Conan: Chief of Rice Flower's Science Points

Chapter 238: Trouble?

The building behind Nadeshiko Girls' High School is called a "temple", but in fact, just like the Jizo statue on the roadside, it is just a shrine-sized building for worship, and it is not a real temple that people can enter.

Now all that can be seen are broken beams and rotten tiles, but among the construction waste, one can still make out a small stone statue in the shape of a fox...

creak-

Looking at the fallen fox statue on the ground, as if grinning at her, Ayako felt a little cold and fearfully grabbed the corner of Shiraishi's clothes.

"What a sin, this is...ah." The demon Hasko stepped forward at this time, looking "heartbroken".

When Bai Shi saw his performance, it was like seeing a fortune teller on the street saying, "I see that your forehead is black," "Alas, it's a pity that you are still so young"...

"Did you find anything?" Bai Shi looked at Hongzi questioningly.

It’s not that Bai Shi completely disbelieves that there are things like fox demons. After all, even “witches” exist.

only……

Bai Shi is now also a candidate for magic... magician!
Bai Shi thought to himself that if there really was any unusual aura, he should be able to sense it.

But since the time in the dance studio, Shiraishi hasn't made any supernatural discoveries. It feels like it's always been Hongzi and her housekeeper who are "playing tricks"!
Hongzi glanced at him and said in a voice transmission: [If you don’t understand, learn.]

Hongzi was also worried that this "candidate witch" was not professional, so he decided to give him personal guidance!
Although the choice was a bit strange, since Shiraishi had indeed taken the position of "candidate witch", Hongzi felt that it was her responsibility to teach him the skills of being a "witch".

Bai Shi still frowned when he heard this, but... he didn't rush to question it. Instead, he was ready to see what Hongzi was going to do.

At the same time, Shiraishi himself checked the scene - not the metaphysical "observation of qi", but the criminal investigation "inspection"... and he actually made a discovery!

"Hmm?" Bai Shi suddenly picked up a rotten bamboo tube from a pile of "junk".

Just as Bai Shi showed a thoughtful look, Ayako reminded him in a low voice: "Xiao Hei, you better not move, okay?"

Ayako was a little worried, wondering if she was cursed or something - she didn't really believe in these things, but she wasn't a staunch materialist either. Hongzi's behavior just now made her begin to believe that "there was something" here.

However, Shiraishi turned to ask, "Hinata-san, there are students who heard the 'call of a fox' at night. Where did they hear it? Can you take us to see students who have similar stories?"

Originally, Bai Shi didn't care about the "fox cry" or something like that. After all, it might just be the sound of the wind, or he might have heard it wrong... There were too many possibilities. Compared to the real "collective coma", the "fox cry" or something like that was not worth paying attention to at all.

But now, Bai Shi suddenly had a new guess.

"Well... Actually, I heard it too. It was over there... at the gym." Hinata was obviously a little scared at this time.

"What exactly is it like?" Bai Shi asked.

"Eh? Specifically?" Hinata was stunned when she heard that, then she pouted her lips a little embarrassedly and imitated: "Wu...wu...that's it."

Hinata didn't understand why Officer Shiraishi asked this... How else could a fox cry?
"So that's how it is... Has anyone heard this sound?" Bai Shi continued to ask.

"Well...there are a few other classmates. If you're concerned about them, Officer Shiraishi, I can ask them to come over this afternoon. By the way, Ichika has heard about it too." Although Hinata didn't know why Shiraishi asked this, she still answered honestly.

At this moment, Bai Shi suddenly turned his head and looked in the direction of the dance studio...

Although the distance was not close, Bai Shi still saw a fleeting figure from behind the window - someone was looking in this direction just now, so it also alerted Bai Shi's intuition!

"What's wrong?" Ayako was startled when she saw Shiraishi suddenly move.

"There was someone in the dance studio just now... probably looking at us." Shiraishi said, then looked at Hinata and asked, "Hinata-san, among your teachers, there is a middle-aged man with a nerdy hairstyle, wearing a white coat and glasses, right?"

"Eh? This..." Hinata looked a little confused, and then said distressedly: "There are still many male teachers like this..."

Hearing this, Bai Shi took out the tablet in his arms and drew something...

Although it was just a single-line sketch, it must be said that Shiraishi completely grasped the essence of the other person's temperament in just one glance, and drew it perfectly at this time.

"You look so gloomy... sorry!" Ayako couldn't help but make a comment at first, but then she felt that it was not a good idea to judge people by their appearance.

But it is true that Bai Shi's portrait has already reflected his temperament. He is a middle-aged man who looks gloomy, depressed, and a bit of a loser. He wears glasses and a white coat...

