Chapter 90: The Simple and Brutal Way to Draw Out Monsters122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjnV2cQv3M
Kouya and the shrine maiden moved through the misty estate side by side, their footsteps muffled by the damp earth. Behind them, the catgirl melted into the shadows, her golden eyes glowing faintly before she vanished completely from sight. The night wind carried the faint scent of pine and soil, brushing past their faces as the two advanced deeper toward the villa.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCJJcdfnha
It didn’t take long for the signs of chaos to reveal themselves. A massive tree had collapsed across the road, roots jutting up like the ribs of a giant beast. Branches were splintered, the earth around them torn apart, claw marks gouged deep into the ground as if something had been dragged through with inhuman strength. The air still carried the faint, metallic tang of blood.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf91KhY3Dx4
"When I arrived at dusk, I asked the client to accompany me to the gate," the shrine maiden explained quietly, her tone calm but tired. "But before we even reached the front, several demons emerged from the shadows. One—a wild boar demon—rammed through the road and toppled this tree, sealing the exit completely."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2iNcB07Ip
Her voice faded as they stepped closer to the fallen tree. Kouya knelt, brushing his fingers over one of the claw marks. The grooves were deep, the edges still sharp. Whatever made them wasn’t small. The strength behind each strike was monstrous.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8irQqb0B0
They left the site behind and continued toward the main building. When they entered the villa’s grand hall, the contrast was almost jarring. The interior was elegant—a perfect balance between traditional Japanese architecture and modern luxury. Wooden pillars stood beside glass walls; tatami mats met marble floors. Gold-trimmed lanterns cast a warm glow that couldn’t drive away the heaviness in the air.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCKMJW3VWz
Dozens of guards patrolled the perimeter. They gripped their batons tightly, every small noise making them flinch. Fear hung thick in the room.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXEPZmD7wA
On the large leather sofa sat the client’s family. In the center, an elderly man with a square jaw and calm eyes, his white hair slicked neatly back. His posture was rigid, every movement disciplined, like a soldier even in old age.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhKIXD4zy7
Beside him were a middle-aged couple. The man wore a suit and glasses, his expression tense but courteous; the woman sat close to him, graceful and composed, though her hands trembled slightly as she held a small girl in her lap.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAWIML8laf
The girl couldn’t have been older than eight. Her cheeks were pale, and her eyes, wide with fear, darted toward every shadow. She looked as if she hadn’t slept in days.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09fpLAd9ti
The shrine maiden and Kouya’s arrival drew all eyes. The man in glasses immediately rose and hurried over. "You must be Kouya-kun! I’m Takeda Koji. It’s a relief you came."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJ6p13C9H1
He extended a hand with a polite bow, his manner respectful despite Kouya’s youth. Clearly, Hirata Sachiko had spoken highly of him.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1kwMsKwtq
After a brief greeting, the pleasantries ended. The tension in the room demanded answers.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYbgr526Ol
"Have you found any way to stop this?" Koji asked, his voice betraying both hope and fear.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQwLEwwt24
The shrine maiden looked at Kouya. Seeing he had no intention of speaking, she sighed and took the lead. "Mr. Takeda, may I ask—have you made any enemies recently? Perhaps someone in your business dealings who might hold a grudge?"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzh2XRFTrb5
Koji frowned. "You think my competitors hired these… things?"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNncwRLmlPu
"It’s only a theory," she replied evenly. "Onmyoji capable of commanding demons are rare, but not impossible. Until we uncover the truth, every option must remain open."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWbjzP0mA4
Koji was silent for a long moment. Then he exhaled slowly, shaking his head. "Business is never clean. I’ve stepped on toes, sure—but I’ve never resorted to shady tactics, never hurt anyone’s family. I swear it."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUh4ItcnjHi
"Then it’s likely not human interference," the shrine maiden murmured. Her eyes drifted toward the ceiling, as if sensing something above. "If it’s not a curse born of hate, then something else drew these creatures here. And that means they’re after something—or someone specific."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCgzM9dP6b
The woman on the sofa clutched her daughter tightly, whispering, "Please… please help us. We can’t lose her… Ai’s just a child."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zoZyDXwyL
The shrine maiden’s tone softened. "Don’t worry, Mrs. Takeda. That’s why we’re here. But first, we must know who the monsters want."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRvf7awIe7
Koji swallowed hard. "And how do you plan to find that out?"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQuI2fUnXAj
"Simple," she said. "You’ll each try leaving the estate one by one. Whoever draws a reaction… is the target. We’ll be nearby, ensuring your safety."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjLEgaEHPp
Kouya leaned against a column, arms crossed. He didn’t comment. Monsters, ghosts, curses—it was all the same to him. They died just as easily.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZizFalbHfx
But he’d learned better than to show his strength openly. People wanted saviors, not reminders of what they feared. So he stayed silent, letting the shrine maiden speak while he watched.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJOPjZrpLl
