Chapter 89: The Tricky Request
"H-Hero!" Takanashi Rikka's trembling voice came from the other end of the line, small and hesitant. "I… I want to sleep at your place tonight... I can't sleep alone..."
What did you just say?
Sleep at my place?
Absolutely not! Not happening!
"No." Kouya cut her off immediately, his tone sharp and absolute.
"B-But… I'm all by myself… and every time I close my eyes, I feel like that dark creature will suddenly crawl out from under the bed… or the closet… or even the toilet!"
Unbelievable!
That guy was just a biker! A driver! His only "crime" was walking his dog at night! You think he's got the free time to crawl out of your toilet to grab you?
Under the bed, fine. Closet, maybe. But the toilet?! What kind of twisted horror movie logic is that? Do you think he's some unspeakable, tentacled creature from the depths?
Kouya pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed deeply. "Gabriel lives right next door. If you're that scared, go sleep at her place."
"O-Okay..." Rikka's voice fell, small and disappointed. "B-But… I'm too scared to go alone... it's dark... and creepy..."
Kouya groaned, dragging a hand down his face. He stood, slipped on his shoes, and walked down the hall to Gabriel's door. The faint sound of clicking keys and digital explosions leaked through the wall.
Of course. Gaming. She was probably mid-boss fight.
He rang the doorbell.
After a few seconds, the door cracked open. Gabriel appeared, bleary-eyed and disheveled, her long blonde hair messy, her T-shirt collar slightly stretched, pajama shorts loose on her slender frame. Her bare feet padded lightly on the wooden floor.
Her eyes—lifeless, ringed with light shadows—narrowed in suspicion. "What do you want?"
Kouya took a breath and explained the situation clearly, his voice steady.
"Ugh… such a hassle..." Gabriel groaned, rubbing her temples. "Fine, fine, bring her here. But if she bothered me while I'm playing, I'm kicking her out."
Kouya gave a faint nod. As expected.
This lazy angel might have fallen into the abyss of gaming, but under that pile of energy drinks and crumbs, she still had a decent heart. Occasionally.
Then Gabriel's tired expression shifted into a mischievous grin. "But since I'm helping you, you owe me one. Don't forget."
"..."
Scratch that. You're not a lazy angel—you're a cunning devil with Wi-Fi.
…
After finally settling Rikka's little crisis, Kouya returned to his room, stretching his neck. Just as he sat down, his phone buzzed again.
The caller ID: Shrine Maiden.
He frowned slightly and answered. "Yeah?"
"Hello? Kou-kun?" came the familiar gentle voice, laced with hesitation. "Sorry to call so late, but… there's a problem."
"A problem?" Kouya leaned back lazily. "What kind?"
"It's… tricky. The job we took today turned out to be more complicated than expected." Her tone was careful, each word chosen. Then, after a brief pause, she added, "The client increased the payment. If we complete it, it's twenty million yen (130,000$)."
Kouya blinked once. That number had his attention.
Twenty million. Enough to live comfortably for a while. His last payout had already been half-spent—food, rent, and a few "incidentals." Twenty million would give him another stretch of quiet, peaceful living.
He thought a moment before replying. "Where?"
"No need. I'll send someone to pick you up," she said quickly, sounding relieved.
"Fine," he answered.
…
Twenty minutes later, the deep hum of an engine echoed outside. A sleek black sedan glided to a halt beneath the streetlamp.
The door opened, and a small figure jumped out. Cat ears twitched under the dim light as she waved enthusiastically. "Hurry up, nya!"
Kouya raised an eyebrow. "You again?"
"Big Sister sent me, nya! She said you'd probably get lost, nya!"
He got in, and the suited driver wordlessly restarted the car. The sedan slipped through the city, headlights slicing the darkness like a blade.
The night outside was quiet—too quiet. Buildings thinned, replaced by trees and winding roads.
"Big Sister's hurt, nya!" the catgirl blurted suddenly, tail drooping. "I was worried you wouldn't come, nya..."
Kouya's gaze sharpened. "Explain."
Rina's small hands fidgeted with the hem of her jacket. "Nya doesn't know all the details. Big Sister took the commission herself, nya. I just fight the bad guys, nya!"
He snorted softly. "You? Fight? You'd probably be the first one to run."
Rina's face turned red. "D-Don't look down on me, nya!" She raised her tiny hands, fingers curled like claws. "See? I'm fierce, nya!"
Fierce? Not even close. With her round face and twitching ears, she looked like a plush toy trying to be scary.
Kouya stared blankly. "Do you want me to trim your claws for you?"
Rina puffed her cheeks, pouting. "You're bullying me, nya!"
"Keep talking and I'll pull your tail."
"Nooo, nya!" she yelped, clutching her backside protectively.
Their playful bickering filled the car, easing the tension.
The driver stayed silent the whole ride, focused entirely on the road. His professionalism bordered on eerie—no music, no chatter, just the steady hum of the engine as the city gave way to forest.
Finally, the sedan slowed and stopped. The driver stepped out, opened the door, and said quietly, "We've arrived, Mr. Kouya."
Kouya exited and looked up.
The estate was massive, nestled halfway up a low mountain. Lanterns lined the winding path, their glow soft and pale. Modern stonework fused with traditional wooden beams and paper screens, creating an elegant, haunting beauty.
The night air smelled of pine and damp earth. Somewhere in the distance, water trickled from a mountain spring.
The moon was bright, silver light spilling over every surface. The leaves shimmered faintly in the wind.
And yet—no sound of birds. No insects. Nothing but the whisper of the breeze.
The silence pressed down like a weight. The mansion, bathed in moonlight, stood still and watchful, as if something ancient lingered within its walls.
"You're here," the shrine maiden said, approaching from the entrance. Her robes fluttered faintly in the night air, her expression both relieved and weary.
Kouya's sharp eyes immediately noticed the faint stain of dried blood on her sleeve. "You're hurt?"
"It's fine," she said quickly, forcing a smile. "Just a small wound."
He didn't believe her but didn't press the issue. She turned and began leading him through the courtyard as she spoke.
"The client's a wealthy man, a collector of rare artifacts. Lately, strange things have been happening here—his guard dogs died mysteriously, the birds in the aviary as well. Food from the kitchen disappears overnight, as if devoured by invisible hands."
"At first, he thought it was theft. So he hired more guards, even installed motion sensors. But the more he did, the worse it got."
Kouya's brows furrowed slightly. "And?"
"He placed cameras around the estate. What he saw terrified him—distorted shadows slipping through the halls. Every time they appeared, the video signal glitched. The shapes didn't look human at all."
"How predictable." Kouya's voice was calm, but his eyes were sharp. "Let me guess—he tried calling an exorcist."
She nodded. "Yes. An onmyoji. But the man ran away the same night, leaving behind his tools and wards."
Desperation flickered in her voice as she continued. "The client contacted everyone he could. Finally, through Hirata Sachiko, he reached out to us at Chiba Shrine. He's paying twenty million yen for the job."
Kouya listened silently, his gaze scanning the quiet courtyard. The air here felt heavy, thick with something unseen.
After a moment, he asked, "Why hasn't the client just left?"
The shrine maiden hesitated. Her eyes darkened. "Because he can't."
Kouya frowned. "Can't?"
"Yes. The family can't leave the property. The servants, drivers, guards—they can go freely. But every time the family tries, something happens. Tires explode, engines die, trees fall and block the road. Every time. As if something wants them trapped here."