Chapter 117: Forever and a Day (IX)


    No! Its not that dead fish, the water has turned red!


    But the womans words just scattered in the air.


    The stream, which had been dyed red, was dismissed as a persons misunderstanding and forgotten from peoples minds.


    .


    Six days to a week, as proimed by Raisa Neir.


    Ophelia hurried through the shadows of the back alley.


    Even though it was daytime, there was no light, so she went round and round the dark alleys and paths before she finally reached her destination.


    She didnt wander in and out of the back alleys during the infinite regressions, but she was used to finding what she needed with her eyes closed.


    <em>Tok, tok, tok, tok. </em>


    After knocking at regr intervals, the door opened from the inside.


    She stepped inside, ignoring the staresing from her every side.


    What brings you to


    Forged identification. A young woman. The darker the past history, no, the more beggarly, the better.


    With a very clear request, Ophelia pulled out a pouch.


    <em>Kling, ng.</em>


    Ill give you enough. Bring it right now.


    <em>Thump.</em>


    The heavy bag made a loud noise as it fell to the floor, as if to show off its weight.


    Ophelia grinned, showing her teeth, and gestured at the pouch.


    You can open it.


    Before long, a boy popped out of nowhere, grabbed the pouch, and opened it wide.


    The gold coins were so densely packed that they sparkled even in this dimly lit ce. No gaps could be spotted, let alone a silver coin.


    It was clear that if these were all gold coins, it would be an amount that was difficult to say with his mouth.


    Whew.


    The boy who involuntarily whistled hurriedly closed the pouch and held it close to his stomach, but Ophelia carelessly shook her hand.


    If you understand, move now.


    The person facing her bowed his back deeply, very deeply.


    I will prepare right away.


    Shortly thereafter, Ophelia was able to load her body into a shabby wagon.


    Ophelia, who was covered in dirt and had mud all over her face and in clothes that were almost dirty, pulled back the loose cloak.


    Almost there.


    In time, Ophelia reached the vige located at the entrance to Raisas vige.


    Wait a minute here.


    By the time Ophelia, who did not respond to the curt coachmans remarks, grew tired of the townsfolks nces at her, an outsider


    The coachman appeared with an old man.


    Say hello, Miss. He is the one who will take you to that vige.


    Ophelia only nodded in silence.


    Because there was no way a person who had gone through severe hardships could say a bright and refreshing greeting to others.


    The coachman left the old man and Ophelia alone, and the old man stared at Ophelia and said,


    Hey, Miss.


    Ophelia didnt answer again, she tried to ignore it, but she was forced to open her mouth by the old mans following words.


    If you dont open your mouth, I wont take you to that vige.


    What do you mean.


    Despite Ophelias harsh counter, the old mans dried tree-like face did not change much.


    I dont know where you came from, but you seemed to have grown nicely.


    No matter how much she was dressed as if she had a gutter-like past, it was hard for Ophelia, who was born and raised as a nobledy, to look like someone who had really gone through something like that.


    Thats why Ophelia answered more confidently and brazenly.


    I hear that a lot. Ive seen a lot, this and that.


    She did. During the infinite regressions, she actually went through all kinds of nasty and messy things.


    The old man clicked his tongue as she expressed sincerity to the bone with her voice and expression.


    And his next words were something that Ophelia never thought of.


    I wont ask why you want to go to that vige, but if you dont have to, what about this vige?


    What?


    I cant help you much, but I will take care of you as best I can until you sort of settle down.


    No, why so much


    Ophelia deliberately made a more exaggerated and wary gesture.


    She should have reacted like this if she had been subjected to all kinds of storms.


    Tsk, I mean, no one who went into that vige came back.


    Ophelias face hardened coldly at the old mans words, but she said nothing more.


    The old man next door, his nephew He has never seen his face since he entered the vige. Its a very strange vige.


    But as Ophelia still kept her mouth shut, the old man let out a long sigh and shook his head.


    Even if its not so, these days, theyve been stocking food and buying des.


    Ophelia leaned forward at the unexpected information from an unexpected person in an unexpected ce.


