Sensing the stir he'd caused, Luo Shu felt a rush of satisfaction. A faint smirk tugged at his lips.
"There's a way, of course…"
"Yukinoshita Haruno, you wouldn't want your little sister to get hurt, would you?"
The young man arched his brow, that ever-calm, composed smile gracing his lips. He looked elegant and enigmatic, the arc of his smile almost… perfect.
It was the kind of smile that could part the clouds—bringing sunshine to even the darkest sky. Warm. Assured. Unshakable.
It felt as if the world had lost its color the moment he stood there, basking in his own radiance.
Haruno's heart skipped a beat.
That grace. That confidence. That effortless sense of superiority…
She pressed her lips together, her eyes flickering with thought. Her suspicion about Luo Shu's identity was quickly being replaced by conviction.
Someone with such refined manners, such eloquence and poise—it was impossible he hadn't been raised among the upper echelons of society.
A true master. This man must be the real deal!
"Please, Mage, I'm begging you—save my sister. I'll pay you anything you want."
Haruno suddenly bowed her head. Her tone was respectful, her posture humble.
She couldn't afford to gamble—whether the "omen of bloodshed" he spoke of was true or not, it was aimed at her beloved younger sister. The one she'd protected since childhood.
If he knew this much, there was a very good chance he had a solution.
As for the cost?
The Yukinoshita family practically ruled Chiba. Six million people and counting—they were the "shadow emperors" of the prefecture. As long as they were willing, there was no sum they couldn't pay.
Beside her, Yukino looked utterly bewildered. She had no idea what her sister was imagining.
Meanwhile, the crowd had completely surrounded them—there wasn't even room to breathe. Even the other fortune tellers now watched in envy and awe.
After Haruno's 180-degree attitude shift, the crowd's respect for Luo Shu only deepened.
---
[Divine Authority Gem +0.15… +0.23… +0.09… +0.11…]
---
"Let's start with a little introduction."
Luo Shu smiled, catching the sisters' fluctuating emotions. Without missing a beat, he began:
"My name's Luo Shu. I'm 22 years old. I live in the northeastern area of Fuyuki City—you know, the part that always has gas leaks. Not married. I like to travel. Most of my friends jokingly call me a 'Grand Caster' or something like that."
"I specialize in high-tier magecraft—divination's just one of the five True Magics I dabble in."
"As for Miss Yukino's issue… it's nothing complicated for me."
"And as for you, Miss Haruno—because I feel we have good chemistry, I'll only charge a modest 100,000 yen~"
He said this cheerfully, with an easy-going smile.
As an FGO veteran, Luo Shu casually fabricated an identity that sounded both mystical and badass.
The reason he dared to promise a solution for Yukino's misfortune was simple—after calculating his available Divine Authority Gems, he found that with just 0.55 of them, he could enchant an object with a minor luck boost.
That would be enough to dispel her misfortune.
Trading some spare gems for real-world currency to cover food and lodging?
Totally worth it.
Under the eager eyes of the crowd, Luo Shu's lips curved slightly upward. He casually reached into his robe and pulled out a dazzling ruby necklace.
He'd originally bought it as a prop to impress girls. Naturally, it looked exquisite.
---
[Carrier item confirmed: "Ordinary Ruby Necklace."
Initiating Mythical Construct — "Blessing of the Goddess of Fortune."
Effect: +2 Luck to wearer.
Estimated cost: 0.55 Divine Authority Gem fragments…]
[Ding! Mythical Construct successful!]
---
"A gemstone necklace like that… can really ward off an omen of bloodshed?"
A skeptical voice rose from the crowd.
It was Kuroneko—Ruri Gokou—a hardcore chuunibyou veteran in full gothic lolita attire. She was a regular at the park, well-read on folklore and mysticism, and frequently consulted fortune-tellers for her "fate."
That's why she found Luo Shu suspicious.
In most mythologies, when protagonists encounter danger, they're given divine protection by sages or priests.
Monks give relics, Taoists give talismans, missionaries give silver crucifixes…
But gemstones?
Never heard of a ruby being divine protection!
What kind of new-age scam was this?
Luo Shu simply smiled and held the necklace out to Haruno.
"Mr. Luo, this is…?"
Haruno looked at the necklace with some confusion—until her pupils contracted, shock washing over her face.
Under the sunlight, a vivid, radiant red light began to shine.
Gurgle, gurgle…
Tiny bubbles suddenly formed inside the ruby—like boiling water reaching a rolling boil.
The glowing red light grew more intense and dazzling by the second.
The entire crowd, regardless of age or gender, froze—staring intently.
Minutes passed. The tiny bubbles grew denser, clustering across the gem's surface.
Luo Shu gently released the necklace from his palm—but instead of falling, it hovered in mid-air, buoyed by the power of the floating bubbles.
Everyone stared, dumbfounded.
Was this magic? A trick? Superpowers?
They couldn't take their eyes off it.
The thumb-sized ruby had gone from dull to brilliantly radiant. Just then, the bubbles began to pop one by one, releasing fine strands of mist that floated upward, gradually forming an ethereal image.
Then, a man moved to get a closer look, allowing a shaft of sunlight to beam directly onto the gemstone.
In that moment—
A cloud of radiant aura appeared above the ruby, swirling like a divine current.
Holy sh—!!
"It's gotta be an illusion!"
Kuroneko gasped, slamming her eyes shut before opening them again.
It was still there.
Not an illusion?!
The red light shimmered, and the necklace began to slowly rotate clockwise.
Before the stunned crowd, a breathtaking scene unfolded.
Within the swirling currents, a massive and majestic ship emerged—men, women, the elderly, and children—countless tiny figures bore its weight on their shoulders, symbolizing the struggle of humanity across the sea of suffering.
Atop the ship—
A beautiful goddess leaned against the mast, hands at her sides, eyes closed in solemn thought.
Who is she?!
Who could it be?!
The crowd trembled with anticipation.
Suddenly, the goddess opened her eyes—and smiled.
"Ah!!"
A girl in the crowd let out a shriek. Others widened their eyes in awe.
CRACK!
The vision shattered like glass—ribbons of glowing red light spiraling back into the gemstone.
The divine artifact fell dark and dim once more.
With the mist and bubbles gone, the ruby necklace dropped from the air.
Haruno jolted to life and snatched it mid-fall, breathing a sigh of relief.
This thing might be priceless!
I have to thank him—
She was filled with gratitude… until she noticed the way people were edging closer, their gazes glued to her hands—glazed over with longing.
She flinched.
Without hesitation, she stuffed the necklace into her dress.
Only once it was hidden away did she finally exhale.
If someone stole that thing, there'd be no tears left to cry.
The bystanders looked disappointed.
Damn it, why couldn't she have let us look for a few seconds longer?
What, is it going to explode if we stare at it too long?!