You say this is a love game?

The deep pit was torn open by the power of ghosts and gods, and the huge corpse of the Nue beast as big as a hill was buried in it. Sand and soil fell from the sky and buried the place.

The Yin-Yang Master pulled something out of his sleeve and threw it to the ground.

That's the seed.

The seeds of the cherry tree took root as soon as they landed on the ground, and in the blink of an eye, they grew into a sturdy cherry tree. The pink and white cherry blossoms bloomed against the season. Its trunk was thick, and its roots stretched into the ground like angry dragons, completely suppressing the sins below.

"Your paperweight can be used as the center of the formation. It would be a waste to just throw it away. I will make a formation for you and show you the power of Yin-Yang magic."

"Giving is also good..."

"Shut up, you bald ass! Stop disgusting me."

"But monk, can you really guarantee that this young man is a good person?"

"At least he was and is now."

"What about the future?"

"I can only hope that he can maintain his innocent heart..."

"Ah……"

Along with the Onmyoji's disdainful snort, all the sounds seemed to gradually fade away. The conversation between the monk and the Onmyoji became increasingly vague, and the images presented in the memory also moved away, flickered, and disappeared. Darkness swept in from the field of vision, and all colors disappeared.

The picture shattered again, and the memory dissipated like the wind.

Mizutani Makoto suddenly opened his eyes, his forehead covered in sweat, and he looked dizzy and overwhelmed by the huge amount of memories.

He sat in the chair, clenched his back teeth, and felt a buzzing pain in his head.

"Sister Gu Chun, you are a professional story narrator."

Thanks to his extensive gaming experience, Mizutani Makoto immediately understood the story of [Bone Ashes: Ancient Tsubaki]. Wasn't this the past and present of the private Hiiragigaoka Academy? That blood-red cherry tree was planted right in the courtyard!

That group of powerful people who sacrificed young boys and girls and created the Nue by piling up resentment, and the young man who was saved by the kindness of the monk at the end, if they were not from the "Hirahara family", he would have eaten the ashes of Sister Guchun on the spot!

Mizutani Makoto held his head and sorted out the story he had accepted this time.

"So, the origin of this copy has to go back hundreds of years?"

"Back then, the noble Hiiragihara family murdered 42 young boys and girls for some purpose. They then found a spiritual vein and connected with it. Somehow, they managed to create a nue."

"They had a method of controlling the nue, namely those chains... but the power of the spirit veins was beyond their imagination. The nue that emerged was incredibly powerful. The methods prepared by the Hiiragihara family and the Onmyoji were completely destroyed in this battle. Only a single nue lingered near the ghost den."

"Until these two great men arrived and killed the Nue that was causing harm to the area. The Onmyoji, seeking to appease the vengeful spirit, cursed the Hiiragihara family. The monk, feeling compassion for their lives, performed some kind of manipulation on the spiritual vein before handing it over to the Hiiragihara family for safekeeping... The purpose of doing so was not only to ensure the survival of the Hiiragihara family, but also to make them aware of the sins they carried."

"Then there's the cherry tree. This tree seems quite important too..."

These stories match the information revealed by Kurosawa Yoshihito.

"But in the context described by Lao Hei, the Hiiragihara family became the lords of Night Light City."

"The monks ordered them to guard the spiritual vein of Night Light City, so how did they become lords... Oh, in the feudal society of the trench, the Hiiragihara family was originally a noble family. Even though the family was destroyed, a single child survived, and even had a connection with the spiritual vein..."

Mizutani Makoto vaguely recalled the last conversation he heard.

Guarding the spiritual vein is not an easy job.

The Hiiragihara family will be bound here, and due to the design of the monks and the Onmyoji, they do not really control the spiritual veins. Rather than being managers, they are more like gravekeepers, guarding the past sins here and suffering curses from generation to generation until 42 generations later, when the sins are settled.

As for how he became the Lord of Night Light City...

