I Became a Fortune Teller in the Game My Little Sister Made – Chapter 114

Through the lens of The Eye That Sees the Heart, I gazed upon the ring.

The Saint’s description of the ring was far beyond my imagination.

“……Maiden’s Breath?”

“I can tell just from the name. It’s definitely a scheme by the Rich Tycoon.”

As soon as the Saint murmured the name of the ring, or rather the artifact, Eileen let out a sigh.

The Rich Tycoon. No doubt it’s Liu Yan’s handiwork.

“My father mentioned it a few months ago. There was something unusual among the artifacts permitted to the Rich Tycoon.”

“……Is that it?”

“At that time, I was awake instead of my sister, so I wouldn’t know. That thing is an artifact that enhances physical abilities, only for maidens or virgins.”

“………That’s all? I thought it was something more alarming.”

Could it be due to the Saint’s low understanding of her role? Even with The Eye That Sees the Heart, the only thing visible apart from the artifact’s name was nothing.

Because of its name, Maiden’s Breath, I imagined it to be something like a chastity alert or alarm system. But if it only boosts physical abilities for maidens, it wouldn’t stop Namgoong Min from making an advance.

“Well, this wouldn’t help in preventing that.”

“Then?”

“This is a warning… If my brother can’t use this artifact when he returns, it’s game over.”

In other words, it’s a sort of warning notice.

The door is open, yet there’s a sign saying ‘No Entry’.

It is a tiny warning sent by the Rich Tycoon to the Saint.

But at the same time…

“Trust, it is.”

“……What? The Rich Tycoon trusts us?”

“To be precise, I think he trusts my brother. He probably didn’t expect being drugged and assaulted.”

“………Saying it so openly feels a little odd.”

“Sister, what we’re planning is nothing but sexual harassment without a choice. You are aware of that, right?”

“Of course…”

“But it’s a considerable risk.”

Eileen fell deep into thought, unlike the flustered Saint.

It would be easy to ambush Namgoong Min like this.

But that would put her in a deadly rivalry with the Rich Tycoon.

Setting aside whether it was possible to kill the Rich Tycoon,

‘He would hate this.’

Eileen Teddy Bear hadn’t spent much time with Namgoong Min.

Before awakening as a Saint, she had only stayed at home, and after awakening, she had mostly been asleep. During that time, the Namgoong Min she met was the Saint, not Eileen.

Yet still…

To Eileen, Namgoong Min was the benefactor who saved her life, a reliable older brother, and a kind person.

Surely, he wouldn’t want to see people around him fighting as if they would kill each other.

In that case…

“……Sister.”

“Yes?”

“Just a moment…”

“Wait, Eileen? Eileen!? What are you planning to do—hiiik!?”

*

“What in the world is this?”

“Didn’t you hear the report? We were attacked by unidentified foes.”

In the imperial office, the Emperor glared at the Crown Prince as he entered in a wheelchair, sending all the whispering ministers outside.

Here, only the Emperor and the Crown Prince were present, in a space secured by various artifacts and treasures. Any falsehoods concerned about eavesdropping would be pointless.

And yet, he came out so brazenly, huh?

“What a shameful incident it is, that the Crown Prince of the Daehan Empire was attacked near the capital?”

“Indeed, it seems like a frightful world.”

“Yes, a frightful world. There are children who wouldn’t flinch as they lie to their father and the Emperor.”

“My, in this land of filial piety, what scoundrel would do such a thing? Tell me this instant, and I shall punish that unfilial wretch.”

“………….”

The Emperor’s eyebrows twitched, a precursor to wrath.

Furthermore, it was the response the Crown Prince wished for.

There’s an old saying about激將之計, using anger to guide a general’s direction or cloud their judgment.

It’s a quite simple method, but its effects are certain. Especially when every word matters to a politician.

While His Majesty possesses the power to revert even spilled water, the situation changes when it’s the Crown Prince.

The higher the rank of the listener, the tougher it is to retract words.

If one could infuriate the Emperor, they could seize the initiative in dialogue.

‘How does that Namgoong Min know such things?’

Though he had studied the ways of kings, he felt astounded that he was less knowledgeable than a common fortuneteller unrelated to politics.

However, Kim Sung-il did not allow any inferiority complex to penetrate his thoughts.

A monarch doesn’t have to be perfect in every way. The most crucial skill for a king is the ability to see others and utilize them.

In that respect, his choice to rely on Namgoong Min was indeed boast-worthy.

Thanks to that, he received such aid.

“……Crown Prince, if you’re intentionally provoking my anger, it wouldn’t be a good choice.”

“That was not my intention.”

“Is that so? Perhaps I am growing old. I can hardly distinguish whether the words I hear are from a Crown Prince or a foolish child.”

“………….”

However, let us set a fundamental premise in all these methods; the Emperor is superior in every facet to the Crown Prince.

His Majesty has already ruled over the throne, accumulating political experience, and mastering various ways of speaking. It would be exceedingly difficult to obtain what one desires from such a person in a one-on-one conversation.

Thus, we must press on boldly.

Truth, information, reality.

Only believe and press forward with these.

Of course, if what the Crown Prince believes to be truth is indeed truth, then it is truth.

“Yet, Your Majesty, I still do not comprehend why you are chastising me like this.”

“……What?”

“I’m merely the victim of an unprovoked attack while joyfully following your orders for provincial inspection. Why am I being reprimanded?”

“………….”

“While injured, I safeguarded the Crown Princess and guests, so isn’t that fulfilling my duty? How could I have anticipated that there would be such vile scoundrels under your reign?”

