I Became a Fortune Teller in the Game My Little Sister Made – Chapter 88

“……Is it really going to be okay?”

“If it’s that fortuneteller brat, it should be fine.”

On a starry night, a hotel overlooking the Arthur Mansion.

The Crown Princess, unable to hide her anxious demeanor, sighed and put down her glass.

How on earth can I calm down?

Over there, a competent student and aspiring royal fortuneteller—

And… her friend Namgoong Min is risking his life.

“I was trying to stop him… to think he’s dueling against Hector Arthur…”

“………”

“He’s not some random guy; he’s a hero who even shattered meteors in his youth…”

“……Crown Princess.”

“…What is it?”

As the Crown Princess continued to worry and regret, Liu, who was sitting across from her, opened her eyes.

For a moment, doubt flickered across the Crown Princess’s face at Liu’s seemingly relaxed expression.

Liu looked out the window toward the Arthur Mansion.

“Did you see that idiot recklessly causing trouble?”

“That’s….”

The entrance exam, the first class, assassination threats, survival, and the Great Lake skill thief incident.

In every situation, the fortuneteller acted foolishly and boldly, but it never turned out wrong.

Thanks to that mysterious fortune-telling and perhaps the captivating way of speaking that draws you in.

Yet, the Crown Princess couldn’t shake off her anxiety even with Liu’s words.

“…I should go and talk to him now. Killing Namgoong Min, an important figure in the Daehan Empire, would—”

“But then the issue of that psychic girl’s engagement would also go down the drain. A duel is something you risk your life for; no one would understand a duel that guarantees survival.”

“I’d rather have it that way…”

“We’re less than three days from the engagement ceremony. If the duel becomes meaningless during such a time, can you predict what that fortuneteller will do? No, more than that.”

Liu’s sharp gaze pierced through the Crown Princess, not the window.

…It was a sight the Crown Princess had never seen in her long time of knowing Liu.

“Would Namgoong Min want that?”

“………”

“You sent him away in the first place didn’t you? So now…”

“…Now what?”

No way.

The Crown Princess’s eyes widened as she guessed the words Liu was about to swallow.

Is that really what they’re saying? Of all people, Liu Yan?

This severely suspicious person…?

“…I have no choice but to trust.”

“……Oh my.”

I’ve lived long enough to hear someone say they trust someone from Liu Yan’s mouth?

The Crown Princess was momentarily dazed, only to realize this was reality and chuckled lightly.

“I’m not trying to tease you, but for that rich tycoon to trust someone, it’s no joke no one would believe.”

“…It can’t be helped. That damn fortuneteller already left… All we can do is believe and wait.”

“….”

Just a little, just a tiny bit.

The Crown Princess felt she could understand what Liu was feeling.

‘You mentioned desire for ownership.’

She remembered vividly the conversation in that back alley.

How Rain Arthur and Liu Yan harbored twisted and dangerous feelings toward Namgoong Min.

Rain had deficiency; Liu had the desire for ownership.

They were feelings that the Crown Princess, who proudly considered herself normal, couldn’t comprehend…

‘The only person that suspicious rich tycoon can trust…’

…Well, it wouldn’t be surprising if they wanted it.

Wouldn’t they want to offer their trust while keeping them close?

Liu had often shown signs of exhaustion from her doubts about others.

That’s why the Crown Princess snickered.

Even if so, she had no intention of placing Namgoong Min as mere decoration in Liu’s showcase.

Of course, as a ‘friend.’

It was then.

“……Huh?”

“…Huh?”

──A gigantic green arrow shot up into the night sky and soon fell.

A brilliant blue flash enveloped Arthur Mansion and reached the distant hotel, shining brightly.

“……….”

“………….”

Even if such a thing occurred, the police or military wouldn’t respond. They had already informed the French government of the upcoming duel.

That was a legitimate duel, and since it was happening on Arthur’s private property, no one could interfere.

That clear fact even made the Crown Princess break into a cold sweat.

‘…You must come back no matter what.’

Victorious and alive.

Definitely.

