I Became a Fortune Teller in the Game My Little Sister Made – Chapter 168

“Ah, don’t worry. You don’t have to feel burdened.”

“Yeah, right.”

I was flabbergasted as I listened to the explanation with a supremely demure (?) Cloel Martina in front of me.

Wait, you’re telling me that to have a one-on-one with this girl, you’re bringing up the Cardinal’s backing, power abuse, and even the Archbishop position at the Cathedral?

Isn’t that… a bit much of an investment?

“I’m serious! Anyway, that McLaren Cardinal is getting greedier by the day, so I was thinking of cutting him loose. An Archbishop like Karleya should be just fine.”

“Oh, is he a good person?”

“How could he be? Unlike that pig McLaren, Karleya knows his place. He knows he can’t maintain his position as Cardinal on his own. Well, later on he might try to ride my coattails, but that’s a different story. For now, he’s a useful card.”

“……Eun-ha?”

“Our Min, both the Hotel Manager and the Guard Captain here have grown up with the royal family’s support. Now that it’s certain you will become the next Emperor… the royal family might abandon them, but they can never abandon the royal family.”

“Ah…”

“And compared to the shenanigans of the branch royalty, my orders are extremely lenient.”

Branch royalty, as in Kim Ha-neul from the third year… and that royal from the second year?

Now that I think about it, I’ve met Kim Ha-neul but never seen the royal from the second year.

“Um, Rain?”

“It’s true that my father is building a Cathedral. And needing an Archbishop isn’t a lie. We’ve received several requests due to that project, but we only accommodated the request from our family’s designated Priest.”

“I… I see?”

“Anyway, even though I’m a worrywart, the Crown Princess and I kept it within reasonable limits, so don’t worry.”

Is that really true? It’s driving me crazy.

<Absolute Power>… I really didn’t need that at all.

I’m glad I just gave up and maintained <My Little Fortune Teller’s Shop> and <Observation>.

With the world’s richest tycoon, the direct royalty of the Daehan Empire, and a lady of a family that dominates Europe.

With just these three, I could fabricate something like the skill Absolute Power…

“…Namgoong Min, I’ve had it tough too, you know? I was the one who informed them about your situation.”

“Huh? Of course. Eileen, I’m truly grateful. And you all too.”

“If something like this comes up again, let me know.”

“Namgoong Min, I’m always here to support you.”

“The royal family is soon on our side, so don’t worry.”

“Me too, Oppa.”

That’s really reassuring. Is this what connections feel like? People don’t just talk about managing connections for nothing.

As I savored the peak of connections, when I looked back at Cloel Martina, she was glaring at me like she was looking at a pillar man.

‘Pillar man… I guess that’s not wrong.’

Although I don’t even have a girlfriend—marriage? Not even close.

Besides, I have no intention of dating anyone until I meet Jisoo… it’s not that I can’t, it’s that I won’t. Hmm.

As I casually glanced at Liu, she smirked and started kneading my shoulder.

That touch… feels a bit inappropriate—

“—Rain?”

“Namgoong Min, it seems like your shoulders are tense.”

“No, it’s not that… Eun-ha?”

“Your neck seems tense.”

“…Please don’t break it.”

Crack.

“Eileen?”

“This sofa is weaker than I thought.”

“That’s steel… Not really.”

With my shoulders and neck gripped by Liu, Rain, and Eun-ha, I desperately turned my head away from Eileen, who had shattered the metal adornments of the sofa with just her grip, and looked back at Cloel.

Clearly, all four are on my side, but the person who feels the most comfortable looking at me is the Sister who tried to crack my head yesterday, which is quite ironic.

Anyway, since everyone has laid the groundwork, I guess I should do my part as well.

“What is your name?”

“You already… know! Don’t you…!?”

“What’s your name?”

“…Cloel Martina.”

“And your age?”

“………24.”

Good, that matches the setting I know.

…Why do I feel a sting in the back of my head just from asking the name and age?

“Current saint and head of the Inquisition, step-sister of Raphael Martina, correct?”

“That’s right…!!”

