Chapter 11 - III -

 

“Hallo!”

 

“…”

 

“Hey, don’t just stare at me as if I’m some abnormality!”

 

“Well, what did you call me out here for?” I asked the black-haired Saint.  If I remember right, I was following King Rambo as he rushed to the Holy Chambers’ palace while carrying Her Holiness.  Then I was caught in a bright flash of white light, and now that I looked around me, am I in a sort of dream again?

 

“You are.” the black-haired Saint replied, “Although I prefer I appear to you next time we meet, I have to use your mind to come for you.”

 

“Hm?  You talk like you have something urgent for me, uh, what should I call you?  Perhaps ‘Your Holiness’ would suffice?”

 

“Oh right, I haven’t told you my name yet.  Just call me Natasha.” the Saint named Natasha then muttered, “‘Your Holiness’ is a bit too much for me if it comes from you after all.”

 

I quite heard that but decided to keep silent about it.

 

“Ah, anyway, I heard they started calling you ‘Kuro’ here?”

 

“Yes, for now, I’m Kuro,” I answered.

 

“Okay then.”

 

“So, what is it you want to tell me?”

 

“Ah right.  Thanks for reminding me.” Natasha recalled the reason behind her sudden appearance, “Well, aside from claiming some ‘air time’ to remind the readers of this stupid story that I still exist, I have to talk to you about the future.”

 

“The future?” aside from the initial nonsense Natasha spouted, I was surprised when she mentioned the word ‘future’, “You mean you can see into the future?”

 

“Well, not too much.  I can only experience visions of the near future, not far into it.”

 

“Oh okay…still, I think it’s cool.” I looked at her with admiration.  I honestly wished I had the same abilities.

 

“Thanks!”

 

“Does this mean Her Holiness the Saint of Chersea can also do that?”

 

“Unfortunately, even as she is a Saint, the gods simply didn’t grant her that ability.  Her divine gift lies in her power to heal the sick and the gravest of injuries, while they gave me the knowledge of the future.”

 

“So, you mean, different saints having different divine abilities?”

 

“Yep.  The gods have deliberately made it so that no one has the power to dominate the others.  See, there were other saints besides me and Madelaine—your saint over there—that possess powers like turning water into wine, multiplying a few pieces of food to feed the crowd, and even control over the weather.

 

Somehow that setting reminded me of the miracles that could be found in the Bible.  And I was also surprised to hear that other saints exist in this world.

 

Natasha then continued, “Anyhow, let’s proceed with what I’m about to tell you.  As I have said, I have the power to see into the future, and I came to you now in a hurry because I need to tell a matter of utmost importance.”

 

“Which is?”

 

“Well, be more aware of how you deal with the people around you.”

 

“Huh?  What do you mean by that?”

 

“You know of a certain theory back in our old world called, ‘The Butterfly Effect’, right?” Natasha asked, “To cut it short, your actions have already influenced the timeline of this world.”

 

I fell silent upon hearing about the ‘Butterfly Effect’ theory.  For those who didn’t know about it yet, it’s a theory about the effect of things that happened in relevance to its importance.  For example, a butterfly fluttering its tiny wings in Arles may be deemed insignificant for the time, but somehow, that insignificant event could have a profound effect on the brewing of a tremendous storm over the Holy Palatial Gardens.  

 

In short, the little, unimportant events could have a direct or indirect effect on the future course of time.

 

“Ah, as expected of Mister ‘Kuro’.” Natasha laughed softly, “You still haven’t lost your edge about these things.”

 

“Well, I couldn’t care less about that.” I replied, “Anyway, what is it that will happen in the future that I have an important role in it?”

 

“If you ask me, it’s not necessarily bad.” Natasha explained, with a hint of apprehension in her voice, “But I wouldn’t say it’s quite good either.”

 

“Huh?  Can you stop speaking in riddles, I can’t continue guessing what you mean forever.”

 

“Riiight…” then Natasha began producing white smoke, which she turned into familiar faces that I’ve encountered lately, “For one, the Princess Lilyhaven Tamriel von Leese.  In the timeline without you, she’s supposed to have become insane because of the loss of her brother, but you saved her from that fate and here she is now, all is well…”

 

And now Lily’s giving unwanted affection to me.

 

“The second one, Duchess Eris Braunhauer.  That little girl should’ve become the concubine of the Crown Prince of Amaranth after she voluntarily resigns her duties as a maid because of severe bullying.  However, you intervened on her fate, and as a result, she continues to work at the Holy Palatial Gardens.”

 

Well, isn’t her bullying started all because of me?

 

“Duchess Braunhauer has been a target of bullies ever since she entered servitude.  You know it right, that little maid is as cute as heck!”

 

I can’t deny that fact; Eris is cute, alright.

 

“The third one, my fellow saint, Madelaine Ann Rubinforth.” Natasha explained, “Though she may not look like it, Maddie is prone to depression, which is why she is bored almost all the time.  And, in the timeline where you didn’t appear, she’s supposed to have passed on as of this moment.  And a new human saint will be chosen a bit later.”

