I Became a Fortune Teller in the Game My Little Sister Made – Chapter 189

I need a way to pay off my debt.

And I need it pretty quickly.

“Namgoong Min, as a head of the family and your friend, I’m telling you this.”

“Go ahead, Lucas.”

“Well… don’t tell me there’s no sense of guilt?”

Lucas, who joined me in my consultation about worries, looked genuinely curious.

To express it in detail… it felt like watching a friend who squandered money on gambling and stocks.

“It’s been nearly a year since I last saw you. The second semester is coming to an end without any issues, and soon you’ll be in second year.”

“Right.”

“And in that time, you’ve accumulated 2700 trillion in debt?”

“…Now it’s 2697 trillion.”

“Three trillion difference is indeed enormous, but considering the total debt level, it’s meaningless. 2700 trillion… Ha. I may have seen such numbers on paper as a minor head of the Arthur family, but…”

Lucas, who seemed to be counting the numbers with his fingers, let out a hollow laugh.

“At least you managed to chip away 3 trillion a day. Just about 800 days of that, right?”

“I’m… serious.”

“I’m being serious. Do you really think it’s reasonable to quickly pay off such outrageous debt? And what about interest?”

“…They said they won’t charge any.”

“There are no creditors that nice.”

After hugging Liu for 30 minutes to chop down 3 trillion, I also went to Eun-ha and Rain and begged with the same fervor.

Fortunately, all three agreed to forgo interest, but…

“I’m sorry, our Min. No matter how it is, I don’t think I can completely erase the debt. Hang in there?”

“I’ve been needing a secretary lately, so if you work as my exclusive secretary for 50 years, I’ll cancel it all. How about that?”

“Is Rain’s suggestion the best I have…?”

“How much did you borrow from Arthur? Was it 240 billion dollars? Paying that back by working for 50 years as a secretary? That’s beyond cheap—it’s a scam.”

“…Is it really okay? 240 billion dollars…?”

“Seriously, you’re worried now after borrowing all that? Don’t overthink it. It’s a lot of money, but we’re the Arthur family.”

With the collapse of the United States due to the Gate incident, the Daehan Empire is now the world’s superpower, but the Arthur family, which dominates all of Europe, isn’t far behind.

Just the fact that they aren’t a nation, but rather a single family. They dominate, but literally ruling over isn’t the case. Considering the weaker cohesion in Europe, they bow only to the Daehan Empire.

When just considering the money in play, Arthur’s financial power was comparable to that of the Daehan Empire.

…Now that I think about it, Liu mobilizing more cash than even Arthur and the Daehan Empire is something else…?

“The budget for Arthur this year alone exceeds 1 trillion dollars. 240 billion is indeed significant. But since it’s a bribe to the saints and virgin, things inside Arthur have quieted down.”

“Are the saints and virgin worth that much?”

“You’re from the Daehan Empire… no, you come from another world, don’t you? The Vatican is in Europe, after all. The church’s influence in Europe is absolute. A saint, who can be interpreted as the pinnacle of doctrine, is even more so.”

“Then what about the Daehan Empire?”

“They probably handled it smoothly through administration. It’s an empire, after all?”

In the end, neither Arthur nor the Daehan Empire had too much trouble mobilizing such liquid assets.

While the guilt of borrowing such a monstrous amount lightened a bit, Lucas pointed his finger at me.

“What you should worry about isn’t Arthur or the Daehan Empire or even that rich tycoon—it’s you. Anyway, you want to pay back that 2700 trillion as soon as possible, right?”

“That… is true.”

“…Hmph, there are ways, though…”

“Really!?”

There’s a way? Really!?

“Ugh, just sit still. It’s half a scam, but… if you’re dealing with stocks and futures, it’s not impossible.”

“………Stocks.”

“Originally, making 2700 trillion from stocks is a ridiculous thought, but if Arthur and the Daehan Empire, as well as Liu, provide information, and invest accordingly…?”

Stocks.

That’s also the reason why my parents sought out that fortuneteller.

It was also the method I wanted to use to escape from that one-room apartment after my father’s business collapsed… stocks.

I don’t have a huge aversion to stocks themselves, but…

I indeed have a strong reluctance to them.

“Stocks are… hmm…”

“Either way, if you don’t invest, we will turn the information in our possession. We’re just sharing it with you.”

