Chapter 433: The Three Scared Women and Aoandon's Dedication
When Aoandon laid her eyes on the computer, she froze for a moment. This small, glowing box contained a world of its own, reminding her of the legendary Box of Goblins from folklore.
Ren considered her request. "Alright, let's start with this movie then," he said, turning to the demon beside him. "Pandemonica, if you get scared, you can leave at any time."
Pandemonica paused, a thoughtful look on her face. "Ren, are you going to watch with us?"
He mulled it over. "I suppose I could. I'll watch for a little while. Lucifer, are you absolutely sure you don't want to join?"
Lucifer shook her head with such decisive force it was almost comical. "I absolutely will not watch! Absolutely!"
Ren sighed, a hint of amusement in his eyes. The seating was a bit awkward, so he pulled over another chair, positioning himself next to Pandemonica. As the movie began, Aoandon's eyes widened in surprise. There were people and buildings trapped inside the glowing box. She didn't recognize the architecture or the style of clothing, but that only fueled her excitement.
'This must be a glimpse into another world!' she thought.
Aoandon leaned forward, her focus absolute. Pandemonica, too, watched with keen interest, curious to see what kind of ghosts and monsters could reduce her formidable boss to such a state.
"Pandemonica, what sort of beings do you think they are?" Ren asked quietly.
She glanced over at Lucifer, who had already slipped on a pair of headphones, completely tuning them out. Pandemonica sighed. "The boss is surprisingly timid. I doubt they'll be anything truly frightening. As a customer service representative for Hell, I've seen more than my fair share of ghosts and monsters."
"Oh? Is that so?" Ren's voice was laced with a knowing calm. "I seem to recall Lucifer saying the exact same thing back then."
A jolt went through Pandemonica. A faint sense of unease began to creep in. 'No, that's impossible,'she reasoned.'There can't be anything scarier than animated skeletons, right?' She held onto her skepticism, refusing to believe anything on the screen could truly terrify her.
Meanwhile, Aoandon was completely captivated. A sudden, piercing scream from the movie was sharp enough to draw the attention of Yakumo Yukari, who had been observing from a distance. Intrigued, she drifted over to watch as well.
Time ticked by, minute by agonizing minute. The scene remained the same: one man and three beautiful women watching a horror film together. The atmosphere, however, had undergone a dramatic transformation.
At the start, Aoandon had been filled with professional anticipation, her eyes alight with excitement as the film recounted various school legends. Pandemonica had been the picture of calm composure, dismissing it all as something designed to frighten children. Yakumo Yukari had simply watched with a detached curiosity, nodding occasionally as if analyzing a peculiar human ritual.
But now, Yakumo Yukari's fingers were digging into Ren's shoulder, her pupils trembling with undisguised fear. Aoandon was utterly stunned. 'You call that a ghost?!'she screamed internally.'Why does it have to look so grotesque?! Combined with this imagery and this music… it's too much!' Her own hand shot out, grabbing Ren's arm in a desperate grip. She was terrified, yet she couldn't look away, even as her mind struggled to process the horror.
Pandemonica felt a tremor run through her very core. Lucifer had warned her that this was different from a simple skeleton, but she could never have imagined something so utterly bizarre. Being the closest to Ren, she had instinctively latched onto his other arm, her face half-buried in his sleeve as she watched through her fingers.
Ren let out a quiet sigh. He had known this would happen, which was why he'd been hesitant to join them. But he had also worried that the two of them—no, the three of them—might simply freeze in terror, so he had stayed. 'And this version,'he thought,'is several times more disturbing than the original I remember.'
When the credits finally rolled, Ren exhaled slowly. "Pandemonica, Miss Aoandon, Miss Yakumo," he said, his voice steady. "Your grips are quite strong, aren't they?"
Aoandon swallowed hard. "Shopkeeper Ren… do such demons… no… do such evil spirits and monsters truly exist? This… this is a little too terrifying…"
Pandemonica's eyes were still wide, a frantic energy in them. "That's beyond bizarre…" she whispered, her voice shaky. "That was created for the sole purpose of assaulting one's senses. It's… it's designed to scare people just for the sake of it."
Yakumo Yukari nodded in solemn agreement. "This is the first time I've seen something so grotesque. Those monsters were all very weak, yet their psychological impact was immense…"
From across the room, Yuuka Kazami glanced up from the potted plant she was tending to. "The things in your gaps are far more frightening than that, aren't they?" she commented with chilling indifference.
"That's different!" Yakumo Yukari retorted instantly.
Ren sighed again. "That's why I warned you. For people with excellent memories who are also afraid of ghosts, watching horror movies is a uniquely terrifying experience."
Pandemonica considered his words. "Ren, are you talking about us?"
He gave her a slight, knowing smile. "Pandemonica, do you feel like going to the restroom now?"
Her mouth twitched. She shook her head violently. "Absolutely not! Demons don't need to use the restroom!"
"Even just to wash your face," Ren added innocently. "It might help you clear your head."
Yakumo Yukari's eyelid twitched. "Mr. Shopkeeper, I've been to your washroom. There's a large mirror right in front of the sink. You don't have any dark intentions, do you?"
Three pairs of eyes—Pandemonica's, Aoandon's, and Yakumo Yukari's—fixed on Ren, unblinking and deeply suspicious.
Ren simply smiled and shook his head. "There's not much point in scaring you, is there?"
The three women exchanged a look, a silent, resolute pact forming between them. They would not believe a word he said. Believing him now felt like inviting a new psychological trauma into their lives.
Seeing their expressions, Ren's smile widened. "So, do you want to watch more?"
Pandemonica and Yakumo Yukari shook their heads in perfect, frantic unison.
Aoandon, however, paused to think. Then, to their astonishment, she nodded. "Shopkeeper Ren, I want to keep watching."
In that moment, both Yakumo Yukari and Pandemonica stared at Aoandon with eyes full of deep admiration, as if gazing upon a war hero. Good heavens, they knew she was a youkai who lived for bizarre tales, but she had been just as scared as they were! Was her professional dedication truly this absolute?
Ren nodded. "Of course. We don't have many customers right now, so it's fine. Miss Aoandon, you must be the second person I've met who can watch horror movies with me."
Aoandon blinked, intrigued. "So, most people don't dare to watch the stories in these films?"
"Not necessarily," Ren explained. "Humans are creatures who seek out excitement when their lives become too peaceful. Many people are terrified of ghosts, yet they love to watch horror movies. They'll be so scared they sleep with the lights on for days and refuse to let their hands or feet stick out from under the covers. I suppose it's a case of the more afraid they are, the more they want to watch. That's human curiosity for you."
Aoandon nodded, absorbing this new insight. Then, a thought struck her. "Huh? Shopkeeper Ren, you all seem to know my name, Aoandon. Do legends of me exist in your world as well?"
"They do," Ren confirmed with a nod. "In any world where legends of youkai exist, there's bound to be a version of the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons. And naturally, you would be a part of it, Miss Aoandon. However… the Aoandon in other worlds isn't nearly as beautiful as you are."
Aoandon was taken aback, but a faint warmth spread through her chest. It would be absurd not to feel pleased after being praised for her beauty. "What do they look like?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.
Ren let out a soft sigh. "Miss Aoandon, please prepare yourself. And it's best if you don't get angry."
"Huh? I won't get angry. I'm just very curious about what the Aoandon in other worlds looks like… what… what… what?!"
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