"This should be... Mr. Yamasugi who teaches biology." Hinata recognized him now.

"Biology? Is he a teacher from the Biology Society?" Shiraishi noticed the key word "biology" - the one who demolished the small temple was also the "Biology Society"!
"That's right." Hinata nodded.

"I see..." Shiraishi pondered for a moment, then continued, "You guys have a lunch break at one o'clock, right? You go find Chairman Kuzunoha first, and ask the students to gather at the gymnasium. We will... announce the preliminary results of the investigation."

After Shiraishi finished speaking, he looked at Hongzi, who nodded slightly upon seeing this.

"Eh? Officer Shiraishi, Witch... Your Majesty, have you found the reason?" Hinata asked in surprise.

Ayako also looked at Shiraishi in surprise and couldn't help asking, "Could it be... is it really because..." As she spoke, she looked towards the ruins of the small temple again, only to see the stone fox statue that seemed to be looking at her. She was so scared that she quickly looked away.

"Although it's not the root cause, but... I'd like to announce it first so that everyone knows." Shiraishi said as a matter of course.

"Okay, then I'll go find the chairman." Hinata said immediately.

"Well, see you in the auditorium later."

Shiraishi and Hinata finished their conversation and contacted Gina via text message instead.

After Gina arrived at the school, she mingled with the students during breaks or in various multi-class open classes, asking about the latest "strange things". Before noon, she quietly came to the "Room of Witches and Trolls".

"Did you know? These celebrity students are actually super gossipy... The news that you, Shiraishi, and... the witches or something, came to the school to investigate has spread among the students. They even call this place the [Room of Witches and Trolls], hahaha..." After Gina came in, she first mocked Shiraishi.

Gina still doesn’t know whether the witch is a real witch, but the “troll” is obviously not a real troll, but refers to Shiraishi!
Shiraishi rolled his eyes when he heard this, but he had known for a long time that girls from famous families were also gossipy - it was from Ayako that he learned about Kanzaki Hitomi's gossip in her early years.

"Isn't this all you've found out?" Bai Shi deliberately provoked him.

"Of course not! I found out. It's super exclusive information that you definitely don't know, and it's very important!" Gina retorted immediately.

Shiraishi had previously rejected Gina's request to be an "informant", but it can be seen that Gina is still very interested in similar behaviors, and she even seemed a little excited at this time.

"Important information that you definitely don't know?" Bai Shi's expression changed slightly when he heard that.

"That's right. Actually, this school...in addition to the 'collective coma' and 'strange noises' that you are investigating, there is another strange thing. Many students have discussed it before, but the school has recently forbidden them to mention it again..." Gina kept it a secret at this time.

Seeing this, Bai Shi coaxed him politely, "You found out all this? You are worthy of being Gina!"

"Of course!" Gina was praised and didn't continue to keep the secret: "On the third day after the school started, a handsome teacher who was very popular among the students suddenly stopped teaching and resigned... It seemed like that, but in fact, some people heard that Mr. Chi Shen was actually missing!"

"Missing?" Bai Shi frowned when he heard that.

"Well, although the school said he resigned, not only did it happen suddenly and he missed a day of classes, but he was replaced the next day. It is also said that the lockers in the teachers' office were pried open. Some people also saw Mr. Chi Shen's family members coming to the school, but they were persuaded to leave." Gina told the news she had heard.

Although it sounds like just a "rumor", for Shiraishi, it is very easy to confirm its authenticity. He can just ask the agency to check the missing person report - even if it did not happen in Beika Town, the missing person report is connected to the national network!

Shiraishi soon confirmed that a young man named "Ikegami Haruki" was indeed missing in Bunkyo Ward. There was a record of his family's report in the police system, but the school controlled the impact and there were only "rumors" among the students.

"By the way, there's the fox cry you asked me to investigate... The first people who heard it were indeed Ichika and her friends, but... the abnormality about Ichika that I mentioned before was discovered during the New Year, which was not the same time as the strange things at school started. There might be other reasons." Gina added at this time.

Shiraishi Ichika is already eighteen years old. She is not usually in the orphanage, but only goes back occasionally as a volunteer, so Gina has only seen Ichika a few times.

"How is it? Do you have any clue about the mass coma?" Ayako asked worriedly.

After seeing the demolished temple just now, Ayako became a little suspicious. There were "fox calls", "missing teachers", and even "collective coma"... For a moment, she became "idealistic".

"Well, after seeing that temple... and the information Gina found out, I think I can guess the general reason." Shiraishi glanced at Hongzi at this time.

