Chapter 3: A Reliable Adult Office Worker
Shangshan Che withdrew his gaze from outside the window. Unbeknownst to him, a drizzling light rain had started falling outside.
Normally speaking, no one could possibly appear outside a third-floor window, and he couldn’t possibly spot anything outside the window while staying alert in the corridor.
But this world always has people who don’t play by the rules.
Like that Water Ghost floating outside the window, dripping wet all over with pronounced curves.
Or Shangshan Che, who had drawn the Hundred-Eyed Ghost Eyeball.
【Hundred-Eyed Demon’s Single Eyeball】
【Quality: Excellent】
【Use One: Equip on Demon Incarnation】
【Use Two: Use directly, occupying one equipment slot. If equipment slots are insufficient upon use, it continuously consumes the user’s spiritual power.】
【Current Equipment Slots: 1/1】
The Hundred-Eyed Demon’s big eyeball is very useful.
Not only does it provide excellent vision, but it can also freely move and rotate its perspective within a range of about fifty meters centered on him.
Moreover, the eyeball’s concealment effect is quite good. This is evident from the fact that the Water Ghost hasn’t noticed she’s being spied on yet.
However, the downside is that a different perspective suddenly appears in his field of view.
As a result, Shangshan Che can only use it when stationary. Once he starts moving, it makes him feel inexplicably nauseous, like motion sickness from 3D.
As for Use One, he can’t test it yet.
“Is this Water Ghost an Onmyoji’s Shikigami?”
Hearing the footsteps clearly approaching from the corridor, Shangshan Che couldn’t help but show a “terrified” expression.
Before he could deduce more, the footsteps outside the door stopped.
Shangshan Che took a deep breath right on cue, clenching the thorny wooden stick in his hand under the Water Ghost’s quiet gaze.
Then, the moment the door was pushed open, he roared and unleashed Turtle Stick Technique!
“Get out of my way!”
Under Shangshan Che’s “terrified” gaze, a rough large hand steadily caught the wooden stick, followed by a burly body that nearly burst his police uniform.
But on this body worthy of a bodybuilding champion grew a very incongruous sunny boy face.
“Ghost! Ghost!”
Shangshan Che was “scared” and fell butt-first to the ground.
But then he seemed to remember something and said sternly yet cowardly: “I won’t let you pass!”
The bodybuilding boy sighed helplessly and took out his identification from the inner pocket of his suit with practiced ease, flashing it in front of Shangshan Che.
—【Special Police: Hasegawa Ken】.
“Police?”
Shangshan Che lowered his outstretched arms and said dazedly.
Hasegawa nodded to him, flashed a toothy grin, and said, “Leave the rest to me,” before asking:
“Sister Nanjo, where’s the other one?”
Before Shangshan Che could answer, a cold voice came from the radio on the other’s chest:
“Lying behind that kid in front of you. Also, remember to use job titles during work.”
Shangshan Che’s pupils shrank.
Without a doubt, this “Sister Nanjo” was the master of that powerful Water Ghost outside the window!
Hasegawa: “Roger that, Junior Officer.”
With that, he patted Shangshan Che’s shoulder: “If you still have strength left, go carry your friend and come with me.”
“Officer, I have a few more friends…”
“Don’t worry, someone will take care of them too.”
No sooner had he spoken than the Water Ghost outside the window floated silently into the room, sending a chill down Shangshan Che’s back.
Shikigami counts as people too, no problem.
As an ordinary person, under the joint gaze of Hasegawa and the Water Ghost, Shangshan Che stayed silent for a good while before mustering his spirits again, slapping his cheeks, and “strenuously” hoisting the unconscious Lili Zi onto his back.
The first sensation after picking up Lili Zi was that it was pokey.
She wasn’t heavy, but Shangshan Che suspected he’d gotten the front and back mixed up.
……
Soon, the group arrived at the outskirts of the abandoned campus.
A van was parked there, following traffic rules with its hazard lights flashing.
Shangshan Che hesitated and asked: “Officer… don’t you think this is a bit strange?”
“Strange how?”
“It’s been raining the whole time, but we haven’t gotten wet at all…”
Hasegawa: “This is the rain from Miss Hiyori Bo. They say it brings good luck.”
“Hiyori Bo?”
