MHGA Chapter 193: The Hunters' Tarot Reading
"Kairo Retsu-san, are you sure this is really all you want?"
Misty looked curiously at the group seated in front of her.
There were five people, all of whom had Asian facial features, and most of them looked very young.
In fact, aside from the one who introduced himself as Kairo Retsu, the rest appeared to be under twenty.
And the request Kairo Retsu made was strange as well. He simply asked her to let each of them draw one Tarot card from the deck, then kindly explain the meaning behind it.
Although Misty found the request peculiar, Kairo Retsu was surprisingly generous—he paid her upfront in cash.
"Let me introduce everyone."
Kairo Retsu began pointing them out one by one: "These are my friends… Shirou Emiya, Rakuro Hizutome, Tanjiro Kamado, and this completely unimportant guy who also ruins the name formation—Kazuma Satou."
"Hey! I felt that jab just now! What do you mean by 'completely unimportant' and 'ruins the name formation'?! That's targeting!"
"Isn't it obvious? They're all '-rou' names, and then there's just you—Kazuma. You're breaking the rhythm!" Kairo sneered. "Come on, Misty! Give him the worst reading! Curse him with the cards!"
"No way! My luck's always been top tier! Don't believe me? Let's play rock-paper-scissors!" Kazuma shot back indignantly.
"Fine by me! Rock, paper—scissors!" Kairo shouted.
The two of them threw their hands out like lightning.
Kazuma threw paper.
Kairo threw rock.
Kazuma instantly won.
"Heh." Kazuma looked down at Kairo with a smug grin. "A mere mortal, beaten by the likes of me…"
"Damn you, Kazuma… damn you…" Kairo sulked, supporting himself against the wall.
While Kairo and Kazuma were goofing around, Tanjiro politely sat down across from Misty.
"Hello, Miss Misty!" Tanjiro said with a bright, sincere smile. "Thank you for helping with the reading!"
"Hello." Misty returned his warm demeanor with a gentle smile of her own. "Please, pick one card from the deck."
Tanjiro obediently drew a card, and Misty beamed.
"The Sun. This is one of the most positive cards in the Major Arcana. It symbolizes optimism and hope—no darkness can withstand its radiance… It suits you well."
"!" Kazuma, who was being dragged around by Kairo at that moment, widened his eyes. "It's that accurate?!"
Tanjiro's personality did match Misty's description. Was that just coincidence?
"Me, me, me!" Rakuro Hizutome cheerfully stepped forward for his turn and drew the Strength card.
Shirou Emiya, a little more reserved, drew Justice.
"My turn! My turn!" Kazuma excitedly rushed up to the table. "Let's see what I get!"
He drew a card from the deck.
"Hmm… Death," Misty said.
"Eh?" Kazuma froze.
"Oh! Death!" Kairo echoed in delight.
"AAAH!" Kazuma shrieked, threw the card away, and bolted out of the shop.
"Wait…" Misty tried to stop him but was too late.
"He misunderstood," she said with a sigh, turning to Kairo, who had just taken a seat.
"While Death is associated with endings, it's not all bad. It also signifies transformation—the idea of being reborn after hitting rock bottom."
"That's surprisingly accurate." Kairo scratched his chin. "Even though Kazuma seems unreliable most of the time, he does pull through when it really matters."
"Sounds like you two are close," Misty said. "Now, it's your turn. Please draw a card."
After shuffling the deck once more, she laid the Tarot cards in front of him.
Kairo flipped the top card.
"The Fool," Misty said gently. "The very first card of the Major Arcana—though often unnumbered, it's labeled as zero. He walks along a cliff's edge, full of dreams, carrying a rose in one hand and a satchel in the other…"
"He is a traveler, an adventurer, one who carries with him vitality and courage in the face of a new journey. His eyes reflect his own utopia…"
Misty explained the meaning of The Fool to Kairo.
"That's perfect for me." Kairo grinned, pleased with the result.
Just then, a message from the Gathering popped up in his HUD—Joseph and David had arrived.
"Miss Misty, I have two more friends. Could I trouble you to read their fortunes too?" Kairo asked. "They're also very important to me… and your readings have been spot-on."
"Thank you for the compliment." Misty smiled, a bit curious.
Because—this entire group, the aura they carried, their very presence… it was fundamentally different from the atmosphere of Night City.
As if… they were never part of this city to begin with.
While Misty pondered this, Kairo quickly brought in Joseph and David.
When Misty saw David still bleeding, she asked with concern if he needed medical attention. But David simply shook his head, saying it was just residual bleeding from his cyberware replacement—it would heal soon enough.
This time, David and Joseph both sat opposite Misty and drew one card each.
Joseph hadn't cared much for this "reading nonsense," but when he looked at the card in his hand and heard Misty's explanation, his face turned serious.
"The Hermit," Misty read. "Clad in robes, lantern in hand, leaning on a staff, he walks alone through the darkness. He may retire from success at his peak, yet others won't understand that it's just preparation for the next golden era."
"But take care—in matters of the heart, the Hermit can sometimes lead to estrangement in critical moments. It's a very lonely card."
Misty's words made Joseph think of his own "Bizarre Adventure."
And with his Stand being Hermit Purple, this card felt all too appropriate…
"Damn, that's dead-on." Kairo was once again impressed by Misty's reading.
Then David revealed his card.
Misty's voice reached his ears.
"This card is The Hanged Man," Misty said softly, looking at David's blood-stained body. "It represents… sacrifice."
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