Chapter 74: The Energetic Girl Yurikawa Hana, A Supernatural Commission
After the afternoon exams ended, the Super-Quant Club members gathered in the clubroom again.
Futaba Rio looked at Yoru and spoke calmly.
"I have confirmed it. The security at the scene is very strict, but there are no Self-Defense Force members guarding with heavy weapons as I expected."
Yoru shrugged and smiled.
"That's natural. Compared to security issues with a small probability of occurring, letting ordinary visitors see rifles and shotguns would cause even greater panic. After all, this isn't America."
"Mmhmm."
Rio nodded slightly and continued to talk about the intelligence collected over the past two days.
The exhibition location was the Kyoto City Museum, which was natural.
After all, Onimaru Kunitsuna was a famous sword handed down in Sakura Prefecture since ancient times, having gone through many symbolic periods like the Hojo, Oda, and Toyotomi eras. Naturally, it had to be exhibited in the best location.
The museum opened at 9:00 AM and closed at 5:00 PM.
On-site, there were infrared alarm devices directly connected to the Kyoto Metropolitan Police Department, bulletproof display case glass, and surveillance camera coverage with no blind spots.
Such detailed intelligence wasn't actually collected by Rio personally.
It was the Super-Quant Club's Best Employee, Hachishaku, who went to the scene for an investigation.
Letting an evil spirit do such a thing was simply too suitable.
Cameras couldn't capture her, she left no traces, and she could walk through walls.
According to Hachishaku, the Onimaru Kunitsuna on display was indeed the real deal.
She couldn't even enter the innermost part of the exhibition hall and could only investigate from the periphery. This was evidence of its authenticity.
Only evil spirits had the most say in whether a spiritual item was powerful or not.
Unfortunately, Hachishaku couldn't act alone in the Otherworld. Otherwise, possessing the power of the "Door," she would be a prime supplement in the eyes of other evil spirits.
Moreover.
Hachishaku's power was limited. She couldn't even get close to Onimaru Kunitsuna, let alone steal it and run away.
After collating and analyzing all the information, Rio gave her conclusion.
Seven minutes.
This was the limit time for Yoru to evacuate safely from the moment the alarm was triggered after entering the museum.
Any later, and the Self-Defense Force with heavy weapons might arrive at the scene.
This discussion involved sniper rifles, submachine guns, shotguns, tear gas, a whole series of weapons.
Rio knew Yoru could make Hachishaku and the Ghost Hand manifest as physical entities to block bullets.
The problem was, how many could they block?
They would be shot through directly.
So, if he didn't want to encounter any unmanageable danger, Rio set a safety limit of seven minutes.
"Exceeding this time, have Hachishaku open a 'Door' and retreat immediately. Understood?"
Although Rio's tone was very calm, the concern, worry, and anxiety in her eyes and words couldn't be hidden.
"Okay, I know."
Yoru responded with a smile.
But he had other plans in mind.
Rio didn't consider one point.
Hachishaku's ability could create a "Door" to shuttle between the two worlds at any location.
But within the seven-day cooldown period, she couldn't create a second "Door" at another location.
This meant he had to choose one of two options:
Enter the Otherworld from a hidden location with no cameras and no passersby.
Or have Hachishaku open a "Door" directly inside the museum to retreat after taking Onimaru Kunitsuna.
Only one of these two options could be chosen.
After a famous sword of Onimaru Kunitsuna's level was stolen, the police would likely spare no manpower to mobilize surveillance footage of all road sections in Kyoto.
Through screening and comparison, they could easily find that an unknown handsome high school student went to a remote road section where ordinary people wouldn't stop, and only reappeared in camera range after tens of minutes.
Based on this alone, the police wouldn't directly lock onto Yoru as a suspect, but they would at least list him as a key investigation target.
Yoru still wanted to be more cautious. After all, Yagami Light's father, Soichiro Yagami, had appeared. Maybe the World's Number One Detective L had also joined the investigation team.
