Dragon Raja: Reboot

With a "ding-dong" sound.

The bronze bell on the shop door rang.

"Excuse me!"

Aso Makoto, who was behind the counter in the store, looked up and saw a man with dark brown hair walk in.

He folded his umbrella, hung it on the rack by the door, turned and smiled at Zhen, then strolled around the store.

This is a toy store, filled with various figurines, toys, and comics.

Makoto Aso is 17 years old this year and just graduated from high school. After graduation, she did not go to university, but instead found a job as a toy store clerk.

The main reason is that she couldn't afford to go to university. Her parents stopped caring for her after their divorce, and she and her grandmother depended on each other for survival. Her grandmother's meager pension was their main source of income.

However, the girl did not give up her dream of going to university.

She's never been in a relationship before, and she always fantasizes about a tall, handsome boyfriend waiting for her at university!

So I'm really determined to work hard and save money to go to university!

Unfortunately, with her high school education, she can only find low-skilled jobs like shop assistants, and the job market is currently sluggish.

Thinking about this, I can't help but feel a little melancholy.

She leaned on the counter, wondering if her Prince Charming would wait too long at university and end up with another princess.

When she had nothing to do, she did some calculations and figured out how to save enough money for college by working part-time at a toy store...

Zhen wrinkled her nose, buried her face in her arms, and forced herself not to think about that distant number.

"Seriously, how much is this figure? Also, do you have any Ultraman Tiga DVDs?"

The guest's voice made Zhen immediately stand up, as if facing a formidable enemy.

Even the toy store job was one she had worked hard to find, and she didn't want to lose it because of customer complaints.

"Hello! This is..." Zhen suddenly paused, then covered her mouth in surprise, "Excuse me... do you know me?"

This guest just called me by my full name, a term usually reserved for very close friends.

But I clearly don't know him!

Are you a classmate from junior high school?

I can't recognize him...

The young man blinked, placed the Asahina figure on the table, and shrugged, saying, "Oops, I've been exposed. Well, actually I'm an Onmyoji, and I can do divination with ease."

Her gaze truly fell upon the figurines on the table, and she smiled, asking, "Does the Onmyoji also like Asahina figurines?"

The Onmyoji said with a serious expression, "Of course I like her! Asahina is the best! Look, I even bought two, one of which is for my junior sister. All of us like Asahina!"

After saying that, he raised both thumbs up, looking smug, though it was unclear what he was so proud of.

Asahina is a busty beauty from "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya". She is the SOS Brigade's personal maid and mascot, and is often forced by Haruhi to do all sorts of cosplay.

For example, maids, bunny girls, frogs...

Aso couldn't resist glancing at the figurines on the table again, and noticed that one was dressed as a bunny girl and the other as a maid.

She shrank back and asked in a low voice, "Are there really Onmyoji?"

Zhen grew up relying on her grandmother and was terrified of ghosts and spirits.

The Onmyoji seemed to sense her fear, and whether he was trying to comfort her or sighing in self-pity, it was unclear:

"Yes, there are definitely some, but we're all about to lose our jobs. Sigh, the industry is in a slump right now, and modern people don't believe in ghosts and gods anymore. I can only barely make a living by fortune telling."

He was thinking to himself, "I'm barely making ends meet, why should I spend money on figurines?"

And isn't divination a scam?

When she was in school, she often saw her female classmates huddled together, tirelessly discussing astrology. She was curious and tried to learn more about it, but unfortunately…

Completely! Absolutely not! Useless!

It also wasted half a month's allowance!

Thinking about this makes me a little angry.

"Should I do a divination for Shinya?" the Onmyoji suddenly suggested.

Zhen paused for a moment, then shook her head and said softly, "No need, I'm not interested in this kind of thing."

The Onmyoji said earnestly, "You don't even want it for free? This is a rare opportunity. I'm only doing this because I feel a connection between us."

She bit her lip, feeling a little hesitant.

"It seems you don't really trust me." The Onmyoji pondered for a moment, then finally made a decision. "How about this, I'll first calculate your current family situation. If I'm accurate, how about I do a divination for you?"

The girl stood there dumbfounded.

Why does it feel like... the Onmyoji is trying to do a divination for himself in some strange way? Or is it just my imagination?

Before she could reply, the Onmyoji had already taken out a copper coin from his pocket, his expression serious, his eyes closed, and he was muttering in a language that was truly incomprehensible.

Zhen Xiao's heart pounded as she nervously stared at the copper coin in the man's hand.

Is this the "incantation" mastered by Onmyoji?

Is that copper coin a ritual implement?

That looks pretty impressive!

The man suddenly opened his eyes.

A flash of gold streaked across his pupils!

She instinctively covered her mouth, quickly silencing her scream.

She just... saw a flash of golden light in the Onmyoji's eyes!

