episode_0072

I went outside with Mister Fosao.

This ‘festival’ suited us much better than the ‘banquet’ that had been boring and dull.

I’d worried that wearing the banquet dress as is might make me stand out. Thankfully, the dress wasn’t as flashy as I’d thought, so I could blend in with the crowd without issue.

We wandered the streets, not caring about anyone’s gaze. It was fine if Mister Fosao stuttered while buying rye bread, and no one looked at us strangely even when we devoured our food without forks or knives. Even without formal greetings, the festival-goers treated us like old friends.

We happily looked around the streets.

There was a shop selling strange hats and masks. After watching the magic show performed there, Mister Fosao didn’t hold back his admiration, asking if such a type of magic truly existed.

Fool. It’s all just trickery.

I also saw a shop exhibiting unusual fish. I peeked my head out to see what was in the tank, only to scream when a fish suddenly splashed water at me. Mister Fosao wiped my wet dress, giggling unpleasantly.

Next, we went to a shop that told fortunes with cards. Mister Fosao seemed very interested, so we decided to go in.

Inside, there was a young woman with a deep veil covering her face. She asked us in a mysterious voice, “What destiny have you come to see?”

Mister Fosao scratched his head and replied, “L-Love fortune…”

“You’ve come to see your love fortune?”

“Y-yes… *giggle*.”

“Then, both of you, please sit down.”

W-what, what, what, what?!

Fearing a misunderstanding, I quickly waved my hand. “W-wait a moment! I didn’t come for a love fortune, only this mister…”

“Then only the gentleman should have come in. Why did you come together?”

“I just came to watch from the side… *hahaha*.”

“Regardless of your intentions, entering this sacred place together is also destiny. Please take your seats quickly.”

“…Yes.”

Unable to do otherwise, I sat down side by side with Mister Fosao.

“I shall tell your love fortunes.”

The fortune teller closed her eyes and picked up a deck of cards. Then, she spread them out on the table with a *swish*. She began to mumble something, shuffling them wildly. As she hummed a song in a low tone, it created an incredibly mysterious atmosphere. Soon, with skilled movements, she gathered the shuffled cards with a *flick*. She presented the cards, only showing their backs, in front of us.

“Both of you. Please draw four cards each.”

First, Mister Fosao drew cards with trembling hands. I also drew my cards in the same way.

“Do not check them; place them on the table.”

We placed the received cards down. The fortune teller began to arrange the cards one by one on the table. In a shape resembling the letter H. Three of my cards on the far right. Three of Mister Fosao’s cards stood vertically on the far left. Finally, two cards were placed facing each other in the center.

The fortune teller rolled up her sleeves.

“Let’s see—first, let’s look at your pasts.”

*Flap—!*

Mister Fosao’s card and my card flipped over simultaneously. The fortune teller, seeing the cards, exclaimed in amusement.

“Oh—!”

It was a picture of a bright red heart with three swords piercing it.

“Three swords. Do you hate the world?”

“*Mumble*…”

Mister Fosao didn’t answer, but the fortune teller explained as if she already knew. “The ‘Three of Swords’ piercing your heart. One is from a woman you loved. Another is from people. And the last one is from the woman you currently love. You’ve truly garnered much hatred throughout that time.”

“……”

“And you, young lady, are like a hedgehog.”

“Pardon?”

“‘Page of Swords’. Nothing is as dangerous as a sword wielded by an inexperienced person. Look. You’re making a face as if you’re about to strike the person next to you at any moment. It means there’s a man you dislike.”

It really seemed that way. That drawing of a boy glaring with a sword was no different from how I used to treat Mister Fosao.

“However, this is merely the past. What matters is from now on. Now, let’s see what’s truly in your hearts.”

*Flap—!*

As if the feelings I wanted to hide were laid bare. Mister Fosao’s card was revealed.

It was a drawing of a naked man and woman. But the card was upside down.

“‘The Reversed Lovers’. You are still displeased. With this world? Or with people? Or perhaps, what has filled you with such jealousy?”

“Oh, is that… not good?”

“No. ‘Jealousy’ can sometimes create a strong fighting spirit. This strong jealousy might even become the driving force to bring about a new lover.”

*Flap—!*

Next, my card was revealed. A child riding a white horse, with a strong sun drawn above it.

“‘The Sun’. Unlike this man, you are truly a kind and innocent young lady. To think you would try to instill new hope again, even after hating so much.”

“What does that mean?”

“The sun drives away darkness. It raises the sleeping groundhog from cold shadows, shines light upon the hermit hidden in a dark house, and willingly becomes a bright hope for those in darkness. The same applies to the man beside you. You wish to become a sun and lead this person.”

“……”

It was true. I hoped that Mister Fosao, who had been discriminated against and ignored for so long, becoming a loner, would become spirited and blend in well with others. That’s why I personally taught him swordsmanship. And promised to teach him how to interact with women.

“Next, let’s see how much you two love your partners.”