“Oh, you seem quite proud. When did you last meet the Saint?”

“……….”

“Cloel?”

“Is this all you’re going to ask?”

Well, it’s not like I know how to kick off the Saint’s character event, either.

According to Jisoo, just talking to Cloel Martina would naturally trigger the event.

So, I might as well poke and prod to confirm.

“Cloel Martina, there seems to be a misunderstanding.”

“What is it…?”

“The very person who almost got killed by you yesterday is now here, applying pressure around you with my trusted friends, while I’m currently talking to you. Don’t you get it yet?”

“………….”

“The fact that I’m having this conversation with you so easily means that taking my revenge on you could also be done easily.”

“……….”

“Still, talking to you means… it’s a kind of consideration and forgiveness, so don’t forget that.”

As I lowly threatened her with a smile, Cloel Martina finally started to ease up her fierce demeanor a little.

I couldn’t tell if it was because she yielded to my threat or to the authority of my friends standing behind me, but it seemed we could finally have a proper conversation.

“Alright, let me ask again. When did you last meet the Saint?”

“…When I was four, at an orphanage in a back alley. We had no blood relation, but there, we regarded each other as family.”

“What about when he disappeared?”

“A year later… when I was five.”

What I know about Raphael’s past is… that he was chosen by the Pope as soon as he was born in the back alley and taken from his mother to the church.

But he met Cloel at the orphanage when he was four? In the back alley, too?

‘…Was it during the time the saint and Raphael’s personalities coexisted?’

I don’t know what he was thinking, but Raphael returned to the back alley where he was born despite being treated as a saint.

And there, he met Cloel Martina.

“Did the Saint spent all day at the orphanage?”

“No… he was there for just a few hours. But he came almost every day… so I figured he was working elsewhere.”

So he was only at the orphanage for a few hours a day and spent the rest going back to the church?

Why would he go through all that trouble?

“The name Martina…?”

“…It wasn’t originally mine, but after joining the church, it was granted to me personally by Raphael. Given his position, there was quite a bit of noise, but at least I can call myself a step-sister.”

“………….”

“Is there… anything else to ask?”

“…I do have one question.”

“What is it…?”

“Recently, isn’t there a strange rumor going around the church?”

“What do you mean…?”

“For instance… that the Saint is losing power or something.”

“…!!”

Clonk.

Cloel, who had been sitting up straight, suddenly bolted upright.

Sweat beading on her forehead, she didn’t even try to hide her shock.

“H-How…?”

“Calm down.”

“Tell me! How do you know about this──?”

“Sit down.”

“───.”

Please let me finish what I’m saying.

‘The Saint is losing power.’

I’d heard it was only a rumor circulating among the upper echelons of the church.

Though she’s not an upper priest, since she’s a step-sister, I figured Cloel would know.

What’s more surprising is the reaction of the four girls.

‘Did they already know?’

No matter how secretly the rumor spread, it seems a little absurd that Liu, Rain, and Eun-ha hadn’t heard anything.

Even Liu is sponsoring a Cardinal, Arthur has influence reaching the headquarters of the church in Vatican City, and in the Daehan Empire, he’s the biggest patron of the church.

What’s more concerning is that Eileen shows no reaction either.

‘…No way.’

Before I knew it, Eileen, holding my arm, was shaking ever so slightly.

But when she met my gaze, her eyes were filled only with unwavering trust, not questions.

…She has questions, but is that overshadowed by her trust in me?

I could only be grateful to Eileen.

“…Please answer me. How did you find out about that rumor…?”

“Well, does that even matter? My friends seem to already know.”

“………….”

“Are there any other priests aware of this rumor?”

“Couldn’t be… Only priests above the Archbishop level are said to know… I’ve heard.”

“Then how did you find out, Cloel?”

“…Cardinal Rakail told me.”

“Oh, you mean the Saint’s faction.”

I heard there are three Cardinals in the church: one follows the Saint, one follows the Pope, and one maintains neutrality.

The one following the Saint must be that Rakail Cardinal.

I don’t know who follows the Pope.

