Chapter 41
Why Are You Here? (2)
『 Translator – Divinity 』
Liu Yan couldn’t bring herself to step forward.
She had already called out to him once, but she couldn’t open her mouth again.
‘…Namgung Min.’
The fortune teller whom Liu Yan was constantly suspicious of, investigating again and again, who always seemed relaxed and smiling, whose thoughts she couldn’t grasp, yet who seemed to know her thoughts well.
He was agonizing, holding his head in his hands.
…It was the first time Liu Yan had seen him like this.
‘Why? What do those words mean?’
The words that Mander-something conveyed. Even Liu, who was secretly hiding outside the fortune-telling shop, heard them.
They were the words of someone who seemed to know Namgung Min well.
‘As far as I know, Namgung Min had no friends before entering the academy.’
Not just friends, he didn’t even have anyone you could call an acquaintance.
His parents died long ago, and he lived alone as an only child until he entered this academy.
It was just surprising that he was always smiling despite that.
‘There’s… something I don’t know.’
The job of <Billionaire> was not just for show. She had spent tens of billions of won on investigating Namgung Min alone.
She hired all sorts of private investigators, bribed various intelligence agencies, and persuaded and bought off countless people.
The result was a document that could be called a person’s entire life, but…
‘You were still smiling in front of that.’
At first, she was flustered and intensified the investigation.
And Liu had been convinced.
That it was all a bluff.
Because no matter how much she investigated and dug, nothing came up.
It must have been after that day.
That Liu Yan intentionally approached Namgung Min.
‘I deliberately cooperated with you, talked with you a lot, and got close to you.’
Even if it was a bluff, just in case, Liu herself approached Namgung Min to find out everything.
Her suspicion of Namgung Min was deepening to the point where she had to personally step in, and despite the bluff, Namgung Min’s individual abilities were more outstanding than anyone Liu had ever seen.
The boldness and decisiveness to step up when needed, the eloquence and charisma to gather people, and above all, the confidence he had in himself.
He was someone worthy of Liu Yan’s approach.
‘It was the same in that mountain.’
At that time, Liu found a clue. A clue to Namgung Min’s fortune-telling that could be called a prophecy.
He didn’t use any fortune-telling tools, didn’t perform any fortune-telling actions, just stayed still, and then suddenly knew.
Fortune-telling was an excuse, and it was clear he was using some other method. So she questioned him.
‘And she ruined it herself.’
What was she thinking? Why did she do that?
Why did she stop Namgung Min, who was about to reveal his secret?
Why did she… intentionally try to keep being suspicious?
She knew it too. She was tired of suspicion. Being suspicious was tiring, annoying, and disgusting.
That’s why she was trying to clear her suspicion of Namgung Min. That’s why she tried so hard to get involved with him.
But why?
‘…Ah, I see.’
She, in that entrance ceremony maze,
From the moment she met the real Namgung Min, not the one on the documents from the investigation,
…enjoyed being suspicious of him.
Suspicion, which should have been filled with annoyance and questions, felt enjoyable.
Because it felt like she was the only one who could uncover his true nature that no one else knew, because she liked realizing that even he, with his outstanding abilities and personality, was just an ordinary person.
And because she enjoyed being the only one who knew that side of him.
That’s why she stopped all investigations. She decided to monopolize Namgung Min for herself.
The truth that she was inwardly acknowledging, the truth that she kept trying to turn away from,
Liu finally realized it.
‘…Namgung Min.’
Liu stopped thinking and turned her gaze.
Namgung Min was still agonizing. He was suffering for a reason that even Liu herself didn’t know.
To be suspicious of his secret, to uncover the truth he was hiding—
‘Ah…’
—How enjoyable would that be?
At this rate, she couldn’t even call that girl malicious.
Was it because she had lived a life constantly suspecting others that she became obsessed with uncovering their secrets?
…Or was it because it was Namgung Min?
‘She didn’t know.’
Liu Yan was alone and lonely. Her job and personality made her that way.
