~Chapter 75~
“I’m sorry. Things were a bit chaotic, right?”
After dinner, I apologized to Ricardo.
“No, I actually enjoyed it.”
“If you did, then I’m relieved.”
The expression I had seen on his face earlier was completely gone, replaced now with pure curiosity. Ricardo slowly looked around my room and suddenly let out a chuckle.
“Why are you laughing?”
“It’s just… so ordinary.”
I couldn’t figure out what was funny.
Then, Ricardo’s gaze settled on something.
“Is that painting yours?”
“Oh, that one was a gift…”
At that moment, I blinked, thinking I might be seeing things.
He was pointing at the framed painting Simon had gifted me—the one I couldn’t tell whether it was a fire or a beast.
The painting had changed.
I still couldn’t figure out what it meant, but it definitely looked different from last time.
When I paused mid-sentence, Ricardo looked at me with a puzzled expression.
“I—it was a gift from Simon.”
I barely managed to say it.
Did he play some trick on me with magic?
No, Simon wouldn’t go through that kind of effort. At most, he’d make a dumb joke.
“I see.”
Ricardo seemed to be thinking about something, then cautiously opened his mouth.
“Bianca, do you by any chance plan to attend the auction?”
“……”
Judging by his tone, he meant the Moonlight Auction.
But how does he know about that?
He probably already knows, so there’s no point in lying.
“Yes.”
“Looks like you have something to buy.”
“That’s right. What about you?”
Ricardo looked straight at me, then quietly nodded.
“…Do you have something to buy?” I repeated again in surprise.
No way—could it be the necklace?
“I’m still deciding.”
He looked troubled, deep in thought.
First Hestia, now Ricardo too?
I’m starting to lose confidence.
No, Ricardo might not even be there on the first day. He could just be a customer at the Moonlight Shop.
But it seemed like he was thinking about something different.
“…If we meet, may I stay by your side?”
“I don’t mind, but you might not recognize me.”
At my reply, Ricardo gave a confident smile.
“Well, we’ll find out when the time comes.”
***
After Ricardo left,
I stood in front of the altered painting.
My eyes soon turned to the basket Penny had left.
“The older the item, the more effective,” she had said.
I still didn’t know what the effect was supposed to be.
But if it was Atkins’ item, then it had to be old—maybe even older than I could imagine.
Was there resentment in it? I didn’t know. But if the painting had changed, maybe it did have some power, like Penny had said.
After a moment of hesitation, I picked up the basket.
Tick, tick.
It was 8:58 PM.
Almost time, just like Penny said.
I held the black water bottle and took a deep breath.
‘Whatever happens, I just won’t scream!’
I placed the painting on the floor and opened the bottle.
The liquid inside smelled awful—so strong I wanted to cover my nose.
Tick.
I checked the time and poured the water onto the painting. Then, quickly brushed it five times with the branch, just like Penny had instructed.
“……”
It was exactly 9 PM when I finished, just like she told me.
But nothing happened.
Of course.
Disappointed, I turned to leave and open the window for fresh air when—
Creeeak…
A strange turning sound came from behind.
“…!”
The black water spilled onto the floor and began to vanish, while the picture inside the frame started moving.
I rushed to pick it up.
The lines that were shifting began to take form.
Eventually, the movement stopped.
It showed the image of a person running somewhere.
“Who are you?”
I asked, but the figure in the painting just kept running.
So it can’t talk, huh.
I gave up trying to speak and focused on watching.
The figure, still running, reached the edge of a cliff.
Even though the drawing was rough, I could feel the despair.
After realizing there was nowhere to run, the figure jumped off the cliff.
“……”
And at that moment, the painting went completely blank.
What the heck was that?
It felt like I had just watched someone die. I was left with a strange, uneasy feeling.
“What were you trying to show me…?”
I didn’t really expect an answer—it was just me talking to myself.
But then, words started to appear on the now-blank canvas.
[Puhaha! The answer is… the future~!]
“…!”
[Oh no, was my joke upsetting? Your face looks a bit twisted.]
Trying to snap out of it, I bit the inside of my cheek.
“How much of that was a joke?”
[Obviously, everything except the part where I didn’t greet you! Messing with time is a serious thing, you know!]
“If you’re telling the truth, then whose future did you just show me…?”
But the voice—or rather, the words—ignored me.
[Sorry for the late intro! I’m Arkan, a guide for adventurers! May I ask your name, miss?]
A guide for adventurers…
That reminded me of Atkins.
He seemed to expect a back-and-forth conversation.
“Bianca Roygin.”
[Mwahaha, wonderful! I usually give nicknames, but yours is short enough! No need this time!]
The letters were disappearing quickly—I could barely keep up.
“Alright, Arkan.”
[I like you a lot! I’ve never met someone whose destiny is completely invisible—it’s making my heart race!]
A small drawing of a beating heart appeared under the words.
Destiny can’t be seen?
Then the future I just saw wasn’t mine?
[Oops! It was my turn to reply, wasn’t it?]
I swallowed dryly and focused on Arkan.
[To be honest—I don’t know! It could be someone’s old future, but I’m not sure!]
“….”
[Puhaha, I guess I messed up trying to show you a helpful future!]
What kind of guy was this?
And is it even really a guide?
“Then…”
[Nope! My turn again! You need to follow the rules—good adventurers keep the order, you know!]
I wasn’t an adventurer, but I didn’t have the strength to argue. Plus, the words were coming way too fast to interrupt.
So I just nodded, as if telling it to go ahead.
[Miss, would you like to change the future you just saw?]
Change a stranger’s future?
I didn’t even know the situation.
I was about to shake my head when new words appeared.
[Haha! No need to overthink it! I just want to help guide you to a path that suits you~.]
“What’s at the end of that path?”
[If you’re curious, why not change it and find out for yourself?]
Accepting something out of curiosity didn’t seem smart.
This could mean saving someone’s life.
As if understanding my hesitation, new words appeared.
[This isn’t a duty, miss! Like I said, I’m a guide, not a companion on your journey.]
[But if the future changes, more good things might happen. New paths could open for you too~!]
A new path…
As much as I didn’t want to admit it, that was exactly what I needed.
If this world were controlled by cruel fate, no matter how much I tried to escape, the ending would stay the same.
[Oh dear, looks like someone’s here! I’ll be waiting, so call me anytime~!]
And the painting turned white again.
Only then did I snap out of it and turn around—
A rat was squeaking behind me.
“You…!”
The rat’s head grew bigger as it squirmed.
And before long, Penny’s face appeared—though her body remained that of a rat.
“Big sis!”
She shouted proudly.
“I found the Tower Master!”
“You found him?”
I hadn’t expected that, so I was surprised. Penny puffed up her chest, confident.
“Who do you think I am? Of course, I found him!”
“Where is he now?”
“No need to worry! The moment I got close, he started firing off magic circles like crazy—so I’d say he’s doing just fine!”
She showed me the ends of her hair, which had been burned.
“You really went through a lot…”
Then, trying to stay calm, I asked,
“But… can you maybe do something about your body?”
I felt bad saying it, but her appearance was just too horrifying.
