TFWSDW 49

~Chapter 49~

Thanks to the many things I had experienced before, I had realized that just following one signpost per week—or at most one per day—was enough.

So, I ignored it and looked straight at Siris.

‘One left.’

Only one card remained.

The swirling card stopped.

The last picture appeared.

DEATH

“……”

“……”

The name and image on it hardly needed interpretation.

‘Can a future really be this miserable?’

And the card was reversed.

On the ground in the picture were countless corpses, and blood dripped from the skeleton knight sitting on a horse.

The horse itself had no head.

Heeheeheeheeheeheehee!

From the card came the neigh of the headless horse and a strange laugh.

It was grotesque.

Almost like a horror game.

“Ah, the Death card. Normally… it doesn’t only carry negative meaning as its name suggests.”

Drip!

The moment he finished speaking, blood dripped from the card onto the floor.

Heeheeheeheehee! Hihihihihihi!

‘This looks way too negative though…’

“Rarely, the future is more straightforward than ever.”

For the first time, Siris couldn’t continue his words. Then he lifted his head and looked at me.

“Candidate, within a week… death will approach you.”

“……”

I blinked.

“Please avoid it—no matter what. Don’t worry. Today’s support was given exactly for such cases.”

Siris’s face was dead serious. I held back from scratching my cheek.

‘Since coming here, I feel like I’ve already escaped death countless times…’

But I swallowed my words.

“Normally, each person only receives one ability to prepare for the future. But strangely… Candidate, you’ve been given not only luck but a second ability.”

“Gasp, really?”

“Yes. Rare, but not impossible.”

Siris nodded, then told me what my second ability was—with a very serious face.

“The second ability you’ve been granted to avoid death is… the ability not to fall asleep.”

…My face instantly twisted as if I had bitten into something awful.

Excuse me? What did you just say?

What did you say, fortune-teller?!

“Nemesia.”

The long corridor. Two sets of feet walked there, but made almost no sound.

I wore a sulky face while being held in a warm embrace.

“Why the face?”

On the way back after the fortune-telling ended.

Dad’s expression was worried. Still, it was nice to see something other than gloom on his face for once.

But—

I couldn’t possibly tell him I had been given some garbage ability and didn’t know how to use it.

So I just pouted.

‘No, think positive. The first ability was already a jackpot, right? Luck +150% is huge.’

Enough to survive even against most monsters or supernatural threats.

‘But if I could still die even with that, then… what kind of terrifying thing is coming?’

“It’s nothing much… I just… don’t like the ability I got.”

The moment I spoke honestly, light surrounded us—Dad’s holy power.

‘Wow, instantly putting up a sound-blocking barrier. Nice sense.’

“What kind of ability? Ah… but if you don’t want to say, that’s fine.”

At Dad’s careful words, I shook my head.

“No, Dad should know too. The ability I got was…”

I recalled what Siris had said.

“The second ability is… the ability not to fall asleep.”

The moment I heard it, my expression had turned awful and my mouth had hung open.

Excuse me, sir? People call that insomnia…

Why did I get something everyone else tries to cure, handed down as a precious fortune-telling ability?

“…What?”

“The ability not to fall asleep.”

“…What???”

“…Do you need further explanation?”

Yes! A lot!!

‘How am I supposed to avoid death with this pathetic ability?!’

Even my act of pretending to be timid almost flew away in frustration.

Siris, perhaps noticing my expression, nodded as if sympathizing.

“Hmm, yes, it is strange. Symbolically, death means eternal sleep. So, the ability not to sleep… in meaning, it fits perfectly for avoiding death. However…”

He looked like a salesman who had failed his pitch.

‘Isn’t this a case of “the interpretation is more important than the dream”?’

But even he couldn’t know exactly how the ability would work—or change it.

So, there was no clear answer.

I left the tent, thinking about the next candidates waiting, but…

Even now, it felt absurd.

“Not sleeping… it does sound like a rather trivial ability.”

Not trivial. Useless.

What kind of crappy ability is this… oh.

‘Wait a second.’

A scene flashed in my mind. Or rather, a piece of information.

‘Could it be… that?’

A little later, I returned to my room.

‘Thank goodness Usher and that other Pope candidate came after me. I’ll be able to avoid him for a while.’

Just imagining him pestering me about the trial made my head throb.

‘Before that, I should finish talking with Dad, too.’

After all, I hadn’t even had time to share thoughts with him after that difficult subjugation, since I had been summoned right after fainting.

‘The life of a Pope candidate is really rough.’

Before Dad could set me down on the bed, I hurried and hugged him tightly.

Flinch.

Dad froze as I wrapped my arms around his neck.

“Thanks for all your hard work, Daddy!”

Even though I’d said it three days ago, the belated thanks came out again.

I smiled brightly.

“…Didn’t you say that right after coming out too?”

“Yeah, but I was too out of it then. Daddy, you were sooo cool!”

“….”

Still hugging his neck, I met his eyes.

“You’re the best!”

Now, grow that self-esteem. I’m ready to shower you with praise.

“Ah…”

“Mm? Why that face?”

Dad turned his head slightly.

“…I was just counting how long it’s been since I last heard those words.”

What? I tilted my head, not understanding at first.

“Hey, you must’ve heard it while you were active!”

“…No.”

“…Huh?”

What??

My eyes widened.

“N-no way… Dad, weren’t you a hero?”

When my smile faded, Dad looked lost, regretting he had even brought it up.

“It was only natural that I did my duty well.”

His timid, gloomy fumbling left me speechless.

‘Wait, are you telling me no one ever praised the man risking his life as a hero?’

At that, my breath grew heavy and angry.

“There must be a misunderstanding. At first, even my comrades and subordinates who doubted me later trusted me enough to… rely on my back.”

“Not like that! I mean from above! From the top! Rewards! Praise! Honors! Didn’t they give you any?!”

“…By law, a Holy Knight cannot indulge in luxuries…”

“Then at least! They should’ve fed you until you burst!”

I flailed, and Dad held me tighter so I wouldn’t fall, but he still looked anxious.

“The church never starved the Holy Knights…”

That’s not what I’m talking about!

‘Damn those church bastards!’

Because I couldn’t hold back my anger, the way we sat looked strange—like Dad was holding a wooden block—but who cared?

“Listen well, Dad. From now on, whenever Nemesia does something great, it’s all thanks to you, got it?”

“Hmm? But that’s… thanks to you.”

“I can’t do it alone! I’m a kid! You don’t expect a child to handle everything alone, right?”

“No, of course not!”

“Good.”

I nodded.

Then I tapped Dad’s chest.

“From now on, I’ll make sure you get credit. I’ll decorate your chest and shoulders with medals until there’s no more room!”

Medals? I’ll pin so many there won’t be space!

This was gamer pride at stake. My dad deserves it!

“Whenever I achieve something, I’ll always say your name. So no one can think of us separately.”

“….”

“Dad, that’s the kind of relationship we have.”

I lifted my head high and met his gaze.

“If I become the best, then you’ll be the best too. So let’s start practicing accepting it now.”

Practice is survival. Got it?

“Now, repeat after me. I am—”

“…I am?”

…Why are you copying my pronunciation too?