She could earn the overflowing money by herself without anyone’s help, and her paranoia prevented others from approaching her.
But there were still a few people who approached her with good intentions, like Lucas.
Why did she feel this way only towards Namgung Min?
‘…No. Maybe it was from the moment she first met Namgung Min—’
—This pouch? Hey, you’re saying you can tell what’s inside?
—A golden toad, right?
From the moment he spoke of the secret she wanted to hide more than anything,
Liu Yan couldn’t help but be conscious of Namgung Min.
“Hey, Fortune Teller.”
“…Miss… Liu?”
That’s why Liu Yan could finally walk towards Namgung Min now.
Because she had realized her feelings, her desire for him.
‘Still the same.’
She activated her job skill, <Eye for Fortune>.
Instantly, every corner of the fortune-telling shop was painted in gold. The luxurious decorations, the wooden table, all boasted their monetary value in a golden glow.
But there was one person who remained colorless in the space overflowing with gold.
She gazed intently at Namgung Min.
“Should I help you?”
“……….”
Liu knew that this Fortune Teller had more outstanding abilities than herself, that malicious girl, or even the princess.
But the reason why she couldn’t see any golden color in him… was perhaps because her eyes couldn’t contain all of his golden light.
It must be that she couldn’t see the color because the light was too brilliant and bright.
It seemed to symbolize Namgung Min, who was endlessly deep, no matter how much she dug.
Liu made a twisted smile.
“Miss Liu, I…”
“So, should I help you?”
“………….”
She didn’t ask anything. She didn’t demand any explanation.
Liu simply offered her hand.
Because she knew it was much cheaper and more efficient to help him like this than to pry.
And so, Namgung Min,
“…Yes.”
Took her hand.
“That’s a wise choice, you bastard.”
Because she was certain that with this choice, she would gradually learn more about Namgung Min’s secrets.
Liu was filled with ecstasy.
***
‘Honestly, no matter how much I think about it, I don’t understand.’
Why did Jisu convey her message through Manderick?
Why didn’t she come to me directly?
In the first place, how did she even send me into the game?
Questions upon questions. And questions leading to more questions.
I came to an answer after endless pondering.
I don’t know.
‘But there’s one thing that’s certain.’
My little sister, Namgung Jisu, was somewhere within this Romance Academy, in some form.
Even if it was just a note, the effort to find it wouldn’t be meaningless.
“So, should I help you?”
“…Yes.”
That’s why I took Liu’s hand.
Her wealth would be of tremendous help.
“M-Mr. Namgung Min…”
“Eileen.”
“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop…!”
“Help me.”
“…Of course, of course.”
And I also asked for help from Eileen, who appeared out of nowhere.
Now was the time to receive help from as many people as possible.
“So, what are you going to do?”
“Lend me some money. I’m going to hire people.”
“Hey, you haven’t forgotten that you already borrowed 1 billion from me, right? This is all debt? You think I don’t know what you’re going to use this for?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“…Really? I’m fine with it.”
Even though the amount she was lending was increasing, Liu smiled with joy. Was it because it was pocket change to her?
“So, hiring people is fine, but what are you going to have them do? Since I’ve decided to help, I should know the goal, shouldn’t I?”
“We’re going to find a room.”
“…A room?”
“There’s a room we have to find.”
While Liu was momentarily puzzled by my words, saying we were going to find a room instead of a person or treasure,
I was betting on a slim possibility.
‘Honestly, I don’t even know if it exists, but I have to try and find it.’
But this wasn’t enough.
The people hired with money couldn’t enter the academy, even if they could search outside.
That inevitably meant I needed academy students.
Then what should I do—
“It’s here! It’s over there!”
“Is this Namgung Min’s fortune-telling shop?”
“Everyone, charge! Forward!”
“…Haha.”
As soon as I left the fortune-telling shop with Liu and Eileen, I saw almost 50 students.
And they were all students who came to visit my shop.
Normally, I would be flustered by the number that far exceeded my expectations, but…
—This time, it was a bit different.
“I’m going to have my fortune told first!”
