Chapter 9: Chapter 9 – Náströnd Part 2

Lining up in front of me, a heavy amount of food was extravagantly arranged on a huge lavish dining table. A whole roasted chicken, 3 whole portions of butter-basted steaks, a small pot of vegetable soup, a pile of exquisite sauteed foie’ gras, and so many more dishes I couldn’t even name.

Weirdly enough, I was actually inside the cathedral-like building, together with the 6 girls and the pale woman. I didn’t even need to think twice to tell that this was supposed to be a feast for the elites in this place, albeit it was still a little questionable why I was here as well.

Curiously, I inspected every single one of the unknown foods, until a certain memory where one of my trusty aides got poisoned right in front of me resurfaced. Of course, it caused me to get so wary before even touching the food and perhaps it was reflected in my action.

I had no way to check whether it was really okay to eat or not so the most logical course of action was to make someone else taste the food first. If they showed even the slightest symptoms of poisoning, then it would be alright for me to assume this whole table was invested in poison.

Looking around, I found myself seated between Risa and the nun. The other girls were seated next to each other and the pale woman was in the farthest position from where I sat. The setup itself where I was placed in this seat was also suspicious. Let’s wait a little bit longer for a chance to strike.

With a wide smile on her face, the pale woman opened her arms wide and muttered, “Enjoy the feast, children. This is a special day for us!”

And there comes my chance.

“Why don’t you start off first?” I leaned my back against the chair, thinking of any way I could use to escape this situation. “I can’t believe in someone who just suddenly offered me the luxury of feasting on this stupidly incredible amount of food.”

The pale woman’s face’s contour changed as the last syllable had escaped my lips. She had been grinning and now her expression was that of a triggered woman after being rejected by someone she likes. In short, she was perplexed and dejected at the same time.

 

Let’s see how you’ll fare in this.

 

“Pardon my rudeness. Are you trying to imply I might have done something to the food, Miss Elise?”

“Honestly speaking, yes. I just cannot fathom your action. Why would you show someone you don’t even know this kind of kindness? It’s really suspicious, y’know that?”

Silence befell upon us. And when I glanced at the other girls, they were sweating profusely. Are they this afraid of this pale woman? Afraid of someone who looks exactly like a disgusting shut-in never bathed in sunlight whatsoever? I just couldn’t understand.

I returned my attention to the pale woman as her deep crimson eyes locked on mine. What was her name again? Skuld? A strange name.

The silence still continued on without any of us opening our respective mouths. Well, that’s to be expected. I deliberately made the atmosphere heavy and those who possess weak mentality would crumble in no time. The first to open their mouth is the loser. Yes.

“Miss Elise…”

And here it came Skuld, the loser.

“I was trying to make you feel as comfortable as possible. Please forgive me if you find flaws in my actions.” She slightly bowed.

“Prove it.” Pointing at the food, I exerted my heightened locution.

“... Yes?”

“Prove. It.”

For the last time, I pointed at the food. Just right after I had done that, a sudden pop up window appeared with a beeping sound, almost making me flinch.

 

[Níðhǫggr is laughing at your insolent audacity towards the Maiden of Prophecy, Skuld.]

[You have been granted the Unique Trait: [One who Defies the Prophecy] as reward.]

[Please check on your status for more details.]

 

Ah, so that’s how it is. This Níðhǫggr bastard had been keeping his eyes on me this whole time through this system— MY system. How do I get him out of my property? Should I commit a force format on my status?

No, that would be too risky. There’s a high chance that I would also lose myself and all this precious knowledge I had been hoarding all my life.

In the meantime, I ceased all those thoughts and averted my gaze towards Skuld who reached out her hand to pull one of the plates. Slowly, she gobbled the entire plating and looked at me with teary eyes representing her held-back disappointment once she was done eating. Again, she showed me such nice acting.

“I am done.” she said.

“I can see that. Now…” Turning my head to my right and left in a succession, my eyes met with Risa’s and the nun’s as they both let out an idiotic sound in a harmony.

““Eh…?””

I forced my face to put on a nice, warm smile as I pointed at the food once again.

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“Eat.”

Showing so many expressions I had never seen on her face in just a mere second, Risa was troubled. She peeped to Skuld’s direction, probably hoping to get some help from the pale woman. In the end, her expectations were replied with a shrug and slight head shaking from Skuld. The nun, however, already started eating while glancing at me numerous times.

