Chapter 89: The Tricky Request144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYUTbfE2dq
"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..."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3WTjCuLam
What did you just say?144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPp4sAiRDL
Sleep at my place?144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvLFLq1qIu
Absolutely not! Not happening!144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVPPTp4sPi
"No." Kouya cut her off immediately, his tone sharp and absolute.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡks1SJIKSpc
"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!"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0vmZ4Jllv
Unbelievable!144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXv1t75VQNp
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?144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ahUWiYXN4
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?144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQ5oulnxTo
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."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMxKqAh8Ju
"O-Okay..." Rikka’s voice fell, small and disappointed. "B-But… I’m too scared to go alone... it’s dark... and creepy..."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39BYDMj5Ua
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4B4ezcz9TL
Of course. Gaming. She was probably mid-boss fight.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNaVUjBGcDu
He rang the doorbell.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVsP6ZLSB6i
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKDpQODveu
Her eyes—lifeless, ringed with light shadows—narrowed in suspicion. "What do you want?"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFn8gpsIS5
Kouya took a breath and explained the situation clearly, his voice steady.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9g168aGpsv
"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."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1CXTPVkVb
Kouya gave a faint nod. As expected.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOg1t62QebW
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsh7FCuWV6j
Then Gabriel’s tired expression shifted into a mischievous grin. "But since I’m helping you, you owe me one. Don’t forget."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSSqtWwJJQ
"..."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSLx2JHLo0
Scratch that. You’re not a lazy angel—you’re a cunning devil with Wi-Fi.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBmoUXuyG4
…144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqSjApJLzu
After finally settling Rikka’s little crisis, Kouya returned to his room, stretching his neck. Just as he sat down, his phone buzzed again.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVT3zEpKNWg
The caller ID: Shrine Maiden.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MYzvvsloJ
He frowned slightly and answered. "Yeah?"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuJItBa3ai
"Hello? Kou-kun?" came the familiar gentle voice, laced with hesitation. "Sorry to call so late, but… there’s a problem."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTM0VwttgPW
"A problem?" Kouya leaned back lazily. "What kind?"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13NtRidWmr
"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$)."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQ7C9KVIgi
Kouya blinked once. That number had his attention.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCsZBPXgo2
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAehHQd2msH
He thought a moment before replying. "Where?"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7MxFnSdQ7
"No need. I’ll send someone to pick you up," she said quickly, sounding relieved.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNXmNgZgfN
"Fine," he answered.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRdF40sp72
…144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhH2oxQYizl
Twenty minutes later, the deep hum of an engine echoed outside. A sleek black sedan glided to a halt beneath the streetlamp.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4T8rgL4Vtu
The door opened, and a small figure jumped out. Cat ears twitched under the dim light as she waved enthusiastically. "Hurry up, nya!"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufGUetn8HN
Kouya raised an eyebrow. "You again?"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IFVqJm6BO
"Big Sister sent me, nya! She said you’d probably get lost, nya!"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTWd75iRfK
He got in, and the suited driver wordlessly restarted the car. The sedan slipped through the city, headlights slicing the darkness like a blade.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeEXZeIWd71
The night outside was quiet—too quiet. Buildings thinned, replaced by trees and winding roads.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKiUuT7wXl
"Big Sister’s hurt, nya!" the catgirl blurted suddenly, tail drooping. "I was worried you wouldn’t come, nya..."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQtGAoi4wJ
Kouya’s gaze sharpened. "Explain."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTRBu5lKOQ
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!"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBEx19QZup
He snorted softly. "You? Fight? You’d probably be the first one to run."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0D0eHKtyN
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!"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcf57YuOg49
Fierce? Not even close. With her round face and twitching ears, she looked like a plush toy trying to be scary.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2S2VHJeMbY
Kouya stared blankly. "Do you want me to trim your claws for you?"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjh8doCbuj
Rina puffed her cheeks, pouting. "You’re bullying me, nya!"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pCNJNBzxF
"Keep talking and I’ll pull your tail."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0oVrxOdQS7
"Nooo, nya!" she yelped, clutching her backside protectively.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeauLswlwEb
Their playful bickering filled the car, easing the tension.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbw3Nyjc116
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfi2pIuxsc
Finally, the sedan slowed and stopped. The driver stepped out, opened the door, and said quietly, "We’ve arrived, Mr. Kouya."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVf7mlXckE
Kouya exited and looked up.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGv1pdlDTS
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZrAkLfQ9y
The night air smelled of pine and damp earth. Somewhere in the distance, water trickled from a mountain spring.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnd7YqxAjc
The moon was bright, silver light spilling over every surface. The leaves shimmered faintly in the wind.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Aj6A8uCoR
And yet—no sound of birds. No insects. Nothing but the whisper of the breeze.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZv87scvqL
The silence pressed down like a weight. The mansion, bathed in moonlight, stood still and watchful, as if something ancient lingered within its walls.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qRFqncCvl
"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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SrrTzrJCm
Kouya’s sharp eyes immediately noticed the faint stain of dried blood on her sleeve. "You’re hurt?"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3aHhSR5ReD
"It’s fine," she said quickly, forcing a smile. "Just a small wound."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVfCm7bK8d
He didn’t believe her but didn’t press the issue. She turned and began leading him through the courtyard as she spoke.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lkhjK4fX7
"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."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡroxijzNM9l
"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."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCy3hDM2MA
Kouya’s brows furrowed slightly. "And?"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOE1szOgzlT
"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."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGQ2tfjmlP
"How predictable." Kouya’s voice was calm, but his eyes were sharp. "Let me guess—he tried calling an exorcist."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawx1xuEmQC
She nodded. "Yes. An onmyoji. But the man ran away the same night, leaving behind his tools and wards."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYH4T3t57Z
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."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ67VzpF5SOS
Kouya listened silently, his gaze scanning the quiet courtyard. The air here felt heavy, thick with something unseen.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGFH0KIm9t
After a moment, he asked, "Why hasn’t the client just left?"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9qmfxiIuz
The shrine maiden hesitated. Her eyes darkened. "Because he can’t."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGuhRdTwPT1
Kouya frowned. "Can’t?"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMry8nOYlZB
"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."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2RadFOFSjZ
1234 copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3BpwFjEQZ 尼

216.73.216.184