I Became a Fortune Teller in the Game My Little Sister Made – Chapter 228

One day.

After school, in what seemed like an ordinary day when I was just planning to do some cleaning before my older brother returned.

A voice came from the sky.

──”If you become a Hero, I will grant you a wish.”

Suddenly, Jisoo wondered about the voice that echoed from the ceiling.

“Is this the sound of noise from upstairs? …Wait a minute.”

Isn’t no one living on the first floor?

──”You have your doubts. Then.”

Light.

From the ceiling where the voice came, a being made of light descended.

It reached out to a dumbfounded Jisoo.

──”Become my Hero.”

…It whispered.

That was already… over 70 years ago.

*

“……70 years?”

<"Older brother, actually, I shouldn't be calling you that. Though you look the same, I've lived through countless years...">

Still, 70 years.

“……During the times I went for walks or when I came home late.”

<"I was busy being a Hero. One hour in our world was equivalent to one day in this world... Eventually, I ran out of time and had to leave home. That was nearly the last time.">

Becoming a Hero and solving the Gate problem of another world.

At first, I couldn’t even kill a single monster, let alone handle the Gate. Just wielding a sword was difficult, and I cried in pain over a small scratch.

Yet, Jisoo never gave up.

Every time she faltered, it was the photos shown by the Former God that teased her.

“……This photo?”

<"Actually, it was a different photo each time. My older brother's death in various forms: stabbed by a stranger, crushed by construction beams, involved in a car accident... It's horrifying to think about now.">

She couldn’t just ignore it.

The being of light that appeared suddenly from the ceiling couldn’t simply be dismissed as a dream or CGI… because the Former God truly was a god back then.

She could not disregard the ominous futures it showed, nor the divine voice whispering ways to change them.

Jisoo couldn’t turn a blind eye.

Even if it was a one in ten-thousand chance, her older brother couldn’t die.

<"So, I became a Hero to save him. That's already a memory... I've killed countless monsters, closed numerous Gates, and experienced so much.">

Days that were rough and horrendous for an ordinary high school student.

But fortunate or not, Jisoo was different from the usual girls.

She had a steadfast reason and motivation to save her older brother.

<"In the end, I killed even the god of another world who opened the Gate. I thought it was all over. There was nothing more for a Hero to do.">

However.

Jisoo, who had been gentle with her eyes and voice, suddenly raised her gaze in disgust.

That emotion wasn’t directed at her older brother but at a being formed from rifts.

The Former God had already subdued another Namgoong Min, now lying on the floor.

<"You didn’t keep your promise.">

[Such exaggerated words. Why did you say that? I surely froze all the futures where your brother dies.]

<"You didn’t say it would be like this, you bastard.">

The evidence Jisoo revealed was a photo of Namgoong Min just before getting into a car accident.

But Jisoo spoke of a more terrifying truth.

<"That bastard stopped time.">

“………What?”

<"He stopped time just before the accident, making it so that, literally, my older brother won't die.">

With a fierce motion, Jisoo tore the photo into pieces and turned it to dust.

It was a clear display of rage and hatred.

<"Of course. That bastard never intended to let me go. He must have wanted to use my brother as leverage until I completely fell apart, forcing me to be a Hero.">

[Oh dear, usurper. Did I look like such a being to you?]

<"No, you didn’t. Until you revealed your true nature… you played the part flawlessly. Honestly, I never expected a god would perform such petty acts.">

What happened next.

Now everyone knows.

<"So, I took the place of that cult-like bastard. To save my older brother.">

[Still, it’s touching family love. Isn’t it?]

<"You, who have no family, speak of this.">

[………….]

<"But still... I couldn't save my older brother. Even if I became a god as that bastard said, my essence remained human, and in another world, maintaining the stopped time was my limit.">

“…Even now?”

<"Of course, older brother. Even now, time continues to be stopped.">

So, Jisoo thought of another way.

If she couldn’t stop her brother’s death in that world.

Then she would bring him to another world.

<"And thus, I created the Romance Academy. A guide for my older brother to live happily in this world. It took almost 20 years to make.">

“…So what about my other self over there? I’m clearly right here.”

<"That’s just an empty shell. More precisely, I brought your soul here...">

“………I see.”

She didn’t ask about whether the body over there was real or what this body was. It was obvious anyway.

Such matters didn’t really hold much importance.

“So.”

<"Hmm?">

“How much time is left?”

The subject was entirely omitted, making it hard to understand.

But Jisoo smiled wistfully.

<"…One hour.">

“What?”

<"Initially, I could have lasted until you graduated from the Academy, but talking to you is surprisingly exhausting. But that’s alright.">

In the end, she could share everything with her older brother.

That was enough for her.

<"Now step aside, older brother.">

“What… do you intend to do?”

<"In an hour, I will disappear, and that bastard will rise to the position of god once more. I can't allow that. If he's that petty, he’ll surely seek revenge on you. Remember what he did in the Room of Proof?">

“…………….”

<"Before that, I must definitely annihilate him.">

[Ha ha! You do have some admirable words, but usurper.]

The Former God, who had been quietly enjoying the conversation until now, started to move.

Leading a body made of rifts, it smiled with a mouth formed from the gathering cracks.

[Despite being a body on the verge of disappearing, you are remarkably confident.]

<"That’s only because I think it’s enough.">

[Well, it’s not entirely wrong. In various ways… I’ve felt it.]

<"Felt...?">

[Your power has truly weakened compared to a year ago. If not, you would have noticed my intentions long ago.]

With a snap!

