A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 75

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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No matter how exceptional their abilities were in life, they remained bound to the past.
For those currently drifting through the world as mere spirits, Habel was someone they should have feared greatly.
To the dead, there existed no one more terrifying, no one more to be avoided, than beings like him.
‘Zeno might not care, but Derin and Perol being dragged away… that’s a bit much.’
Camilla, entertaining a thought that would have sent Zeno into a frenzy had he heard it, regarded Habel with newfound interest.
“Let’s see where this goes.”
“…!”
Though Habel still couldn’t grasp the full scope of what was unfolding, his expression brightened for the first time at Camilla’s words.
* * *
“Mmm… ugh….”
Pat, pat.
A gentle hand carefully stroked the back of a whimpering child.
Yet it was no ordinary human hand—it was a thick, cloth-wrapped hand. The hand of a doll.
Swish.
After tucking the blanket around the child, a light tan bear doll hopped down from the bed with a soft thud.
[….]
With practiced efficiency, the bear doll moved about the room where five small children slept soundly in their respective beds.
It pulled the blanket back over a child who had kicked it off, and gently arranged the hair of another whose locks had fallen across their face.
It repositioned a pillow that threatened to slip away and neatly stacked scattered books from the floor.
After one final check to ensure all the children were sleeping peacefully, the bear doll nimbly jumped to open the closed door and stepped outside.
With small, hurried steps, the bear doll made its way to another room, where it repeated the same careful routine.
It examined each sleeping child with meticulous attention, checking for any signs of discomfort or illness.
After some time, as the sky beyond the window deepened to a rich blue and dawn began to break, the bear doll quickened its pace.
Click! Swish.
The bear doll climbed back onto the bed from which it had first descended and nestled snugly into the arms of the peacefully sleeping child.
“Mmm….”
Pat, pat.
[….]
After soothing the whimpering child one last time, the bear doll fell completely still, as if nothing had ever happened.
* * *
“That’s the director?”
“Yes.”
At Habel’s words, Camilla recalled a child she had seen at the Orphanage that very afternoon.
A child who had rushed past, cradling a rather large bear doll in their arms.
The child, whose feet had nearly tangled beneath them, quickly regained balance and continued running as if nothing had happened.
In that moment, Camilla had seen it clearly—the bear doll steadying the child’s center of gravity as they stumbled.
At first she had been uncertain, but the instant she witnessed that, she was convinced: something was inhabiting that bear doll.
“So that doll was actually the Orphanage director?”
Two months prior, the director who had run the Orphanage passed away.
At sixty-five, she had ended her life, and her biological son now managed the Orphanage in her stead.
“But what’s the problem?”
“She refuses to depart.”
“What do you mean?”
Spirits clinging to the mortal world out of lingering attachment were hardly uncommon—nothing particularly remarkable about them.
“She has been designated as a deity.”
“A deity?”
“She is to become a guardian spirit who watches over children.”
“Humans can become deities?”
“It is not particularly common, but among those who have accumulated considerable virtue, some are occasionally appointed as minor deities.”
Dorman interjected smoothly to answer Camilla’s question.
“So?”
“If the one designated to become a deity continues to cling to this world and refuses to let go of her attachments, her appointment may be cancelled.”
“Then just take her with you.”
Why had all the spirits that had been around me suddenly vanished as if fleeing? They were terrified of encountering that Habel fellow and ran away because of it.
Those who manage souls can forcibly drag spirits away regardless of their will if they’re caught.
“We cannot compel someone designated to become a deity against their will,” Habel said, exhaling a long, frustrated sigh.
“I’ve visited several times to persuade her, but she won’t listen.”
She insists on remaining by the children’s side.
“So what do you want me to do about it?”
“I’m asking you to persuade her instead.”
“Me? Why? How?”
Camilla clicked her tongue softly in exasperation.
“I have even less connection to her than you do. You keep visiting and persuading her. How would it help if I suddenly showed up?”
“I’m just as shameless as you are. Just keep going to find him and persuade him. Do you think it’ll work if I suddenly show up out of nowhere to convince him?”
“I would like to, but there’s a problem with where she is.”
“Where she is?”
Camilla couldn’t immediately grasp what Habel meant.
“What’s the problem with the Orphanage?”
Why would that be an issue?
“Unlike adults, children who are continuously exposed to an existence like me experience various harmful phenomena.”
They might suddenly develop the ability to see the dead like Camilla did, or their spirits could be damaged, weakening their bodies.
Frequent contact between children and the Grim Reaper—the being closest to death—was never beneficial.
“She resides within a bear doll that the children constantly carry in their arms. I cannot visit and meet her under such circumstances.”
