Why can't humans do it too?

Chapter Twenty-Six: They Came to the Door

"This is it."

He was already quite adept at lifting the manhole cover and throwing it onto the grass beside him. Sur was both amused and exasperated to find that a wooden sign had been erected next to the ancient well, with the words "Monsters Not Allowed" written on it. In the lower left corner of the sign was a ghost face that seemed to be deliberately drawn to look fierce, but in reality, it just looked cute.

If this wasn't the sign that Kagome Higurashi erected, then Sull would have eaten his slippers.

With a cold snort, Suer didn't throw away the sign. Instead, he took out a pen, crossed out the words "monster" on it, and wrote "Kagome" on top of it.

That's much better.

Xin Ke had been checking the changes that had occurred since they left this place between the sacred tree and the well, and now she saw Su Er's childish behavior and couldn't help but roll her eyes.

“It was just a joke,” Sull chuckled awkwardly, then said to Jibril, “Anyway, we returned to the past from this well, and isn’t the power of that galaxy now used to maintain your existence? Your current power also comes from it, so if there really is a secret hidden here, then probably only you can discover it.”

“That’s right, so even if it’s very difficult and challenging for you, Little Lucky Meow, you really need to use your brain more this time, okay?” Xin Ke affirmed… even though her affirmation wasn’t very friendly.

Okay, she was just being sarcastic on purpose.

After that date, Shinco changed her nickname for Jibril to the slightly cute "Little Jibril." Jibril thought that being called that by Azriel was annoying enough, but she never expected that the same three words could be even more disgusting and annoying.

“No problem~, Grandma Xinke~” Jibril said with a sneer, “You’re getting old, you really should rest. Leave these mental tasks to young people like me and Sue~”

"Who are you calling older?!"

"Who are you calling brainless?!"

They glared at each other angrily; if Sur hadn't been there, they probably would have headbutted each other.

"Cough cough cough! Calm down, calm down," Sue interrupted the two's friendly daily routine. "Anyway, Jibril, if you feel bored in modern society, then come and study this well and the power that supports your existence. Even if you can't go back to prehistoric times, going back a few hundred years in the past would be fine."

"Didn't you ask Nurarihyon? He's quite certain that we appeared in his younger days."

“I understand, leave it to me,” Jibril nodded, a hopeful smile on her face. “A world where monsters and humans roam freely?”

"That sounds much more interesting than things in this day and age!"

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If Xinke belongs to the technology faction, then Jibril belongs to the physical faction.

If Shinko is like Iron Man, then Jibril is like Spider-Man.

I solemnly declare that the above metaphors are all from Xinke, and I absolutely did not mean to ask Jibril to call me godmother.

It is precisely because these two people hold different views that Jibril prefers a free and unrestrained atmosphere to the technological society that allows Xinke to obtain endless inspiration and alternative theoretical knowledge. For example, there is an era in which outcasts no longer hide under humans, but openly appear in the world and divide and rule with humans.

Indeed, based on Sue's description, she had imagined what a world occupied only by humans would be like. Although it differed slightly from the world the two of them had imagined, where monkeys crawled all over the place, Jibril was indeed tired of the current era where even free and open flight was not allowed... There was nothing she could do; that was just her personality.

There are just too many humans—why are there only humans?!

Not only Jibril, but Sue knew that even Shinko had had the same thought.

He entrusted the matter to Jibril and stopped interfering. This was a way to give Jibril something to do instead of staying at home playing games all day. Leaving aside the electricity bill, Suer was a little worried that the Skywing race might become useless if they stayed at home all day.

He waited for the vampire hunters to come for a long time, but they never showed up. It was as if they had forgotten that there was a vampire here. Suer couldn't help but wonder if these guys had abandoned their mission and run away.

The wind chimes at the door started ringing again.

"Welcome, sir. What would you like to order?" Su Er gave a standard business smile, but when he saw who it was, he unexpectedly raised his eyebrows.

He knew Araragi Koyomi, he knew Hanekawa Tsubasa, but he didn't recognize the blond guy walking in front. However, judging from their current movements, they were together.

Wait a minute—yellow-haired guy?

Sue suddenly remembered the appearance described by a vampire, the guy who silently took her heart... In this era of dyed hair, blond hair is not uncommon, but it is very strange for blond hair to appear with Araragi Koyomi.

Also, why did Hanekawa Tsubasa appear along?

"Wow, what a super handsome guy!"

Having noticed that Suer was observing him, the blond-haired man showed no embarrassment or stage fright. Instead, he casually raised his hand, waved, and began to praise him.

"You look so energetic! Did something good happen?"

He looked like he was having a casual chat with a familiar friend.

Ignoring him for the time being, after nodding to Hanekawa Tsubasa as a greeting, Suer's gaze fell on Araragi Koyomi, questioning him with his eyes.

"Excuse me, Mr. Sue," the black-haired high school boy said with a wry smile, "Can I talk to you now?"

Araragi Koyomi was also troubled by the fact that the vampire hunters were taking so long to attack. If it weren't for the fact that it was spring break, he probably wouldn't have been able to explain to his parents and the school why he couldn't go to school. But spring break is just a holiday, and holidays always come to an end.

Even Araragi Koyomi himself found it amusing. Not being attacked should have been a lucky thing, but he was actually hoping that those guys would launch an attack soon and then completely resolve the matter.

