NOVEL WEB Chapter 77
77. This Is God’s Game
“My name is Haruto Riva.”
“I see, so it’s you──”
Electra stared intently at me as I introduced myself.
“……As predicted.”
Predicted? What does she mean?
“Let me see more closely.”
Just as I thought that──Electra’s face approached.
Her sweet breath touched me, and my body shivered.
Her face was much closer than when I saw Lilith or Alice.
It was almost close enough for a kiss.
“J-just a bit too close……”
Lilith raised her voice in what sounded like a scream.
“Please be quiet. His fate is more chaotic than most. I need to concentrate to read it.”
Electra seemed unconcerned.
She continued to stare straight at me.
──Thump.
My chest throbbed with a hot pain.
What is this feeling──?
“Seven lights……six darknesses……dragon temple……berserk warrior……hmm.”
Electra furrowed her brow.
“Multiple fates are overlapping. It’s more chaotic than I thought.”
“Fates are overlapping……?”
“The future is uncertain. A small trigger can cause a large wave of destiny. How your fate will turn──even I can’t read it accurately. Well, you won’t be at peace. You will face countless difficulties.”
Electra looked oddly amused.
It didn’t seem like a laughing matter to me.
“Your fate is accelerating. All I can say is ‘the awaited one will come to Elios City. There will be many obstacles, and you must value your connections with people.'”
Elios City──I think that’s a city in the Kingdom of Sara.
Who could the awaited one be?
“No, I can’t see any further. Whether hope or dark clouds await you──”
said Electra.
Well, sometimes predictions are accurate, and sometimes they’re not──it might be best to just keep it in mind.
“By the way, about the person we’re looking for?”
I asked Electra.
This was our main concern.
“Understood. Can you tell me about that person?”
We conveyed the information about Salome and Luca.
Hearing that, Electra began laying out tarot cards on the table.
She seemed to use cards as well as her ability to see people.
“……Hmm. The person you’re looking for is to the south. However, you can’t meet them now.”
said Electra.
“Can’t meet them now?”
“The time is two days later. An image of water……likely a spring. There is a famous fountain park south of town. And the moon and clouds──you might be able to meet them at night.”
“The night after tomorrow, in the fountain park south of town……”
I organized Electra’s words in my mind.
Until then, we would continue gathering information, but if we couldn’t find any leads, it might be worth visiting the place as per the prediction.
“Thank you, Electra.”
“No, thank you. I was able to see an intriguing fate.”
Electra smiled happily.
“It’s a privilege as a fortune-teller, haha.”
The next day, we continued gathering information.
However, we couldn’t find any trace of the two.
From day to night, we continued gathering information, and I also trained my skills in my free time.
I was close to mastering a new skill I had been working on recently.
Between gathering information and training, we spent busy days, and then the night two days later──.
Having found no leads, we headed to the fountain park Electra mentioned.
※
Finally, I met the holder of the divine skill──.
In a dark room, Electra was lost in thought.
Haruto Ruva.
The one with the power of Ilfaria.
The boy she saw in her vision.
“Yes, just as the vision said──”
Electra muttered, looking up at the ceiling, recalling an event from about a month ago.
──That day, Electra had finished her work as a fortune-teller and was drinking alone in a bar.
Having a drink here after work was her pleasure.
The bar’s atmosphere was nice, and the food and drinks were good.
It was her favorite place, but she was recently fed up with being pestered by a regular customer.
He invited her to go out with him, indirectly or directly.
She always firmly refused.
As an eighteen-year-old beautiful fortune-teller famous in town, she had many experiences of being pestered like this.
But the man was quite persistent and showed no sign of giving up on Electra.
Though she was a master of spirit summoning and gave him no chance to approach her.
She didn’t let him touch her even with a single finger──.
That man was glancing at her from a distance again today.
(Really, he’s so persistent)
Electra sighed.
Then──.
A bad premonition ran down her spine.
“……!?”
Suddenly, her vision changed.
A strange image appeared.
The location was the bar.
Electra was lying on the floor, and the man was looking down at her with a grin.
“Hmph, she’s supposed to be a skilled summoner, but she’s helpless if drugged.”
“Ugh……”
It felt strange to see herself unable to get up.
(Drugged……?)
Frustrated by Electra’s lack of interest, the man resorted to force.
His eyes were filled with desire.
Moreover, standing next to him was the bar owner.
A smirk was also on his face.
(I see, the owner is in on it too)
She felt sick.
What awaited Electra after this was clear.
Helpless, she would become their plaything.
She would rather die than be their toy.
(No, I don’t want this……)
──Then change it. Change your destiny──
Suddenly, a voice echoed.
“You are──”
A woman with three faces and six arms stood there.
“Call me Louve. I am the goddess of destiny.”
The goddess introduced herself with a gentle smile.
“Goddess……?”
“To be precise, a fragment of her consciousness. And your navigator of power.”
Louve explained.
“You’re the one from that time──”
Electra knew her.
……About two weeks ago, the town was attacked by a monster.
Electra died at that time.
Then she met someone.
In a pure white world, a strange being calls herself a goddess.
And she said.
I will bring you back to life and give you power──.
“It wasn’t a dream, was it?”
Electra murmured.
“What you just saw is an event that will happen an hour from now.”
Louve explained.
“If things continue, you will become their plaything. Your pure body will be defiled, and you will be their outlet for desire. But you have the power to change it. The power to manipulate and alter destiny.”
“Tell me.”
Louve explained to Electra how to use her power.
“I see. So that’s the skill I was given.”
Electra nodded.
“But, is there no penalty for changing destiny?”
“There is none. You are free to use your power. Whether for yourself, for others, for desire, or for justice. And──even for evil.”
“The last part doesn’t sound like something a goddess would say.”
Electra chuckled despite herself.
“This is God’s game──we merely observe. How you use your power is entirely up to you. Electra.”
Then I will change it without hesitation──.
Electra decided.
To change her destiny.
To use the power to manipulate destiny and eliminate those who oppose her.
And then──an hour later.
In the dark bar, Electra was lying on the floor.
Inside the bar were the persistent regular customer and the owner.
And only Electra.
“Hehe, if she keeps refusing, we’ll just take her this way.”
“You’ll give me a share too, right?”
The regular customer and the owner looked at each other and laughed.
They had successfully drugged Electra and were about to enjoy themselves.
They were thoroughly despicable men.
“Of course. Thanks for the help, owner.”
“……You’re both scum.”
Electra slowly stood up.
“W-what, we drugged you……”
“How did you……know?”
“Knew? No, I foresaw it.”
Electra smiled, lifting the corners of her mouth.
Of course, she was cautious about the drug, pretended to eat the food and secretly discarded it, and did the same with the drink.
“I know destiny. And I change destiny.”
“W-what are you……saying……”
“Now, receive your retribution.”
A faint light appeared behind Electra.
A strange shadow emerged──.
“H-hee!”
The regular customer and the owner both fled the bar.
But Electra knew where they would go.
No, she foresaw it.
“So──this is the end for you two. Your destiny is sealed.”
A few moments later, screams echoed from the back alley.