Episode 3
Aunt Cecil eventually let me into her house.
And that wasn’t all. She even allowed me to sleep on the rug in front of the fireplace and gave me some stew.
Compared to how things had played out at this exact moment in the previous timeline, this was unimaginable luxury.
With a smile plastered on her lips, Aunt Cecil spoke in a sing-song voice.
“A merchant caravan that regularly visits the village will arrive in a few days. Let’s leave for a big town with them.”
“Alright.”
Outside the village, monsters lurked everywhere. That’s why hiring mercenaries was necessary.
For those who couldn’t afford to pay for protection, the safest way to travel was to follow a merchant caravan.
In the previous timeline, I had barely managed to escape the village thanks to Uncle Aiden’s help.
It was a shame that I wouldn’t be able to recreate our first meeting here.
But Uncle Aiden wouldn’t save me for at least another six months.
If I wanted to leave this place quickly, I had no choice but to find another way.
Half-listening to her words, I took a sip of the stew—more like watery gruel with barely any solid ingredients.
She probably didn’t want to waste proper food on me, so she had given me this instead.
But for someone like me, whose digestive system was weakened from prolonged starvation, this was actually ideal.
Of course, the fact that it tasted awful was a separate issue.
‘A food inspector… no, even the Supreme Prosecutor’s Office wouldn’t be enough to deal with this.’
Just a few hours ago, I had eaten a gourmet breakfast prepared by a top-tier chef.
It almost felt like a lie.
This was exactly why I had been so reluctant to return to this timeline.
Even as I let out a small sigh, I still made sure to empty the bowl completely.
Because I had to survive.
***
Just as Aunt Cecil had said, a fairly large merchant caravan arrived in the village within a few days.
Having just passed through monster-infested forests, the merchants all looked relieved.
In the midst of the commotion, I approached a man who seemed to be the leader and pointed at the mountain of cargo.
“Mister, where are you taking all this stuff?”
He was tying his shoelaces but glanced at me briefly before answering indifferently.
“We’re heading to the capital to sell goods we bought from other regions.”
“The capital… You mean Catalea?”
“That’s right.”
Fortunately, our destinations were the same, so I wouldn’t have to take a detour.
Well, since this village was on the way to a major city, there was a high chance that Catalea was their final stop anyway.
Having decided to follow this caravan, I finished my calculations and turned to the man once again.
“Excuse me, but are you the leader of this caravan?”
His gaze lingered on me for a moment, as if he found my question unexpected.
“You figured that out despite how poorly I’m dressed? Even most adults don’t notice.”
“Then, Caravan Leader, would you like to make a deal with me?”
The caravan leader chuckled in amusement and ruffled my hair.
“Sorry, kid, but merchants don’t do things unless there’s money to be made.”
“Don’t worry. I don’t like one-sided deals where only one side benefits either. That’s not a trade—it’s just extortion.”
“What? Pfft, hahahaha!”
He stood up, looking down at me with interest.
It seemed like he had just found a fun new topic to discuss over drinks with his colleagues.
“A fair trade, huh? Now I’m curious. What could a little kid like you possibly offer me?”
“A piece of information so valuable, it’s downright addictive.”
“Oh my, addictive, you say?”
At my words, he burst into laughter again, even tearing up a little. Then, with a glint of approval in his eyes, he replied,
“I like your boldness. Alright, let’s hear what kind of trade you have in mind.”
“You don’t need to do much.”
Wearing the same bold expression he had just praised, I raised a finger and began listing my terms.
“First, let me ride in one of your wagons on the way to the capital. Second, once we arrive, help me get a certain woman thrown into prison.”
“…What?”
Hearing such words from a child, the caravan leader’s expression hardened instantly.
Only then did his gaze shift to my frail body.
Sensing his scrutiny, I calmly pulled up my sleeve to reveal the bruises and scars covering my skin.
“See this? This is how an orphan like me is treated here.”
“……”
The caravan leader shut his eyes tightly and rubbed his face as if troubled.
“Kid, I understand your situation, but you can’t just throw people into prison that easily.”
“I know.”
This wasn’t Earth, where child rights were a priority.
I never expected anyone to take action just because a street kid without a guardian spoke up.
“A few days ago, I overheard a conversation about selling me in the capital. Since I’ve awakened an ability, you see.”
“……”
“Apparently, I’ll fetch a high price. Isn’t that right?”
Making someone a criminal was easy. Proving their innocence was the hard part.
If there was no evidence of Aunt Cecil’s crimes, I would simply create it.
Since the empire treated human trafficking as a serious crime, even with insufficient proof, she wouldn’t be able to escape easily.
The caravan leader remained silent for a long time before finally letting out a deep sigh.
“Let’s say we do throw the person who tried to sell you into prison. What will you do after that, without a guardian?”
“There are plenty of orphanages that accept Abiliters.”
“Ah.”
Hearing such a straightforward answer, the caravan leader blinked in surprise and sighed shortly.
It seemed he hadn’t expected such a rational response after all the absurd things he’d just heard.
Then, as if making a decision, he placed a large hand on top of my head.
“Alright. I’ll take responsibility and bring you to the capital.”
“Without even hearing the information I prepared?”
“This isn’t a trade. I have no intention of taking anything from a child. Whatever information you’ve prepared, just keep it to yourself.”
I rolled my eyes.
Oh no, you don’t. You have to take your payment.
“…Hmm. You know what? Just this once, I’ll make an exception. Normally, I don’t pay in advance, but this time, I’ll give you something first.”
Feigning generosity, I clasped my hands behind my back and cleared my throat.
“However, I have two pieces of information. I’ll only tell you one now. You’ll get the other after you fulfill my request.”
“Hah, I feel like I’m dealing with a veteran con artist. Kid, are you sure you’re really a child?”
That was a question I had fully anticipated.
I never intended to act like a typical child in the first place.
Of course, if playing the child card was advantageous, I’d use it without hesitation.
Locking eyes with him, I answered nonchalantly.
“I have foresight. Seeing the future is like living in both the present and the future at the same time.”
“What?”
“Since I’ve lived through multiple timelines, I’ve naturally matured faster than others.”
“I see… That explains it. No wonder you sound so grown-up—”
“Pfft, I was joking.”
“…What?!”
When I stuck out my tongue playfully, he stared at me in a daze.
“W-What kind of kid even talks like this?”
“An old soul, I suppose… Let’s just say I had to grow up quickly since I had no one to rely on.”
At that, the man pressed his lips together as if he couldn’t find the right words to respond.
I grinned nonchalantly and whispered softly.
“There will be a great famine next year. You should buy as much grain as possible this year.”
Hearing my words, the man’s face twisted into a frown.
“How can you be so sure about that…?”
“Didn’t I just tell you? My ability is foresight.”
He rubbed his temples, looking like he was getting a headache.
“Right… So, you can even see the distant future, huh?”
“That’s right.”
“Of course, that’s assuming you really do have the ability of ‘foresight.’”
“Would this be enough proof…?”
I pulled out a crumpled piece of paper from my pocket and held it out to him.
It contained the entire conversation we had just had, written down in advance.
Yes, technically, this wasn’t my first time talking to the caravan leader.
It only seemed that way because I had turned back time.
• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Esraa• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •
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