I have an unlimited number of shikigami

Darkness fades away.

The oppressive feeling subsided.

Kitahara Takaki took several deep breaths, as if he had just emerged from the bottom of the water.

A sense of relief after the holiday enveloped him, and the small amount of sunlight streaming through the tent flap seemed to him like the first rays of sunlight shining through the window screen in the early morning.

“Mr. Kitahara,” Fujiwara Izaya said with a kind smile, “did you hear what I just said?”

Looking at the boy's outstretched hand and the naked threat on his face, after a moment of silence, Kitahara Takaki hesitantly extended his own hand and shook hands with Fujiwara Izaya.

Chapter 30. That Spring, the White Beret Blowing Down the Slope

"In February of this year, there were rumors of ghosts appearing at my construction site."

"Are you sure?" Fujiwara Izaya became interested.

“At first I wasn’t sure, I just thought it was an excuse for the workers to slack off,” Kitahara Takaki said in a hoarse voice. “But later, three workers started to show signs of mental instability, and a security guard fell from the building while on night patrol. I felt something was wrong, so I went to Yoshiwara Shrine and asked a priest to come and check on me.”

"What was the result?" Fujiwara Izaya asked.

“The priest said it was 100% a ghost causing trouble and demanded a large sum of money for him to exorcise it,” Kitahara Takaki said, gritting his teeth with a furious expression. “I believed him, didn’t call the police, and paid a full 10 million yen. But after he worked on it for almost a week, a worker died on the construction site, and the project was forced to stop. It can’t be resumed now!”

"How did you die?"

"The priest said he was killed by a vengeful spirit."

"The ghost turned into a vengeful spirit?"

"Yes, that's what the priest said."

Kitahara Takaki took out a tissue from his suit pocket and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"What are the characteristics of the deceased's body?" Fujiwara Izaya asked.

"Scarred and bloody, it looked like it had been gnawed by a wild beast." Kitahara Takaki seemed to recall the scene, his expression turning somewhat nauseous. "The priest only took one look and concluded that it was the work of a vengeful spirit. He demanded more money from me, or he would quit."

Did you give it to me?

"It was given."

"Where is the vengeful spirit?"

"They haven't caught them yet."

"What did the priest say?"

“The priest said that the talismans were too expensive and he couldn’t afford to buy more, so he asked me to pay more…” Kitahara Takaki gave a helpless bitter smile. “At that moment, I felt like a fool and kicked him out without saying a word.”

“He probably didn’t lie to you,” Fujiwara Izaya remarked gloatingly. “It’s just that exorcisms are expensive.”

To know.

As the mountain god, the cost of exorcising spirits for him is practically zero.

If the industry becomes too competitive in the future, a price war is inevitable. At that time, he will not only be unafraid, but he can even become a righteous partner and silence his competitors.

“Three days after the priest left, another security guard who stayed at the construction site died. At the same time, I received a letter.” Kitahara Takaki said while rubbing his throbbing temples, “The other party said that he also wanted to enter the real estate industry, but he was suffering from a lack of experience and capital, so he took a liking to me and wanted to cooperate with me. If I don’t agree, next time it won’t just be workers who die.”

Fujiwara Izaya asked him, "And what's your answer?"

“There’s still no reply; they keep dragging their feet.” Kitahara Takaki shook his head bitterly. “The cooperation they’re talking about is really just an attempt to take over my entire business. How can I just give in like this? But I never expected they’d set their sights on my younger brother…”

By this point, his eyes were red and his voice had become choked with emotion.

"Master Fujiwara, please save our family and avenge Hideki... That kid isn't bad at all. He may look like a thug, but deep down he's a good kid, not so bad... We just have to teach him properly; he does have his merits..."

"Please accept my condolences. Rest here for a while, and leave the rest to me." Fujiwara Izaya patted his shoulder to comfort him, then turned and crawled out of the tent.

The sky outside was clear, and a cool breeze was blowing in my face.

Under the warm spring sunshine, the bright green cherry trees swayed in the wind, and the black roof of the police off-road vehicle reflected a dazzling light, so that there was not a trace of shadow in the whole world.

Facing the sun, Fujiwara Izaya stretched out a big yawn.

“Little mage, little mage,” Inspector Suzuki immediately sidled up to him, a signature fawning smile on his face, “How about it, another major discovery? I knew it! Little mage is clearly a brilliant genius; no crime can escape his bright eyes. This was a piece of cake…”

"Stop," Fujiwara Izaya gave him a disdainful look, "If you keep spouting nonsense, believe me, I'll shove you under the car?"

"Understood!" Inspector Suzuki immediately covered his mouth.

"Are you aware that the Kitahara family's construction site is haunted?"

“Absolutely not.” Inspector Suzuki immediately shook his head.

“This case might be related to the ghost story,” Fujiwara Izaya thought for a few seconds and then instructed, “Go and contact Yoshiwara Shrine and ask which priest took the case. Send me the general details and have him wait for me at the construction site tonight.”

"Uh," Inspector Suzuki hesitated, "tonight?"

