I Became a Fortune Teller in the Game My Little Sister Made – Chapter 102

Whisper, whisper.

Hush, hush.

“Did you hear? That wicked fortuneteller received a strange letter.”

“Oh my… what in the world… amazing…”

“Indeed, the world is vast, and the gods are fair. It seems there are people with unique insights.”

“…”

“…? Why aren’t you answering?”

“Isn’t Namgoong Min… better than you…?”

“Haha, it’s so typical of a Hero who is interested in romance but still a lifelong single!”

“You were also… quite interested… but still a virgin…”

“…”

“…”

Why are you suddenly glaring at each other while talking?

After class ended, I stood up after witnessing the scene of the Hero and the Saint, who were at one point gossiping behind me, splitting into factions.

It’s the second semester, but the Special Class, that is, the Romance Academy, hasn’t changed a bit.

If I had to nitpick, there’s just been an increase in the emphasis on theory lessons instead of practical ones? Even that isn’t particularly difficult since it’s just university-level.

While the history might diverge a bit from what I know, and the common sense about job holders and Gates might trip me up, it’s not a big issue since I’ve been studying steadily.

Honestly, this mundane, boring theory is better than practical lessons where my cover might be blown.

However…

“…”

“Today, we’ll do this… No, if it’s this…”

Lucas, who had buried his head on the desk without moving an inch, and Crown Prince Kim Sung-il, who was fervently writing something.

“Brother… this is disgusting…”

And Crown Princess Kim Eun-ha, who was watching the Crown Prince write, wore a genuinely loathsome expression.

“The Saint is much better than the Hero in appearance and personality. This is even written in the holy scriptures.”

“The Hero is… better than the Saint… This is even in the Declaration of Independence…”

“Shut your nonsense.”

“It’s you who… talks like that…”

The Hero and the Saint, who were originally well-acquainted, now seemed to have become partners.

During the first semester, the Hero was too taciturn, and the Saint couldn’t let her guard down due to the burden of church reform. But now, both have set aside their seriousness and are comfortably mingling.

Could this possibly be due to my good influence?

By hanging out with the Hero, I opened his mouth, and by “talking” with the Saint, I relieved some of her burdens, resulting in a butterfly effect that brought them closer together!

…Or maybe not? Perhaps they just bonded over both being lifelong singles?

They matched well in many ways, but due to the frequent infighting, arguing has also increased.

‘Rain is… still vacant.’

It’s been over a week since the second semester officially started, yet Rain is still in Europe.

From what I heard from Lucas… rising as the new power within the Arthur Family, it would take quite a while to clean things up.

It seems fleeing right after the duel made things a bit tricky to handle?

‘…No way, if she stayed in Europe, it would have turned into a massive party instead.’

After all, I participated in the duel as “Rain Arthur’s Proxy,” so even if I leave after the duel, there shouldn’t be any issues.

While there might be murmurs about the Duel Proxy, if I helped Rain while remaining in Europe, that would also be problematic.

‘Those trying to approach me, those trying to grab my weaknesses to threaten Rain, those trying to build connections with Rain through me, those wanting to politically undermine me… Rain is easily the heir of Arthur and related by blood, so it’s tough to mess with her, but I’m not safe either.’

I probably suffered more than during the duel.

After thinking it over multiple times, fleeing right away was definitely a wise choice.

…Ultimately, my thoughts of Lucas and Rain, who would have been busy in Europe, might differ.

‘Well, Lucas didn’t mention much, so…’

That must mean everything turned out well.

It’s already been nearly two months since that duel, could Rain be returning soon?

If she just suddenly says she’s dropping out after all the help I’ve given, I’d seriously be heartbroken!

‘Forget about Rain, the real issue is…’

“…”

Although not sitting right next to me, Liu, who is somewhat isolated from the gathering of us, is a major problem.

I seriously can’t figure out why she’s acting like this!

‘Originally, that was the Hero’s spot…’

In the first semester, that seat was pretty much reserved for the Hero, but now Liu is sitting there.

Conversely, the Hero, who is now a bit more talkative, has moved over here.

“Hey, Liu—”

“…”

Tap, tap.

Even now, it’s the same. No matter how I try to talk, she rushes out of the classroom first…

Having stuck closely to me almost like a partner, and always sitting next to me, it didn’t take long for the other students to notice this change.

“Namgoong Min.”

“…Crown Princess.”

