I Became a Fortune Teller in the Game My Little Sister Made – Chapter 194

Swoosh.

It’s a fortune teller’s shop, oddly spacious for just one person, with multiple chairs arranged for several guests.

Usually, people enjoy tea time or seek consultations here, but I was alone, shuffling cards.

“……….”

Was my choice a bit hasty?

Shouldn’t I have pondered a little longer?

Casting a sidelong glance at the clock, which seemed to tick unnaturally slow today, I scattered the cards carelessly.

That’s an act a fortuneteller shouldn’t do. If that cultist brat saw me, he would’ve kicked up a storm, cursing me left and right for such a reckless display.

Despite cards not being aligned and some even flipped over.

I ignored all that and waved my hand through the air.

“<Incredibly Useful Fortunetelling>.”

Now that I think about it, I haven’t even changed the name yet.

I’d gone through quite a struggle to obtain the Job Skill Name Change Right at the social gathering, but I had forgotten it amidst church business afterward.

“They say you should strike while the iron is hot…”

Rummaging through the corner of the fortune teller’s shop, I finally pulled out a thin piece of paper.

This is the <Job Skill Name Change Right>.

The usage is simple. Just think about wanting to use it and rip it, and that’s it.

Gripping both ends of the change right, I intended to apply pressure immediately.

Sizzle.

“……….”

…The problem was that annoying job-specific quest flickering at the corner of my vision.

[Job-Specific Quest: <Destination (終着點)>

As a Fortuneteller nearing your fate’s end, you now stand before the final door.

Do you have any unresolved regrets? Are there lingering attachments? Is there someone who haunts your mind?

If there is still something left, it’s perfectly fine to pause for a moment. A door is just a door, waiting to be opened.

But if there’s nothing left, if you’ve cast away even the slightest hesitation…

Use the key and open the door.

That will be the end for the Fortuneteller.

Objective: Open the Developer’s Room (Upon completion, the next goal will be unlocked!)

Duration: None

Location: Developer’s Room

Notes: It is recommended to max out the <Fortuneteller>‘s job skill.

Reward: ???]

It was the dedicated quest I received while resolving the Saint’s affairs at the church.

The note about maxing out the skill caught my attention.

‘How many times was it for the enhancement again? Twice, or was it three times?’

Anyway, it must be around that, but the issue is I have no clue about this enhancement’s maximum limit.

Each job and each skill have entirely different maximum enhancements; what am I supposed to do?

‘Besides, even if I enhance the job skill…’

The chance would just slightly increase, and that’s all. Oh, the name would change weirdly, though.

In reality, even with <Fortunetelling> transforming into <Incredibly Useful Fortunetelling>, I’ve never really benefited from the increased chances.

I mostly relied on the core abilities of the job skill itself, rather than following actual fortunes.

‘Still…’

No matter how much it’s just a game of probabilities, if I can enhance it, I should.

I’ve already received the key to the developer’s room, but I’m doubtful about how many chances I’ll have to enhance the job skill.

What’s crucial is…

‘If I change the name now… and enhance the skill, it’s likely to revert back to that ridiculous name.’

That thought kept snagging my decision on the change right.

If I’m gonna change it, I should finish the enhancement first and then make the change just before entering the developer’s room, right?

…No, then why change the name at all? I don’t want to be spouting something like <Incredibly Useful Fortunetelling> in front of others, do I?

“Hah…”

Is this a type of dilemma? A contradiction, perhaps?

Suddenly recalling Lily’s advice, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

It was a worry devoid of any real substance, but── still, it kept me busy for a while.

Thanks to that, the appointment time had already come.

“…Please come in.”

Honestly, I could sense no presence from outside the door, but if it were the girls I knew, they would undoubtedly arrive right on the dot.

As I thought that and muttered under my breath, the door to the fortune teller’s shop swung open swiftly.

Creeeeak.

“………”

“………….”

“………”

“……We’ve arrived, our Min.”

Liu Yan, Rain Arthur, Eileen Teddy Bear, and Kim Eun-ha.

The culprits behind this incident── I waved to the girls, who seemed unusually shy today, offering them seats.

However, unlike usual, I had wiped the smile off my face.

