Chapter 3
Not long after, Bob’s booming voice echoed.
“Alright, alright! Everyone, shut your mouths! Esmeralda here can’t keep her wits about her! At this rate, she won’t tolerate anything!”
Bob’s gruff threat seemed to work; the buzzing crowd, like a swarm of bees, fell completely silent in an instant.
“Uh…”
The silence in the barracks was broken by a middle-aged man whose face had grown plump.
“So… what should we do this year?”
He was the owner of a large general store on Saint Petro’s Central Avenue.
For someone from the city center to come all the way out to the dirty, shabby outskirts… this showed just how famous I had become—or rather, how renowned ‘the Mysterious Esmeralda’ had become.
Only three months ago, I had screamed in frustration about the useless “bounty observer” skill I had.
But I’m Ash, a person who can make even useless abilities useful.
It was Pinch who had inspired a brilliant business idea in my previously grief-stricken mind.
“Ash, your insight these days is incredible. It’s like you can see right into people,” he said.
“See right into people…”
The moment I heard that, it felt like sparks were flying.
“That’s right! I can see people’s traits!”
I could see a person’s most important traits as keywords. That meant I could even discern someone’s secrets or past.
The potential uses for this were limitless.
In other words, it was a perfect skill for conning people.
After several trials and errors, I finally chose my profession…
“From now on, the Mysterious Esmeralda will use my humble abilities to divine Mr. Marco’s fortune.”
…In other words, I became an astrologer.
I smiled slyly as I caressed my crystal ball.
“Actually, Mr. Marco’s great fortune has already passed once. As I said before, you have shaken off the star of illness and achieved significant accomplishments.”
Looking at the scars on Marco’s cheek, one could deduce he had survived the epidemic from thirty years ago.
“And since Marco is the owner of Saint Petro’s largest general store, he probably thinks of himself as a successful businessman.”
As expected, Marco nodded in agreement with a knowing smile.
“They say you have a sharp eye for people, and it’s true. Honestly, I don’t expect much. But I want advice on which merchants to deal with this year and how to build relationships.”
“I see.”
I placed both hands on the crystal ball, closed my eyes tightly, and chanted solemnly.
“I ask the moon and stars above. Please speak to me…”
I paused for what felt like an eternity.
“…Alright.”
I slowly opened my mouth. I could feel Marco staring intently at my lips.
“What is it? Something I should be cautious of this year?”
“A wound inflicted by someone you trust deeply leaves the deepest scars. Always stay alert in your business dealings and do not trust people too easily.”
“Damn. No wonder I’ve had uneasy feelings and the ledgers haven’t matched up this year.”
“A benefactor may come from the northwest. Pay attention, and the color of luck is blue.”
“North…west…benefactor…blue…”
Marco pulled out a sheet of paper from his pocket and scribbled down my words.
I gave him one last piece of advice.
“Also, ensure you get sufficient rest to maintain balance of mind and body. The energy that makes up your body is flickering unsteadily.”
Seeing the dark circles under his eyes, I knew his health might be poor, so this was my friendly counsel.
“That’s all. I have nothing more to say. Others are waiting, so please leave. And, just so you know, this is non-refundable. That’s all.”
I quickly cast a dismissal spell so Marco wouldn’t linger with idle thoughts.
“That’s all… uh, uh—?”
Bob’s hand nudged Marco, and he was half-pushed, half-led out of the barracks.
I threw back my hood and wiped the sweat from my forehead.
“Phew. Predicting someone’s fortune is both the easiest and the hardest thing at the same time.”
The speech has to sound convincingly vague, yet not so ridiculous that it breaks the mood.
I recalled all the horoscopes, daily fortunes, and astrological readings I had seen in my previous life to benchmark them.
I shrugged.
“Surprisingly, people here are pretty susceptible to this kind of nonsense.”
Perhaps because this world had Awakened Ones, priests, and divine powers, even a pretend fortune-teller could work.
“And, well, I am actually an Awakened One.”
Showing the glowing pattern on my right pinky erased any lingering doubt. People didn’t think an Awakened One would use their powers to cheat.
Thanks to this, I became quite wealthy!
“Maybe soon I can finally escape the slums and buy a small house.”
The thrill of earning money was so exhilarating that I felt I could live without food.
As I indulged in this pleasant thought, I realized something strange.
Bob hadn’t returned with the next client.
“Bob, what is he doing? Every second counts!”
Just as I jumped to grab him, a huge, dark shadow suddenly appeared at the entrance.
“Waaah!”
I almost leaped out of my skin in shock.
“Wh-who… who are you?”
“Are you the Mysterious Esmeralda?”
Only after hearing the second question did I manage to calm down and ask back.
“Y-yes… but who are you? Where’s Bob? Did you come alone?”
“Oh, that dark-skinned boy? I temporarily knocked him out and tied him up. I didn’t touch anything else.”
“…What?”
“He was being annoying about following the order.”
I stared up at the shadowed man in disbelief.
Everything except his face was covered in black cloth. He looked extremely suspicious and dangerous.
Lost in thought, the shadowed man stepped closer and extended his hand.
“Mysterious Esmeralda, there is a task you must complete. I will pay generously. Will you accept it?”
At the mention of money, my ears perked up.
“Payment?”
“If successful, 10,000 gold.”
“…What?”
“Too little? Then 100,000 gold it is.”
O-100,000 gold?
I had never even heard of such an amount in my life.
The sheer scale of the money made my hair stand on end instinctively.
“This is dangerous. If I get involved, who knows what could happen.”
Even if I loved money, I knew life was more valuable than any amount.
I stepped back cautiously, thinking fast.
“There was a small hole behind that box, right?”
I had set it up just in case—and now that day had come.
I swallowed hard and backed away.
“Uh… haha, thank you for the generous offer…”
“Will you accept it?”
“T-The offer of 100,000 gold is tempting… but…”
“But?”
“Due to personal circumstances, I cannot leave at the moment…”
“Cannot?”
Half a step from the hole, I continued hurriedly.
“…With deep regret, I must decline your proposal. I wish your company prosperity and success…”
“So, the conclusion is no?”
The shadow man suddenly approached, and I felt a strong impact at the back of my neck.
“Ugh!”
“…But we do not accept refusal.”
Those were the last words I heard before I lost consciousness.
