I Became a Fortune Teller in the Game My Little Sister Made – Chapter 173

Kim Woo-sung was not a dullard. Personally, I thought he was rather quick-witted.

Thus, no matter how much he was a distant royal or held a job title, he could still possess a modest power within the royal court.

In a place where intrigues and political disputes occurred daily, Kim Woo-sung gained one big realization.

This was what they called the “Art of Survival.”

One could never pursue it enough.

“Senior Kim Woo-sung, lift your head.”

“Thank you for your Compassionate Words! However, as a humble servant, Kim Woo-sung, I cannot raise my head in front of the Crown Prince’s esteemed friend!”

“What do you mean by that?”

“The sin of not recognizing the Crown Prince’s friend, the sin of shamelessly attempting to use that ignorance, the sin of trying to gauge the Crown Prince and Crown Princess’s intentions! For anyone of royal blood involved with the dignity of the imperial family, these are most heinous crimes that should never be committed!”

“…Hmmm.”

“Therefore, I beg you to accept the apology of a disloyal subject!”

Bang. Bang. Bang.

As the job holder dedicated himself, smashing his forehead against the ground, the floor quickly cracked, and blood began to pool.

The painful sting and the foreign substances lodged in his injuries were tormenting, yet Kim Woo-sung did not cease his apology.

He only stopped this self-harming act once Namgoong Min rose from his wheelchair.

“Senior Kim Woo-sung.”

“I am not worthy of such a title!”

“Isn’t it time to act respectfully now as first-year Namgoong Min and second-year Kim Woo-sung?”

“………!”

At first glance, it sounded like an infinitely compassionate and gentle voice.

However, realizing the true nature of it, Kim Woo-sung broke into a cold sweat.

‘He intends to view this as an academic matter…?’

Rather than as a friend of the Crown Prince or a member of the distant royal family, this was in the position of a first-year and second-year student at the academy.

This meant that Kim Woo-sung’s apologies made from a ‘royal’ standpoint wouldn’t be accepted—

‘This, this is bad!’

No, it absolutely cannot be so.

This matter is a dispute between first and second-year students, involving a mere distant royal touching the Crown Prince’s friend.

If this gets resolved in the context of being academy students, what will happen to Kim Woo-sung as a ‘royal’ is all too clear.

‘It may not be an immediate death…!’

Perhaps it would end with a personal punishment and a reduction of his faction—’now’, that is.

But after that, he would undoubtedly be branded as someone who dared to touch the Crown Prince’s friend, living in the imperial court without a single word to say.

No, even being able to stay in the palace in any capacity would be luck. Surely they’d relegate him to some remote area…!

Politics are exceedingly complicated and profound, and one must not take others’ words at face value.

Thus, all Kim Woo-sung could do was.

“Please, I beg of you! Take away your anger!!”

“Anger? What do you mean? You know that the poison arrows and threats against my parents were all lies, don’t you?”

“Absolutely not! I would never use poison arrows! I would never threaten you with your parents to win in a despicable manner!!”

Of course, Kim Woo-sung had never done such a thing, but he had to shout that it was all part of his intentions.

No, Kim Woo-sung had already brainwashed himself into believing he had committed those acts.

If he were to admit everything, his reputation at the academy would surely plummet. He might even have to face expulsion.

But he didn’t care.

In return, he’d count this as ‘sufficient’ punishment, so at least he wouldn’t get thrown out of the imperial family.

Much of what he had built would collapse, but there would be no total ruin!

‘To a mere first-year… Namgoong Min.’

All this hassle of touching a first-year fortuneteller ended up threatening to dismantle everything he had built up over his lifetime: his faction, trust, friendships, influence, and finances.

Naturally, it was infuriating. He had resentment towards Namgoong Min.

But.

‘…Mother.’

His esteemed mother had always taught him: Avoiding invisible landmines is the true quality of a politician.

Kim Woo-sung had evaded the visible landmines (Kim Sung-il, Kim Eun-ha) but had failed to avoid the hidden landmine (Namgoong Min).

More than the anger and resentment toward his opponent, the shame about his own incompetence loomed larger.

So he had no choice but to plead for mercy.