“The artifact is mine!”
“Hey! Cutting in line is not cool!”
“Everyone, please be quiet.”
My voice could be faintly heard among the chaotic students.
It was a sound that made me wonder if even one person in that surging crowd could hear it, but…
“……….”
“………….”
“……….”
“Good.”
As if they had promised beforehand, the students quieted down.
It was because they were already familiar with those words.
I, who led the students and broke down the walls during the entrance ceremony.
To the Martial Artist students who vividly remembered that scene, my words held sufficient leadership and persuasiveness.
Namgung Min walked through the crowd, which had become quiet just like that time.
“I know why you are all here.”
“You know?”
“Didn’t Manderick tell you?”
“He’s currently writing a letter of apology as a representative.”
“And I also know what you desire.”
Clank.
I took off the necklace hanging from my neck, held it in my hand, and raised it high.
It was just an old necklace on the outside, but no student would be unaware that it contained an unusual power.
“That’s… an artifact, isn’t it?”
“The rumors were true!”
“Namgung Min really was the beginning of the treasure hunt.”
“Artifacts, of course you desire them, don’t you?”
“I do!”
“Of course I need one!”
“If I could just have one, I’ll definitely repay you!”
Yes. Even the Billionaire, the Arthur family, and the princess… For most students, artifacts were too expensive.
They could earn a considerable amount of money after graduating and entering the Gates, but at least while attending the academy, it was an amount they couldn’t even dream of.
It was because of the hope of obtaining them that treasure hunting became a trend among the students.
“I can find artifacts for you through fortune-telling.”
Flinch.
The students’ eyes widened at my shocking declaration. Many blinked, wondering if they had misheard.
They were the type to chime in with every word, but now they were silent.
All their thoughts were focused on my next words.
“Of course, you will only receive advice through fortune-telling, so some of you might not be able to find them, depending on the individual. Is that alright with you?”
“Of course!”
“There’s no way I can’t find it!”
“Even Manderick found one, of course I can too!”
“Alright.”
The bait was sufficiently cast, and the fish were flapping around.
Now was the time to cast the fishing rod.
“However, there are many of you here, and few artifacts. So, to be fair, I will tell the fortunes of those who do me a favor first.”
“Me! I’ll help you!”
“Leave it to me!”
“No! I can do it well!”
“My request is simple.”
Asking them to find a person? That would be inefficient.
Manderick only found the voice and the note, he didn’t actually see Namgung Jisu.
What if she changed her appearance? Or if she could disappear in an instant?
‘Of course, I can’t be sure of anything.’
But if Jisu conveyed the message like this, she must have expected me to try and find her.
Then she would naturally be disguised or hiding somewhere I couldn’t find her.
‘So, I’ll find the developer’s room.’
This game was a female-oriented dating sim.
And as was common with these kinds of games, after seeing the ending for the first time, you could view the various CGs you collected and the characters’ profiles.
In <Romance Academy>, that was shown in the form of a ‘developer’s room’.
‘There was definitely a setting that the developer’s room was somewhere in the academy.’
Of course, I didn’t know if that was still valid here. In the first place, it was questionable whether the developer’s room, which contained CGs and character information, even existed now that it had become reality.
But that was the only possibility.
“You just need to find a secret room in the academy.”
“A secret… room?”
“Does something like that even exist?”
There were no hints about the developer’s room. It was just a setting that it existed somewhere in the academy.
But as an important room, it would naturally be hidden in some way.
“Any information is fine. If it’s information about a secret room, I’ll tell your fortune right away.”
“Oh…”
“Artifact…!”
I will do my best.
Money, artifacts, connections. I will mobilize everything I can.
‘I will find you.’
Even if it takes an immense amount of time and effort.
Because I’m your older brother, your family.
I will definitely find you and…
‘Grab you by the collar first.’
Namgung Min, instigating the Martial Artist students with artifacts as bait.
Watching him, Liu smiled an unreadable smile, and…
“……….”
Eileen gazed at Namgung Min with wavering eyes.