    What do you mean?


    Oh, its not even winter, but they kept urging me to give them, like a bird that stores winter food? I said no because we already dont have much to eat, even if they can give any amount of money Then they want to gather a bunch of des Ha


    Its not even winter, but theyre going to stock up on food, which is alreadycking?


    A word shed through Ophelias mind.


    War.


    There was no way a single vige would go to war against an empire, so they must be preparing for a war against something else.


    Gramps.


    Hmm?


    I must go to that vige. An older brother I know is there.


    There was only sincerity in the bright blue eyes that could be seen through the hole in the cloak.


    Because what she said wasnt a lie.


    She had to go to that town, and she knew James Gryu, and at the same time he was her brother because he was older than her.


    The old man clicked his tongue, but didnt persuade her.


    Lets go.


    Ophelia arrived at Raisas vige as she had originally nned.


    From preparation to arrival, it was a breeze, but from now on, there will be problems.


    Holding her breath, she listened to the conversation between the old man and the vigers.


    No, not wheat or barley, but dry, ready-to-eat


    This is farm equipment, not this.


    The old man shook his head, and the vigers took all the things he had brought, even though theyined.


    After talking with the vigers, the old man gestured toward Ophelia.


    This girl is looking for someone.


    The old man left empty-handed after saying that, and Ophelia, who was left behind, was soon surrounded by vigers.


    It was already bing familiar to receive cold, stinging nces, which were unlike the sunlight that was warm enough to be considered a little hot.


    Ophelia, who endured all the eyes of people who fluttered with shallow curiosity, very slowly took something out of her arms.


    At that, the vigers all at once hardened their expressions. They seemed like they would rush at her at any moment.


    I was asked to give this ne to someone.


    It was a terribly random remark, but someone managed to recognize the ne.


    That! You! Where did you get that?


    The person I worked with asked me to pass it on to his sibling.


    Ophelia waved the ne and described the appearance of the fanatic, or rather, a man who was a fanatic who was now trapped somewhere in the Imperial Pce as a pharmacist.


    He gave me this the other day


    Ophelia deliberately blurred the end.


    Then the vigers murmured and imagined the mans words on their own, and the first person to recognize the ne held out his hand.


    Theres somewhere you have to go before you see that person.


    Ophelia calmly agreed, and she stood before the prophet, surrounded by the vigers.


    Yes. He said this.


    Ophelia had to work hard not to grab the prophet by the cor.


    The prophet who gave the mission that the man who was a fanatic said.


    As in the case of the saint, it didnt matter what his true identity was.


    I just want to grab him and shake him to spit out everything hes trying to do.


    Her heart was like a chimney, but she couldnt really do it.


    Grabbing him by the cor wasnt what she came here for, even if hiding or running away from the vigers would be easy.


    However, what if things got worse when she did that?


    Although she knew what she was trying to do right now, what if it went out of hand or became urgent?


    It was a week.


    Too short to take this or that risk.


    The prophet asked Ophelia, who was slowly exhaling.


    How do you know him?


    It was a question she had been waiting for.


    Ophelia told the story she had prepared as calmly as possible.


    If she talked exaggeratedly and mixed emotions here and there, she would end up with more useless lies besides the story she prepared.


    So I want to stay in this town.


    Ophelia, who had told the long story in one breath, caught her breath.


    If it was not epted right now, there was only one way left.


    Hiding and watching.


    No one in this town would be able to spot Ophelia when she erased her presence and moved in the shadows or darkness.


    However, if that happened, quick and smooth information collection was out of the question.


    When Ophelia swallowed dry saliva for the fourth time.


    You have nowhere else to go, so you want to stay


    Saying that, the prophet took a step closer to Ophelia.


    Yes. I came all the way here, believing that this vige would ept me.


    Ophelia put her hands together with genuine earnestness.


    Because she was, in fact, very desperate.


    How long has it been?


    <strong><em>Ame:</em></strong><em> 10 more episodes to the end of the main story! Go go go!</em>


    <strong><em>Dea:</em></strong><em> The end is near, im so curious about how theyre going to fix everything</em>