Before Rio Futaba could respond to this statement, Haruno Yukinoshita asked a question that Yukino and Saki Kawasaki were also curious about.
"Where's Ye Xing?"
Yui Yuigahama took a deep breath, her expression complicated as she pursed her lips and spoke softly.
"He... he's trapped in the Reverse World and can't come out for now."
"Oh, I see."
Seeing Haruno's casual, unconcerned reaction after getting her answer - seemingly completely unworried about Ye Xing's safety - Yukino Yukinoshita couldn't help but frown.
"Sister, don't you understand the seriousness of the situation? Leaving aside our loss of combat power here, Ye Xing alone in the Reverse World is very dangerous..."
"Our?"
Haruno keenly noticed the detail in Yukino's words and smiled meaningfully.
"It seems my decision to have you join this strange club was indeed correct."
Yukino Yukinoshita's frown deepened as she said flatly, "My affairs aren't the focus right now."
"Oh, you mean about Ye Xing?"
Haruno Yukinoshita covered her mouth with a light laugh as if hearing some humorous joke, waving her hand dismissively.
"Tell me, if a tiger entered a forest full of rabbits, would you worry about the tiger's safety?"
Yukino Yukinoshita showed displeasure at these words. "The evil spirits in the Reverse World are much more dangerous than rabbits."
"Well, Ye Xing is much more dangerous than a tiger, too."
After casually replying, Haruno rested her chin on one hand, examining Yukino with an amused look as she said cheerfully, "But isn't it interesting that my little sister-in-law is getting anxious before I, the official girlfriend, have even started worrying? The girlfriend isn't anxious, but the sister-in-law is? That seems rather suspicious, little Yukino?"
"Hmph, official girlfriend?"
Before Yukino could respond, Mai Sakurajima, nearby, expressed dissatisfaction with Haruno's statement first.
"I don't think you're that official, are you?"
"Is that so?"
Haruno Yukinoshita sighed slightly, stroking her abdomen with a wistful expression.
"You're right. Actually, I was planning to tell Ye Xing that I'm carrying his child. Soon enough, I won't be a girlfriend but a wife."
"WHAT!?"
This sudden bombshell news left everyone present completely speechless.
Each person reacted differently.
Miko Yotsuya looked utterly shocked and unbelieving.
Rio Futaba furrowed her brow slightly, seemingly deep in thought.
Mai Sakurajima's eyes flickered with complex emotions.
Yui Yuigahama parted her lips as if doubting her own ears.
Menma and Shoko Makinohara both blushed crimson, apparently imagining what the process of getting pregnant might actually involve.
Hachishaku-sama remained unmoved, continuing to squat in the corner while drinking milk.
Kazusa Touma was different, though.
She actually wore an expression of self-blame and regret, as if reflecting on why she couldn't become the mother of Ye Xing's child, why she hadn't been the first to be successfully impregnated.
Truly typical Kazusa.
"Pfft."
Seeing these high school-aged girls, fooled into such states by her casually fabricated words, Haruno couldn't help but laugh, tears nearly streaming down her cheeks.
"Alright, alright, I was just teasing you all. Hurry up and attend to your proper business."
Miko Yotsuya wore an exasperated expression as she looked towards Hachishaku-sama, who was squatting in the corner and vigorously sucking down milk.
"Hachishaku, I'll leave it to you and Futaba to protect this place's safety."
"Mmm, you can rest assured and leave it to me."
After Miko nodded, the pure white mask with pale golden patterns once again covered her face. Her golden eyes showed no emotional fluctuations as she spoke calmly.
"Let's go."
"Let's purge this city."
...
Meanwhile, within the Reverse World.
"Ye Xing-kun..."
Tamamo-no-Mae looked at Ye Xing, who was playing some kind of instrument, with a helpless expression.
"This humble one dares to say, since we're already injured like this, perhaps we should stop playing for now?"
The suona requires two hands to play, and Ye Xing only had his left arm remaining, making him unable to play the suona.
