I planted a sacred tree in Tokyo.

Chapter 193 Spirit Body
"Waaaaaah~~"

The red and blue lights, combined with the sound of sirens, are enough to deter criminals.

However, the police officers still looked extremely vigilant, with their hands on their waists, ready to draw their weapons at any moment.

"Woooooo~~"

Two junior high school girls squatted by the roadside, heads down, crying.

Another junior high school boy was pale and had a blank look in his eyes, as if he had seen a ghost!

"What are you thinking?!"

After learning the situation, the patrol minister leading the team was furious.

"What kind of 'test of courage' are you holding at a time like this? Do you want to die?!"

Are you too embarrassed to say it?
"We...we didn't expect there to be so many evil spirits here~~"

A brown-haired girl with a 'tech' look on her face looked up. Tears streamed down her face, washing away her makeup and making the elderly patrol chief's eyes sting.

At such a young age, they're already learning bad habits. Oh well, that's just how young people are these days.

How many of you are left?

While patiently asking questions, the inspector looked up at the small hill in front of him.

The mountain is only a dozen meters away from the road below. As a veteran police officer who has lived in this town for decades, before the arrival of the extraordinary, the patrol chief often came to this mountain to take walks and breathe in the forest air in his spare time.

So, if you really think about it, this place is actually a 'activity area' for rest and exercise in the town.

But that happened more than half a year ago.

Since the arrival of the superhumans, who has time to come here specifically to exercise?
The town has several newly opened gyms, enough to keep you sweating profusely.

Their police system, in particular, operates around the clock. Even when there are no missions, they still collect and archive local historical records such as county documents, village precepts, and family letters for future reference.

In just six months, the small hill that used to be a popular spot for walks, hikes, and exercise has become desolate.

Even in the past, the abandoned church on the mountain was rarely visited.

Who knew these young people would come?
The inspector knew that these students weren't really courting death.

After the initial chaos, the island nation's people, who were "super-adaptable" to disasters, discovered that ordinary evil spirits were not particularly deadly.

Ultimately, evil spirits are also transformed from humans: if evil spirits are generally stronger than humans, then everyone might as well just slit their own throats and become evil spirits together, why bother living?

With enough courage, one can defeat evil spirits: besides, these people are all middle school students, at an age when they are fearless and strong, so theoretically, even if they encounter evil spirits, escape shouldn't be difficult. However—

"Don't you know that a 'new type of evil spirit' has appeared?!"

When questioned, the two girls squatting on the ground just cried, leaving the patrol chief quite helpless.

"Minister, it's like this..."

A subordinate came over and reported to him the information he had obtained from the middle school boy who had recovered slightly.

"One of them saw the news, but..."

Because of his companions' urging, he didn't take it to heart.

"At the same time, according to the description, there should be a 'new type of evil spirit' in this mountain."

It was that new type of evil spirit, resembling an 'old man,' that ambushed their leader, causing the team to fall apart and scatter.

According to them, three more junior high school students are trapped in the mountains, namely...

The inspector looked at the small hill in front of him again.

Multiple evil spirits
And a new type of evil spirit.

The police officers are naturally not afraid of ordinary evil spirits, but the "new type of evil spirit" is something else entirely. According to the above, this kind of evil spirit possesses intelligence close to that of humans and knows how to use schemes, ambushes, traps, and other means—there have even been cases of new evil spirits luring police officers into buildings and then causing natural gas explosions!
The danger level increases a hundredfold when facing a thinking evil spirit.

As for the three junior high school students trapped inside?

He died long ago.
Shashasha~~
? !
"alert!"

Just as the police were hesitating, a noise came from the woods ahead.

They all drew their guns and aimed!

这 是
"I am a human being,"

A young girl emerged from the woods with her hands raised.

"It's not an evil spirit, officers. Look, I have two legs."

Faced with a gun pointed at her, the short-haired girl 'Hyomi' was extremely nervous, just as nervous as when she encountered the evil spirit before.

She was only flesh and blood; she couldn't stop bullets. And she certainly didn't want to survive such a calamity only to fall to the police's guns.

Upon hearing the girl's words, the police officers beside the police car...

The three 'classmates' who escaped all had their eyes on her feet.

It is definitely a pair of real feet.

The evil spirits that have appeared recently, besides those that are clearly 'ancient' and only know howling and chasing people, also include some 'modern' evil spirits that, at first glance, look similar to ordinary people. However, upon closer inspection, all the evil spirits' feet become increasingly ethereal as they descend.

This is also one of the main ways to identify evil spirits.

"minister."

The inspector stepped forward.

"Is this Dong-kun?"

Higashi Takami is the full name of the short-haired girl.

"Ah, yes."

"You can put your hands down now."

While putting away his weapon and speaking to the other party in a gentle tone, the patrol chief made a hand gesture hidden behind his back.