In those chaotic times, aristocratic families had existed for a long time, so they naturally became powerful.

The monk and the Onmyoji probably never thought of such a development... After all, those two big guys are so old, and they probably don’t have many years left to live based on human lifespan. How could they have imagined that the Hiiragihara family would rise up hundreds of years later by relying on the "punishment" they had received?

"Alas, the monk had good intentions, but he handled this matter poorly."

Mizutani Makoto shook his head.

According to his simple moral concepts, he supports the white-haired Yin-Yang master. He tells them to just live on with their sins. There is no need to give them a chance to live. At worst, they will starve to death and their descendants will be extinct.

But even though he complained, the monk had a compassionate character. He was a big shot, but he was so determined to bet his right hand on the new era. How could he, a high school student from hundreds of years later, have the right to give suggestions?

What Can I Say?

Mizutani Makoto sighed.

"Well, the existence of the Hiiragihara family is confirmed."

"At first, I thought the boss of this dungeon was related to Soichiro Hiiragihara, but now it seems a Nue is involved as well."

"The cherry tree that was responsible for suppressing the nue's corpse still looks eerie..."

"I almost forgot, isn't this principal from the Hiiragihara family? What on earth did Soichiro do to turn this place into this, even turning the camellia trees into ancient toon trees..."

Mizutani Makoto was full of doubts, but he had no answers.

"I shouldn't have come so early in the morning to read the backstory of this lousy soul wandering. I should have guessed it earlier... If everyone was happy, how could there be a ghost school map like today?"

I am speechless.

Yesterday, I finally rescued a poor guy and got a lot of money from Tongzi. I felt very happy. But now, when I looked at Gu Chun's memory, I suddenly didn't feel so happy anymore.

This crappy game ruined my good mood for the day.

It was Friday, and Mizutani Makoto walked out of the house slowly carrying his schoolbag.

The stray calico cat was already squatting downstairs. Seeing it was Makoto Mizutani coming down, it immediately glared at him warily, as if it would run away if he approached. Fortunately, Yoshiko Satori was following behind Makoto Mizutani. The moment she saw Satori with a sausage in her hand, the little calico cat relaxed.

"Meow~"

"Next time I buy some dried fish, can you feed it with some?"

The girl turned around in surprise: "Huh? Big brother, why are you suddenly saying this?"

Mizutani Makoto coughed lightly and said, "Our family is rich now."

Yes, I have money.

The small treasury has more than 10 million yen, which is enough to buy half of a single-family house. With this money on him, Mizutani Makoto is much richer than before.

It's a pity that he is in an aristocratic school full of rich men and women, otherwise he could have given some urban thrills to the Japanese male high school students.

The boy looked up and it happened to be a nice day.

The clouds were thin and scattered, like feathers casually scattered by someone, drifting lazily across the azure sky. The wind was gentle, not strong, bringing the coolness of early summer. It blew through the tree-lined paths of the campus, skimmed over the eaves of the teaching buildings, and gently lifted a corner of the classroom curtains, bringing a sense of comfort.

Just like Mai Yajima who had been chattering since just now, he also felt that this girl was really carefree and had no worries.

"Are you listening to me?"

"No, I was just daydreaming."

"Humph?"

Mai Yajima couldn't stand it any longer and hit him on the side with a heavy hammer. Makoto Mizutani sneered. Just looking at Mai Yajima's thin arms and weak steps, he knew that she was the weakest among the weak. With his natural strength, he could push her away with just a little finger.

Humph, let her win.

Don't say he's a bully because of his double bones.

Mai Yajima suddenly laughed. When Makoto Mizutani asked her what she was laughing at, she closed her mouth again and refused to say anything.

What could she laugh at?

Isn't it just a smile? Has someone already tacitly agreed to go to school with her?

Listen to what she said, sometimes following the rules to learn how to be a good person can also bring different gains!

Isn't Mizutani Makoto completely defenseless against her now?