After about five minutes of Kim Woo-sung laying his forehead to the ground, thanks to the job holder’s physical abilities, his blood gradually began to harden and stick to the floor, when finally, Namgoong Min, who had been silent, opened his mouth.

“Kim Woo-sung, Your Highness.”

“…! Yes!!!”

Not simply “Senior Kim Woo-sung” but “Your Highness Kim Woo-sung.”

It was just a few changed words, but the difference carried monumental significance.

“Are you curious about the truth of this situation?”

“I, having deafened ears and blind eyes, know nothing! Please allow me to live my life as a deaf-mute!”

“Don’t you truly want to know? How you ended up in this situation and why I would frame Your Highness with such accusations?”

“I have not heard due to my deaf ears!”

“Is that so.”

Once again, silence loomed, thick enough that he could barely breathe.

Shouting so much that his throat felt raw made it sting, yet Kim Woo-sung remained motionless.

But even while pressing his forehead to the ground, he realized one thing.

That Namgoong Min was standing tall before him.

“Kim Woo-sung, Your Highness.”

“No! I cannot—”

“The Crown Prince sends his regards. Even if you call yourself deaf, hear me well.”

“───Yes.”

In an instant, Kim Woo-sung knelt before him, adopting a posture of loyalty, receiving Namgoong Min, who stood proudly.

It was only natural to show respect to a messenger bearing the message of the next Emperor, the Crown Prince.

“The Crown Prince states that distant royal Kim Woo-sung is exceptionally talented, has formed his own faction, and is quick-witted, making him an outstanding asset.”

“I am honored!”

“Moreover, commanding and controlling the students at the Romance Academy shows that he is indeed of the Daehan Empire’s royal blood and possesses exceptional capabilities.”

However.

“Unfortunately, he lacks the wisdom to recognize my closest friend, the finest fortuneteller in the world, and the meritorious retainer who offered me substantial help when I rightfully inherit the throne.”

“………Yes.”

“In anger, I considered driving him out, but my friend, my fortuneteller, my meritorious retainer earnestly requested that Kim Woo-sung is a valuable talent.”

“Oh, ohhh………!!”

“To you, noble distant royal Kim Woo-sung, I, the greatest bloodline of the Daehan Empire, and the one closest to the throne, say: You, Kim Woo-sung, will assist my friend, my fortuneteller, and my meritorious retainer until you graduate from the Academy, as it will be your path to atoning for your sins.”

“Hooray! Hooray! Long live the greatest bloodline, long live the Crown Prince! I, humble servant Kim Woo-sung, will serve the Crown Prince’s will!!”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

With the celebration, Kim Woo-sung, having performed three full bows, kept his head lowered, ignoring the torn skin on his forehead.

Because the Crown Prince’s command had been relayed, he would follow it obediently.

“Kim Woo-sung, Your Highness.”

“Namgoong Min, I have accepted the Crown Prince’s will. For the next two years, until graduation, I will serve you as my master. Please treat me comfortably.”

“Alright, let’s go with that. However, behave like a second-year student at Romance Academy and as a prince in front of others.”

“I will follow your orders!”

“Good.”

Kim Woo-sung bowed graciously to Namgoong Min and quietly closed his eyes.

In the remaining two years, he would assist Namgoong Min.

Even though he had fallen to the level of a fortuneteller beneath someone of royal blood, he felt no discomfort.

On the contrary, he embraced it gladly.

‘This is an opportunity.’

There had certainly been a mention of ‘meritorious retainer’ in the Crown Prince’s message.

Thus, it meant Namgoong Min was the top meritorious retainer who assisted the Crown Prince to secure victory against the Emperor’s faction in their power struggle.

‘So, he’s a golden lifeline!’

While he might have built his own faction, the position of a distant royal meant he could only rise so far. That was what his mother always lamented about.

But if, for two years, he could diligently assist Namgoong Min and win his favor? After graduation, if Namgoong Min was inducted into the imperial family, wouldn’t he possibly mention Kim Woo-sung to the Crown Prince?

‘If things go well, perhaps I could rise to become one of the seven ministers… No! Even a key minister of the dynasty! That’s entirely possible!’

