Chapter 13: The Great Diviner

“Ding-ling-ling…”

With the crisp, pleasant sound of a wind chime, two girls stepped into what looked like a Dessert Shop.

The shop was filled with a warm, cozy atmosphere.

Cute dolls crowded every surface, and all sorts of cakes behind the counter released a sweet fragrance, making anyone who saw them swallow involuntarily.

But curiously, in the center of the shop stood a solitary Ebony Table.

The dark velvet tablecloth was embroidered with a Six-pointed Star, and silver gauze was spread across the center.

Scattered Cards lay about, with a Crystal Ball held down by one of their corners.

In a groove rested half a faded Black Candle. The table legs were slender Gothic Pillars, their bases casting shadowy patterns on the floor.

With no extra decoration, it stood out as completely out of place among the sweet and adorable elements around.

“Eh? Customers are here?” A cheerful voice rang out from the direction of the kitchen, and a fluffy pink-haired girl came out, a dab of cream still on her nose. “Welcome~ I’m the Shopkeeper, Amy.”

Iris looked the pink-haired girl up and down. Her intense perception made her feel an indescribable, mystical aura about this person.

“What is this feeling, exactly?” She scratched her head, then suddenly clapped her hands. “Right, it’s like she’s some sort of charlatan!”

Anya shot her a glance, clearly not catching her muttered words.

So she simply walked up and stopped in front of Amy, her gaze drawn to the dazzling array of desserts in the icebox.

“This customer looks like she’s here just for the sweets.” Amy wiped the cream off her nose and took off her gloves, smiling.

Anya paused, puzzled, and replied, “Isn’t this a Dessert Shop?”

“It is—and yet, not only that.” Amy hummed, waggling her finger. “Making desserts is just my hobby. The real specialty here is Divination. I’m a great Fortune Teller!”

A sudden thought crossed Anya’s mind: How come this Shopkeeper feels strangely similar to a certain white-haired fluffball?

“I knew it! That’s why this girl gave me such a charlatan vibe—turns out she really is one!” Iris hugged a teddy bear, looking proud, as if she’d seen through everything from the start.

What is there to be proud of, honestly!

Anya looked at Iris’s smug expression, feeling utterly speechless inside.

“Divination about what?” Anya shifted her gaze back to Amy.

“Luck, romance, wealth, even the future—I can read it all.” Amy’s tone suddenly shifted, shrouding herself in the unique mystery of a fortune teller. “For you to enter this shop is fate between us. Why not give it a try?”

“…”

Anya was clearly startled by this side of Amy. No wonder the shop had so few customers.

If it were anyone else without manners, they’d probably call her crazy.

“There’s really no need.” Anya refused a bit awkwardly.

“This guest!” Amy suddenly straightened, her tone becoming solemn.

“Aren’t you troubled by family matters, to the point it’s affecting your life? You came out today just to relax your mind, didn’t you?”

Anya paused at her words.

Seeing her reaction, Amy pressed on, “And these past few days, you haven’t been sleeping well, always weighing the pros and cons of these things in your heart.”

“You can tell all that?” Anya was astonished.

“But of course. Hmph, I am a great Fortune Teller.” Amy’s pink ahoge perked up proudly at the praise, looking exceedingly smug.

“This little Anya’s dark circles are practically hanging down to her chin. Even I could make up a bunch of nonsense.” Iris rolled her eyes, grumbling inwardly.

Amy rubbed her hands together, excited. “So, what do you think? My Divination fee is cheap, only…”

“I’d rather not. I’m really not interested.” Anya interrupted decisively.

“Alright, then please take your time, guest.” Hearing this, Amy’s ahoge drooped at once, her face falling in disappointment.

“Wait, Shopkeeper.” Seeing her so crestfallen, Anya sighed and said, “I want to buy some cake.”

She really couldn’t understand why this Shopkeeper was so obsessed with Divination.

“Hm?” Amy’s eyes lit up, and she instantly became lively again. “Honestly, even though it looks like a Dessert Shop, if you spend enough, I can give you a free Divination!”

“I’ll take a look first.” Anya’s eyes turned fully to the desserts in the icebox.

“Alright, take your time~” As soon as Amy finished speaking, she turned back to the kitchen to fetch plates for the desserts.

Seeing her walk off, Iris immediately fixed her eyes on a piece of cake in the display and said expectantly, “Anya, I want to try that one too.”

“Can you even eat it?” Anya doubted inside—after all, Iris couldn’t even touch her. Could she really eat things?

“Hmph, of course! It just takes a little extra effort.” Iris tipped her nose up with a sly smile.

“Alright, pick one for yourself then.” Anya didn’t mind such a small expense and agreed readily.

“I want these two!” Iris’s eyes shone, and she sweetly pointed to a slice of chocolate Tiramisu and a drink that looked like Mango Pomelo Sago.

At that moment, Amy came out with the plates, and Anya casually pointed to a Mille Crepe Cake. “This one, this one, and this one.”

Then she went to sit down at one of the tables.

“Alright, please wait a moment, guest!” Amy nodded and began humming a cheerful tune as she opened the display and took out the selected desserts one by one.

Iris stared at the desserts, her eyes glued and hungry.

The bright colors looked so sweet—surely, they must taste great! She couldn’t even remember the last time she’d tasted something sugary.

“That’ll be thirty copper coins,” Amy said, coming to Anya’s table.

“Alright.” Anya replied while pulling out a silver coin. “Keep the change—the rest is a tip.”

Amy’s eyes sparkled as she took the coin, her tone turning especially earnest. “Then I must give you a Divination! You absolutely mustn’t refuse!”

Anya hesitated for two seconds, but then nodded. “Alright, thank you, Shopkeeper.”

“Please enjoy your desserts! I’ll go change and get ready right away!” Amy’s steps were extra light as she hurried back to the kitchen.

“This Shopkeeper is really something,” Iris muttered quietly as she watched Amy disappear into the kitchen.

Anya slid the Mille Crepe Cake closer to herself and pushed the other two portions in front of Iris. “Here, yours.”

She cut a fluffy piece of cake with her fork and put it in her mouth, sneaking a glance at the white-haired ball beside her.

She was genuinely curious how Iris was going to eat these very real desserts.

Iris rubbed her soft hands together, licking her lips lightly. “Then I won’t hold back!”

As soon as she finished, a gentle brilliance flashed. The Tiramisu and Mango Pomelo Sago on the table instantly became a little hazy, as if shrouded in a thin veil.

Out of nowhere, Iris produced a dainty Silver Fork and slowly speared a piece of Tiramisu, bringing it to her mouth. After two bites, her eyes narrowed in satisfaction.

“The Shopkeeper’s skills really are good, though she’s a little loony,” she mumbled, mouth full of cake.

Anya nodded with a smile and said nothing more, just enjoying the brief, sugary delight on her tongue.

The sweetness was just right—not cloying at all—definitely worth praising.

Just a few minutes later, Amy’s voice sounded from behind, adopting a deliberately mysterious tone. “Come, honored guest! Allow this great Fortune Teller to offer you the truest prophecy~”

Anya turned to look. Amy had changed into a new outfit.

Her Starry Robe, indigo velvet embroidered with silver starpaths, shimmered as she moved. The hem’s tassels swayed gently.

On her head was a deep-purple Pointed Hat, with several Crow Feathers dangling down, making her look even more like a mystic.