Chapter 180: Reactions from All Sides
“What’s wrong? Is there anything I can help you with, Shinomiyai-san?”
Sato Shinichi naturally noticed the visible change in the young girl’s expression. Following Mai Shinomiyai’s gaze, he looked towards the direction she was staring, but saw nothing unusual other than the crimson sunset in the distance.
“Over there, what area is that place behind that tall building? Are there any landmark buildings?”
The girl’s words were rapid, and her greenish eyes were exceptionally sharp. Her demeanor at that moment was completely different from the dignified and elegant young girl she had previously presented. Her right hand was pointing at something in the air, and a stack of yellow talismans instantly appeared in her grasp.
“You mean Fuyang Building? A bit further past that is the Ashikaga district. As for landmark buildings, there’s a shopping mall and a gymnasium nearby. On the very edge, I think there’s a public cemetery.”
Scratching his head in confusion, Sato Shinichi now understood that the young girl must have seen something significant. He didn’t press further and instead recalled the map to relay information to the girl.
“A public cemetery!”
Upon hearing Sato Shinichi’s words, and connecting it with the terrifying aura emanating from the direction of death, even from a considerable distance, the light in the girl’s eyes grew a bit colder.
The sorcery in her hand firmly pointed into mid-air, and the talismans in her right hand were drawn into the sky by a special power, forming a unique magic array. The wild wind element dyed the yellow talismans green, which eventually coalesced into a massive energy array. Ripping winds escaped from the array, and even Sato Shinichi, an outsider, could feel the immense energy contained within what the girl had drawn from thin air.
Finally, to Sato Shinichi’s disbelief, a giant, dark blue-green bird, three times human size, materialized beside the girl.
“Sato-kun, I’m sorry, but I have something very important to attend to right now and need to leave. Please inform Grandpa Hamano for me as well. If there are any clues, I’ll send shikigami later.”
Without further ado, Mai Shinomiyai directly climbed onto the back of the blue bird shikigami. While controlling the shikigami’s movement, she shouted towards Sato Shinichi beside her. Without waiting for his response, a furious hurricane surged from the giant bird again, carrying the girl straight up into the sky.
“This is the power of Onmyōjutsu…”
Extending a hand to block the dust kicked up by the fierce wind, the boy looked up, squinting his eyes at the small blue dot gradually disappearing into the horizon. Sato Shinichi only then snapped out of his daze.
In a way, this was probably the first time the boy had come into close contact with such a distinctly different kind of special power. The other party’s actions clearly indicated she had discerned something, possibly related to the [Underworld], otherwise, she wouldn’t have left so urgently.
The girl’s last words echoed in his ears. After pondering for a moment, Sato Shinichi took out his mobile phone and quickly typed and sent a few messages.
As if remembering something, he belatedly looked down at his palm, which was still somewhat red. He picked up his phone again to check the time. However, the figure on the screen caused the young man’s slightly furrowed brow to relax slightly. He let out a long sigh, and the confusion in his eyes transformed back into determination, his gaze fixed on the detached villa in the distant corner.
“Hu— I should go back and train first.”
…
Meanwhile, on the fifth floor of the second teaching building at Shikoku Gakuin, in the Student Council President’s office.
The elegant young man in uniform was intently working on his computer, engrossed in processing something, occasionally taking a sip of coffee from the cup beside him.
As if sensing something, Kurokawa Iori, who had been sitting upright, turned to look at the sky, which had been painted red by the setting sun. However, he quickly shook his head and turned back, intending to continue his school work.
But the unusual energy fluctuation from his drawer made the young man frown. After finishing typing the last character, Kurokawa Iori glanced at the time. Then, extending his right hand, he thrust it into his own mouth.
The world flipped again, and disgusting flesh and mucus filled the entire office. The once scholarly desk was now enveloped by thick flesh, as if even the drawers had grown mouths with sharp teeth. The monster in the restraint suit’s throat convulsed a few times, and finally, a terrifyingly pale arm extended from its mouth, reaching for the bottom drawer of the desk and retrieving a small, dark green box.
Controlling the arm to open the small box, a piece of pale purple finger bone appeared before Kurokawa Iori. It now pulsed with a faint light, as if guided by something. Lowering his head in silence for a moment, the arm in his mouth extended again. This time, it reached for the phone covered in eyeballs on the side. After a series of rapid button presses, an eerie silence enveloped the space. Although the computer screen indicated a connection, only silent darkness appeared. After an unknown amount of time, the world on the screen suddenly began to shake. What reappeared before Kurokawa Iori was a handsome young man with only half of his face.
“Long time no see, Snake Kurai. How have you been lately?”
Finally seeing one of the few people he could call a friend within the organization, even Kurokawa Iori’s mood improved considerably. He greeted the young man on the other side of the screen.
“Mmm… Just tell me what you need to say directly… I’m… not in a good state to chat right now.”
The young man on the screen did not share Kurokawa Iori’s good mood. The human half of his face displayed an expression of extreme struggle, as if enduring some pain. On the other side, the snake’s head stared directly at the screen, its pale yellow vertical pupils devoid of any emotion, like a cold predator.
