Chapter 787: The Prophet of Yorta (1)
The conversation between the two, just a few words, had drawn the attention of the entire austere prison.
“Offer me your hand. I’ll tell your fortune briefly.”
“Ah, yes, sir.”
Feeling the gazes pouring in from all directions, Lennok leaned against the prison wall, arms crossed.
Naturally, Lennok grasped the giant of a man’s outstretched hand, instantly discerning the flow and pattern of mana within his body.
After a moment, Lennok nodded, pretending to ponder, then abruptly asked.
“You suffered a major injury approximately ten years ago. And three years ago, you met someone who helped you surpass your previous achievements, gaining valuable knowledge, correct?”
“How…!!”
Though he had merely peered into the mana flow by overwhelming it with intuition and estimated the periods of significant change, Lennok didn’t bat an eye as he spoke again.
“This month offers more opportunities for gain than loss. If there are any unfavorable matters, take advantage of this time to resolve them.”
“I’ll keep that in mind!!”
“Since the flow is favorable, do not let greed get the better of you. You will frequently be the subject of gossip, so it would be wise to be cautious and guard your words.”
“Ca-cautious and guard my words…”
The burly man repeated Lennok’s words as if trying to commit them to memory, then subtly began to gauge his reaction.
He fumbled, pulling out a faded pearl, and carefully placed it through the bars.
Judging by its dampness, it seemed to be something he had acquired near the Headrain River.
“Um, esteemed one. I don’t have any money for the divination fee right now, so if this is acceptable…”
“I didn’t expect to receive a proper fee in a prison like this.”
Lennok shook his head.
“I’d appreciate it if you kept quiet while you’re here. You can do that much, can’t you?”
“Ah, yes, sir.”
The initial quarrel had been over Lennok being too loud, yet now the burly man was being reprimanded – a peculiar reversal.
But far from getting angry, the man bowed his head, struggling to remember the words Lennok had just imparted.
Watching him return meekly to his cell, the Shrine Maiden finally turned her gaze, looking utterly incredulous.
[Are you saying you intend to utilize the great Revelation Ability in such a manner?]
“Didn’t you yourself say you’d find a way to make it useful?”
Lennok replied dispassionately, tapping his ring, not even blinking.
An invisible barrier expanded from their cell, beginning to block out sound.
Confirming that the Military Spirits patrolling the prison corridor had not reacted, Lennok turned to the Shrine Maiden and said,
“Divining for people isn’t bad. It seems useful for handling matters more easily.”
[The Revelation is fundamentally not a power meant for such inspiration.]
The Shrine Maiden tilted her head, still unconvinced.
[Moreover, weren’t there far too many details in the words you just used to deceive that unbeliever, details not present in the Revelation?]
The Shrine Maiden knew that, contrary to Lennok’s words, the facts he could confirm through the Revelation were extremely limited.
All Lennok had confirmed with the Revelation Ability was a single, superficial fact: the burly man had started a business with a man with a well-developed jawline.
Yet, Lennok had used just that to seemingly foresee the man’s circumstances, accurately guessing them, then mixed in bizarre fortune-telling jargon to shut the man up.
As the Shrine Maiden, unable to comprehend this, questioned him, Lennok scoffed.
“I don’t trust the Revelation Ability. Isn’t that natural, considering it’s a power subservient to the Cult?”
[…]
“However, I do know that it reflects fragmentary images, traversing past and future.”
Lennok glanced back at the burly man through his mask.
“Once you establish a plausible starting point, you can fill in the details by observing the other party’s reactions.”
The reason he was confined in such a prison, seemingly alone, despite recently starting a business with a partner.
Presumably, something had gone wrong with the business, and he had acted to cover the losses.
Once the context was established, it was a simple matter to observe changes in his expression and mana flow to piece together the specific details.
All of Lennok’s seemingly prescient remarks about the man’s past were, in fact, improvisations made on the spot.
Only then did the Shrine Maiden understand Lennok’s explanation, her mouth agape in speechlessness.
[Then, what you said about his physiognomy and financial fortune…]
“Completely false.”
Lennok retorted.
“However, I assumed that if he had been betrayed by a business partner, he would appreciate words that portrayed himself as a trustworthy person.”
[…]
People don’t believe what they should believe; they believe what they want to believe. The mind of someone in a desperate situation doesn’t act rationally.
Even if a fortune reading is composed of a small truth and countless lies, if it contains words they want to hear, they won’t try to doubt it.
