Chapter 18: The New Residents of Hinata-sou
Hikigaya had heard of Snow Spirit Foods.
Specifically, Komachi liked this brand of ice cream, and Hikigaya had tried it too; it was indeed delicious.
But he had not expected that the Demon Claw Nube would exist in this world, and that Komachi's favorite ice cream would be made by a Snow Woman.
A yokai who controls ice and snow going into the ice cream business is basically cheating.
The biggest cheat, though, is definitely the Demon Claw Nube. This guy managed to severely corrupt a yokai whose original purpose was freezing people into popsicles. And he didn't stop there; he corrupted quite a few yokai, even mythological spirits like the demons of Hell.
What powerful ability to derail expectations!
Watching Nueno Meisuke call his wife with a heavy heart, Hikigaya noticed that he specifically instructed the Snow Woman not to come over.
That's quite strange.
There are now too many strange things about Nueno Meisuke...
First, the Demon Hand's extremely weak mythological aura, and now his reluctance to meet with the Snow Woman.
The Nueno Meisuke of the past had given up his large-breasted conquest for the sake of the Snow Woman.
What exactly happened over the last decade or so?
He believed the mystery would soon be revealed. Perhaps his opportunity for a transaction with Nueno Meisuke lay right here.
It is difficult to deal with someone like Nueno Meisuke because such people are too full of positive energy and too knowledgeable; they can easily discern and refuse anything even slightly bad.
What this person cares about is nothing more than power and emotion, with the former serving the latter.
Nueno Meisuke is both very strong and very weak. Strong because he, a human, has coexisted with a mythological spirit for too long, making him unlike a human in many respects. Weak because his system of incantations is too wild—completely unsystematic and unofficial. It's enough for him to teach and exorcise demons for his students, but it's inadequate on a high-level stage. However, the strong emotions he possesses always grant him a cheat mode at such times.
But that sounds so exhausting! Hikigaya states he has a Power Gift Pack. Though it has a time limit, well... he can buy it multiple times!
As the saying goes, if you want to stay strong, you must upgrade your equipment in time!
Glancing at the solemn Nueno Meisuke, Hikigaya left.
The phone call had made the date clear: the weekend.
Leaving the school, Hikigaya manifested nearby and used spatial magic to return directly to the shop.
Back in the store, he greeted Moe and then plunged straight into the back room.
This was his merchandise production area.
"What should I prepare..." Hikigaya pondered, looking at the room full of materials.
He definitely needs to make a Power Gift Pack. Given that Nueno Meisuke's primary job is exorcism, and he likes to use sutras and prayer beads, perhaps a Lethal Skewer of Ultimate Doom would be appropriate.
Correction. The Buddha Bestows a Blessing Upon Thee would sound better. "Killing" and "skewering" are too unharmonious; Nueno Meisuke definitely wouldn't like it. He prefers guiding yokai to Nirvana/Buddhahood.
Hmm, as for achieving Buddhahood, let's pretend that's real.
If there truly were a bug in this world that allowed someone to send others to Buddhahood, wouldn't the gods and buddhas who fiercely protect their divinity pound him to death first!?
Given that Nueno Meisuke has lived for so many years without being struck down by a disgruntled god, it's clear that the spirits he "sends off" haven't actually attained Buddhahood.
Deciding to act immediately, Hikigaya pulled out a string of prayer beads from the miscellaneous supplies.
Please don't ask how much these prayer beads cost. It's not important; they're beads, aren't they?
Hikigaya wrapped the beads around his hand a few times and activated his Authority.
This Authority, composed of the power of Shooting the Sun and Chasing the Sun, Hikigaya named Setting Sun. This power can choose to magnify the target's power of plenitude or choose to strip it away, causing the target's annihilation without a trace.
Power leaked out from Hikigaya's skin and gradually entered the prayer beads. It was refined into a magical item. Because this was his childhood idol, Hikigaya was generous for once, not only strictly ensuring it had a sufficient power output level but also enabling it to be used nine times, even without plundering the power of plenitude.
In other words, Nueno Meisuke could use it nine times even if he only used it to help humans or yokai. If he used it against an enemy, provided the accumulated life energy was substantial enough, he might be able to use it one extra time.
Alright, the Power Gift Pack is ready. Now for the Family Gift Pack.
Nueno Meisuke doesn't seem to have children, which is normal. Although his life force is strong, he is human, and his wife is a yokai. Inter-species reproduction is not that easy.
Hikigaya decided to ask the fox spirit when she was brought over, and then develop new products with a specific focus based on her insight.
Finding a box, Hikigaya placed the prayer beads inside, sealed it, and walked toward the front room.
In the front room, he placed the box in the most conspicuous spot on the display shelf, ensuring Nueno Meisuke would immediately notice it when he entered later.
Hikigaya did not apply any enchantment to the box itself; for an experienced exorcist like Nueno Meisuke, the sun's power would make him instantly aware of the prayer beads' existence.
This was not like the initial item he casually made; this was a very powerful combat item. Among all similar goods in the shop, it represented the highest level Hikigaya's current skill could achieve.
After placing the item, Hikigaya sensed familiar life auras approaching the Yorozuya.
Seeing the people appearing in front of the shop door, he smiled.
"Hachiman!" Seishuin Ena, who was carrying her weapon as always, walked at the front of the group. She eagerly approached him, but when she hugged Hikigaya, she seemed shy and whispered in his ear, "I've come..."
Then, without batting an eye, she subtly "crashed the ball" (bumped her chest against him) and skillfully avoided the referee.
'This little temptress is getting more and more skilled...'
Hikigaya, who immediately paid his respects to the sun, thought this, and lightly patted the large mound under Ena's skirt to show that he absolutely loved this maneuver.
Then, having just let go of Ena, he was immediately subjected to the sharp attack of a shockwave.
Unlike Ena, Haruno threw herself into his arms with great enthusiasm, then twisted continuously, seemingly using this method to prove to Hikigaya that her body was capable of growing even more openly.
"Hachiman, I have answered your summons. Please give your commands if there is anything you need." Liliana Kranjčar, whom he hadn't seen in a while, walked into the shop. She was slightly startled by the hormone-fueled scene, but she clearly tried hard to maintain her proud knightly posture. After entering, she bowed properly and adopted a blind eye toward Haruno clinging to Hikigaya.
But there were two others following.
Mariya Yuri walked in timidly, slightly afraid to look at Haruno's brazenness. She quietly said hello, then went aside to whisper to a discontented-looking Ena.
And when the last person entered the shop, Haruno, who had been twisting restlessly in Hikigaya's embrace, ended her study of physical mechanics with lingering reluctance. She then took this person's hand and said to Hikigaya, "Hachiman, surprised?"
"A little bit." Hikigaya nodded. "I saw your sister's message. So you're a Tokyo University student now. Very impressive."
"It's nothing," Yukinoshita Yukino reached up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear and said, "I didn't expect such a coincidence either. It's been a while, Hachiman."
Then she held up the fox spirit in her hand, indicating that she had brought a gift and hadn't come empty-handed.
Hikigaya made eye contact with Tamamo-no-Mae, and he thought he read the meaning: "This woman is so terrifying! Save me quickly!"
Then he pretended not to see it.
'Hmm? Yukino seemed to have casually called me by my first name just now...'
Hikigaya carefully thought back. He had to admit, he had performed quite a few intimate actions with her, even though their relationship still seemed to be just that of old classmates.
This was a strange thing. With anyone else, they would have rolled from the bedside all the way out the door by now.
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