“Be honest. Did you and Liu… get into a fight or something?”

“…I don’t know either.”

If she was mad or upset with me, I’d try to make amends or at least talk things through.

However, the moment I approach, she runs away, and no matter how much I call out, she ignores me, leaving me with no options.

Sighing in frustration and lowering my head, Crown Prince Kim Sung-il, who had been taking notes next to the Crown Princess, turned to me.

“Perhaps this is karma catching up to you.”

“Brother?”

“Honestly, I was amazed at how close you were to the Rich Tycoon. I’ve seen it from long ago, but… her personality is quite bothersome in many ways.”

“…Brother!”

“Eun-ha, I’m merely stating the truth that everyone knows, albeit it makes me uncomfortable. Is there anyone here who would disagree that the Rich Tycoon is really bothersome?”

“…”

“…”

“…”

“…”

“This silence is a splendid answer, isn’t it?”

Lucas is still pressing his head against the desk, while the Saint and the Hero nod, albeit subtly.

No need to mention how the Crown Prince’s statement required no rebuttal, even Eun-ha, who typically disagrees with him, had no retort.

‘Is this… the perception of Liu?’

Even those working underneath Liu, and even those who have grown up with her, technically childhood friends, feel the same.

None seem to hold any warm feelings for Liu.

If they do, it’s only regarding Liu’s wealth and assets; how many people genuinely like Liu Yen as a person?

Is it just me?

‘…So maybe that’s why Liu was a bit friendly towards me.’

But what does that even matter?

Whether Liu is aware of her situation or not, my answer was already decided.

“It’s me.”

“…Hmm.”

“To this insignificant fortuneteller, our Rich Tycoon seems to have… a considerate personality.”

“Haha, just as expected, a crayfish sticks to its kind.”

While it sounded mocking, the Crown Prince didn’t truly mean it in a derisive way.

Instead, he looked at me with a mix of disappointment and resignation, as if he’d expected that response all along.

Knowing that his expression was full of goodwill and concern for me only deepened the ache in my heart regarding Liu’s reality.

“But your considerate friend is ignoring you right now.”

“Brother, that’s enough…”

“No, Eun-ha. You need to hear this now. I’ve wanted to say this for quite some time.”

Noticing the conversation shift from a joke to a more serious tone, Eun-ha tried to stop the Crown Prince, but his intention remained firm.

As if this was his last chance, he scanned me and the Saint and Hero behind me before speaking.

“Honestly, I still don’t know the Rich Tycoon well. Even after knowing her for over ten years, I still refer to her by her title, not her name. We aren’t so different.”

“…Using ‘ssi’ is about all I do.”

“…I don’t… even speak… at all.”

“What about you, Eun-ha?”

“…I do use ‘ssi’.”

“Right. Of course, Namgoong Min, you do add ‘ssi’ when referring to the Rich Tycoon, but it has a different tone. Yours carries familiarity and kindness, while ours carries a sense of distance.”

“…”

“I first met the Rich Tycoon when I was ten years old. She was already a renowned investor in politics and business back then, while she was just a kid with no backing like us, standing entirely on her own.”

The Crown Prince and Crown Princess belong to the Daehan Imperial Family, Lucas and Rain are from the Arthur Family, the Saint belongs to the Church, and the Hero from America all had support.

However, Liu stood completely alone.

She had to stand solely without any support.

This was the age when she had just entered elementary school.

“At first, I didn’t understand what that meant. The young girl I knew was suspicious of everyone approaching her, overreactive, and a rather dull kid. I only approached her out of obligation because she was a ‘Rich Tycoon’ and an exceptional investor.”

“…I felt the same as you, Brother.”

“Although we initially met for political reasons, the more we met, the closer we grew. However, even then, the Rich Tycoon was the complete exception.”

“I still remember. When I invited her to church, I received a stream of curses.”

“…I… was… similar…”

“And so she became socially avoided. But now, looking back, it’s quite miraculous. Just a kid who wasn’t even in junior high school possessing astronomical wealth. Just how many fraudsters, con artists, and economic criminals do you think tried to approach her? How do you think the Rich Tycoon managed to withstand all those threats and come this far?”

“….”

“However, now that I can understand a fraction of her pain and loneliness, it’s far too late. The Rich Tycoon has long since closed her heart to others, and only those amongst us who saw her often, and Lucas, who actively approached her, can even engage in conversation. Of course, even that isn’t exactly good conversation…”

This could be a confession of sorts, right?