[To use the Revelation yet not rely on its profound essence…]
The Shrine Maiden pondered for a long time after hearing Lennok’s explanation, then said,
[In a way, you understand the true nature of the doctrine even more deeply than the Cult’s own faithful.]
“…Perhaps.”
Lennok agreed.
The reason Lennok could use the Revelation’s power so skillfully and remain free from its influence. The reason he could brazenly wield it like his own ability, even more shamelessly than the Shrine Maiden.
It was because Lennok, too, surmised that the Revelation Ability was, in essence, a power derived from the Pontiff.
If the fragments of omniscience transmitted through the Outer Sea were the same ability as the Transcendent Lennok knew.
Then it was, in a way, natural for Lennok to be able to use the Revelation’s power more freely and skillfully than the Shrine Maiden.
If he continued to share the Shrine Maiden’s ability in this manner, he might even be able to wield the Revelation as his own power.
However, Lennok said nothing of these thoughts to the Shrine Maiden, instead scoffing at the Cult’s conduct and changing the subject.
“I’ve seen the lies your Cult spouts for quite some time. I’d say I’m doing a pretty good imitation.”
[No. Our faith is based on a real god, and that fact is clearly stated in our doctrine.]
The Shrine Maiden replied firmly.
[We do not deceive our followers with empty promises or false beliefs. You still misunderstand the Cult.]
“Well, I wouldn’t say so myself.”
Lennok sneered.
“You misuse human sacrifice to that extent, yet claim you can keep all the promises written in your doctrine?”
[…]
“It’s a forbidden art created to forcibly pull forth results that don’t exist. That very statement is entirely contradictory to the idea of a promise.”
The Cult was comprised of fanatics specialized in human sacrifice and forbidden arts, more so than any other group Lennok knew on the continent.
It was natural that he couldn’t agree with the Shrine Maiden’s assertion that there was no falsehood or deception in their doctrine.
But instead of reacting with anger or excitement to Lennok’s words, the Shrine Maiden calmly replied,
[Faith exists to sever the karma of misfortune that individuals cannot resist. Although it may not be understood by an unbeliever—]
“You’d do better to preach to your followers.”
Lennok cut off the Shrine Maiden’s words and deactivated the barrier that had been blocking out sounds.
“I’ll listen to your doctrinal debate later. I think there’s something we need to do immediately.”
The other prisoners, who had been observing the situation, had grown increasingly interested in the conversation Lennok had with the burly man, and one by one, they began calling out to Lennok.
Lennok annoyedly turned his gaze towards a particularly noisy man who was shouting.
“Hey, fortune-teller!! Can’t you hear me?!”
“Quiet.”
Lennok retorted brusquely, glaring in that direction.
His untidy appearance despite being handcuffed. The irregular mana flowing within him.
Traces of multiple insertions of IVs on his wrist, yet a complexion that didn’t suggest a drug addict.
This time, there was no need to even draw upon the Revelation Ability.
“I have nothing to say to a disgraced wizard addicted to gambling, so get lost.”
“What, wha…”
The prisoner was so flustered he slid down the bars he was rattling with his handcuffs.
Lennok watched him, laughing mockingly.
“Don’t speak to fools who squander even their magical systems on gambling. They bring bad luck.”
“You… you f-fucking… bastard…”
Trembling violently, the prisoner gripped the bars, unable to retort.
It was a peculiar display, silencing a long-shouting prisoner with just two sentences, as if striking his most vulnerable point.
It was an almost inevitable sequence of events that other prisoners watching began to call out with interest, one by one.
“…Did a real fortune-teller just come in?”
“He’s a strange one. I’ve never seen a diviner so skilled outside.”
“They say the more arrogant and brazen, the more authentic they are. Perhaps it’s true.”
Most of those imprisoned here were individuals who had tried to enter Yorta but had been caught on some pretext and detained.
Regardless of the fact that most were unsavory criminals, they were similar in that they were all stuck here, idling away their time.
Naturally, their attention was drawn to Lennok’s unusual behavior.
“Hey, can you read my fortune too? Anything small is fine.”
“What, do I have to pay something separately?”
“You lot confined here have no manners when asking for a favor.”
Lennok chuckled, slowly gesturing around him.
“Form a line, you idiots. I’ll need to mentally prepare myself to foresee your unpleasant criminal records.”
