"Yes. I have another place I'll need to be summoned to next."
"That's a shame. I thought I'd finally found a good drinking companion after so long."
I felt a bit regretful too.
A client who pays well, offers drinks, and keeps me company while drinking isn't someone you come across easily.
"Since I'm also a bit sad to leave, how about I offer you a little service?"
"A service…?"
"Oh, it's like a bonus to encourage you to call me again next time."
"Hooh. Are you planning to read another fortune?"
"It was quite popular even in the Central Plains. I think the Heaven of the Divine Cult will like it too."
"Aren't you curious about your destined partner?"
"Hooh… A destined partner… You mean a spouse?"
"Not necessarily just a spouse. Sometimes it could be a lifelong friend, a lord you'll serve, or a comrade you'll fight back-to-back with. That said, more than half the time, it does turn out to be a spouse."
"That sounds rather intriguing."
Well, I won't mention that there've been more than a few couples who came to me for this reading, only to break up after realizing they weren't each other's destined partners.
"In this case, I can't exactly pinpoint personal details. I can describe their appearance, traits, and the place I see in the future, but if you ask me who they are specifically, I'd be at a loss. I don't know that myself."
"Your ability sure comes with a lot of tricky limitations."
"How could reading the future ever be an easy task?"
As I replied to the Heavenly Demon, I pulled a fist-sized orb from my robes.
It's honestly the most important tool for my fortune-telling.
Wooden tablets or other items can be replaced somehow, but this? I'll never find another one like it.
"Oh, and if it's not too much trouble, could you give me a single strand of your hair?"
"Here you go."
"Please wait a moment…"
Hummm.
When I placed the hair on the orb and activated it, the orb began to glow.
"…A luminous pearl?"
"No, it's not."
This is why I don't take it out often.
In the martial world, luminous pearls are incredibly valuable.
Especially before I became well-known, I had to hide it deep in my robes and use it secretly, which was a real hassle.
Surely the Heavenly Demon wouldn't covet a fist-sized luminous pearl, right?
They probably have piles of them in the cult's underground vaults.
Hummmm.
The orb started emitting light and energy.
It's a different kind of energy from inner power—I just call it the "Will of the Heavens."
A faint, nearly invisible thread of energy stretched down from the clouds above, flowing into this small orb and creating a tiny vortex inside.
"Now… I'll take a look."
Feeling my consciousness being drawn into the orb, I closed my eyes.
Chirp chirp.
The surrounding scenery was quite peaceful.
Flowers bloomed vibrantly, and sunlight bathed a mansion that even had a garden.
"The breeze is warm, and the flowers are in bloom—it seems like spring. I see a beautiful mansion."
"A mansion, huh…"
Now that I think about it, does the Heavenly Demon have a separate home?
I was curious, but I decided not to ask.
For martial artists, matters of residence can be pretty sensitive.
"I'll keep looking around. We've got plenty of time."
Moving my newly formed body in this space, I stepped inside the mansion.
This space is a kind of virtual realm created by the Will of the Heavens.
Here, I'm invisible and imperceptible to others—like a ghost, essentially.
As I entered the mansion, I heard human voices.
Following the sound, I found four children who resembled the Heavenly Demon, arguing with each other.
"Soa! Did you eat the snacks I hid in the teacup?!"
"N-No, it wasn't me! It was Jungwoon orabeoni!"
"Why are you suddenly dragging me into this?!"
"Oppa, don't fight…"
…
Even if they're the Heavenly Demon's kids, siblings are siblings, huh?
They felt surprisingly normal, more than I'd expected.
"Fine. I ate them. What are you gonna do about it? Hit me?"
"Grr…! Follow me to the training ground! I'll make you pay for last time!"
…Definitely her kids.
How should I put it?
Their upbringing feels very… Heavenly Demon-like.
"You have two sons and two daughters. It seems you have a happy marriage."
"Hooh. Me, building a family? That's a rather amusing future. Just what kind of man…"
Now that she mentions it, I'm kind of curious too.
