I Became a Fortune Teller in the Game My Little Sister Made – Chapter 53

It wasn’t particularly difficult.

That’s what connections are for.

Since Hwang Jin-woo works at an airport owned by the Daehan Empire, I just needed to ask the Crown Princess to grant all the workers a little extra bonus.

Then, I asked Rain and Lucas to buy out the supermarket owned by the Arthur Family’s department store and hand out gift vouchers.

Finally, I requested the Saint to increase the donation for scholarships, and through Instructor Charles Teddy Bear, ensured Hwang Jin-woo would be selected as a scholarship student.

‘Indeed, building relationships was the right answer.’

It may seem like I accomplished something grand, but for the parties involved, it was merely a matter of simple requests.

The Crown Princess just had to tell the airport officials that it seemed like those working with loading and unloading cargo were having a tough time lately.

For Rain and Lucas, a one million won gift voucher was like pocket change.

The Saint had already been planning to increase donations to the Academy, so that was no issue either.

As for the scholarship, it was already a given that Hwang Jin-woo was a promising student who had been on the candidate list.

All these steps were wrapped up in just a few phone calls to the fortune teller’s shop.

Perhaps they thought they owed me something, and no one questioned my requests. After all, they weren’t large favors but rather simple ones.

When you think about it, I was manipulating someone’s fortunes without even stepping a foot out of this confined space.

‘I’m starting to understand what that cultist was thinking.’

Was this the kind of emotion that the bastard who destroyed my family felt?

A sort of omnipotence. The superiority of determining a person’s life with just a few spoken words.

Yet, for me, it was merely a cause for mockery.

‘You piece of shit. You’re different from me.’

That bastard’s actions only brought about the misfortune of others, but I am different. I have to be different.

With that thought etched in my mind, I absentmindedly shuffled cards just as the door of the fortune teller’s shop opened.

This time, cautiously and ordinarily, unlike yesterday.

“Um, Fortuneteller.”

“Welcome, customer.”

Now, there was nothing but a student here to seek fortune, not the infamous Black Consumer Hwang Jin-woo.

However, there was one person who mattered even more.

“………….”

“……….”

Sasaki Kaede entered following Hwang Jin-woo, along with a hulking character whose name I didn’t know.

Today, I absolutely needed to persuade Sasaki Kaede.

‘For the character event.’

To properly get involved with ‘Sasaki Ito,’ a character who was a targetable figure in the female-oriented game “Romance Academy.”

It’s time to make my move.

*

“It’s for others’ fortunes, huh.”

“…Y-Yes.”

“It won’t be difficult at all. Please both take your seats at the front.”

After having an enjoyable chicken meal for the first time in several weeks, Hwang Jin-woo entered the fortune teller’s shop with caution, nudging Sasaki Kaede and Kite along.

“Jin-woo.”

“…Jin-woo.”

“Don’t worry. Let’s just get our fortunes first.”

I had been pondering throughout the entire class today, and no matter how I looked at it, today’s source of luck had to be Namgoong Min’s fortune.

There was no way my life, which had been a mess for 20 years, could suddenly turn around today.

Even if I conceded that the bonus and gift vouchers were coincidences, the sudden increase in donations and the expanding list of scholarship students could not simply be a coincidence.

‘I’ve dug around a bit, and they said the church’s donations and dates were set. The fact that donations suddenly increased on a non-scheduled date clearly means…!’

It’s luck. Financial luck.

He must have uncovered his hidden financial luck.

Even if the fortuneteller moved the church to increase donations, Hwang Jin-woo ended up selected as a scholarship student.

There’s no way to manipulate the selection for scholarship students, so this is definitely luck…!

‘He’s really gifted!’

From figuring out his dire circumstances at our first meeting to his financial luck bursting forth the moment he had his fortune read.

His predictions looked almost prophetic like the rumors said.

So naturally, I wanted my friends to get their fortunes read too.

“Jin-woo, are you really okay?”

“Yeah?”

