I Became a Fortune Teller in the Game My Little Sister Made – Chapter 72

It was by chance that I turned my steps around.

Wandering aimlessly in search of the Saint, I found myself near the home of Charles and Eileen by sheer coincidence.

I simply thought it would be better to talk to Eileen first than to the Saint, who was nowhere to be found.

‘Something’s definitely up.’

Otherwise, a kid who used to come here every day wouldn’t suddenly cut off contact like this.

Even when I asked the other fighter students, they said Eileen looked uneasy and went home right after class.

…Actually, it’s strange that Charles Teddy Bear, her father, wouldn’t know anything about this level of problem.

Well, I guess I’d find out by going there myself.

‘But what if she suddenly dislikes me or something…’

As I walked toward the house in the distance, memories of my younger sister’s adolescence came to mind.

Since it was just the two of us living together, Ji-Soo and I were glued to each other wherever we went, but once she hit middle school, she started shouting “Get away!” and threw tantrums like it was the end of the world.

At first, I was accommodating, but eventually, I got tired of her constant complaints and ignored whatever she said.

Treating her like she didn’t exist made her cry, and I think she gave up after just a day.

‘What a memory.’

I was really angry back then, but reminiscing now, it feels like it’s no big deal.

Could it be that “time heals all wounds” is actually true?

‘…’

…But I guess there are some wounds time can’t heal.

Closing my eyes and thinking quietly, the image came to mind—my parents’ corpses.

They still had me shackled.

‘…Sigh, what good is thinking about this?’

I had to push down these sinking thoughts; dwelling on them would only make me more depressed.

In any case, if Eileen hasn’t suddenly hit puberty and started to dislike me, then I truly need her help.

Excluding the special class, Eileen is the only friend who introduces me to various other students in my very limited social network.

Hoping it’s nothing serious, I finally arrived at the front door of the Teddy Bear family’s house.

Just as I was about to knock…

“…Come in.”

“Huh? Instructor Charles?”

“The door is open.”

How does he know I’m here?

Is this some kind of <Sixth Sense> that fighters possess?

Startled, I opened the door and walked in, only to find Charles Teddy Bear slumped in a chair with a rather haggard look.

…What’s wrong with him?

“Instructor Charles?”

“…Namgoong Min.”

“Is something wrong? Your complexion…?”

“………….”

Hmm.

He turned his head away, keeping his mouth shut.

He looked just like someone who has something to say but can’t because of some circumstances.

It was a familiar sight I often saw while making money as a fortuneteller.

“Instructor, I don’t know what’s wrong, but… you know my skills, right?”

“……….”

“Just give it a shot. Worries are like burdens; if two people carry them, they’re lighter.”

“…………I…”

Creeeak.

“Instructor, can I tell the story instead?”

“The Saint… please go ahead.”

“…Would you like to listen together?”

“No, I will… listen later.”

“…Okay.”

Just as Charles Teddy Bear was about to finally say something heavy, Eileen’s door suddenly opened, and someone walked out.

After exchanging a few words with whoever it was, Charles then retreated into his room and closed the door.

…The Saint?

Why are you coming out of Eileen’s room?

“Saint?”

“…Fellow sinner.”

“What… why were you in Eileen’s room… don’t tell me.”

In an instant, a series of thoughts flashed through my mind.

Are they… dating?

Did she get a boyfriend and stop coming here to hang out?

‘That explains everything.’

The nervousness she showed in class? It’s probably because it’s her first crush, making her all jittery.

The reason she went straight home as soon as class ended? Clearly to go on a date.

Charles Teddy Bear’s haggard look? Of course he’d be like that, knowing his only daughter now has a boyfriend.

‘So that’s how it is.’

Nodding, I placed my hand on the Saint’s shoulder.

Hey, are you good with your abilities?

“Please take care of Eileen.”

“…I don’t know what nonsense misunderstanding you have, but that’s definitely not the case.”

“Huh? You’re not dating Eileen?”

BAM!!!

“Whoa, that startled me.”

Suddenly, a loud bang echoed from Eileen’s room wall.

…What was that? It’s not like somebody punched it in anger or something.

“………Fellow sinner, are you planning to assassinate me with the mace?”

“Pardon?”

“Do you have to be this dense to have such an ability… How fair the heavens are…”

What is he talking about?

Aren’t they dating?

“First, let me clarify. I absolutely am not in any sort of relationship with Eileen.”

“But just now you came from Eileen’s room…”

“I was there for a consultation. Just. A consultation.”

“Oh, I see.”

Thinking about it now, Eileen really hated that Saint, right? They were obviously not going to date.

Also, seeing how Charles nearly tried to kill me when I hugged Eileen the other day, if she actually got a boyfriend, it’s clear he would have gone berserk.

So wait, to date Eileen, I have to defeat Charles Teddy Bear?

What kind of difficulty level is this? I’d be a lifelong virgin at this rate!

“……Fellow sinner, did you come to talk to Eileen?”

“Well, yes, I did.”

“Then… please return.”

Huh?

Why would you say that?

“What do you mean…?”

“Eileen requested that. Most likely… in about three days, she will return to her original self, so please wait until then.”

……Hmm.

Return to her original self, three days, wait.

This… looks like.

‘There’s definitely something going on.’

I have to talk to Eileen, no matter what.

But since Eileen directly said to go back, I have no grounds to force my way into that room. And it’s impossible to get past the Saint.

So I guess I’ll need to catch him off-guard somehow.

“I already promised Eileen that I’d talk to her today.”

“…I was instructed to relay that promise to be postponed for three days.”

“Oh? Ta-da! In fact, I had no appointments at all!”

“……….”

“So I doubt I can trust what the Saint has said about her wanting me to go back!”

“…Ha.”

