I Became a Fortune Teller in the Game My Little Sister Made – Chapter 93

The night I fought Hector.

It’s already been over a month since I fled before dawn after winning.

The Crown Princess has returned to the Daehan Empire, and I set off on a journey with Liu. There seemed to be some conversation between the Crown Princess and Liu… but honestly, I don’t really know about that.

As a result, I was finally enjoying a summer vacation that felt like an actual vacation.

“Here, the newspaper.”

“Thank you, Liu.”

Emerald-colored sea and soft sandy beach.

I placed the sunbed and comfortably laid down after setting up an umbrella to shield myself from the blazing sun.

Sunglasses perched on my forehead, beside me, there were drinks with ice and snacks aplenty.

With no one around, it was peaceful, filled only with the sounds of the waves.

I received the newspaper from Liu and opened it.

“…<Hector Arthur, firmly addressing various rumors>.”

“They say they’re even considering legal action; aren’t you worried?”

“Why would a good person like me be worried?”

“…Sometimes you really scare me. How can you be so shameless?”

Laughing as if I was ridiculous, Liu, who lay down on the sunbed next to me, sipped her drink.

As she turned to look at me, seemingly wanting to read the newspaper too, I propped it open to the side.

“Let’s see… <Warlock Lucas Arthur officially inherits the status of the family head!> Does this mean that meddlesome fellow can’t come to the Academy?”

“That shouldn’t be the case. Since Hector is not dead, there’s no reason to avoid graduating from the Romance Academy, the most solid proof of ability.”

“Tsk, I thought we’d have one less competitor.”

I flipped the page, leaving Liu pouting as a bold photo of Rain in front of the reporters was plastered on the next page.

The article headline was… <Rain Arthur has no issues regarding her relationship with Hector Arthur… this incident is regrettable>?

‘Now she’s stepping up for real.’

After the duel, Rain has become a bit, no, quite a lot more proactive.

She had never been one to shy away from public appearances, but it seems she’s putting a lot more thought into it now.

She’s so busy that we barely keep in touch, only receiving a letter occasionally, speaking of how she’s already building her own power…

How did that happen? Did Hector help her or something?

Anyway, Rain is acting independently in many ways, breaking away from being just a tool for the family and marriage.

Having secured a position within the Arthur family’s power structure, it looks like she held a press conference to express that there are no issues with Hector.

“With Hector losing his left arm, I guess I should say something…”

“Hmm? What do you mean?”

“Since Hector lost his left arm during the duel.”

To be honest, I was genuinely shocked to hear about it later. Hector broke his arm trying to shatter a glass pitcher while chained. To think it was severe enough to require amputation.

Considering what a left arm means for an <Archer>, it’s even more concerning.

The Arthur family’s dedicated <Blacksmith> is crafting a prosthetic, but his archery life is essentially over.

I was a bit worried he might come for revenge against me…

“Don’t worry about that. You’ve already heard all the stories from the minions, right?”

“…That’s true.”

Both officially and through the informal routes Liu has set up, we know Hector has declared there will be no revenge, so I have to trust it.

He has always enjoyed duels, so maybe he can laugh it off regarding his left arm?

…But then I remembered that Hector actually tried to kill me, and I just accepted it.

After all, giving up a left arm instead of killing me is a good deal.

What if, by some chance, I get ambushed? I have the artifact I can rely on from Liu to protect me… probably!

Regardless, it’s a later concern, so I turned the newspaper again.

Oh, what’s this…?

“Liu, have you seen this?”

“Hmm?”

“It’s an article about <Romance Academy, great upheaval!? >.”

“Oh, that one?”

This summer vacation… was significant for me, but there was also quite a substantial upheaval within the Romance Academy.

The esteemed Instructor Yamato Daisuke raised direct concerns about the grading criteria for the Great Lake exam at the Academy.

Being an old instructor, it caused quite a stir, and while there was noise for a while, it seems to have settled down now.

“Wow, Instructor Yamato is really going all out!”

“…Don’t you see the interview about ‘some fortuneteller’s words enlightening me’?”

“I don’t see that.”

“Geez, alright.”

This time, I genuinely did nothing, so there’s no need to feel guilty.

Where else would you find a student as good-hearted and genuinely concerned about the Academy as me?

Just like how a lion drops its cub off a cliff, I’m only stirring things up because I care about the Academy!

