"I'm Just a Fake Fortune Teller, Okay?"
The Day It All Began – 5 Years Ago
Bandung, Indonesia – 08:05 AM
The city was alive with its usual chaos.
Cars, motorbikes, street vendors, honking horns—it was just another morning.
And in the middle of it all...
There I was. Sitting cross-legged on the sidewalk, surrounded by cheap mystical trinkets.
> "Step right up, step right up~
Today's fortune reading is just twenty thousand rupiah!
Guaranteed to brighten your day more than your ex's future!"
I am...
> Zeon Smith.
Just an ordinary guy pretending to be a fortune teller.
Can I actually read fortunes?
> Of course not. (chuckles)
I was just good at making things up and smooth-talking bored strangers.
But it was the only way I could make a living without diving into a world full of monsters and death.
And I had one reason to keep living this way:
> My sister.
Her name is Tina Septian—smart, beautiful, and stubborn.
She's the only family I have left.
Right now, she's attending university on a full scholarship.
---
10:30 AM – Same Spot
> "Come, come! Let me shape your future today!
Your luck is just one reading away!"
I shook my little bell like a professional charlatan.
As always...
People barely glanced at me before walking on.
I was used to it.
But then—hurried footsteps echoed from a narrow alley.
> "Brother Zeon!!"
That sweet voice—I knew it instantly.
A girl ran toward me, waving her hand like crazy.
Yep, it was her.
My adorable little sister, Tina.
> "Why are you running like someone's chasing you?" I asked, confused.
Panting hard, she sat down beside me.
> "Hah... I'm exhausted. But I have to say it...
I passed! I won the national science olympiad!"
I blinked—then broke into a huge grin.
> "Oho~ My lucky little sister always pulls through!
Clearly, it's all thanks to your beloved big bro, working hard on the streets as a fortune-telling genius!"
(grins proudly and points to my shabby booth)
Tina gave me a playful scowl.
> "Come on, Zeon… The world's changed.
Everyone's chasing power now.
Why are you still doing fake readings and scamming people?"
I sighed and looked up at the sky.
> "The outside world is scary, Tina...
Monsters are everywhere. Hunters die every week.
I just want a peaceful life...
A simple fortune teller who watches afternoon dramas while eating instant noodles."
---
We kept chatting and laughing together.
But then—
Panic exploded around us.
People screamed and ran.
We had no idea what was going on...
Until an old lady stopped and yelled:
> "Run, kids! A Gate just opened to the west—an E-Rank, but it instantly broke!
Goblins, kobolds, slimes—they're all pouring out into the streets!"
> "WHAT?!"
I immediately started packing up.
> "Tina, we have to get out of here—now!"
She nodded silently.
Just as we were about to leave,
a young man and a girl suddenly appeared in front of us.
The guy carried a wooden sword.
The girl wore a witch hat and held a weird-looking staff.
> "Hey, where are you two going?" the guy asked. His name was Killian.
> "We're evacuating. Why are you running toward the Dungeon Break?" I snapped.
> "Seriously?! You two are young and full of potential—how could you run away?"
said the quirky girl, Vivian.
> "We're just powerless nobodies!" I shouted.
> "Listen—there are no Hunters or defense troops nearby right now.
As fellow youth, we've chosen to stand and fight the small monsters leaking out!"
Killian declared proudly.
> "You're crazy! You're all idiots!" I yelled.
"Move aside! I'm getting out of here!"
Vivian looked at Tina, then whispered to Killian.
> "Oh~ Don't you think she'd fit perfectly in our group?"
> "You're right. Hey, what's your name?"
> "Her name is Tina Septian, and she's my sister.
And there's no way she's joining you lunatics!
Let's go, Tina!" I barked.
> "But... look at her," Killian said slyly.
[Oh no… Tina's sparkling. Don't tell me she's...]
> "Brother, I want to go with them..." Tina said softly.
> "You've got to be kidding me, sweetheart!
This is dangerous! Extremely dangerous! You can't possibly—"
> "Please... just this once.
I'm tired of always studying.
And it's just an E-Rank. Even civilians can fight those," she said firmly.
> "Haah... Fine. I'll go with you.
I'll protect you... with all the power I have."
(Power of improvisation.)
> "Great! If we're all ready, let's head out!" Vivian cheered.
---
We rushed to the Dungeon Break site,
determined to wipe out the threat.
And from that moment—
what started as just tagging along...
> Would change my life forever.
---
On the way, we stopped.
In the distance, I saw an old lady being attacked by a low-level slime.
We wanted to help, but she was too far away...
Suddenly, a girl bolted past us at lightning speed.
She smashed the slime with one blow and helped the old woman up.
Her name was Lisa Sintiana, the fastest runner in her village.
She joined us without hesitation.
Not long after, while we were still fighting off monsters,
a guy in a makeshift robot costume appeared.
> "Heard there's a Dungeon Break?
Perfect time to test my prototype armor!"
His name was Kuta Rezeneo, a tech and robotics specialist.
And somehow... he joined too.
---
From that day on, the six of us were known as:
> Intern Group 404.
Why 404?
> "Because when disaster struck…
All the real Hunters were NOT FOUND!"
Day after day passed.
What started as a ragtag group of misfits...
Would become the strongest guild in Hunter history.
Led by me:
> Zeon Smith, the fake fortune teller…
Now known by the nickname:
> "A Thousand Lies."
---
Wait a sec...
I only joined to protect my sister.
So how the hell did I become the leader of the strongest guild?!
> "AAARGH, I'M GONNA THROW UP!!!"
— Zeon Smith