A confession from someone who has watched Liu since childhood, yet failed to comprehend her pain.

By now, even the Crown Princess, who was attempting to stop the Crown Prince, and the Hero and Saint, who had occasionally chimed in, were silent.

They simply listened quietly to the Crown Prince’s words.

“Do you understand why I’m telling you this?”

“…Are you saying to make peace with Liu?”

“That’s part of it. If you distance yourself too… truly, no one will dare to approach the Rich Tycoon.”

──But more than that.

“Be careful of the Rich Tycoon.”

“….”

“Regardless of how she thinks, the most important thing is to remember yourself.”

At that very moment when the Crown Prince placed his hand on my shoulder.

I finally realized.

This isn’t a confession or a confession of love or anything of the sort.

The Crown Prince, who just recently said he would protect Liu from Wang Fei and Kim Ha-neul, is warning me to be cautious about Liu.

That isn’t because one or the other is false, but because both are true.

‘The Crown Prince cares about me more than he does about Liu.’

The Crown Prince’s words aren’t lies either. He undoubtedly harbors a sense of debt for having ignored Liu’s pain.

However, it isn’t that large of a burden.

So he values me, who can communicate well and shows some competence, more than the difficult-to-handle Rich Tycoon.

Ultimately, Kim Sung-il’s gaze comes from a macroscopic perspective.

Whether this benefits the Daehan Empire or not is the key concern.

Nevertheless, to be honest,

“No.”

“…”

“What’s most important isn’t myself.”

“…Then what is it?”

“It’s the people who believe in me.”

If my own self were paramount, I wouldn’t have turned my back on my parents and chosen to live just with Jisoo.

Waking up early, bouncing between part-time jobs and construction sites during the day, and studying for exams every night… truthfully, it wasn’t a pleasant life.

Yet even if I struggled and it was tough, if there are those who believe and trust in me, I could continue forward.

That’s how I lived with Jisoo.

“Thank you, Your Highness, for your words.”

“…”

“I’ll go look for Liu now.”

“…If the Rich Tycoon evades you again, will you keep living like that? I’m not saying to stop that, but if the Rich Tycoon decided to avoid you… approaching her again might be difficult.”

I had no friends. Not even acquaintances I could greet.

My only conversation partner was Jisoo, which is why I struggle with interacting with people. All I know is the conversational tricks I learned from that cultist jerk.

Still, even a solitary outcast like me knew one thing.

“Honesty and sincerity.”

“Hmm?”

“Isn’t that enough to make it work somehow?”

It might sound childish and predictable, but that’s how I could get along with everyone in the Special Class.

So until Liu accepts me, I’ll confront her sincerely and honestly.

Leaving my silent friends behind, I stepped out of the classroom.

Now then.

“Liu!! Where are you!!”

Let’s have a conversation, please!

And maybe get some Love Letter advice too!

*

<Liu!! Where are you!!>

“…”

Hearing the voice from down the hall, Liu Yen, who had briefly turned around, stared in that direction for a while before turning away.

She then placed the strange-looking device she was holding to her ear.

<—Was it really necessary to say that? You know Namgoong Min's personality well. You know very well he’s not the type to respond with “Yes, I understand” for something like that…>

<…I… have… nothing to say…>

<I’ll remain silent as well.>

<…Okay, you know that well.>

<You knew…? Brother, are you intentionally… where are you going? >

<I’m just going to the bathroom.>

Clack, clack.

<Ahh, you must hear this, Rich Tycoon.>

“…”

<This was found on Namgoong Min's clothes. Quite a nasty hobby. It’s enough to question why you’re deliberately avoiding him. >

“………….”

<Now, suggesting we get friendly now is pointless. I’m sure you don’t feel that way, and neither do I. We can just stay acquaintances, and that’s sufficient. >

“……….”

<But Namgoong Min is different. He’s a talented fortuneteller and a capable person, and… at the same time, my friend. >

“………….”

<You must have heard all of his sincerity. Isn’t he a wonderful person? It’s just like you to turn your back on someone like that. >

“………….”

<This is not something I consider as a toy for you. So think of this as your last chance. >

“………….”

<You probably heard everything, but I intentionally provoked Namgoong Min. You should talk to him. And whether you persuade him or he persuades you, you need to have a conversation. >

“………….”

<…That’s my last apology to you.>

Thud.

“………….”

Clatter.

Crack.