"Hehe, as a mature witch, you could have guessed most of it before coming here just by looking at the old map. You should have been sure when you saw the Tianjing Temple being demolished." Hongzi was educating Bai Shi in a suppressive manner.

but……

Ayako, Gina: ???

"As... a witch?" Gina looked at this "witch" strangely - why did it make it sound like Shiraishi was also a witch?
Upon hearing this, Bai Shi awkwardly changed the subject: "After that, during lunch break, you will explain the preliminary investigation results to the students!"

"Oh, okay, but what happens next is your business." Hongzi said as a matter of course.

Hearing that "Hongzi will explain the results of the investigation", Ayako felt that this "result" might not be very "scientific", but...

From what Hongzi said, the investigation will continue, and Shiraishi's investigation will be the main focus afterwards?
For a moment, Ayako didn't fully understand what she and Shiraishi were planning.

……

One o'clock in the afternoon, Fuzi Girls High School Gymnasium.

The students who were taking a lunch break had already gathered here and lined up, with many faculty members standing on both sides...

Among them, Shiraishi saw Ichika Shiraishi, Gina who was mixed in the back row, and the "Teacher Yamasugi" among the faculty and staff. The latter was also paying attention to Shiraishi who was next to the podium.

Chairman Kuzunoha stepped forward to speak first. In order to calm people's hearts, he took the initiative to bring up recent events, and then... "But don't worry, everyone. As you can see, the school has invited the experienced Officer Shiraishi, and... Ms. Koizumi, a special investigator of supernatural events. They have also discovered the cause of the incident. Now, please allow Ms. Koizumi to explain." Kuzunoha did not dare to say the word "witch" directly.

only……

There really are some well-informed gossipers among the students!

"Eh? Didn't you say 'witch'?"

"Yes, it's the witch, right? Then there are summoned beasts..."

"Pfft, keep your voice down..."

……

Shiraishi:……

I really hope these future socialites can learn more manners!
"I have investigated the school before and found that the fox demon temple in the backyard has been demolished, and this... is the main reason for the recent frequent strange things. This situation is actually very common and is called [Fox Demon Mischief]!" Hongzi said with certainty after taking the stage.

wow——

These high school girls, although they usually gossip and may even watch some supernatural things, but... where have they seen this?
They actually announced openly that there is a "fox demon" in the school?
For a moment, the students in the audience were in an uproar!
Chairman Kuzunoha looked at Hongzi in surprise when she saw this. She had thought that Hongzi would be more tactful...

"Quiet, quiet!" Vice Principal Samejima quickly stopped the students from making noise.

But then Samejima was the first to look at Hongzi with doubt and asked unhappily, "Ms. Koizumi! I don't care what your profession is, but... you should have some basis for what you say, right? Just because the temple behind the school was demolished? What do you mean by 'common'? How come I have never heard of such a 'common' thing!"

"First of all, fox demons are not something to be surprised about. This matter is also recorded in the Konjaku Monogatarishu in the late Heian period and in Fujiwara no Sanesuke's Koyouki... It can be seen that this is not superstition, but something that has happened many times in reality. It's just that it is rare for the impact to be so wide and so obvious." Hongzi said as a matter of course.

Upon hearing this, Bai Shi looked at her twice more - You have quite a variety of knowledge!

This is not the knowledge in the "Red Magic Heritage"...

Jiaodao was choked at this moment - although you quoted classics, it is still completely unconvincing! How can it be "visible"? What can be seen? Isn't it just a legend from a thousand years ago!

"Secondly, that is not some small temple. There used to be an ancient well there. That temple was used to worship the god of the 'well'... As we all know, in ancient times, filling wells was a very important project that required sacrifices. This is because gods often lived under the wells.

“Blocking the well without authorization is disrespectful to the gods, so people will build temples and offer sacrifices to prevent the gods from getting angry and continue to protect everyone. The well temple in the school is dedicated to the fox fairy.

“But now, the fox fairy’s temple has been destroyed, and He has awakened and turned into a fox demon… Of course, I can appease the fox demon and ask him to leave.

"However, for the angry fox demon, human sins and negative emotions are the best nourishment. If you want to escape the influence of the [fox demon], during this period, you must confess all your sins and cleanse your heart to eliminate the ominousness...

"For this purpose, I will place a box of atonement outside the [Witch and Troll Room]. You can do it anonymously. Afterwards, you must write your confession on a piece of paper and throw it in the box. That's all."

Hongzi spoke confidently in public...

He didn't feel at all that what he said was outrageous.

And Shiraishi also discovered at this time...

From his own perspective, Hongzi's pupils were faintly glowing red, and her long hair was even more obviously red, which was a sign of "casting a spell"!

