I Became a Fortune Teller in the Game My Little Sister Made – Chapter 191

To Liu Yan, a dagger was like another version of herself.

It was the dagger that she first used to stab a debt collector, and it was also the dagger that she used to kill the corrupt police officer who tried to turn her into an economic criminal as she just stepped into the business world. Plus, it was the dagger that tortured her political rivals while mangling their reputations in the court of public opinion.

Unintentionally, the dagger had become a symbol of the “Rich Tycoon” in both politics and business.

It was around that time she first utilized the artifact “Crowd Parting.”

With her status already solidified, she used a non-lethal dagger artifact as a means to project a softened demeanor to the outside world.

Although deep down her real emotions hadn’t dulled one bit and were actually rotting away, as a wealthy tycoon, she must acknowledge public sentiment.

Especially since the entrance requirement for places like the Romance Academy, filled with students who’ve never tasted blood, was that they use “Crowd Parting.”

The hypocrisy of the academy admitting her through huge donations was laughable, and no one knew just how much Liu had chuckled upon hearing that.

Thus, during academy events, tests, and whenever she went out, she always carried her dagger with her.

And right now, the one she was holding was the same.

“…….”

Seeing the dagger in her hand momentarily left Namgoong Min speechless, and Liu whispered to him.

“I’ll say it again. Just give up. On paying that debt and on returning to the world I came from. Just give up and live.”

“……Liu.”

“It may sound reckless, but I don’t care about your feelings or thoughts. I just want you by my side. I’m being stubborn because I don’t want you to leave.”

Stubborn.

Literally, it was stubbornness.

Ultimately, the choice lay with Namgoong Min. Thoughts of swinging the dagger were nowhere to be found.

Honestly, right now, standing in front of Namgoong Min with the dagger—

‘You can’t tremble…….’

It felt as if the time when Namgoong Min was kidnapped, bleeding and on the brink of death due to that despicable Wang Fei was overlapping with the present.

Liu gripped her trembling arm and ragged breath, holding on with all her might.

In order to act strong, even if it meant Namgoong Min would resent her, she wanted to hear a definite answer.

Apology could come after. Forgiveness could be asked for later.

But for now, right here.

Please just nod your head.

“…….”

“Answer me right here…….”

Holding a dagger she wouldn’t swing, and wearing a face that seemed to contain unsaid curses.

Displaying anger that was insignificant compared to her love for Namgoong Min.

Though she was a “Rich Tycoon” rather than an “Actor,” Liu was confident.

After all, she was Namgoong Min’s first friend, the first person he approached. Liu Yan was that person.

They had grown close and shared a year together.

So.

The fact that Namgoong Min was agonizing over such a matter…… Liu could not understand.

“…….”

“Why…… why are you doing this? Is it because of your younger sister?”

“……Jisoo is…….”

“You could just bring her to this side! Why do you have to cross over? Why must you leave!!”

Clang!

Though it was a dagger she wouldn’t swing.

Drawing it was still possible.

“Just answer! Say you understand, say you’ll do it! Even if it’s a damned lie, or a wretched hypocrisy, just answer me!”

“………I can’t lie…….”

“Dammit! I know you’re that kind of person; you’re annoyingly broad-minded, absurdly responsible, and genuinely confrontational!!”

How could she forget?

During the first semester at the Romance Academy, when Namgoong Min approached her, Liu had interrogated him.

Why did he want to get closer? Who was prompting him? What were his intentions?

At that time, Liu was intensifying her suspicions and exhausting herself, responding with all her thorny demeanor. She remembered every word and the malicious expression she had thrown at him.

And Namgoong Min had…

──”Liu, I want to be friends with you.”

He had confronted her so honestly.

Though it was ridiculous then, in retrospect, it took incredible guts.

To genuinely confront someone who always responded sharply?

It might sound romantic, but it created communication problems.

Having grown tired of people who initiated normal communication by trying to ease her mood, Liu likely resonated with that method.

……It was one of the first memories that came to mind when she began to organize everything about Namgoong Min on paper.

Even now, that memory lived warmly inside Liu.

So she couldn’t be unaware.

Even in front of an impossible debt of 2.7 trillion, one that couldn’t possibly be paid off through any means.

Namgoong Min refused to give up as if there were no tomorrow, working stubbornly from dawn onwards.

Undeniably, Namgoong Min was a dedicated hard worker who always tried his best.

And it was Namgoong Min’s nature to take responsibility for what he borrowed and repay it.

“I fell for that side of you, so I know full well.”

“……….”

“I know so well…… so just bend a little this once. Please.”

And because of that.

As soon as Liu finished saying that, she already knew the answer.

Even though she hadn’t heard it yet.

It felt as if she could hear Namgoong Min’s answer echoing.

‘I’m sorry……’

“I’m sorry, Liu.”

“………I knew it, huh.”

“I can’t ignore my debt. I told you about my past. It’s because my parents relied on a cultist that I don’t want to escape from that problem.”

“……I’ll never pressure you to pay it back.”

“It’s a matter of my heart. I’m really…… sorry.”

With a serious expression, Namgoong Min lowered his head and looked once at the dagger in Liu’s hand before shutting his eyes tightly.

Did he not care if he got stabbed? Was it a sign he was resigned?

In any case, it was pointless. Liu wouldn’t stab Namgoong Min.

So, instead of swinging the dagger, Liu opened her mouth.

“Are you really trying to go back? To that original world? To your younger sister?”

“………I’m not sure if I’ll really return. But I don’t know what will happen after meeting Jisoo.”

“You mean that there’s a chance you won’t come back?”

