Chapter 90: The Simple and Brutal Way to Draw Out Monsters124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡft5rClURta
Kouya and the shrine maiden moved through the misty estate side by side, their footsteps muffled by the damp earth. Behind them, the catgirl melted into the shadows, her golden eyes glowing faintly before she vanished completely from sight. The night wind carried the faint scent of pine and soil, brushing past their faces as the two advanced deeper toward the villa.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjSanTIhSz
It didn’t take long for the signs of chaos to reveal themselves. A massive tree had collapsed across the road, roots jutting up like the ribs of a giant beast. Branches were splintered, the earth around them torn apart, claw marks gouged deep into the ground as if something had been dragged through with inhuman strength. The air still carried the faint, metallic tang of blood.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42MuduDmlL
"When I arrived at dusk, I asked the client to accompany me to the gate," the shrine maiden explained quietly, her tone calm but tired. "But before we even reached the front, several demons emerged from the shadows. One—a wild boar demon—rammed through the road and toppled this tree, sealing the exit completely."124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIp0fcWIR5
Her voice faded as they stepped closer to the fallen tree. Kouya knelt, brushing his fingers over one of the claw marks. The grooves were deep, the edges still sharp. Whatever made them wasn’t small. The strength behind each strike was monstrous.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIvH0nGGL4
They left the site behind and continued toward the main building. When they entered the villa’s grand hall, the contrast was almost jarring. The interior was elegant—a perfect balance between traditional Japanese architecture and modern luxury. Wooden pillars stood beside glass walls; tatami mats met marble floors. Gold-trimmed lanterns cast a warm glow that couldn’t drive away the heaviness in the air.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH34TWrKKz1
Dozens of guards patrolled the perimeter. They gripped their batons tightly, every small noise making them flinch. Fear hung thick in the room.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdP3Nq593UI
On the large leather sofa sat the client’s family. In the center, an elderly man with a square jaw and calm eyes, his white hair slicked neatly back. His posture was rigid, every movement disciplined, like a soldier even in old age.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72VYv93w2n
Beside him were a middle-aged couple. The man wore a suit and glasses, his expression tense but courteous; the woman sat close to him, graceful and composed, though her hands trembled slightly as she held a small girl in her lap.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu06bti1sx5
The girl couldn’t have been older than eight. Her cheeks were pale, and her eyes, wide with fear, darted toward every shadow. She looked as if she hadn’t slept in days.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNjhq4Ymrt
The shrine maiden and Kouya’s arrival drew all eyes. The man in glasses immediately rose and hurried over. "You must be Kouya-kun! I’m Takeda Koji. It’s a relief you came."124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFVdBfZFZV
He extended a hand with a polite bow, his manner respectful despite Kouya’s youth. Clearly, Hirata Sachiko had spoken highly of him.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzM7lChmZo2
After a brief greeting, the pleasantries ended. The tension in the room demanded answers.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6OPxfj5Xc
"Have you found any way to stop this?" Koji asked, his voice betraying both hope and fear.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKQQMYMGZb
The shrine maiden looked at Kouya. Seeing he had no intention of speaking, she sighed and took the lead. "Mr. Takeda, may I ask—have you made any enemies recently? Perhaps someone in your business dealings who might hold a grudge?"124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AxpC8cVMe
Koji frowned. "You think my competitors hired these… things?"124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzMfRsMhcE
"It’s only a theory," she replied evenly. "Onmyoji capable of commanding demons are rare, but not impossible. Until we uncover the truth, every option must remain open."124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmWIP0Jzpj
Koji was silent for a long moment. Then he exhaled slowly, shaking his head. "Business is never clean. I’ve stepped on toes, sure—but I’ve never resorted to shady tactics, never hurt anyone’s family. I swear it."124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0M2v6rjNCq
"Then it’s likely not human interference," the shrine maiden murmured. Her eyes drifted toward the ceiling, as if sensing something above. "If it’s not a curse born of hate, then something else drew these creatures here. And that means they’re after something—or someone specific."124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpt6znH4B9m
The woman on the sofa clutched her daughter tightly, whispering, "Please… please help us. We can’t lose her… Ai’s just a child."124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDugYg8NYcC
The shrine maiden’s tone softened. "Don’t worry, Mrs. Takeda. That’s why we’re here. But first, we must know who the monsters want."124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tdPqxk5fB
Koji swallowed hard. "And how do you plan to find that out?"124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDl4uxQJJD
"Simple," she said. "You’ll each try leaving the estate one by one. Whoever draws a reaction… is the target. We’ll be nearby, ensuring your safety."124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjXKc64mJC
Kouya leaned against a column, arms crossed. He didn’t comment. Monsters, ghosts, curses—it was all the same to him. They died just as easily.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqcJla83QI
But he’d learned better than to show his strength openly. People wanted saviors, not reminders of what they feared. So he stayed silent, letting the shrine maiden speak while he watched.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVxIosoRNJ
Koji, ever the decisive businessman, nodded after a moment’s thought. "All right. We’ll do it."124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvtjJq2BXF
The group moved out under the dim lanterns, accompanied by a handful of trembling guards. The air grew colder as they approached the blocked road. The smell of damp bark and rotting wood filled their noses.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8ey3j6Ipo
Koji stood first, straightening his tie as if facing a boardroom meeting. "I’ll go. Please… keep the others safe."124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlu0kLqLINB
He stepped past the fallen tree.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCu6RsCk0Aa
Nothing happened.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyO3T57oCO
He turned back, eyes wide. "I made it? I’m safe?"124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7KNP2AG4K
"It seems so," the shrine maiden said calmly. "The spirits aren’t after you."124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwSHXj0PCU
Koji exhaled in relief, though his hands were still shaking. His wife followed, clutching Ai’s hand tightly. The little girl trembled as they crossed the threshold—but again, no reaction.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ14a1n4spKg
Silence.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MUSRVJWrq
Then, all eyes turned toward the old man.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3nmZsFkEVP
Takeda Kazuya rose from the sofa with measured grace. His face was pale but steady. "I’ll go next."124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Hs63CGjTB
The shrine maiden nodded. "Be careful. We’ll stay close."124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1uJvqm8WB
"Thank you both."124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkWdcVowvY
He took his first step—and the night itself seemed to hold its breath.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvCE43yBQH
When he crossed the fallen tree, the wind shifted sharply.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4qSTXbn6M
A split second later—124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOieIEXlBVj
A sharp whistle cut through the darkness.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCWibELmCv
BOOM!124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50lKTi8XQ4
A massive rock exploded against the ground before them, scattering dirt and debris into the air. The impact left a smoking crater just a few steps ahead.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zaaLpHhlB
Gasps erupted from the guards. The little girl screamed and buried her face in her mother’s chest.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlF2Nk8e0nE
Kazuya stood frozen. The shrine maiden’s eyes narrowed, and Kouya’s hand slid casually into his pocket, unfazed.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxS1aaPIzSn
"So that’s how it is," Kouya muttered.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiJTkTqhV5
Koji was pale. "No! It can’t be! My father’s done nothing wrong! He retired years ago—he’s hardly spoken to anyone outside the family! Why him?"124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbsfkpn2vWn
"Many things attract demons," the shrine maiden replied softly. "A grudge. A relic. A curse carried unknowingly. Or perhaps something from his past. We’ll need to ask him."124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjm7YVBZUg6
"Father?" Koji turned to Kazuya desperately.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPGmCp4395
The old man took a deep breath, his expression unreadable. "I don’t know why. I’ve done nothing to deserve this. Koji… take your wife and daughter. Leave me here."124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblkc8RUB5n
"Never!" Koji shouted. "I won’t abandon you!"124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmWCk7Dtef
He turned and bowed deeply to Kouya and the shrine maiden. "Please—protect him! I’ll pay you another ten million yen if you keep him alive!"124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxKYLq02MQ
The shrine maiden frowned faintly. "If we don’t uncover the cause, even driving them away won’t help. They’ll return."124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Io434PuSW
The hall fell into silence, broken only by the faint rustling of trees.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3ZpuybWIZ
Then Kouya spoke.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKebELBQHF
"If we can’t figure out why they’re coming… why not just ask them?"124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5d2ysau06
Everyone turned to him, eyes wide with disbelief.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQbxk5qz0i
"A-Ask… the monsters?" Koji stammered.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGELLDBKVRk
Kouya shrugged. "Sure. Saves time."124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyo2lBkRn2
He stepped forward, his shadow stretching long under the moonlight. His voice rang out across the forest, sharp and commanding. "Hey! You hiding out there! Come on out! I’m asking nicely once. You got the guts to answer?"124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLh3rwz6un
His words rolled through the trees like a thunderclap, a strange vibration echoing in the still air. The wind stirred. The leaves trembled.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEIidqrEtBe
The guards exchanged uneasy glances. Even the shrine maiden’s lips quirked faintly, remembering the last time Kouya had used that same ridiculous yet effective method.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGadIemaCU
Koji, nervous, tried to intervene. "M-Maybe we should check the cameras again instead—"124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudsRyU0z5Y
He didn’t get the chance.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGxZpzRru4
From the darkness came a shrill, rasping caw.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPQthrzqIy
"Answer? Fine! You wanted an answer, didn’t you? Who’s afraid of who?! Our boss fears nothing!"124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMY4z2Pwm3
1234 copyright protection120ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiKfgWAht0 尼

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