Chapter 90: The Simple and Brutal Way to Draw Out Monsters22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFW6GysqfsH
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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBT3zIxgLce
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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKitTRqB9Hq
"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."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKt4Ciunk4H
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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMcBOxHCQA
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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8vc5baVER
Dozens of guards patrolled the perimeter. They gripped their batons tightly, every small noise making them flinch. Fear hung thick in the room.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfWCcdxHpu
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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQ28olbbic
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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCfBNDAVlB
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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sjvafTDzA
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."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87L22EXNgo
He extended a hand with a polite bow, his manner respectful despite Kouya’s youth. Clearly, Hirata Sachiko had spoken highly of him.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0U1u2IhvoT
After a brief greeting, the pleasantries ended. The tension in the room demanded answers.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQE5H9Qhftk
"Have you found any way to stop this?" Koji asked, his voice betraying both hope and fear.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGMIIA7pUZ
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?"22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwnzNmN3Gm
Koji frowned. "You think my competitors hired these… things?"22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBaZIc0sOM5
"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."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLC0wJyYBa
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."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcBR6Pzzdo
"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."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqXO2xrr9J
The woman on the sofa clutched her daughter tightly, whispering, "Please… please help us. We can’t lose her… Ai’s just a child."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDy5s1H9aD
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."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DQsl2Rcsf
Koji swallowed hard. "And how do you plan to find that out?"22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEylakeCWJ
"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."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Ad7miTA8L
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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZRJNbYgD9
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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5gsVfl5bG
Koji, ever the decisive businessman, nodded after a moment’s thought. "All right. We’ll do it."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJQhQ7aPOu
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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWcbajVooh
Koji stood first, straightening his tie as if facing a boardroom meeting. "I’ll go. Please… keep the others safe."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNcs1b7shl
He stepped past the fallen tree.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TaMpNk7Un
Nothing happened.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYr56ymoFz
He turned back, eyes wide. "I made it? I’m safe?"22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLWBvNEBy9
"It seems so," the shrine maiden said calmly. "The spirits aren’t after you."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUr5DLHSzJQ
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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUapLU0nl4b
Silence.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡteCji2Fh5U
Then, all eyes turned toward the old man.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4bZDnF1Jv
Takeda Kazuya rose from the sofa with measured grace. His face was pale but steady. "I’ll go next."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAR5ZECokxS
The shrine maiden nodded. "Be careful. We’ll stay close."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIi7pFDunGD
"Thank you both."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8O39nlsvS
He took his first step—and the night itself seemed to hold its breath.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEMIvdRFGP
When he crossed the fallen tree, the wind shifted sharply.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqYfrD4S8A
A split second later—22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNRFxNp0pk
A sharp whistle cut through the darkness.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfF5CQy7qN1
BOOM!22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PHyKevxim
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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1B7lPcvWUm
Gasps erupted from the guards. The little girl screamed and buried her face in her mother’s chest.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7RMd1bO1E
Kazuya stood frozen. The shrine maiden’s eyes narrowed, and Kouya’s hand slid casually into his pocket, unfazed.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6zo4cQ6hb
"So that’s how it is," Kouya muttered.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFJSZOYplM
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?"22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdh6n9bLSn7
"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."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbIDIwJXBF
"Father?" Koji turned to Kazuya desperately.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemVwxL2bHa
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."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1HggSW3qJ
"Never!" Koji shouted. "I won’t abandon you!"22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6gXMCKqzz
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!"22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3yHR1UnXB
The shrine maiden frowned faintly. "If we don’t uncover the cause, even driving them away won’t help. They’ll return."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQ8oALai1X
The hall fell into silence, broken only by the faint rustling of trees.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJYWAOD8z1
Then Kouya spoke.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMY1qQu52i
"If we can’t figure out why they’re coming… why not just ask them?"22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3hPRyC8ON
Everyone turned to him, eyes wide with disbelief.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBug97I0oR
"A-Ask… the monsters?" Koji stammered.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXNSl23kNf
Kouya shrugged. "Sure. Saves time."22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4ePYFIWFP
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?"22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3HyNB4no9F
His words rolled through the trees like a thunderclap, a strange vibration echoing in the still air. The wind stirred. The leaves trembled.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXicv1Nl5ZR
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.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqSJQpblJR
Koji, nervous, tried to intervene. "M-Maybe we should check the cameras again instead—"22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeLucYjTaI
He didn’t get the chance.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DB7CYSHj3
From the darkness came a shrill, rasping caw.22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpaakfEhq4y
"Answer? Fine! You wanted an answer, didn’t you? Who’s afraid of who?! Our boss fears nothing!"22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqpwxtD4jX
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