However, adopting the first method would leave no traces.
But it also meant that after taking Onimaru Kunitsuna, he would have to adopt a frontal breakthrough method, rush out of the police encirclement, reach the "Door" nearest to the museum, and then return to the Otherworld.
The first method: cautious but dangerous.
The second method: high danger factor, but might leave clues for the police.
And the most important point.
With Hachishaku's current power, she couldn't even get close to Onimaru Kunitsuna, proving that spiritual items of this level indeed had a great suppression on evil spirits' power.
So after really taking Onimaru Kunitsuna, could Hachishaku-sama, suppressed by this famous sword, still use the power of the "Door"?
Yoru wasn't sure.
For uncertain things, he always prepared for the worst.
Yoru was also considering which method of action was the most reasonable and least prone to accidents.
However...
He still had a trump card.
The End of the Eight Million.
Yoru had never called out the True Name of his Soul Manifestation like Miko did.
This meant that so far, he had never fought with his full strength.
The confidence Tamamo-no-Mae sensed back then came from this.
Maybe the first ones to witness my full strength won't be evil spirits, but those from the police and Self-Defense Force?
If that's really the case, it's indeed a bit of dark humor.
Just then, Yoru suddenly raised his hand, stopping the members who wanted to say more, and whispered.
"Someone is coming."
Six or seven seconds after his voice fell, Yui and the others finally heard footsteps gradually approaching the clubroom door.
The members were shocked.
What kind of hearing is this?
Hearing footsteps dozens of meters away through the clubroom door?
Are you a god (Immortal)?
Rio examined Yoru, a look of realization appearing in her eyes.
No wonder.
He chose the clubroom location in a corner of the teaching building where people generally wouldn't pass by.
Rio originally thought that with the preferential treatment Yoru received, let alone choosing a better clubroom, even asking other clubs to give up their rooms for the Super-Quant Club, the school would definitely agree.
She thought it was out of kindness to others.
So it was for this layer.
Rio felt more and more that Yoru's intelligence might not be inferior to hers, or even surpass it.
It was just that he often was too lazy to use his brain, claiming to save energy for battles that might appear at any time.
Then what should my position in the Super-Quant Club be called?
Yoru's Brain Substitute?
Slide.
The clubroom door was pulled open. A girl's voice filled with energy, as warm as the noon sun in early spring, came with a smile.
"Hello everyone! Yotsuya-san, Yuigahama-san, and Yoru-san, and this... this student I don't know, hello~"
Rio looked up and was stunned when she saw the girl with short orange hair.
Yoru also nodded slightly, a look of inexplicable emotion in his eyes.
I thought Futaba Rio's figure was already invincible under heaven.
Unexpectedly, there is another expert?
Jokes aside, he naturally recognized the short-haired, huge... cough, energetic girl in front of him who looked like she was about to burst out of her uniform.
A classmate of his, Yui, and Miko—Yurikawa Hana.
In the original story, Yurikawa Hana was Miko's best friend.
Under Yoru's influence, this position was taken by Yui Yuigahama and Futaba Rio.
Of course, Hana had a lively personality and often chatted with Miko and Yui (Dumpling), but their relationship wasn't as close as between Super-Quant Club members.
"Yurikawa-san?"
Yurikawa Hana—Yurikawa was the surname, Hana was the given name. Miko naturally wouldn't make the mistake of calling someone's surname wrong.
"This is the Supernatural Quantum Mechanics Investigation and Research Club, right? I shouldn't have gone to the wrong place, right?"
Hana looked innocent and naive. Coupled with her amazing figure, she indeed verified that phrase.
Baby-faced Big...
Hard to say.
"Correct, this is the Supernatural Quantum Mechanics Investigation and Research Club."
Rio poured a cup of coffee, pushed it forward, pointed to a seat, and said.
"Yurikawa-san, please sit down and talk."
"Eh, there's coffee too? Thanks~"
Hana thought this was a benefit for coming to issue a commission. She thanked her and sat down.