Thanks to the thorough education from that cultist brat, I could create a smile anytime, but right now, I didn’t want to.

“………”

The four girls sat down on the pre-arranged chairs. Though the round table was a bit cramped, they seemed to find their spots without any hesitation as if they were used to it.

As I faced them… they looked small.

They sank low in their seats, heads and shoulders drooped down.

“Um…”

Flinch.

Should I tell them not to hunch down like that? Even as I hesitated for a moment, they were already flinching.

Reacting to every gesture and word I made.

Knowing their usual fiery nature, this was proof they were taking the matter seriously.

After all, it’s up to me to start.

I quickly gathered my thoughts and opened my mouth.

“I’ve thought a lot.”

“………”

“………….”

“………”

“………”

“I asked others for advice as well…”

I could never thank Samuel Lipson and Lily White Rose enough.

Who would’ve thought that these characters, meant merely for comedic relief in the game, would give me such meaningful advice?

At least, I never saw Lily as just a ‘comedic character with a knightly concept.’

Lily’s advice carried a level of sincerity and impact that was surprising.

“In that short time, I did indeed think quite a lot. At the academy, in classes, and at the base… I contemplated continuously.”

‘That consideration itself is a path toward progress.’

Perhaps it’s a cliché and commonplace advice you’d find in books or on TV. It could be a quote from someone unknown.

But I didn’t know about Lily White Rose.

Before she became who she is today, pursuing knighthood, there was a frail girl who had been shunned even by her family.

And because she had such a past, her advice was special, having grappled with herself and transformed.

People find it hard to empathize unless they’ve lived through something.

“And, I’ve reached a conclusion.”

Lily White Rose had said she would support me and Namgoong Min until the very end of my thoughts.

Her voice was devoid of those overflowing knightly ideals, nor did she refer to me as an external advisor or junior… She empathized with me through the pain she herself had experienced.

It was only after hearing her words that I could reach my conclusion.

I…

“I forgive everyone.”

“………!!”

In the end, I couldn’t bring myself to hate them.

On one hand, this might be frustrating and infuriating decision.

But it was solely my decision.

“I shared my past with you all. Frankly speaking, aside from that cultist bastard and Zisu, you all are the ones I’ve formed the deepest connections with in my life.”

“…We’ve heard that.”

“And I can’t discard that bond. Saying that once established, it can be formed again is meaningless. Right now, you all are everything to me.”

“Namgoong Min… -nim.”

“So I forgive you. There were times I was angry and had hurt feelings, but… still, I forgive you.”

“………Our Min.”

Yes, this was my conclusion.

I grew closer to Liu, resolved Rain’s ups and downs, calmed Eun-ha’s desire to kill, and saved Eileen’s life.

I was already intertwined in their lives, and they in mine.

‘Yet we both still weren’t honest with each other.’

I didn’t tell them I was contemplating an ending, that I might leave this world.

And they deceived me to stop me from leaving.

In line with what Samuel said, it was true. I thought it was my fault, but that was too far in thought.

So, I forgave them.

But…

“However, please keep one thing in mind. Just as I value you all, I hope you will respect me in return. An incident like this… once is enough.”

Surely, things will change a bit from our previous relationship.

I wouldn’t rely on them unilaterally anymore, nor would I simply allow them to rely on me.

‘I’m not sure this is the correct path.’

After all, they were my first friends outside of family… perhaps I was overreacting.

But what does that even matter?

‘This too must be a path forward.’

Just like the girl who found an old knightly storybook as a turning point in life.

I just hoped today’s choice would become a way for me and my relationships to move further ahead.

“Now, then, I’ll ask for the first and last time. Is there anything you’ve been hiding from me?”

No longer did they appear small. They lifted their heads and straightened their shoulders, properly looking at me.

Some had tears in their eyes, some let out sighs of relief, some closed their eyes in reflection, while others finally broke into shy smiles.

As I smiled unintentionally at their various reactions, I awaited their answers.

And then…

“That is…”

“I’ll say it. Fortuneteller brat, first of all… thank you for forgiving us.”

“That’s something hard to hear from Liu.”

“Anyway!… there’s something we were hiding.”

…I asked, but was there really something?

