I Became a Fortune Teller in the Game My Little Sister Made – Chapter 70

Three days after the examination at the Great Lake was halted.

Fortunately for me, the re-examination, originally scheduled for a week later, was moved up!

Thanks to this, I didn’t have to read the love fortunes for Lucas and the Crown Prince!

…Well, it just got postponed by a few days. It feels like a play on words.

“The situation got resolved faster than I expected.”

“That’s true. The culprit was caught on the spot, and since it was an individual act, the investigation wrapped up easily.”

An individual act, huh.

Taking a sip of my coffee, I recalled the serial killer I had caught a few days ago.

Though, to be honest, it was mostly done by the Hero and Rain.

‘The perpetrator was the serial killer, but the true mastermind was Gregory Arthur.’

It seems that, like in a game storyline, the backers remained hidden.

But why? The serial killer didn’t seem to be under any restrictions or have hostages.

Wouldn’t just a standard interrogation (physical) bring everything to light?

I asked Charles Teddy Bear, who was simply idly chatting with me.

“Were they interrogated at the Academy?”

“The Arthur Family requested to handle it themselves. They’re specialists in interrogation and torture, so we handed it over with peace of mind.”

“Oh, I see.”

So that’s where the snag occurred.

Gregory Arthur, although a distant relative, is someone the head of the family trusts. Of course, he’s not an heir or anything, but more like a shadowy figure who takes on the dirty work.

Having a guy like that behind the scenes must have meant the head of the family had one foot in the game.

The serial killer probably spilled useless information before being intercepted.

Since the victim was an heiress of the Arthur family, they had a legitimate reason to interrogate directly instead of going through the Academy.

‘What a pity.’

Gregory Arthur is a villain who continues to pop up in various incidents, to the point it feels familiar.

If I could root him out this time, things would be easier in the future.

But, well, things can’t always go smoothly, right?

And if we think about it, Gregory Arthur is ultimately just a pawn of the head of the family. Unless we remove the head, a new Gregory will simply appear.

‘Anyway, this event ended well.’

I thwarted the aim of stealing skills, and since no students were expelled because of it, it’s a perfect clear!

…Although, even the head of the family, Hector Arthur, wouldn’t try to steal his own daughter’s skills, so it was probably just an unfortunate incident.

Now that I think about it, did Gregory flee in a hurry for this very reason? Of all the numerous students, was it a stroke of bad luck that Rain was the one who got caught?

Talk about being unlucky.

………Hmm, but you know.

“Professor Charles?”

“What’s wrong? Do you need another cup of coffee? I’m happy to brew one for the contributor who directly caught the culprit.”

“Why can’t that contributor take the re-exam?”

“Hmm.”

Down below, a multitude of students were undergoing the re-examination.

Why am I sitting here in the eliminated students’ lounge on the highest floor, sipping coffee with the professor?

“Do you know the reasons for the re-examination this time?”

“First, it’s due to the halt caused by the Skill Thief incident. Second, it’s the active request of Yamato Daisuke, who represents the free student comrades fighting for correct grades and student rights.”

“…Yeah, that long explanation.”

I mean, ‘the comrades fighting for proper grades and student rights’?

Charles was looking at me after abbreviating the name he had clearly worked hard to craft for effective incitement into ‘that long thing.’

“Students belonging to that long thing were eliminated, regardless of the purpose of the exam.”

“Right?”

“But you’re different, aren’t you?”

“………No way.”

Is it because I was excluded due to my reason being a ‘justified’ collaboration?

Other students might have the excuse that they were swept up in something, while mine was that I collaborated to ‘survive’?

‘You’re going to use such amateurish reasoning, huh?’

That’s a great excuse no matter how you spin it. By that logic, the students who were swept up ultimately ‘didn’t survive,’ right?

Yet I was the only one treated this way among all the students──

‘…Is this a warning?’

Just like during the entrance ceremony maze incident and this Great Lake Survival Exam.

If something goes wrong, they stir things up and push public opinion, so I’ve been marked.

Honestly, from the Academy’s standpoint, they can be frustrated that I smashed walls and buildings, and incited students to stir sensitive grading issues.

‘Huh? Isn’t this infuriating?’