Little did she know, ordinary people didn't have this treatment.
No, ordinary clients wouldn't even enter the door of this clubroom.
Especially after Yoru gave those male students who liked to gossip behind people's backs a splendid KO last week, this was even more so.
This was the first time a student who wasn't a Super-Quant Club member drank coffee made by Futaba Rio.
"Eh, so bitter~"
Hana took a sip from the beaker and couldn't help but exclaim. Then she hurriedly waved her hand to explain.
"Um... I didn't mean the coffee tastes bad, just that I'm a sweet tooth faction."
Hearing this, Rio frowned slightly.
It wasn't that she was unhappy about Hana disliking coffee.
People had many tastes; disliking coffee was normal.
It was just that Rio had a feeling.
This girl... why does she feel a bit like Yui Yuigahama?
How to describe this temperament?
Rio suddenly remembered the term Yoru often used when talking about Yui.
Clear Stupidity.
Yes, that was the temperament.
"Wh-What are you doing?"
Noticing Rio glancing at her, Yui felt a bit at a loss.
"No, nothing."
"I feel like your look just now was saying I'm stupid."
"No, you're overthinking it."
"Definitely was."
"Why are you so certain?"
"Can I not know if I'm stupid or not?"
"Okay, you win."
....
Watching the banter between Rio and Miko (and Yui), Hana looked surprised.
Before coming, she really didn't expect the atmosphere inside the Supernatural Quantum Mechanics Investigation and Research Club to be so relaxed.
"Alright, let's talk business."
Rio looked at Hana and said calmly.
"Yurikawa-san, did you come this time for a commission regarding supernatural events?"
"Yes... I guess?"
Hana's tone seemed hesitant. She scratched her head embarrassedly and smiled憨憨ly.
"I don't know if it counts as a supernatural event. It's just that recently my shoulders always feel heavy, I get tired inexplicably, and I have to eat constantly or I'll be hungry and listless."
Miko sized up Hana's uniform being stretched tight and secretly complained in her heart.
Are you sure your shoulders are heavy not because a certain part is too exaggerated?
However, Hana's next sentence instantly made everyone's attitude serious.
"But, as soon as I get to school, this feeling disappears. When I'm on my way home after school, this situation appears again. Could it be I fell in love with school? Logically speaking, that's impossible."
Rio, Miko, Yui, and Yoru looked at each other and nodded simultaneously.
Correct, this was a genuine supernatural event.
The reason was simple.
If Hana felt unwell every day, it might be due to physical illness or adolescent anxiety.
But according to her, the symptoms disappeared as soon as she arrived at school. The truth was already on the horizon.
Hana's life aura was much stronger than average people.
In Miko and Yoru's eyes, she seemed to be enveloped in a layer of light.
This was fatal to evil spirits, but also extremely tempting.
To protect Hana's safety, the life aura on her body would automatically eliminate approaching evil spirits.
But in this process, her stamina would also be drained.
The result was physical exhaustion and an abnormally large appetite.
And the fact that this feeling disappeared in school precisely confirmed that this matter was related to evil spirits.
Sobu High was a forbidden land for evil spirits.
Because Yoru was here.
Having devoured thousands of evil spirits, his oppressive presence in the eyes of ordinary evil spirits and ghosts was like ordinary people seeing Homelander; they dared not approach at all.
"Mmhmm..."
Miko nodded noncommittally, gave the other members a look, and then said.
"In that case, I'll accompany you home to see if there are any special circumstances on the way. Is that okay, Yurikawa-san?"
"Totally OK."
Rio also stood up and said calmly.
"I'll go too."
Miko didn't hesitate and agreed directly.
"Okay, let's go together. What about you, Yui?"
People who couldn't see evil spirits wouldn't be harmed by evil spirits.
Unless the evil spirit in this event was like Hachishaku, merged with a "Door" and capable of dragging the target into the Otherworld.
