53. Stockholm Syndrome
The most used card in this world is called Solaris. The beginning is said to be thirteen discs that a saint lifted into the sky when the sun disappeared in the past.
Unlike this history full of fundamentals, the actual Solaris runs at the end of its roots. Each region has different cards, different interpretations, and even different drawing methods.
It’s the traditional imperial style to lay out all the cards like this and have the customer draw one of them. It is an old fashioned method that is rarely found today.
“Then let’s start with fate. Destiny is a string that connects two people. Relationship and past. Please draw one for each of you.”
Cards arranged in a disorderly manner around a crystal ball. Cream pulled out one card first. And I realized a fatal problem.
[I don’t have hands?]
I don’t know why Cream is suitable for such a suspicious prank, but it is. I’m a sword Of course, I can’t eat chicken skewers and flip cards.
“I can’t help it. Then, on behalf of the guest, I…”
“No, I am.”
Cream slammed the old woman’s wrinkled hands away with a rough, somewhat rude gesture. Then, with one hand resting on my handle, I turned over another card with the other hand.
The cards that came out like that are Saintsword and Third God. Naturally, as much as they have their origins in mythology, these cards are also deeply religious.
And religion is bound to be divination with incomprehensible metaphors and rhetoric. The two cards we picked also had pictures that were completely different from the names of the cards.
“They are both in the right direction. Perhaps, the two of you had a deep connection.”
From the point of determining the forward and reverse direction based on the customer, not the fortune teller, you really stuck with the old method. The old woman looked at the cards and began to solve them.
“Isn’t that also called a relationship of three lives that is so long and long that it is impossible to count it with this world’s calendar? Even if you die and are reborn like him, it is a tough and tough bond that you will meet someday in the same world.”
What is drawn on the lighthouse is the back of a hero cutting through the black sky.
“Besides, closeness is also how close it is. Once you meet, it’s a prize that will cling to you wherever you go, like one body or best friend. Mmm, to put it a little worse, you could call it a parasite. An inseparable relationship that cannot be explained by simple intimacy.”
[Are you kidding me right now?]
It’s sad that it’s a sword, but I’m joking right now. When I protested with a wild hum, the old woman gently waved his hand as if to soothe me.
“Heh heh, this old man is just revealing the tail of fate, and what lies within it is the mind of fate.”
So that means he only interpreted the fortune-telling and is innocent. Anyway, like a suspicious person from the beginning, his skill at passing sharp words was unmatched.
“Then, secondly, let’s look at commercial luck. Commercial luck…”
[I know, so let’s skip the explanation.]
Business luck is the hand of two people holding each other. Each other’s attitude and present. Although it is called commercial luck, it actually predicts business aspects, attitudes toward each other, and behavior.
As such, unlike fate luck, which is interpreted as one by combining two chapters, business luck is interpreted individually. In addition, it is unusual that the cards drawn by each other refer to the opponent, not themselves.
Cream drew two cards again. What she chose for herself represents my behavior and mindset, and what she chose for me represents Cream’s behavior and mindset.
Both reverse, sun (First God) and saint (Werebeast).
“In commercial fortunes, the sun usually means ‘interest’. And not in the heart, but in an active interest and courtship that is expressed in action.”
[But isn’t it backwards?]
“Yes, in this case it can be interpreted as ‘active indifference’. Joy, sorrow, affection, hate. Because they harbor so many contradictory feelings towards one object, they cannot even understand their own behavior, and in the end, they tend to ignore the other person altogether because they cannot deal with it in any way.”
Well, for that matter, I’m getting along pretty well with Cream. Of course, it’s true that she had complicated feelings about Cream, but it wasn’t to the extent that the old woman was bragging like that.
“A saint?”
“Obedience, devotion, respect, fanaticism…. The saint in the forward direction can be interpreted in many ways, but the saint in the reverse direction has the following meaning. Deceit and hypocrisy.”
[What are you lying to me?]
“That can’t be, it can’t be.”
Well, if it’s a cream personality, rather than plotting, it’ll just run to the target of the plot and break its head. I’m so glad it’s not me.