It wasn't some powerful or obvious magic, just a "panic spell" - the effect was to amplify the fear in people's hearts.

Normally, Hongzi's pupils and hair color are slightly red, which becomes more obvious when casting spells.

However, due to the long-term "confusing spell", people will not "notice anything strange", and the same is true for the demon butler Hasco's pointed ears...

Shiraishi noticed it when he first saw it because his [perception] was different from that of ordinary people and he was not affected by the "Confusion Spell".

Because of the easy backlash of "magic", only low-level, subtle "magic" that can be concealed by the "confusion spell" can be used on ordinary people on a large scale - they will not realize that they are affected by magic.

The previous "strange things" had already made the students panic. Now, under Hongzi's catalysis, Shiraishi clearly felt that the students became even more scared!

"Fox demon...are there really fox demons? So scary..."

"I'm sorry! I was the one who released the spider earlier!"

"The Biology Society...it's all the Biology Society's fault for demolishing the temple!"

"That guy, Yamasugi Mikio, is really up to no good... So disgusting... It seems he even peeped into the locker room before!"

"Someone saw him go to a maid cafe before!"

"Disgusting……"

"There's always a weird smell on my body, it feels stinky!"

"Don't be afraid! Isn't there another giant monster here?"

"Yes, that's right. I think he should be better at fighting than the fox demon..."

……

The students started talking a lot at this time, and the school leaders tried their best to appease them, but Bai Shi said nothing.

at this time……

Woo——woo——

Among the faculty and staff, biology teacher Mikio Yamasugi suddenly stumbled out, then held his throat, and imitated the howl of a fox while looking like he was having difficulty breathing...

Seeing that he looked like he was possessed by a fox demon, the students around him screamed and made way for him, and the faculty and staff nearby did not dare to step forward for a moment.

Shiraishi Ichika, who was originally standing near him, took two steps back in fear while being worried. Then she bumped into the "wall". She turned her head and saw that it was Shiraishi Kuro. He patted her shoulder and walked forward against the flow of people.

"Hei-ge..." Ichika called him softly.

Although the two are not very familiar with each other due to the age gap, but... in fact, to all the children in the orphanage, Shiraishi Kuro is like a "big brother".

Before the age of eighteen, Shiraishi Kuro was the "big brother" who could protect everyone with his fists. After the age of eighteen, Shiraishi Kuro was the "big brother" who could use his brain and serve as a role model for everyone.

Shiraishi walked up to Yamasugi Kan'o, who looked like he was having a seizure, and said in a very generous manner, "Everyone, move aside. I will exorcise the demon."

Everyone around quickly made way. Regardless of whether it was an exorcism or not, Bai Shi standing here made people feel reliable!
Ahhhh…Gurgle…

Yamasugi Kan'o still had uncoordinated hands and feet, and was screaming like a zombie.

but……

"The evil spirits are gone!"

Bai Shi retracted his right palm to his waist to gather strength, with his palm facing Shanshan and his five fingers curled inward. The next moment, he suddenly pushed out towards his face!

Library

With a gust of wind, Bai Shi's palm was pushed directly to a position one centimeter in front of Shan Shan's face...

Although he didn't get hit directly, if you use a high-speed camera, you can see that the strong wind still deformed his face, and...

bang-

The mountain cedar fell down with a loud noise!
why?
Nonsense... A huge amount of wind pressure rushes in through the mouth and nose, and anyone who is poured in will fall down!
"Ah! Did it succeed?"

"As expected of a rice flower redhead! It is said that he once knocked out a blue whale in the ocean!"

"I heard that it scared away a group of great white sharks?"

"Wait, just now...was that an exorcism?"

"It seems... a very physical kind of exorcism."

"No, no, no, you didn't hit him, did you? If you did, your face would be covered in blood, right?"

……

Hongzi looked at the fainted Shanshan with a little helplessness at this time, and then said: "Well, the exorcism is completed, take him to rest."

The students were talking about this at this time, and after Hongzi spoke, several other teachers picked up Shanshan and prepared to send him to the infirmary to rest first.

Hongzi felt that Shiraishi's approach was too "rough", but he had indeed grasped the essence of "exorcism" - using "magic" in places where no one noticed, and pretending to be using "magic" in places where everyone could notice...

What happened just now was not "magic" at all. Even if it was used in public, or even mistaken for some special ability, there would be no backlash!

The “preliminary notice” came to an end here, but the students’ anxiety was obviously more serious and spread. In the afternoon, there was a constant stream of people coming to the confession box. Everyone bowed their heads and left without saying hello to each other. Even if they spoke, they would say they were “just passing by”. However, the box was soon full...

(End of this chapter)