 

I couldn’t find the proper reply to that information.  So basically, if I didn’t appear at the right moment, nor was I summoned, Her Holiness had killed herself.

 

That’s…some heavy stuff…

 

“…”

 

But…

 

“I don’t understand.” I’m getting confused, “What you just told me are good things, right?  I prevented Lily from going insane, Eris could enjoy her life as a kid because I rescued her from her bullies, and Her Holiness was saved from committing suicide.”

 

“Of course, it’s all good.” the black-haired Saint agreed as well, “However, I’m referring to the other latest addition to your harem—I mean, the people you saved.”

 

Oi, I heard the word ‘harem’.  And I think it’s too much.

 

“…”

 

Wait, is she referring to—

 

“Yes, that slave you saved from Arles, Senshee…or would you want me to refer to that person as Ruro of the Wolf, the Cherwind’s Saint of the Tempest.”

 

At that very moment, a bright light shone behind Natasha.  Although she didn’t seem to be bothered by it, well, I was.  For out of that light came out the slave Senshee.

 

 

 

My eyes popped out from their sockets when another person appeared behind Natasha; it was the slave Senshee, only this time, I saw him with a pair of wolf ears on his head and a beautiful wolf tail on his back.

 

And wait, is that also a pair of boobs—

 

“I think my new master is fascinated by my true appearance, isn’t it, Natasha?” Senshee interrupted my train of thoughts.

 

“Indeed, he is.” Natasha curtly replied, “He is a man, after all.”

 

I stared at both of them, unsure of what to say—or do—next.  For one, Natasha’s revelation to me about Senshee, or rather, Ruro, was a big surprise already.  But the second revelation, that of Ruro himself—or herself, was much more of a shocker.

 

Yep, Ruro of the Wolf is a girl.

 

“Hello, Mister Kuro!” the beast girl curtsied before me, “My name is Ruro, formerly from the Wolf tribe of the Beastman race, now fulfilling her duties as the Saint of the land of Cherwind.”

 

“Uh…hello?” I greeted her in reply.

 

“Ah!  I haven’t thanked you yet for saving me!” Ruro smiled, “Seriously, I thought I was a goner when I bumped my head on that carriage back in Arles.  I have to run fast, you know; that stupid bitch Welt is a cruel idiot.”

 

“Uhh…indeed she is.” I couldn’t find a proper response for her.

 

“And also, thank you for saving my friend, Maddie.”

 

I just nodded.

 

“Ahem!” Saint Natasha waved her hand for a bit to get our attention, “So again, back to our topic.  As I’ve said before, you need to be careful in dealing with the people around you.  You may never know whether the person you’re saving is someone who’ll be a villain soon.”

 

“Hey, Natasha!” it was Ruro, who was protesting, “You talk as if I’m some suspicious person!”

 

“Oh, isn’t it the truth, doggie?  Isn’t disguising yourself as a human boy and intentionally letting herself be captured for slavery just to enter the Holy Palatial Gardens suspicious enough already?”

 

Yeah, I thought of that.  Can’t she just come right into the gates and enter properly?

 

“What?  Quit calling me that!  I thought we’re friends!”

 

“I enjoy bullying my ‘friends’, don’t worry.”

 

“Uuu…” Ruro wasn’t able to answer back to Natasha, who was smiling in triumph.  With her back forced into a corner, the Beastman Saint explained, “Well, I’d like to observe the human boy Maddie summoned from another world.  Of course, without myself getting exposed as a saint; or he’ll be careful in dealing with me.  That’s besides my primary goal of dropping by for a visit to Maddie.”

 

Man, I don’t get how these Saints process their train of thought.  There’s something wrong with their brains…

 

“Oi, don’t forget we can still read minds, Kuro.” Natasha reminded me.

 

Sorry.

 

“And so there you have it, Kuro.” Natasha tapped my shoulder, “I hope you’ll be careful next time.”

 

“Err…thanks, I guess?” And then, I remembered something important. “By the way, what about Her Holiness?  Will she be alright?”

 

“Yep!” it was Ruro who answered, “Don’t worry, she’s safe now, only resting in her room with the Nerfes Princess at her side.”

 

“I see…” But there’s something else I have in mind…

 

“If you’re asking if she’ll commit that foolish act again in the future…” Natasha had read my thoughts, “…the answer will depend on you.”

 

“Ha?  Why me?” I was shocked when she passed the responsibility on me, “I think Sir Simon or King Rambo is more suited to calming her heart.”

 

Ruro and Natasha exchanged confused looks.  And then Ruro asked me, “Master Kuro, perhaps you’re unaware of your ability?”

 

Huh?  Isn’t it I’m powerless when I came into this world?

 

“Well, indeed you are.” Natasha agreed, “But what I’m referring to is not the one you might gain in this land; I’m talking about the ability that you wielded, long before you were summoned here.”

 

“I’m honestly confused.” I admitted, “Is there such a thing?”

 

Natasha gave out a sigh, “Isn’t it you’re a teacher?  Your words have a lot of weight unto it.  For short, you have the power to influence people using your lips.”

 

And then, I realized my true abilities as a person…