Chapter 157 – As Long as You Have the Guts, Even a Female Ghost Takes Maternity Leave!
Hokage Renji: [Hasn't time already been speeding up over there?]
The timeline in the Conan world was bizarre. Yesterday was Valentine's Day, and tomorrow might suddenly turn into the Ghost Festival.
Not long ago it was said that Sadako still owed him fourteen days. Now she was back again, speaking loudly?
Daily Renji: [No choice, I woke up this morning and found it was the day Sadako comes to claim my life.]
For a while, whenever Renji checked, it was either one day before Sadako's arrival, and then the next day it jumped to fifty days, or even a year away.
But this morning when he woke up, the time had shifted again.
Even so, when Miko saw Renji's calm expression, she was so nervous she couldn't help herself. The moment she learned today marked the seventh day since watching Sadako's videotape, she barely washed up before rushing straight to Renji.
"Relax a little. It's just a female ghost. Do exactly as I told you before."
In the past, Renji might have worried somewhat, but now he felt that as long as it wasn't the Sadako from novels, then it wasn't a problem.
If it really were the novel's Sadako, then there was no need to resist. With his strength, facing that version of Sadako would be the same as announcing his own death.
"Is it really effective?"
Miko stiffened. She had thought Renji was joking, but judging from his expression, he really planned to go through with it?
Over the past few days, the talismans Renji gave her had already protected her from ghostly harassment. Returning to a somewhat normal life had made her quite grateful to him. But gratitude was one thing—did he really think she was that gullible?
A malevolent ghost!
After receiving the videotape, Miko had investigated it herself and reached a shocking conclusion: everyone who watched it died. That made her feel like she was facing a mortal enemy. Yet recalling Renji's past ways of handling ghosts, her anxiety eased somewhat.
"Of course it works. This is my invention. If not, then we'll just watch again!"
Watch again my foot!
Miko forced down her urge to spit out those words.
Still, Renji's full confidence made her question whether she was simply overthinking. Maybe his method really could work.
"Enough, don't overthink it. Move the television over here and line up the two screens."
They would try it first. If it failed, he could act then.
After all, horror-movie Sadako was one thing; a science-fiction Sadako would be another matter entirely.
"Want something to eat?"
"Better not."
"Even if you die, you should die a full ghost, no?"
Renji pushed some snacks toward her, motioning for her to take some.
"Are you a devil?"
Miko, who had just managed to calm herself, felt her nerves rise again.
But even so, she accepted the food. Perhaps, as Renji said, the saddest thing was to die while starving.
She had not eaten that morning when she rushed out, and now her stomach was growling. She did need some energy.
"See? Eating makes it easier to relax. As long as you have the guts, even a female ghost takes maternity leave. With me here, don't be afraid."
"You saying that only makes me more afraid!"
Miko realized she had underestimated Renji's shamelessness.
How could he even say such a line?
Her boss really seemed abnormal. As his female subordinate, how was she supposed to protect herself?
She suddenly remembered a post she had once seen online. Back then, she thought, just quit the job if it happened. But now she felt that very warning was striking her right between the eyes.
Her boss might be scarier than a ghost.
"What? You thought I'd make a move on you? Don't joke, Miko, I'm not that desperate."
"..."
Was she that undesirable?
She was stunned. What did he mean by that?
Renji lounged back in the chair, feet on the desk, flicking his fingers. "It's not that you're lacking—it's that my standards are high."
"So boss, you're saying you have plenty of experience in this field?"
She thought, wasn't Renji a student just like her? How could he be so practiced?
"What do you think?"
"But I heard that at school, you're known as part of the 'big talkers' group."
Miko looked at him innocently, but her tone carried a trace of schadenfreude.
Since working for him, she had naturally asked around about him, and she found out something few people knew.
He was famous for boasting. Always spouting all sorts of slick lines, but never once seen alone with a girl outside school.
"Ahem—you're questioning your boss?"
Renji's face darkened. Which little rat had spread that?
He really was a big talker. He liked to flirt, but mainly because of the balance-of-the-fishpond policy in school.
If he actually went after one girl, the others would be pushed away. So usually he just talked. If benefits delivered themselves, he might take advantage a little, but nothing further.
Otherwise, how could he keep the balance?
Take Kasumigaoka Utaha for instance. If he really got involved with her, he wouldn't even make it to the next day. The whole pond would explode immediately.
"Of course not. I just think you don't mean what you say. But I do believe you're an upright person."
In the end, Miko reluctantly praised him. To her, Renji was just a boastful LSP, but she knew not to push a person too hard.
"So you've seen through me after all!"
Renji rubbed his forehead. He had hidden it so well, yet Miko still discovered it?
Indeed, the outstanding could never remain concealed; they would always be noticed in the end.
Narcissist.
Inwardly, Miko stuck another label on him.
"But boss, you really—"
Before she could finish, the television flickered with static. A white-clothed, long-haired woman appeared on the screen.
Miko's eyes widened, and she swallowed her words.
She had wanted to ask if he really dared.
But the moment she saw the ghost, she realized she had thought too much. Renji probably wouldn't dare either, right?
Although part of the figure was blocked by the second television, she could still see the ghost stepping toward the screen. One hand stretched out of one screen and into the other.
"No way—it really crawled in!!!"
Miko watched in shock. She had thought Renji's plan was so foolish that even an idiot wouldn't be fooled. Ghosts weren't brainless.
Yet the ghost actually crawled from one television to the other, again and again. Miko felt her entire worldview collapsing.
"Hmph, you fools. Let me show you how stupid this is."
Sadako slapped one of the televisions aside. She had only meant to toy with them, to let them see just how idiotic their little trick was.