What a turnaround!

He had stepped on a hidden landmine, almost meeting his end, only to discover there was gold buried underneath.

As a royal of the Daehan Empire, as a politician, as someone in power, missing this opportunity would be tantamount to being foolish.

For that, he simply had to show Namgoong Min a commendable side of himself in any way he could.

“Then, may I now confess my wrongdoing to the public?”

“That was my original thought, but not anymore.”

“Yes?”

“Well, about that deaf-mute notion, you seem significantly more capable than I expected. It’d be a shame to ruin your reputation in the Academy like this.”

Namgoong Min smirked as he looked at Kim Woo-sung with cold eyes.

What had occurred for someone merely in the ‘Fortuneteller’ class to become such a close friend and confidant of the Crown Prince?

Though Kim Woo-sung lowered his head, he felt a sense of pride in quickly apologizing.

“What’s the opinion among the second-years?”

“A third of them support me, but a two-thirds seem to have turned their backs. That said, I believe if I stepped up personally, more than half would back me.”

“What about the close aides?”

“About five. They’ve followed me since before entering the Academy.”

“They’re lucky they all got in.”

“Actually, there were more than twenty, but they all got eliminated, leaving just five.”

“Fine, who among them is the least useful?”

“That guy, Jo Kyung-jin. He’s the nephew of the Deputy Minister of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport. He’s been loyal since childhood, but lacks capability.”

“How did he get in?”

“Oh, when I say capability, I mean political ability. While he’s not bad as a ‘Swordsman’, his infamous actions both in the Jo family and at the Academy have made him the least favorable among my aides.”

“Any notable details?”

“If I hadn’t intervened, he would’ve dashed over to threaten Namgoong Min long ago.”

“Perfect.”

‘Sorry, Kyung-jin.’

…Honestly, he didn’t feel particularly sorry. After all, he had befriended him just to use him as a throwaway pawn.

They had been friends since childhood, and even now he showed deep loyalty, but given his quarrelsome and hot-tempered nature, they had never quite hit it off.

Still, after having been of such excellent utility, Kim Woo-sung harbored deep gratitude toward Jo Kyung-jin.

Although that feeling vanished in mere moments.

“I understand roughly what I need to do, right?”

“I’m sorry; it’s due to my incompetence…”

“No. To put it simply… it means we’re making a sacrifice.”

“A sacrifice?”

“That Jo Kyung-jin is truly a vile fellow, isn’t he? To dare modify arrows to poison and threaten my parents secretly to intimidate me—fuming about him makes me want to cry out of injustice.”

“Indeed, I feel the same! That Jo Kyung-jin…!!”

Abysmal.

Kim Woo-sung grimaced, glaring at Jo Kyung-jin, who had genuinely betrayed him, as if his fury could burst forth.

Seeing him, Namgoong Min chuckled and continued.

“Though it is Jo Kyung-jin’s fault, the fact is you threatened me. Am I right?”

“That’s correct! I apologize on behalf of my foolish subordinate!”

“Don’t worry. By the way, that Jo Kyung-jin especially detests fortunetellers, right? God, could it be that he spread animosity towards me within the second-year class…?”

“It’s definitely the doing of that Jo Kyung-jin! Don’t worry, Namgoong Min! I will deal with that treacherous backstabber…!!”

“Make it as flashy as possible, got it? I’ll step in at the right moment, so don’t worry.”

“I’ll carry out your command!”

“……Oh, and.”

Feeling satisfied with Kim Woo-sung’s sincere response, Namgoong Min was about to step out of the meeting room when he suddenly looked back.

Still bowing his head as he answered, Kim Woo-sung was drenched in cold sweat, soaking his expensive suit.

Unaware of his turmoil, Namgoong Min whispered.

“The Crown Prince is gravely concerned about something.”

“I am all ears.”

“There cannot be two suns in the Daehan Empire. Already, one is setting, and one is rising.”

“………….”

“To escape the setting sun and join the rising sun is the natural order of things… The merciful Crown Prince is worried about those who cannot let go of the setting sun.”

“…………….”

“Be sure to speak well to your mother.”

“………Yes!”