The Fortune-Teller, Wada Tsun (Part 2)

“Thank you so much!”

The fortune-teller thanked Debiru.

“As thanks, read our fortunes for free, meow.”

Tanimaki, who had not helped at all, demanded compensation.

“My name is Wada Tsun. I am a wandering fortune-teller. Once I read someone’s fortune, it becomes impossible to change the future revealed by that reading. If you are prepared to accept that, then I will read your fortunes for free.”

In other words, even if the future turned out to be inconvenient for them, they would have no choice but to accept it completely.

“What do you think? I’d like him to read mine,” said Mayutan.

“Yeah. I’m fine with it too,” said Debiru.

“I-I’m fine too, meow!”

Mayutan and Debiru were truly prepared, but Tanimaki was clearly putting on a bit of a brave face.

“Very well. I shall read your fortunes in my room.”

Tanimaki and the others entered Tsun’s room. Fortune-telling must have been quite profitable, because his room was far larger than theirs. Inside an aquarium, guppies caught the light and swayed their tail fins like little rainbows. On the canopy above the bed, embroidered peacocks danced.

“Now then, whose fortune shall I read first?”

When Tsun said that, the three of them looked at one another.

“All right. I’ll go first. I want to know whether I can become a great Demon King in the future.”

Debiru took the lead.

Tsun clasped Debiru’s paw, closed his eyes, and focused his mind. After a short while, he spoke.

“You can. In fact, you will become a wise ruler remembered for generations.”

Hearing that, Debiru relaxed and broke into a huge smile.

“Thank goodness!”

Having his fortune read seemed to have given Debiru hope for the future.

“All right, next is me. Please tell me whether I can become a great scholar someday,” said Mayutan.

Once again, Tsun held Mayutan’s paw, took a deep breath, and concentrated.

“You can. And you will win the Nyabel Prize.”

The Nyabel Prize was the highest honor in the cat world, awarded to cats who achieved outstanding accomplishments in the field of science.

“Yaaay!”

Mayutan was so happy that he did a little dance.

“I guess I’m last. Tell me whether I can turn back into a human, meow.”

Deep down, Tanimaki was afraid to learn his future. But since the other two had already had their fortunes read, he could not very well run away now. So he steeled himself.