Therefore, he had switched to playing the harmonica instead.
Facing Tamamo-no-Mae's advice, Ye Xing merely replied with a smile.
"Ah, that's where you're mistaken. If I don't play, how will people know I've arrived?"
Tamamo-no-Mae: "...Do you still have the strength to fight?"
Ye Xing replied matter-of-factly.
"I may not, but you still do, don't you?"
Tamamo-no-Mae was left speechless.
Thus, the human and spirit walked shoulder to shoulder through the streets of Kyoto in the Reverse World, strolling as leisurely and comfortably as if on a spring outing.
The handsome disabled musician with only his left arm remaining, dressed in black casual wear, and the beautiful woman in a kimono, whose every movement displayed elegance and grace, dignified yet charming, formed an extremely eerie picture under the faint black mist surrounding them and the pale red moon shining above.
But as one of the parties involved, Tamamo-no-Mae felt an inexplicable hope.
If only Ye Xing-kun... could remain in the Reverse World forever.
Compared to the human world, this world was clearly more suitable for him.
Of course, Tamamo-no-Mae also understood this was merely her own wishful thinking.
However...
If Ye Xing didn't come to the Reverse World, she could simply go to the real world instead.
After all, the evil spirits that originally belonged to her had already all been eliminated.
Hachishaku-sama, also an evil spirit born in the Reverse World, was living perfectly fine in the real world, wasn't she?
As Tamamo-no-Mae silently pondered these thoughts, she suddenly noticed Ye Xing had led her to a place she had never dared to visit before.
"This place..."
Staring at the hospital building before them, shrouded in night's embrace, deathly silent with only faint flickering yellow lights that made it appear even more eerie, Tamamo-no-Mae wore a tense expression.
"Ye Xing-kun... you... Do you know what place this is?"
"Hmm?"
Ye Xing lowered his harmonica, the pitch-black ghost hand floating behind him. He pointed with his left hand toward the hospital entrance sign, looking utterly unimpressed.
"Can't you read?"
Tamamo-no-Mae rolled her eyes, speaking with evident annoyance.
"This lady can certainly read! I just wanted to ask why you're coming to a mental hospital for no reason? Don't you know this place contains many powerful evil spirits that even I fear greatly - beings with no capacity for thought who act purely on instinct?"
As a dominant power... or rather, a formerly dominant power in the Reverse World, though Tamamo-no-Mae had learned about the Reverse World's true nature and her own origins through Hachishaku-sama's explanations, when it came to familiarity with the Reverse World, the members of the Supernatural Society were clearly no match for her.
Within Kyoto's Reverse World, there were many areas that even the powerful Tamamo-no-Mae dared not approach casually.
This was one of them.
Kyoto Mental Health Sanatorium, located in Kyoto's suburbs, is commonly known as Kyoto Mental Hospital.
Tamamo-no-Mae had always known this place was dangerous, but only after understanding the Reverse World's true nature did she realise why it had become such a hazardous zone.
While most people's impressions of mental hospitals varied, they were undoubtedly negative.
Especially since many horror films and games used mental hospitals as their theme, further deepening people's negative emotions.
What emerged from this...
Were evil spirits filled with the purest killing intent, incapable of any communication, crazy like the demons of hell, possessing incredibly powerful strength.
Facing Tamamo-no-Mae's question, Ye Xing softly uttered words that made her heart tremble with fear.
"Because I'm hungry."
"And this is the hungriest I've felt since awakening my spiritual power."
In that moment, looking at Ye Xing's flippant smile, Tamamo-no-Mae suddenly felt that the terrifying beings within this mental hospital - the ones that made ordinary evil spirits keep their distance - didn't seem so frightening after all.
No matter what kind of evil spirit, no matter what appearance they had...
In Ye Xing's eyes, they were all pure food, differing only in power level, texture, and flavour.
"Ye Xing-kun..."
Though Tamamo-no-Mae thought this, she glanced at his missing right arm, her brow furrowed with concern as she gently advised.
