โNow, onto the next topic.โ
โY-yes?โ
โLetโs eat.โ
Huh?
I was bracing myself, wondering what he was going to say next, and I stared at Sigurd, who was always so lazy.
โIโm really hungry.โ
โW-whatโs with this guy?โ
And just like that, we were swept along into having a meal with Sigurd. Since going out to eat was too much trouble, he had food brought to the office.
โI havenโt had breakfast yet.โ
Seriously? Thatโs kind of an adorable way to put it.
Soon after, the food was brought in. It came unusually fast. And it wasnโt just any mealโit was a full-course spread, with meat, vegetables, and even rare fish dishes that are hard to come by inland. There were exactly four servings of drinks, too.
โOh wow, this looks delicious.โ
โHold on, Mitera.โ
Sure, it smells amazing, but there are other things to comment on, arenโt there?
Like, is it really okay to eat this much first thing in the morning? And why is he treating us like royalty when weโre just regular folk, except for Griffo?
But what really bugs me isโ
โItโs strange, isnโt it? The timing of this lavish meal is perfect. Almost as if they knew in advance we were coming.โ
Griffo smirked.
I looked at Sigurd. The guildmaster of this massive city, as usual, bit into his juicy steak with a nonchalant expression.
And so, the meeting started over a meal that felt completely mismatched for the occasion.
โI owe you an apology, Isto.โ
โHuh? Why is that? From what I understand, I should be the one thanking you.โ
โNo, itโs not like that. You fell into a tough situation because of a decision made by our Guild Union.โ
I widened my eyes. Thatโs true. If there hadnโt been a level cap, I might not have been banished from [Barba].
โThe reason we implemented the level cap recentlyโฆ If I explain, itโll lead to a discussion about my skill. Let me start with that.โ
Sigurd bit into a grilled fish, cracking through it with a sleepy expression.
โMy skill is called [Dream Sight]. As the name suggests, it allows me to predict the future through dreams.โ
โF-future predictions!?โ
Mitera and I exclaimed in unison.
โIsnโt that a Gifted Skill!?โ
โNope, itโs not. If it were, itโd probably be way more convenient and easy to use. Iโve already confirmed that even in โFateโs Drop,โ itโs simply labeled as a โSkill.'โ
But still, predicting the future?
Wait a second, does that mean this perfectly-timed feast was also a product of [Dream Sight]?
Sigurd continued to explain his astonishing skill. The accuracy of the future shown in [Dream Sight] is nearly 100%.
To my surprise, even the monster subjugation operation that Griffo participated in was sparked by [Dream Sight].
โIโve been having a lot of monster-related dreams lately. I couldnโt say for sure if it was the Wigarlus, but I saw a dream where monsters attacked a city. If a horde of monsters were to descend on this large city, the adventurers might not be enough to handle it.โ
ThereforeโSigurd continuedโ
โIf the guild staff who know this city well and can cooperate with adventurers are also prepared to fight monsters, we can protect the city more effectively.โ
โThis is the first Iโm hearing of this. Is it to avoid causing chaos?โ
Mitera asked, and the guildmaster folded his arms.
โThatโs part of it. The main issue is โcertainty.โ If I got it wrong, it would cause a huge uproar. So, officially, we framed it as โIn todayโs world, guild employees should be prepared for anything.'โ
Wait a minute.
Didnโt you just say the accuracy of [Dream Sight] was nearly perfect?
โ[Dream Sight] isnโt classified as a Gifted Skill likely because it has so many flaws. First, I canโt choose when it activates. So not every dream I have is a premonition.โ
โThat soundsโฆ problematic.โ
โWell, the more significant the event, the more vivid and recurring the dreams are, so I usually get a sense of it based on experience. For exampleโฆโ
Suddenlyโ
Sigurdโs sleepy eyes lit up with curiosity, and he looked straight at me.
Huh? Whatโs going on?
โI had a dream about a young man who looked just like you, Isto. He was surrounded by a bunch of cute, powerful girls, a very enviable sight.โ
โWhat?โ
โIsto?โ
Miteraโs expression shifted into a grin instantly. Please donโt glare at me like that! I have no idea whatโs going on!
โA harem at your age, huh? Impressive.โ
โNo, Iโm being framed here!โ
โItโs not a crime, so donโt worry. And if the image in [Dream Sight] was that clear, itโs almost certainly going to happen. And seeing you now just confirms it for me. Isto, youโre going to lead a group of strong women in the near future.โ
Wait a second. I just took my first step toward running an orphanage! Whatโs with this talk about some legendary hero?
โOh, thatโs why Filoรฉ is so attached to you.โ
Mitera seemed oddly convinced. Are those heat waves rising from her back? Scary. Iโm not saying any of this!
โAnyway, back to the point.โ
โDonโt just brush it off, guildmaster.โ
Please, at least explain this to Mitera. Give me a break.
โThis skill has other flaws. Actually, it has one fatal flaw.โ
โPlease donโt brush it offโฆโ
Sigurd clenched his fist firmly in front of my dejected face.
โAnd that flaw isโฆ โsleepinessโ!โ
โHuh? How is that relevant now?โ
โExactly. This skill makes waking up terrible. The visions arenโt always peaceful, and it seems to drain my life force during sleep. The more serious the dream, the worse the quality of my sleep.โ
โI see. Thatโs why you always look sleep-deprived.โ
โExactly. This skill is the reason Iโm in my current position, butโฆโ
At some point, Sigurd had finished his meal. Maybe he burns through energy even while sleeping. Itโs a complicated skill.
โNow, what I want you two to do is investigate the source of these nightmares. I believe theyโre connected to the recent unusual appearances of rare monsters and the disappearances of adventurers. Isto, I hear you have a fine carriage. I want you to travel around and gather information. This is my non-negotiable condition for supporting you.โ
โWell, I suppose it is tied to the safety of the region, butโโ
โNo, thatโs not it.โ
Huh?
Sigurdโs expression turned unusually serious.
โThe reason I want to stop these nightmaresโฆ is sleep!โ
โHuh?โ
โ[Dream Sight] is brutal! Absolutely brutal! The constant exhaustion, the fear of falling asleep during meals or important negotiations! The cruel injustice of dozing off without warning when I should be savoring bliss! Do you understand?โ
โThat soundsโฆ really difficult.โ
โThe only ray of hope is that my actions while awake can change the dreams! Which means thereโs a chance that if I try hard enough, I wonโt have nightmares anymore!โ
โSo, in other wordsโฆ?โ
โAs soon as possible! Help me love my bed again!โ
Huh?
So, this request isnโt just about protecting the cityโs peace, but also for Sigurdโsโ
โIโm counting on you! For the sake of my peaceful sleep!โ
He really said it.