Chapter 1937 First to Speak <TOC> Chapter 1939 Ticket Seller
Translator: SumTLMan
Since even La Pluie has spoken, those who had doubts about Totoro no longer voiced their concerns.
They decided to listen to what Totoro had to say, even if it might be unenlightening. If it proved fruitless, they would follow Ivan’s suggestion and banish Totoro from the Star Observing Day henceforth, a terrifying punishment for a prophecy wizard.
After all, it was of no personal consequence to them. At worst, they would treat it as a joke.
Everyone calmed down, seemingly waiting for Totoro to speak, but few truly believed Totoro could deliver a prophecy worth hearing.
Totoro, the focus of everyone’s attention, fell silent.
The crowd didn’t understand why Totoro had suddenly stopped speaking, but no one challenged him. Since they had given Totoro the chance, there was no need to retract it, not even Ivan, who was quite dissatisfied with Totoro, showed any impatience.
No one urged Totoro, but as time trickled away, the invisible pressure in the silent hall grew increasingly intense. Even those not at the center of this vortex felt the oppressive force.
Even outsiders felt a twinge of fear, but Totoro, at the eye of the storm, remained as calm as ever. Only the movement of his eyes hinted that he was pondering something.
When the invisible pressure reached its peak, Totoro, who had been silent for a long time, finally spoke.
“The theater, possessed by deceptive spirits, is about to drift from the river of illusion and dock. The first ticket booth will appear in the land of eternal night.”
After Totoro finished speaking, he fell silent again. Clearly, this was the fragment of prophecy he intended to share.
Perhaps because Totoro’s speech was preceded by several minutes of tense buildup, everyone was highly focused. So, even though Totoro’s voice was not loud, they heard every word clearly.
Many people actually did not understand the meaning expressed by Totoro, but his complete articulation of a sentence did surprise them somewhat.
They thought they would witness a repeat of the debacle from three hundred years ago involving Schickel. Back then, as an apprentice, Schickel had hastily spoken up, resulting in a disjointed statement. Using the most flamboyant rhetoric, he piled up a bunch of destiny-related terms beloved by charlatans, which might have deceived the average person, but not the prophecy wizards gathered for the Star Observing Day, who clearly understood Schickel’s attempt at obfuscation.
Many present were aware of Schickel’s anecdote from years past, so they viewed Totoro with the same preconceived skepticism, expecting him to employ extravagant language, perhaps even deceiving a few, to find a way out for himself.
However, Totoro did not do so. He spoke little, but what he conveyed was exceptionally clear, a stark contrast to Schickel’s earlier approach.
Yet, despite not using cryptic language, the specific implications of what Totoro said remained unclear to them.
A Theater Docking at the shore, a ticket booth appearing in the land of Eternal Night? What significance could this hold?
Or was it that Totoro was also speaking nonsensically, just opting for a strategy completely opposite to Schickel’s?
The audience was perplexed, unsure of what words to use to counter Totoro. In this eerie atmosphere, Ivan, who had been silent until then, finally took the initiative to speak.
“What are you trying to convey?” Ivan did not resort to the scorn he had shown earlier. Though he seemed to have his eyes closed, he was actually employing the Truth spell, so he was well aware that Totoro was not lying; indeed, what he spoke of was a future fragment he saw in the Mystery of Starlight.
Ivan wasn’t the type to be blinded by rage. Until he could ascertain whether this prophecy fragment held any significance, he naturally wouldn’t mock Totoro.
Ivan’s inquiry also mirrored the confusion of the majority present.
Totoro looked at Ivan with a slightly questioning gaze and calmly stated, “Literally as I said.” This means, is there truly a mysterious theater that drifts ashore? What kind of theater is it, and what subsequent effects might it produce?
While everyone was perplexed, Ivan didn’t continue to inquire, not that he didn’t want to ask, but because he noticed that Hastur, in the distance, seemed to be pondering something.
Hastur, also one of the eighteen Observers of the Crown Star Church, is known as the ‘Judge of the Old Days.’
Along with Azathoth, “Step After Past Life,” Hastur is one of the longest-living prophecy wizards in the Crown Star Church. The exact length of their lives is unknown, but their nicknames suggest that they come from the ‘Old Days.’
Precisely because Hastur and Azathoth have lived incredibly long lives, they have accumulated the most extensive knowledge.
Hastur wouldn’t fall into contemplation without reason; clearly, Totoro’s words had caught his attention.
Because of Hastur’s demeanor, Ivan refrained from further questioning. If what Totoro said was indeed a useful prophecy, it would only display his ignorance to chase after answers now. Better to wait and see.
Unlike Azathoth, Hastur, though as cold as a ‘Judge,’ has his principles. Once he knows something, he doesn’t keep it to himself.
Thus, Ivan wanted to hear what Hastur would say.
Sure enough, not long after Ivan stopped, the stern-faced Hastur took up his line of questioning: “What does this theater you speak of look like?”
Hastur’s sudden query turned the heads of the other prophecy wizards. They hadn’t noticed Hastur’s contemplation before, but they knew well that Hastur wouldn’t speak without cause. His question implied that the theater Totoro spoke of was no ordinary matter.
Although they were somewhat incredulous, the truth seemed to be racing in the direction they were reluctant to believe.
“I stand in the distant pitch-black time and space, only able to distantly glimpse a theater docking, its exact appearance unclear. However, this theater radiates a pink light.”
Totoro’s response made Hastur’s heart leap. Nevertheless, he concealed his reaction and continued, “And what about the ticket booth you mentioned?”
Recalling the prophecy fragment he had seen, Totoro described, “After the theater docked, the ticket booth appeared in the land of eternal night, a sole beacon in the endless darkness. Like the theater, it was enveloped in pink light.”
“But this pink light wasn’t emanating from the booth itself, but from a peach-heart sign standing next to it.”
“A peach-heart sign? Are you sure it was shaped like a heart?” Hastur interrupted Totoro’s reminiscence, pressing for confirmation.
Totoro nodded: “Yes.”
“Peach-heart sign, could it really be…” Hastur murmured to himself for a moment as if realizing something, then abruptly looked up at Totoro: “Then did you see the person inside the ticket booth?”
Chapter 1937 First to Speak <TOC> Chapter 1939 Ticket Seller