Chapter 89: The Tricky Request133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEJDh9XuBJ
"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..."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfaqvkqGgrq
What did you just say?133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaMtHevL4y
Sleep at my place?133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kqxZ478OL
Absolutely not! Not happening!133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsSR9u5QIQ
"No." Kouya cut her off immediately, his tone sharp and absolute.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KIyIkxr9N
"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!"133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEAMbBkbFa
Unbelievable!133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfy66CjFHLn
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?133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbsOcUPTVmb
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?133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaMLn0XtJM
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."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJ6dAeEO5t
"O-Okay..." Rikka’s voice fell, small and disappointed. "B-But… I’m too scared to go alone... it’s dark... and creepy..."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsa90oawKgZ
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.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4yXyNgmvU
Of course. Gaming. She was probably mid-boss fight.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqd0NovE3p
He rang the doorbell.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtLLGzzBni
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.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwN0SxqnN2
Her eyes—lifeless, ringed with light shadows—narrowed in suspicion. "What do you want?"133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsUtLI8Bzj
Kouya took a breath and explained the situation clearly, his voice steady.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDsQgASN6e
"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."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1IWYypkMs
Kouya gave a faint nod. As expected.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoueXTOeqWc
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.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbJuTTohLz
Then Gabriel’s tired expression shifted into a mischievous grin. "But since I’m helping you, you owe me one. Don’t forget."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0RAVHbDIv
"..."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqGP1xWidI
Scratch that. You’re not a lazy angel—you’re a cunning devil with Wi-Fi.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghUBgbInyG
…133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXDpzbTxRh
After finally settling Rikka’s little crisis, Kouya returned to his room, stretching his neck. Just as he sat down, his phone buzzed again.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRICuQqrwf
The caller ID: Shrine Maiden.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNfzcGLYYf
He frowned slightly and answered. "Yeah?"133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8p84z3EFGD
"Hello? Kou-kun?" came the familiar gentle voice, laced with hesitation. "Sorry to call so late, but… there’s a problem."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpu4hyTn40
"A problem?" Kouya leaned back lazily. "What kind?"133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHthPHK5ZGZ
"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$)."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ksERzgEYr
Kouya blinked once. That number had his attention.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QK4SRkkMr
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.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixJfWhM6yE
He thought a moment before replying. "Where?"133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizx0GRZEaK
"No need. I’ll send someone to pick you up," she said quickly, sounding relieved.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3oMoWgzkK
"Fine," he answered.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUu2ppOHxF
…133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYfO2W2Frc
Twenty minutes later, the deep hum of an engine echoed outside. A sleek black sedan glided to a halt beneath the streetlamp.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpc6gH5fpN
The door opened, and a small figure jumped out. Cat ears twitched under the dim light as she waved enthusiastically. "Hurry up, nya!"133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3WsdSLOm3
Kouya raised an eyebrow. "You again?"133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqx1vhCoeuB
"Big Sister sent me, nya! She said you’d probably get lost, nya!"133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfm2FhuOkNq
He got in, and the suited driver wordlessly restarted the car. The sedan slipped through the city, headlights slicing the darkness like a blade.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbyjlBf6Vg
The night outside was quiet—too quiet. Buildings thinned, replaced by trees and winding roads.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGi7wVj3K3
"Big Sister’s hurt, nya!" the catgirl blurted suddenly, tail drooping. "I was worried you wouldn’t come, nya..."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpXgGIi7gU
Kouya’s gaze sharpened. "Explain."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5GAaB4O4Q
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!"133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDLXqBRbsd
He snorted softly. "You? Fight? You’d probably be the first one to run."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeczKYrXy12
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!"133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjZQwzlTAA
Fierce? Not even close. With her round face and twitching ears, she looked like a plush toy trying to be scary.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocH7LIekrh
Kouya stared blankly. "Do you want me to trim your claws for you?"133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnLTvrOoZu
Rina puffed her cheeks, pouting. "You’re bullying me, nya!"133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRCjigmIvX
"Keep talking and I’ll pull your tail."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReZCIcb7Ix
"Nooo, nya!" she yelped, clutching her backside protectively.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUo8Jf9uLhH
Their playful bickering filled the car, easing the tension.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡii2f35rmWq
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.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcNHhe5B7O
Finally, the sedan slowed and stopped. The driver stepped out, opened the door, and said quietly, "We’ve arrived, Mr. Kouya."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFeuI40yrYU
Kouya exited and looked up.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYaV8ZD2tV
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.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hnxd6KRuf
The night air smelled of pine and damp earth. Somewhere in the distance, water trickled from a mountain spring.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwapONmt0kM
The moon was bright, silver light spilling over every surface. The leaves shimmered faintly in the wind.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdPXwBcQxO
And yet—no sound of birds. No insects. Nothing but the whisper of the breeze.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhwtkMTi1P
The silence pressed down like a weight. The mansion, bathed in moonlight, stood still and watchful, as if something ancient lingered within its walls.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9ubvOYwM3
"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.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG84YEv1vtP
Kouya’s sharp eyes immediately noticed the faint stain of dried blood on her sleeve. "You’re hurt?"133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVf1A1uyUB
"It’s fine," she said quickly, forcing a smile. "Just a small wound."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHas13o4PUG
He didn’t believe her but didn’t press the issue. She turned and began leading him through the courtyard as she spoke.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xPuyZCjlV
"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."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLXA7QCIY3
"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."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DE2iOOG52
Kouya’s brows furrowed slightly. "And?"133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkemEyHRhu
"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."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlRwMlIFHm
"How predictable." Kouya’s voice was calm, but his eyes were sharp. "Let me guess—he tried calling an exorcist."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOeAn7z4wU
She nodded. "Yes. An onmyoji. But the man ran away the same night, leaving behind his tools and wards."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJGpyE7k6n
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."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTXH2W62om
Kouya listened silently, his gaze scanning the quiet courtyard. The air here felt heavy, thick with something unseen.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5eDB6qDyw
After a moment, he asked, "Why hasn’t the client just left?"133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHGK7NSMEs
The shrine maiden hesitated. Her eyes darkened. "Because he can’t."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsawwdku7Z
Kouya frowned. "Can’t?"133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpYpGhMx8d
"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."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvu2ZpNLGf
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