Chapter 89: The Tricky Request70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRVNVQWEm9
"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..."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9jj06Vuaj
What did you just say?70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6dqbpaTWl
Sleep at my place?70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUSkNkF2nH
Absolutely not! Not happening!70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoDcyZu3YG
"No." Kouya cut her off immediately, his tone sharp and absolute.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7blb5Tcgr
"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!"70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxQmElIGHX
Unbelievable!70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXm995Prpr
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?70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fiZCd9hD7
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?70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIkzIEusr2
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."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0LUgg5w6X
"O-Okay..." Rikka’s voice fell, small and disappointed. "B-But… I’m too scared to go alone... it’s dark... and creepy..."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGxHTs4zGU
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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHljrLgz4Q
Of course. Gaming. She was probably mid-boss fight.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEEnykCRT8
He rang the doorbell.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNlHNziT7p
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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxfRnyUKrY
Her eyes—lifeless, ringed with light shadows—narrowed in suspicion. "What do you want?"70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzj8pgno5Fz
Kouya took a breath and explained the situation clearly, his voice steady.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPD4sRzDr6
"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."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLr2rYq6Hw0
Kouya gave a faint nod. As expected.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMxS7RBot8
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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMXFgOrhfy
Then Gabriel’s tired expression shifted into a mischievous grin. "But since I’m helping you, you owe me one. Don’t forget."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NyegOQ0LH
"..."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfrCdqIxWJ
Scratch that. You’re not a lazy angel—you’re a cunning devil with Wi-Fi.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9ii0a33E2
…70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNgEduphtp
After finally settling Rikka’s little crisis, Kouya returned to his room, stretching his neck. Just as he sat down, his phone buzzed again.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7OgmAoqQy
The caller ID: Shrine Maiden.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSzGKKWjum
He frowned slightly and answered. "Yeah?"70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxbqeJEd70
"Hello? Kou-kun?" came the familiar gentle voice, laced with hesitation. "Sorry to call so late, but… there’s a problem."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEC7w9Ew1A
"A problem?" Kouya leaned back lazily. "What kind?"70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RXI7SpncI
"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$)."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqE6yOE2ml7
Kouya blinked once. That number had his attention.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSZK6T5tTZ
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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPBUfxhaYo
He thought a moment before replying. "Where?"70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgye2MWv9D
"No need. I’ll send someone to pick you up," she said quickly, sounding relieved.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfLhR1KVDn
"Fine," he answered.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvqSftsU6J
…70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpGxAhKX91
Twenty minutes later, the deep hum of an engine echoed outside. A sleek black sedan glided to a halt beneath the streetlamp.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBDJsZwqBT
The door opened, and a small figure jumped out. Cat ears twitched under the dim light as she waved enthusiastically. "Hurry up, nya!"70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bEYwJJoJr
Kouya raised an eyebrow. "You again?"70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqaBuIKtSv
"Big Sister sent me, nya! She said you’d probably get lost, nya!"70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFJxOqcmii
He got in, and the suited driver wordlessly restarted the car. The sedan slipped through the city, headlights slicing the darkness like a blade.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38fr41QeA1
The night outside was quiet—too quiet. Buildings thinned, replaced by trees and winding roads.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKsVYUIt5w
"Big Sister’s hurt, nya!" the catgirl blurted suddenly, tail drooping. "I was worried you wouldn’t come, nya..."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAq4cU0sU3T
Kouya’s gaze sharpened. "Explain."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuczsK7S38J
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!"70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvKAHfblVz
He snorted softly. "You? Fight? You’d probably be the first one to run."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqn0fmh8Wk6
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!"70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNEnbG1TMg
Fierce? Not even close. With her round face and twitching ears, she looked like a plush toy trying to be scary.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5ZjFkiXhY
Kouya stared blankly. "Do you want me to trim your claws for you?"70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRREVSz47p
Rina puffed her cheeks, pouting. "You’re bullying me, nya!"70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLHO9gU5dx
"Keep talking and I’ll pull your tail."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qXTrExCV3
"Nooo, nya!" she yelped, clutching her backside protectively.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLeSGB2AW4Q
Their playful bickering filled the car, easing the tension.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsN6cXIxwwT
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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhnvflgAth
Finally, the sedan slowed and stopped. The driver stepped out, opened the door, and said quietly, "We’ve arrived, Mr. Kouya."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqhTlyAjC1
Kouya exited and looked up.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHNA0iqYDX
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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bDpuI9dqn
The night air smelled of pine and damp earth. Somewhere in the distance, water trickled from a mountain spring.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfdCq7nKL2
The moon was bright, silver light spilling over every surface. The leaves shimmered faintly in the wind.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYpxqlfnbO
And yet—no sound of birds. No insects. Nothing but the whisper of the breeze.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVSIUTJd6n
The silence pressed down like a weight. The mansion, bathed in moonlight, stood still and watchful, as if something ancient lingered within its walls.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItjGqmrgCw
"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.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xFJkPvhT7
Kouya’s sharp eyes immediately noticed the faint stain of dried blood on her sleeve. "You’re hurt?"70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSlhBvsZJI
"It’s fine," she said quickly, forcing a smile. "Just a small wound."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5WfmkzdUF
He didn’t believe her but didn’t press the issue. She turned and began leading him through the courtyard as she spoke.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2SUi7V3G9t
"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."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCPudOey9J
"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."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQfXZHCB12
Kouya’s brows furrowed slightly. "And?"70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaBxaQWxjp
"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."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9jzXsVknr
"How predictable." Kouya’s voice was calm, but his eyes were sharp. "Let me guess—he tried calling an exorcist."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8Qg2w5hNf
She nodded. "Yes. An onmyoji. But the man ran away the same night, leaving behind his tools and wards."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3nGwSRlq7
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."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTkehclISu
Kouya listened silently, his gaze scanning the quiet courtyard. The air here felt heavy, thick with something unseen.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexPJHFj0DU
After a moment, he asked, "Why hasn’t the client just left?"70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbk8yKtYB1
The shrine maiden hesitated. Her eyes darkened. "Because he can’t."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXQG3W3Qmg
Kouya frowned. "Can’t?"70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5aSclnp8t
"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."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJwywJOJT3
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