Koji, ever the decisive businessman, nodded after a moment’s thought. "All right. We’ll do it."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrqitqtdrM
The group moved out under the dim lanterns, accompanied by a handful of trembling guards. The air grew colder as they approached the blocked road. The smell of damp bark and rotting wood filled their noses.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxIjEsTj2N
Koji stood first, straightening his tie as if facing a boardroom meeting. "I’ll go. Please… keep the others safe."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJlej7KJmQ
He stepped past the fallen tree.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MCZHh9NnQ
Nothing happened.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Gf9tAN9iV
He turned back, eyes wide. "I made it? I’m safe?"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMN2eXa3g0
"It seems so," the shrine maiden said calmly. "The spirits aren’t after you."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtP1VeYU46
Koji exhaled in relief, though his hands were still shaking. His wife followed, clutching Ai’s hand tightly. The little girl trembled as they crossed the threshold—but again, no reaction.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡev14iB12C3
Silence.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKm3YUA3AtT
Then, all eyes turned toward the old man.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUI04nbCFO9
Takeda Kazuya rose from the sofa with measured grace. His face was pale but steady. "I’ll go next."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGaLyqBiX3t
The shrine maiden nodded. "Be careful. We’ll stay close."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq72JSp7exg
"Thank you both."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNHcVWMLmE
He took his first step—and the night itself seemed to hold its breath.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgc6nQ1puC
When he crossed the fallen tree, the wind shifted sharply.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2P68i78Ecz
A split second later—122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijNfkPv9Rz
A sharp whistle cut through the darkness.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SvtuYVGTI
BOOM!122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5H26sm22W
A massive rock exploded against the ground before them, scattering dirt and debris into the air. The impact left a smoking crater just a few steps ahead.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHIQhadgrx
Gasps erupted from the guards. The little girl screamed and buried her face in her mother’s chest.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhc3EFtqrlw
Kazuya stood frozen. The shrine maiden’s eyes narrowed, and Kouya’s hand slid casually into his pocket, unfazed.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGH5UxtGkKf
"So that’s how it is," Kouya muttered.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQ9tscNPUa
Koji was pale. "No! It can’t be! My father’s done nothing wrong! He retired years ago—he’s hardly spoken to anyone outside the family! Why him?"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3nBybZ8r7o
"Many things attract demons," the shrine maiden replied softly. "A grudge. A relic. A curse carried unknowingly. Or perhaps something from his past. We’ll need to ask him."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOWbZIbtr8
"Father?" Koji turned to Kazuya desperately.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxI7uVEHRti
The old man took a deep breath, his expression unreadable. "I don’t know why. I’ve done nothing to deserve this. Koji… take your wife and daughter. Leave me here."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6FEYRV97jm
"Never!" Koji shouted. "I won’t abandon you!"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMIEhMmFSW
He turned and bowed deeply to Kouya and the shrine maiden. "Please—protect him! I’ll pay you another ten million yen if you keep him alive!"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYp98D3reIh
The shrine maiden frowned faintly. "If we don’t uncover the cause, even driving them away won’t help. They’ll return."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5TqybkEEP
The hall fell into silence, broken only by the faint rustling of trees.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qwCe6xVeF
Then Kouya spoke.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIlFhCicCH
"If we can’t figure out why they’re coming… why not just ask them?"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1dbJpttyD
Everyone turned to him, eyes wide with disbelief.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡie6UAOwKIk
"A-Ask… the monsters?" Koji stammered.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsuV00cd76j
Kouya shrugged. "Sure. Saves time."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UZVGdzxF7
He stepped forward, his shadow stretching long under the moonlight. His voice rang out across the forest, sharp and commanding. "Hey! You hiding out there! Come on out! I’m asking nicely once. You got the guts to answer?"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYcnkMcI3O
His words rolled through the trees like a thunderclap, a strange vibration echoing in the still air. The wind stirred. The leaves trembled.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyyAbWUlIW
The guards exchanged uneasy glances. Even the shrine maiden’s lips quirked faintly, remembering the last time Kouya had used that same ridiculous yet effective method.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7wHMjn57f
Koji, nervous, tried to intervene. "M-Maybe we should check the cameras again instead—"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvobpxsCoL
He didn’t get the chance.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTC5ObAJHw
From the darkness came a shrill, rasping caw.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjZu7cL18C
"Answer? Fine! You wanted an answer, didn’t you? Who’s afraid of who?! Our boss fears nothing!"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRhEgwEdNQ
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