“That… we’re here to do something shady, right? But you’re comfortably getting your fortune read…”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. Kite, don’t worry!”

“…Okay.”

Noticing Hwang Jin-woo’s sudden change in demeanor, Sasaki Kaede and Kite Blackwood whispered to him, seemingly uneasy, but he was unconcerned.

Of course, he felt secure being with a fortuneteller who was reliable!

Naturally, receiving a fortune reading would also be a huge benefit for Kaede and Kite!

“Well then… Sasaki Kaede? Can I get started with you?”

“Uh? Y-Yeah! But how do you know my name…”

“I’m acquainted with your brother, Sasaki Ito.”

“Ah… my older brother…”

Trying hard to appear delinquent with her blonde hair and heavy makeup, Kaede’s expression changed when she heard her brother’s name.

Sasaki Ito was the family member who desperately tried to stop her from leaving home.

Even now, as she was at the Academy with the same job as a Swordsman, she still shied away from him, feeling both proud and guilty.

“Um… Sasaki-san. You’ve left home, haven’t you?”

“……Um.”

You must have heard it from your brother.

As Kaede was about to take a secret sigh about her brother’s evident worry, the fortuneteller spoke.

“It must’ve been tough, especially at the age of 15…”

“Uh… what?”

How did I know I left home at 15?

The fact that I left home could be something I heard from my brother.

But Sasaki Ito wouldn’t be the type to mention how old his younger sister was when she left.

As a family member, I was certain of that.

“How do you know?”

“I read your fortune. Sasaki Kaede… I see your past, and your future.”

The fortuneteller closed his eyes and began to shuffle the cards.

Even with his eyes closed, the way he shuffled showed no hesitation or mistakes.

With a fluid and captivating hand, he shuffled elegantly, pulling out two cards and laying them on the table.

He never opened his eyes once.

“Would you like to flip them?”

“Uh, uh.”

Flip!

The revealed card was Major Arcana 17, The Star.

Only then did the fortuneteller open his eyes, and upon seeing The Star card, he froze for a moment before flashing a natural smile.

“This shows Sasaki-san’s past.”

“P-Past?”

The Star?

No matter how I think about it, my past and The Star card don’t seem to correlate much.

As I gazed at the fortuneteller with questioning eyes, he offered a slightly awkward smile as he spoke.

“The Star represents Sasaki Ito-san. You never reached that star, did you?”

“………!!”

“No matter how hard you try to grasp a star in the sky, it is impossible for a human to touch it. While stars typically symbolize hope or a wish… Sasaki-san represents someone chasing after such stars.”

Swish.

The fortuneteller casually pushed The Star card aside, pulling another card from the deck.

“…The Emperor.”

“It symbolizes authority, dominance, and perfection. Sasaki-san, unable to follow the star that is Sasaki Ito, must have felt under great pressure.”

Yeah, Sasaki Kaede received countless pressures.

Born into a dojo clan that teetered on the brink of collapse, she and her brother miraculously possessed the job of Swordsmen, carrying the expectations of their entire clan.

However, compared to her older brother, who was a genius in every respect, the younger sister could hardly catch up.

The clan criticized and pressured her: “Just do the same as your brother!” “Your brother wins awards here,” “Your brother accomplished this at a young age…”

Objectively, she was a substantial genius, but the clan was never satisfied.

In the end, she left home, left the clan.

Even dismissing her brother, who tried to stop her until the very end.

“………….”

“What’s the next card?”

“…Your future.”

“Correct. It’s your future, Sasaki-san.”

Inside this small card lies my future.

Realizing this, Kaede halted her outstretched hand all of a sudden.

She was too afraid that this card might symbolize an ominous future.

So…

“Sasaki-san. Are you afraid?”

“………….”

“Are you afraid that your future, decided by just one card, might hold unfavorable results?”

“………Yes.”

Forgetting that she needed to act like a delinquent, not acknowledging that she had just unconsciously used honorifics, Kaede gazed at the fortuneteller with a desperate look.

Was that pleading him not to flip the card? Or asking him to flip it instead?