“………Fortuneteller…….”

And then.

Liu’s eyes shook.

…Continuing.

*

Boom!! Kaboom!!!!!

“Cough!”

A blinding flash obscured my vision, and a deafening explosion erupted.

A giant tree was uprooted, rocks crumbled like sand, and the ground trembled.

To think all this destruction is caused by just an arrow?

I can’t believe this—oh no!

‘That was almost my end just now…!’

Thanks to the excessively activated <Observation> and the still-effective <Maiden's Breath>, <Eating Artifacts>, I managed to prevent the arrow from piercing my solar plexus, but arrows continued to rain down everywhere.

I was already on the brink because of the <Formless Arrow> that fell from the sky just a moment ago.

‘There are too many!’

The arrows flying straight at me like a machine gun are just appetizers.

Arrows shot into the sky are falling right above my head.

Suddenly shot towards a tree, the arrow bounces off and is sent flying toward me.

They keep shooting at my path, forcing me to halt.

Clearly, this was a masterful technique in battle.

But I…

“You’re so needlessly brave.”

…Had no choice but to keep charging forward.

I enhanced my physical abilities with an artifact, but that’s all I have.

I have no long-range attacking means, so I have to get close and fight somehow…

“Gah!!”

With arrows aiming at me while I charge, even if I somehow close the distance, I can’t defeat Hector, who swings a longbow.

Honestly, the arrows can pierce my body enhanced by artifacts, but if it weren’t for that, I would have died long ago.

Yet even so, the reason I keep trying to get unreasonably close is that…

“……!!”

Ah, I was just about to grab his shoulder. All I managed was to tear a bit of his suit.

…For a brief moment in this chaotic fight, I realized Hector’s physical abilities were surprisingly subpar.

Shooting a bow requires conditioning the arms, waist, and legs, so while he is fit for his age, he is clearly at a disadvantage against me in this situation.

If he had trained diligently like Scarlet Redfield, it might be different, but a man who hasn’t touched a bow for over ten years cannot outdo age.

Even for someone with a job, aging is impartial.

At over sixty years old, it can’t be helped.

Which means that if I can properly catch Hector, I might be able to subdue him in one go…

“Ugh!!!”

Ping! Ping! Ping!

……I can win, but…

Hector’s footwork is incredibly swift, like a true archer, making it hard to close in on him.

Even though the forest is dense, the arrows aimed solely at me are an extra challenge.

Well, I don’t think there’s any way to win the duel like this.

For now, I need to lead Hector to that spot until the effects of the artifact wear off—

“Surprisingly inexperienced.”

“……!?”

Shh-shh-shh—!!

What’s this…?

…A thread?

Ping! Ping! Ping!

“Th-this…!”

There’s some string tied to the end of the arrows.

At night, deep within a forest, I hadn’t noticed with my <Observation> focused on Hector.

Before I knew it, arrows were embedded in the trees and ground, and the threads were ensnaring my body.

‘And this string is tough!’

With my current strength, it’s difficult to break free?

I could manage to sever it if I focused, but the speed at which Hector fires arrows is far faster than my efforts to cut the strings.

No longer do the arrows aim at me. They start shooting around, entangling the strings to bind me.

…In less than a minute, I couldn’t even lift a finger.

No matter how hard I try, the strings constrict tighter with no sign of breaking.

And then.

Hector draws an arrow aimed at me.

Only then did I realize where the strings originated.

“…Don’t tell me, from my ripped suit…!”

The torso of my suit that I had torn earlier is completely gone.

Are you saying he managed to untie the threads of my suit and shoot them while maintaining his rapid-fire speed in that desperate situation?

Is that even possible?

“Lack of experience, indeed.”

Dressed only in a white shirt, Hector keeps his serious expression as he aims an arrow at my brow.

Shwip.

“Ugh!?”

Swish! Swish! Swish!

He targets only my brow.

Continuously shooting at the same spot.

Most arrows fall without penetrating my enhanced skin, but after over twenty, the wounds start to accumulate.

At this rate, it’s just a matter of time before he pierces through my brow──

“You’ve already lost.”