…Obviously, I can’t just accept that with an ‘Ah, I get it. I’ll be careful from now on’ attitude.

After all, it’s only the first semester of the first year, and there are countless events where I need to stand out.

So, gathering students to incite them against this unfair treatment must be my ‘duty.’

If you’re going to blame someone, blame the Academy itself for preparing such amateurish excuses that could fuel the inequality issue.

Want to taste some incitement?

“………I should clarify that I don’t hate you or anything.”

“Huh? Really?”

“Instead, I’m quite grateful.”

…Grateful?

Of course, the Academy should be thankful for catching a criminal in the act.

“Our Academy has gained a fresh wind.”

“………Excuse me?”

“Oh, I wasn’t talking about students. I meant the instructors.”

…Why do I feel uneasy about this?

I glanced at Professor Charles, who seemed to be lost in thought, looking up at the sky.

Hey! Don’t act like that’s a flag!

“Our instructors had fallen into too much of a routine until now. The exams and surprise events have turned into recycling of what we’ve done in the past… It started to be handled mechanically at some point.”

“Professor?”

“The maze during the entrance ceremony is a good example. We were foolishly convinced that no student could escape for the past 100 years.”

“Professor? Hello?”

“However, you, as the fortuneteller, have energized us! At first, I was afraid of you. I had no idea how the fortunetelling element would affect the exam, so I was uneasy, and I tried to limit your abilities… That wasn’t behavior befitting an Academy or an educator.”

“Prof, Professor?”

“But thanks to this opportunity, all the instructors gathered for a meeting and clearly reached a conclusion.”

Clunk.

Charles Teddy Bear rose from his chair with such energy, crossing his arms as he gazed up at the sky.

Hey, stop looking at the sky.

“From this moment on, the Academy will no longer intervene in Namgoong Min’s fortunes.”

“Huh?”

“You’ll be free to read fortunes as you wish.”

…This feels wrong.

With the penalty variable gone, it should be a good thing.

So why am I feeling so uneasy?

“Then I can predict the exam content outright…”

“That’s fine.”

Huh?

“It doesn’t matter if you know the exam content beforehand; it just means we need to make it hard enough that it isn’t easy in the exam.”

“………….”

“This should allow the Romance Academy’s exams to develop further. I express my gratitude on behalf of the Academy.”

“……….”

Oh, so.

You’re saying you’ll make the exam hard enough that even if I learn the information by fortune telling, it won’t be easy to pass?

Even if I know the strategies, I’m going to have it tough clearing it?

‘Wait a minute.’

Isn’t this going to completely change all the big tests coming up?

Then it’ll deviate from the game’s original story, right? If so, the ‘fortunes’ as strategies will disappear altogether?

They’re going to create exams considering that someone knows the strategies, only to find that no one actually knows them?

…Isn’t that a disaster?

‘Should I kneel and beg right now?!’

Naturally, grades are a crucial aspect for me.

If my grades drop, I’ll have to stay at the Academy until late in the evening, and only events available for those in the top ranks will be missed.

Above all, I promised the Hero to make him number one in class, so knowing the exam content is essential…!

……What am I supposed to do about this?

“I can see what is worrying you.”

“………Really?”

“If only you know the strategies, everyone won’t be able to receive equal grades, right? It seems the instructor, Yamato, was especially moved by you.”

“………….”

“So, to that end, we’ll announce the exam dates and information in advance. Learning more through fortunes from there is a matter of personal ability, so that’s not a problem.”

“…Okay.”

……Should I feel relieved after hearing this?

I guess I could prepare for the exam since they’ll provide basic information, but…

Nonetheless, this is definitely not good.

‘It can’t just be me and the Hero.’

What if it’s a personal match in a survival format like last time? What if it’s a tournament? What if it’s a team format? What if it’s a cooperative game altogether?

No matter how I consider the variables, having more allies is always better.

‘…I definitely need to involve the Special Class.’

I should actively form the Special Class as my team.

Fortunately, I have some level of acquaintance with all of them, so it’s not completely impossible.

‘…Oh? I could actually pull this off?’

If I manage the favorability well, it should be quite feasible, right?

In the game, having high favorability made it easier to collaborate during events like exams.

And honestly, aside from me, the Special Class kids are all friends I’ve known since childhood, right?

