Guiding the Male Lead out of His Trauma - Chapter 48.2
Of course I knew Acteon wasn’t hiding his feelings for me.
Still, it’s not like he’s forcing it on me, nor is he making things difficult for me using it as a pretext, so we’re just getting along normally.
‘I’ve gotten quite comfortable with him, too…’
I’m grateful, and I do feel sorry for getting him caught up in all this. And when I really think about it, I guess I don’t… dislike him.
I was about to argue back when I realized my thoughts were leaning toward the conclusion that I didn’t dislike him.
The seniors didn’t leave me alone, even as I tried to brush it off.
Mitchel asked the nearby platoon members,
“Wait… Is this not about a daily fortune but a love reading?”
“They’re at that age… But of all places, why did they have to be drafted together? Someone sprinkle a potion on these two. Maybe they’re cursed or something.”
“Wh, what are you all even saying? I haven’t said anything.”
“He says that himself.”
“And you’re telling me they’re not a thing? Fine, leave it. If they say no, it’s none of our business.”
Bansi giggled slyly.
“But our baby’s ears are red.”
“…They’re not.”
When Acteon glared at her just like before, she swiftly moved away.
“Alright, I won’t tease anymore. C’mon, Mitchel. Do the reading already.”
Mitchel, who had been sitting with the expression of someone chewing rocks, suppressed the urge to throw the cards the moment Bansi playfully shoved them into his hand.
Though to be fair, he really did throw the deck.
“I don’t want to do tarot anymore.”
“Huh? What’s wrong? Feeling lonely all of a sudden?”
He smacked Bansi hard on the forehead without hesitation.
“Ow!” she yelped and backed away, and then Mitchel, who now said he didn’t want to do any more readings, grabbed my hand instead.
“Forget today’s fortune. What you two need is a life reading. I’ll do a palm reading.”
“A palm reading?”
“See these lines on your palm? They tell your future. What kind of life you’ll live.”
“If my life’s decided by something as trivial as lines on my hand, then I’d hate that in its own way.”
When I responded with a bitter hint of disbelief, Mitchel just said, “Then don’t,” yet still stared carefully at my palm.
Even after a while, he just kept silently looking, making the seniors chuckle.
“But you’re awful at anything other than tarot. You always get everything backward.”
“Yeah. Just stick to what you’re actually good at.”
Still, Mitchel focused stubbornly and then said,
“…Liliope, it says you’re going to suffer a serious accident.”
“…What?”
“It says you’ll nearly die in an accident… If it hasn’t happened already, be careful. Stay quiet here and head back safely.”
Chills ran down my spine.
He’s this accurate? Even though he’s supposed to be bad at it?
And of all people, it had to be Mitchel holding my hand. He seemed to pick up on how startled I was. But he didn’t blab about it to the others and continued calmly.
“And it says you’ll face a major failure soon… Why is everything coming out so badly for you?”
“I should be the one asking that.”
“Your life’s looking real rough. Still, life’s something you carve out for yourself, so hang in there.”
You’re the one who read it for me!
Why are you pitying me after only saying awful things?!
Bansi laughed, asking if he was laying a curse on me instead of reading my fortune.
Ignoring her, Mitchel held his hand out to Acteon as well.
“I’m fine. You don’t have to read mine.”
“What? You have that little faith? Mitchel, you’d better just close shop.”
“Shut it. Liliope’s reading didn’t come out great, but not all palm lines are like that.”
“Oh? Sounds like it’s bothering you. You’re trying really hard to justify it.”
“Ugh, I said shut up!”
I quietly slipped over to Acteon’s side to escape the two of them squabbling again.
“Why don’t you want yours read? It’s just for fun, no matter the result.”
“Ah… I honestly just don’t feel the need to.”
He took my hand and lightly ran his fingers over the same palm Mitchel had been staring at so intently.
Feeling the ticklish touch, I waited for him to continue.
“Whether it’s real or not, knowing what’s ahead isn’t going to change how I live.”
A subtly meaningful smile appeared on his lips.
He’s really firm in his beliefs. Though I’m the same way.
Bansi, after teasing Mitchel to her heart’s content, began fanning herself, saying it was getting too hot.
Mitchel, now flushed and fuming, muttered like a defeated man that he needed fresh air and stormed out.
After he left, Bansi picked up the scattered tarot cards.
“He’s been in a funk lately, so it’s a good thing someone like you joined us.”
“He didn’t seem down at all to me.”
“Hmm… Really? But a battlefield isn’t exactly the kind of place where you laugh and joke like this.”
“Honestly, days with good vibes like today are rarer around here.”
As Bansi seemed about to say something more serious, the platoon members deliberately lightened the mood and laughed in a breezy tone.
Bansi stacked the gathered cards neatly and wrapped them in a soft cloth as she spoke about Mitchel.
“One of our seniors died recently. Enelly. Liliope, the one whose sleeping bag you’re using.”
“…Ah.”
“It must feel unsettling using something that belonged to the dead, but bear with it. Supplies don’t come in often… Anyway, he only had an uncle for family. His life’s been pretty harsh.”
It felt like she had to bring this up… in order to bring up something else.
Acteon didn’t wait. He asked her directly,
“I’ll get to the point. Is there a reason the platoon members are trying to avoid using mana as much as possible?”
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