“I see…”

…No, still.

I trust my friend, not some fortuneteller.

If my friend is recommending this, it’s not the time to dwell on personal preferences.

‘That said, debt is still debt…’

…But if I’m trying to repay everything before entering the developer’s room, isn’t it the same to receive information?

Regardless of how things turn out, I want to cut off as much regret in this world as possible as I enter, but if the money debt is gone and the emotional debt remains—

“It might be better to accept it.”

“……Crown Prince?”

“If you’re consulting about your concerns, wouldn’t it make sense for you to call for me? The Daehan Empire and Namgoong Min are fated to be together.”

Kim Sung-il, who naturally entered Lucas’s room, placed a hand on my shoulder.

As Lucas and Kim Sung-il exchanged quick glances, they simultaneously looked at me… why does it feel like there’s tension in the air? My shoulder is hurting!

“If it’s about the temporary diplomatic budget handed to you, Eun-ha said to pay it back slowly.”

“But you said you wanted to pay it back quickly.”

“Oh my, then it must be stock trading and futures after all. That’s common sense, right?”

“Is it… really?”

“Don’t worry. You won’t lose everything, right? We’re also investing.”

“The same goes for the Daehan Empire.”

“Right…? Lucas! Crown Prince! Really only you two…!!”

Rustle.

My precious bankbook that I brought along for consultation with Lucas.

It contains my entire fortune…!

“Combining all the money I earned up until now, including tips and other matters… it’s around 200 billion!!”

“Oh, you’ve saved quite a bit.”

Right. I’ve saved quite a bit.

While it’s less than a trillion…! Even less than the amount spent hugging Liu for 10 minutes…!

It’s also money I earned through sheer effort without any scams or tricks, like when Lily was running for election!

“With this… will that be enough?”

“Of course, it will.”

“Crown Prince! I trust you!”

I don’t know why, but I firmly grab Kim Sung-il’s hand, avoiding his eyes, and hand over the bankbook.

‘Stocks! Futures!’

I won’t fail. I trust my friends!

If that’s the case, I can surely pay off my debt!

*

“I’m sorry, our Min. The investment handed over a few days ago failed…”

“…What?”

“Our side also suffered a huge loss. But concerning your money…”

“It’s… it’s okay.”

──No, it’s still too early to give up.

Even if the Daehan Empire side fails, if Arthur’s side succeeds…!

*

“Namgoong Min… I’m sorry. It completely crashed.”

“……………What?”

“I’m truly sorry; I let you down. But if it’s now, you can repay the debt with about 30 years as an exclusive secretary…” Namgoong Min?

“………Life.”

As I watched Namgoong Min’s trembling hands droop down, Rain hurriedly supported him.

…Did I go a bit too far? I thought for a moment.

Even if I’m blamed for being selfish, it was indeed a necessary choice for her.

‘He’s leaving? Namgoong Min? Back to his original world?’

I owe him a debt I can’t express in words. I couldn’t care less about the borrowed money and debts; if he wanted it, I would have offered it to Arthur.

But if he’s leaving. That’s just…

‘That just can’t happen.’

I had made up my mind to wait.

I decided to wait until the day Namgoong Min returned victorious from the duel with Hector Arthur, exhausted, to meet me.

Until the day I graduate from the Romance Academy and marry him.

I was ready to quietly wait and support him.

But still…

‘In the end, I was too soft.’

Knowing that Namgoong Min is returning to his original world, I won’t just sit idly by and suck my thumb.

With her burgeoning superpower, which seems to have reached half a surreal level, I’d follow him to whatever world he ends up in, by any means.

But that’s one thing; it’s deeply rooted in a woman’s desire to have certainty.

‘Is it not… not a violation, rather, let’s take him?’

Namgoong Min is empathetic, and I am innocent within myself. If the two of us merge, with Namgoong Min’s personality, he definitively wouldn’t be able to reject me.

I might have thought of a more relaxed timing, but ultimately, such matters are decided quickly.

For a moment, as I supported Namgoong Min and whispered into his neck, Rain seemed a bit flustered.

“R, Rain? Why are you suddenly there…?”

“You want to repay your debts, right?”

“Of course I want to…!”

“Then… would you like to follow me for a bit later? Don’t worry; it won’t hurt.”

“Are we doing blood donation kind of thing?”

“Well, it does involve some blood? But I did mention it’ll be fine, right?”