Above all, this is just a prank for fun. This means that even though fortune-tellers seem extraordinary, there is absolutely no need to attach meaning to divination itself.
“They deceive not only others, but also themselves by saying that they are for themselves or for others. That futile action eventually drives all situations to catastrophe. Regardless of your intentions.”
The present seen through a point may be the past or the future. It felt creepy to the point that I had just vowed not to attach meaning to it.
[You are very cursing.]
“Heh, would you like to continue your love luck?”
“Yes. This time, Karbal, first.”
But we can’t shrink to this extent. Cream drew the card again without hesitation. It was a swift move, as if he had pre-determined which cards to draw in his mind.
One forward, one reverse. Night (Zero God) and Peace (White Night).
“Love rhymes are two people’s intertwined tongues. Each other’s end and future. It can be interpreted by combining the two as in fate luck, or it can be interpreted separately as in business fortune.”
If you interpret it as one, it means the near future when you haven’t broken up, and if you interpret it in two, it means the distant future after the relationship is severed.
Then the old woman naturally divided the two cards into interpretations. In this case, the cards drawn by each other represent themselves, not the opponent.
“A night in the right direction can be interpreted as aftereffects and rest. It will be painful to some extent, but after that, it will be brushed off, and it is a wound that can be overcome that may make a person mature. In fact, it’s an obvious card because it’s not common in love luck.”
After saying that, the old woman soon turned her attention to Cream’s card. However, the horse ran out.
“The hero’s love luck is ruinous. All the favors and affections you will receive are not sincere, but sugarcoated by those who are seduced by your abilities and outward appearances, and the only one who truly loves you will stab a knife through your heart.”
The outrageous outrageous language. Slowly, the discomfort rose to the bottom of his chin. I just came out to play with my heart, why did it happen like this?
An empty fortune teller in contrast to the bustling streets. Inside, a prophet with golden eyes. Even if you try to look at the status window, unknown powers and characteristics hinder it.
I wanted to overturn the table right away and overturn this contrived situation. But Cream listened to all those harsh words without raising an eyebrow.
It’s strange for me to get angry when the person in question says he’s okay right now, but I’m not such a hogu that I can just ignore it after hearing something like that.
[Each card only has a comprehensive meaning, but it is the fortune teller’s ability to explain the details?]
“Yes. Do you have any doubts about this old man’s skills?”
[No, not that.]
It is also a talent to maliciously distort the contents of fortune-telling. And, when it comes to messing things up, I also have a unique talent.
A specter responds to the call from the abyss of the sunken unconscious. I definitely feel that my strength has improved a notch after drinking the glass. The specter condensed faster than before, and the shape was also clearer.
[If you do this, what does it mean?]
Unlike before, when they were no more than children or goblins, the physical power that the ghosts can now wield has increased to a level comparable to that of a normal human male, and precision that cannot be ignored.
The weary middle-aged specter climbed onto the table and manipulated the cards. At the rough gesture, the cards placed in disorder on the table fell, and the peace in the reverse direction was aligned in the forward direction.
The picture on the peace card is an auspicious white bird. If it looked like a dead corpse with its mouth open when reversed, it appeared to sing when turned forward.
“After all, you are not prophets. How dare you tamper with someone else’s prophecy.”
I confirmed that the old woman was uncomfortable, and I chuckled and took the ghost away.
[Then you don’t seem to be an ordinary rural fortune teller, do you? For what purpose did you approach us?]
The play ends here. The sharp words were aimed at an unknown person with a smile instead of poison. The old woman gestured as if to calm down.
“I have no intention of fighting. However, my children and I were just a little interested in the hero’s fate. Were you offended?”
[Do you say that?]
However, even in the middle of a sharp conversation between us, Cream’s momentum was not much different from usual. It meant that she didn’t regard that suspicious person as an enemy.
“I have no intention of fighting. I don’t know about you, but the hero seems to be quite satisfied with my fortune telling…”
“Yes. Help, okay.”
Really? Cream’s mental world was sometimes difficult to understand even for me. It definitely seems to have a certain line or standard, but I can’t get the point of that standard.
“Huhu, then this old man will only be able to get one leaf as a blessing.”