That was why he had come seeking Camilla’s help.
She could see and converse with the dead without being a reaper herself.
“Do we really have to do this?”
After a moment of contemplation, she tilted her head.
“What do you mean?”
“She doesn’t want to leave.”
Shouldn’t her own wishes be what matters most?
“I don’t want to become a god, I don’t want to leave, and I just want to stay by the children’s side like this. So why do I have to go with you?”
“You will cease to exist.”
“…What?”
“If one designated to become a god refuses that position to the end, they cease to exist. That way, a new god can be appointed.”
…Just as I thought. What a pathetic system those higher-ups have created.
“So they hand out positions on a whim and then erase those who refuse them?”
“That’s not quite…”
“I really don’t like this.”
Habel flinched at the sudden ferocity that flashed across Camilla’s expression and quietly stepped back.
He kept glancing nervously at her feet, wondering if she was about to grab her shoes again.
“O-of course, if you come with me, you won’t cease to exist even if you refuse the position. There are various options available there.”
Habel hurried to continue.
“But if you remain in this world and continue to refuse the position, eventually you will cease to exist.”
“So either way, I have to follow you.”
“That’s right.”
Camilla clicked her tongue softly. The troublesome burden settling upon me drew out a continuous stream of sighs.
* * *
“Wow!”
I spent quite a bit of money.
“The clothes are really high quality.”
I spent quite a lot, actually.
“These toys—aren’t they from Shaiman Workshop? You know, that incredibly famous workshop!”
…I think I spent way too much. Damn it.
“Thank you so much, Camilla!”
With a carriage full of clothes and toys, I returned to the Orphanage alone.
Watching the people shower me with such enthusiasm in proportion to the material goods I’d brought, I mustered the brightest smile I could manage.
Since I’d already spent the money, I might as well cultivate a good image while I’m at it.
“Would it be alright if I played with the children for a while?”
“Of course!”
“The children have been talking about you so much.”
“We’re truly grateful for your thoughtfulness.”
With the enthusiastic approval of the Orphanage staff, I surveyed the children who were cheering and surrounding the gifts.
‘There she is.’
And I found the child I was looking for—or rather, the doll.
A young girl, still clutching the bear doll tightly in her arms, was gazing at the new toys with sparkling eyes.
“What’s your name?”
I approached the child and spoke to her casually.
“Oh!”
The child, who appeared to be about six years old, widened her eyes at first, then broke into a bright smile.
“You’re the witch lady!”
“…Call me Camilla.”
“Yes!”
The child recognized her immediately, apparently having been deeply impressed by the performance she’d shown last time.
“What a cute doll.”
“It’s Vito.”
“Vito? Is that the bear doll’s name?”
“Yes!”
“It’s so adorable that I was wondering—would you mind if I took a closer look at it?”
“No.”
“….”
The child, who had been smiling constantly, suddenly changed expression and hid the doll behind her back.
Camilla was taken aback by how instantaneous the reaction was.
“Friends aren’t something you lend out.”
…Quite clever, isn’t she?
“I just want to be friends with Vito too.”
“Hmm….”
“What if you made a new friend in the meantime?”
Camilla picked up the ball-jointed doll the child had been eyeing since earlier. The child’s face brightened again.
“Yes! Vito will be happy if I make a new friend!”
“That’s right.”
Camilla placed the ball-jointed doll into the child’s hand as she offered the bear doll.
“….”
And I could see it.
The bear doll gently wrapping its arm around the child’s arm, as if reluctant to part with her.
“Since you’ve been outmatched by the ball-jointed doll, you’ll follow me quietly now.”
[….]
Camilla whispered as she separated the doll from the child.
For a moment, the doll seemed to tremble, but she ignored it and headed outside anyway.
It was probably just her imagination. Or perhaps it didn’t matter.
“Come along.”
Once Camilla had arrived at a place far removed from the main building and confirmed no one was around, she set the doll down on the ground.
Sure enough, the bear doll didn’t collapse helplessly—instead, it stood firmly on the ground, maintaining its balance like a person would.
[….]
“Silence won’t solve this problem.”
Camilla let out a quiet sigh as she watched the bear doll, still stubbornly keeping its mouth shut as if insisting it was merely a doll.
“They say it’s not good for the children if the Grim Reaper keeps coming and going….”
[….]
“Should I just call the Grim Reaper again?”
Whoosh.
Only then did the figure inside the bear doll reveal itself.
[Sigh…]
Grandmother, her hair neatly combed back and dressed with impeccable grace, exhaled a long, weary sigh.
Her eyes were kind and her face bore scarcely a wrinkle—truly a woman of refined beauty.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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