Inage gazed at Kaoru with a mysterious, enigmatic smile. From beneath the kimono and hakama that Kaoru wore, she could assess the man's physique—strong, muscular, and brimming with power. With just one glance, Inage realized that Kaoru was the type of man with a magnetic charisma, one who could easily capture the hearts of several women at once.
Her teasing smile prompted Inage to slowly lick her lips, a subtle yet meaningful gesture. Kaoru felt a chill crawl up his spine, his hair standing on end as his heart raced under the intensity of Inage's gaze.
"You want me to read your fortune?" Kaoru asked, his voice slightly trembling, trying to mask his unease. There was something unusual about this atmosphere.
Kaoru could sense a hidden danger behind Inage's smile. "No, thank you—" he tried to decline, but before he could finish his sentence, Inage gently grasped his wrist. She pulled Kaoru closer, their faces just inches apart.
"No need to be shy~" Inage's voice was soft yet seductive, her eyes never leaving Kaoru's. The proximity made Kaoru tense up even more, but there was something in Inage's eyes that prevented him from pulling away.
Kaoru tried to withdraw his hand, but the soft yet firm touch of Inage's grasp made him hesitate. "Inage, I—" he attempted to speak, but once again, his words were cut off as the woman brought her face even closer.
"Let's see, Kaoru, what fate has in store for you," Inage whispered with a voice full of intrigue, as if each word held a hidden challenge.
A mix of curiosity and caution stirred within Kaoru. "Alright, read my fortune," he said, trying to steady himself and brace for whatever might come.
Inage looked at Kaoru's large palm, carefully tracing the lines inscribed there. "Hmm~... Your destiny is strong. Have you ever experienced the greatest moment of your life?" she asked in a serious tone.
Kaoru fell silent, his mind drifting back to the moment when he decided to leave his innocence behind. The war against the World Eater's minions had been a turning point in his life. During that time, he led 40,000 troops, consisting of six races, in the battle against corrupt creatures that threatened the world. It was there that he changed, becoming a stronger and more resolute person.
"Yes... I have," Kaoru replied with a sincere smile, recalling that moment as one of his greatest accomplishments.
Inage's smile faded briefly, replaced by a deeper sense of fascination. She swallowed, almost tempted by Kaoru's aura of strength. "Ahem! Let's continue… You possess something great, but you despise it." Inage's words seemed to penetrate directly into Kaoru's heart.
Her words struck home. Kaoru indeed had an outer god as his ally, but he hated the being. The entity that should have been wise and powerful often acted like a spoiled, childish brat.
"Yes, that's true," Kaoru responded, his expression now tinged with frustration.
Inage gave a faint smile before proceeding. "Romance... You're not particularly skilled in that area, are you? In fact, you've caused tragedy because of it."
Once again, Inage's words unearthed painful memories for Kaoru. He remembered Alissa, the simple girl from another world whom he had once loved. Kaoru had been drawn to her innocent charm, but his inability to handle romantic relationships had ended tragically. Alissa had been killed in a brutal manner by corrupt creatures because of Kaoru's mistake.
Kaoru's face tensed for a moment, the painful memory haunting him once more. "Yes... I failed to protect her," he whispered softly, his voice nearly drowned in the deep guilt he carried.
Inage looked at Kaoru with understanding, her smile no longer playful but empathetic. "Fate is often cruel, but it's your choices in the future that will determine the final outcome, Kaoru," she said gently, offering a bit of encouragement.
Kaoru could only gaze at Inage in silence, realizing how deeply this woman understood him—far more than he had anticipated.
Inage continued reading Kaoru's palm, but her true intentions went far beyond a simple fortune-telling session. With her expertise in ninja arts, specifically the art of the soul, Inage attempted to peer into the core of the young man before her. The gentle touch on Kaoru's palm was enough to make her focus, closing her eyes and diving into the depths of his consciousness.
Usually, with this art, Inage could see the color of a person's soul—a light that represented their true characteristics. These colors reflected a person's nature, whether they were angry, humble, or even evil. But this time, something strange happened. Instead of seeing colors, Inage felt herself being pulled into another world—a world that seemed to belong to Kaoru.
"Eh? What is this?!" she muttered in panic. She had never experienced anything like this before.
When Inage opened her eyes in this unfamiliar world, she found herself standing before a grand ancient tomb. The path leading to the tomb's hall was lined with statues of twelve knights, each standing in a respectful posture. The atmosphere here felt heavy, yet there was a majesty that couldn't be ignored.
"Why... a tomb?" Inage thought, confused. The sight before her was nothing like what she had ever seen when using the soul arts before. Normally, she would only see colors, not be drawn into a world like this.
Suddenly, the sound of heavy footsteps approached. Inage, with the instincts of a ninja, immediately assumed a defensive stance. She turned to see a knight, clad in full armor, walking toward her calmly.
The knight appeared regal, each step echoing among the statues of the other knights. But what surprised Inage was the soft voice that came from behind the knight's helmet.
"Miss, you shouldn't be here," the knight said in a warm and soothing voice.
Inage remained cautious, her eyes fixed intently. But she was perplexed. What exactly was this place? Why had she been brought here?
Before Inage could respond, everything suddenly changed. The soul world vanished in an instant, and she felt herself being pulled back to reality.
Inage's eyes shot open, her breath coming in gasps, and she found herself once again sitting in front of Kaoru. Their eyes met—Kaoru looked at her with confusion, unaware of what had just happened.
"Inage-san?" Kaoru called, his voice tinged with concern, his expression slightly tense.
Inage struggled to collect her thoughts, still shaken by what she had just experienced. There were no soul colors, no clues to his character. Only Kaoru's soul world, strange and full of mystery, and that knight... Who was he?
"So, what else did you see from my palm?" Kaoru asked, his tone calm again, as if the strange jolt that had just occurred was forgotten.
Inage, still trying to gather her thoughts, paused for a moment. The glimpse of Kaoru's soul world, the ancient tomb, and the mysterious knight still lingered in her mind. But of course, she couldn't reveal that outright—telling someone that she had peered into their soul was too invasive and improper.
"Ah—" Inage thought hard, searching for an answer that wouldn't raise suspicion. After a moment, she smiled and decided to give a more general reply.
"I saw…" she paused, choosing her words carefully. "…a knight."
Kaoru raised an eyebrow, slightly puzzled. "A knight?"
Inage nodded, trying to conceal her own surprise. "Yes, someone strong, brave, and full of responsibility. There's a powerful sense of honor and duty within you. Like the knights of legend, you're the type of person who will keep moving forward, even when things get tough."
Kaoru remained silent for a moment, contemplating Inage's words. His face took on a slightly more serious expression, as if something about her statement resonated with him.
"A knight, huh…" Kaoru murmured softly, a faint smile forming on his lips. Perhaps he was recalling something from his past, a memory that had never quite faded.
Inage added in a lighter tone, trying to shift the atmosphere, "And maybe you're also the kind of man with many admirers, right? Knights often become the center of attention, especially among women~."
Kaoru chuckled lightly, this time more relaxed. "That might be an exaggeration." He scratched his head awkwardly, but his expression seemed more at ease.
Inage smiled, relieved that Kaoru no longer suspected anything unusual. However, deep down, Inage knew that Kaoru's soul world held far more mysteries than she could understand at the moment.