The Fortune-Teller, Wada Tsun (Part 4)

“Why don’t we ask him whether we can defeat Undo?” Debiru suggested.

“But what if he says we can’t defeat Undo? We’d better not lock that future into place. Instead, let’s ask him where Undo is,” Mayutan said calmly.

“Very well. I shall divine his whereabouts.”

With that, Tsun closed his eyes, steadied his breathing, and concentrated.

“...Undo will not leave the summit of Mount Nyaverest. That is where his magic is strongest,” Tsun said.

Mount Nyaverest was the highest mountain in the Republic of Meows, with an elevation of 22,222 meters.

Suddenly, Tsun coughed up blood and collapsed to his knees.

“Tsun!”

Mayutan and Debiru rushed to his side in alarm.

“Undo is trying to kill me from afar. It is already too late to save me. I knew from my own fortune-telling that Undo would kill me here today. I also knew that the three of you would come.”

The three of them were stunned. Tsun’s predictions were always right, and once he had foretold a future, there was no changing it, no matter how desperately anyone struggled.

“Won’t he kill us too?” Debiru asked, growing even more wary.

“Undo will not kill you. At least, not for now. I foresaw that as well.”

Tsun braced himself against the floor and spoke through labored breaths.

“B-but why?” Debiru asked, bewildered.

“Most likely... Undo does not consider us a threat. Not the way he considers Tsun, who can predict the future. He probably intends to have his minions deal with us instead of doing it himself,” Mayutan said, analyzing the situation with his usual composure.

“Damn it. He’s underestimating us,” Debiru said bitterly.

“Then we can take advantage of his overconfidence. No matter what kind of battle it is, underestimate your opponent and they may turn the tables on you.”

Mayutan’s reassuring words calmed Debiru.

Tsun died. The three of them laid him to rest with care in the town cemetery.

“I’ll... change this fate, meow.”

Tanimaki renewed his resolve. But could they truly defeat Undo?

And just what kind of future had Asukachi foreseen for Undo?

—90 Days Until Tanimaki’s Death—