In the end, it’s thanks to me that things have changed, so isn’t it a win-win?

“The semester starts in a few days, huh?”

“Such a short vacation… though it seems like there was a ton of work.”

“Well, that’s true? We’ve had quite the hassle running around.”

The start of the semester. Normally, it’s a truly cursed word, but why does it feel so pleasant right now?

It’s nice here, but it feels too lavish, and I’m not used to it.

I just want to return to my cozy little base as soon as possible.

Once I’m back, I’ll get to see the people I haven’t seen all vacation──

“…Hey, fortuneteller.”

“Yeah?”

“Are you going to see that wicked girl when classes start?”

“Um… who are you talking about?”

“That psychic girl!”

“Oh, you mean Rain! Hmm…”

What’s the big deal about seeing Rain? We’ve exchanged letters a few times.

Only about a month… didn’t see… her…

‘Could it be, does she like me?’

“GAAAAAH!!”

“Tsk tsk, see? You’ve been deliberately trying to forget it.”

How could I be so foolish! Why did I say something like that back then!

That black history I tried so hard to forget has replayed in my mind countless times!

“‘Could it be, does she like me?’ ‘Could it be, does she like me?’ ‘Could it be, does she like me?’”

“Die, past me…!!”

This is just plain self-indulgence! How embarrassing!

Now I understand why Ji Soo told me, “Don’t mistake friendliness for affection, since you have no experience with girls, older brother.”

Ji Soo, oh Ji Soo…

“Hehe, why? Should I get you a blanket?”

“Don’t pour oil on a burning house…”

“Well, it could happen. I’ve noticed Rain has been clinging to you, so a misunderstanding could occur. Hmm.”

“Gurgh…”

“Mistake. It’s a mistake. It’s definitely a mistake. That girl absolutely does not like you, so don’t misunderstand at all.”

“I know, you don’t have to say it so many times…”

Wow, how am I even going to face Rain? Should I just run away?

Now I understand why they told us not to have a campus romance in college.

They said it’s worrisome since we might run into each other, but the same academy? In the same class?

“Kill me…”

I genuinely would struggle to show my face in front of Rain.

Please don’t spread rumors, Rain…

Lost in thoughts while aimlessly picking up and throwing the surrounding sand, I found myself in that daze.

“Hmm, cough.”

“…”

“Ahem, cough!”

“…Liu? Did you catch a cold?”

“Did I catch one! That’s not what I’m asking! Don’t you have anything to say to me!?”

“Something to say…?”

Uh… do I? What is it?

I thanked her for the artifact last time, apologized for breaking it… What else is there?

There’s no way Liu would want to ask me, ‘Could it be, does she like me?’ right?

What is it?

“…Did I do something wrong?”

“Huh? Wrong? No.”

“Then what is it…?”

Is this some annoying form of questioning like Ji Soo used to do, ‘Older brother, don’t you know why I’m mad?’ It might drive me mad.

Remembering how I felt bloodthirsty when Ji Soo would say that after oversleeping and missing breakfast…

Thinking back, maybe things spiraled out of control back then. She just brushed it off lightly.

But now that I think about it, why was Ji Soo so athletic without ever exercising?

“Uhh… did you change your cosmetics? Or shampoo?”

“…Hah, you little punk.”

“Oh! It’s not poison, right?”

“It’s NOT!!”

Huh? It wasn’t poison? I thought she slipped me poison before.

Honestly, when I first learned Liu had slipped poison into my food, I thought maybe she liked me… but thanks to Rain, I learned my place well.

She definitely put it in just to tease me!

“Ugh, seriously. You’re better off consistently being this way… and besides, the harder it gets, the more fun you have winning.”

“…?”

What do you mean by that?

As I stared at Liu with confusion, she chuckled softly and threw the sand she had in her hand.

“Liu!”

“Damn clueless fortuneteller! Eat this!”

“Cough, cough! If that’s how you want to play…!”

With fierce determination to deliver a payback for this sand kick, I’d make sure to give Liu a sand massage──

Pow!

“Will you surrender?”

“…I surrender.”

──Yeah, right. I hit the ground in two hits.

Isn’t it cheating to throw an artifact hidden in the sand…?

—

“Ugh, I’m already annoyed.”

“Liu?”

“Of course the plane prepared is certainly economy class, right? How could I sit in a place like that for five hours? Bleh…”

The summer vacation, which was either long or short, came to an end, and on the day we were to return to the Romance Academy.