As for neutrality… is it the Cardinal McLaren Liu mentioned earlier? Isn’t it ridiculous that the one receiving backhand deals is considered neutral?

Anyway, it wouldn’t be hard for a Cardinal from the Saint’s faction to give a heads-up to Cloel, who’s the Saint’s step-sister. After all, she’s probably the one who follows the Saint the closest in the church.

After hearing Cloel’s words, I felt assured.

‘The plan is going smoothly.’

If we can keep spreading the rumors like this, and the opposing faction… the Pope’s side might call for proof trials against the Saint, then it’ll be a success.

Though, why did the Saint look so uneasy?

“Has the Saint mentioned anything recently?”

“No… it was just casual talks yesterday….”

So it seems he didn’t mention anything specific.

It’s kind of funny to think that the one person he feels uncomfortable with is Cloel, who is actually his step-sister, discussing worries.

‘Sigh, but how do I trigger the character event?’

I have nothing else to ask, so how exactly does the character event get triggered ‘naturally’?

Unless the player is a <Fortuneteller>, is it impossible? Does my head exploding lead to the character event starting?

“Um…”

“Oh, you can call me Namgoong Min.”

“Um, Namgoong Min…”

“Since you’re older than me, just feel free to call me.”

“…No, I will… stick with the honorifics….”

Seriously, you could just call me casually.

But did she change her tone to address someone behind me? Is that just my imagination?

…If I turn back now, I don’t know what might happen, so let’s just focus on the front.

“Um… Namgoong Min.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“Um, um.”

“Um…?”

“I have… a request……!”

Oh, is this a character event?

So this is what ‘naturally’ meant? If I had known, I wouldn’t have bothered preparing a seat; I could have just had a chat.

‘…Ah, but then I might have avoided Maes, huh.’

No matter how I think about it, asking them was definitely a stroke of genius.

But now that I think about it, what kind of request could it be—

“I-I—I want you to marry me!”

“…………What?”

──Holy crap, what?

Crack.

Hey, uh, everyone?

I’m the one being proposed to, but why are my neck and shoulders—?

Crunch.

*

“Ugh!?”

Thud.

In the deep of night, the Saint woke up from his sleep, drenched in cold sweat, and collapsed to the floor.

His breathing heavy, head pounding, heart feeling like it was being smashed by a hammer.

While he silently shed tears and moans of agony, he managed to grab onto the bed and gulp down the pill he had placed beside him.

The sound of crunching, a bitter taste on his tongue, a disquieting sensation.

Yet slowly, his breathing calmed down, and the pain began to subside.

“………Ah.”

In reality, the pill itself was nothing but an ordinary pain-reliever, one that could be bought at a nearby pharmacy.

No painkiller has immediate effects upon ingestion. Even one pill would hardly ease such intense suffering.

Yet, chewing the pill was…

Because the pain starting in his heart, the true pain, was a sort of phantom pain.

Though it may have no effect, the act of chewing the pill helped lessen the phantom pain.

The Saint, whose eyes were dry and soaked with sweat, leaned back against the bed.

…This phantom pain didn’t suddenly appear today, nor was it the work of someone else.

It was simply a nightmare that had continued since the moment he killed ‘Raphael Martina’ during his pilgrimage he had to go through at the age of five.

“Raphael… I’m sorry…”

Tears flowed. Today, the Saint repeated his words of apology.

To a brother he would never see again.

Confessing his sins.

“Dear God…”

Thus, God must exist.

For the Saint’s repentance happens every night to reach Raphael.

Because the pitiful Raphael must go to heaven under God’s guidance.

The horrid fate of this <Saint>, where one side must kill the other.

There must be a God to prove that there was a reason for it.

“………….”

In that moment, someone’s face came to mind.

The girls who recently became aware that they are <Saints>, yet successfully co-exist thanks to the strength of their fellow sinners.

Jealous, so very jealous.

“……Dear God….”

The Saint could only pray endlessly.

Hoping that this temptation would also be taken away by God.

And so, the saint of the church continuously shed tears.