Tokyo, but I'm a deceitful scumbag.

Kasuga Kaito approached silently and knocked on the car window.

"Mr. Kiyono, may I speak with you privately?"

Chapter 39? I, the fox, am being haunted by a vengeful spirit?

Hoshino Hideyuki told the wrestlers to continue packing, while he followed Kasuga Kaito into an empty private room.

"So, Kasuga-san, what exactly do you want to talk to me about?"

Kaito Kasuga sat on the sofa opposite him, talking animatedly:

"Mr. Kiyono, it's like this, I've recently hit a bottleneck in my career as a male escort, and I haven't been able to truly become famous..."

What, isn't the reputation brought by the deaths of three people enough?

The little fox inwardly spat.

"...and the short drama you filmed inspired me, so I was wondering if I could continue to work with you after this filming?"

Hideyuki Hoshino stroked his chin and asked, "You want to be my long-term actor?"

"Not just an ordinary actor, but the male lead, and the script should preferably not have too many spoof elements, such as casting a man to play the female lead... You know, as a male escort, I need to maintain my image."

Kaito Kasuga's tone was very polite.

But the content of these words is a bit like pole vaulting in a latrine—too much of a mess.

Who do you think you are, making so many demands? You have absolutely no respect for the creative freedom of us wild animals!

Hoshino Hideyuki narrowed his eyes and said, "I don't plan to continue making stories about male hosts in my next drama, nor will I cast male hosts as the main characters again."

"I'm willing to cover the filming costs..."

"It's not about the money. You should have gotten to know me by now. I don't care about that."

Hideyuki Hoshino refused outright and carefully observed Kaito Kasuga's reaction.

Yes, I'm sorry.

The latter paused, but the confidence in his eyes didn't diminish at all, and immediately continued:

“Mr. Kiyono, I admit that my request is entirely out of personal motives, but please believe me, cooperating with me will bring you benefits beyond money.”

"for example?"

"For example... it can guarantee your personal safety."

At this point, Kaito Kasuga suddenly lowered his voice and said, "To be honest, I am actually an exorcist."

fox:?

"Chef what?"

"Exorcist".

"What snack?"

"I... I mean, I was born with psychic eyes, I can see ghosts and exorcise evil spirits!"

Kasuga Kaito took a deep breath, suppressing his impatience, and said:

"Mr. Kiyono, if I'm not mistaken, your forehead is dark, you've been possessed by evil spirits!"

what……

What kind of demon?

Is she an adorable little fox spirit?

That was a very good speech, it made my tail spin.

In an instant, Hoshino Hideyuki became alert.

He didn't think that Kasuga Kaito, as a successful male escort, would be a fool spouting nonsense; rich women weren't so easily fooled.

At the same time, the words spoken by the vengeful spirit idol in the performance hall replayed in his mind. His intuition told him that the strange guy the vengeful spirit had seen was most likely Kasuga Kaito!

So did he really see something?

Did I fail to conceal my demonic aura properly before leaving home today? No, the Seventy-Two Transformations can't be seen through so easily; not everyone is Senjougahara Ryoko...

Hoshino Hideyuki wasn't sure what Kasuga Kaito meant, so he pretended to frown and asked, "Demon? What demon?"

Kasuga Kaito confidently declared, "It's a vengeful spirit formed from the accumulated resentment of a woman after her death!"

It's alright, it's not that I didn't hide my demonic aura well.

After a moment's thought, Hoshino Hideyuki decided to play dumb for now and remain unchanged in the face of any eventuality.

"Haruhi-san, stop joking around."

The fox demon declared emphatically, "How could ghosts and monsters exist in this world? That's just the wild imagination of the ancients. You have to believe in science!"

Kasuga Kaito sighed, "I know Mr. Kiyono doesn't believe me now, but that's alright."

"However, it is also true that you are really entangled with her."

"Please be careful lately. If you notice anything unusual, please contact me immediately. I'm happy to offer any assistance I can."

"If you feel my help was worthwhile afterwards, please reconsider the script and the lead actor..."