Call the experts!

He was afraid his subordinates hadn't seen it clearly.
He even did it three times, heavily!

The so-called 'experts' are naturally from the Extraordinary Countermeasures Department.

Unfortunately, during this period, the people in the Extraordinary Countermeasures Section all disappeared, and the inspector was unsure whether the higher-ups would send someone over.

"Dong, the other two."

"They're all dead,"

The short-haired girl, Higashi Hyomi, lowered her eyes.
On her way down the mountain, she saw the body of her blond-haired girlfriend.

"Could you describe their apology?"

Seeing the girl nervously placing her hands on her chest, the patrol chief's gaze swept over her neck, and he couldn't help but raise his hand to straighten the brim of his hat.

"The wound on your neck."

"what?"

The girl instinctively covered her neck, her gaze wandering.

"Falling"

What a liar!
Can you fall and get a bruise around your neck?
Having been a police officer for decades, the patrol chief recognized it at a glance—it was a sign of hanging!
But he also understood that if he continued to ask, things might fall apart on the spot.

"Then, can I go to the police station to give a statement?"

"Can--"

As the young girl approached, the middle-aged patrol chief couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.

"Officer?"

"Ah, come with me."

Leading the obviously 'problematic' girl into the police car, the patrol chief sat in the passenger seat under the questioning gaze of his deputy.

"Back to the police station."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The journey was peaceful.
There were no explicit or restricted scenes such as 'sudden murder'.
The soaking wet patrol chief got out of the car, led the girl into the police station, and then:
Is the new interrogation room available?

? !
Upon hearing the patrol chief's words, the passing policewoman paused for a moment, then immediately replied.

"available,"

"Dong, over here."

As the patrol chief led the girl to the interrogation room, a passing policewoman hurriedly ran towards the police inspector's office.

The so-called 'new interrogation room' is a place used to interrogate extraordinary beings. That place has never been used since it was set up: since the patrol minister asked this question, it proves that he believes the girl he brought back is an extraordinary being!
No, maybe the inspector general has been kidnapped?

In this situation, it is natural to report it immediately.

Meanwhile, the police inspector—who is also the chief of police here—immediately reported to his superiors and simultaneously transmitted the footage from the 'interrogation room'.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

In the interrogation room,

"Let's begin,"

"First, go through the names, family names, and addresses."

Despite his vest being soaked with sweat, the patrol chief forced himself to remain calm and began questioning the girl opposite him according to procedure.

Although she appeared to be just an ordinary, timid, and pretty girl, in the patrol chief's mind, she was no different from a monstrous threat. An extraordinary being!

It wasn't just the strange 'hanging mark' on the girl's neck, but also her attitude as she descended the mountain.

Faced with the police's guns, she showed normal fear; but she didn't show any fear or observation towards "behind her".

It should be noted that the other three junior high school students who ran out to call the police looked at the church hill with fear and avoidance in their eyes.

There are essentially two possibilities in this situation:
Either the girl in front of them has dealt with those evil spirits.

Then she must be an evil spirit!
"After you fell, you got up and ran outside, and that's how you got rid of those evil spirits?"

"Yes,"

Is this flawed statement an attempt to belittle our police officers?
The girl's account, in the first half, was consistent with the testimonies of the other three junior high school students: they planned to go to the abandoned church for a "test of courage," deliberately choosing to do it during the day, and since the mountain wasn't very deep, it wasn't very dangerous: if they didn't encounter any new evil spirits.

Then, unfortunately, they ran into it!

Those ordinary evil spirits were clearly driven and manipulated by the 'new type of evil spirits'.

They were driven to their ambush location, and then the evil spirit disguised as an ordinary 'old man' suddenly attacked, ambushing the 'strongest' member of their group, causing them to scatter and flee.

The problem lies in the escape: according to the girl, she tripped and fell, and became separated from her companions.

And then he just ran away like that?
What a liar!
Putting aside the time discrepancy, just look at the girl's appearance.

As the patrol chief put down his pen, he quickly scanned the girl's entire body: there were indeed signs of a fall, but everything had been cleaned up.

In a dangerous place where evil spirits are chasing you, is there still time to stop and tidy yourself up?
Too fake!
"Excuse me, may I leave now?"

The timid girl before him was, in the eyes of the patrol chief, a malevolent spirit ready to strike at any moment! However—

Upon hearing the order coming through the earpiece, the patrol chief stood up and nodded.

"Can,"

"Do you need us to take you home?"

"No, I can walk back myself."

This is just a small town; it won't take long to walk home.

"Inspector, why—"

As soon as the girl, Higashi Takami, walked out of the police station, the patrol officer rushed to the chief's office and what he saw when he opened the door was:

A smart, poised, and mature policewoman, and a junior high school boy?
"Let me introduce you,"

Because the mature policewoman and the junior high school student were standing behind him, the police inspector, sitting at his desk, looked very reserved and began to speak.

