Chapter 271

271st Episode

Entrance of Fall 271 – Entrance of Fall #7

Juno’s priest, Mandel, told me as I was about to draw two cards to predict my fortune.

“Wait a moment, Samaritan. You have to draw two cards.”

This made me feel somewhat unusual.

Isn’t it true that, under the attributes of the five elements, each person can only possess one?

“Draw two? Is something broken?”

“It’s not broken. Occasionally, such people do exist. Your energy is probably extremely heterogeneous, which is why you need to draw two cards.”

Is it because I’m from Earth that my mana or karma is malfunctioning? So, I touched the cards that were spread out, backside up.

Zzzt, Zzzt-.

When I touched the back of what looked like an ordinary metallic card, it felt as though there was a current flowing through it, giving me a strange sensation. It felt almost like rejection.

“This feels strange.”

“That means this card doesn’t suit you. The forty cards listed here are imbued with the mana of their corresponding materials. So, when you touch the backside, choose the one you feel most drawn to.”

Being drawn to something.

So, I gently ran my fingers over the forty cards. When I flipped one randomly, two images appeared before my eyes.

One card showed a shining gold coin.

The other card depicted a mound of dirt piled like a grave.

Juno’s priest Mandel spoke.

“Iron and Earth. You can be considered to possess the attributes of iron and earth. Goodness, how could it end up like this?”

But Mandel’s expression didn’t look good at all. She shuffled the cards again and suggested that I draw cards once more.

“Draw again.”

Even when I drew two cards again, they were still iron and earth. Mandel, Juno’s priest, gathered the cards back into her deck while what was once a gentle and relaxed face now had slight wrinkles.

“Such an ill-suited marriage fortune is the first time for me. The compatibility between the young lady and the gentleman is simply dreadful.”

“That’s absurd! It’s not like it’s wood and earth, right? Iron I don’t know, but wood and earth should be compatible, right?”

Luna asked back, clearly confused. Wood and earth; indeed, they seemed to go well together. However, Juno’s priest Mandel shook her head.

“Trees put down roots into the soil to absorb nutrients. One with the attribute of wood will naturally depend on and negatively impact one with the attribute of earth.”

“Guh, ghuuu-”

Luna appeared extremely flustered. Even Luna, a resident of this world, seemed to know the rule that trees absorb nutrients from the soil.

“And what about wood and iron?”

“Iron can become an axe to cut down trees. If a man with the attribute of iron spends time with a woman with the attribute of wood, the woman is likely to have a shortened lifespan.”

“So both aren’t compatible with me?”

“That’s why I said so. The compatibility between the young lady and the gentleman is extremely the worst. It’s not good. If the two of you continue to stay together, it will undoubtedly end badly. It’s very clear.”

“Nonsense, this stuff is nonsense. I, I don’t believe in such fortune-telling! This is all superstition!”

Luna screamed, clearly upset.

In a world where writing names in red letters supposedly brings curses, where Luna even uses cracked stones to predict daily fortunes, she was dismissing priestly marriage divination as mere superstition. That’s like Luna discrediting the Goddess of Night and Superstition, Nox, upon whom she herself has her foundation.

It’s like a squirrel rejecting nuts, or Paranoi claiming to dislike sweets—absolutely absurd.

“I, I don’t believe in this fortune-telling! It’s a scam—!”

Of course, the content of the horoscope was quite shocking.

I thought this priest Mandel simply gave pleasant readings to lovers, a cozy event host. Who would have thought she’d throw such a sharp critique?

“Quickly say this is a lie!”

“Unfortunately, my fortune-telling is considered among the most accurate among Juno’s priests. If things continue this way, your relationship will inevitably end in destruction. It’s destiny.”

“That’s ridiculous. That’s ridiculous.”

Luna started sniffing again. Just moments ago, I thought we were having a good conversation, building a reconciliatory atmosphere quite well. However, having this obstacle in front of us makes me understand why she feels like crying.

Just when it seemed like Luna was about to burst into tears, she composed her expression firmly.

“There’s no such thing as fate! The future depends on what we do!”

“Are you sure you truly believe that?”

“Yes! We overcome everything with effort!”

“Hmm-.”

With her determined declaration, Juno’s priest Mandel hesitated slightly.

She shuffled the cards carefully and once again placed the forty cards face down in front of Luna and me.

“It’s not completely without solution. Usually, it’s natural to feel drawn to those who are the most incompatible. Given how incompatible the two of you are, your meeting could actually be said to be inevitable.”

“Is there a solution then?”

“It depends on the two of you working together. What’s important is that you both make an effort. Are you willing to hold hands?”

At Juno’s words, Luna and I hesitantly glanced at each other. Suddenly being told to hold hands? Can we really do such an embarrassing act in front of others?

So both Luna and I fidgeted awkwardly. That’s when Juno’s priest Mandel added another detail.

“If the gentleman places his hand gently on top of the lady’s, it will be fine.”

In the end, I placed my left hand on Luna’s right hand. Hooking my fingers into her slender ones, it almost felt as if I was gripping a large gauntlet.

Luna’s hand was much smaller than I remembered.

The feeling was odd.

Luna too turned red and said nothing. Watching the two of us, Mandel nodded.

“Now, you will both search for the cards together. We don’t know how many there will be. Both of you, find and turn over cards that feel right.”

At her words, Luna and I slowly moved our hands. The feeling of moving as one was incredibly subtle. On one hand, it was also quite an awkward sensation, causing me to break a sweat calming my nerves.

What exactly are we doing here?

It felt exactly like those couple divination events you’d see at themed cafes. No, this is exactly the same situation.