"You just went through a battle a few hours ago... you said yourself that you're just an ordinary human now. Even if you want to regain your power quickly... you should start with those average-strength evil spirits... for your first... meal. That would be safer."
Seeing Ye Xing still looking unconvinced, she gritted her teeth with a resolute expression and extended her jade-like, smooth, tender right arm.
"If necessary, you can eat me instead."
"Eat you?"
Ye Xing shook his head, chuckling lightly as he teased.
"That would be like self-production and self-consumption - essentially me eating my own... well, you know. Too disgusting, I can't do it."
Tamamo-no-Mae looked utterly speechless, not knowing where to begin with her retorts.
Good grief, you usually devour those bizarrely shaped, increasingly ugly evil spirits without hesitation, even taking your time to savour them carefully when you have the chance.
Yet now, at this critical moment, you tell me this is disgusting?
How remarkably principled of you.
"Furthermore," Ye Xing suddenly changed the subject, gazing at Tamamo-no-Mae with a gentle smile as he spoke softly.
"You're my important partner, not food. No matter what happens, I would never eat you."
Hearing these words, Tamamo-no-Mae felt deeply moved. She wasn't the tsundere type - if she felt touched in her heart, she would naturally show it through her actions.
"This one is very grateful that you would say that."
Tamamo-no-Mae gave a slight bow before gazing at the hospital building with only a few lit windows, pursing her lips hesitantly.
"Must you enter regardless?"
"Correct."
"Even when Onimaru Kunitsuna and spiritual power cannot be used, leaving you as an ordinary human who might be torn to shreds and devoured by those frenzied evil spirits - you would still take such a risk and enter?"
"Correct."
"Very well."
Tamamo-no-Mae abandoned her attempt to dissuade Ye Xing, her charming face displaying rare determination and seriousness.
Her feet in wooden clogs and white socks stepped forward steadily as she walked resolutely toward the hospital building, speaking in a calm tone.
"In that case, this humble one's power is limited and cannot guarantee your complete safety."
"But this humble one promises that even in death, I shall die before you."
It was rather amusing to say.
Though Tamamo-no-Mae was an evil spirit born from the legend of the nine-tailed fox demon, she had never consumed the essence of any human male.
At least, not until a few hours ago.
In fact, Ye Xing, Rio Futaba, Yui Yuigahama, and Miko Yotsuya...
These four were the first humans she had encountered since her birth.
Tamamo-no-Mae was a conservative female... mother evil spirit.
Having done such things, whether for healing purposes or other reasons...
Her chastity was ultimately lost.
Yet Tamamo-no-Mae felt no regret.
Since she had acknowledged her master, she would carry her commitment through to the end.
...
The human and spirit slowly entered the hospital building before them.
Upon crossing the threshold, both Ye Xing and Tamamo-no-Mae simultaneously detected an inexplicably eerie presence.
No special perception was needed - merely seeing the blood and body parts scattered across the pure white hall, with lights flickering strangely, confirmed this area belonged to the extremely dangerous category within the Reverse World.
"The evil spirits here... typically don't leave their designated areas."
While vigilantly observing the corners beyond the light's reach for any hidden terrors, Tamamo-no-Mae whispered explanations to Ye Xing.
"This humble one didn't understand initially, but now I realise they differ from Hachishaku-sama and me - they aren't independent entities but evil spirits formed from people's negative emotions toward this mental hospital. They neither wish to leave nor can they, or they would dissipate."
After listening, Ye Xing nodded approvingly and smiled.
"You're already developing the demeanour of a professional exorcist, learning to analyse situations."
"Please be serious."
Tamamo-no-Mae spoke gravely as they moved toward the stairwell.
"Though this humble one... after consuming your... that... has experienced some power increase, I haven't recovered fully and can only exert about half my maximum strength."
"Moreover, this humble one's true form is too conspicuous. If it were just me, it wouldn't matter."