Before Shangshan Che could finish his confusion, a palm-sized Daruma Doll in a light blue dress floated slowly toward him and lightly settled on his head.
Instantly, he felt a gentle warmth rising from within his body.
Hasegawa looked surprised: “Miss Hiyori Bo is usually very shy and hides when she sees strangers.”
“—That means he has potential to become an Onmyoji.”
It was that female voice from the radio!
Shangshan Che instinctively looked up.
What met his eyes was an expressionless adult woman with her arms crossed.
Neat and sharp short hair, impeccable attire, and a work ID hanging on her chest—all signs of a career woman deeply embedded in frontline work for years.
Only her front armor curves were too eye-catching, the black tie maliciously bent, even the inner white shirt pushed high up, its second button taut as if constantly wailing.
“First time meeting. I’m Nanjo Emi.”
She didn’t politely extend her hand, just said: “You’re safe now.”
In that moment, an immense sense of security washed over them.
Even Shangshan Che relaxed completely, his strength giving out, nearly dropping Lili Zi.
After a two-second daze, Shangshan Che gave his name.
Nanjo Emi nodded: “Get in the car.”
The van had been modified; few seats inside, but exceptionally spacious.
Aside from the driver’s and passenger seats, there was only a row of connected seats in the back—Shangshan Che laid Lili Zi flat inside before climbing in.
He stared at the girl’s scantily clad skirt hem, glanced at the rearview mirror giving a full view of the back from the front seats, then at the Water Ghost sitting in the trunk area, and the Daruma Doll on his head.
After thinking for a while, he still chose to take off his jacket and cover her with it.
The kid’s grown up; better give her some privacy.
“Shangshan, your mental resilience is impressive.” Nanjo Emi in the passenger seat praised after seeing this, pulling out her laptop: “Mind telling us what happened?”
The van drove slowly through the night for a while longer.
After clicking “Save” and closing the document, Nanjo Emi took a deep breath, her dangling work ID rising and falling: “I’ve got the picture. We’ll do a statement later, sleep it off, and forget today’s events.”
“I guarantee you, it’s all over.”
Hearing Nanjo Emi’s assurance, Shangshan Che gazed at Lili Zi, who had at some point flipped head-to-toe 180 degrees and was using his thigh as a pillow.
“What about that Ouija Board?” Shangshan Che asked. “That thing was seriously off.”
“Probably deliberately circulated by the Friendship Club…”
Nanjo Emi instantly realized she’d misspoke and shook her head: “What comes next has nothing to do with you anymore, Shangshan.”
“How could it not?”
The one who said this wasn’t Shangshan Che, but Tokugawa Ririko, who had opened her eyes at some point.
Lili Zi reached out and clutched at her empty chest, as if the pendant around her neck were still there: “Whether Kumamoto, Aofuji, or Takahashi, they’re all my friends…”
“Too dangerous.”
Nanjo Emi interrupted someone for the first time, staring expressionlessly at Lili Zi: “Ordinary people shouldn’t get involved with this.”
“But there should at least be some right to know.” Lili Zi’s face was expressionless, but her tone dimmed: “At the very least, I don’t want to say nothing when their parents ask me why.”
“Sorry.”
Nanjo Emi’s voice remained flat, like a robot giving formulaic replies.
Extensive repeated experience told her that at times like this, just apologizing repeatedly and saying nothing was the best choice—she’d already made a serious work mistake just now.
Hardened.
Lili Zi’s fist hardened.
“My employee number is 2-009-xxx.”
Nanjo Emi slightly lowered her head and handed over a photocopy of her work ID with practiced ease:
“If you have complaints or suggestions, you can file a complaint against me right after completing your statement at the Special Affairs Office in the police station tonight. Staff will reply within three working days.”
Seeing the atmosphere turning tense, Shangshan Che had a thought and poked Lili Zi’s clutching palm: “Tokugawa, what have you been holding in your right hand?”
“Oh, this is the Kendo Pendant. It doesn’t do much…”
Before Lili Zi finished speaking, she realized her hand was actually empty.
The pendant was gone.
The girl opened her mouth, and the “kendo” dam in her heart collapsed with a crash.
Her little face flushed visibly red at a speed the eye could see, then she curled up, trembling all over as she hugged Shangshan Che’s waist tightly and cried out loudly:
“I thought that scary Hannya was going to eat me waaah!!!”
