Chapter 169: Warning
D-Dead?!
The security guard who had greeted her every day since she transferred schools was dead—right in front of her?!
Tsuchimiya Kagura's arms trembled as she grabbed the hilt of the long sword at her waist. But no matter how hard she tried, the blade seemed welded to its sheath—she couldn't draw it at all!
"Glurg…"
A black, viscous liquid had somehow spread from the gym. As Kagura struggled to pull out her sword, the substance had already reached her feet. Seeing this, she had no choice but to use her spiritual energy to repel the black liquid in the most primitive way, then retreat.
But when she turned, several figures emerged from the night, wobbling as if their heads were crowned with massive, egg-like shapes.
"Sensei…"
Kagura recognized the one at the front as the school nurse. The others she didn't know, but all wore school uniforms.
"This isn't a B-rank mission at all!"
Seeing the teacher and students fully controlled by the evil spirit, Kagura felt a pang of sadness but also realized that something was seriously wrong with this mission. They could manipulate humans as puppets now—by any standard, this had reached A-rank level.
Though she and Isayama Yomi's abilities were above A-rank, without prior preparation, even they could get caught off guard.
"Did the intel team misjudge?"
At first, Kagura considered this possibility. But she quickly dismissed it. After all, the intel team had maintained zero errors for years—how could they suddenly make a mistake today?
So if the intel wasn't wrong… then…
Kagura's mind flashed to the director's ever-smiling face.
No way, right? Since joining the exorcism department with Isayama Yomi, the director had always treated them well—there's no way he would harm them!
No, now is not the time to think about that!
Shaking her head, Kagura reminded herself to stay calm. The reason for the intel error could wait until after the mission. Right now, her top priority was to warn Isayama Yomi.
The thought that Isayama Yomi might be in danger instantly swept away Kagura's tension and fear.
She focused on the approaching puppets, took a deep breath, and drew her sword in one swift motion. A cold flash of steel cut through the night, instantly obliterating the egg-like growths on the puppets' heads.
Stepping over the fallen bodies, Kagura chased after the direction Isayama Yomi had gone.
.
.
.
Meanwhile, at the Hikigaya residence, sitting beside Komachi and playing on his phone, Hikigaya Hachiman suddenly looked up thoughtfully.
He felt like someone was calling him?
A ridiculous thought.
Hachiman shook his head, just about to refocus, when an unseen force urged him to go to a certain place.
If the first feeling could be dismissed as a trick of the mind, this second one could not be ignored.
Glancing back at the sleeping Komachi, unwilling to wake her, Hachiman left a note and went to the entrance to prepare to leave.
But just before stepping out, he seemed to remember something. He placed protective wards around the house and posted talismans in the yard to exorcise spirits before confidently stepping outside.
Not long after leaving, Hachiman's phone rang—it was his parents.
Due to a heavy workload, they wouldn't be returning home tonight. After warning him to stay safe, the line went dead.
Without hesitation, Hachiman turned back and returned home. He woke the sleeping Komachi, who was still groggy, and brought her to Yotsuya Miko's house.
"Good evening, Hikigaya-kun…"
Because he had called ahead, Yotsuya Miko was not surprised by their nighttime visit, though she still looked curiously at Hachiman. Normally, he came to her house only for exorcisms. And tonight he had brought his sister…
"Could Komachi stay here for the night?"
Feeling that the situation was worsening, Hachiman got straight to the point without pleasantries.
"Wait, Oni-chan, why do I have to sleep with Miko-senpai?"
Hearing this, Komachi instantly snapped awake. She had been sleeping peacefully at home, suddenly dragged to Yotsuya Miko's house, and told she would spend the night here. Without a good reason, she wouldn't accept it.
"I have a feeling something might happen tonight. You'll be safer staying here with Yotsuya-senpai. If possible, she can also invite your friends over."
The combination of Yotsuya's bracelet and Komachi's wristband should be enough protection. For extra safety, adding Yurikawa Hana's bracelet would be better. Though at this hour, Hana might not come…
"I'll call her right now!"
Despite some confusion, Yotsuya immediately called Hana to come over. Hana acted quickly.
After waiting briefly in the living room, Hana arrived at Yotsuya Miko's house in casual clothes, carrying a large bag of clothing, escorted by her parents.
"Miko, did you miss me? Ehh, calling me over this late…"
Seeing Yotsuya, Hana's eyes sparkled, and she threw down her bag to run toward her.
"Don't fuss. I didn't call you here tonight."
Allowing Hana to cling to her, Yotsuya subtly gestured toward Hachiman and Komachi to signal that they were not alone.
"Ah, Hikigaya-kun, I didn't expect to see you here at Miko's this late. Could it be…"
Bouncing over, Hana slapped Hachiman's shoulder mischievously.
Is it that? Could it really be that? Two people together at night…
"You might encounter a ghost tonight, Yurikawa -san."
"Eh?"
With just a few words, Hachiman silenced Hana. He glanced at Komachi, then at Yotsuya, warned them to stay safe and call him if anything happened, and immediately rushed to the next location.
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