Chapter 130: Filling Hachishaku with Power, Nepotism Hiratsuka Shizuka
That day, after the sports festival ended, Super-Quant Club room, internal member meeting.
"A large number of evil spirits from the Otherworld came to the real world?"
Although wearing a tracksuit, Rio, who didn't participate in the sports festival at all today and successfully escaped the awkward situation, frowned upon hearing the news brought by Tamamo-no-Mae.
"Are they... making a desperate attempt?"
Rio didn't quite understand.
Compared to the real world, the Otherworld was the home field of evil spirits.
The viscous black mist permeating the entire city would enhance the power of evil spirits to a certain extent.
Unless it was the kind of extremely twisted evil spirit filled with killing desire, completely devoid of reason, which in Tamamo-no-Mae's eyes was like a madman in human eyes, would choose to come to the real world through "Doors" just to create more death and pain.
Those dealt with by the Super-Quant Club before, whether the Kyoto Municipal Kindergarten, the unfinished building of Yukinoshita Construction Company, or the Black Dragon Society wiped out by Yoru and Light.
The evil spirits creating these events didn't come from the Otherworld but originally existed in the real world. After being affected by "Doors," their power grew while becoming increasingly twisted.
Rio didn't understand.
What exactly was the motivation for these evil spirits leaving their home field and coming to the real world?
"I think there should be two possibilities."
As a veteran exorcist, Miko gave her analysis at this time.
"First, instigated by Great Yokai like Tamamo-no-Mae behind the scenes, targeting us who have been to the Otherworld and left aura."
"Second..."
Speaking of this, Miko looked at Yoru, who was leaning on the sofa looking indifferent, and sighed slightly.
"Maybe... out of survival instinct, they had no choice but to resist."
"Ah?"
Hearing Miko's analysis, Mai looked a bit confused.
"Survival instinct? Resist? Shouldn't it be us humans suffering persecution from evil spirits?"
Rio pursed her lips, showing a very complex expression same as Miko, speaking slowly.
"Normally speaking, indeed so. Because the power gap is too large, humans even have a rule similar to a protection mechanism: as long as not 'Observing', won't be 'Harmed'."
"However..."
Rio and Miko's gazes were cast on Yoru, the two girls speaking in unison.
"In the food chain, a predator higher than evil spirits, standing at the apex, appeared."
Facing the gazes of the girls, Yoru still leaned on the sofa, looking bored.
A few seconds later, he came back to his senses.
"Eh? Are you talking about me?"
"If not you, who else could it be?"
Rio sighed.
She didn't believe Yoru would be stupid enough not to know this.
His appearance of pretending not to know...
Obviously, the passive skill activated.
Passive Skill: Teflon Pan (Never Stick to Pot/Blame): When feeling about to take the blame, directly turn on the playing dumb mode to cover up the topic.
Matched with True Protagonist's Intelligence Reduction Aura, achieving absolute defense of always being on the moral high ground.
"Don't you have a count in your heart? Since discovering the existence of the Otherworld, how many evil spirits have you devoured?"
Facing Rio's question, Yoru just spread his hands and replied very calmly.
"Not many, maybe ten or twenty thousand."
Rio was speechless.
"Ten or twenty thousand!? You ate them into panic; can they not come to find trouble?"
"Eh, this statement is wrong."
Yoru retorted seriously.
"I am doing good deeds."
Miko was puzzled.
"Good deeds?"
"Of course."
Yoru looked righteous and smiled.
"Think about it. I devoured so many evil spirits, which equals reducing the resident density of the Otherworld. In this way, housing prices will drop, realizing the beautiful life of every spirit having a car to drive and a house to live in. Isn't this a great act of kindness?"
Miko froze for a moment, murmuring.
"Hiss... saying so, makes some sense..."
"Make sense my ghost."
Rio sighed helplessly holding her forehead.
"Evil spirits don't need to buy houses and cars. You are obviously infected by abstractness."
After all, being an exorcist.
Being a little abnormal was also very normal.
Amano Hina rested her chin on one hand, speaking thoughtfully.
"However, according to the principle you told me that one won't be hurt if unable to 'Observe', only Yoru-san, Rio-san, and Miko-san will be in real danger, right?"
"Not exactly."
As the Chief Strategic Intelligence Officer of the Super-Quant Club, as long as it didn't involve emotional issues, Rio's thinking and deduction never had any flaws, this time too.
"The enemy I encountered when I awakened was that kind of twisted monster produced by the fusion of evil spirits and humans."
"Such creatures may be similar to us spirit mediums."
"If we are humans capable of driving soul power to fight against strangeness."
"This kind of existence is a monster utilizing human flesh to avoid the restriction of the 'Observation' rule."
"So, even ordinary people unable to 'Observe' might encounter this kind of existence; absolutely cannot relax vigilance."
Speaking of this, Rio pushed her glasses and sighed slightly.