But if that were the case, Hana would have died long ago. Even if she didn't die, such a powerful evil spirit certainly wouldn't be so scared of Yoru that it dared not enter Sobu High.
So, as an ordinary person, Rio shouldn't encounter any danger.
Yui shook her head and sighed.
"I won't go. I have to walk Sabre later and study tonight. Hope last-minute cramming works."
Needless to say about Rio; she was perfect in science, and her liberal arts level was also excellent.
Miko's grades were also above average.
Only Yui was the type who could rank in the middle if she worked hard, but with a slight slip, might fail a subject.
The spring exam was a difficult hurdle for her.
After the members left, Yoru also stood up. He looked at Mai leaning by the window, her beautiful face showing a bit of laziness under the sunlight, and asked with a smile.
"How was the exam today?"
"Don't mention it."
Mai puffed up her cheeks. This angry look was a bit like a hamster, revealing a cuteness different from her usual mature temperament.
"No one even gave me an exam paper."
"Can't be helped. You wanted to take the exam yourself; who can you blame?"
"Tch."
Seeing Yoru pick up his school bag and prepare to walk out, Mai hurried to follow him and asked curiously.
"Going home?"
"No."
Yoru shook his head.
"Following Miko and the others to see."
"Eh? Then why didn't you just go with them just now?"
Yoru's true thought:
Although I have sensed the strangeness in this event, as a qualified exorcist, Miko needs to face challenges to experience growth.
His answer:
"Then I wouldn't be able to talk to you, right?"
Facing his smiling eyes and these extremely lethal words, the High Attack Low Defense Mai blushed instantly.
"Che, consider your performance as a junior acceptable. I'll cook for you at home tonight."
"Alright, looking forward to it."
The same behavior explained by two different reasons would cause two completely different results.
Mai's cooking skills were indeed very good.
Compared to Yui...
Forget it, incomparable.
Mai lost.
Her cooking could only be considered delicious.
Yui had transcended to another realm. Bitter melon stir-fried with pork—no bitter melon taste, no meat taste, only curry taste.
What realm was this?
Seeing a mountain not as a mountain, seeing water not as water.
Grandmaster Yui Yuigahama, admire, admire.
....
Ten minutes later, on a street.
Hana was obviously very excited, constantly pulling Rio to chat.
Although Rio was somewhat helpless, she responded intermittently.
Rio realized.
She wasn't good at dealing with this kind of simple, overly familiar person.
Whether it was Yui or the energetic Hana.
They were the nemeses of this genius science girl.
While these two were talking, Miko fell silent, pondering constantly in her mind.
Something isn't right.
But she was always just a bit short of grasping the clue.
Miko glanced at Hachishaku following beside her and thought of her Hyakume, which had grown to thirteen eyes during this time.
Such a combination shouldn't be underestimated even in the Otherworld.
Moreover, this was the home ground of humans, the Kyoto of the real world.
There should... be no problems.
Just then, a man wearing a black hoodie, whose face couldn't be seen clearly, passed by the three.
Miko saw the light of life emanating from Hana dim at a speed visible to the naked eye as the man passed.
"This is!?"
"Eh, suddenly so tired."
Hana stretched, yawned, rubbed her eyes, and looked very sleepy, her eyes almost unable to open.
"Really want... to sleep right here."
Miko didn't hesitate at all and shouted directly.
"Open your eyes, Hyakume!"
"Hachishaku!"
As the Soul Manifestation Hyakume appeared, Hachishaku also took out a long katana from her body and handed it to Miko.
Clang!
Feeling the breeze from behind, Miko didn't hesitate. She turned around and slashed, colliding with a long tongue.
"It really is like this."
Looking at the man who had taken off his hood, revealing features that were normal but an expression twisted unlike a human, Miko gritted her silver teeth, feeling very annoyed inside.
I... actually didn't notice this.
Hana indeed encountered an evil spirit.
But the reason she didn't notice any strange phenomena wasn't because she couldn't see.
It was because this evil spirit had already merged with a human.