EP.74
Serika von Valentine’s world was always monochrome.
For her, this world was nothing but a drab and boring existence filled with mundane trivialities.
Some might say that humans are creatures of experience, that they grow through learning.
The idea that accepting what they have not yet known and not yet experienced, striving to become better than yesterday, is certainly the value of life.
However, viewed in that light, Serika von Valentine’s life was undoubtedly devoid of any value.
This was because she could no longer experience anything new, to learn, and thus to develop.
Serika von Valentine knew everything about the past, present, and future.
Of course, knowing everything does not mean possessing omniscience. To know and foresee everything that happens across space and time is, without a divine perspective, an impossible feat.
What she knew was, after all, limited to her future and the future she resolved to see with a clear awareness of her targets.
But even that was enough for Serika von Valentine to lose all motivation regarding the affairs of the world.
Before she undertook any action, she already knew all the outcomes.
Before attempting to accomplish something, she knew fully well what results her efforts would yield.
To put it metaphorically, it was as if she were flipping through the first page of a book after having already heard all the content, plot twists, and conclusions from someone else.
Naturally, it was inevitable that she felt no interest or excitement regarding the content of the book.
At times, she felt like a puppet locked inside a glass box.
In this very moment, she believed she was acting with her free will, but she could not be certain if her actions truly originated from her own volition.
All that lingered in her thoughts was the pitiful notion that she was merely a wretched being, swept along by fate, bound to the predictions of her foresight.
…No, she was already well aware of the fact that she was one of the supporting characters on this pathetic theatrical stage.
Though she boasted a grand ability of foresight and bore a remarkable mission to guide this world in the right direction, she also knew too well that aside from those, nothing remained for her.
If her role in this glass-box-like world was that of a shepherd guiding others, then perhaps she should simply accept it.
Even if everything held no meaning, even if everything was nothing more than a fleeting falsehood, it did not mean that such a role lacked any value.
Thus, Serika grew up in the House of Count Valentine, enrolled in Nineveh, and eventually joined the Student Council, taking on the role of Vice President under Erekaya.
A life perfectly fitting together like the gears of a clock, as if illustrated in a picture.
…And at the same time, a life utterly devoid of any will of her own, as drab and meaningless as that of a doll.
However, one day, a small blemish and stain appeared in her perfect life.
An irregularity that had never appeared in any of the countless futures she had seen, and an unknown entity that did not exist in her foresight.
– The rumored problem child.
The man’s name was, no less, Jin.
At first, she was taken aback. No, she couldn’t help but be surprised.
Serika von Valentine did not know a man named “Jin.” This was because in the futures she had foreseen, the man did not appear in her visions.
Metaphorically speaking, it was akin to a new character unexpectedly emerging mid-play or an unfamiliar storyline unfolding while she was reading a book.
However, soon enough, the foresight regarding Erekaya and Jin flitted through her mind, allowing her to ease her worries.
It was an utterly bewildering vision: several women she did not recognize, along with the Student Council President, Erekaya, standing beside Jin.
Well, in one sense, this added another reason for her to be wary of this man named Jin, but simultaneously, Serika felt a strange sense of relief.
Though he was a character she had not seen in her foresight until now, having glimpsed this related foresight meant that ultimately, Jin was another character bound to the future that Serika would walk.
She wondered why such a man had never shown up in her visions before, but being human, she understood that complete foresight did not exist, allowing her to shelve that question to a corner of her mind.
Aside from the fact that he was a character not previously included in her predictions, and disregarding the fact that he was a rogue with women trailing after him, it was a bit hard to view Jin as a truly bad person…
Perhaps it was due to that very notion that she had given him some trivial advice, whatever it may have been, about entering the Student Council with a specific purpose.
And today, Serika, as the daughter of the House of Count Valentine and the Vice President of Nineveh, had to take a closer look at one particular matter that she could not overlook.
“That foolish junior.”
She was already well aware that her junior had a chaotic personal life and a highly complicated relationship with women.
There was no need to use her foresight for that. Remarkably, fascinating women always trailed closely behind her junior.
Not just any women, but remarkable beauties deserving the epithet of “a rare beauty.”
However, there had to be a limit to the number of women one could flirt with. What on earth had he done to prompt Altina’s father to come all the way to Nineveh and draw his sword against him?
In truth, she knew that even if he got stabbed by someone else, he would never die before the future where Jin was alongside Erekaya arrived, but still, they shared bonds as members of the same Student Council.
Crucially, with visions of Jin and Altina’s father engaging in a sword fight and making a mess of the training ground where they stood, she had no choice but to intervene rather than remain passive…
“…Jin.”
According to her foresight, when Serika arrived at the training ground dedicated to Class A, she saw Jin facing off against Count Theodore von Rudel Seryas, while Altina von Rudel Seryas was anxiously clasping her hands together.
“Oh my.”
Seeing Altina in such a state truly left Serika astonished.
What on earth made her like that man? Given her looks, she could choose any man in the world, so why him of all people, surrounded by so many women?
“…Vice President?”
And perhaps sensing her presence, Altina turned to Serika with a puzzled expression.
“Why are you here…?”
“I’m sorry, but this is something I couldn’t just overlook.”
Serika indifferently addressed Altina, who was staring at her.
“If the Count were to swing his sword at our foolish junior, there’s no way this training ground would remain intact.”
If their junior had been just an average student rolling around Nineveh, it might not have been an issue. With such a disparity in skill, the damage done might have been minimal.
But Serika knew better. That foolish junior possessed considerable strength, contrary to appearances.
He had just enough feigned skill to flail around ineffectively, and she could vividly foresee the future where an irate Count Seryas, driven mad by his daughter, failed to control his power and turned the surroundings into chaos.
“Speaking of which… you’re someone who can see the future, aren’t you, Vice President?”
Seeing Serika like this, Altina seemed to come to a realization and soon spoke to her in a somewhat anxious tone.
“Is there… perhaps a chance that Jin could win?”
What an ungrateful daughter. Was she truly hoping her boyfriend would win against her father?
Then again, if Serika were in Altina’s shoes, she would be more worried about Jin. Given the disparity in levels, it was only natural to be more concerned for her boyfriend’s plight than her father’s.
“…Well, I’m not sure. I didn’t foresee that far.”
Though those words came out, Serika did know how this duel would ultimately conclude.
The duel between Count Seryas and Jin would, naturally, result in Jin’s defeat.
Jin would be beaten to the brink of death by the Count, and Altina would glare at him resentfully, watching her boyfriend’s predicament. That was the likely conclusion to this incident.
However, there was no need to verbalize it and spoil the duel. Moreover, there was no necessity to spread the ennui she felt about the future onto others…
And thus, the duel between Jin and Count Seryas commenced.
And the result—
“It’s my defeat, and your victory. I acknowledge that.”
Count Seryas, indeed, fell to Jin’s hand.
“…Jin.”
Whether she was truly cheering for her boyfriend and not her father, Altina seemed somewhat moved, repeating his name. Perhaps this was how the notion that having daughters was ultimately useless came about.
“…No way.”
Serika, too, was breathless in a different sense, staring at the scene before her.
This is absurd. What on earth did I just witness? Could it be that what I saw truly happened in reality?
Jin had defeated Count Seryas in their duel.
Against a future that had seemed predetermined as a defeat, he had carved victory solely with his own strength.
What this signified was—
The immutable future Serika had foreseen had been overturned.
And perhaps for her junior, Jin—
There might exist the power to change the future.
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