“………What?”

“You’re finished. Once you’re in this dire situation, it’s already over. So surrender.”

Hector’s eyes gleamed as he tried to sway me.

Yet he still holds the arrow drawn back.

“If you surrender now, I’ll arrange a marriage with Rain for you. I’ll even provide a decent family.”

“………….”

“That’s how much I crave you. I wouldn’t want to lose a talent that could greatly benefit the family over a fleeting emotion.”

“……….”

“Just say one word. Admit defeat.”

…Admit defeat? Marry Rain?

What a resilient guy. Does he really want me that badly?

Ah, well, sure. I could surrender.

But.

“Apologize.”

“Huh?”

“Are you going to apologize to Rain?”

“……….”

Silence was a splendid answer.

That’s fine by me.

What I’d say was already predictable.

“Get lost.”

“That’s unfortunate.”

Ping.

As I rejected him, Hector let go of the string without a moment’s hesitation.

Even though I instinctively prepared for the second <Formless Arrow>, I felt a sense of impending doom when Hector drew his arrow.

Flame.

“…Huh?”

Fire.

Flames blaze up.

Consuming arrows, engulfing threads, devouring the forest.

Even me.

The flames of a <Warlock> ignite.

“This is… Lucas’s…!”

Realizing it wasn’t a natural occurrence, Hector widened his eyes.

As he realized the flames were not of nature, he hastily released a <Formless Arrow>—

“Didn’t I tell you to get lost?!”

“Ugh, cough!!”

Wham!

…Ouch, that’s seriously hot.

How strong was Lucas to conjure such a spell?

But thanks to that, I managed to land a hit on the family head’s face, so I can only be thankful.

“Cough……!”

Hector, bleeding and staggering, looks at me with fierce eyes.

In that moment, I should rush in for a follow-up attack.

‘…The effect has worn off.’

Just as the ten minutes had come to an end. What an unbelievable timing.

My entire body aches, blood trickles from my brow, and burns cover my body.

Hector, bruised from one hit, and me, a wreck.

As I catch my breath, I notice Hector, his cheek torn and swollen, glaring at me.

With a smile, I said to him.

“Say it, that you lost.”

“………What?”

“Is your vision still holding? Your brain must be rattled. How would you hit anything in such a condition?”

“……….”

“So, before I genuinely kill the family head, surrender. Didn’t I tell you? If you kneel, at least I’ll spare your legs.”

“…Ha, ha! Hahaha!!”

Haha, ahh!!!

He cast aside all that grave demeanor and, bleeding, he laughed loudly.

With a wild smile filled with fury, he raises his longbow.

“I can understand how you felt. I apologize for earlier.”

“……….”

“Then I’ll repay you.”

Creak.

Hector, trembling and with blurred vision, notched another arrow.

It was a smile that revealed his true nature he had hidden.

“Get lost.”

“That’s regretful.”

Ping!

He releases an arrow. But it doesn’t hit.

I step forward with my trembling legs.

Ping!

Again, he shoots. This time it grazes my shoulder.

Gripping my shaking legs, I slow down and run.

Ping!

Another arrow shoots. Bad luck or not, it pierces my forearm.

Once I start running, even without putting strength into my body, I continue to dash.

So I run and run until…

With Hector’s erratic shooting—

“Where do you think you’re going!!!”

Furious, Hector abandons the arrow and swings the longbow instead.

But it doesn’t hit.

I never intended to run straight at Hector.

Whoosh.

The longbow swings through the air.

I dart past him, heading toward the back.

“………Huh?”

Only then did Hector seem to realize how far he’d come.

Starting at the mountain peak, he came down the trail, and now before him stood a certain building.

The very old annex of the Arthur Family he had sought out himself.

“……….”

And there, standing before the wide-open annex door, the fortuneteller grins.

Despite trembling all over and catching ragged breaths, I stood confidently.

“If you’re scared, you don’t have to come in.”

Raising one hand, I waved my finger at Hector.

It was a perfect provocation.

“…You bastard?”