"Let's take your order first. What would you like, ladies?"

"...Four cups of Da Ke and one bucket of chicken wings, thank you."

"Okay, please have a seat over there."

Suer seized the opportunity to boost its performance.

Chapter 27 Hanekawa Tsubasa makes a secret visit

Araragi Koyomi paid the bill.

It wasn't a particularly busy time of year, so after telling Sadao Maou that a friend was coming to visit, Sue was given a short break and sat in a corner of the shop with Araragi Koyomi.

"What's going on with Hanekawa?" Su Er asked directly after sitting down, confused as to why this literary girl he remembered would come to see him with Araragi Koyomi.

She's just an ordinary person with no special powers, so how did Araragi Koyomi get involved?

"Please don't blame Araragi-kun, I found him myself," Hanekawa Tsubasa said, adjusting her glasses before Araragi could explain, then paused for a moment, "...a yokai?"

She looked at Suer, her eyes full of curiosity.

"Or is it just weird?"

Following Hanekawa Tsubasa's words, it was the blond-haired guy who spoke. He acted like he knew the place well and started probing into Suer's background without any hesitation.

Slightly narrowing his eyes, Su Er seemed not to have heard the blond man's words, and turned to Hanekawa Tsubasa to continue asking, "Did you encounter them while investigating me? Or did you discover Araragi Koyomi's anomaly?"

"...Higurashi Shrine," Hanekawa Tsubasa said with a sly smile after hearing Suer's question, uttering the four words in a low voice.

Without much explanation, Sull understood in an instant who had leaked the information—Kagome Higurashi.

"That guy is far too careless," Su Er sighed and said.

She always seemed so wary of him that she wouldn't believe a word he said, but when others inquired, she so easily revealed her true colors.

Well, it seems there's nothing to criticize about a child who's still in middle school.

"Haha, please don't blame her, that child is just too kind," even Hanekawa Tsubasa couldn't help but laugh when talking about Kagome Higurashi. "I only mentioned you, Sue, a few times and said some things to agree with her based on her reaction. I didn't expect her to treat me as one of the 'insiders' so quickly."

This refers to people who know about the existence of monsters, unlike most people in the world who believe that supernatural phenomena do not exist.

“…That guy will be sold out sooner or later and still be counting the money,” Su Er couldn’t help but sigh again. He seemed to already see the scene when Hanekawa Tsubasa went to the Higurashi Shrine to ask about things related to him.

When Kagome Higurashi angrily mentions a wicked youkai, all Hanekawa Tsubasa needs to do is describe her appearance and say a few mild but not overtly mean things to Kagome. The little girl will probably then see Hanekawa Tsubasa as someone she has also tricked.

“That’s how kids should be, right?” Hanekawa Tsubasa shook her head and continued, “Anyway, ever since then I’ve been keeping an eye on the legends in the city. A while ago I was lucky enough to run into Araragi-kun, who was still wandering the streets and alleys in the evening and didn’t go home.”

"Lucky...? Haha, ahahaha."

Sur, sitting opposite Araragi Koyomi, suddenly chuckled dryly.

"What? Did something interesting happen between you two?" Suer raised an eyebrow, and he had to admit that his gesture was becoming more and more like that of a certain forest spirit. "Speaking of which, I didn't know you... Hmm? You knew each other before?"

“We are students in the same school,” Araragi Koyomi said with a wry smile. “We’re just in different classes. Compared to me, an ordinary student who is not well-known, Hanekawa is always the top student in the grade, and not only in school, but also in the national mock exams.”

"Hehe, don't underestimate yourself, Araragi-kun," Hanekawa Tsubasa chuckled. "Actually, the impression you give at school is about the same as mine."

"Huh? Me?" The boy, whose eyes were covered by his bangs and who looked somewhat gloomy, pointed at himself in surprise.

Watching their interaction, Suer suddenly realized something.

"This must be the one? The legendary one—"

[Mutual affection?]

"Mutual affection?"

They were not the same person, but they said the same thing. The former was Xin Ke, who was watching the scene with great interest, while the latter was the blond guy who looked very familiar.

"...Please don't talk nonsense, Mr. Oshino," Araragi Koyomi's eyes instantly turned into dead fish eyes, "That's not how you use Japanese."

Suer noticed that the young man's eyes were constantly scanning Hanekawa Tsubasa, as if he was afraid of upsetting the girl... well, a few of his gazes did sweep over Hanekawa Tsubasa's chest.

Without a doubt, this is a pervert in his prime.

Suer has completed the confirmation.

"Huh? Aren't you two mutually attracted? I thought you and the girl with glasses were acting out one of those scenarios where you like each other but can't express it directly, so you have to hint at it indirectly," said the blond guy with a look of amusement.

Suer too.

"...Actually, Hanekawa and I had barely spoken a few words before. The only time we've really started communicating more is recently," Araragi Koyomi was still trying to explain, but he was glancing at Hanekawa Tsubasa more often, clearly becoming more and more nervous as he spoke.

Hanekawa Tsubasa, however, simply smiled, appearing incredibly considerate.

“…Oshino?” Ignoring the teenage boy’s little thoughts, Suer simply crossed his legs, propped his chin on one hand, and looked at the blond-haired man.

To be honest, this was the first time he had seriously observed the man who had supposedly stolen Kiss-Shot's heart without anyone noticing since the group entered McDonald's.