r18novel Page 342
Page 342
Shiraishikawa sat down on the folding chair opposite her, placing his hands crossed on the table.
"I want to divine the future."
"Everyone comes here for this."
Guan Buzi's mother chuckled lightly.
"But your future... is somewhat special."
"Oh?"
The old woman did not answer immediately, but instead took out a bronze incense burner from under the table and lit some kind of incense.
Wisps of smoke rose, forming a hazy barrier between the two.
"You are not an ordinary person."
she said suddenly.
"Your very existence is distorting the trajectory of fate."
Shiraishikawa squinted.
"Is this a compliment?"
"It's just stating the facts."
The voice of Guanbuzi's mother became ethereal.
"I saw it... the continuation of the dream, the embodiment of happiness. How wonderful, you have become a concept, not just a person."
Shiraishikawa felt a sudden, inexplicable shiver.
The description was all too familiar, reminding him of a rainy night when Ryougi Shiki had used similar words to describe him.
"So, what about my future?"
he asked.
Guan Buzi's mother shook her head.
Even with absolute future vision, one cannot easily defy fate. Do you know why?
She continued without waiting for an answer.
"Because what changes the future is not power or wisdom, but character. A person's nature determines his choices, and choices weave destiny."
Shiraishikawa was thoughtful.
"So you can see my choice?"
"Part of it."
The old woman took out a tarot deck from under the table; the backs of the cards had a dark blue starry sky design.
"Draw a card and let me see what fate has to tell you."
Without hesitation, Shiraishikawa casually drew a card from the shuffled deck and flipped it over.
"world."
Guan Buzi's mother's voice suddenly became solemn.
"Completion, end, and beginning. The place you seek will be revealed when the new moon rises, when gravity, time, and destiny will reach perfect balance."
"Location?"
Shiraishikawa frowned.
Are you referring to a certain place?
"No, it's a certain point in time."
The old woman's fingers gently traced the surface of the cards.
"You need to go back in time, a few years ago. There, you will find the key to accomplishing everything."
Shiraishi's pupils contracted slightly. Going back to the past? This reminded him of what Ryougi Shiki had once said—"
"To establish ties in the past and complete the ritual." Was she referring to literal time travel?
"last question."
"Shiraishi River, what kind of being is the last soul I need to find?"
The mother of the card shuffled the deck again, and this time she personally drew a card and turned it over next to "World".
"Star."
she said softly.
"The light born from the chaos and darkness shines like a golden star. The last soul was destined to come from the darkness, yet possessed the purest spirit."
0Request flowers
Shiraishikawa stared at the card, which depicted a girl pouring out a water bottle against a background of eight shimmering stars.
For some reason, a blurry figure appeared in his mind—blonde hair, blue eyes, a smile that carried an indescribable sadness and strength.
“Follow this guideline.”
The sound of Guan Buzi's mother brought him back to reality.
"Your glory will never fade."
Shiraishikawa was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed.
"In return, I can grant you one wish."
The old woman paused for a moment, then let out a low, guttural laugh.
"An interesting suggestion. But for someone like you, I have already received the best reward."
"Oh?"
"The reason I chose to set up a stall here is very simple."
The voice of Guanbuzi's mother suddenly became incredibly clear.
“I hate unhappiness and love happiness. And just now, I saw the means that will allow humanity to reach a state of true happiness.”
Shiraishikawa felt a sudden, inexplicable palpitation.
"what is that?"
"The stairway to heaven."
The old woman's veil moved without wind, revealing a mysterious smile.
"My wish has been fulfilled, young traveler. Now, go and complete your mission."
Shiraishikawa stood up, gave the mysterious fortune teller a deep look, and turned to walk into the dark alley.
His footsteps faded into the distance, eventually disappearing into the night.
Guan Buzi's mother sat quietly in place until she was sure he was completely gone, then she murmured softly.
Chapter 423 Inspection
"The gears of fate have begun to turn... This time, humanity may truly be able to reach heaven."
She put away the tarot cards, blew out the candles, and her figure gradually blended into the darkness.
The next day
Asagami Fujino opened her eyes; her biological clock woke her from her sleep precisely on time.
She reached out and turned off the alarm clock; the screen showed 6:30—the same as usual.
"I could have slept in longer today..."
Fujino rubbed her eyes and muttered to herself. Last night, Shiraishikawa had specifically told her that she didn't need to go to class today, but she was already used to the regular rhythm of "697".
She attended classes during the day and ate and chatted with Mana and Ryougi Shiki in the evenings, learning about the Otherworld. This kind of life made her feel more at ease than ever before.
Fujino got out of bed quietly, afraid of waking up Makoto in the next room.
She changed into her loungewear and stood in front of the mirror to tidy her messy long hair.
The girl in the mirror had soft features, but those eyes—those eyes that could see "spirals"—always made her uneasy.
"We need to prepare a proper breakfast today."
Fujino smiled at her reflection in the mirror.
Mana and Ryougi Shiki aren't particularly enthusiastic about cooking, so if she doesn't get up, everyone might go hungry.
In the kitchen, Fujino skillfully tied on an apron and took out ingredients from the refrigerator.
She hummed a little tune as she prepared breakfast.
The bacon sizzled in the pan, and its aroma quickly filled the entire kitchen.
"Hmm... Fry a few more sunny-side-up eggs, Shiki likes them soft-boiled."
Fujino muttered to herself, and with a gentle flick of her wrist, the poached egg in the pan was perfectly formed.
Just as she was about to serve breakfast, she vaguely heard voices coming from the living room.
Fujino paused for a moment—who would come to visit at this hour?
She put down her plate, wiped her hands, and tiptoed towards the living room. The moment she opened the door, the conversation stopped abruptly.
"Ah, Fujino, you're awake."
Shiraishi Kawa sat on the sofa and turned to look at her.
He was dressed formally today, a rare sight, and the black suit accentuated his tall and slender figure.
Sitting opposite Shiraishi River was a strange woman wearing an orange-red coat, the bright color standing out in the morning light.
She had short, neat hair and striking looks, and was scrutinizing Fujino with a critical gaze.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't know there were guests..."
Fujino subconsciously took a half step back, her fingers unconsciously twisting together.
"no need to say sorry."