However, regardless of my intentions, the conversation continued smoothly. At the old woman’s words, Cream wanted to rummage in her arms for a while, and then she took out a well-dried World Tree leaf.
[Hey, that expensive thing!]
“Fortune telling. Bokchae, if you don’t, get negative.”
From noble mtl dot com
No, I know it’s a superstition that’s widely believed in another world… Oh my, that expensive one! The old woman who accepted the leaf that Cream held out let out a low laugh.
“Thank you. I’ve predicted the fate of many people, but the fate of two people is special. Even though they are so contradictory, they bind each other tightly.”
Cream, who was coolly getting up from her seat, hesitated as if she really wanted to let go of the old woman. The old woman muttered in a slow voice as she put the cards and crystal ball on her table into her bosom.
“I don’t know what kind of story the person chosen by God is related to the demonic sword, but it’s better to be careful. If you don’t get far, eventually your fate will be swallowed up by him…”
Threaten on warning. However, Cream only spoke calmly.
“That is what I want.”
*
In the end, we returned to the inn feeling refreshed.
I went out to play comfortably, but it feels like I just added another lump. It would have been nice if I could have just beat myself up in my own way and know what was going on behind the scenes and what was going on behind the scenes.
Even after I left the fortune teller, I did watch performances and walk around a bit more, but I wasn’t in the mood to enjoy those things anymore. Eventually we wandered the streets aimlessly, returning at night.
“Fun, wasn’t it?”
[No, it was fun. Eh, it would have been better if it wasn’t for that grandmother.]
I replied lamentably to Cream, who asked in a somewhat worried tone. At my words, she smiled innocently.
“Thank God, it is.”
I hope you are as bright as you are. I’m still so confused
When you see the golden eyes, you cannot dismiss the old woman’s divination as simple nonsense. However, no matter how much I roll my head, it is just puzzling, like swimming in a fog.
What kind of relationship do we have? I’m from Earth, and most of the people I knew in my human days are already dead, and I’ve been imprisoned in Vigo for the last few decades.
Considering how old Cream is, Cream wasn’t even born when I was active as a human or as a sword! Ugh, I don’t know. It’s late, and at times like this, it’s best to just sleep.
[I can’t even sleep.]
I suddenly felt a bit sad. I had perfectly adapted to life as a sword, and I don’t really want to go back to being a human anymore, but sometimes I can’t help but miss what I enjoyed then.
Not seeing ghosts, the taste of non-blood food, sleep and dreams, things like that. It’s a trivial thing if you look at it closely, but it was also a luxury that a sword could never enjoy.
“Hey everyone.”
[Sure.]
Cream opened the door and went in, but Choco didn’t wake up. The holy sword lay on the table, reducing the brightness of the light to a minimum so it looked like a mood lamp.
Seeing that they don’t send out psychic waves when they see us, they must be asleep. With some kind of protection, Cream, who did not need to wash or change his clothes, took off his outerwear and immediately lay down on the bed.
[No, wait. I have to release it.]
That’s why I’m in the same state as I was hanging around my waist. Cream nodded at my embarrassed voice and pulled me out of the belt.
Then I hugged her tightly and covered her with the blanket. What is he really doing
“Today, let’s sleep together.”
[What?]
I’ve met many owners, but this is the first time I’ve been so insane. Sleeping while hugging a black-edged sword that isn’t even an attachment doll?
Moreover, we have extreme tendencies between light and darkness. It might be okay if you simply wear it around your waist, but if your bare skin touches it like this, it will inevitably have a negative impact in the long run.
[······Still, be careful. It’s a bay again.]
“Yes.”
There are many, many reasons not to do that, but in the end I just said that. Cream hugged me and soon fell asleep. It would be hard and uncomfortable.
I was lost in thought while listening to the colorful breathing. What fills my head now is not the ominous prophet I met today, nor the negative effect the hero will have on me.
Cream looks like a child. And I don’t know why, but he shows considerable attachment to me. It seems like a lot of time has passed, but it was only yesterday that we answered the castle.
When I was caught in the dark, how did Cream feel as I had to helplessly watch it?