"After all, the number of spirit mediums is ultimately too small. If a fourth member can awaken..."
For a moment.
The eyes of everyone in the room turned to Yui, who was lowering her head playing with the hem of her clothes.
"Eh?"
Feeling everyone's gaze, Yui couldn't help freezing.
"Um... isn't Mai-senpai... also possibly awakening Soul Manifestation? Why are you all counting on me alone?"
Rio and Miko glanced at Mai first, then looked at each other.
No need for verbal communication; the two could achieve tacit spiritual communication.
According to the impression Mai leaves... probably hard to awaken the ability of Soul Manifestation.
This former national idol senpai is a bit too perfect.
Just as humans must hold strong obsessions before death to turn into evil spirits.
The awakening of spirit mediums also required very strong beliefs to achieve.
Miko needless to say.
She had a miserable life before.
Rio was also a veteran mental patient suppressing her heart almost to split personality.
As for Yoru...
Better discuss which parts of him counted as a normal person.
Now, there is a question in front of everyone.
Congenital Abstract Body Yoru, Autistic Poker Face Miko, Split Personality Patient Rio, Flawless Beautiful Girl Mai.
Please find the one among the four options with a different art style from the other three.
In comparison, Yui joined the club much earlier.
After getting along for so long, Rio and Miko could also vaguely feel.
This Tuanzi classmate who always wore a cheerful smile and seemed lively and innocent wasn't like this in her true heart.
At this time, Miko noticed a hint of panic and worry in Amano Hina's eyes and smiled to comfort her.
"Actually, no need to be so scared. Although there are only three spirit mediums, Yoru is very strong."
"Moreover, we have Hachishaku-sama and the contract with that Golden Goat-Headed God."
"Even if really encountering evil spirits, no need to worry."
Until now, Miko was still very afraid of those evil spirits with terrifying and twisted appearances.
But her fear was different from normal people's fear.
The more fear in her heart, the more Miko wanted to eliminate more evil spirits.
The best way to eliminate fear is to face fear directly.
"About that much."
Yoru made a concluding summary, then smiled at the several members in the room.
"By the way, there is one last insurance."
"Sign a contract with me. Then, when you encounter powerful enemies you cannot handle, you can summon me to your side through the power of the contract."
Hearing this sentence, Rio frowned but didn't voice her thoughts.
With her intelligence, what Tamamo-no-Mae could figure out, she naturally could too.
Contracts couldn't be signed between humans.
Only existences belonging to evil spirits could devour evil spirits to become stronger.
Vaguely, Rio had actually guessed the truth long ago.
However, she didn't care.
Whether Yoru's constitution leaned towards human or evil spirit, did it matter?
Rio felt it didn't matter.
Even if an evil spirit, as long as it was the Yoru she liked, then no problem.
After everyone signed the contract with Yoru, Rio pushed her glasses frame and said calmly.
"It's truly beyond my expectation that you would do such a thing."
Yoru smiled.
"What do you mean such a thing?"
"Just..."
Rio opened her lips slightly, her eyes flashing with a strange color.
"You said what you pursue is freedom not bound by anything."
"But this contract is equivalent to putting a shackle on yourself to protect us."
"This is completely opposite to what you yearn for."
Facing Rio's remarks, Yoru just smiled casually and replied at will.
"Your words are wrong."
"If I don't do what I want to do because I want to pursue absolute freedom not bound by anything, isn't that unfreedom in another sense?"
"If you ask, the freedom I truly pursue is doing what I want to do."
"Moreover..."
Speaking of this, Yoru stood up, looking at Mai, Kazusa, Yui, Rio, Miko, and Amano Hina sitting in his living room.
"You six are all very important people to me."
As soon as this was said.
The six girls looked at each other, shy blushes appearing on their faces.
After a silence of more than ten seconds, Mai bit her silver teeth lightly.
"You guy..."
"Actually saying such words to six people together."
"Scumbag!"
Rio also pushed her glasses frame, looking slightly displeased.
"Truly nasty, Yoru-san."
Amano Hina was at a loss.
Is there my business in this?
She thought she joined a mysterious high school club protecting Kyoto city.
It seemed now...
This is a tragic Shuraba!!!
....
After all Super-Quant Club members left, only Yoru was left in his home.
Only one human left.
One spirit remained.
"Little Eight."
Hachishaku curled up on the sofa, holding a carton of milk, sipping in small mouthfuls, looking timid.
"Yes, Boss."
Hachishaku-sama lived a very happy life every day now.
Normally, evil spirits couldn't touch real objects, naturally couldn't eat.
But things touched by spirit mediums were different.
Hachishaku's job every day now was patrolling Kyoto city while Super-Quant Club members were at school, looking for traces of powerful evil spirits or "Doors."
After school, she followed Miko or Rio to their homes to freeload food and drink.
It could be said she got a government job (Bian Zhi).
