the infamy of the Lost Forest was widely known among adventurers. Alicia had a chance to talk to them while she was healing, so she was well aware of the horror of the situation.

「I’m prepared for this.」

Alice thought that if she threatened her a little, she would back down, but she met Alicia’s serious eyes head on.

「Why are you doing this?　The boy named Elt was sacrificed in your place. In other words, you’re safe now that he’s fulfilled your role. Why would you risk it all to come along?」

Alicia’s devotion to her country has been recognized, and her good looks have led her to receive offers of marriage from noblemen. If she continues to live in the country, she is guaranteed a wealthy life.

Alice questioned the action of abandoning it.

「That’s obvious, Princess」

Alicia declared as she stared at Alice with a strong will and a smile that would make anyone fall in love with her.

「I want to see Elt. I want to meet Elt and tell him something. So I don’t care what place it is.」

「I like you. I’m appointing you as my squire.」

「Oh, Alice, are you sure?」

One of the officials came up to me. He was one of those who planned to attach his son to Alicia.

「No problem. I’ll take full responsibility. I’m good enough to fight by myself. As long as I have this blade, I have no enemies.」

Then she showed him the sword on her hip.

「Thank you, Princess.」

「Alice is fine. You’ll be my traveling companion on this journey.」

Alice sat down and brought her eye level with Alicia’s. She winked at her.

「Why would you go through all the trouble?」

I don’t understand why they would reach out to someone like me. Alicia wondered.

Alice giggled and smiled.

「Maybe it’s because I’m interested in you and Elt-kun」

She replied.