Not everyone is necessarily close, but surely we can rope them in somehow?

You all used a fortuneteller! Let me use you all too!

‘Even if we make a mess, we won’t target each other as much.’

…Now that I think about it, isn’t this a cartel?

The Special Class bands together, and if the Special Class doesn’t attack each other in other teams, it’s basically a cartel.

‘Does that even matter?’

What matters is I need to survive!

The follow-up is secondary!

“Thank you for the preliminary notice.”

“No big deal. It’s also information that will soon be made public… Above all, you’re the contributor that caught the culprit.”

Alright. If I were to summarize the information I just gained into three points, it would go as follows:

1. From now on, the exams will change and get incredibly tough.
2. Thus, I’ll need allies to score well without game knowledge.
3. For that, I must build favorability with the Special Class!

Of course, the ones I need to draw in aren’t just the Special Class.

…For that, I need to have a chat with this gentleman.

“Um, Professor?”

“Hm?”

“What’s your daughter been up to lately…?”

“………Sorry, but even if you ask me, I know nothing….”

Ah, oh.

The once confident demeanor vanished, and the moment his daughter was mentioned, Charles Teddy Bear’s shoulders drooped.

It felt like observing the sad reality of a father with a daughter.

I was about to ask about Eileen, whom I hadn’t seen lately, but that backfired.

‘…Is she avoiding me?’

But why?

I haven’t done anything wrong, nor have I fought with her.

Since the day I caught the Skill Thief, Eileen hasn’t come to the fortune teller’s shop.

Now that I think about it, she didn’t come when I asked for help regarding the Skill Thief either.

‘I was thinking of just waiting it out.’

It seems like I should visit her directly.

Having Eileen, who leads the Fighter class, would be a tremendous help.

As I sorted through my thoughts, Charles Teddy Bear, who had lifted his sagging shoulders slightly, muttered weakly.

“…Looks like the eliminated students are starting to come out. I’ll head down first, so take it easy.”

“………Good luck, Professor Charles.”

“Thank you.”

Favorability.

It’s always been necessary, but it has now become absolutely crucial.

‘If I hadn’t managed favorability well with Charles Teddy Bear, I wouldn’t have received this information early.’

If favorability had been lacking, I would’ve only learned of this change later on, making it hard to address.

However, by resolving the Eileen issue, I could increase my favorability with him and earn valuable information to buy some time.

Indeed, favorability is godly and invincible.

“Thinking about the Special Class…”

For the boys, there are no issues.

I’m on first-name terms with Lucas, I’ve been treated well by the Crown Prince, the Hero is an ally, and the Saint seems to cooperate behind the scenes despite outward hostility.

These guys should be easy to persuade.

‘The real problem lies with the girls.’

Liu Yan, Rain Arthur, Crown Princess Kim Eun-ha.

Just three of them, but each one is tough to deal with.

Thankfully, I’m not on cold terms with any of them, but will they follow my lead without hesitation?

‘I think Liu’s going to be okay.’

Liu Yan is the person most different from the character I saw in the game.

Honestly, I’m not sure about her motivations…but we’ve had some bonding during class or when heading home, so perhaps I can handle it.

‘Rain… I really can’t gauge her at all.’

The most incomprehensible relationship is with Rain. I’m relieved I managed to clear any misunderstandings that made her see me as a strong adversary, but I wonder what she’s thinking now.

Personally, she’s the one I want to resolve a character event for the most, so I want to get closer, but every time I see her lately, she’s been giving me odd looks.

‘What about the Crown Princess?’

Will Kim Eun-ha’s somewhat straightforward personality easily accept this kind of collusion or cartel?

She does have a rigid side, so I feel like she might reject it… but she could just as easily go along with it.

I have no idea how she’ll react.

…Well, no use worrying about it.

The thing I need to do is clear.

‘Let’s move.’

It’s better to take action than to ponder endlessly.

I’ll talk to them immediately after this exam ends!

*

“I refuse.”

“I decline.”

“I’m sorry.”

Lucas, the Crown Prince, and the Saint shook their heads.

“Alright.”

“Understood.”

“Sounds good.”

Liu Yan, Rain, and the Crown Princess all nodded immediately.

“………….”

What’s going on here?

What is actually going on?