"Is there a problem?"

"I'm fine, but aren't we supposed to deal with this vengeful spirit tonight?"

“That’s a stupid question,” Fujiwara Izaya turned to look at the inspector with a puzzled expression. “Does a mere ordinary vengeful spirit need to be dealt with for an entire night?”

"..."

Inspector Suzuki didn't know how to respond to that.

He spent nearly ten years in Section 9 and met nearly a hundred clergy members. Fujiwara Koboshi was the first person to describe dealing with vengeful spirits as simply as dealing with a live fish.

Really...

He's such a good actor!

"That's all for now. I'll go home and get something to eat first. See you tonight."

Fujiwara Izaya waved his hand and started walking back to Asakusa Shrine, his stomach growling the whole time.

Feeling hungry is a normal physiological phenomenon.

After all, monsters need to eat; otherwise, they will starve to death.

But ghosts don't need to.

The ghosts people often talk about refer to spirits, vengeful spirits, and urban legends—spirits that are the remains of people after they die. Their bodies are not real flesh and blood, but rather artificial bodies formed from resentment. Compared to real flesh and blood, well… they are like silicone.

Monsters are a general term for various wild spirits and creatures that some people transform into after death.

They are also transformed from dead people, but the difference between them and ghosts is that becoming a monster is like gaining a second life. Their bodies are alive and need to breathe, eat, and reproduce.

Everyone has heard of second-generation demons, but no one has heard of second-generation ghosts, and that's why.

"What a pity, if Aunt Sadako were a monster, then I could have a bunch of cute little Sadakos to play with..."

On the uphill path leading to the torii gate, Fujiwara Izaya's thoughts spread haphazardly like weeds. He thought of Sadako, then of Asuka's sparkly nails, then of the two pairs of stockings Asuka gave him, then of Hoshimi-senpai, and finally of his own stomach, which was just like Hoshimi-senpai's breasts—not quite empty, but not quite full either, yet if you squeezed it, there seemed to be something there...

Stop!

It's impolite to judge a woman based on the size of her breasts!

Fujiwara Izaya shook his head, trying to banish the images from his mind.

A sudden, sharp gust of wind blew from afar.

Cherry blossom petals, seemingly from nowhere, fluttered in the air. Among the pink petals, a clump of white was caught in the wind, carried by the breeze and landing directly on my face.

Ok?

Citrus?

Fujiwara Izaya's face darkened.

The thing covering his face was actually a white Victory... no, a white beret.

"Senior~~"

"My hat."

From above the slope came a melodious, clear, lively, and pleasant girl's voice.

Fujiwara Izaya looked up.

Beneath the red torii gate, a young girl smiled radiantly.

A pure white dress, pristine white stockings, innocent lace trim... everything was white, but no matter how Fujiwara Izaya looked at this sexy junior, he felt he only saw yellow.

Chapter 31. Senior, senior, senior, senior—

How should I put it...

It was a clear April morning, and the air was filled with the fragrance of cherry blossoms.

The young girl, bathed in the warm sunlight, swayed her knee-length white dress and hurried down the stone steps.

She let the spring breeze tousle her long orange hair, her clear, captivating eyes holding a beauty that seemed destined. A gentle smile always graced her lips, as if hinting that something wonderful was about to happen.

At that moment, a romantic and heartwarming possibility quietly emerged, gently knocking on Fujiwara Izaya's heart.

In my line of sight, Asuka Kasahara, wearing white sneakers, came down the steps. Her steps were small, but full of youthful energy.

She was dressed impeccably, wearing a cream-colored long-sleeved shirt that revealed her slender, white neck, and her metal earrings dangling from her earlobes were dazzling.

Her posture was natural and elegant, and her beautiful face blended seamlessly with the falling petals. But when she walked straight up to him, Fujiwara Izaya almost reflexively reached out his hand to greet her.

however……

Kasahara Asuka stopped.

Three steps above Fujiwara Izaya, she covered her long orange hair, which was being blown by the wind, with one hand, and gently pressed down the hem of her skirt with the other, her gaze falling on his hand.

"Senior, you're reaching your hand so far out..." She tilted her head at a cute angle, her voice pure and languid, "Answer honestly, this isn't a sign that you're planning to hold Asuka's hand, is it?"

Fujiwara Izaya withdrew his hand and handed the hat back to her with his other hand: "That was the plan."

"Why do you want to hold Asuka's hand?" Asuka Kasahara gracefully put on her hat.

“When the environment is right, the idea naturally comes to mind,” Fujiwara Izaya said frankly. “On a sunny April morning, you meet a girl who is perfect for you, surrounded by the scent of cherry blossoms. You might just pass each other by, or you might find a romantic café to have coffee. Fate favors the former, but I personally prefer the latter.”

"A 100% girl?"

Kasahara Asuka pondered the word for a moment, then winked at Fujiwara Izaya several times.

"To praise someone like this so early in the morning," she said, raising her index finger to her chin as she pondered, "Could it be that you have some ulterior motive, senior...?"