Tokyo, but I'm a deceitful scumbag.

Before Xiaoze could react, the young man darted closer and delivered a swift chop to his neck, helping him drift off to sleep.

"That's all for now, son. Dad will cover for you at work today, so you should get some rest."

The young man, or rather, Hideyuki Hoshino, took Ozawa's wallet and car keys from him, then carried his body into a nearby electrical substation.

Then he picked up a large travel bag from the ground, got into Ozawa's car, and drove towards the Abe Department Store.

Midway through, he caught a glimpse of a somewhat familiar blonde woman with twin ponytails on the roadside out of the corner of his eye.

Who is coming?

Can't remember.

Let's call Ijichi first and tell her to leave.

five minutes ago.

Asuka Tendo reluctantly answered Maki Aoyama's call.

"Maki-neechan, please help me ask for leave..."

On the other end of the phone, Aoyama Maki replied, "It's possible, but Asuka, you've already skipped two ethics meetings. If this continues, you'll be heavily criticized."

"I didn't want to either, but this meeting was so boring..."

"No, for example, the theme of this meeting is to discuss how to reduce economic losses when carrying out missions. The counterexample given is that someone smashed down three walls of a hospital during an exorcism and accidentally broke the hospital director's leg... Doesn't that sound interesting?"

ha?

Isn't this talking about me?

Maki-nee, are you laughing at me? You're laughing at me, aren't you?

Then I'll definitely skip this!

Moreover, it was clearly the director's fault. It was because he was greedy for money and murdered people, and because he neglected patients' conditions for the sake of his reputation and factional struggles, that the hospital accumulated so many vengeful spirits...

Fine, I'll come clean. I hit his leg on purpose!

It wasn't an accident!

Suddenly, Asuka Tendo noticed a car driving by on the road.

Although very faint...

But I did sense a trace of demonic energy, most likely from a minor demon with little ability.

It's like someone brings you a pillow when you're sleepy!

"No need to say anything more, Maki-nee. I'm definitely not going to the meeting, and I have a valid reason!"

"Ok?"

"I've just discovered a terrifying monster hiding in the city. It's an emergency, and we need to deal with it right now. I'm counting on you for leave!"

"Hey, are you serious? If you're going to do this, it'd be best if two people went together..."

Before Aoyama Maki could finish speaking, Tendo Asuka hung up the phone.

I'm skipping the party openly and honestly!

She quickly flagged down a taxi on the side of the road and caught up with her target.

Before long, she arrived at the entrance of the Abe Department Store.

"Hiding in such a lively place? This is a bit troublesome."

The girl curled her lip, walked into the lobby, glanced at the advertisements on the nearby wall, and suddenly felt some strange words trying to creep into her mind...

No, it's an illusion! And a very powerful one at that!

This couldn't have been done by a newly born little monster!

Realizing her miscalculation, Asuka Tendo quickly recited a spell to briefly clear her mind.

She then decisively took out her phone and walked out the door, intending to call for help.

Unfortunately, she's really bad at mental magic.

Whoosh!

At that moment, a hand reached out from the side and took her phone.

“Who…ah!”

Before Asuka could react, she received a chop to the head. She blinked and was surprised to realize that she had already walked out of the shopping mall and was standing on the side of the road outside.

If we hadn't stopped just now...

The next step is to step onto the busy road, get up close and personal with dump trucks, and travel to another world!

"Could it be that I didn't break free from the illusion at all, but remained trapped in it all along?"

"Not completely stupid."

Hoshino Hideyuki casually swiped the stolen phone with his right hand and replied irritably.

At the same time, he hid his left hand, which he had just used to hit someone, behind his back to avoid being seen shaking uncontrollably.

Girl, your head is so hard!

If you really hit a dump truck, you'll most likely be fine, but the driver will be sent to another world—what a twist of fate!

"What amazing illusion magic... Oh, and thank you for earlier!"

Asuka Tendo realized that Hideyuki Hoshino had saved her life, and bowed slightly, but immediately looked up with a straight face and asked:

"Who are you? Are you aware of the situation here? According to Article 31 of the 'Regulations on the Management of Supernatural Existences,' you have an obligation..."

Before the girl could finish speaking, Hoshino Hideyuki countered with a question:

"You're new to the countermeasures office, right?"

"Huh? I haven't even said anything yet, how did you know...?"

Because only they like to change management regulations.

Even if they weren't so heartless as to let someone under the age of sixteen work, it would be easy to tell from your age that you've just joined.

Hideyuki Hoshino pursed his lips.

The Countermeasures Office, also known as the Supernatural Disaster Countermeasures Office, is a secret department in Japan responsible for managing things such as monsters, ghosts, or superpowered individuals.

Having experienced it before, Hoshino Hideyuki had some understanding of this organization.

He just didn't expect that the blonde twin-tailed girl who had previously fought him for dessert was from the Countermeasures Office.

Even more unexpectedly, this guy broke into the Abe Department Store and immediately tried to break the illusion, which triggered the barrier's automatic counterattack.

Is it a coincidence?

Wait, maybe I brought this upon myself?

Hoshino Hideyuki recalled the large bag of things that had been brought over. Although he had taken precautions, it was still possible that a tiny bit of his aura would leak out.

I was careless. I thought no one would notice me driving by quickly, but I didn't expect this guy to be so perceptive.

That's it.

Since we're already here, we can't just leave it unattended.

If we let her wander around recklessly, prematurely alerting Kayaba Nobuyuki, or even summoning a large number of reinforcements from the countermeasures office to disrupt things, that would be terrible.

However, on the other hand, if guided properly, she could be somewhat useful...

"Um, I am indeed from the Countermeasures Office..."

"Eight duck pieces!"

Hoshino Hideyuki interrupted the girl, turning the egg coupon in his arms into a fake ID and flashing it in front of her, then put on a fierce expression and said:

"Should we inform the senior?"

"You almost caused a huge disaster, you know that?!"

Chapter 13 The fox loves to fool one person at a time.

Senior?

Did I... cause a huge disaster?

Asuka Tendo was a little confused.

Could it be that the person in front of me is really a colleague from the countermeasures office?

The document seems genuine, but I didn't see it clearly just now. I should take another closer look...

But before the girl could even speak, Hoshino Hideyuki's words came crashing down on her.

"Did you know that this building is the lair of a monster called Void Death?"

"It set up many traps here, and it took my companions and me a lot of effort to break through."

"And your reckless intrusion just now almost ruined everything... Sigh!"

Hoshino Hideyuki spoke with such sincerity that it was difficult for Tendo Asuka to doubt him for a moment.

Having initially grasped the atmosphere, he relentlessly pursued the matter, digging up graves, exhuming bones, and scattering ashes.

In this situation, you absolutely cannot give the other party any extra time to think.

"And also, why did you act alone? Where are your companions?"

"As is customary, the countermeasures office always operates in pairs when going on missions!"

"Are you saying that you abandoned your companions and went out to cause trouble all by yourself without investigation, orders, or reporting?"

Seeing that Asuka Tendo's face was growing paler, Hideyuki Hoshino knew that he had inadvertently hit a nerve, and his tone became increasingly harsh.

"Are all new employees these days so careless? What do they think of the bonds between colleagues and routine work procedures?!"

"sorry!"

Asuka Tendo bowed to Hideyuki Hoshino once again.

At this point, she had no time to doubt Hoshino Hideyuki's identity; her heart was filled with guilt for her actions just now.