"But you must understand, even though you cannot use your powers now, you are still a genuine psychic - a delicacy in the eyes of evil spirits. This humble one would not wish to see you, who just formed a contract with me, end up being devoured by evil spirits. Therefore, it's better to be cautious."
Ye Xing smiled and slowly walked forward.
"I'm being extremely cautious."
Tamamo-no-Mae followed behind him, rolling her eyes helplessly.
You call this cautious?
You're practically being reckless.
Despite missing an arm and being unable to use spiritual power, he actually dared to challenge one of the most difficult instances in the Reverse World's Kyoto.
Tamamo-no-Mae felt both helpless and strangely admiring.
It seemed Ye Xing-kun didn't possess this extraordinary mental fortitude - remaining unfazed when facing evil spirits and still being able to act abstract - because he had powerful strength.
He had always been an abstract person.
Although this was Tamamo-no-Mae and Ye Xing's first joint operation, they had surprisingly reached a tacit understanding in certain matters.
For example...
Not taking the elevator.
The elevators in the Reverse World could still operate normally.
But what kind of place was this?
A mental hospital where crazy evil spirits wandered, where terrifying evil spirits could appear at any moment.
Taking the elevator?
Tamamo-no-Mae and Ye Xing wouldn't touch such foolish horror movie tropes.
"About this premeditated attack, have you figured anything out?"
While walking in the stairwell, Tamamo-no-Mae heard Ye Xing's question and couldn't help frowning in confusion.
"With your intellect and exorcism experience... you don't seem to need this humble one's analysis, do you?"
Ye Xing replied casually.
"Ah, it's just that my brain substitute isn't around. You can temporarily take on the role."
Tamamo-no-Mae stuck out her tongue and made a face at Ye Xing, slightly displeased.
"Hmph, so this humble one is just a replacement."
"Hey, that's not right."
Ye Xing said seriously.
"You still have irreplaceable uses."
Tamamo-no-Mae became very curious upon hearing this.
"What uses?"
"Being my mount... of course, in the literal sense. If it's the other kind of mount, I already have plenty."
"Speaking abstract nonsense again."
Tamamo-no-Mae could vaguely understand what Ye Xing meant by the other kind of mount.
She simply didn't care.
Although Tamamo-no-Mae was an evil spirit born after appearing in the Reverse World, her thinking was actually quite similar to that of traditional Japanese women.
For a professional exorcist as powerful as Ye Xing to have a harem...
Wasn't that perfectly normal?
What was the big deal?
"Hmm..."
Tamamo-no-Mae recalled the details of the incident and said thoughtfully.
"First, the enemy definitely understands your abilities, and..."
Tamamo-no-Mae wasn't foolish - quite the opposite, she was very intelligent. After all, she was the clever evil spirit who, upon first meeting Ye Xing, recognised his strength and chose cooperation rather than confrontation.
The motives and analysis she provided about the enemy coincided with what Rio Futaba in the real world had deduced.
However, what followed was something Rio Futaba, who wasn't in the Reverse World, couldn't possibly analyse.
"If my guess is correct, the black mist that perpetually drifts through the Reverse World, never dissipating and impossible to see through - combining these properties, it likely represents one of humanity's deepest fears: the fear of darkness and the unknown."
"And the initial sudden eruption of the black mist... was probably due to some unusual change occurring in the real world... A power outage? Quite clever indeed."
"However, judging by how the black mist is gradually returning to normal, your companions in the real world must have gained the upper hand."
"As for the mastermind behind this incident, the only one I can think of who possesses such a level of wisdom and power, and can command other evil spirits..."
Just as Tamamo-no-Mae reached this point, she noticed Ye Xing making a silencing gesture ahead.
She immediately fell silent and looked forward.
What met her eyes was the distinctive hospital stairwell door with its two semi-transparent windows.
Tamamo-no-Mae saw clearly.
Behind those two semi-transparent glass panels...
Lingered one after another shadowy figures with indistinguishable features.