I, who had been thinking of somehow getting on Liu’s private jet, and Liu, who headed towards her private jet naturally, found ourselves stuck waiting without departure.

…It seems the content from the newspaper might be true.

“No, I understand there will be changes from the second semester. But why are they controlling the plane we’re taking? We could do it all at the Academy!”

“For now, please calm down, Liu.”

“Calm down!? From the start, how many students from this Hawaii airport are heading to the Romance Academy!?”

Liu was truly irritated, shouting like a whale.

If it weren’t for her having rented out this entire small airport and wanting a quiet private jet, she would’ve been kicked out by now.

Of course, I had grown accustomed to such situations, so I was soothing Liu as usual.

“Um, excuse me…”

“Ugh, when are we leaving!?”

“Let’s just wait a bit longer. As you said, how many students are there going from this little airport to the Romance Academy? Probably just the two of us, right?”

“Um, um, uh…”

“…Just us two?”

“Wouldn’t that be the case? Even in economy class, if it’s just the two of us, it should be fine.”

This seems okay, right? I’ve never been on any flight except a private jet.

But isn’t it possible that the seats can move like in Liu’s private jet?

“Uh, um…!”

“Hey! As if it wouldn’t be boring going with someone like you, fortuneteller. Consider it an honor!”

“Of course, Liu.”

“Excuse me…!!!”

“Why! You’ve been blabbing non-stop since earlier!!”

“Eep!?”

Liu, who seemed somewhat calmed, had a drastic change of expression and shouted loudly.

Even though I’d given her hints several times, the persistent boy who had been talking to her cowered under Liu’s fierce attitude, trembling and stammering.

…Could he be a student, seeing him here at this hour?

“Y-You are the Rich Tycoon, right? As a fellow student, it’s an honor!”

“Uh, yeah. That’s me. What about it? Why are you here? I rented out this entire airport!”

“W-Well, I’m the son of this airport’s owner!”

“Son? I see, but why are you here?”

“Y-Yes?”

“Did you come to target me or something?”

Suspicion.

It had been a while since I had seen Liu’s suspicion.

Liu had not only shifted from irritation to suspicion but was now glaring at the airport owner’s son (?) who still failed to grasp the situation, standing up.

The artifacts surrounding her began to glow, and she held a ceremonial dagger in her hand.

With the magic emanating from those artifacts, the air around us grew heavy, and the startled student’s eyes widened in horror.

“W-What I-I…”

“Enough. If you resist, I’ll be suspicious, and if you go along, I still won’t know your motives. I’ve seen many punks like you. Do you think I wouldn’t know?”

“Uh, no!”

“No? You’re obviously not a student from the Romance Academy!”

“I-I am! I’m a real student of the Academy!”

“Enough, until you confess the truth, I will torture you until you scream──”

Smack.

“Ah! Don’t hit my head!”

“Liu, don’t suspect innocent students.”

“Hey! Fortuneteller! How can you know if that kid is innocent or guilty?!”

“I saw that student during the entrance ceremony… Um hello? Do you remember me?”

“Ah, yes! You’re the fortuneteller from the Special Class, right!”

“Correct. We moved together during the entrance ceremony.”

“It’s an honor that you remember me!”

I smiled as I accepted the student’s bow, while Liu, seemingly upset, tidied her hair.

Perhaps it eased the anger just a bit, Liu looked at me before casting a glance towards the still frightened student.

With a huff, she began to walk away first.

“Humph, let’s go!”

“Liu? Where are we going?”

“That should be obvious! We’re headed for the plane. I saw you coming in.”

<Attention. Students of Romance Academy, please gather at the boarding area to board the plane.>

“Did you hear that? Let’s hurry!”

“Uh, what about him…”

“Leave that punk be! It’s just the two of us! Hey, you. For now, I’m letting it slide, but behave intelligently, understand? If you don’t want to ruin this tiny airport.”

“Y-Yes!”

Today isn’t anything special, but this combination—of Liu who is unusually sensitive, me, the self-absorbed fortuneteller, and the Rich Tycoon—wanted to avoid a group project.

…It was a combination worthy of such a prayer.

Smack! Bam! Pow!

“Stop, stop!!!”

“Who said to stop?!”

You guys, how long are you going to keep this up…?