The Witch’s Prophecy

Soronna and Dove were captivated by the mysterious woman in witch attire who had suddenly appeared before them.

They both watched Domu with eager anticipation, awaiting her decision.

Domu understood Soronna’s excitement; it was natural for girls to be fascinated by fortune-telling and glimpses into their future.

However, Dove was still just a child. Why was she so intrigued by a divination?

Domu, puzzled, gazed at Dove.

After a moment, she noticed Dove’s eyes were fixed on something behind the mysterious woman, seemingly tracking an object moving up and down.

Following Dove’s line of sight, Domu’s gaze shifted as well.

After extending her invitation, the mysterious woman remained silent, as if patiently awaiting their choice.

Yet, from behind the folds of her robe, a lollipop subtly emerged, swaying gently up and down.

From Domu and Soronna’s vantage point, this clever angle was easily overlooked.

However, to Dove, it was as conspicuous as a jar of honey before a bear cub.

As if sensing Domu’s gaze, the mysterious witch showed no hint of awkwardness.

Her lips curved into a slight, alluring smile as she openly presented the hidden lollipop to Dove.

Then, she fell silent once more.

Dove did not reach for the lollipop placed before her.

Instead, she turned her head to look at Domu, her beautiful, large eyes filled with a puppy-like plea.

“Dove, you’ve already had a lot of sweets today… Alright… this is the last one, and no more eating tonight, understand? Besides, I can hardly refuse the kindness of a beautiful lady.”

Domu, her resolve swayed by Dove’s pleading eyes, spoke with a slight contradiction in her tone.

Having accepted the woman’s generosity, Domu found it difficult to decline her invitation for a divination.

Seeing Soronna and Dove so happy, Domu felt her own spirits lift considerably.

Indeed, witnessing the joy of those around you could make one feel even happier.

In truth, Domu harbored a certain curiosity about fortune-telling and the future, especially given the uncertainty of ever returning to her own world.

‘If a true divination of the future were possible, what kind of destiny awaited me, a stranger thrust into this world?’ Domu wondered with a touch of anticipation.

The trio followed the mysterious witch into the small, enigmatic tent behind her, which seemed to hum with magical energy.

Inside the tent, Soronna was astonished to find the space far larger than its exterior suggested.

It was as if a room that appeared to be only ten square meters revealed nearly a hundred square meters upon entry.

‘This is like… spatial magic,’ she mused. ‘The tent’s entrance acts as a medium, transforming the internal space. Could this mysterious witch actually wield spatial magic? Since when did spatial magic become so common?’

Soronna discreetly whispered her observations to Domu.

“This lovely lady has guessed correctly,” the mysterious witch stated, her voice still imbued with an air of enigma, as if she had overheard Soronna and Domu’s hushed conversation.

“This is indeed spatial magic. This room, etched with numerous magical arrays, is one I carry with me, greatly amplifying my divination and precognitive abilities.”

“Ah! Could it be that you are truly a worshipper of the Dilia Goddess?” Soronna exclaimed, her eyes widening with excitement rather than surprise at the witch’s words.

“Indeed,” the mysterious witch replied calmly.

“Wait, wait a moment, Soronna, I… I don’t quite understand,” Domu interjected, perplexed by Soronna’s sudden agitation.

‘Who is the Dilia Goddess?’ she wondered.

Although she had been in this world for over half a month, Domu hadn’t yet had the chance to learn about its history or deities.

Filled with a thirst for knowledge, Domu quietly questioned Soronna.

“Domu! The Dilia Goddess is an incredibly mysterious deity,” Soronna explained, her voice hushed with suppressed excitement.

“Her unique ability is to foresee the future—the true future! However, the Dilia Goddess vanished from the continent approximately two hundred years ago, and even her worshippers have become exceedingly rare. Yet, any true follower of the Dilia Goddess possesses powerful precognitive abilities!”

“Oh…” Domu responded, still not entirely grasping Soronna’s intense excitement.

She understood that followers of the Dilia Goddess were exceptionally rare.

Still, Domu couldn’t quite connect this fact to their current situation.

“Domu! Aren’t you excited?” Soronna exclaimed, grasping Domu’s arm and whispering excitedly into her ear.

“We’ve actually encountered a witch with true precognitive abilities!”

“Ah… huh? Didn’t we come in here specifically for a divination of the future?” Domu questioned, still somewhat disoriented.

‘We entered to have our fortunes told, so why is Soronna so thrilled about meeting a witch who can foresee the future?’

“Mama, I think what Sister Soronna means is that because the Dilia Goddess disappeared, there are many people on the continent now who pretend to be her followers to tell fortunes,” Dove said softly, gently squeezing Domu’s hand as she spoke.