The other party really wasn't lying to me! He truly possessed mysterious power and was a genuine Onmyoji!

The Onmyoji exhaled a long breath, resembling a martial arts master finishing his practice.

He wiped the sweat from his forehead, which seemed to have been squeezed out from somewhere, and toyed with the copper coin in his hand, saying confidently:

"It's all settled! Asou Makoto, you're 17 years old, just graduated from high school. Your parents divorced, and you've been living with your grandmother. You're currently working hard to save money for university, am I right?"

He nodded vigorously, and the trust he already had, which was already at 80%, now reached an overflowing level.

The Onmyoji smiled and said, "So, now, would you really like me to do a divination for you?"

Zhen continued nodding vigorously, still covering her mouth with her hands, feeling as if she was about to break her neck from nodding.

The Onmyoji coughed lightly and said, "Oh, right, I suddenly remembered something. Do you have a DVD of Ultraman Tiga episode 21? Could you get me one?"

I'm a little confused. "Ultraman Tiga?"

The Onmyoji clenched his fist and said, "We're in the same profession! When I have free time, I like to read about the glorious deeds of my colleagues to encourage myself!"

It suddenly dawned on me.

She wasn't interested in Ultraman or anything like that, but in elementary and middle school, she would often hear her classmates shouting, "Believe in the light!"

The power of light is probably similar to the power of Onmyoji to exorcise demons... right?

"Please wait a moment! Let me check. Do you specifically want episode 21?"

Zhen came out from behind the counter and started searching through the CD section.

"Yes, that's right. I was planning to give it as a gift. Oh, thank you for your trouble."

"It's alright, serving customers is my job! Besides, I'll need your help with a fortune telling later!" Zhen said cheerfully, full of energy.

"Found it! Shall I pack it up for you?"

"Of course, and could you please pack these two figurines for me as well?" the man said with a smile.

"Okay, please wait a moment!"

She quickly got to work, packing the two Asahina figures and the CD separately and placing them on the counter, saying with a sweet smile:

"That's 15,000 yen in total. Thank you for your patronage!"

The man took out money from his pocket and paid the bill.

He pushed the packaged gift box aside for the moment and asked with a smile, "So, which side do you really want to take?"

I was so hesitant, my hands were clasped together, and I was so conflicted.

She wanted to ask about her studies and her love life, but the yin-yang master had already generously given her a free divination, so she couldn't push her luck...

"How about...love?" she whispered, her face flushed.

Although academic studies are also important, Zhen, who has lived with her grandmother since childhood, longs for a genuine relationship.

"Love..." the man murmured, his gaze unfathomably dark and unfathomable.

He closed his eyes again, did the same thing as before, muttered in a language he couldn't understand, and finally tossed the coin, put his hands together, and looked solemn and dignified.

She looked at the Onmyoji with a mixture of anticipation and nervousness.

The man tilted his head, slightly opened the door a crack, peered inside, and muttered, "Oh dear! Something's gone wrong!"

"W-what's wrong?" Zhen clenched her fists, biting her lip, her eyes filled with anxiety.

"I miscalculated." The man scratched his head. "I was supposed to calculate your love life, but I accidentally calculated your studies instead."

"Huh, how could this happen..." Zhen was dumbfounded.

The man shook his head regretfully and said, "I can only use my powers twice a day, and I've already used them all up for today. I'm so sorry."

Zhen quickly shook her head and said, "Please don't say that! I'm already very grateful that you're giving me a free divination; how could I possibly ask for your kindness?"

The man smiled gently and said, "Although the divination didn't predict true love, it seems your studies will go very smoothly. Moreover, you're currently blessed with good fortune, so it looks like good luck will be plentiful!"

He bowed deeply and said loudly, "Thank you for your help, Onmyoji!"

But when she actually got up again, the girl suddenly froze.

The Onmyoji has vanished without a trace!

The packaged figurines on the counter have also disappeared!

Zhen hurriedly came out from behind the counter and quickly checked the store. The store was empty, and the umbrellas on the shelf by the door were nowhere to be found.

Zhen stood at the door, looking up at the bronze bell hanging on the shop door.

Whether the shop door is opened from the outside or the inside, the bronze bell will make a clear tinkling sound.

But just now... the bell didn't ring, so how did the Onmyoji leave?

She suddenly felt a little lost. Why would the Onmyoji suddenly leave without saying goodbye?

She returned to the counter dejectedly, her gaze suddenly fixed on it.

A copper coin lay quietly on the table, seemingly confirming that a man claiming to be an Onmyoji had indeed briefly stopped by.

Zhen carefully picked up the copper coin and examined it in his palm.

It seems to be just an ordinary copper coin, with no apparent magic. Is it really a magical artifact?

Onmyoji, why did you specifically leave it on the counter?

The girl leaned back on the counter, staring blankly at the copper coins in her hand.