Chapter 170: Torturing the Wicked Soul, Yukinoshita Yukino's Speculation
Thud thud thud thud...
Bang bang bang bang....
Slap slap slap slap....
Chef Yoru, who had been busy all day, finally caught a suitable prey and began preparing his cuisine.
The sharp Onimaru Kunitsuna acted as a kitchen knife at this moment.
The blade emitted a pleasant clanging sound of metal and iron, seemingly not caring how it was used, as long as it was used by its master, it was perfectly willing.
Watching the trembling blade of Onimaru Kunitsuna and the increasingly frequent clanging sounds of metal, Mai, Miko, and Rio standing not far away couldn't help blushing.
This scene... why does it feel a bit like doing that kind of thing?
Is your Onimaru Kunitsuna a proper sword?
And Yagami Soichiro at this time, looking at the scene before him, was already dumbfounded.
In front of "Mask" was a pitch-black table.
There was nothing on it.
But whenever "Mask" slowly brought down the Onimaru Kunitsuna in his hand, the Teru Teru Bozu Killer lying there would let out a miserable howl of pain, his ten fingers scratching the ground, leaving several bloody marks, obviously enduring pain beyond ordinary people's imagination.
But in the eyes of spirit mediums Mai, Rio, and Miko, it was a completely different scene.
The same pitch-black table, the same Yoru holding Onimaru Kunitsuna in his right hand.
The difference was that his left hand, hidden under the coat sleeve and glove, having transformed into a pitch-black ghost hand, was currently gripping a mass of black humanoid mist.
That thing was none other than.
The soul of the Teru Teru Bozu Killer.
And the sharp blade of Onimaru Kunitsuna just unhurriedly fell, at an extremely slow speed, starting from the position of the feet, like slicing ingredients into thin shreds, strand by strand, dividing the soul of the Teru Teru Bozu Killer.
"Scream?"
For the Teru Teru Bozu Killer's miserable screams caused by his soul being slowly sliced, Yoru turned a deaf ear, even smiling and saying softly.
"Scream louder, let me feel more pleasure, let me enjoy it more."
The TV station reporter and cameraman not far away turned pale with fright upon hearing this.
The two realized they seemed to have misunderstood one thing.
Among the people present today, the most dangerous one wasn't that Teru Teru Bozu Killer.
But "Mask".
At this time, Yagami Soichiro walked up to the two and said in a deep voice.
"The live broadcast is over; you can leave first."
"Ok... okay."
The reporter and cameraman couldn't wait to get in the car and flee this dangerous place.
Just as the two walked to the car door, Yagami Soichiro suddenly added meaningfully.
"By the way."
"Some things can be reported; some things, you have to think clearly for yourselves."
Yagami Soichiro walked behind the two and said softly.
"'Mask's' actions are not within our Police Department's control. It's best not to make any reports or descriptions of what happened today. Wait until our Police Department's announcement comes out, and take the announcement's content as standard, understand?"
Listening to the continuous miserable howls ringing in their ears, the reporter and cameraman trembled and replied obsequiously.
"Un... understood."
The two jumped into the media vehicle, wishing they could press the accelerator to the bottom, and fled the scene as if escaping.
They completely couldn't understand what happened today.
How could someone's body suddenly expand to five meters tall?
And what was that black and white headless monster!?
What exactly is wrong with this world?
As professional media persons of a TV station, they had seen their fair share of storms and naturally understood the hint in Yagami Soichiro's words.
The first layer of meaning:
If you report recklessly and "Mask" causes trouble for your TV station, the Police Department can't do anything.
The second layer of meaning:
If you report in advance and contradict the Police Department's case announcement, you will also suffer.
Watching the TV station's media vehicle speed away, Yagami Soichiro sighed helplessly.
"This guy still makes me, the Chief of Criminal Investigation Bureau, clean up after him. He really has a lot of face."
He turned around and looked at "Mask", who was still performing so-called "cooking", but actually seemed to be using some special means to torture the Teru Teru Bozu Killer. With a complicated face, he walked up to Mai and others and hesitated.
