Chapter 89: The Tricky Request137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7smWUp3aQ
"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..."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡll6hLoUG40
What did you just say?137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9L0MgZRT9
Sleep at my place?137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdgPLu3gNo
Absolutely not! Not happening!137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHII7nJ0fY
"No." Kouya cut her off immediately, his tone sharp and absolute.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5EH21HIxF
"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!"137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5NrarxdAS
Unbelievable!137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8AZ317diC
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?137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6HhTQyj4K
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?137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYt2utcCSQ
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."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVwwO0lS7Y
"O-Okay..." Rikka’s voice fell, small and disappointed. "B-But… I’m too scared to go alone... it’s dark... and creepy..."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwuCra4Uaj
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.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAWvsZMARS
Of course. Gaming. She was probably mid-boss fight.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASG6sqSCyg
He rang the doorbell.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡToc5Db7Bqm
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.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW03dlxkwSl
Her eyes—lifeless, ringed with light shadows—narrowed in suspicion. "What do you want?"137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgXkCVJduc
Kouya took a breath and explained the situation clearly, his voice steady.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftC2WRRcLa
"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."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSboX1Xa81
Kouya gave a faint nod. As expected.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJuUARl5Ry
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.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJwkiEZsk7
Then Gabriel’s tired expression shifted into a mischievous grin. "But since I’m helping you, you owe me one. Don’t forget."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVTSXs5VJb
"..."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPkKsEVORi
Scratch that. You’re not a lazy angel—you’re a cunning devil with Wi-Fi.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0z24z57jO
…137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfN2qIcZLMD
After finally settling Rikka’s little crisis, Kouya returned to his room, stretching his neck. Just as he sat down, his phone buzzed again.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQQmWzl7NL
The caller ID: Shrine Maiden.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81WAn06N1K
He frowned slightly and answered. "Yeah?"137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDmRv2rGFM
"Hello? Kou-kun?" came the familiar gentle voice, laced with hesitation. "Sorry to call so late, but… there’s a problem."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTqPQJW69p
"A problem?" Kouya leaned back lazily. "What kind?"137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZatAtCHCG
"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$)."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4us6iCTmZ
Kouya blinked once. That number had his attention.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNCwP3FPO0
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.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRwRB4LqTO
He thought a moment before replying. "Where?"137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVmsT2lP94
"No need. I’ll send someone to pick you up," she said quickly, sounding relieved.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXb3JXNBbdL
"Fine," he answered.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1oHn3ciVX0
…137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBd8Ofs0XI
Twenty minutes later, the deep hum of an engine echoed outside. A sleek black sedan glided to a halt beneath the streetlamp.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqsgbXKTk2
The door opened, and a small figure jumped out. Cat ears twitched under the dim light as she waved enthusiastically. "Hurry up, nya!"137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8Ie0GXS1x
Kouya raised an eyebrow. "You again?"137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJeGgZ9ppR
"Big Sister sent me, nya! She said you’d probably get lost, nya!"137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5PbBLFefX
He got in, and the suited driver wordlessly restarted the car. The sedan slipped through the city, headlights slicing the darkness like a blade.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5iH4Onwhqj
The night outside was quiet—too quiet. Buildings thinned, replaced by trees and winding roads.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hUlB75SkK
"Big Sister’s hurt, nya!" the catgirl blurted suddenly, tail drooping. "I was worried you wouldn’t come, nya..."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡColSVB8eW8
Kouya’s gaze sharpened. "Explain."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS58NJoMSxX
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!"137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxBQbk5sn1
He snorted softly. "You? Fight? You’d probably be the first one to run."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlotqZ7dGcU
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!"137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmwg8gTVOW
Fierce? Not even close. With her round face and twitching ears, she looked like a plush toy trying to be scary.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTF3NA7Xxga
Kouya stared blankly. "Do you want me to trim your claws for you?"137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRKuGKdTZF
Rina puffed her cheeks, pouting. "You’re bullying me, nya!"137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsYN0WwoI2
"Keep talking and I’ll pull your tail."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAOqXQEpq2l
"Nooo, nya!" she yelped, clutching her backside protectively.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7F7YEWJ1h
Their playful bickering filled the car, easing the tension.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ioq5HkbC0
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.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tBREiC78x
Finally, the sedan slowed and stopped. The driver stepped out, opened the door, and said quietly, "We’ve arrived, Mr. Kouya."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6kKjpdVuf
Kouya exited and looked up.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzm21lGup1
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.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MXVo8gJ8c
The night air smelled of pine and damp earth. Somewhere in the distance, water trickled from a mountain spring.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84pwGozpSz
The moon was bright, silver light spilling over every surface. The leaves shimmered faintly in the wind.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMvw6FHA3N
And yet—no sound of birds. No insects. Nothing but the whisper of the breeze.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYDhy3qrf5
The silence pressed down like a weight. The mansion, bathed in moonlight, stood still and watchful, as if something ancient lingered within its walls.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJfvrnhwLa
"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.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnKBFvSASs
Kouya’s sharp eyes immediately noticed the faint stain of dried blood on her sleeve. "You’re hurt?"137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Hi5dcOaJj
"It’s fine," she said quickly, forcing a smile. "Just a small wound."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaazFORhNCE
He didn’t believe her but didn’t press the issue. She turned and began leading him through the courtyard as she spoke.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYbXWubTuj
"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."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJtuxv9noR
"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."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6PQPrxzNk
Kouya’s brows furrowed slightly. "And?"137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkxfKcsFNe
"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."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucL4RocNqQ
"How predictable." Kouya’s voice was calm, but his eyes were sharp. "Let me guess—he tried calling an exorcist."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIg70qy7Uq
She nodded. "Yes. An onmyoji. But the man ran away the same night, leaving behind his tools and wards."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6WIA4otwq
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."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQu99goxBc
Kouya listened silently, his gaze scanning the quiet courtyard. The air here felt heavy, thick with something unseen.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTci9vsmLR
After a moment, he asked, "Why hasn’t the client just left?"137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMhk0Tr8OB
The shrine maiden hesitated. Her eyes darkened. "Because he can’t."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBeo8UtUbB
Kouya frowned. "Can’t?"137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvwgLp4VpF
"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."137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJYQWxUCiS
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