Chapter 89: The Tricky Request23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0LjDu9D5M
"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..."23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhEvvXwdsL
What did you just say?23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWzwxEjtYb
Sleep at my place?23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCEeg36y9Z
Absolutely not! Not happening!23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2gHkOrExP
"No." Kouya cut her off immediately, his tone sharp and absolute.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgeC84h814z
"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!"23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HKJk44lPS
Unbelievable!23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXIiFJ3PYO
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?23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaHHlZT6Id
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?23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjrdGNwgIj
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."23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7Ovqso4aV
"O-Okay..." Rikka’s voice fell, small and disappointed. "B-But… I’m too scared to go alone... it’s dark... and creepy..."23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvDXe0SbnZ
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXMXYJFr7M
Of course. Gaming. She was probably mid-boss fight.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmE5LdXIwc
He rang the doorbell.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7IdyJXeKK
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRgMLMVDyJv
Her eyes—lifeless, ringed with light shadows—narrowed in suspicion. "What do you want?"23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYRIHA2ves
Kouya took a breath and explained the situation clearly, his voice steady.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsKodGkPH2
"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."23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96qinj4YyJ
Kouya gave a faint nod. As expected.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0VBZg70oI
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1H7aeUHXST
Then Gabriel’s tired expression shifted into a mischievous grin. "But since I’m helping you, you owe me one. Don’t forget."23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZp2XdA6Gm3
"..."23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsAlkELSAm
Scratch that. You’re not a lazy angel—you’re a cunning devil with Wi-Fi.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5nqXMpwPIa
…23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimSOoiWQHw
After finally settling Rikka’s little crisis, Kouya returned to his room, stretching his neck. Just as he sat down, his phone buzzed again.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOGdPlwgiT
The caller ID: Shrine Maiden.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmwkwQTXdM
He frowned slightly and answered. "Yeah?"23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjh4ebFVdb
"Hello? Kou-kun?" came the familiar gentle voice, laced with hesitation. "Sorry to call so late, but… there’s a problem."23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yGn98pV4e
"A problem?" Kouya leaned back lazily. "What kind?"23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡer5anGf9E7
"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$)."23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FsNLaLDa1
Kouya blinked once. That number had his attention.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BF6Twfhfp
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAz54XLSdAA
He thought a moment before replying. "Where?"23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIBdIlZ4Tq
"No need. I’ll send someone to pick you up," she said quickly, sounding relieved.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYXmiCTShF
"Fine," he answered.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbCTqitCvU
…23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡph3bXUNriy
Twenty minutes later, the deep hum of an engine echoed outside. A sleek black sedan glided to a halt beneath the streetlamp.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAx2DhRxPMe
The door opened, and a small figure jumped out. Cat ears twitched under the dim light as she waved enthusiastically. "Hurry up, nya!"23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKnEOxEftQ
Kouya raised an eyebrow. "You again?"23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGY38KNJ2gM
"Big Sister sent me, nya! She said you’d probably get lost, nya!"23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBljSlpSYB
He got in, and the suited driver wordlessly restarted the car. The sedan slipped through the city, headlights slicing the darkness like a blade.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVsPcn7cEEB
The night outside was quiet—too quiet. Buildings thinned, replaced by trees and winding roads.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNtXoWTNp6
"Big Sister’s hurt, nya!" the catgirl blurted suddenly, tail drooping. "I was worried you wouldn’t come, nya..."23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEB4eLtb7G8
Kouya’s gaze sharpened. "Explain."23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfci3CMa8e
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!"23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVUhQTYiK9
He snorted softly. "You? Fight? You’d probably be the first one to run."23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMOjr02mGg
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!"23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSukbPH8I4
Fierce? Not even close. With her round face and twitching ears, she looked like a plush toy trying to be scary.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeygr2WhKGM
Kouya stared blankly. "Do you want me to trim your claws for you?"23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2sNekwigPR
Rina puffed her cheeks, pouting. "You’re bullying me, nya!"23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI41vzSN4lH
"Keep talking and I’ll pull your tail."23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzANQ0tRWUX
"Nooo, nya!" she yelped, clutching her backside protectively.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3E1QpFOql
Their playful bickering filled the car, easing the tension.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5rrLDK1yw
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPQ6qyztbY
Finally, the sedan slowed and stopped. The driver stepped out, opened the door, and said quietly, "We’ve arrived, Mr. Kouya."23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgCShWlMhh
Kouya exited and looked up.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUL3va9V2O
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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQW4nMtXWgo
The night air smelled of pine and damp earth. Somewhere in the distance, water trickled from a mountain spring.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3TuoeL1tp
The moon was bright, silver light spilling over every surface. The leaves shimmered faintly in the wind.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuLAD1pqUi
And yet—no sound of birds. No insects. Nothing but the whisper of the breeze.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2kCQ1h4j9
The silence pressed down like a weight. The mansion, bathed in moonlight, stood still and watchful, as if something ancient lingered within its walls.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYaMtNSUwY
"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.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHtQTBOpX2
Kouya’s sharp eyes immediately noticed the faint stain of dried blood on her sleeve. "You’re hurt?"23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNW6lA5jtuz
"It’s fine," she said quickly, forcing a smile. "Just a small wound."23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoffNOEe4k
He didn’t believe her but didn’t press the issue. She turned and began leading him through the courtyard as she spoke.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhcOu6Q5dN
"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."23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQammuPZ1G2
"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."23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnyqwLvCsV
Kouya’s brows furrowed slightly. "And?"23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRknDIDapO
"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."23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYcBhuFj8x
"How predictable." Kouya’s voice was calm, but his eyes were sharp. "Let me guess—he tried calling an exorcist."23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CBI4ywQVm
She nodded. "Yes. An onmyoji. But the man ran away the same night, leaving behind his tools and wards."23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIQsd9diB9
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."23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgf4g0kMP2p
Kouya listened silently, his gaze scanning the quiet courtyard. The air here felt heavy, thick with something unseen.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2NW3mZaFq
After a moment, he asked, "Why hasn’t the client just left?"23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvSry9cigA
The shrine maiden hesitated. Her eyes darkened. "Because he can’t."23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pR2XA6N9h
Kouya frowned. "Can’t?"23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0oRAV5gDH
"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."23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXOrFlnTKA
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