"Regarding his actions... do you... have no objections?"
"No."
Miko, wearing a white mask with pale gold patterns, shook her head and replied calmly.
"As companions, our thoughts and actions each have more or less differences. But maintaining the principle of not interfering even if we disagree is the correct way to handle it."
Seeing the other two also having this attitude, Yagami Soichiro couldn't help sighing helplessly.
Finally, he couldn't resist walking up to "Mask" and hesitated to speak.
"Since you've already caught him, there's no need to use lynching, right? Since you played the hero today, there's no need to do such actions that won't be called justice."
"Lynching?"
The movement in Yoru's hand didn't pause at all, just continuing to slowly slice the opponent's soul amidst the Teru Teru Bozu Killer's painful and twisted miserable howls, just replying faintly.
"I even feel that just making him suffer such torture leaves me somewhat unsatisfied."
Immediately after, Yoru turned his head, stared straight into Yagami Soichiro's eyes, without the slightest emotion in his gaze, and said in a plain tone.
"As for hero? Justice?"
"When a person is kidnapped by the name of a hero and bound hand and foot, he is no longer a hero."
"When justice needs others' recognition, then it is no longer justice."
Hearing this, Yagami Soichiro couldn't help feeling a burst of complicated emotion in his heart.
Just then, Yoru suddenly changed the subject, his voice carrying a smile again.
"Besides, he himself emphasized that no method could make him feel pain, so he doesn't feel pain at all."
Yagami Soichiro froze for a moment, pointed at the Teru Teru Bozu Killer who was rolling over there, howling in pain, with ten fingers scratching bloody marks on the ground, and looked complicated.
"Is this the appearance of not feeling pain?"
Yoru waved his hand nonchalantly and chuckled.
"Sigh, just a kid shouting for fun, very normal."
"This..."
Yoru sheathed Onimaru Kunitsuna, and his freed right hand patted Yagami Soichiro's shoulder.
"I say Soichiro, what about trust between people? Even a criminal who committed such appalling cases has times when he needs others' trust. So he said he wouldn't feel pain, and with my simple personality, I chose to believe him and give the criminal a chance to turn over a new leaf."
Hearing these words, Yagami Soichiro didn't even know where to start complaining.
Is trust between people used in such places?
Simple personality?
Believe?
Turn over a new leaf?
"OK."
Seeing "Mask" stand up straight, Yagami Soichiro glanced at the Teru Teru Bozu Killer lying beside him, whose face was already twisted with pain but at least still alive, and finally breathed a sigh of relief as if a heavy burden was lifted.
"Since you're done, I'll take this guy back to the department...."
"Done?"
Yoru interrupted Yagami Soichiro's words and smiled.
"This has only reached five percent; there is still ninety-five percent left."
"Let me show you, Soichiro."
Speaking of this, Yoru casually waved his hand. On the black table, dozens of tools of various shapes condensed from evil spirit power, capable of directly harming the soul, instantly appeared.
"These are the wonderful tools I will use later."
Yagami Soichiro examined them carefully and was puzzled.
"This... why is there a small millstone... and nail clippers?"
"This is hard to explain to you; give full play to your imagination."
Speaking of this, Yoru suddenly reached out his hand and snatched the pistol from Yagami Soichiro's hand before he could react.
"Right..."
Immediately after, he walked up to the Teru Teru Bozu Killer lying on the ground, pulled the trigger without hesitation, and a shot pierced through the opponent's eyebrows.
The Teru Teru Bozu Killer's body twitched, and then lost its aura of life.
"You take this."
Yoru lifted the Teru Teru Bozu Killer's corpse with one hand and threw it in front of Yagami Soichiro like throwing garbage, and also tossed his pistol over, chuckling.
"Chief of Criminal Investigation Bureau Yagami Soichiro, single-handedly dealt with the serial killer and successfully shot him dead on the spot. Truly made a considerable contribution."
"This..."
