Ch.7474. It’s Also a Problem When Divination Is Too Accurate

After finishing our meal at the school cafeteria, in the afternoon.

We returned to the new building and stopped at the entrance of the first floor corridor.

“Where do you want to go first? Is there anywhere you’d like to see?”

During the festival, lunch break is two hours long. If we move quickly, we should be able to tour one entire building.

As I looked around and asked, Hwa Nabi, still dressed in her nurse uniform, thought for a moment before answering.

“Yes, I actually have a few places in mind. Would you like to go together?”

“Really? What kind of places?”

Although I’m on the operations team, I don’t know every detail about what each class is doing for their program. Hearing my question, Hwa Nabi suddenly showed a mischievous smile.

“I heard there’s a fortune-telling place on the second floor. Don’t you think that sounds fun?”

“Fortune-telling? Oh, like reading your future?”

“Yes, they say they use tarot cards.”

“That does sound interesting.”

A fortune-teller concept based on personal skills—is that the kind of program they’re running? I heard there were a few program applications submitted by individual students, and it seems one of them was this tarot fortune-telling booth.

“Right? Wouldn’t it be interesting? And the students who’ve been there say the fortune-teller is really good. Apparently, they can even predict the future accurately.”

“How accurate can a fortune-telling booth that’s been open for less than half a day be…”

“Come on, don’t worry about the details. Let’s just go and see—if we don’t hurry, it’ll get crowded and we’ll have to wait a long time.”

She must have been secretly looking forward to it, as she grabbed my wrist and pulled me along. I followed her without protest.

We went up the spiral staircase, past the landing, and through the second-floor corridor, finally arriving at Class 1-D. I wanted to see what kind of atmosphere it had, but the windows were covered with black curtains.

Still, it seemed they had covered the windows to protect clients’ privacy and prevent peeking, as befitting a fortune-telling booth.

“Is this the place?”

“Yes, it is. The place with all the covered windows.”

Hwa Nabi briefly answered and knocked on the back door of the classroom.

After waiting for a moment, we heard a voice from inside saying, “Come in~.”

Creeeeak.

We opened the back door and stepped inside.

“Wow…”

I couldn’t help but be impressed by the surprisingly convincing atmosphere.

They had created a unified concept for the tarot fortune-telling booth by joining several desks together and covering them with purple cloth to make it look like a real fortune-telling shop, which was quite impressive.

“Welcome. Are there two customers today?”

“Ah, yes, that’s right.”

The fortune-teller running the makeshift shop was wearing a school uniform. Judging by the different color of the name tag, they were our senior.

I answered casually and sat down facing the fortune-teller, with Hwa Nabi taking a seat beside me.

“First, I’ll need to collect the fee. Do you see the register next to you? Please write your name, class, number, and sign there.”

It was quite an affordable fee for a fortune-telling shop that supposedly predicts the future. But well, since they’re also giving out prizes after the festival based on the number of visitors who used the program, I suppose it’s a reasonable fee?

With these thoughts in mind, I signed the register and passed it along with the pen to Hwa Nabi.

Once she finished signing as well, the fortune-teller cleared their throat and said:

“Very good. Now, let me explain about the fortune-telling. There are two types: tarot reading and zodiac reading. Which would you like to try first?”

“Can we do both?”

“Yes, that’s fine, but I recommend getting different types of readings. For example, if you get a love reading with tarot cards, then perhaps a fortune reading with zodiac signs.”

“What kinds of readings are available?”

“Well, the most popular ones among couples are love readings and compatibility readings…”

“Then please do a love reading and a compatibility reading for us.”

At that moment, Hwa Nabi, who had been quietly listening beside me, suddenly interrupted.

“Um… sir, are you okay with that?”

The fortune-teller asked me with a surprised look, but Hwa Nabi maintained a determined expression and simply repeated, “A love reading and a compatibility reading, please.”

Well… to be honest, I was curious about that area too. I smiled slightly and nodded.

“Yes. Please do that.”

“Zodiac reading or tarot reading—which method would you like for which reading?”

“Hwa Nabi, what do you prefer?”

“Hmm… let’s do the love reading with zodiac signs and the compatibility reading with tarot cards.”

“Shall we proceed that way then?”

“Yes.”

The fortune-teller demonstrated a casino dealer-style shuffle, splitting the cards in two and mixing them with a flourishing sound.

I briefly wondered if that would damage the cards… but soon the fortune-teller spread the deck face down and said:

“First, the gentleman will draw five cards, then the lady will draw five cards. I’ll draw the remaining card, which will serve as my advice to you both.”

We each selected five cards as instructed. The fortune-teller examined the cards with their faces hidden from us, then let out a small laugh.

“Now, these five cards represent, in order: the gentleman’s personality, family background, financial status, sexual preferences, and how the gentleman sees the lady.”

“…Excuse me, sexual preferences?”

“Yes, is there a problem?”

“No, no. Please continue.”

Hwa Nabi stopped me as I was about to jump up from my seat without realizing it. The fortune-teller nodded and continued the explanation.

“First, for the gentleman’s personality: Ace of Wands, indicating someone full of passion and courage in everything they do. Next is family background, you drew card number 4, The Emperor… this can be interpreted in various ways, but in compatibility readings, it usually represents responsibility and paternal qualities.”

“Hmm… is that so?”

“Yes. Next is financial status, King of Pentacles? This card signifies business success. It means you won’t have to worry about going hungry in the future. And for sexual preferences, Four of Cups, which symbolizes boredom and pleasure… surprisingly, it’s quite an ordinary card. Almost everyone seeks pleasure to some extent.”

