The Astrologer’s Diary (Part 2)

2037, September 14th. Clear to cloudy. Astrological fortune: Auspicious.

My infiltration was a success. Using the instrument provided by Fourth Venerable Lord Dora Cole, I effortlessly acquired the false identity of Aimira Milala. What’s more, I’ve been provisionally assigned as a special investigator for the Ninth Apostle Search Committee—a role that suits me perfectly.

Coupled with a persona I’d long since mastered and an appearance altered by magic, I am confident I won’t be exposed, unless someone is bored enough to deliberately scrutinize the committee’s records.

My fortune has been auspicious for several consecutive days. Something good is definitely bound to happen.

2037, September 29th. Clear. Astrological fortune: Very Auspicious.

I’ve completely grown accustomed to life in human territory. Aside from the differences in race and cultural atmosphere, it doesn’t seem all that different from home.

The drink called ‘Charcoal Roasted Yogurt’ is delicious; I hope we can introduce it to the demon realm.

Today, I also gathered some intelligence regarding the Ninth Apostle, though most of it consists of various speculations reported in the news. It’s a test for me to sift through this abundance of information and deduce the closest approximation to the truth.

Additionally, to capture his heart the moment I meet him, I’ve spent the past two weeks diligently learning human cuisine. I’ve mastered Chinese, Western, and Japanese dishes, and I’m incredibly pleased that my proud culinary talent hasn’t let me down.

2037, October 8th. Clear. Astrological fortune: Extremely Auspicious.

The results of my astrological divination led me to a place called Sandra City. This city was established to guard the Abyss, indicating that humans are no less wary of it than demons.

After boarding the train, I performed another divination; it was still ‘Extremely Auspicious.’ Ten consecutive days of such fortune is truly unprecedented.

My heart pounded fiercely, making my hand tremble as I wrote in my diary. In truth, I didn’t even need the divination; my premonition has never been this strong. He is waiting for me, just ahead, not far away. It must be so.

Though I haven’t the slightest idea what I’ll say when I finally meet him.

2037, October 13th. Overcast. Astrological fortune: Divine Auspice.

It’s been three days since I arrived in Sandra City. The small supervisor at the mercenary guild who greeted me didn’t suspect my identity at all and even arranged accommodation for me.

This is the first time I’ve seen ‘Divine Auspice’ as a divination result; theoretically, it should only exist in theory.

It’s coming.

I can’t quite articulate what ‘it’ is, but something significant is certainly approaching. My heart has been pounding violently since this morning. After several more divinations, I’ve decided to temporarily join a mercenary group as an investigator and enter the Abyss. Something is undoubtedly waiting for me there.

Well, the mercenary group leader is already waiting. I must depart now, so I’ll conclude today’s diary entry here.

2037, October 14th. Clear. Astrological fortune: Divine Auspice.

YES!!!!!

INDEED!!!!

GOOD!!!!!!!!

It’s him!!!!!

It really is him!!!!!!

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HURRAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HURRAY!!!!!

Hurray…

…

This is the happiest I’ve ever been in my life.

The astrologers, the dragons, the Venerable Lords—they all only care about themselves; they don’t care about me at all.

Hahaha…

But life… finally…

Finally, it’s become happy.

I’m so overwhelmed with joy that my head feels a bit lightheaded.

I should register for Weibo… it’s quite similar to the demon realm’s Twitter. I’ll pour out my happiness there.

I’ll call myself ‘Wandering Star.’

After posting on Weibo, I’ll go find him. I’ve already divined his address. Should I show him my cooking skills?

2037, October 15th. Clear. Astrological fortune: Divine Auspice.

…Yesterday was truly an eventful day.

The density of events within a single day was simply too high.

I met him in the early hours of yesterday morning, then cooked for him at noon. In the afternoon, I met Jadette, after which I went to the guild to help him out. Later, in the room, he stole my heart (physically), and in the evening, I was kidnapped at the guild (intentionally). I then hid in the shadows of the Abyss, observing the full sequence of events, and even formed a partnership with Ephiel.