“What?”

We’re not going to the bed right now. If we went there, three unaware girls would definitely intervene, interrupting us.

This had to be done discreetly and surely.

After getting a somewhat affirmative response, Rain used her <Superpower> to get Namgoong Min outside the room.

As she smiled and waved goodbye at the closing door, she immediately wore a cold expression.

“Now, come out.”

“……Malicious witch.”

“Did something get thrown in? That’s delightful. It means you’re feeling threatened by someone as twisted as you.”

“Malicious mouth witch.”

“If you’re going to fight, do it after the meeting. I won’t stop you then… But more importantly, Rain.”

“Yes… Crown Princess.”

“Don’t overstep your boundaries, especially not with a married man.”

“……? Understood.”

Rain smiled as if she wouldn’t care at all about the words just heard, while Eun-ha glared at her.

The brief moment of confrontation ended with the appearance of the last woman.

“Truly, nonbelievers are always chaotic. Now sit down.”

“Stop bossing us around…”

“As a mere information provider, shouldn’t I at least be respected?”

“…….”

As Liu, who had been complaining, fell silent and sat down, Rain and Eun-ha also stopped their squabbling and took their seats.

The four students were seated around a small tea table.

This was a combination that had been oddly meeting quite often since the last team event.

The agenda was naturally Namgoong Min, and the focus was undoubtedly on him.

Especially for urgent matters like this one.

“First off, going by the words of the rich nonbeliever, it’s all lined up.”

“…Yeah, Lucas and the Crown Prince were a big help.”

“Looks like our Min is lacking in the financial aspect. He probably grew up without touching stocks or anything.”

“This means the chances of Namgoong Min paying off his debt may have vanished completely. Though it’s not limited to just the debt, we have many things to sort through.”

For instance, a child.

The trailing words remained unspoken as Rain secretly smiled with satisfaction.

“I don’t really like using Namgoong Min’s personality, but… well.”

“What? You voted for it yourself.”

“I’m a saint, so isn’t it natural? The rich nonbeliever?”

“…Truly annoying.”

“Anyway, a success is a success. Now we just have to take care of Namgoong Min’s mental state, but the real question is the next agenda.”

“The next… agenda?”

What? Was there something to talk about other than Namgoong Min’s debt?

Since this gathering was basically centered on Namgoong Min, they wouldn’t talk about anything else, nor did they have the intention to.

But what could the next agenda be?

As Rain’s questioning gaze remained, Eun-ha, who had been silent until now, finally spoke.

“…We’ve discovered the location of the Principal.”

The Principal.

A figure connected to both the <Mediator>, who had forcefully shown Namgoong Min’s past to them, and the fake Namgoong Min.

Particularly since discovering that the Principal’s claim of being out on church business was a lie, the Daehan Empire and the Arthur family had secretly been tracing him.

“The discovered place is the Gate.”

“….The Gate? Of all places, why…?”

“Well, it has to do with us.”

A Gate related to everyone present here.

In no time, Rain spat out the name.

“Dream Within a Dream.”

“To be precise, the last sighting was entering the Dream Within a Dream Gate five days ago. Thus, he should still be inside the Gate.”

Why on earth did the Principal head towards Dream Within a Dream?

That reasoning wasn’t particularly important. What mattered was that it was a ‘Gate’.

“…It’s an opportunity to bury him.”

As Liu mumbled this.

Disappearance within a Gate happens often, after all. However, considering it’s a Gate without monsters, especially ‘Dream Within a Dream’, it certainly wouldn’t bring upon any suspicions—though no doubt it would be presumptuous.

But the Principal is one of the strongest on Earth and a <Battle Wizard>. Even the four students gathered here would have trouble claiming victory if they teamed up against him.

That is, if it was just the four of us.

“If we tell my older brother, we could possibly receive an artifact from the royal family.”

“It would raise suspicion if many entered. If it’s just me and my older brother, it should be all right.”

“If we spread some rumors that something’s hidden in Dream Within a Dream along with a bit of cash, mercenaries will gladly move!”

“The Inquisition will be tough, though. But we can find a way for the saint.”

The Daehan Empire’s princess, the influential figures of Arthur, the rich tycoon, and the saint.

The influence they could wield surpassed imagination. Thus, the plot the four students were fabricating would proceed silently yet steadily.