"Then... Ryo-kun, can you walk with me for a bit?"
Uchiha Ryo: "Of course. I'll take you home."
Hayasaka Ai turned to look at Uchiha Ryo seriously. "Ryo-kun, you said today that you are a tiger. But the vast Shinomiya family... is like a missile."
Uchiha Ryo chuckled lightly. "Do you really think an entire tiger can't beat a missile? It's an entire tiger, after all!"
Hayasaka Ai blinked. "Is a tiger really stronger than a missile? How is that possible...."
Uchiha Ryo said with great righteousness, "This is what you don't understand. First! To compare the strength of different things, you need to use various data points for analogy. You understand this point, right?"
Hayasaka Ai nodded.
This was easy to understand. For example, between a cheetah and a wild ox, if you just compare speed, it's definitely the cheetah. If you compare weight, it's the wild ox. But to know which is truly stronger, you need a comprehensive comparison, not just looking at one attribute.
Uchiha Ryo analyzed: "First round, the tiger's jumping ability is three meters, while the missile's jumping ability without external force is 0. The tiger wins."
"Second round, the tiger's bite force is about 450 kilograms. The missile's bite force is 0. The tiger wins again."
Hayasaka Ai was a bit dazed. "No... shouldn't we be comparing them in a real fight?"
Uchiha Ryo held up a third finger.
"Alright, then the third round will be actual combat. The missile explodes and blows up the tiger. Both contestants are eliminated together."
So the final result of Tiger vs. Missile is, the tiger wins with two wins and one draw!
Hayasaka Ai: "...."
Uchiha Ryo laughed loudly. "I'm just kidding. But you compared a tiger to a human, and a missile to the power of the Shinomiya family. Please, never underestimate the strength of human beings! Or rather... never underestimate me!"
.....
After finally taking Hayasaka Ai home, Uchiha Ryo couldn't wait to get home and see what that system reward, [One-stage upgrade for any ability], was all about.
When could he not see Hayasaka Ai's uniform changes? Next time!
"Hmm?"
Under the moonlight, Uchiha Ryo's figure suddenly turned into a puff of white smoke. When he opened his eyes again, a young man with his right eye covered by a spell tag appeared in front of him.
Enyun-chan jumped onto Uchiha Ryo's shoulder. "I used a reverse summoning to bring you here. The energy on this man is immense, and he also took Natsume away."
"He took Takashi?"
Uchiha Ryo narrowed his eyes and looked at the long-haired man in a suit in front of him. The three tomoe in his pupils were already slowly spinning.
"Oh my, this cat youkai's ability is quite special. It has the ability to teleport? But please, don't release your killing intent. I did not take Natsume-san away. Rather... I invited Natsume-san to my place for a gathering."
In the courtyard not far away, Takashi suddenly ran over, holding Nyanko-sensei.
"Ryo-nii! So Enyun-chan's trump card was to summon you. That's great."
Seeing Takashi, Uchiha Ryo finally retracted his aura. "Do you want to get involved in this world? Who is that guy? An onmyoji or a youkai exterminator?"
Takashi smiled awkwardly. "I had no choice. If I didn't go with him, what if he caused trouble at home? Aunt Touko and Uncle Shigeru are still at home."
This was indeed a problem. Even Uchiha Ryo couldn't easily fight youkai or onmyoji in a residential area. If it were ordinary people, it would be fine; one genjutsu would take care of it.
But in the end, the essence of genjutsu was to use chakra to interfere with the opponent's spirit and five senses. Guys with strong spiritual power still had a certain immunity to genjutsu.
"You must be Natsume's sworn brother, Uchiha Ryo, right? Although I don't know why I was blocked by the Shinomiya conglomerate when I was checking your information, you are clearly one of us, just like Natsume, right?"
The young man smiled. "My name is Matoba Seiji, the head of the Matoba clan of folk youkai exterminators. And what I've been investigating recently... is the incident of youkai exterminators being frequently murdered."
Uchiha Ryo shielded Takashi behind him.
"So what does this have to do with us? In the end, we're just civilians who can see youkai. This is your youkai exterminator business."
Matoba Seiji sighed.
"Well, it won't hurt to hear me out.... According to the Matoba family's investigation, the main culprit of the incident seems to be someone from within the youkai exterminators. What's more troublesome is... that person has probably been controlled by an Evil Soul."
An Evil Soul...
Matoba Seiji looked at the two humans and two cats. "Next week, I will convene a gathering of all youkai exterminators in the Tokyo area. I hope you two will do me the honor of attending."
Takashi's brows furrowed.
"Will the real culprit be there too? To gather people without knowing who the enemy is, and not knowing who will be attacked, isn't that very dangerous?!"
Matoba Seiji's expression was serious. "That's why I must root him out at this gathering.... which is why I've found many people like you, who are not professional youkai exterminators but are capable, to help."
Uchiha Ryo nodded. "Are you done? Then let's go, Takashi. Let's leave the youkai exterminators' business to them. There's no need to get involved."
Takashi nodded. "Then let's go home."
Matoba Seiji watched the two's retreating backs. "This isn't a request, but a commission. We are inviting you, who are outside the youkai exterminator community, to help. We will naturally pay a price."
Uchiha Ryo stopped in his tracks.
"You should have said that from the beginning, Head Matoba."
Matoba Seiji smiled. "Because Natsume doesn't seem to be such a profit-driven person, I wanted to invite you with sincerity."
Nice try. You just saw that our Takashi is gentle and tried to get him to work for free, right....
Uchiha Ryo patted Takashi's shoulder. "You go back first. I'll go chat with this guy named Matoba."
"Ryo-nii..."
Turning back to Matoba Seiji, Uchiha Ryo crossed his arms. "I'm not interested in your youkai exterminators' treasures or money. If you want my help, fine... you should be able to contact the reclusive onmyoji, right? I want to see their power."
.....
At Takashi's house, Fujiwara Touko was downstairs preparing dinner. Takashi, on the other hand, was sitting in Uchiha Ryo's room with Nyanko-sensei, looking at him with some worry.
"You agreed to that strange guy's request? Won't it be dangerous...."
Uchiha Ryo turned to look out the window. A gentle breeze blew in, and a single green leaf drifted in, landing on Uchiha Ryo's hand.
"Takashi, have you ever thought about your dream?"
Takashi: "My... dream?"
Uchiha Ryo: "Actually, my dream is very simple. It's just to live a peaceful, comfortable, and blissful life."
Takashi didn't speak. A peaceful and comfortable life, who wouldn't want that.... But ever since he was born, because of his ability to see youkai, he had been drifting further and further away from such a life.
Uchiha Ryo: "I really like the daily life at the Fujiwara's. Aunt Touko prepares sumptuous meals for us every day. Uncle Shigeru, although he's much older than us, still chats with us about everything."
"But there is a very important problem. They are ordinary people.... and we were born different. Your Book of Friends will continuously attract youkai. Even with Nyanko-sensei's protection, you're still frequently harassed by them, right?"
Takashi scratched his head. Nyanko-sensei would sometimes forget to rescue him because he was drunk. Fortunately, there was also Enyun. But even with two cats protecting him, Takashi still occasionally encountered those malicious youkai.
Uchiha Ryo clenched the leaf in his hand.
"So, I will create a world where humans and youkai are truly at peace!"