After all that commotion, I now have to face Jadette’s interrogation. I need to come up with a good excuse. The ‘Divine Auspice’ continues; once I pass this hurdle, it will be just the Ninth Apostle and I in our own world.

I’m sorry, Miss Jadette.

Your husband is truly amazing.

2037, October 16th. Clear. Astrological fortune: Very Auspicious.

Starting today, my idol and I officially embark on our journey together.

I feel as if I’m dreaming, I’m so happy.

I’ll continue writing in my diary to record every little moment we share.

To prevent him from discovering it, I’ll usually hide my diary inside my personal ‘small universe’ storage.

Ah… since he dislikes being called ‘Apostle Lord’ and isn’t too fond of his real name, from now on, both in life and in my diary, I’ll refer to him as ‘Kos.’ It feels a little shy to say.

‘Corvus’ rewritten as ‘Curse’? It’s certainly clever, and the pronunciation makes it a common name. But spelled out… is it really okay to name oneself ‘Curse’?

Time is running short; I must board the train. Should I try to act a little spoiled and ask him to carry my suitcase for me?

2037, October 18th. Clear. Astrological fortune: Very Auspicious.

After three days and three nights on the train, we finally reached our destination this evening.

‘Cyber Sanctuary,’ ‘City of Neon Lights,’ ‘Shadows in the Clouds,’ ‘Humanity’s Foremost High-Tech Industrial Zone,’ ‘Speculator’s Paradise,’ ‘Pleasure Planet’—Starry Night City.

If Rivet City is the stronghold of demon scientific power, then Starry Night City is the stronghold of human scientific power, yet its style is utterly distinct from Rivet City.

Rivet City boasts towering metal chimneys that pierce the clouds, gears as large as small mountains, humming colossal steam engines, and inorganic streets adorned with vacuum tubes and cathode ray tubes. The air is thick with dust and diesel fumes, and the people walking its streets emit the clatter of gears within their bodies.

Starry Night City, however, is starkly different; it is far more vibrant and less regulated than Rivet City. Avant-garde colossal buildings soar into the sky, while neon lights, RGB illumination, and holographic projections paint the streets in kaleidoscopic hues. The city center overflows with material desires and extreme prosperity, with exaggeratedly customized cars constantly coming and going. Meanwhile, the equally vast slums are stacked like countless beehives, a chaotic mix of black market stalls, bars, nightclubs, brothels, and various establishments operating in the grey areas. Almost all industries are monopolized by high-tech super corporations, creating vastly different lives for the rich and the poor.

The two cities are replete with differences, yet one aspect remains the same: at least eighty percent of their residents have undergone prosthetic implantation and modification. It’s as if they deliberately brand themselves as people of the scientific faction, drawing a clear line between themselves and mages, espers, divine spellcasters, cultivators, or body-refining warriors.

2037, October 19th. Moderate rain. Astrological fortune: Divine Auspice.

Starry Night City is divided into the Lower City, comprised of the poor, outlaws, and scavengers; the Middle City, inhabited by the working class, petty bourgeoisie, minor officials, and scientific workers with stable incomes; and the Upper City, where true elites like high-level capitalists, magnates, and senior bureaucrats reside.

Kos first acquired money through certain means in the Lower City (essentially, he quietly ransacked some gangs). He then purchased a house—a small 60-square-meter apartment within a colossal building—in the area between the Middle and Lower Cities, where we’ve now settled.

Our cohabitation is about to begin.

Exciting, exciting.

Dokidoki.

Incidentally, after divining today’s fortune, I proposed to him, ‘I hope we can show our true faces when we’re home.’ He was naturally reluctant at first, but under my persistent coaxing, he finally agreed to briefly revert to his original appearance when we are alone together.

Although I’m generally indifferent to ‘handsome men,’ Kos is, of course, an exception.

I am a maiden, after all.

Probably.