Arms and fingers formed out of the unstable body that was made of rifts.

More precisely, cracks gathered to form a carefully displayed shape.

As the newly formed fingers were flicked, a sound echoed, and the semi-basement began to tremble slightly.

Boom!!!

“What the…!?”

<"No, could it be!?">

[Your words truly were threatening, usurper. With that little power you have left, you could easily crush something like me. After all, being a god isn’t just for show.]

<"You bastard...!!!">

[Yet you’ve granted me so much time. Time to contact the emperor of the human world, the principal, and… the pope.]

The walls of the semi-basement crumbled. Like unfolding a cube, the originally existing doors and furniture became flat and spread out.

Beyond the laid-out semi-basement space was…

…a temple.

An imposing temple made of marble columns and floors, something that could only be seen in myths.

[Well, it’s not your fault. Ultimately, it was your brother’s fate. Originally, he was doomed to face various forms of death even if he came to this world, but your interference allowed him to live somehow. Ignoring everything around you and focusing solely on your brother… It was certainly a commendable choice, despite it being a narrow focus.]

How truly unfortunate.

[No, no. There’s no need to say such things now.]

Creak, crack!!

“That….”

In the center of the temple pulsed a black mass.

That was definitely what Principal had created in “Dream Within a Dream.”

“Did you put the Principal to sleep and steal that mass?”

[Oh, of course. That woman was certainly capable but far too arrogant. But please refrain from calling it theft. This was something I was meant to have anyway.]

“What…?”

[Look at my body. This incorporeal form made of rifts. I truly exist in this world, yet I also don’t. In such a body… Even if the usurper dies, becoming a god again may be impossible.]

“……….”

[So, naturally, I must take action.]

Taking action was simple.

No matter how this body had become, I could approach the emperor, principal, and pope and whisper in their ears.

The Former God chose the moment when Jisoo was focused on creating the Romance Academy to act.

[So what I needed was a body, consciousness, and an offering.]

“……A body?”

You can’t be serious?

In that instant, everyone’s gaze shifted to the black mass. It was grotesquely breathing with numerous mouths and hands.

That was surely the monster made by <The Mediator>.

A body devoid of any self-awareness.

[From the principal, I took the body; from the emperor, I took consciousness.]

Wooom!

Underneath the mass, a violet circle was drawn.

That same disgusting scene witnessed in the Underground Prison of the Crown Princess Palace.

The same light from that time.

[And from the pope, the offering.]

Crash!

As if a mirror shattering, the space beside the mass broke apart.

Beyond the color-swirling entrance of the Gate, a wrinkled hand and face slowly began to appear.

That was undoubtedly the pope.

“Oh, is this the temple of the gods? It’s not as divine as I imagined.”

[It should have been the offering first, right?]

“Oh, don’t rush me. I will fulfill the promise clearly.”

Special Skill <Dunce>: <Spatial Isolation>

In an instant, a round barrier emerged, including both the pope and the mass of black.

Just after, a card soared toward the mass but was effortlessly bounced off by <Spatial Isolation>.

“Ugh, cough!”

“Are you alright?”

“Shit… I need to be okay… since I haven’t even struck once yet…!!”

The other Namgoong Min, thoroughly subdued by the Former God, somehow managed to get his body up.

Though his body had long reached its limits, his will remained strong.

“Oh, honored guest. Greetings.”

“…Your Holiness.”

“Don’t look at me like that. Didn’t the honored guest know my essence well?”

[I too approached him to exploit him.]

A twisted utilitarian.

Thus, the pope didn’t recognize the Former God but now aligned with him.

What was important to him was the happiness of as many people as possible.

“The promised offering, a thousand lives.”

[That’s sufficient as a start.]

“A thousand…?”

“A mere handful of misfortunes.”

Where did that thousand come from? It was obvious.

That madman genuinely believed a thousand was a small number, which he must have prepared himself.

“With the death of a thousand, this world regains its god.”

“Pope!!!!”

“That is surely happiness beyond comparison to mere money.”

Corpses began to pour forth.

From beyond the rift the pope had crossed, all sorts of corpses started to reveal themselves one by one.

Special Skill <Dunce>: <Superpower>

Lifting all those corpses with a very familiar power, they were shoved into the mass of black.

[It was certainly… long. Or should I say short?]

<………….>

[You’re not intervening. Saving your strength, huh? Fine, that’s not bad. It would be hopeless if you tried and failed, losing all hope.]

[Then watch from there, usurper.]

[To see how far a god who had his seat usurped can go…!!]

The cracks forming the Former God began to shatter.

As if the very existence itself were denied, the cracks that gave it some shape scattered like shards in every direction.

“Ahhhh!!!!”

The violet circle pulsed, and the black mass that swallowed a thousand corpses screamed.

The shards briefly paused in midair before darting toward the mass, embedding themselves.

“Ahhhhhhh!!!”

The mass shrieked in pain, emitting unpleasant sounds.

But soon the cries faded, and the mass itself began to shrink.

“Ahh….”

The mass that had been so enormous and the thousand corpses were compressed into a single shape.

[This is how it feels to have a body.]

“…………….”

[What’s wrong? Isn’t it a familiar sight?]

That figure.

That, shape.

“Cultist… bastard?”

[Though I could take any form, I thought this one would be most fitting.]

The Former God moved like a cultist was uncoiling its body.

On that face.

With an ugly yet joyous smile, it declared.

[With the appearance of this cultist, I shall kill you.]

[Returning all the humiliation you’ve made me feel in the Room of Proof.]

[Isn’t it the ultimate revenge?]