Yoru sat beside Hachishaku, patted her shoulder, smiled, and whispered a sentence that shocked her.
"You are a bit weak now."
"So... sorry, Boss."
Hachishaku trembled in fear, almost spilling the milk in her hand, standing up hurriedly.
"I... I will definitely continue to work hard next; you absolutely cannot optimize (fire) me!"
Yoru shook his head with a dumbfounded smile.
"Optimize? Where did you learn this word? Don't worry, our Super-Quant Club doesn't fire employees."
Hachishaku thought what I fear is exactly not firing.
If really fired, at most I go back to be a lonely ghost.
But if Lord Yoru really feels I am useless, based on the principle of not wasting, wouldn't he eat me directly?
Thinking of that picture, Hachishaku felt chills in her heart.
"Since your strength can't keep up..."
In Hachishaku's terrified eyes, Yoru smiled and spoke.
"Just raise your strength a bit."
"I have a way."
"I am equivalent to a collection of thousands of evil spirits. You come to consume my blood, and you can become stronger."
"How about it?"
Hearing the method proposed by Yoru, Hachishaku froze first, then suddenly knelt on the ground, begging pitifully.
"Please spare me. Even giving me ten thousand guts, I dare not do such a thing!"
Hachishaku witnessed with her own eyes what happened when that Golden Goat-Headed God tried to devour Yoru.
She knew her own strength well and had strong self-awareness.
Hachishaku's power was absolutely incomparable to that Golden Goat-Headed God.
The opponent suffered like that after devouring Yoru's blood.
If she devoured it, wouldn't she burst directly?
Besides.
Hachishaku was very timid; she was very afraid of Yoru.
She devour him?
Isn't this reversing the heaven and earth (rebellion)? Can't do it, can't do it.
"Look how cowardly you are."
Looking at the timid Hachishaku whose courage was inversely proportional to her size, Yoru chuckled and teased.
However...
As an evil spirit, Hachishaku rashly devouring his blood indeed carried the risk of exploding and dying.
Since that was the case...
Could only use the ultimate move.
"Hachishaku."
Yoru walked to Hachishaku kneeling on the ground, looking down at her exquisite face with white skin, showing fear and pitifulness, and smiled.
"Do you like drinking milk?"
Hachishaku nodded with a dazed and innocent look.
"Mmhmm... like it, but why do you ask this?"
Soon, Hachishaku knew why.
Yoru's physical fitness was different from ordinary people; sometimes, it was hard to enjoy fully.
But Hachishaku, as an evil spirit, obviously had some skills too.
For a moment, it was hard to distinguish high and low.
Yoru grabbed Hachishaku's smooth black hair like a waterfall roughly, as if using a tool.
The latter just made soft humming sounds occasionally, like an obedient pet, letting him manipulate her.
An hour later.
"Bo... Boss."
Hachishaku panted slightly. Fine beads of sweat had seeped out on her skin white as suet jade, but due to being an evil spirit, the skin surface still had a cool feeling.
"I... I really can't drink anymore."
"Can't drink?"
Yoru had no mercy.
"Then change to another place, same thing."
This scene truly matched that saying.
Pulling up seedlings to help them grow (Ba Miao Zhu Zhang - Haste makes waste/Artificial growth).
In the process of enhancing power for Hachishaku, Yoru confirmed two things.
First.
Evil spirits' endurance was indeed much stronger than humans.
If it were Rio or Haruno, they would probably have been exhausted and fallen into infant-like sleep by now.
Second thing.
This Hachishaku-sama wasn't pretending to be innocent.
Those H-animes were all lying.
She hadn't done this kind of thing.
To protect the future of Kyoto city and the safety of Super-Quant Club members.
Kyoto's Number One Exorcist, tonight, resolutely and righteously sacrificed himself, filling Hachishaku.
....
Friday, Sports Festival ended.
"Aiya, Yoru, look~"
Hiratsuka Shizuka sat in the teachers' office, looking at the three certificates on the table congratulating Yoru-kun of Class 1-A for breaking school records in three events, feeling like floating.
"Tsk tsk tsk~ Cool."
How cool was Hiratsuka Shizuka?
It could be seen from her current action.
She even started lighting a cigarette inside the office.
Hiratsuka Shizuka took a deep drag and laughed.
"Hmph, now let me see who among those snitches behind my back dares to say I entered Sobu High through nepotism (connections)."
Yoru rolled his eyes, couldn't help complaining.
"Aren't you a nepotism hire?"
"Used to be."
Hiratsuka Shizuka beamed with joy, patting his shoulder.
"After becoming your homeroom teacher, I am not a nepotism hire anymore. The best student should be matched with the best teacher~"
Yoru waved his hand casually.
"Whatever, then I'm leaving first; I have things to do today."
"OK, be safe on the road~"
"Your face is too ugly, Shizuka-chan."
"Hehe~"