 

Don’t hate me, okay? It is my well-being that I'm concerned about here.

 

Actually, it was entertaining for me. Watching these two women do what I wanted, I mean. In the meantime, I took a plate with the same dish Skuld had eaten before as it should be the safest dish among the rest. It was stirred vegetables with a sauce that had the taste of freshly squeezed lemon. Simply put, it was delish and refreshing.

Before long, Risa was also done with her food. She immediately filled her glass with water from the acrylic container not far from her. Assuming that it was also safe, I almost did the same thing until I realized that there was a chance this Risa girl possessed some kind of immunity towards poison or curse magic.

With that in my mind, I focused my mana in my hand to conjure a glass using my ice magic, and after the glittering bluish container appeared, my hand gestured again and fresh water douched out of thin air above the ice glass as it filled it with water. If only I could conjure food using my magic, that would save my brain some spaces for more important things. Alas, I wasn’t able to do that, yet.

“No invocation!?”

A sudden remark of astonishment came from the horned girl’s direction as she slammed the table and rose from her chair. Well, you are gawking your eyes at the prodigy in magic, you know? As if I’d said that out loud. I’m not that narcissistic.

“So, when will you start explaining?” I folded my arms and stared at the teary-eyed Skuld.

“Yes?”

 

***

 

“I can’t believe it…”

“I know. It must be so hard for you to take in, Miss Elise. However, What I told you is the absolute truth.”

What I could conclude from Skuld’s explanation was this world is not the world I originally came from.

Every legend, every story I had heard so far was unknown to me. There is no Imperial Kingdom of Blinstein whatsoever here in this world and almost all the knowledge from my previous life as Edward is deemed useless. I had the hunch of that from the start since I couldn’t recognize almost everything including the landmarks, geographical features, even the buildings; nonetheless, it was still the worst case scenario I had wanted to avoid at all cost.

Basically, only my comprehension in mana and magic was applicable since they work the same way here. I couldn’t call it a fortune as I had just literally lost the meaning of having so much understanding about creatures, lands, people, everything. I was at a loss but still trying not to show it on my face while Skuld continued her story.

“This sacred shrine, Náströnd, was built by Níðhǫggr thousands of years ago as its final resting place before meeting us. In his dying breath, he told us to save and nurture the reincarnators.”

“Wait, reincarnators? So these girls here are also from another world?” I raised a question while turning my head to face Risa and the others.

“Indeed. Even though most of their past life memories are sealed. The other girls are also the same, Miss Elise.”

With a faint, bitter smile on her face, Risa nodded, confirming Skuld’s words’ credibility. Still, until I had the means to check on the truth, I would only believe a portion of her words. I just don’t want to get fooled again.

“Then how about me? What is this Níðhǫggr’s Prophetess’ job?” I inquired.

“Ah, that, huh?” Skuld scratched her cheek and made a troubled expression. “If I may implore, what blessing have you received when you stepped foot the first time in this world, Miss Elise?”

Stupefied, I went silent. Inside my brain, two choices were floating: to lie or to tell her the truth. If I lied, there could be a chance I wouldn’t get the correct information regarding myself. But if I told her the truth, honestly, I just couldn’t trust her. I just couldn’t trust anybody. What if she used that to look for my weakness?

Ah, let’s just risk it. She must have referred to my Unique Traits, right?

“I never used it but it is something called the [Níðhǫggr’s Hunger Aura].”

Upon hearing my words, all of them paled. The horned girl reacted by gasping and the ever smiling half-elf ceased her smile. Even the already pale-skinned Skuld went even paler, as if she had lost all colors due to shock and surprise. What’s happening?

“That is…” Cutting her own words, Skuld averted her sight towards the nun, followed by the nun suddenly standing up and grabbing my shoulders tightly.

“Miss Elise, listen to me and don’t panic.”

“... Okay?”

“You are burdened with the greatest task among all other prophetesses before you.” Tightening her grip even more, the nun softly muttered. “You are destined to destroy this world’s order.”

I couldn’t even feel anything and make any reaction after hearing that. The only thing in my mind was, How could my soul travel to a different dimension without me knowing?

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