Yagami Soichiro looked at the bullet hole on the Teru Teru Bozu Killer's corpse, which didn't heal like before, and hesitated.
"Is this guy... dead?"
"From a physical point of view, he is already dead."
Yoru scanned the table in front of him, picked up a small object like a nail clipper with his right hand, looked at that twisted black soul held in his left hand, and spoke with a chuckle.
"As for the torture of his soul, it is far from over."
...
Two hours later, Mai's home.
"Finally... over."
Rio took out her glasses from her pocket again and put them on, breathing a long sigh of relief.
Mai and Miko also looked relieved.
"Then..."
Rio looked at Yoru sitting there.
"What's the next plan? Captain?"
Yoru took a sip from his coffee cup and replied casually.
"Temporarily suspend operations and see the attitude of the Police Department."
Mai nodded in agreement.
"I think so too. At this stage, we haven't found other evil spirits that are a great threat to humans, or areas where 'Doors' exist. This time is different from the past. After all, we appeared publicly on a TV live broadcast; it will definitely cause heated discussions among the public."
"Although we didn't commit any heinous crimes, as the violent law enforcement agency maintaining social stability, it's hard to say if the Police Department will launch a full investigation against us because of this incident."
"Before confirming this, it's better to keep a low profile."
Miko nodded slightly: "Agreed. If mentally too exhausted, it will also easily affect performance in combat. Better put safety first."
Rio spoke thoughtfully: "However, there is one thing I am very curious about."
"This evil spirit should have come out from the Otherworld, but how exactly was it formed? With a twisted human soul taking dominance, it's the first time we've encountered such a thing."
"Oh, about that..."
Yoru said nonchalantly.
"This evil spirit was probably the type formed by Kyoto residents' negative impressions of rainy days."
"Eh? How do you know?"
"Tasted it."
"Tasted..."
Rio and others looked complicated, not knowing how to evaluate.
Can this thing also be tasted?
What gourmet appreciating evil spirits?
Speaking of gourmet...
"What should we do about Tuanzi?"
Hearing this question raised by Mai, Rio and Miko looked at each other, sighed simultaneously, then looked at Yoru sitting there with burning eyes.
The latter still wore a frivolous smile, saying casually.
"Why are you all staring at me?"
"Didn't you say it yourself?"
Rio pouted, undisguisedly showing jealousy, looking slightly displeased.
"To fight the strangeness in this world, we must let capable members closely connect together, which is the so-called creating bonds."
"Now Tuanzi has awakened as a spirit medium, and her Soul True Body seems to be useful."
"So..."
Mai, Rio, and Miko said in unison.
"Leaving it to you, Captain-sama."
"Sure."
.....
Next morning.
"Regarding the Teru Teru Bozu Killer incident that shocked the whole city yesterday, the Police Department has issued a case closure announcement today."
"The suspect was shot dead on the spot by Yagami Soichiro, Chief of Criminal Investigation Bureau of the Kyoto Police Department, at 9:45 last night."
"At the suspect's home, hair matching the DNA of the five victims and clothing stained with the victims' blood were found. The chain of evidence is sufficient to determine he is the Teru Teru Bozu Killer himself."
"Here, Chief of Criminal Investigation Bureau Yagami Soichiro solemnly promises the citizens once again."
"The Kyoto Police Department will never let any criminal go."
"That's all."
....
"That serial killer was finally shot dead."
Marin nestled on the sofa, watching the news broadcast on TV, couldn't help smiling.
"This is great, no need to be scared every time I go out."
Kawasaki Saki looked at Yoru sitting beside her with a calm face, hesitating to reply.
"Y-yeah."
Keika, however, had no scruples, puffing out her cheeks angrily.
"The news report didn't mention 'Mask's' name at all. So many people clearly saw him in yesterday's live broadcast."
Marin nodded, sighing with emotion.
"Yeah, 'Mask' turns out to be more than just an urban legend. Appearing there yesterday, was he going to catch the Teru Teru Bozu Killer? Feels a bit handsome."