2037, October 24th. Light fog. Astrological fortune: Auspicious.

Life in Starry Night City has settled into a routine, and we have both found jobs.

Kos had two requirements for work: it must be safe and stable, and it must be inconspicuous. Thus, while illegal activities offer quick money and would be easy for him, he absolutely refuses to engage in them. Truly, he is the man I admire.

Ultimately, he found a job as a net cafe manager at an esports internet cafe. The income is low, but it’s sufficient for basic living expenses.

As for me? Being a diviner is an excellent disguise. After all, both humans and demons share the concept of ‘astrology,’ so no one will suspect me.

2037, October 30th. Clear. Astrological fortune: Minor Auspice.

I’ve grown accustomed to our life together.

As a net cafe manager, he primarily works the night shift, so we’ve adopted a nocturnal lifestyle. What’s dinner time for others is our breakfast time, which is quite novel.

Cooking for the one you love is truly a blissful experience.

It’s not the earth-shattering, melodramatic vows of a romance novel, but rather a profoundly reassuring, ordinary happiness.

Of course, ordinary doesn’t mean boring. Simply observing the person I’ve yearned for over several years, day in and day out, is endlessly fascinating.

2037, November 5th. Cloudy. Astrological fortune: Auspicious.

He enjoys heavily-sauced food.

He likes to drink soy milk, especially when it’s iced.

He occasionally drinks alcohol, but only sips it.

He dislikes wearing socks indoors.

He is very diligent about sunning his blankets and quilts.

He prefers to sleep nude, but considering I’m here, he wears a vest.

He loves playing games but only for precisely an hour and a half each day—not a second more, not a second less.

He rarely uses his phone for anything other than reading comics and watching anime.

His phone contacts consist solely of me and his boss at the internet cafe.

He doesn’t deliberately dress up, yet his fashion sense is unexpectedly good; he always manages to make his clothes look simple, aesthetically pleasing, and sharp.

Sometimes, he is truly enticing, especially when he hasn’t wiped his mouth after drinking soy milk, and it drips from the corner of his lips down to his collarbone.

2037, November 8th. Overcast to light rain. Astrological fortune: Auspicious.

He has probably been a loyal reader of ‘Momiji Prince’ magazine for many years.

Though he tries to hide it, he genuinely likes ‘armpits’ and ‘stirrup socks.’

He glances my way when I take off my jacket or stretch, and when we occasionally pass clothing stores selling stirrup socks during our outings, he always takes an extra look.

I secretly bought a sleeveless camisole and several pairs of stirrup socks in different colors and materials. Should I change into them immediately and show him?

‘That might seem too frivolous, perhaps I shouldn’t.’

The crucial thing is…

I’m not very confident about my figure.

I’ve never physically trained and have been mostly vegetarian since childhood. My arms and legs are slender, my shoulders and waist narrow, but my chest is larger than average for my age, which, paired with my rather lean stomach and waist, makes me feel very disproportionate. I usually rely on clothing to make it seem less pronounced, so taking off my jacket always makes me shy. Each time I remove my outer garments in front of him, I have to summon immense courage.

As for stirrup socks, they aren’t very comfortable to wear, but I suppose I’ll get used to them?

2037, November 17th. Moderate rain. Astrological fortune: Minor Auspice.

Oh no, life with my idol is a little too happy. I feel like bragging to someone but can’t, and it’s making me restless.

There’s no other way; I’ll vent my joy by posting in the Weibo super-topic. After all, the people there will just assume I’m delusional.

Ah, that user with the ID ‘Test Tube Brush’ replied to me again today. They seem to be in good spirits?

Speaking of which, when Kos is free, he loves watching ‘VTubers,’ especially a virtual streamer named ‘Bailian Chomi.’ This seems to be a trend popular only among humans; in the demon realm, mukbangs on ‘Kuaishou’ have been popular these past two years.

Ah, Kos is secretly sending money to a VTuber!

…………

………What is this sour feeling in my heart?