Nanakamado Nanaka had already died seventy years ago.
But after her death, she didn't disappear. Instead, she became a ghost and was bound by a contract with that terrifying entity—a Tsukumogami. As a ghost, she lived in that so-called paradise, even gaining powers granted by the Tsukumogami.
But the price was eternal control. She was forced to create various weapons to strengthen the Tsukumogami's power. For the sake of her sisters, she had no choice but to obey.
The ghost girl clenched her fists.
A miracle occurred in what should have been an endless, unchanging existence. For some unknown reason, the contract was broken, and she inexplicably escaped that paradise, appearing in this city—in this old school building.
Although she had escaped her cage, her sisters were still trapped there, which filled Nanakamado Nanaka with worry.
"Unlike me, my sisters didn't die. They've been trapped in that paradise for seventy years. If only they had been the ones to escape…"
This golden-haired, noble-like ghost slowly recounted her story, making Sakurazawa Tomomi deeply empathetic. She listened with teary eyes, while Kazuma calmly ate his dinner, appearing unconcerned. Of course, he carefully reviewed the story in his mind, but he still had no memory of it.
He decided not to dwell on it any further.
"Miss Nanakamado Nanaka is so pitiful," Sakurazawa Tomomi said sympathetically. However, she didn't make any decisions on her own. After all, she trusted Kazuma.
Nanakamado Nanaka also knew that this boy was the only one who could truly help her. She gazed at him. Under her gaze, Kazuma blinked and pointed at the dinner in front of him.
"Grandma Nanakamado Nanaka, would you like to eat some?"
Nanakamado Nanaka's face instantly darkened. She bit her lip, on the verge of breaking down.
"Don't call me Grandma! Even though I've existed for many years, I'm still a young maiden! Absolutely—absolutely no calling me that!!"
Sure enough, age was a taboo topic for girls.
Sakurazawa Tomomi secretly chuckled.
"And I'm a ghost now, so eating doesn't really mean anything…" she said, though she secretly swallowed her saliva.
Kazuma nodded, finished the last of the ramen broth, and wiped his mouth.
"I understand your situation. I can help you. But just as you said, Miss Nanakamado Nanaka, you'll have to pay a price—"
Hehehe…
Under the dim light, Kazuma's smile looked somewhat sinister, like that of a villain.
"After all, dealing with a Tsukumogami is extremely dangerous," facing a supernatural entity like that would be a first for him. Kazuma crossed his legs and gently stroked Luna, who was nearby eating fish. "So the reward must be worthwhile."
He carried himself with the air of someone important.
"I understand," Nanakamado Nanaka said. She was already mentally prepared. "I'm willing to pay any price. Thank you very much."
"The question is, where exactly is this paradise you mentioned?" Sakurazawa Tomomi asked curiously. "It's definitely not in Tokyo, right?"
The ghost girl shook her head.
"It's in a remote rural area of Kyushu."
"Kyushu?! That's way too far!" Sakurazawa Tomomi exclaimed.
"Yes. I don't have the ability to go there," she sighed softly. Even if she could reach it, she wouldn't be able to fight a Tsukumogami. It would be like walking straight into a tiger's den.
Kazuma smiled.
"Distance means nothing to me. With the Anywhere Door, distance isn't a problem. Kyushu—we could go there right now."
"Really?!"
Nanakamado Nanaka's eyes widened as she stared at him excitedly. Sakurazawa Tomomi also stood up, only to be pulled back down by Kazuma. He tapped her head.
"Don't join in just for the excitement."
"Eh? Why? I want to go too…" the cherry-blossom-like girl covered her head, her eyes watery.
"It's my first time facing such a legendary supernatural entity. What if something goes wrong?" Kazuma tugged her cheek. "Besides, I'm not planning to act tonight. I need time to prepare. Miss Nanakamado Nanaka, is that okay?"
Facing his question, the ghost girl's expression remained calm.
"I'll leave it to you."
After saying that, her figure slowly disappeared. She truly came and went without a trace. But now, with Luna around, Kazuma could see not only ghosts, but all kinds of strange beings.
"Luna, you're so reliable. Let me give you a hug~"
"Master~ Meow~"
When dawn broke the next day, the rain had stopped, but the sky remained dark and gloomy beneath heavy clouds.
When Chizuru Shiina walked to her shoe locker, she was still feeling heavy-hearted, and her face looked visibly haggard, as if she hadn't slept well last night.
The words Kazuma had said to her yesterday had dealt a heavy blow to the young girl's heart, and she still hadn't recovered from it. Teacher Tsukinoya is already married? Could that really be true?
"Shiina-san."
Speak of the devil, and he appears. Seeing Teacher Tsukinoya greeting her, Chizuru Shiina's pupils shrank, and she felt nervous and uneasy.
"Good morning, Teacher Tsukinoya."
"What's wrong? You don't look well."
Her heart was filled with unease. She wanted to know the truth, but she was also afraid of it. That was why she hadn't gone to confirm it with him yesterday. Now that the person she secretly loved stood right in front of her, Chizuru Shiina found herself torn.
"It's nothing," the girl hesitated for a moment. Seeing the person she secretly loved about to leave, she finally couldn't hold herself back and called out, "Teacher Tsukinoya!"
Seeing him turn around, the girl's chest rose and fell a few times. Gritting her teeth, she asked.
"I heard that you're already married?"
"Eh? Who told you that? I'm not married."
Chizuru Shiina's eyes suddenly sparkled with a light they had never held before.
"It's just an engagement for now. The wedding will have to wait a while," Teacher Tsukinoya added, and his words once again pushed the girl into despair. The light that had just appeared instantly vanished. "But the fact that I have a girlfriend hasn't really spread. How did you find out, Shiina-san?"
She could no longer hear what he was saying. Her head buzzed, her ears rang, and her mind went blank. A girlfriend… an engagement… that's right. Even if he wasn't married yet, he already had someone he loved.
And soon, they would be happily married.
"So… I really am heartbroken…"
Pa.
A hand pressed onto the girl's shoulder, snapping her out of her dazed state. Turning her head, she saw Kazuma's familiar face. But that smiling expression now felt incredibly hateful to Chizuru Shiina.
Even though she knew it wasn't his fault, she couldn't help feeling angry.
"You…"
"Are you sad?" he interrupted gently, having witnessed everything just now. "So you confirmed it. Teacher Tsukinoya already has someone he loves—a girlfriend. You must feel awful, right?"
"Did you come here just to mock me?" Chizuru Shiina forced herself to look stern, though her voice trembled.
"No, no, no. I came to enlighten you," Kazuma said with a strange smile. "Shiina-san, don't you want to win back the person you love?"
"What…?"
"They're only engaged, not married yet," Kazuma said confidently. "Take the initiative. Win back the person you love, Shiina-san. I believe you can do it."
"Go for it!"
Kazuma patted her shoulder and then leisurely walked away.
It took a long time before the girl recovered, her face flushing red. What enlightenment? What go for it? She realized that guy had just come to tease and mock her!
*****
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