“The thing you gave me has reacted. According to your side, that guy should be appearing again? I’m specifically notifying you.”
Kurokawa Iori did not get angry at the other party’s attitude, as he knew that if that thing were truly to reappear, his friend, who had been in seclusion, wouldn’t stay hidden.
“Hmm? Alright!”
Looking at the hand in the monster’s mouth on the screen holding that piece of finger bone, both the human and snake halves of the young man’s face erupted with intense light. Even the expression, distorted by pain, eased slightly.
“Please tell the boss of Kuromon that I’ll be there to find you. I can arrive tomorrow.”
Resolute and steady words came from the other end of the screen. The decisive young man didn’t even give Kurokawa Iori a chance to speak again, and the image was instantly cut off, leaving only the reflection of the terrifying monster with a mouth full of sharp teeth in the black screen.
“Okay.”
…
The world flipped again. The calm and elegant student council president gave a light yawn and pulled his chair closer to the computer, intending to continue working. However, a long-lost smile appeared on the young man’s handsome face. Having subordinates who recognized his worth, his long-unseen friend emerging from seclusion, and the problem that had been troubling his friend finally being solved. The recent events made Kurokawa Iori feel as if the world had become smoother, and even the restlessness that had been bothering his true form had lessened.
“Come in.”
Humming a cheerful song, Kurokawa Iori called out to the knocking sound from outside the door.
“Kurokawa-kaichō, here is the information on the new students who have joined the organization!”
A sweet, intellectual voice came from the doorway. The tea-haired girl wearing glasses walked elegantly to Kurokawa Iori’s side and placed the thick folder in her hands on the desk.
“Thank you. I appreciate you staying so late. You must be tired, Saori.”
Reaching out to take the folder from the desk, Kurokawa Iori looked with a faint gaze at the petite girl before him and said gently.
“It’s nothing. You’re still busy with work too, Kaichō. And you always carry everything on your shoulders. Hana and I only help with other things; you’re much busier than us.”
The unprecedentedly gentle tone made Saotome Saori somewhat flustered. Looking at the handsome young man before her and his unusually gentle words, she recalled that it was after school and they were alone in the office. Her long-dormant heart seemed to gain some energy and started beating uncontrollably. Watching Kurokawa Iori still sitting in his chair flipping through documents, a flush inexplicably crept onto the girl’s face. Her legs, which should have left after submitting the documents, were rooted to the spot as if they had grown roots, and she looked at the young man working diligently before her with uncertainty.
“Mm, Saori, is there anything else? It’s so late, won’t you miss dinner if you don’t go back?”
Kurokawa Iori, who had been searching through the documents, looked up in confusion as if sensing an unusual gaze. He saw the shy girl before him.
“Ah, I was thinking… since it’s so late, you probably haven’t eaten either, Kaichō.”
“My mother has to work overtime today, so I have to cook for myself. So I was thinking…”
“When you’re done, Kaichō… would you like to have dinner together… If it’s inconvenient, it’s okay, because I…”
“Of course.”
Looking playfully at the bashful and shy girl before him, Kurokawa Iori had always known her intentions. However, he only valued her outstanding work capability. Still, as Kurokawa Iori was in an unusually good mood today, he was willing to give the girl a pleasant date. Isn’t it interesting to observe these so-called beautiful things of humanity sometimes? Emotions? Or perhaps liking someone? How truly laughable! Kurokawa Iori, who always considered himself beyond the human stage, had always disdained emotions. To be influenced by someone with whom he had no connection was something only low-level beings like humans would do in such a meaningless way.
“Then, then, then, how about Kinmon Restaurant? Or perhaps Sik Kawa Yakiniku, or the Oden near the school? That’s also quite famous. You probably haven’t tried these, Kaichō, right?”
As if hearing the best news, the girl’s small face bloomed with a shy and beautiful smile. If not for a girl’s modesty, Saotome Saori would have jumped for joy.
“Then let’s go for yakiniku. I just need to finish these documents. There’s only a little bit left, and it’ll be done soon.”
Casually choosing one of the girl’s options, Kurokawa Iori was not bothered by her chatter. After all, after so many years, it was rare for him to feel this happy. Moreover, his recent plans were all proceeding smoothly. Now, all he needed to do was review the information submitted by his subordinates to confirm it.
His left hand rummaged through the piles of documents, and he finally found the page with the special mark. Gently extracting the document page mixed within the other papers, which bore the name [Kazumi Shimizu], Kurokawa Iori picked up his coffee. His previously empty expression inexplicably softened, as if he recalled the girl’s actions from yesterday. He took a sip of coffee. The gentle smile on the young man’s face never wavered until his gaze slowly drifted to the last line of the girl’s profile and the attached page. His smile froze mid-air as if he had seen something terrifying.
[Social Circle—Boyfriend: Classmate Sato Shinichi. Detailed information on attached sheet one.]
“…”
“Crack—”
The ceramic teacup shattered, and coffee, along with the debris, spilled onto the floor. The sound of colliding ceramic fragments on the floor echoed far and wide in the silent school…