If time goes slower and slower, she will always be able to wait until the moment when he admits that he likes her.

"Makotan~Have you received any love letters from girls recently?"

"...Yes, from the class next door."

"Reject her decisively!"

"I rejected it the day before yesterday."

Mizutani Makoto always looks calm and composed. If you say he is enthusiastic, he seems cold, but if you say he is indifferent, he will reply to every word. If she suddenly stops talking, he will glance over and take a look at her expression.

With the experience she had recently gained from Ga La, Cheng's favorability must have been very high.

Of course not! She was a beautiful girl, constantly hanging around him, chatting with him and dragging him along for playtime. Even if he was a celestial being, his heart would have been moved, right? How could anyone resist the romantic advances of such an invincible beauty?

Am I not lively? Am I not cute? Do I not love you?

Three consecutive qualities!

How could you not be moved if you met a bright, cheerful, understanding, and devoted girl who wasn't interested in fame or fortune, willing to buy you games, play with you, chat about anime and comics, and anything else? Especially when you see that silly girl clumsily asking someone how to buy Steam games. Even if she accidentally downloaded Steam Game Manager and signed up for an annual membership, you still have to cheer her up.

All the otakus who have never been in a relationship will be brought to justice!

Unfortunately, Mizutani Makoto is not a otaku, but a real person.

He asked, "Aren't you working at the convenience store now?"

"Huh? How did you know?"

Yajima Mai suddenly became curious.

"I haven't seen you at the convenience store twice in a row."

"Hmm? You didn't go to ask Ms. Yamada specifically, did you?"

"…Why are you asking her?"

Mizutani Makoto rolled his eyes.

I'm waiting for you!

If he hadn't asked, why would Miss Yamada have sent her a message that night, sourly wishing her success in picking up a handsome guy?

But since he's a tsundere, it's only natural to give him some face.

Yajima Mai moved closer to Mizutani Makoto and said in a leisurely tone, "I've found a new way to make money!"

"...Path? Why does it sound like something out of the ordinary? Shouldn't it be a new part-time job?"

Mizutani Makoto rubbed his chin and frowned.

"Why do you care so much?"

Yajima Mai coughed lightly and muttered softly, "Anyway, I changed my career. How much could I earn working part-time at a convenience store before? Now I've found a new job. I don't need to work at a fixed time or place. It's less work and more pay, and it's very relaxing. I have more money in my pocket now, so supporting you won't be a problem... Huh? What's with that expression on your face?"

"..."

Mizutani Makoto narrowed his eyes.

"..."

Mai Yajima also narrowed her eyes.

Mizutani Makoto had no doubts. He trusted Mai Yajima's character and knew she wouldn't do any of those high school girl Japanese-style jobs that would make quick money. It was just that seeing her being so secretive, he couldn't help but feel a little bit of a snarky feeling.

But after he stopped complaining, he started to think seriously - is there any free lunch in the world?

Could it be that Mai Yajima has been deceived and is slowly falling into a trap?

Ever since the small treasury was replenished, Mizutani Makoto has been thinking about Mai Yajima's situation, wondering if he could provide some indirect care for this girl. Now that Mai Yajima's part-time job routine has changed again, he can't help but think more.

But if he remained silent, Yajima Mai would strangle him.

"Are you doubting that I'm a bad woman?"

"Stop pinching! I'm going to die!"

Guigui, why is this girl's grip so strong?!

When Mizutani Makoto was being pinched, Yajima Mai suddenly felt like she was being watched.

She turned her head.

There was a girl wearing a dark blue sailor suit. She looked very young, like a junior high school student. She was standing at the traffic light, looking over here as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

"..."

Why is she looking at me?

Mai Yajima obviously didn't understand Miyamizu Inaba's complicated feelings at the moment.

"Come on! Little rabbit! Go up and say hello to him!"

"Go call him senior in front of this girl! That's what I want to see!"