“Sister Soronna probably didn’t truly believe we would encounter a witch with genuine divinatory powers at first.”

“Ah, I see! Now I understand!” Domu exclaimed, finally comprehending the situation after Dove’s explanation.

‘So, it turns out true future divination is actually possible!’

‘Wait, can the future really be foretold?’ Domu pondered.

Both in games and in her reality, the concept of predicting the future simply didn’t exist for her.

Consequently, she had always approached divination with an unconscious sense of amusement.

‘Could the ability to foresee the future truly exist in this other world? How exciting! How incredibly exciting!’ A surge of anticipation welled within Domu’s heart.

Observing Domu’s sudden shift in demeanor, Soronna found herself smiling inwardly.

She hadn’t realized Domu was so naive.

Turning her head, Soronna’s eyes shimmered as they rested on Domu’s eagerly shifting gaze beneath her robe.

‘Every divination follows the querent’s deepest desires, revealing a future that is destined to occur,’ Soronna mused, secretly making a decision. ‘The future I wish to see is one shared between Domu and me.’

“My powers are limited; I can only perform three divinations each day,” the mysterious witch stated softly, seated calmly in her chair.

“Moreover, as the divination begins, each of you must concentrate on a specific matter in your mind. The divination will then reveal the future pertaining to that event. So, my three beautiful ladies, who wishes to go first?”

“Soronna, have you decided what you want to divine?” Domu asked, still hesitant, unsure what to ask for.

The prospect of potentially seeing the future filled her with both anticipation and a touch of fear.

“Hmm, Domu, you’re still undecided, aren’t you? Then… I’ll go first.”

Hearing Domu’s question, Soronna, who had been lost in thought, felt an unnatural blush creep onto her cheeks.

She then slowly walked to the witch and settled into the chair opposite her.

“Now, please concentrate fully on the matter you wish to divine,” the witch instructed.

“Place your hands in my palms and slowly close your eyes.”

Guided by the witch’s slow, gentle voice, Soronna gradually closed her eyes.

As the witch uttered words of unknown meaning, Domu detected no magical fluctuations.

She only noticed that Soronna, who had initially worn a serene smile, momentarily turned pale.

The very next instant, however, Soronna’s face was again alight with a blissful, tranquil smile, making the previous sight seem like Domu’s own illusion.

“Thank you, madam. It was a beautiful future,” Soronna said, slowly opening her eyes.

She then wiped away a tear that had welled at the corner of her eye, smiling as she thanked the mysterious witch before her.

“Beautiful maiden, I merely presented a future that is destined to unfold in your mind,” the witch replied, her voice still shrouded in mystery.

“Even without my divination, it is a future that will assuredly manifest in your life. Therefore, there is no need to thank me.”

“No… she is very important to me,” Soronna murmured, her gaze fixed on Domu, a complex expression flickering in her eyes.

“So, who wishes to have their fortune told next?” the witch asked, turning her head towards Domu and Dove.

“Mama, Dove doesn’t want to divine any future, so you should go,” Dove whispered softly, gently tugging Domu’s hand while still enjoying her lollipop.

“Why? Don’t you want to know your future, Dove?” Domu asked gently, looking down into Dove’s eyes after hearing her words.

“Because Mama said that Dove is Mama’s future,” Dove replied softly, putting down her lollipop and looking into Domu’s eyes.

She then offered a heartwarming smile.

Domu froze for a moment at Dove’s words.

Then, she suddenly pulled Dove into a tight embrace.

“Dove just wants to be with Mama, always and forever,” Dove’s voice was muffled against Domu, yet her heartfelt sentiment was conveyed perfectly.

“For Dove, just being with Mama forever is enough.”

“Mmm…” Domu uttered nothing else, simply holding Dove tightly in her arms.

A moment later, Domu stood up, gently stroked Dove’s hair, and then settled into the chair before the witch.

“It seems you are ready,” the witch said, her purple lips parting slightly.

For the first time, her voice lost some of its mystery, revealing a hint of amusement.

“Please begin,” Domu requested, placing her hands in the witch’s palms.

Slowly, she closed her eyes.

As the witch’s incantations echoed in her ears, Domu focused her mind on a simple phrase: ‘My future.’

The very next instant, Domu, still replaying ‘My future’ in her mind, felt the ground beneath her shatter.

She plummeted downward endlessly.

Opening her eyes in a panic, Domu found she was no longer falling.

Instead, her feet were firmly planted within a dark, ancient hall.

The decorations within the hall struck Domu as strangely familiar.

Before she could fully survey her surroundings, an extraordinarily cold yet undeniably familiar voice, one Domu could never have anticipated, resonated from directly above.

“All of you, please die with grateful hearts…”