“The future changes.”

“…Huh?”

“To all those who have asked me to read their futures, I say this: fortunes do not manifest a definite future.”

“………….”

“I merely provide the best advice…”

Flip!

“…The Star.”

“Seek the star.”

“W-What does that mean?”

“That’s the first step for the best future.”

Sasaki Kaede could not utter a word.

The reading she received from the fortuneteller resonated perfectly with her own conscience.

Though this might not apply to the clan, reconciling with her brother was the right thing to do. That thought had lingered in her mind.

However, there was a vast difference between merely thinking that and putting it into action.

Thus, she had been terrified, feeling unexpectedly pushed in a direction she hadn’t anticipated.

“…………”

“Next up is Kite-san.”

“…Okay.”

Swallowing hard, Kite Blackwood was stealing glances at the silent Sasaki Kaede and held his breath.

‘I have my secrets too…!’

Outwardly, he crossed his arms and pretended to be serious, but inside, he was nervous, trembling like a perfect case of exterior toughness hiding inner weakness.

If their family secrets got exposed like Sasaki Kaede’s…!

‘What the heck should I do!?’

Having witnessed the mysterious readings of the fortuneteller, Kite believed in Namgoong Min’s skills without a doubt.

Thus, he was sweating bullets.

‘The Blackwood family’s secrets must remain hidden!’

However, storming out wouldn’t be polite, and being timid, he couldn’t do that either.

If he remained silent, someone would likely split the group, so he needed to keep his reaction in check…!

“You won’t face any major problems ahead.”

“…Huh?”

“As long as you don’t take overly reckless risks, things should go smoothly. Don’t worry.”

Um… What about the Blackwood family’s secrets? What about my past? What about the hidden family drama?

Is this the end?

“Ending…?”

“Yes.”

“…Oh.”

Despite asking just in case, I merely received a definite answer.

Kite felt oddly disheartened as he lowered his head, just like Sasaki Kaede.

Then, observing the two friends bowing their heads behind him, Hwang Jin-woo fixed a determined gaze upon the fortuneteller.

“…Fortuneteller.”

“I understand. You were suggested to do something shady, correct?”

“Ah, you knew…?”

“Of course. I could tell as soon as you walked in.”

Fortunes are truly amazing.

Awestruck by the fortuneteller once again, Hwang Jin-woo quietly bent low.

“I’m sorry, Namgoong Min.”

“Why are you apologizing?”

“I… wanted to threaten you and spread vicious rumors about you, a misfortune that wasn’t fully realized but I still had the intent, so I owe you a sincere apology.”

“……..”

“And seeing you sincerely give fortunes to my friends changed my mind. I was only seeking money to engage in such rotten deed.”

As he spoke, a wave of self-loathing washed over Hwang Jin-woo.

Had I not received that bonus today? If I hadn’t gotten the gift voucher? If I hadn’t been selected for the scholarship, would I still have come to apologize like this? What if my situation hadn’t improved thanks to these arrangements?

Would I have thought there was no option but to go down that rotten path?

Ultimately, since he felt swayed by money rather than any other consideration, Hwang Jin-woo felt even guiltier towards Namgoong Min.

“I want to pay you…”

“You mean the fee?”

“Five million won. That amount is what I obtained by doing something shameful like this.”

I hadn’t received the other five million, so this was it.

Even though five million won was a considerable sum that would relieve me of my rent worries for two months, Hwang Jin-woo felt at peace.

Rather than earn money while betraying my conscience, it’d be better to live a little poorer.

I could just pick up more jobs or side gigs instead.

“Please, take it.”

“……Huh?”

Hwang Jin-woo, offering the bankbook containing the five million won he had valued dearly, smiled warmly.

A smile filled with relief.

However, Namgoong Min responded with a slightly sardonic smile.

“Do you know? The fee should represent an equivalent exchange.”

“…Huh?”

“My fortune is not worth five million won. What I wish for is something else.”

“Something… else?”

“It’s not difficult.”