“I’ll speak to her directly. Would you mind stepping aside?”

“…You are indeed a fellow sinner.”

Sighing, the Saint gestured to a nearby chair.

“Let’s sit together; it might take a while.”

“Yes.”

As I sat down, a heavy silence filled the wide living room.

For a moment, the Saint glanced at the door through which Charles Teddy Bear had entered, then turned to face me with a serious expression.

“Fellow sinner, what do you know so far?”

“What do you mean?”

“I am aware of your unfathomable abilities. Knowing my past hidden deep within the church, that should be certain.”

“…….”

“So I’ll ask you… what do you know?”

Well, saying “Nothing” would probably not be smart.

Still, I can’t just say I know nothing.

“Saint, what difference does it make?”

“…Huh?”

“What I know doesn’t matter; I’m going to listen to your story regardless. Just tell me what you need to say.”

“………Understood.”

Good, I’ve navigated this part smoothly.

What on earth is going on?

“……Saints and Saints are cursed professions.”

“……….”

“In order to survive, they must kill the innocent.”

“The innocent.”

“All <Saints> and <Saints> are born with two personalities. One is their original self, and one is… the personality of the job itself.”

“……….”

“The job’s personality awakens later, around the age of five. That was also the age I set out on my pilgrimage.”

The Saint’s story exceeded my expectations by a long shot.

“Fellow sinner, there are two personalities in one body. Can they truly coexist peacefully?”

“…….”

“At first, it’s fascinating because there’s another ‘me’ out there. Then, we make a pact to use the body for 12 hours each. It lasts for a few months, usually.”

“Few months.”

“After that… quarrels become more frequent. Thoughts differ, personalities differ, and desires differ. To not be able to use the body, the frustration builds up continuously.”

“………….”

“And in the end, only one will remain.”

“…By killing the other.”

“To say ‘killing’ isn’t an exaggeration. The two personalities fight within, invading each other’s thoughts and memories… until eventually, one personality vanishes, leaving only one behind.”

I gazed at the Saint with a resolute look.

So then, you…

“Saint, I need to ask just one thing.”

“Feel free.”

“Are you the Saint? Or are you Raphael Martina?”

“……I see. To be listening to this means… it’s tougher than I thought.”

“Saint?”

“I’m a Saint. That’s all there is to it.”

…I should have cleared the <Saint> character event.

I had seen all the character events, but it was the only one I had given up on because of strict conditions and the time involved.

And it turned out to hide such a secret.

“…Then let me ask one more.”

“Yes.”

“The person in the room is Eileen Teddy Bear. Or is it the Saintess?”

“………Both still exist for now.”

In other words, she is on the verge of vanishing.

Now I finally understand why I was told to wait for three days.

‘Does that mean that after three days, the personality of Eileen Teddy Bear will disappear, and only the Saintess will remain?’

But that means… it’s still the ‘Eileen’ I knew.

“Please continue.”

“……Usually, the job’s personality wins out in these battles of personalities. No, all jobs have won.”

“Why is that?”

“I mentioned earlier that I awoke around the age of five, but I was already five years old, filled with countless knowledge and experiences and common sense.”

“……….”

“It’s confirmed; it seems to be remnants of past <Saints>. Although it’s faint at this level, it does allow the personality to mature a bit.”

“To beat a five-year-old child is sufficient, huh?”

“……That’s correct.”

If that’s the case…

“That’s also the reason why Eileen is avoiding me.”

“Eileen, or rather the Saintess, is closely related to you, fellow sinner. The closer you get to her, the stronger her identity as the Saintess will become, and the more her original persona will diminish.”

“Is such a trivial thing enough to determine dominance?”

“It’s also a sign that you are not ‘trivial’ to the Saintess.”

“……….”

I thought the unusual kindness she showed me the first time we met was incredible.

Could it be that her favorability lock, usually impossible to unlock, was now released since I was deemed a non-target?

There’s no way around it… it seems Eileen actually likes me.

If that’s just an excessive self-consciousness, it’d be truly embarrassing, even giving me suicidal thoughts.

But if Saint is also saying this much and I don’t realize it, that means my sensitivity is at rock bottom.

…Well then.

“I have listened carefully to your story.”

“……I beg of you, fellow sinner. Right now, can you leave so the Saintess can have some time with Eileen Teddy Bear—”

“Please step aside.”

“…Fellow sinner?”

“Saint, didn’t I tell you in the church basement? Have you forgotten already?”

──I’ll assist you.

──…How should I say it?

──That’s none of your concern, Saint. Just trust what I say and follow my lead.

──You expect me to believe that?

──Haven’t you seen it enough? My extraordinary fortunetelling. Knowing everything, predicting everything, achieving everything.

──………A fortune.

──So just believe and leave it to me.

“I’ll save Eileen.”

“………….”

“So please just follow my words. Let me say it once more.”

Step aside.

“……….”

The Saint dropped his head in silence.

That was an ample answer.

As I passed by the Saint, who had even closed his eyes, he whispered quietly.

“…I envy you.”

That confidence is something the Saint, merely a job’s personality, could never possess.

The Saint reminisced quietly about the brother he had killed.

‘Raphael…’

If only he’d met that fortuneteller when he was young, would our fates have also been different?

Yet he realized that if he were that age, Namgoong Min would also only be five years old, and the Saint smiled.

…Tap.

A single tear fell.

It was a tear mourning the brother he had lost.

*

“Ah, ah…”

“Hello, Saintess.”

“Ah, no. No…”

“It’s okay. <Incredibly Useful Fortunetelling>.”

Swish.

“Huh, um…?”

“Now then.”

──Let’s cast a fortune.

As Namgoong Min laid out his cards before the suffering Saintess, he smiled.

It was the same smile as always.