After that, Lennok began to completely mesmerize the prisoners, pretending to read their fortunes using the Revelation Ability.
“Your family suffered a great misfortune. Did you try to resolve it because a spirit possessed them?”
“H-how did you… I haven’t told anyone that!”
“You probably tried to solve it with crude exorcism talismans, only for the symptoms to worsen. It’s your own doing for not seeking a professional.”
“A method, is there a method?!”
“Find a shaman or Military Spirit Wizard in Yorta with experience in spirit possession. Experience will be crucial, regardless of their skill.”
“Ohh!!”
The moment his family was mentioned, the prisoner trusted Lennok’s words implicitly.
Seeing the prisoner nervously fiddling with his hands as if desperate to escape, Lennok said impassively,
“You have a good flow, so you’ll likely find the person you need. Just make sure not to get carried away and ruin things later.”
“T-thank you…!!”
[…]
Watching the prisoner, deeply moved by the baseless good wishes as if he had received advice for life, the Shrine Maiden looked down at Lennok with a peculiar expression.
“Fortune-teller. This is my cherished Dragon Well Tea, extremely effective for preventing frostbite…”
“This is a tonic made from the horn of a two-horned beast. I just need your advice on one problem I’m facing…”
From all sides, they offered restorative medicines they’d saved and carefully extended hoarded items through the bars.
The bars were covered in layers of frostbite-preventing talismans, and various single-use items were piled up at their feet.
It hadn’t even been a full day, yet the way Lennok was viewed and treated had changed dramatically – a truly bizarre situation.
“Your sincerity is admirable.”
Lennok accepted these praises as a matter of course, nonchalantly piling the received goods inside his cell.
Watching him with a half-resigned expression, the Shrine Maiden asked,
[You. Our purpose isn’t to gather the faith of unbelievers in a prison like this, is it?]
The Shrine Maiden said.
[Before that Night Parade begins anew, shouldn’t we head to the Memorial Tower as quickly as possible?]
“…”
Instead of responding, Lennok subtly glanced around.
In just one day, the prison had become far busier than when Lennok first arrived.
Prisoners were bargaining to acquire payment for Lennok, or exchanging the fortune readings they had received from him to confirm details.
But Lennok, instead of getting swept up in the atmosphere, stared at the frozen bars and muttered,
“You call this a prison, but don’t you think the security is far too lax?”
[Pardon?]
“Even setting aside the lukewarm attitude of the Military Spirits guarding the prison, the placement of the prisoners is strange.”
[…]
“If it’s immediately obvious to me, then there must be some among these prisoners who have also noticed.”
Leaving the silent Shrine Maiden, Lennok chuckled.
“Just wait a little. I’ll probably be able to escape this place within tomorrow.”
Just before peering into Mugan with the Revelation Ability, Lennok had already identified the principle of this Frost Lord’s Tomb prison.
The existence of a very powerful cold wind permeating the entire prison and a massive passage from which that wind originated.
All that remained was to deduce where within this cold, vast prison that passage was located.
By observing the surrounding currents while pretending to read the prisoners’ fortunes, Lennok had already ascertained the prevailing circumstances.
“Fortune-teller. This is the payment I promised earlier. If it’s not enough…”
“Put it away. I don’t intend to take any more payment. And don’t call me ‘fortune-teller.’”
“Then what?”
Seeing the old prisoner retort, Lennok gave a peculiar smile.
He recalled how smoothly he had accessed the Ascension Gate as an engineer in Machina.
Ultimately, thanks to the reputation he built as Lyman, hadn’t he been able to quickly clean things up and leave after the job was done?
His schedule had changed the moment he was imprisoned upon arriving in Yorta, but Lennok still instinctively felt that he could control this situation.
“Such a trivial title wouldn’t fully express the goodwill I bestow upon you.”
[…]
“To tell you what you do not know and present you with alternatives—is that not already within the realm of faith? Therefore, from now on, call me—”
Leaving the Shrine Maiden staring in utter disbelief, Lennok slowly rose to his feet, still in handcuffs.
Lennok tilted his head from beneath his hood, turning to look at the surrounding prisoners with a cold smile.
“—Prophet.”
In this city, with its origins between the Material Realm and the Spirit Realm, traversing between the mundane and the afterlife, the lies Lennok had to tell as Victor were already determined.
If in Machina he had solved all his conveniences by acting as an engineer, this time—
Perhaps he’d try acting as a cult leader.