“Oh my, I was scared to death when Nomily was giving you a hard time. I was so afraid you’d get angry and pummel her with a mace~”
The blue-haired girl wore a mischievous, imp-like smile that made Yuriko break into a cold sweat.
‘How does she know what I’m thinking? Is it Mind Reading?’
Yuriko’s mind was a mess, but she maintained her facade.
What if it was just a coincidence?
“Haha, that’s a funny joke. How could I ever do something so violent to a classmate?”
Yuriko feigned composure while observing the blue-haired girl’s expression.
The girl didn’t drop her suspicion.
She simply watched Yuriko with a meaningful look.
“True. Though, I was really hoping for that kind of development. Beating up a brainless classmate on your first day is much more interesting than this dull outcome~”
Yuriko could only laugh awkwardly.
She thought she had performed perfectly.
Why was she being seen through — even completely read — the moment they met?
Just as Yuriko was feeling cornered, Carmilla finally intervened.
“Classmate Yuri, please stop teasing the new student. She just joined our class; you’re making things difficult for her.”
The girl named Yuri rested her chin on her hand.
She continued to look Yuriko up and down with an interested gaze, but she complied.
“I know, I know. I’m just overjoyed to see a new classmate~”
‘Are you really just happy because there’s a new student?!’
Yuriko strongly suspected that Yuri wasn’t interested in the “new student” but rather the secrets she carried.
Based on her performance just now, she had clearly discovered something!
After cautioning Yuri, Carmilla introduced her to Yuriko.
“Ruri, this is Astraea Yuri from the Stargazing Tower. Although she plays tricks on people from time to time, she isn’t a bad person at heart.”
‘Which part of this behavior is “not bad” to you?’
“But… the Stargazing Tower?”
Yuriko immediately asked Phantom for information.
[**The Stargazing Tower is an organization established by a direct disciple of the Saint. Its members are proficient in the Art of Divination, allowing them to calculate fortunes and observe fate, meow.**]
Yuriko’s scalp felt numb after hearing Phantom’s answer.
‘Why is there a fortune teller among my classmates?! Won’t all my secrets be exposed instantly?’
“Hello, Classmate Astraea… Since you’re from the Stargazing Tower, are you very skilled in Astrology?”
Yuriko still held onto a sliver of hope.
What if Yuri was just from there but couldn’t actually use Astrology?
However, Yuri’s answer disappointed her.
“Just call me Yuri. Using my surname feels too stuffy. As for your question — fufu — I’ve known Astrology since the day I was born. Although I’m young, my Astrology is only slightly inferior to the Tower Master’s~”
Yuriko’s heart sank to her boots.
She didn’t know how powerful the Master of the Stargazing Tower was, but since the organization was founded by a disciple of the legendary Saint, their leader certainly wouldn’t be weak.
Still, it wasn’t certain.
What if she couldn’t predict specific details?
Yuriko tested her further.
“That’s amazing. Then, can Classmate Yuri figure out what I’m thinking right now?”
Yuri stared at Yuriko for a moment, an earnest expression on her face, before nodding.
“Mm-hmm, I see…”
Yuriko’s heart tightened.
‘Can she actually see it?’
Yuri crossed her arms and closed her eyes in deep thought for a moment.
Then, she opened them and spread her hands playfully.
“I can’t tell! Astrology isn’t that magical~”
‘Then why were you acting like that just now?!’
Yuriko finally understood what Carmilla meant by “teasing classmates from time to time.”
She had only just met this girl and had already been played multiple times.
‘This girl is truly wicked!’
“But,” Yuri added suddenly, causing Yuriko’s heart to leap again, “I can see that your fate is very interesting, Classmate Ruri. You’re definitely hiding many juicy secrets~”
Did that mean she knew there were secrets but didn’t know what they were?
If that was the case, it was fine.
As long as she wasn’t caught directly, there wouldn’t be a problem.
It seemed Yuri’s opening remark had been a coincidence.
However, considering her status as an Astrologer, she might have sensed Yuriko’s impulse to hit someone at that moment.
She had to be on guard against Yuri.
If possible, it was best to avoid contact with her.
“I’m just an ordinary girl. I don’t have any secrets. I was only lucky enough to be able to study here. I’m not worth your attention, Classmate Yuri.”
“Fufu~ Just ‘lucky’?”
Yuri’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Clearly, she didn’t believe in Yuriko’s so-called luck.
“I’m quite curious about how much luck it takes for Classmate Ruri to transfer into this class.”
Although Yuri didn’t say it explicitly, Yuriko could hear the underlying meaning: I don’t believe a word of your nonsense. I’m going to stick to you until I figure out your secrets!
“Classmate Yuri is truly interesting,” Yuriko could only squeeze out that one sentence.
“Hee-hee, Classmate Ruri is even more interesting~”
Yuriko ended the conversation and turned back to listen to Avier explain this year’s schedule on the podium.
‘Sigh, what a bad start.’
She sighed internally.
How had she been targeted the moment she stepped inside?
‘Phantom, is there any way to block her prying?’
[**There is, meow. The stronger you are, the greater the price others must pay to pry into you using Astrology. So, you just need to work hard to become stronger and raise your status. Then, she won’t dare use Astrology on you casually.**]
While Phantom gave her a method, it was basically useless.
‘Isn’t there a more practical and efficient way? Like an item or magic that blocks prying? I’m in a precarious position right now!’
[**Items with that function are very rare, meow. I do have Fate-Masking Magic, though. With your talent, you could master it in three or five years.**]
‘By then, I’ll be a skeleton in a graveyard!’
[**That’s already considered fast. Someone else might never learn it in their entire life, meow.**]
Yuriko knew she had no good way to block others’ divinations for now.
The only silver lining was that Yuri couldn’t directly calculate her identity as a member of The Mafia — or perhaps Yuri had figured it out but chosen not to say anything for her own reasons.
Yuriko had never encountered a girl as quirky as Yuri.
It was difficult to guess her thoughts.
So hard to understand.
Chapter 1 starts very abruptly, that’s because the prologue is missing
The prologue is already uploaded please check it before Chapter 1