"I only have this much money," the girl said, pulling out her wallet and placing all her bills and coins on the table. "Is it enough?"
Yukiko Fujimine stood on her tiptoes to peek. It was at least two or three thousand yen.
"The amount doesn't matter—it's about your sincerity," the psychic said, glancing at the money from the corner of her eye. "Fine, given your earnestness, I'll help you this once!"
With that, she hovered her hands over the crystal ball, chanting in a mystical, sing-song tone.
Mid-chant, the psychic let out a dramatic yelp, startling everyone around her—especially the girl in question.
The girl asked anxiously, "Ma'am, what's wrong?"
"I've seen the future," the psychic intoned, her voice ethereal. "In a few months, you'll die in a hospital!"
"What? How…" The girl's voice trembled with tears. "Ma'am, why? Can't the hospital save me?"
"…Don't panic. Let me perform a blood ritual," the psychic said, beginning an elaborate dance of gestures.
Moments later, she grabbed the dagger from the table, sliced her right arm, and let dark red blood drip onto the crystal ball.
"I see it now. No wonder death clings to you—a vengeful spirit is seeking retribution! That's why the hospital can't save you. This isn't a disease!"
"A spirit?" The girl's face grew even paler. She swallowed hard. "What does it look like?"
"It's shrouded in black mist, its face obscured," the psychic said with theatrical flair. "But I can hear its voice. It says you caused its death!"
"I'm sorry, I-I didn't mean to…" The girl clutched her stomach, sobbing. "Ma'am, how can I get rid of it?"
"It lost its life because of you, doomed to wander as a lonely ghost," the psychic said gravely. "There's only one way to free yourself: help it ascend to nirvana."
"How do I do that?" the girl asked, wiping her tears.
"This spirit's grudge is deep. To help it ascend, you'd need a grand ritual," the psychic sighed. "But the cost of such a ceremony… you likely can't afford it."
"No matter the cost," the girl said earnestly, "I'll find a way."
"Such a ritual demands immense magical energy," the psychic shook her head. "My current power isn't enough. To meet the requirements, I'd need at least ten spirit stones."
"What are spirit stones?" the girl asked, bewildered. "Where can I find them?"
"Spirit stones are rare treasures formed from the soul energy of the deceased," the psychic explained. "You couldn't find them even if you tried. I happen to have a dozen, bought recently to replenish my own energy. But if I use them, I'd have to buy more…"
The girl caught the hint. "How much… are the spirit stones?"
"I paid for these ten stones…" The psychic's eyes flicked to the girl's red shoes. "Two hundred thousand yen."
"Two hundred thousand…" The girl's mouth fell open, her expression torn. After a long pause, she nodded firmly. "Ma'am, can I bring the money in a few days?"
"That's fine, but you'd better hurry. If too much time passes, even my ritual might not appease the spirit…"
Before the psychic could finish, Yukiko Fujimine couldn't take it anymore. She stepped forward and grabbed the girl. "Hey, you're not actually buying this, are you? She's a fraud! If you're feeling unwell, you need to get to a hospital!"
The girl in red shoes froze, stunned by Yukiko's outburst.
"Fraud?" The psychic sneered. "Watch your mouth, little girl, or you'll invite divine retribution!"
Yuka Takahashi, eyeing the psychic's blood-streaked arm, tugged at her friend nervously. "Yukiko, look at her arm. She's bleeding so much and seems fine. What if Shuichi got it wrong? Maybe she's the real deal."
"Shuichi's never wrong!" Yukiko snapped without hesitation. "If he says she's a fraud, she is."
The girl in red shoes snapped out of her daze, pulling free from Yukiko's grip. "Ma'am, I'll come back with the money in a few days!"
With that, she hurried off.
Yukiko moved to chase her but was grabbed by the psychic. "Not so fast, little girl. We're not done."
"Let go, you fraud!" Yukiko struggled to break free.
"Hmph, you're not leaving until we settle this," the psychic said coldly. "What proof do you have to call me a fraud? If you ask me, you're the fraud!"
"Yeah, what gives you the right to call her a fraud?" a girl in the crowd shouted. "I got a reading here before, and it was spot-on."
Another chimed in, "Exactly! I was sick once, and her ritual healed me. How could she be a fraud?"
The crowd's murmurs quickly swung in the psychic's favor.
Yukiko was furious and flustered. She trusted Hayashi Shuichi implicitly and, after observing the psychic, was convinced she was a con artist.
Hearing the psychic twist the truth and accuse her of being the fraud, Yukiko's temper flared. She yanked her arm free, sending the psychic stumbling to the ground.
The two girls from the crowd who'd spoken up rushed toward Yukiko, ready to grab her.
Despite her fear, Yuka didn't abandon her friend, bravely stepping in front of Yukiko and grappling with the two girls.
Yukiko started to help, but her gaze caught the psychic on the ground. She froze.
After a second or two, a gleeful grin spread across her face. She snatched the dagger from the table, rolled up her sleeve, and slashed her arm!
Dark red blood gushed, quickly coating Yukiko's forearm.
"Yukiko!" Yuka shrieked. "Have you lost it?!"
"I'm not crazy!" Yukiko laughed. "Yuka, watch this—it's gonna be fun!"
With that, she raised the dagger and drew it across her slender neck.
The crowd gasped, horrified, as blood seeped from the pale skin of Yukiko's neck.
As she waved the dagger wildly, the onlookers backed away, terrified she'd gone mad and might hurt someone…
(Chapter End)
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
patreon.com/TripleCrown07
If you guys wanna check it out.