“……I might come back.”

“………Ha, haha. You’re still…… you’re still being honest with me till the end.”

At this point, it felt like her head was cooling down instead. She looked at Namgoong Min, who lowered his head, seemingly calmer.

Objectively, Liu could think of many ways to keep Namgoong Min.

Just a flick of her finger could send people to forcibly confine him.

Using artifacts to make him mentally dependent was also an option.

And using brute force to break his limbs would make him unable to move at all.

It would be easy to lock him away in a fake village where she had stopped construction after realizing her feelings for Namgoong Min.

Yet all those methods were merely blocked by the single obstacle called love.

In front of Namgoong Min, Liu was just a woman, not a Rich Tycoon.

So Liu.

“………Hic, hic.”

“……Liu?”

“Why…… why are you doing this…… you awful person…… I’m begging you like this, speaking like this…… can’t you just do it…….”

She simply couldn’t restrain her tears.

To be precise, she didn’t even attempt to.

Once the layers of being a Rich Tycoon and her suspicions were stripped away, what remained was Liu Yan alone.

The only ones to have seen her delicate heart were Namgoong Min and her deceased family.

Because it was only in front of Namgoong Min that Liu could cry.

Clang!

“I’ve done wrong…… I don’t need this dagger…… I won’t swing it at you…….”

“L-Liu?!”

“I’m just begging you…… please, please don’t leave…… it’s a request…… please……!”

As she cried and tossed the dagger away, Namgoong Min hurriedly supported her and held her tight.

Basking in that reassuring embrace, Liu let her tears flow endlessly.

As if she were trying to expel all the sorrow she had endured up till now.

“Then, I mean……!!”

“Stop whining about your younger sister!! That girl’s going to end up with some other guy and leave your side anyway! Even if you say you’re going back, in the end, you’ll be alone!!”

“That’s…”

“I’m right here! I’m the girl who confessed despite being embarrassed, saying I’d spend a lifetime with you! I know it, I’m an annoying girl. I’ve been pressuring you with my suspicious nature, being all possessive! I know it all!”

“……….”

“But I can’t help but like you. I really wanted to die the first time you rejected my confession…… but I still stayed by your side….”

“……Liu.”

“So don’t go. Live your life with me forever….”

It was a kid-like whine. She was just crying and throwing a tantrum.

But that was Liu’s only remaining option.

If by just crying a little, by just throwing a fit, she could make him stay, then Liu could repeat this act endlessly.

While appearing to be sobbing pitifully, she calmly contemplated the current situation.

This was a contradiction born during her journey to survival in the business world at a young age.

And at the same time, it reflected how cornered Liu felt.

Therefore, every word she uttered amidst her tears was sincere.

No one could see or hear it, but.

Only to Namgoong Min could she reveal her true feelings.

“……Calm down, Liu. Now’s not the time to go back.”

“……Sniff, ugh….”

“There’s still the Principal, the Emperor, and the other me yet to contend with… and the promises with the Hero, Rain’s matters, and the conversations we need to have… there’s not much, but we still have time.”

“That’s…?”

“I can’t give you a definite answer right now, but… I’m also thinking about it. Without Jisoo, I have no lingering attachments to that world. Still, what drags me back could be nostalgia, or perhaps something else.”

“…….”

“Perhaps it could be an escape from reality. But I don’t want to ignore this feeling. However… if I truly have no lingering attachments to that world.”

“…….”

“Then I’ll naturally have to remain in this world and meet you, Liu. So….”

Slightly pulling Liu away from his embrace, Namgoong Min,

With a smile that wasn’t the usual one of a fortuneteller but one filled with genuine warmth, looked into her eyes.

“When that time comes, I will accept your confession.”

“……Huh?”

“I mean, who wouldn’t like a beautiful and wealthy girl like you? There’s no man who would dislike that.”

……In that moment.

Liu’s mind went blank at Namgoong Min’s reply, and she momentarily dazed.

Confession, accepted? Marriage? Beautiful? Rich? Likes me? Really?

Although she had thought of confessing again and getting married someday, she never imagined it would come out in this moment.

Caught off guard by the sudden declaration, Liu asked.

“Hey, promise? This is a promise, right? You won’t doubt me? You’ll suppress your suspicion??”

“Of course.”

“Ha, haha. Haha! Then we’re on day one starting today, right? You’re officially my boyfriend now!”

“That’s, after I confirm my lingering feelings for that other world──”

“No, no matter what! You accepted my confession, it’s true, right? Isn’t it?”

“Well, yes──”

“Good! So it’s a celebration of day one! I’ll wipe the slate clean for everything I lent you! I didn’t keep any formal records anyway, so there were never any IOUs from the start!”

“Uh, yeah?”

“Ah! So what should we do now that we’re a couple? Should we hold hands and walk? Or should we rent a theater and watch a movie together, that wouldn’t be bad either! Or should we just head to a hotel first?”

Snicker.

In the blink of an eye, Liu stopped her tears and literally bounced for joy. She threw a fist in the air, grinned widely, and darted forward only to retreat, expressing her delight without holding back.

‘Starting today, day one…!’

Above all, the happiest thing was that— she was ahead of that vile girl, the Violent Crown Princess, and those irritating holy maidens. No matter how many girls might cling on, Liu would always be number one.

Having wrapped up all calculations, Liu was ecstatic over this unexpected gain.

And then suddenly.

“It’s a feeling! I’ll also return your wealth!”

“Huh?”

“That was actually just an act! Your 100 billion is safely in my vault…!”

“……Huh?”

Ah.

……Ah.