While I was lost in such thoughts, Luna moved her finger and tapped a card. It sent a zapping sensation through my hand.

“That doesn’t seem right.”

“How about this one?”

“That one also feels a bit strange.”

“Actually, I agree. It’s interesting.”

Still holding hands, Luna and I continued feeling the backs of the cards.

We had forgotten what we were doing and focused solely on the act of doing something together, which was surprisingly enjoyable.

Just then, Luna lightly swept her finger over a card. Strangely, instead of the usual tingling sensation, it felt smooth, spreading calmly from my arm to my chest.

“This one feels fine?”

“I think so too!”

“Then, let me have this card.”

At that moment, Mandel swiftly took the card that lay under Luna and my hands, then gave a mysterious grin.

“Is this the end?”

Before this question could be fully processed, Luna’s hand moved again.

Another card was discovered. Among the forty cards, two were chosen, and the remaining 38 cards only produced the strange sensation. Taking these cards from us, Mandel muttered.

“Sure enough…”

I slightly wondered what the purpose of this action was.

Mandel, noticing my slight question, examined the cards in her hands as if watching the flow of a river, then offered a faint explanation.

“You both have an exceptionally strong influence over your attributes. That’s why it would be necessary to somewhat harmonize them.”

Slip-.

Upon unfolding a card, a flowing river was painted on it.

“Water. Water is an essential element in nurturing wood. And, water droplets form on polished iron easily.”

Suddenly, Mandel described water, and then turned over another card. On it was a blazing flame.

“Fire. Wood can feed fire, and fire leaves ash and earth, completing the cycle.”

“Exactly what are you trying to say?”

I took the cards of water and fire handed by Mandel, puzzled. Mandel then explained calmly.

“Use artifacts, accessories, or lucky talismans related to water or fire. That should help you temper the energy you both possess.”

In my understanding, it seemed we were to introduce different elements between the opposing ones we possess to act as a sort of buffer. Am I getting that right?

“Hassan, can you use your aura? Considering how you could sense the energy within the cards so accurately, I suspect you can.”

“Ah, yes. Kind of… I’m not quite used to it yet though.”

“The better you get at using your aura, the more pronounced the manifestation of your attributes will become. If that happens, accessories or talismans might no longer be enough to suppress the energy. The best thing is still people.”

“Excuse me?”

“If you can, keep individuals around who have strong but opposite attributes. Like fire and water. Of course, such people are rare, especially finding ones with energy as peculiar as yours.”

What?

When I slightly furrowed my brow, trying to understand, Luna asked instead.

“If we don’t know where to find them, how are we supposed to identify such people?”

At this, Mandel smirked.

“By spending time together, they’ll naturally come your way. The great order of Hypnos ensures that you complement each other.”

*

“Total scammer—”

Outside the shrine, Luna’s discontent with Juno’s priest Mandel was expressed without hesitation.

“I don’t believe in fortune-telling. All of this is superstition. This Juno shrine was entirely a scam.”

Luna usually doesn’t badmouth the gods. Even though she primarily worships the Goddess of Night and Superstition, Nox, she had always displayed respect for other gods of Hypnos.

The fairly shocking result of the marriage divination must have made her completely disregard everything she believed in.

“From the beginning, I should have suspected her when Juno, the goddess of the household, couldn’t handle her own home!”

“Wow—”

I was genuinely surprised. Did Luna have this many complaints about the gods and this fighting spirit? We’re in Juno’s shrine after all! Criticizing Juno at Juno’s own shrine—this seemed highly disrespectful and dangerous, even to someone like me who isn’t religious.

“Wow, Luna, where did you get these thoughts?”

“From Nemea! According to Nemea, Juno can’t even manage her own household but meddles in others’ affairs. I didn’t fully understand at the time, but now it all makes sense. Nemea was right!”

“Nemea?”

I recalled Nemea, the witch alchemist with the workshop in the gate district.

While I knew Luna had learned various things from Nemea, I didn’t expect her to absorb such ideological education.

It seemed that Nemea had a negative view of this world’s religions and gods. Truly an irreverent witch.

Wait—.

Something suddenly flashed in my mind.

Didn’t I see the signature of Augeias in the summoning circle I explored in the Abyss looking for Elpride’s party?

A dimension door, determined to be the work of Augeias enthusiasts. And Nemea, who seemed to be comrades or friends with Augeias.

The Enthusiasts of Dominion, who view this material world as evil and even the gods who created it as demonic, and Nemea, who bad-mouths gods to Luna.

Though I may be reading too much, it seems reasonable to consider they are interconnected.

However, discussing this with Luna now would raise a few issues. I should visit Antiope, who seems to know the Dominion supporters quite well, to inquire further.

With that thought in mind, I asked Luna, who was visibly upset.

“So, are you not going to look for people with water and fire attributes?”

“No, I will! You never know… But where to find them?”

Although Luna seemed perplexed, I thought I at least knew who might have the fire attribute.

Tch.

Where in the world is Paranoi?

Thinking to return with Paranoi in tow, I looked around and was startled to see the following:

“cultists! Evil beings! Why won’t you fall over? When you’re hit, you’re supposed to fall! That’s the rule!”

“With such weak attacks, you will never defeat the Hell’s Frontier Baron, Paranoi!”

There was Paranoi knocking heads and causing a ruckus with some boys.

[Author’s Note] Hassan’s attributes were carefully chosen as iron and earth for good reasons… fully plausible…!! They’re incompatible with Luna’s!! Attributes were distributed quite thoughtfully…

May the shallow insight and arrangement of Master Michuri be felt…!!

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