What kind of guy manages to start a family with the Heavenly Demon?
And with four kids, their relationship must be pretty solid.
'Whoever you are, please don't fight with her…'
If they ever had a marital spat, the Central Plains might get turned upside down.
I can only hope it stays peaceful.
"Then I'll look for that man next."
"Good. I'm curious too."
Leaving the kids behind, I started wandering through the mansion.
Boom!
As I was searching, a vibration reached where I stood.
Since it kept rumbling, it was probably the training session they'd mentioned earlier.
…Those kids are probably stronger than me.
With that idle thought, I kept searching the mansion, but for some reason, while I found the kids' rooms and the Heavenly Demon's room, there was no sign of a husband's room.
'Does he not stay at home much?'
With four kids, it's hard to imagine their relationship is bad.
Maybe they were close but separated for some reason? Still, this space was created to find the Heavenly Demon's destined partner.
Even if it's not her husband, her destined partner has to be here somewhere.
"Haven't found him yet?"
"…It's proving a bit difficult."
"Hmm…"
Even from outside, I could sense a hint of impatience in the Heavenly Demon's voice.
Guess I have no choice.
It's a bit of a waste, but I'll have to use it.
'Took a lot of effort to make this.'
I dug into my robes and pulled out a talisman.
In this orb's space, there's more than enough heavenly energy to activate it.
Infusing it with energy and tossing it, the talisman began flying in a certain direction.
"I should be able to find him soon."
Telling the Heavenly Demon this, I hurriedly chased after the talisman.
It led me straight to—none other than—the Heavenly Demon's room.
The same room I'd checked earlier and confirmed was empty.
'Is there something inside?'
Following the talisman into the room, it flew toward the back of a bookshelf.
It seemed there was a hidden space behind it.
Since I was in a ghost-like state, I passed through the bookshelf and found stairs leading underground.
…
Gulp.
Something felt off.
This wasn't normal.
Why would I need to go into a basement to find her destined partner?
Is he some notorious criminal hiding from the world or something?
"Hold on… Just wait a moment."
I'd been to warzones in this space before, but this was a first.
'A basement? Why?'
The stairs gave off an instinctively unsettling vibe, but I had no choice.
I couldn't just leave without doing anything.
I'd close my eyes, go in, and check—just that.
It might turn out to be nothing big.
'Phew… Calm down.'
Patting my chest to steady myself, I descended the stairs for a while until I reached a heavy, locked door blocking my path.
I could pass through, but anyone else would've had to turn back here.
Wait, is this really just for keeping intruders out?
'This would make it hard to get out too…'
A chilling thought flashed through my mind, but I forced it aside and kept moving.
After passing through a few more locks, I finally found something.
A figure, their limbs bound tightly by chains thicker than their own arms and legs.
…Ugh.
I'd seen all sorts of things in my time, but this was a different kind of disgust.
He looked normal enough, but to think someone would do this…
'Ha…'
The only silver lining was that this was just a virtual space.
Whoever this guy was, I hoped this future never came to pass.
I felt bad I couldn't help, but I had my own circumstances—I needed to confirm his face.
'Sorry, just for a moment…'
As I approached, the man started trembling violently.
…?
He shouldn't be able to sense me, right?
Was it my imagination?
"Urgh… ugh…"
A cracked, raspy sound escaped his mouth.
No, it was more like a groan than a voice.
Suppressing the emotions boiling inside me, I carefully checked his face—
Thud!
"Huh…! Haa…!"
I stumbled back in shock.
It was dark, and I couldn't see clearly, but the face was incredibly familiar.
It was none other than mine.
Clank clank!
"Ugh… Uwaaah…"
The man—no, me—was staring right at me, thrashing his chained arms.
It was terrifying.
Hard to watch.
His hair was dry and matted, his body emaciated, his skin pale as if it had never seen sunlight.
'What?! What the hell?!'
Why am I here?!
Why is me in this state, down here like this?!
Am I supposed to be the Heavenly Demon's destined partner?!