I caught sight of Liu, who was confessing with a slightly trembling voice, feeling just a bit wounded in my heart.

What on earth could it be?

“It’s about the Principal and… Dream Within a Dream.”

*

“Um…”

“…Principal, why do you seem like this?”

“Well, why are they talking about me? My ears are itching. Ugh, growing old really sucks.”

“………Yes.”

In the space shimmering with rainbow hues.

In the Gate ‘Dream Within a Dream,’ two young adults were talking, seemingly unaffected by the dizzying sleepiness pouring in.

“So, how’s the condition? Are you about to fall asleep?”

“Thanks to the magic you’ve cast, I wake up every time I’m about to sleep. Thank you so much.”

“Thankful? You’re a great test subject. It’s hard for me to know how effective the magic I developed is. I can’t really experiment on myself; who knows what side effects it might have?”

“…The term test subject is…”

“Oh, sorry, sorry. Was that a bit harsh for a failed experiment?”

That crazy lady.

Another Namgoong Min inside me bit the inside of my cheek, trying to calm me down.

If I aimed a glare at the Principal now, I’d swift receive a slap. Having gone through this multiple times, my body reacted instinctively.

Fortunately, being inside Dream Within a Dream made it easy to calm down. Even just a moment ago, when sleepy spells threatened to take over, all I had to do was let go and let my mind turn white.

As I was managing my expression, the Principal, having just farted, turned away.

“How many days has it been today?”

“…Oh, today marks the tenth day.”

“Hmm, I was worried about what would happen if you went ten days without sleeping, but it seems like there’s no problem at all. Could it be because we’re inside the gate?”

“That might be the case.”

“Well, whatever. The <Mediator> is sleeping well.”

…Sleeping well? Do they really think that?

Yeah, I am indeed sleeping. Eyes closed, body relaxed, forehead resting down, just breathing.

But the figure before me no longer looked like a <Mediator>.

That presence, as if it were swimming through a lucid dream── was utterly disgusting.

“Ha, that horrible old man. Now that I’ve got two billion dollars, I don’t need you? How could someone like that be the Pope? I still don’t get it. Someone with nearly the same power only wants to rot away in utilitarianism without going to the gate…”

“Didn’t you have that insurance policy in place?”

“Huh? Ah, that serial killer I locked up? I intended to use that as a threat to blow up the Vatican if negotiations fell through, but… they blew themselves up in the meantime. A fitting end, I’d say?”

“That…”

“What?”

“Oh, nothing.”

The serial killer who attempted to flee after stealing skills through the Skill Thief at the Romance Academy.

I heard the daughter of the Arthur family was one of the victims, which is why the Arthur family took him in for interrogation and torture.

‘How did they manage to extract the serial killer from the Arthur family…?’

Don’t tell me they have connections with the Arthur family?

Connections strong enough to extract someone who assaulted a noblewoman?

What kind of relationship could the Principal have with the Arthur family──

“Why is some kid like you thinking so much? Like a fool.”

“Huh? Ah, I’m, I’m sorry.”

“Tsk tsk, those <Fortunetellers>… your original variant and all of you lack manners. I’m offering to give you a supplementary class, and you skip it or are lost in thought in front of an adult.”

“I’m sorry……….”

“That’s the only thing you can say, huh? Well, what should I expect from a failed experiment.”

With a scoff, the Principal neared the figure who was ‘the Mediator,’ placing a hand on its head.

The job skill of <Battle Wizard>, <Destruction Magic>, was cast as her hands glowed brightly.

‘…That was supposed to be a skill capable of destroying an entire building, yet here she is, controlling it so finely for human experiments…’

It’s like wielding a missile and only using it to swat at tiny bugs.

The Principal, a crazy lady believing herself special from delusions of superiority, certainly had reached the pinnacle of her abilities.

‘Well, I suppose that’s why she’s capable of creating something like this…’

“Sleep well… Mediator, think of it as an honor. If this experiment ends in success.”

An unusually crooked smile from the Principal.

With a hand that was irresistibly kind, she caressed the head of the Mediator.

“You will become a being that can live forever.”

And that… would become a stepping stone for the Principal’s wishes to come true.