Chapter 114: Prophetic Bonds
'For that reason as well.'
I must become stronger.
And yet, I must also build proper relationships.
My sole heroic trait, 'lust.'
°===
[Lust]
The eternal truth: heroes are lustful.
One of the qualities of a hero.
A hero must receive the love of many women.
Your heroism increases in proportion to the number of women who have affection for you.
The higher the fame of the women who have affection for you, the greater your heroism becomes.
The current number of women who have affection for you: 0. Fame: 0.
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'Of course, it's still the early days.'
Anyway, this lust trait is the weapon that will determine my fate.
Thus, relationships, especially with women, are crucial for me.
I need to become an irresistibly attractive man.
'To be honest, I'm not confident.'
While I was thinking this, Regina, who was one of my relational goals, spoke up.
"Two years or even less? Are you sure about that?"
"From my experience so far, I can say that's the case." .
I nodded in agreement.
"What exactly did you see?"
"The mourning flags were raised at the imperial palace to announce the death of the emperor, imperial soldiers killing each other, my family's house destroyed by fire and turned to ruins, and my own miserable death scattered about."
A moment of silence followed.
Regina seemed lost in thought, then she took a cigarette out of the platinum cigarette case I had given her as a present.
"Sigh."
She lit it, deeply inhaled the smoke, and then exhaled it quickly.
Her smoking habit.
It was the first time she smoked a cigarette in front of me since the possession.
This scene showed a slightly reduced distance between us.
Why?
Because she wouldn't casually smoke like this if she were in a place alone with someone who was no different from a stranger.
"You saw yourself dying?"
"Yeah. I died, and my family was destroyed."
"I see. So?"
"You're right in what you're thinking."
I said with a complex smile.
"That's why I need to become stronger, and I have no intention of breaking off our engagement. I want to be in the same boat as you."
"Because you need power?"
"I won't deny that's a big reason. But let me be honest about my feelings. You are a good fiancée. A good woman. And I don't ever want to lose you."
There was nothing embarrassing about it.
Regina was undeniably an excellent woman to be engaged to.
Moreover, I confirmed that the ice wall hadn't formed yet.
It would be absurd not to take care of an engagement that was in place under such conditions.
"Sigh."
Regina exhaled smoke from the cigarette once again.
Then she spoke.
"Continue to hold hands with a family facing destruction? Continue an engagement with a fiancé who's going to die? Can that really work?"
A sharp point.
But I wasn't flustered.
I had anticipated this.
"I can change my own future or anything related to me. I've experienced it multiple times."
"Like what?"
"I got terrible grades both in Professor Karen's evaluation and in archery. That was the future I saw in my prophetic dream. But as you know, the results I actually got were completely different. The future changed."
It seemed I had a knack for cheating.
It's surprising I can say such things with a straight face.
"Hah."
Suddenly, Regina laughed uncontrollably, as if she couldn't help it.
"You knew about the problem."
"Yeah. Disappointed?"
"No, that's also a part of your abilities."
She was cooler than I thought.
Maybe because she knows that skills aren't limited to the sword and magic.
"And an archery evaluation isn't something that a prophetic dream can solve, right?"
"That's true."
An evaluation where one's own abilities are the only things that matter.
That was proof that I had changed the outcome through my own efforts and talent.
"Well, OK. So, can you have these prophetic dreams whenever you want?"
Regina asked as she flicked the burnt-out cigarette butt into a portable ashtray.
"No, if I could do that, it would almost be a divine power, wouldn't it? I have no control over when I will have a prophetic dream or what it will be about."
"So there's a limit."
"Yes."
"But still, it's a very special ability. It makes me think there must be a reason why you have such a power."
"A reason. I haven't really thought about that. I just want to live. I want to save my family. And with that..."
I paused for a moment and then said with a clear voice.
"Regina Erenbert. I want to add you to that list."
Even though we're engaged, she's not yet family.
It was a clear statement of intent to her.
We are still incomplete, able to return to being strangers at any moment.
I wanted to show her that I value her and wish to progress beyond our current relationship.
I won't let you die.
'Was that too strong?'
If it had been an ordinary romantic relationship, it would have been almost like a confession.
But because it was an engagement, it didn't feel that way, although it was still powerful.
But no matter how you look at it, now was the time.
I had to seize a definite result now that I had shown trust by bringing up the card of prophetic dreams.
"Did you dream that I would die?" Regina's eyes shone differently than usual.
"No. It's just pure worry."
"Pure worry? Ahahaha."
Regina laughed heartily, placing her hand on her forehead.
It was an unusual sight to see.
In my confusion, I wondered if I had misspoken.
But then…
"Sorry. It's been so long since anyone worried about me that I can't remember." -exclusive-content
Yes, that makes sense.
Who would worry about Regina Erenbert, the Knight of the Whirlwind?
"If your family ended up like that, mine would not have been safe either."
Is that where the conversation is going?
Thinking about it, it seems that if Regina herself had lost her life, the Erenbert family would have also collapsed.
"That's possible."
I replied ambiguously.
"Well, OK."
For the first time, Regina reached out her hand to me.
I smiled and took it.
I understood it as an affirmation of my words.
But then…
"Get up."
"Huh?"
"Get up," she said.
And with that, Regina pulled me to my feet.
What's this about?
[Next chapter will be the end of Volume 1. Thank you for reading till now.]