"That's all, sorry to bother you..."

After exchanging pleasantries, the two left the room.

Hoshino Hideyuki pretended to be offended and, somewhat displeased, drove away in silence.

On the way, he repeatedly pondered Kasuga Kaito's performance.

First, we must assume that the guy is truly skilled, even if he couldn't see anything when observing him face-to-face—that might simply be because he lacks reconnaissance skills.

Secondly, we must assume that the guy wasn't just spouting nonsense. If he wanted the guy's help, he would have to make his words come true.

However, Hideyuki Hoshino was certain that he was not possessed by a vengeful spirit.

So, if Kaito Kasuga wants his words to come true, he can only...

Just then, out of the corner of his eye, Hoshino Hideyuki saw a dark figure sitting between two strongmen in the rearview mirror. The figure had long, loose hair and only one blood-red eye visible on its face. The figure was staring back at him through the mirror!

Oh my god, it's a super cliché jump scare!

He suddenly slowed down and pulled over to the side of the road, looking back, but saw nothing.

Illusion?

Just kidding, even a fox spirit's dream is considered a prophecy, there's no such thing as an illusion!

Hoshino Hideyuki calmed himself down and carefully sensed his surroundings. Finally, he detected his target under the car.

Ok……

What a vengeful spirit.

He was still sprawled out with his arms and legs spread wide, clinging to the bottom of the car with a blank expression.

Judging from its appearance...

She appears to be one of the three women who committed suicide, Hashimoto Misa's older sister, Hashimoto Haruna!

Now it's confirmed, this matter is definitely related to Kaito Kasuga.

Kaito Kasuga is not innocent, nor is he an ordinary host; he possesses extraordinary power, just like Nobuyuki Kayaba!

After a moment's thought, Hideyuki Hoshino continued driving.

We have too little information right now, and we don't know if this vengeful spirit shares vision and hearing with Kaito Kasuga, or if we should continue to pretend to be ordinary people.

However, we can do some experiments first...

"Was I seeing things, or was there really something dirty...?"

In the car, Hideyuki Hoshino pretended to chat with Rikishi in the passenger seat.

Under his control, the strongman replied, "Boss, there's a temple nearby that's quite efficacious. Why don't you go and buy a talisman? It'll give you peace of mind."

"Ha, you're right."

Hideyuki Hoshino turned the steering wheel and drove onto another road.

Soon, he arrived at a temple called "Zojoji".

The full name of this place is Sangenzan Kōdōin Zōjō-ji. Although it is not as famous as Senso-ji Temple, it is still quite historical. It is one of the mausoleums of the Tokugawa family and belongs to the Japanese Jodo sect. This sect has a relative called Jodo Shinshu, and they were the ones who started the Ikkō-ikki during the Sengoku period.

Hoshino Hideyuki had been here before and confirmed that the monks here were basically ordinary people.

There was indeed a power residing within the Buddha statue, but that power was weak and passive, and it didn't really resist the fox's approach.

To be honest, Hideyuki Hoshino was quite puzzled by this.

If monsters and Onmyoji exist in this world, then gods should also exist, but despite having so many temples and shrines in Japan, he has never seen a single god or miracle.

Could it be that all the gods are socially awkward and can't stand strangers gathering to pray to them, so they all hide from people?

I can't figure it out.

However, there's no rush to answer this question now.

At the temple gate, Hoshino Hideyuki stopped the car and led Rikishi across the vermilion-painted gate of Zojoji Temple.

I glanced back quietly.

The vengeful spirit remained outside the door and did not follow.

Was it sensing the power within the Buddha statue, or did the person behind it issue the order after seeing the temple?

Anyway, the first step went relatively smoothly...

Chapter 40 I'm not kidding you, I, the fox, truly believe in science!

Since Miss Wraith didn't follow, the fox is now free to move around.

He first recalled two warriors to conserve his demonic power, then transformed the last warrior into his own likeness and had him pretend to go back to the car to retrieve his phone.

As soon as the strongman stepped out of the door, the vengeful spirit immediately followed.