I had thought they were just uniquely designed playing cards, but they actually contained rather profound meanings.

I nodded to show I understood. The fortune-teller took a breath and continued.

“Finally, how the gentleman sees the lady… Queen of Pentacles. Kind-hearted, compassionate, and devoted. In simple terms, it means you see her as an ideal wife and mother.”

“Hmm…”

So to sum it all up… I’m passionate and courageous in everything I do, with strong paternal instincts and responsibility, and my future business ventures will be successful?

…Why is the interpretation so positive?

“Now, let’s look at the cards the lady drew. For the lady’s personality: Page of Cups. Kind, gentle, without any rough edges, and with rich emotions and a warm heart… exactly the type of lovable woman that men typically adore.”

“What? That’s my personality?”

“Why are you surprised? It’s all true. You are kind, gentle, warm, and lovable.”

She seemed excessively surprised at what was just a card interpretation. Finding her reaction cute, I grinned and agreed, which earned me a narrow-eyed look and a tap on the shoulder.

“W-what are you suddenly saying?”

“…You two seem to get along very well. Now, next is the lady’s family background.”

The fortune-teller smiled wryly and flipped over another card. It showed a winged angel in the center with naked male and female figures on either side.

“The Lovers, a card symbolizing pure love. It’s usually interpreted as the beginning of a happy love or being in deep love… I probably don’t need to explain what that means, right?”

The fortune-teller smiled warmly and flipped the next card. This one had a peculiar appearance, as if the entire image was flipped upside down.

“What’s this?”

“This is for financial status, Eight of Pentacles, but it appeared in reverse position. Hmm, what this card suggests is… the lady doesn’t seem to care much about her partner’s financial status. Or rather, it would be more accurate to say she doesn’t pay much attention to it…?”

“…”

The fortune-teller seemed to be pondering this because they didn’t know what level Hwa Nabi’s family was at, but knowing the situation, I could understand the card’s meaning.

Well, of course—if your own family is wealthy, why would you care about your partner’s financial status? In a way, it was a perfectly logical card.

“Well, financial status isn’t that important anyway, so let’s move on. The next card represents the lady’s sexual preferences. The card the lady drew is…”

The card the fortune-teller flipped over showed a grotesque figure with a goat’s head, bat wings, a human upper body, and goat legs, holding a flaming torch.

“…The Devil card.”

“What does that mean?”

Judging by its appearance, it didn’t seem to have a positive meaning. When I asked, the fortune-teller answered with a slightly troubled expression.

“Um… well, in compatibility readings, it usually signifies excessive sexual desire. But it’s not always interpreted that way, so you don’t need to worry too much about it.”

“Oh, I see.”

“Ahem. Finally, how the lady sees the gentleman. The card the lady drew is…”

The tenth card was flipped over following the fortune-teller’s hand.

The image on the tarot card showed a sun emitting intense light, sunflowers facing that sun, and a child riding a white horse beneath a wall.

“Wow, The Sun card! And it’s in the upright position, which means it has an extremely positive meaning… it seems the lady really likes the gentleman.”

“R-really?”

“Yes, it’s already a good card, but in compatibility readings, it’s an especially good one. Have you heard the expression ‘hundred years of harmony’? Just as sunlight is strong and eternal, it means you two will have an unwavering, genuine, and happy love.”

“Hwa Nabi, you think of me that way?”

“…I-I don’t know. Don’t ask me.”

I said it teasingly, but she shyly avoided my gaze. Seeing her like this, she really does look cute.

I thought tarot cards and fortune-telling were just superstitions, but they seem to be somewhat accurate.

“Now. For the very last part, let’s check the card I drew. You can think of this as advice from me, the reader.”

“Reader?”

“Yes, the person interpreting tarot cards is called a reader. And you are the seekers, the ones looking for answers.”

After explaining this, the fortune-teller flipped over the final card.

It showed a round green wreath, with a naked woman dancing in the center holding two wands.

“The final card of the Major Arcana, representing The World. Based on this card, the advice I can give you is… trust each other.”

“Trust each other?”

“Yes, no matter what adversities and hardships come your way, you will eventually have a happy love. You might experience some anxiety along the way, but if you trust each other, you’ll be able to overcome it well.”

Trust each other and you can overcome anything… is that it?

It was surely just casual advice, but somehow it felt significant, and I quietly pondered those words.

And at that moment.

-Beep beep beep.

An alarm clock went off at our feet.

“Looks like your time is up.”

“There was a time limit?”

“Yes, if sessions go on too long, other customers won’t be able to use the service.”

“Ah.”

Now that I think about it, that makes sense. Since this is a program they’re running, it’s advantageous to serve as many customers as possible, and they can’t spend unlimited time on one person’s fortune.

“It’s unfortunate, but that’s all for today. If you’d like to see your zodiac reading, please come back tomorrow.”

“Ah, yes. I understand. Thank you for the reading.”

***

-Thud.

We closed the door of Class 1-D with a slightly unsettled feeling. Then I noticed a strange card stuck to Hwa Nabi’s back.

“Wait, Hwa Nabi. There’s something stuck to your back.”

“What? Where?”

“Hold still. I’ll get it for you.”

I carefully removed it to prevent it from falling to the ground and examined it. Though I’m not an expert, it looked similar to the tarot cards we just saw… it showed a man wearing a crown, holding four coins.

“What is this?”

“Isn’t that a tarot card? It must have gotten stuck to me during the reading. Don’t worry about it. There are other customers now, so we can return it later.”

“Yeah, let’s do that.”