Chapter 2.12
‘Or maybe my mind has finally gone mad and made up a fictional country.’
When Caitlyn emerged looking completely exhausted, Bayer frowned.
“Not a single one? Really?”
“Yes.”
Caitlyn pressed her hand to her forehead. Since Bayer enjoyed collecting rare books, he had a significant number of books on pagans; it was certain that there would be far fewer in the libraries of nobles.
“The country I’m looking for isn’t here.”
“What is the name of the country?”
Caitlyn hesitated for a moment. If even Bayer didn’t know…… she feared it would be proof that her crazed mind had made up a country that didn’t truly exist.
“……Troy.”
“Troy?”
Bayer tilted his head.
“I think I’ve seen it before.”
“Are you serious?”
Caitlyn asked back immediately.
“Yes. Troy, Troy…… I definitely saw it somewhere.”
“What book was it?”
“I don’t remember that far. It was a book written by some pagan…….”
“Is it a translation of a book written by a pagan?”
Since there were almost no people who would bother to translate a book written by a pagan, translations were very rare.
“No, young lady. I’ve learned quite a few of the pagans’ scripts. They’re surprisingly easy.”
“……If you remember, please send me a letter. I’ll make sure to compensate you.”
Bayer let out a snort.
“Do you plan to pull out the last pillars of the collapsing Hardick family? Forget the compensation; I’ll tell you if I find it.”
Caitlyn smiled. Bayer was the only person who had known her for a long time and remained friendly.
“Thank you. Please stay healthy.”
It was when Caitlyn gave a sincere farewell and turned around. Bayer hurriedly caught her.
“Before you go, give me a prophecy, Miss Hardick.”
“…….”
Caitlyn realized. The real reason she hadn’t come to this bookstore all this time wasn’t because of the bitter memories of her parents, but…….
“The last prophecy turned out remarkably accurate, you know? I didn’t believe it back then, of course. No, it would be more correct to say I didn’t want to believe it.”
It was because of a single careless remark her younger self had made.
“I was only ten years old back then.”
Bayer’s sharp eyes were clear and bright despite his old age.
“Whether you’re ten or a hundred, a prophecy is a prophecy.”
“…….”
“Surely, you aren’t going to tell me that you’ve become unable to prophesy in the time we haven’t seen each other?”
Caitlyn sucked in a breath. Before long, this small bookstore would be engulfed in a blaze. Bayer would be seriously injured trying to save the books, but he would survive…… however, the books he had collected all his life would disappear.
“……I can’t do it anymore.”
Caitlyn didn’t deny the fact that she had made true prophecies, but she had no intention of telling him the future again. Anyway…… he wouldn’t believe her.
“Aha.”
Bayer didn’t seem to believe her at all.
“Tell me. Whatever it is, I’ll believe you this time.”
“…….”
Caitlyn gnawed on her lip. Even though she knew better, she felt pathetic for repeatedly falling for a few sweet words. But she couldn’t help it. Like the real prophets who met miserable ends, it was her instinct to share the future.
‘Maybe this time it’ll be different.’
Bayer seemed to sincerely want to believe her. And if her sleeping with Roxias Akbar all this time hadn’t been in vain…….
‘The curse the Archduke mentioned might have been diluted.’
To the extent that even if a person who didn’t believe at all wouldn’t listen, a somewhat friendly person could believe. Then, this was an experiment. A kind of verification. Brainwashing herself like that, Caitlyn opened her mouth.
“A fire will break out next summer. When that happens, don’t try to get the books out; just stay still. The books will all burn anyway, and you’ll only get hurt.”
Oh no. Seeing Bayer’s expression turn red and blue, Caitlyn knew instinctively. Her judgment was completely wrong.
“……Really, I was going to try and believe you if I could.”
Bayer’s voice barely suppressed his emotions.
“They’re all going to burn anyway? Instead of telling me a way to prevent the fire? What kind of prophecy is that?”
“The fire can’t be prevented.”
The entire Ariterium Street will burn in flames. Since someone holding a grudge against the merchants has committed deliberate arson, no shop will escape the great fire.
“……You could avoid it if you moved away altogether, but.”
“Move? What move at my age? This is my bookstore! The bookstore I’ve dedicated my whole life to!”
Bayer pointed a finger at Caitlyn’s back the entire time she was leaving.
“Don’t you ever think of setting foot in my bookstore again!”
Caitlyn ran blindly down the street until the bookstore was no longer in sight. Just seeing the edge of Bayer’s Old Books was incredibly painful.
‘Like a fool. I was clearly told that until this power disappears entirely, no one will believe my words…….’
When she stopped, out of breath from running, she heard a familiar voice.
“How foolish.”
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