Bright light and the loud noises of the crowd woke me up as I opened my eyes after that refreshing sleep. I looked around and noticed that we were still a small bit away from the main gate to the city. Most likely, there was a huge commotion going on.
"God... How can people be this loud..." I rubbed my face and sat up straight in the seat, starting to think about the kind of story I was going to cook up to tell the guards so we could gain entry.
Crap, I forgot to check the cargo this caravan had. I looked toward the back and quickly scanned the crates and goods that were present there. Thankfully, it seemed like Mahito hadn't eaten or touched anything. He had woken up as well and was just giggling to himself.
"..." I was also going to ask Mahito what goods were present, but remembering what happened a few hours before, I silently looked forward again and pretended to control our dragon with the reins. Better safe than sorry.
We approached the guards at the gate, and I inwardly revised the story in my mind, preparing my most convincing "rookie merchant" act.
"State your purpose for entering the capital," the guard said expressionlessly, his tone neutral but exhausted, clearly having dealt with far too many people today. He checked inside the back of the caravan and inspected the goods, unaware that he was under Mahito's malicious gaze.
That merchant guy did mention that a lot more travelers were coming to the capital. I need to figure out what the timeline is… I nodded and began to explain my totally well-crafted story.
"This is actually my first time as a traveling merchant. My parents are poor, so I'm just trying to get started early... And I heard it was a good time to enter the capital now," I told him with a friendly and energetic attitude, silently hoping he would explain what was going on.
"Yeah, I've seen many in your situation, and all I can say is you're doing a great job," he said simply, clearly tired but still respectful. "And besides, it's a no-brainer to start doing business in the capital right now since so many people are flocking here. Ever since the Royal Family died out, the people have been begging for a new ruler. Three candidates have been found, and just recently, the fourth was discovered by the Court Magician, Mathers."
He finished his inspection and stopped his explanation, allowing us to pass through. Though Mahito was only interested in how the Royal Family died out, I was pondering the implications of what the guard said. If what I concluded was true, then this was going to be BAD.
The fourth candidate he was talking about has to be Emilia. I don't know if it's public knowledge yet that it's Emilia, or if people only know that a fourth candidate was found. To be honest, with how racist these people are, they would definitely flock to the capital to express their distaste. So I can't make a definite judgment just yet…
I directed the dragon until we found a post to hitch it to and parked the caravan securely. If anyone tried to steal something and our dragon killed them brutally, I'd just say it's a Divine Protection and peace out.
But on a serious note, should I tell Mahito that I possess future knowledge? Or is it even worth it…? I decided to worry about that another time. I still had roughly a month before Subaru would arrive in this world, and that should be enough time to settle things. I hope.
I bought some food using the money we got from the merchant we killed. He had a single gold coin, fourteen silver coins, and twenty copper coins. I couldn't exactly remember if that was a lot or not, but he was clearly lying to us when he said money was tight since I ordered an entire meal and it only cost four copper coins.
"..." It was an incredibly awkward atmosphere as I walked around the capital beside Mahito. Neither of us had talked to each other since that incident, but I knew he felt nothing about it. It was his nature as a Cursed Spirit to hate humanity. So maybe he was only keeping quiet because he could sense that I was deeply disturbed by the incident? Was this another delusional hope of mine? Even so, I knew I couldn't just shut him out forever. He had never tried to harm me once, so I should trust him in return…
"Hey, Mahito... Do you know anything else about my Cursed Technique?" I asked, then immediately regretted it after seeing everyone look at me weirdly, clearly because they couldn't see Mahito walking beside me. Grumbling in frustration, I ran over to a nearby alley and spoke with him there.
"Alright, let's talk here. And yes, before you ask, I am absolutely traumatised by what you did to that guy. But I'm not going to pretend to be some saint and try to impart some "morals" on you. I understand that you're a Cursed Spirit; you are meant to hate humanity by nature. I don't keep track of how many insects and bugs I've killed, nor have I cared how I killed them. I know you didn't outwardly say it, but you are right. It was naive of me to think that our morals were the same."
As I finished saying what I had to say, I saw his expression change from neutral to serious, and then finally to… full-blown laughter. He was genuinely amused, listening to what I had said. But he wasn't laughing because he thought it was stupidly funny — he laughed because I was the first human he had met who understood his philosophy. And the only way he could process that realization was to laugh at the sad irony that I, barely an adult, had grasped it faster than most "experienced" sorcerers.
"Ohh wow, that cracked me up good. Never expected a human would actually understand that." He smiled genuinely and continued, "I was born from humanity's hatred toward other humans, so I naturally came to understand souls better than they do. The physical body is just an inanimate shell of the soul — that's what it has always been, and always will be. I met a kid, and he still couldn't understand that this wasn't a fight to fix what's wrong, but a clash of truths. I kill humans indiscriminately, just as he saves people indiscriminately. And that's why that kid will never be able to beat me. The instincts of a Curse will always oppose the so-called dignity of human reason."
"What the fuck." Hearing his little speech always triggered the philosophy nerd inside me, but hearing his compliment at the end genuinely shook me. I now knew for a fact that he wasn't just tricking me like he did with Junpei — he actually saw me as an equal.
"I... don't know what to say... I didn't think you even had it in you to compliment a human on their values." I awkwardly patted his shoulder before cringing hard at how awkward I was acting.
Before, it was only the Binding Vow placed in my technique that made him friendly toward Luke. But now, they truly saw each other as equals despite their different natures.
"Alright, back on topic. Can you tell me more about how my Cursed Technique is working?" I asked because I had to know. It was my only lifeline in this messed-up world, and I had to make the most of it.
"Don't know how you expect me to help you with that. The basics of your Cursed Technique should be innately given to you when you awaken it…" Even though he claimed he couldn't explain how it worked, he placed his hand on my head, inspecting it.
Cursed Techniques are engraved somewhere around the right prefrontal cortex, which was why he focused there. After a few seconds, he stepped away with a curious look on his face. He had definitely discovered something.
"Sooo... what'd you see?" I asked, sitting down on the steps. I didn't expect much but I was desperate for anything at this point since it seemed like I could do literally nothing without my summons.
"Well, it looks like there's an in-built Binding Vow placed on your technique. I don't know its benefits, but its drawback probably has something to do with your pitifully low Cursed Energy generation. I could sense that your Cursed Energy had been completely used up when I first saw you, and even now, you haven't recovered even a quarter of your reserves yet."
Well, that sucks — but at least it's useful. I mean, it's actually pretty reasonable considering how overpowered my technique is. It's giving me safety and versatility for practically free.
"So now, I guess I just have to wait a few more days for my next summon? It better be an actual sorcerer — I'm sick of looking like I'm talking to thin air," I chuckled. Mahito shared my amusement before we were interrupted by a classic trio of hooligans.
I sighed and gave Mahito, who was staring at me with nasty puppy-dog eyes, the signal to let him have his fun.
What happened next does not need to be explained. The only noteworthy thing is that I no longer felt disgusted by the sight of blood and flesh. Seems like I'm also losing my sanity like other sorcerers… I nodded to myself casually as Mahito became satisfied and "ate" them.
Good thing I didn't recognize them. Wouldn't want to steal Subaru and Reinhard's future thunder~