Chapter 90: The Simple and Brutal Way to Draw Out Monsters63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxkDYa4XgT
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.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjWyiKHMnQ
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.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqmLjTTI4D
"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."63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBPZxYf86R
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.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWR3urD4wCK
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.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXGNsSa0Sc
Dozens of guards patrolled the perimeter. They gripped their batons tightly, every small noise making them flinch. Fear hung thick in the room.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsiTTg1g1D
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.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJzvqm0FTC
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.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdhT2fUx2b
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.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBEuu9aSXd
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."63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CPy9g2GzA
He extended a hand with a polite bow, his manner respectful despite Kouya’s youth. Clearly, Hirata Sachiko had spoken highly of him.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH06Zbrxdj3
After a brief greeting, the pleasantries ended. The tension in the room demanded answers.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRlJCvDhxq
"Have you found any way to stop this?" Koji asked, his voice betraying both hope and fear.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGtkvjuGFt
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?"63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6fy1NuhSb
Koji frowned. "You think my competitors hired these… things?"63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMxdavfMiO
"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."63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ps0mZCJWU
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."63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sqp5n0QJc
"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."63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAeduJJ708c
The woman on the sofa clutched her daughter tightly, whispering, "Please… please help us. We can’t lose her… Ai’s just a child."63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNka5LDk7A9
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."63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2gIskKUGF
Koji swallowed hard. "And how do you plan to find that out?"63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AwuRoLYyC
"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."63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIfvEs4MXF
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.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4fWPybIqx
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.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cQinWWqdx
Koji, ever the decisive businessman, nodded after a moment’s thought. "All right. We’ll do it."63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQlkEAn1YZ
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.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzvLAyPL2J
Koji stood first, straightening his tie as if facing a boardroom meeting. "I’ll go. Please… keep the others safe."63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLottQMxxc5
He stepped past the fallen tree.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWO8u21EfDp
Nothing happened.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0EMLy34wMw
He turned back, eyes wide. "I made it? I’m safe?"63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP53c7CBiC7
"It seems so," the shrine maiden said calmly. "The spirits aren’t after you."63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytYkwe7859
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.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9U4dLLSlt0
Silence.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorjNgGSsgM
Then, all eyes turned toward the old man.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFzrfRM9F2
Takeda Kazuya rose from the sofa with measured grace. His face was pale but steady. "I’ll go next."63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3rLWCuhss
The shrine maiden nodded. "Be careful. We’ll stay close."63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwthoEwDH80
"Thank you both."63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgLM9eIeBw
He took his first step—and the night itself seemed to hold its breath.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSkExAe5Tf
When he crossed the fallen tree, the wind shifted sharply.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcKgFCPUqe
A split second later—63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpWZR9v6kj
A sharp whistle cut through the darkness.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmWeqNqw4l
BOOM!63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zrsq8fCec
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.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRZ6wNGJOb
Gasps erupted from the guards. The little girl screamed and buried her face in her mother’s chest.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQzCXwJqbI
Kazuya stood frozen. The shrine maiden’s eyes narrowed, and Kouya’s hand slid casually into his pocket, unfazed.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicJ6LQsruJ
"So that’s how it is," Kouya muttered.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXDfdfJbCm
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?"63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNGXVmvedF
"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."63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcHsBXLZTI
"Father?" Koji turned to Kazuya desperately.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPuO9sDenjM
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."63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2pOXS1buN
"Never!" Koji shouted. "I won’t abandon you!"63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNPL0p65mM
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!"63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81EtDt48dN
The shrine maiden frowned faintly. "If we don’t uncover the cause, even driving them away won’t help. They’ll return."63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUloX2dQTN
The hall fell into silence, broken only by the faint rustling of trees.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1eCmGNjTFi
Then Kouya spoke.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07em8ogdsf
"If we can’t figure out why they’re coming… why not just ask them?"63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAujrGmwY4n
Everyone turned to him, eyes wide with disbelief.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HPLrY7MfH
"A-Ask… the monsters?" Koji stammered.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBAqWnf917
Kouya shrugged. "Sure. Saves time."63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFco5FTzma
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?"63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2WsDkapq2s
His words rolled through the trees like a thunderclap, a strange vibration echoing in the still air. The wind stirred. The leaves trembled.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdmr1Rhe0F
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.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhdAGESc4e
Koji, nervous, tried to intervene. "M-Maybe we should check the cameras again instead—"63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpcLhPabIW
He didn’t get the chance.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bkyLfSf5w
From the darkness came a shrill, rasping caw.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7p86wAFsR
"Answer? Fine! You wanted an answer, didn’t you? Who’s afraid of who?! Our boss fears nothing!"63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RdauWS6hN
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