Chapter 78: Fate Convergence - III

So, despite knowing that I was now fated to participate in an event in the Höwerwaslis District, I still tried to escape it.

Even if meteors were sent to fall on my head, so be it.

I wanted to test the limits of <Fate> itself.

...And well, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.

The moment I tried to walk outside my Mage Tower to leave, I was nearly run over by a carriage and killed because of my weak Physique.

When I tried to fly, a Dragon dominated the local airspace.

Even when I was invisible, I would somehow trip on stones that weren’t supposed to be there. Some tremor from a battle a few kilometers away just nudged them ever so slightly to the right.

Luckily, I was still able to move away. With [Absolute Awareness], I could defy <Fate> in small amounts.

So, I understood.

The stronger one was, the easier it was to defy <Fate>. Theoretically, if I were a god, I wouldn’t be bound at all...

But clearly that wasn’t reality.

Similar to how I and other individuals could get stronger, <Fate> could also tighten its web and ensnare even gods.

All it needed to do was weave more threads and connections, using the world itself to control even the beings that stood at the pinnacle.

It was an endless struggle.

Thus, I spent much of my day roaming around, testing how badly <Fate> could mess with me.

In short, I almost died each time I had the intention to leave.

If [Absolute Awareness] wasn’t constantly active, I wouldn’t have made it to the outskirts of Grakkis unscathed.

In major transgressions, I would have been ground into meat paste or obliterated by a Dragon’s roar.

In more minor cases, I could have tripped and broken a few bones, forcing me to go to the hospital if I still wanted to keep my limbs.

Thus, it was clear that <Fate> wanted me here in the Soulless City, where the events in the Höwerwaslis District could easily reach me.

But I had a little leeway on how to go about that—as long as I could do so.

I could delay my arrival or arrive earlier than the events <Fate> had planned.

I could also pre-empt a few interactions with certain individuals to give myself an advantage for what was to come.

Finally, I could also kill the individuals involved... which required more strength than just overpowering said individuals. I had to battle against <Fate> itself.

"Still, it’s nice to have some sort of wiggle room."

The stifling feeling of being bound was odd. Perhaps it was because I wasn’t fated to die in the coming months; it wasn’t a problem.

I could still enjoy the benefits of being someone with a decent fate.

However, if one day I reached the point where <Fate> wanted me to die... What would I do?

’I’ll have to prepare for that.’

I had to grow stronger.

...Which led me back into my Mage Tower to continue researching my personal Martial Art.

Now, however, I was even more motivated to complete my Martial Art. <Fate> was most likely going to try to derail most of my plans.

This one, I could easily check—using Divination.

With [Absolute Awareness] travelling along the thread connected to me, I discovered two individuals that <Fate> wanted dead by my hand.

"...They’re both D-Rank Adventurers like me."

My plan to maintain my Level 1 state would be affected.

If I killed those two, I wouldn’t be able to wait until I collected all the Divine Branches needed to maximize my <Growth> stat.

So now, I had to ask myself what prices I could afford.

How can I avoid a detrimental scenario while still adhering to <Fate’s> overall picture?

Or, how much strength did I need to overpower a few of the details it intended—similar to how I avoided investigating the ruins beneath Building 103F-C4 using my Gift?

***

Clementine and Taylor saw their guest out with pleasant smiles and rosy complexions.

Lillie had the demeanor of a true High Snakespawn, embodying all of the ideals that Clementine desired.

However, Clementine still found something unsettling about the High Snakespawn.

’I wonder what that is...’

It was a subtle dissonance, after all. Like a fake smile or a preconceived notion.

However, she felt like Lillie’s entire existence was a little off. The mask seemed to span every inch of the High Snakespawn’s skin.

It was a little rude to mention it, but she was close to bringing it up a few times.

In the end, she successfully restrained her urge to ask.

"Hah, that damn Taylor really is imperceptive. Is it because he’s barely eighteen years old? He’s a damn baby."

How the hell did humanity survive with a life like that?

Though at eighteen, Clementine wasn’t that far off when it came to wisdom; at least her lifespan was more than ten times longer. There was a lot of time to continue learning.

When Taylor eventually grew old and died at around 80, Clementine would still be a young adult at around 370.

For a moment, Clementine questioned the meaning of a life that short. Eighty years was barely enough to achieve anything.

"...A human’s entire lifespan is about the same length of time I spent studying medicine." Muttering to herself, she turned around and saw an incredulous expression on Taylor’s face.

"You study medicine for that long?!"

The human mage staggered, once again reeling at the stark difference between their lifespans.

"I really am a baby in your eyes."

His shoulders drooped, and a heavy sigh left his lungs.

Clementine just shook her head. "So you heard what I said? That’s good. Now, get back to work! You still owe fifty years of hard labor!"

The treatment they performed to save Taylor from the sheer amount of curses he collected from reading cursed tomes had cost Clementine a pretty penny.

’To think I even accepted a quest like that.’

She could only chalk it up to a weird mix of luck: With a bit of money, she got a loyal lab assistant.

"Yes, ma’am!" Taylor saluted and ran upstairs, scrambling in both fear and excitement.

What was wrong with that kid’s brain?

Looking at the naïveté on blatant display in front of her, Clementine felt her lips twitch involuntarily. Her topaz eyes dulled over.

She covered her face in second-hand embarrassment.

"...Mother Serpent, help me."