Chapter 293: Second Loyal Believer

"The diary will respond to a very strong wish."

Keeping this in mind, Sonoko entered the quiet room, took out the diary, and began the lottery.

As the roulette wheel began spinning, her heart was lifted.

Even though she had Ren's assurance, Sonoko was still a little worried when it came to her sister's future.

To avoid the possibility of her wish not being strong enough, she kept clasping her hands together and silently praying as the wheel spun.

After a while, she cautiously opened her eyes.

Seeing the indicator on the roulette wheel, she let out a sigh of relief.

[Lord of Mysteries]

[Obtained Sequence 9 Spectator Potion~]

A flask filled with a mysterious liquid appeared on the bed, sealed with an oak cork.

The moment the potion materialized, Sonoko jumped up in excitement.

Then the girl carefully picked up the flask and stepped out of the room.

Waiting just outside was her sister, Ayako.

Sonoko smiled and handed the flask into her sister's arms.

"Sis, you got the potion."

"Sonoko…"

At that moment, Ayako looked at her sister's smiling face and felt a strong urge to hug her tightly.

She didn't know how Sonoko had managed to obtain the potion, but she knew it had undoubtedly slowed down her sister's own progression.

"Oh my, don't get so emotional. I know it seems like a big deal to get the potion, but there will be other chances to improve in the future."

Sonoko understood her sister's personality far too well. She tried to speak casually so that Ayako wouldn't worry too much.

But judging by the look in Ayako's eyes, it was obvious she wasn't going to listen.

"It's just that the next stage of the potion might take a bit more time."

Ayako shook her head slightly, overwhelmed with emotion.

"This is enough for me."

She opened her arms and hugged her younger sister.

Sibling affection among conglomerate families was rare, but the Suzuki sisters were an exception.

Whether it was her previous decision to marry into another family or her current decision to take on the family business, it had always been for her sister's sake. Still, Ayako had no complaints. To her, it was something she willingly accepted.

Because it was something her sister needed her to do.

It was precisely because she understood how much Sonoko had done for her that Sonoko, as a younger sister, especially hoped her sister could take that path. It wasn't just about helping her embark on a mysterious journey, but also ensuring her future safety.

"Sis… don't get so touchy all of a sudden."

Sonoko patted her sister's back helplessly. She knew Ayako was excited, but she still wished she wouldn't be so sentimental.

"Sis, you can't always be the one helping me. I need to help too. I might not be able to do much in other areas, so let me help you with this one thing."

Letting go of her still-excited sister, Sonoko turned to Ren.

"Ren, I'll be relying on you from here on."

"Yeah, don't worry."

Ren adjusted his glasses.

After what happened with Chika, he now understood that the corruption and loss of control during potion absorption might have been caused by his unconscious influence. He was determined not to let that happen again.

"Ms. Ayako, come in with me."

Holding the flask, Ayako took a deep breath and followed him into the room.

As the door closed, Sonoko finally let out a long breath. She didn't wait outside but returned to the living room.

There, she saw Chikako holding a pen, revising her manuscript.

"Chikako, you're already revising?"

"Yep. I have the time now, and after receiving the blessing of the Fool, I want to contribute quickly."

Chikako had only wanted a chance to make a comeback, so she brought the story she had spent over a year crafting, hoping Ayako would give her a shot.

She never imagined she'd be chosen by the Fool. What else could she do but make the most of this blessing? She had to fulfill her role, and ideally exceed the long-term expectations assigned to her by the Fool.

But as she looked over the story she had spent a year developing, she couldn't help but feel dissatisfied with it.

"If the goal is to eventually lead people to believe in the divine, then horror or sci-fi stories like this tend to shift faith toward something darker."

Hearing her complaint, Sonoko nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, adding religious elements to these kinds of stories often makes them lean that way. Since it's science fiction, it's not really suitable for promoting faith."

"For stories that deal with religion, Western settings usually work better."

Chikako also nodded slightly at that.

"Maybe I should just toss this manuscript and come up with something new, something that can naturally incorporate belief in the Fool."

Sonoko was taken aback and quickly stopped her.

"Chikako, I think you should use this story to build your reputation first. Once that's done, you can start thinking about how to add faith elements into your next work. At that point, you can consult with Ren about the Fool."

Chikako gave it some thought and nodded.

She did need a strong story to make her comeback. After all, she'd already spent a year constructing this one. But now, she felt it lacked something deeper.

Although this story might not be the best vehicle for spreading faith, she could still insert a few elements. For example, she could include divine themes presented through a more scientific lens.

The nature of the antagonist group could also be altered. Instead of being the villains behind the world crisis, they could be reimagined as a group trying to prevent one.

It didn't have to be done all at once. She could weave it in gradually.

With that in mind, Chikako grew eager to revise the story.

Seeing her excitement, Sonoko hesitated, then raised a question.

"Chikako, are you aware that the power of the gift comes with side effects?"

"I know. Like how Ayako received her power this time—it's quite special. She got it with your help. That's different from a direct gift."

Sonoko wasn't surprised that Chikako understood.

"Aren't you worried that the power of the gift might be taken back?"

"Why should I worry?"

Chikako's tone was calm.

"If this power is truly a gift from God, and I act according to His will, doing everything within His standards, then why would He take it back?"

"People who worry about such things are those with complicated hearts and ulterior motives."

"I do have some ambitions. But after struggling these past two years, I've learned that when an opportunity comes, I must seize it—and never let go."

"So why should I worry about losing a gift from God?"

At that moment, Chikako spoke with the conviction of a true believer.

Her devout faith was clear in every word.

(To be continued.)

***

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