If Camellia was alive, then she would most likely be here in the Mana Metropolis.
"Ah... I see," King sighed and focused on what he was doing.
Meanwhile, I breathed in the mana-filled air, and energy coursed through me. I closed my eyes. Mana Vision was put on hold and Sight-Sent Senses stopped functioning.
The information overload that I had to deal with constantly temporarily stopped. I could relax and think.
I instantly fell into a meditative state. I sat as still as a statue. What King and Rose were thinking and how they were reacting was no longer my problem.
I allowed myself the pleasure of simple thought.
'Let's review the situation, Ambrosya,' I thought to myself.
King had messed with the future by saving Rose ten days ago. Rose was spared from a traumatic experience but ended up causing problems for her sister three days later.
The focus of the Sullied Seven had moved from chasing after her to dealing with the third princess. As such, Camellia is now missing. Possibly dead.
That, and vital information was no longer delivered to Mage Cheri. This meant that the small organisation related to Kyokto's royal family no longer had enough time to prepare their defences against the relentless advances of the Sullied Seven.
If I failed to deliver the information contained within the envelope, then Mage Cheri might die tomorrow night.
'What do I do?' I asked myself.
If I refused to help King and Rose now, I would be going back on my words and souring my relationship with them. It had also been my decision to give King information on the future, knowing full well that it was quite likely for him to meddle.
This was all my fault, even if I made it seem like otherwise.
My eyebrow twitched. This predicament was annoying me.
If only I had made a simpler situation in my book, I wouldn't have to be worrying about things now.
I needed Mage Cheri and the organisation behind her to stay alive for the sake of Aelthrie's well-being. I needed Camellia to survive until I released the World's System unto Emerallia.
These were two important factors that were on the verge of totally diverging from their original course, thus creating an immense threat to my plans. Specifically, Plan A, B, and C.
The least affected plan was Plan D—to live in seclusion. To grow slowly and only emerge after the intelligent races from the other continents beyond the Gaian Membrane have invaded.
Such a lifestyle meant that I would not have to deal with all this...
But it was also the slowest and least reliable one. If I pushed through with seclusion, then I would have to deal with a dangerous World's System while also lacking the raw power to slay the great intelligent races once I return.
I would then have to flee from the continent if I made one wrong step. At such a time, the Pillion continent would be inhospitable.
Thus, I would much rather risk it all now for the sake of the benefits later. Plan D would be for the worst-case scenario.
Thinking until here, I opened my eyes and looked into the distance.
Conversations held by people who were far beyond my grasp entered my senses. A variety of scents assaulted me, and I tasted things that were both suitable for the tongue and not. I could feel the fleshy warmth of living humans and the coldness of the pavement.
Mana hummed wherever I looked, filling me with a sense of comfort no matter what I looked at.
The night sky loomed above me as I pushed Sight-Sent Senses to the limits.
I was searching for something. For someone.
That girl, Camellia. She loved high places.
Could I spot her from where I was seated now? I wanted to give it a try.
In my eyes, the world appeared as layers and streams of blue churning all throughout like an ocean of energy. The figures of humans were very easy to spot even in the darkness. The mana that flowed in their bodies stood out like a candle.
I scanned the entire Mana Metropolis from my current vantage point.
But I didn't spot what I was hoping to find.
'As I thought, it's like searching for a needle in a haystack. A single sixteen-year-old among sixteen million people...'
I was being pretentious. I couldn't help but laugh at myself for even trying.
'It's impossible for me to simply find her just like that. I really hope she is indeed alive or all our searching would be futile.'
Camellia owned a certain enchanted item that could save her life. If the Sullied Seven did not perfectly guarantee her death and used their usual [ Delayed Poisoning ] tactic, then she had a chance.
Her trump card was called the Dice Staff. An item that used luck to win battles and cast magic.
It was like playing D&D in real life. Whether or not she could cast a certain spell with the staff would depend on her dice rolls. The spell's effectiveness also depended on the subsequent rolls. Et cetera, et cetera.
Everything was based on playing with dice.
If by some miracle, Camellia was able to cast the spell [ Antidote ], and then roll three twenties as 'effectiveness,' then she would have surely survived.
From there, she could have boarded the zeppelin after disguising herself using the other spells stored in the Dice Staff.
"King," I finally called out to the man who was busy sending out commands through his communicator.
"Yes?" He tilted his head and put aside his Mana Communicator.
"Any updates?"
"I've already sent my underlings to begin the plan to deal with the Sullied Seven. I've also designated a group to search for Third Princess Camellia." King pointed out into the city, "Will you be delivering the letter?"
"I will be."
Rose then asked from the side, "Do you need help?"
I gave the proposition some thought.
Perhaps having Rose with me would be a good idea... I was going to meet her aunt, after all.
"If you can provide it, I would gladly accept it," I answered.
"...May I come too?" King couldn't resist asking.
I shrugged.
"I won't deny the offer. Just keep my future-seeing abilities a secret, please. I don't want Mage Cheri to know."
Rose nodded knowingly when she heard what I said.
"It is indeed best that my aunt doesn't know."