"Jesina, is this really the place you wanted to come to?"

Standing before Medani’s Divination Parlor, Yifia blinked in shock, then turned sharply to Jesina beside her.

Unlike Yifia’s utterly bewildered expression, Jesina was brimming with excitement.

She swiftly unfolded her noble-exclusive feather fan, shielding half her face—and the fervent smile at her lips—but couldn’t hide the blazing anticipation in her amber-red eyes, gleaming like searchlights.

She nodded vigorously. *Yes!*

Yifia was speechless. She never imagined Jesina’s interests would be so… unique.

"Yifia, I heard Medani’s Divination Parlor is incredibly accurate! Recently, a noble young lady was suddenly possessed. Only Master Medani’s exorcism restored her."

"???"

Yifia frowned. *Demon possession? Out of nowhere?*

As far as she knew, gods and demons here were purely theological concepts—human imagination, not reality.

[System, are there actually demons in this world?]

[Host, please explore and discover on your own.]

The system had grown less forthcoming. Yifia pouted slightly. *Fine. I only asked on a whim.*

She feared Sadako’s psychological horror far more than any Western devil’s brute force.

If the system had a face, it’d be →_→.

Say too much? Host panics and slacks off.

Say nothing? Host relaxes and ignores it.

So ambiguity it was—leave it to luck.

"Jesina, how was she possessed? Craving raw meat and blood? Vomiting black… black blood? Eyes blood-red, then crawling up the ceiling on all fours?"

Yifia caught her slip just in time and turned to Jesina for clarification.

Jesina stared, confused and shocked. "Yifia… your demon imagination is terrifying! But the lady only fell into an unbreakable slumber."

"Unbreakable slumber?"

"Mm. She loved a commoner. Parents refused. So she bought a forbidden tome to summon a demon—to persuade them."

"..."

*Summon a demon over parental disapproval??? What bizarre logic!*

Yifia was utterly defeated.

Chatting, they stepped inside. Sunlight vanished—every window sealed by heavy curtains. Stepping in felt like plunging into midnight.

Thankfully, faintly glowing objects lit the path. But…

Yifia eyed the skull ornament with green-glowing sockets, then the owl-shaped clock ticking loudly, occasionally letting out an eerie cry.

*This shouldn’t be "Medani’s Divination Parlor."*

*It’s Medani’s Haunted House!*

Though Jesina had longed for this place, she was still a girl. In the eerie gloom, she trembled, clutching Yifia’s arm. Her amber-red eyes widened uncontrollably. Her grip tightened with fear—as if clinging to a drowning person’s plank.

To Yifia, *this* Jesina was scarier than any demon… "Ah! Stop! My arm’s gonna snap!"

Compared to Yifia’s slender limbs, Jesina was enviably robust—strong enough to make even a demon flee.

Luckily, the parlor was just a two-story cottage. The chilling dread eased slightly upon reaching the second floor, where candles dotted the floor.

Pushing open the sole door, a strange voice chimed: "Welcome to Medani’s Divination Parlor~"

The room kept the haunted aesthetic. Heavy curtains blocked light, but burning candles cast a dim glow. Strange artifacts lined the walls. At the center stood a black stone table with a human-head-sized crystal ball.

Behind it sat a hooded figure, gender indistinguishable. The oversized hood swallowed their face, making them seem like a wandering spirit.

Perched on their shoulder, a black bird let out occasional cackles.

"Lost travelers, please sit. I am Witch Medani. I resolve all worries."

The voice sounded feminine. The bird immediately echoed: "The great Medani, demon slayer~"

Yifia squinted. *Looks like a crow… but it’s a myna bird.*

*Ah—that’s the source of the weird voice.*

Jesina, fear forgotten, released Yifia’s arm and sat bolt upright, fan clutched tight, eyes sparkling with anticipation.

Though Medani’s face stayed hidden, the atmosphere made Jesina feel her master-witch aura!

"Medani, hello. I wish to offer a blessing."

Straight to the point, Jesina placed a small black purse on the table. Coins clinked crisply—Yifia’s eyes instantly locked onto it.

"Beautiful maiden, speak your request."

Unlike Yifia’s envious glance, Medani didn’t move, voice calm and even.

Medani’s fingers brushed the crystal ball. Transparency vanished—purple lightning flickered and danced within, tracing her fingertips.

An aura of aloof mastery filled the room!

[Whoa, System! Real magic!]

[Host, it’s just a simple trick.]

Jesina gasped in awe. Yifia’s wonder vanished instantly.

*Meh. Fake.*

She’d even briefly fantasized about apprenticing under her—becoming a fortune-teller. *One client like Jesina? Instant riches.*

"I wish to bless Lady Barron—smooth paths, eternal joy, safety from harm, a worthy spouse, everlasting beauty, and also…"

Jesina’s blessing was unexpectedly detailed.

But before she finished—

*CRACK!*

The crystal ball exploded.

Medani convulsed violently without warning—and collapsed to the floor.