"These two are experts from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's Extraordinary Countermeasures Department,"

The experts have arrived?!
The inspector instinctively breathed a sigh of relief, then immediately offered his suggestions in rapid succession.

"Gentlemen, please stop that man immediately."

"we know."

Fujiko raised her hand to interrupt the patrol chief's anxious words.

“The girl bears traces of a ‘possessed spirit’.”

Yes, this is the judgment made by Yu-kun, who was watching the interrogation footage in Tokyo.

?

"Don't be nervous, we'll handle it."

Fuji Seiko shifted her gaze from the computer on her desk to the short-haired girl who had already left the police station.

First, observe discreetly. If it harbors no ill will towards ordinary people, consider including it in the Extraordinary Studies department; if it is a malevolent spirit, or even one that drains life force and devours souls, then—

He raised an eyebrow.
Although her 'Uranium Light Wave Fist' is only effective against living beings, killing a few evil spirits is still a piece of cake.

'Hurry up, hurry up~~'

"What's wrong, Sister Yiyue?"

Urged to leave the police station by the voice in her head, Higashi Takami couldn't help but ask in confusion.

"Hu~~"

A long, drawn-out sigh escaped from the short-haired girl's mouth.

"too horrible!"

The voice was the same, but the tone had changed drastically.

"There are powerful figures in that police station!"

"Sister Yiyue, don't use my body so casually. What kind of powerful person is that?"

A curious voice came from the girl's mouth, as if one person was talking to themselves in two different tones: but in reality, it was two souls conversing.

"how could I know?"

"I just felt like the other person could kill me with a single finger."

"What, Xiaomei, are you planning to let them kill me?"

?

"How could it be?"

As she walked home, the girl shook her head.

"It was Sister Yiyue who saved me, and I haven't been able to help you fulfill your wish yet."

How could you do such an ungrateful thing?
Although two 'people' share one body
"I'm so hungry,"

Rubbing her stomach, Dong Xiaomei felt unusually hungry, because:
"You just fought a battle with your body, of course you'll be hungry."

"Huh? Even superhumans can do this?"

"Otherwise what?"

The girl talked to herself the whole way, completely unaware that newly installed surveillance cameras were quietly pointing at her from all over the streets and alleys.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The hill where the abandoned church is located.

"This is it,"

Fuji Seiko and the middle school boy arrived at a forest.

The marks on the ground clearly show that someone tripped and fell here not long ago.

"Straight man, let your brother see the scene."

"Yes, Commander Fujiwara."

Naoto Murakami nodded. Now that he had been noticed by the Metropolitan Police Department, he would naturally be officially hired and start working immediately!
Reading? What books are you reading!

You used to have to take a civil service exam with a bunch of other people after graduation, but now you can get a job directly, starting as a police inspector!
The starting point is the end point for ordinary people.

Of course, the young man would rather not accept the position his older brother had obtained in exchange.

"elder brother,"

"Yes, a fierce battle once took place here."

A boy with features that were seven-tenths similar to Naoto Murakami's emerged from his body, but was more mature.

Masato Murakami died at the hands of a raging evil spirit while protecting his younger brother.

Now, he has become an evil spirit—no, a guardian spirit.

Murakami flew around the grove of trees, looking here and there, and even stretched out his finger to trace patterns in some empty spaces.

"Fourteen evil spirits have been killed here, wait..."

As a spirit, Masato Murakami can see the traces of a spirit dissipating.

“There is another being you call a ‘new type of evil spirit,’ and the residual aura it possesses is no weaker than mine!”

Murakami Masato, who was already a spirit, frowned. If a being could kill this kind of 'new type of evil spirit,' it could naturally kill him as well: If he encountered it, how could he protect his younger brother?

"besides--"

Turning his head to look at the bushes beside him, humans naturally couldn't see anything, but Murakami Masato noticed a remaining trace.

"Are there any signs of something being swept?"

After all, he was just a junior high school student when he died, so it's unrealistic to expect him to become a famous detective on the spot.

However, this information alone is sufficient.

"It seems that Higashi Takami encountered another 'new type of evil spirit' here, and..."

Did they reach some kind of cooperative relationship?
Ugh, headache.

Fujisei couldn't help but rub her temples. Extraordinary beings were troublesome enough, but now even evil spirits were getting involved. Moreover, compared to the 'rare' number of extraordinary beings, the number of evil spirits was countless!

The sheer number of people who have died in this island nation over the past thousand years is chilling to even think about!

Moreover, there have been numerous cases indicating that people who die now have a certain chance of becoming evil spirits.

Guardian spirits, possession, and more.
Fuji Seiko felt that
Soon a new 'extraordinary power' will appear in the island nation.

(End of this chapter)