Of course she could tell what the televisions were doing. Besides, without using her ability, she could never transfer between them.
And yet, that naïve woman had actually believed it.
Sadako thought she had toyed with them enough. She was about to harvest their souls when she suddenly noticed the man before her holding a strange banner, smiling at her.
At that instant, she felt a strong sense of foreboding.
Not because of Renji himself, but because of what he held.
"Be good. If you don't behave, this Soul-Summoning Banner will give you a harsh lesson!"
Renji smiled as he looked at Sadako. After confirming she was subdued, he rubbed his hands together and slowly walked toward her.
In Miko's eyes, this scene made him look exactly like some creepy old pervert.
Renji reached out and brushed aside the hair covering Sadako's face. Staring at her features, he realized she resembled the Sadako of urban legends.
An alluring face, sailor uniform, long white socks—was this how a ghost should look?
"Look at yourself. Are you really a ghost? What kind of ghost dresses like this? Tell me, are you a proper ghost at all?"
What?
Are you serious? Are you serious? Are you serious?
Sadako's eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at Renji. How could she not be a proper ghost! Did becoming a ghost mean she wasn't allowed to dress herself anymore?
But under the pressure of the Soul-Summoning Banner in his hand, her confidence faltered, and she didn't dare shout back at him.
"By the way, Miss Sadako, since you came all this way, do you offer any… special services?"
"?"
Boss, have some shame!
Miko held her forehead. Just moments ago, when Renji was scolding the ghost, he reminded her of their school's bald, strict head teacher—fearless when lecturing troublemakers.
But with this line, he shattered all the favorable impression she had just built up.
He really had no shred of decency!
"You watched the videotape. You're cursed. I came to kill you!"
Sadako spoke weakly, almost on the verge of tears. In all her years as a ghost, it was her first time meeting someone like this.
The first thing he asked was whether she had special services.
Was killing him supposed to count as one?
"Well, to be killed by such a cute ghost like Miss Sadako wouldn't be so bad."
"Really?!"
Sadako's eyes lit up. Could he be serious? A fool who actually wanted to be killed?
Miko nearly collapsed after hearing Renji's words.
What was wrong with him? Did he seriously want to die just because the ghost was pretty?
And she had watched the tape with him—did that mean she would die too? Her world suddenly seemed dark.
"Of course I'm serious. But I can't stand pain, so I'd like to choose the way I die. How about that?"
"Of course you can!!"
Sadako nodded eagerly. Then Renji whispered something into her ear. She froze, then her face flushed red with fury as she glared at him, as if she wanted to kill him on the spot.
He was mocking her! He dared!
She suddenly realized if she stayed any longer, she might really fall into his hands.
"Wait here, I'll be right back."
Sensing danger, Sadako decided to retreat. She ran toward the television to leave, vowing never to return again.
Half her body had already entered the screen when Renji grabbed her foot. From behind came the words she least wanted to hear: "Hey, Miss Sadako, a ghost should keep her word. If you run, won't your ghost sisters laugh at you?"
With that, Renji yanked her back out of the television. Seeing her despairing expression, Miko finally understood—the devil had always been right beside her.
What exactly had Renji said to frighten Sadako into wanting to escape?
"I'm a ghost. Can't you just let me go, pretend I was never here?"
Sadako's voice was pitiful. She had no way out now and could only hope Renji would let her off for being a ghost.
To have fallen this low as a ghost—forced to beg humans for mercy—Sadako felt utterly defeated.
"Don't be silly, Miss Sadako. I don't kill women."
"Really?"
"But female ghosts are another matter. So, Miss Sadako, are you sure you want to leave?"
Out in the wild, if you found a wild Sadako, what would you do? Naturally, first check if she was pretty. If she was, then of course you'd catch her!
Especially a sailor-uniform, white-sock, alluring Sadako.
Renji felt that this videotape wasn't here to claim lives, but to deliver him a gift. How could he refuse a gift sent from heaven?
"What do you want me to do to be spared?"
Seeing Sadako's weak expression, Miko suddenly thought this ghost didn't seem scary at all. On the contrary, it felt like watching a movie scene.
Was Renji about to make some outrageous demand?
Maybe take photos first? Then use them to threaten her? Then she would step by step fall into his trap?
Why did she suddenly feel excited?
Miko shook her head quickly, pushing down that thought. It felt a little too terrifying.
"Let me think… Miss Sadako, can you have children?"
"No! Absolutely not! I'd rather die outside than agree to such an outrageous demand!!"
Facing Renji's probing questions, Sadako decided to defend her dignity. If she gave in now, she would lose everything later.
This devil wanted to crush her bottom line step by step, to achieve his wicked dream. He even wanted a ghost like her to have children!
"Don't be so nervous. I'm just curious if you can, not saying I want to. But Miss Sadako, haven't you ever thought about that question yourself?"
Huh?!
She actually hadn't thought about it before. Wait—why was she even thinking about this nonsense!
Sadako quickly realized Renji was deliberately guiding her thoughts.
She resolved to resist and never let him trick her so easily.
"Forget it, I won't tease you anymore. Miss Sadako, my office just happens to need a ghost to help with some work. No pay, but room and board included. Want to join?"
Work?
Wasn't that a little too sudden!
From their conversation, Miko had more or less guessed what Renji had whispered earlier to make Sadako want to flee.
She thought he would keep pressing like before, but this sudden shift caught her completely off guard. Only afterward did she realize something.
She herself was also working for Renji.
Could it be he was using "employment" as a cover to build his own private harem within the company?
Such an evil plan—only someone as innately wicked as Renji could come up with it!
(End of Chapter)
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