Keika nodded repeatedly upon hearing this, the words "Agreed" written all over her small face.
"Right, right, Marin-oneechan also thinks 'Mask' is very handsome, right!?"
"Yeah..."
Marin had a thoughtful look, murmuring.
"However, the clothes of those three mysterious people beside him also look very exquisite. Maybe someone will do cosplay at the next anime convention."
After saying this, Marin laughed carelessly.
"But that has nothing to do with us ordinary high school students. Better think about where to play this summer vacation."
Watching Marin's naive and sweet appearance, Kawasaki Saki, who knew the inside story, couldn't help sighing.
If the opponent could also know the truth one day and become an internal member of the club, she could form a naive and sweet duo with Yuigahama Yui.
When talking about this topic, couldn't Marin feel how weird the atmosphere in the room was?
But on second thought.
If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, Kawasaki Saki wouldn't believe it either.
"Mask", was sitting right beside her.
"Yoru-san."
Yukino stood up and said faintly.
"I have something to tell you."
"Okay."
After entering the study, Yukino frowned slightly, saying softly.
"Is the Teru Teru Bozu Killer really dead?"
Yoru smiled.
"How would I know? I wasn't at the scene. Anyway, the Police Department's announcement says so."
Yukino stared at Yoru's face, seemingly wanting to find flaws from his face.
But finally, she only found one point.
The opponent...
Is indeed very handsome.
Besides that, there was nothing else.
Yukino couldn't see through Yoru's thoughts before, and it was still the same now.
"Since the Teru Teru Bozu Killer is already dead, then..."
Before Yukino finished, Yoru nodded.
"Oh right, I forgot about this. You can move back."
"Eh?"
Yukino froze for a moment, pursing her lips.
"R-right, after telling my mother, I... can move back to live in my own home."
After adding this sentence, Yukino's face was complicated.
"Regarding what you said before, that after the investigation of the Teru Teru Bozu Killer incident ends, you will tell me the truth of the world..."
"It's not over yet."
Yoru shook his head, staring straight into Yukino's eyes, speaking with a smile.
"Yukinoshita-san, regarding the Police Department's announcement completely not mentioning the matter of 'Mask' and others appearing during the live broadcast, what do you think?"
"Is this also one of the tests?"
"You can think of it that way."
After a moment of silence, Yukino finally spoke slowly.
"I think this represents the internal attitude of the Police Department towards 'Mask' and others."
Yoru asked noncommittally.
"What kind of attitude?"
"That is, no attitude."
Yukino spoke while thinking.
"As an official agency, once they mention 'Mask' and the other three mysterious people in the announcement, it is equivalent to admitting their existence."
"If they admit their existence, then facing unidentified people wandering on the edge of the law, regardless of whether the public supports or opposes them, the Police Department as an agency maintaining stability can only adopt one method, which is to issue a wanted notice for 'Mask' and others."
"Judging from the current popularity on the internet, due to yesterday's live broadcast and 'Mask's' remarks, the support rate of Kyoto citizens for 'Mask' has reached over 90%."
"Because of the Teru Teru Bozu Killer incident, the Police Department's credibility in the hearts of the public had already dropped significantly. Now having finally shot the criminal dead, there is a chance to regain the citizens' trust."
"At this time, sticking to conventions and showing a hostile attitude towards an unidentified person who violated the law but became a hero in the public's hearts will only arouse public dissatisfaction."
"So, the Police Department chose to ignore."
"As long as they don't admit the existence of 'Mask' in the official announcement, they can blur their attitude and avoid a situation where they must take a stand."
Speaking of this, Yukino paused and made the final summary.
"But what I just said is only what is on the surface."
"As the official agency maintaining stability, according to the Police Department's usual practice, if there isn't someone strongly opposing all opinions, it's impossible to take such unconventional measures."
"This is enough to prove...."
Yukino stared straight into Yoru's eyes, speaking slowly.
"Inside the Police Department, there is a high probability of a high-ranking, powerful supporter of 'Mask' who has a say, even...."
"An assistant."