My card *flapped* open. It was a picture of a woman holding a staff and wearing a laurel wreath.

“‘The Empress’! Interesting. You will become the ideal woman for your partner, embracing everything with a generous heart. Even if he flees due to his enemies’ schemes, you possess the resolve and courage, with the Empress’s dignity, to firmly repel your foes. You will be a good supporter to your husband.”

“……”

I lowered my head, feeling embarrassed. Me protecting Rits? I thought Rits had protected me… Would it be the opposite if we married?

*Flap—!*

Mister Fosao’s card was of an old man holding a lamp, standing upside down.

“‘The Reversed Hermit’. For someone who has turned their back on the world and hidden away for a long time, deep darkness is bound to seep in. How long have you lived in your own world, with the door firmly locked? Even if a dazzling sun comes knocking shyly at your home one day…”

Suddenly, the fortune teller slid her head forward, leaning towards Mister Fosao. “You would drag even that ‘sun’ into your dark and gloomy house, extinguishing its brilliant light.”

Mister Fosao’s face hardened with fear. Feeling like I had to say something, I hastily interjected. “Excuse me, Fortune Teller-nim—. Mister isn’t that dark of a person. *Hahaha*—. We actually came from far away. If he had just stayed cooped up at home, how would he have even come to Deseo?”

“……”

The fortune teller stared at me intently, then sat back down.

“Let’s move on to the next. Let’s look at your futures.”

With all six cards on both ends now revealed, only the two cards placed in the center remained.

*Flap—!*

Mister Fosao’s card was revealed. It was a picture of a nobleman holding a hawk on his arm, with nine gold coins drawn on either side.

“‘Nine of Pentacles’. If you are pursuing any business, you will achieve great success. And if there is something you have longed for for a long time, you will soon realize that desire. Provided you can properly tame the innocent ‘hawk’ currently perched on your arm.”

“That’s great, Mister! Your business will succeed even more!”

“Uh, uh-huh…”

*Flap—!*

My card was revealed. It was a picture of a red-haired queen with a stern face, holding a sword.

“This is…?”

The fortune teller, who had been interpreting the cards without hesitation until now, paused mid-sentence. It was strange. Even though her face was hidden behind the veil, her extreme bewilderment was palpable.

A moment later, the fortune teller spoke again. “‘Queen of Swords’. Although she will struggle through lonely and harsh trials, she will ultimately find her own justice and establish a new kingdom.”

“……?”

The fortune teller looked directly at me. “You will gradually come to know who you are.”

“Isn’t that… obvious?”

“But that’s all I can tell you. I’ve never seen a fortune like this before either.”

The fortune teller drew one card from the deck. And she inserted the last card into the empty center.

“This is my advice for the two of you. What will appear?”

*Flap—!*

As soon as I saw that card, my breath caught. All three pairs of eyes stopped there, as if frozen in a painting. It wasn’t particularly strange. Because even a snot-nosed child would know it was an ominous card.

“Death.”

A skeleton knight on a white horse. Holding a black flag embossed with a rose. On the ground, countless people lay fallen, bleeding.

‘Death’ appeared as the advice card? This also seemed unexpected, as the fortune teller remained silent for a long time.

In the suffocating tension, the fortune teller spoke softly. “I see.”

“…Pardon?”

“What I can tell you about your destinies is simply ‘death’.”

Above the celestial arrangement of nine cards, the fortune teller explained softly. “All of this alignment and interpretation… is completed by a single death.”

“W-what, what does that m-mean?”

“Gentleman.” The fortune teller glared at Mister Fosao. “If you truly wish to achieve your purpose, try to defeat this skeleton knight with your own strength. When you do so, the sun rising behind these two towers will finally shine upon you.”

“…Ah, I understand.”

Even her final advice was incomprehensible.

“We’ll stop here.”

*Whoosh—!*

The cards that had just foretold our destinies shuffled wildly and disappeared. Mister Fosao took out his coin purse.

“H-how much for the fortune…?”

“It’s not necessary.” The fortune teller pointed outside. “You’re bringing bad luck, so both of you, leave immediately.”

We had to leave the shop as if being chased out. Perhaps displeased by the fortune’s contents, Mister Fosao continued to sweat with a stiff face.

“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it too much—. We just did it for fun, right?”

“Uh-huh…”

“Fortunes are all about interpretation. Even with the same result, different fortune tellers will say different things, won’t they? So there’s no need to be disheartened by something like this.”

I heard that fortune tellers usually speak firmly to men and gently to women. That way, women will be coaxed into getting their fortunes read again next time. It’s a kind of sales tactic. Plus, we got it for free without paying a fortune-telling fee, so it was a gain!

After walking a bit, an area appeared where people had set up stalls and were selling goods. I pulled Mister Fosao’s arm.

“Look over there! It’s a night market! Shall we go get something to eat?”

“Y-yes. Let’s!”

Forgetting the unpleasant experience, we excitedly ran toward the night market.