Chapter 90: The Simple and Brutal Way to Draw Out Monsters132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjGCC4M2tU
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.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsIcpkkrCJ
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.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTf1BCmh2y
"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."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4iIxuMuMu
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.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLO8FLGUwQ
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.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDabxtISxQk
Dozens of guards patrolled the perimeter. They gripped their batons tightly, every small noise making them flinch. Fear hung thick in the room.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OukHVPcLt
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.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwkgnMcmKr
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.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTA1zy2WR5
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.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeecJoYlINP
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."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOG4JQgxMo
He extended a hand with a polite bow, his manner respectful despite Kouya’s youth. Clearly, Hirata Sachiko had spoken highly of him.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXqAss8UZp
After a brief greeting, the pleasantries ended. The tension in the room demanded answers.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡreCNSDXKOg
"Have you found any way to stop this?" Koji asked, his voice betraying both hope and fear.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIM7S1gkzg
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?"132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdH6P0FjoQ
Koji frowned. "You think my competitors hired these… things?"132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7qIrRp7Jz
"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."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHK5lgEhvi9
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."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBoxvJrxqe6
"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."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCfDoVYDXK
The woman on the sofa clutched her daughter tightly, whispering, "Please… please help us. We can’t lose her… Ai’s just a child."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2nzFtft3p
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."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cDSlRyykC
Koji swallowed hard. "And how do you plan to find that out?"132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEC3nQY5qy
"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."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Nxa3UaSPP
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.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9E1YrGi4Lx
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.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsT1Mk8V2o8
Koji, ever the decisive businessman, nodded after a moment’s thought. "All right. We’ll do it."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSitwzWpIO9
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.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLMs5XcFsJ
Koji stood first, straightening his tie as if facing a boardroom meeting. "I’ll go. Please… keep the others safe."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5UzB5ZFJm
He stepped past the fallen tree.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzkfEjTXWK
Nothing happened.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2s11Nl6ORX
He turned back, eyes wide. "I made it? I’m safe?"132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnQyOjzCZK
"It seems so," the shrine maiden said calmly. "The spirits aren’t after you."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgTqGi5Vks
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.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTEZdC1wqn
Silence.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWMLAl8Nfx
Then, all eyes turned toward the old man.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbalIQhQV1
Takeda Kazuya rose from the sofa with measured grace. His face was pale but steady. "I’ll go next."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xDCkbUgtn
The shrine maiden nodded. "Be careful. We’ll stay close."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvx7c8uG4j
"Thank you both."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjW3iOqZjE
He took his first step—and the night itself seemed to hold its breath.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgORrMN0R5
When he crossed the fallen tree, the wind shifted sharply.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjsK1gUjrE
A split second later—132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIa14TpuhDJ
A sharp whistle cut through the darkness.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rlxRrGya8
BOOM!132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kEgpX8CFw
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.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBneQaE2UJL
Gasps erupted from the guards. The little girl screamed and buried her face in her mother’s chest.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJQOKLbEwO
Kazuya stood frozen. The shrine maiden’s eyes narrowed, and Kouya’s hand slid casually into his pocket, unfazed.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCGB8pJ6Qz
"So that’s how it is," Kouya muttered.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSf3yW5J0tn
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?"132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNnKKQOQnH
"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."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3vpXm0Qfa
"Father?" Koji turned to Kazuya desperately.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRiuuzoEwO
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."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7k26fDEBSV
"Never!" Koji shouted. "I won’t abandon you!"132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqlmSQfnrMM
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!"132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64QwOsIka6
The shrine maiden frowned faintly. "If we don’t uncover the cause, even driving them away won’t help. They’ll return."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKI8JwCLWAs
The hall fell into silence, broken only by the faint rustling of trees.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPG4RxulABD
Then Kouya spoke.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ziF5aoPfZ
"If we can’t figure out why they’re coming… why not just ask them?"132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4J3dN4N92d
Everyone turned to him, eyes wide with disbelief.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklGeQJRUqo
"A-Ask… the monsters?" Koji stammered.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMcI08wfZna
Kouya shrugged. "Sure. Saves time."132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vJwllqRWI
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?"132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMF5aeK3meF
His words rolled through the trees like a thunderclap, a strange vibration echoing in the still air. The wind stirred. The leaves trembled.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJyESKHJKi
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.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVkBG0Kn8K
Koji, nervous, tried to intervene. "M-Maybe we should check the cameras again instead—"132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8CeGDlMtO
He didn’t get the chance.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfI39zwzmb
From the darkness came a shrill, rasping caw.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBK0vByMDnJ
"Answer? Fine! You wanted an answer, didn’t you? Who’s afraid of who?! Our boss fears nothing!"132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2xV87P59S
1234 copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡB24XwEgm9f 尼

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