KFBRV Ch 25

Zion’s transcendent power was mind control. As long as a being possessed intelligence, he could bend its will and command its every action.

The "Calamity," though it appeared as a mindless black hole, was a living entity, and therefore subject to Zion’s mental grip. He held the Calamity’s mind in a constant vice, ensuring it never struck the capital. To maintain this delicate balance—protecting the city without harming the minds of the people within his reach—Zion had to exert his power twenty-four hours a day. The capital was the absolute limit of his range.

Because of this protection, the capital became the only haven in the Empire. People flocked to the city in droves, resulting in the rapid growth of lawless slums on the outskirts. In these dark corners, the law of the Empire was invisible; only the law of the fist remained. At the peak of this violent hierarchy stood the third male lead: Viktor König.

Even after awakening as a Transcendent, Viktor refused to join the Imperial Army. He was a rogue who preferred the life of a thug, beating other thugs. Though the military had officially appointed him a Colonel, he treated their orders as mere suggestions. The Empire only tolerated his defiance because, whenever a Calamity appeared, Viktor would charge toward it like a hound off its leash. He lacked any sense of duty, yet he fulfilled his purpose through sheer bloodlust.

In her previous life, Viktor had hunted Odette relentlessly. He hadn't done it for justice; he had done it because he found the chase amusing.

[Viktor] “A fake purifier, they say. What a foul scent you have.”

[Viktor] “You’re quite clever, little lady. You’re the only one who has managed to run from us for this long.”

[Viktor] “Goodbye, sweetheart.”

Even now, Odette could feel the phantom sensation of Viktor’s massive hand crushing her throat just before her death. She had been relieved that she hadn't encountered him yet in this life. If possible, she wanted to avoid him forever.

Going to the slums was a gamble, but she had no choice. Today was the only day she could pin down the exact location of a woman named Gisela.

As her hired carriage—a rare sight in the "Red Glovočnik" district—came to a halt, several loiterers cast suspicious glances her way.

She pulled the curtains shut and let out a soft sigh. She needed the carriage as bait to lure Gisela, but the lack of security in this area was nerve-wracking.

[Odette] "I don't care about anything else... I hope I don't run into that lunatic, Viktor."

She checked the weight of the item hidden beneath her skirts: a pistol she had "borrowed" from Goetz’s pawnshop. He didn't actually know he had lent it to her, but that was a minor detail.

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[Gisela] "The money is just flowing in today!"

She let out a cackle as she tucked a handful of coins into her sleeve with her rough, calloused hands. Her curly hair was a tangled mess, and she looked more like a common thief than a mystic.

[Gisela] "A world full of fools. Astrology? What a joke."

She had no gift for prophecy. She only had a talent for shuffling tarot cards and a silver tongue that could charm a snake. Selling cheap bracelets as "lucky talismans" had been remarkably profitable today.

[Gisela] "The Founding Festival is the best. Even the cheapskates in this neighborhood are spending money."

She stopped in her tracks when she saw a hired carriage parked in the middle of the road.

A carriage in this dump? If someone took a cab all the way here, they must have deep pockets.

Excited by the prospect of a new mark, she hurried over and rapped on the carriage door. The curtain was pulled back slightly, revealing a young woman sitting in the shadows. From her attire, Gisela guessed she was the daughter of a wealthy lawyer.

A rich, sheltered girl? My luck is on fire today!

Young noblewomen were her favorite targets. They were usually too polite to say no.

Without waiting for an invitation, she pulled the door open. It wasn't locked.

[Gisela] "My Lady, are you curious about your future? Do you wish to know the destiny the stars have written for you?"

She climbed inside and sat on the opposite bench with practiced boldness. Usually, this intrusion made customers uncomfortable, but that was part of the act. Before they could get angry, she would dazzle them with a tarot reading and claim she had been "drawn to them by a powerful fate."

[Odette] "I am curious. So, you can read the stars?"

Gisela blinked, caught off guard. Instead of the expected outrage, the young woman was almost welcoming.

[Odette] "Tell me my fortune. I will pay you well for your time."

There was a subtle weight to the girl's voice—an authority that made his rehearsed script falter.

[Gisela] "O-oh. Yes. Of course, My Lady."

She felt strangely intimidated. It wasn't just the girl's attitude; it was her positioning. The way the gaslights outside hit the curtains left the girl’s face shrouded in shadow. Only she was exposed to the light. It was as if the girl were dissecting her, while she could only see the faint outline of a mouth and a silhouette.

It’s just a coincidence. Don't be a coward. Girls this age always worry about the same thing.

[Gisela] "The future you seek... is about your love life!"

She began her performance, pretending to study her crystal ball and tarot cards. She talked for several minutes, but the girl didn't utter a single word.

[Gisela] "To summarize, it’s a disaster. The man you adore is completely enchanted by another lady. But do not despair! This lucky crystal bracelet, which I have woven bead by bead under the moonlight, will act as your lucky charm. He will fall for you in no time."

Despite her passionate delivery, the girl remained unmoved. She only wore a faint, unreadable smile.

[Odette] "You’ve worked hard. That was an entertaining story."

The response was too mature, too elegant for someone of her age. It sent a chill down her spine.

She doesn't look like high royalty, but she acts more like a noble than anyone I’ve ever met.

[Odette] "I’ll take the fortune and the bracelet."

The girl handed over a gold coin. Her eyes nearly popped out of her head as she took it.

I was worried for nothing. I need to take this and get out of here!

[Gisela] "Thank you, My Lady! I’ll be on my way now."

But the moment she reached for the handle, the carriage lurched forward.

[Gisela] "W-wait! My Lady, what is this—!"

[Odette] "There is no need to rush. You weren't planning on visiting the apothecary tonight anyway, were you? You’ll be resting during the festival."

The girl’s tone was lazy and calm.

[Gisela] "How did you...?"

[Odette] "Sit down. I simply wish to pay you properly for your services."

Terrified, Gisela looked at the girl. As the carriage passed a gaslight, the light finally hit the girl's face. She looked like a wax doll—expressionless and cold, staring right through her.

Gisela glanced toward the window, calculating her chances.

Can I jump out?

[Odette] "I wouldn't recommend jumping. You only have two family members left; it would be a shame if your mother had to care for another patient. I’ve only instructed the driver to take a long route around the city, so sit."

She turned pale as the girl mentioned her family secrets.

[Gisela] "Who... who are you?"

[Odette] "And you should change your apothecary. They are only making your son's condition worse."

[Gisela] "I asked who you are! Tell me!!"

She screamed, but her voice was swallowed by the rhythm of the horse's hooves. The driver clearly couldn't hear a thing.

Did she plan this? To make sure no one could hear our conversation?

[Odette] "Gisela."

The girl pronounced the name softly, almost like a caress.

[Odette] "Sit down. This is my final invitation. It would be wise to listen."

[Gisela] "You... you monster..."

[Odette] "If you don't sit, the next thing you hear will be a threat. For example, a threat about how I could have you executed for 'Insulting a Noble' by impersonating a seer to swindle me."

The crushing weight of aristocratic authority filled the small space. Gisela’s legs shook, and she collapsed into her seat.

[Odette] "Thank you for accepting my invitation, Gisela."

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