“……Hmph.”

The Emperor’s fury brewed.

His indignation could have erupted at any moment.

The Crown Prince was fully aware of this reaction and was prepared for it.

Thus began his contemplation of the advice from the fortuneteller.

“If the激將之計 has succeeded, then the next step is simple. Drive the Emperor into a corner.”

Whether it’s an existing weakness known to the Crown Prince or a new flaw, or an undeniable slander does not matter.

Do you know when a person is most angered?

When someone they believe to be below them challenges them.

The Crown Prince could only remain below the Emperor.

Yet from now on, that would change.

The final words he would utter could be rough, but that’s not an issue.

The more delightful the words for the Emperor to mull over, the better!

“……Assisting a father who is losing his mind to age.”

“…………!!”

“Still, I see no necessity for you to enter a retirement home.”

The Crown Prince didn’t wait for the Emperor’s response.

He simply aired out the long-buried emotions and moved out of the office alongside his wheelchair.

Despite the Crown Prince having shut the door himself, the office remained eerily quiet.

Was it soundproof, or is it genuinely quiet?

At this point, it didn’t matter.

Creeeek. Creeeek.

The Crown Prince, while shifting his wheelchair, eventually spoke.

“Foreign Minister.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Where are the other ministers?”

“Except for the Cultural Minister dispatched on Her Highness Kim Eun-ha’s orders, the seven other ministers await in Your Highness’s secondary palace.”

“And the military?”

“………”

“Still remaining neutral, those sly dogs.”

There are three pillars that sustain the Daehan Empire’s royal family.

Seven ministers, three regents, and the military.

Among these, the seven ministers belong to the Crown Prince, one of the three regents supports Eun-ha, leaving the military neutral.

Thus, the only remaining forces for the Emperor are the two regents and popular support.

That is surely not a negligible scale.

“What about convincing the regents?”

“The Oppressor still follows only Crown Princess Kim Eun-ha, and the Mediator has been in hiding, citing vacation for over half a year. The Dictator is a staunch supporter of the Emperor to the bone.”

“It would be good if we could recruit at least one…”

Inviting Eun-ha, who had stepped back from the throne struggle, is out of the question, making the Dictator essentially neutral.

However, it’s problematic because the Oppressor is solely filled with loyalty toward the Emperor.

The Mediator might yet be possible, though.

“How long does the Mediator have left on her holiday?”

“……One week remaining.”

“At least she won’t be poking around the royal palace until then… No, if I properly confront the Emperor, she will truly come scuttling back.”

The Crown Prince didn’t particularly like the Mediator, and she was also someone that couldn’t be easily understood.

Moreover, like the Oppressor, she was someone the Emperor himself had appointed, making her loyalty high.

Despite being able to rope in all seven ministers, the three regents responsible for the [Dark Sector], [Legal Sector], and [Police] wield a vastly more significant power than merely holding equal positions to the ministers.

Rumors had it that before the current Emperor augmented the royal power significantly, the three regents determined the Emperor’s position due to their tremendous authority.

Though it might be regrettable not to have recruited even one of them,

The die has already been cast.

‘………Did I act a bit hastily?’

Was I too emotional in making these significant decisions?

If I clash with him and the Emperor now, the entire country would be thrown into chaos.

Since the military declared neutrality, a civil war wouldn’t break out, but politically it would be hardly different from a war.

Is this truly a good choice to confront him now?

That thought made the Crown Prince waver for a moment.

But soon, while reading a note, a smile appeared on his face.

“……Crown Prince Your Highness?”

“Forgive me, just a moment… for foolishly worrying.”

“………Please compose yourself, Your Highness.”

“Of course. I have—”

Though merely a lowly fortuneteller, I must muster the courage to convey one thing to you, Crown Prince.

You must be troubled.

The Daehan Empire is exceedingly unstable. Taking advantage of the downfall of America, it has quickly taken its position, but fundamentally, while the Daehan Empire can be a great power, it is not a superpower that encompasses the world.

In such circumstances, making a claim to the throne, not through a natural succession but through near treason, may be a foolish thought.

Many will condemn you, Crown Prince. They may label you as the Prince who murdered his own father in a madness for power.
They will shout for you to remain obedient to His Majesty as a puppet, waiting for your turn to inherit the throne.

So, I will tell you.

Just tell them to f* off.

My life has been very short, yet within that brief existence, I have learned one thing.
A life swayed by others is deplorable.

So do not be swayed by others, rather become the one who sways others.

People do not understand why roosters crow at dawn. Many would wish to twist the neck of the rooster crowing in the morning. If I were a rooster, I wouldn’t crow.

But once you are the rooster, you will understand. A rooster sensitive to sunlight must instinctively crow at dawn.

Do not listen to the words of those who do not know your life, Crown Prince.

Otherwise, you will inevitably fall prey to these cultists posing as fortunetellers.

The Crown Prince realized something about Namgoong Min.

While he appeared rational and reliable, he likewise sensed a twisted core within him.

That could perhaps be why he could love someone like the Rich Tycoon and psychic, both twisted in their own way.

In truth, his younger sister with a similarly twisted past may also be in the same boat.

…Thus, perhaps it was precisely because of this twisted nature that the Crown Prince considered Namgoong Min a friend.

It was an extraordinarily twisted and selfish thought.

But it equally meant that Namgoong Min had made an impression in the Crown Prince’s heart.

“──Because you’re a dependable person.”

At those words, the Foreign Minister bowed his head in respect.

However, he would not know.

That the ‘dependable person’ the Crown Prince spoke of was merely a fortuneteller.