The Exorcism time passed quickly, mainly because the resentment in Hiraki Hanako's body was too strong. Shiraishi Kawa, after repeated deep exchanges and Exorcism, finally completely cleared her resentment.
With the increase in the level of the 'Energy' skill, this level of exertion was no longer enough to tire him.
His gaze fell on the adult female figure leaning against the wall, her legs dangling on the floor. The holy light left behind after the forced Exorcism slowly flowed out.
Hiraki Hanako's original white student shirt had been completely torn to shreds during the Exorcism, and as for her skirt, it had long since disappeared.
With the complete removal of the resentment in her body, the shadows at the corners of the girl's exquisite face, which had been the only flaw, completely dissipated. If one ignored her identity as an evil spirit of an urban legend...
She was simply a high school JK girl!
"Your skill 'Purification' gained 4500 experience points (Lv4 → Lv5)"
"Current profession 'Exorcist' all skill level cap."
"The Exorcism is finally over. Although I'm not particularly tired, I still worked hard."
As for the imagined scenario where Hiraki Hanako wanted to escape, and the righteous Exorcist decisively pursued her, leading to a fierce battle in the school dormitory corridor, that plot did not unfold.
Shiraishi Kawa looked at the girl, who was still sobbing with tear stains in her eyes, but he didn't continue to provoke her. He found the red pleated skirt in the corner and handed it to Hiraki Hanako.
"Put on your clothes first..."
"As for that white shirt, I'm very sorry, I couldn't control myself and tore it up. If you don't have other clothes to wear, I can go out and buy you a set now."
"..."
Tears welled up in her eyes.
Hiraki Hanako's dazed eyes found no light. Noticing Shiraishi Kawa's gaze on her, she subconsciously covered her chest with her arms.
Her body trembled uncontrollably... Is this guy really an Exorcist?!
The intense methods just now almost became the trauma of her life. The rampaging Holy Sword Curry Stick, she almost thought it was going to break... Without the initial aggressive tone, her voice was filled with a cry: "Exorcist-sama, the resentment in my body has been completely cleared. May I ask..."
"Can I leave now?"
"You leave, then use your resentment to strengthen yourself, and seek revenge on me after your strength recovers?"
The plot development in the original work was exactly like this.
Logically speaking, when encountering inferior creatures like Goblins, Shiraishi Kawa, whose body was still relatively intact, would still deliver a finishing blow. As for Hanako-chan from the urban legends...
One could vaguely see the initial blood flowing out.
Completely resolving future troubles with the methods of a Holy Sword User would certainly be no problem. The key was that he couldn't bring himself to do it to that extent.
"..."
Her deepest thoughts were seen through. Hiraki Hanako didn't even dare to focus her gaze, quickly shaking her head in denial. If the forced Exorcism continued, her spirit would collapse!
Or, dying at Shiraishi Kawa's hands might even be a release?
She slowly closed her eyes, not expecting that after becoming an urban legend, she would actually graduate smoothly. It seemed there were no other regrets... Except that...
Hiraki Hanako's anticipated end did not come.
Instead, she felt a burning sensation, and her legs and waist were gently held by arms. She opened her eyes again and carefully examined Shiraishi Kawa's handsome face.
"Although I don't know what you've been through."
"But always retaining this resentment, living as an urban legend must be very boring, right? Have you considered a different kind of life?"
Shiraishi Kawa said in a relaxed tone, putting his jacket over Hiraki Hanako's body. As a transcendent, still adhering to worldly customs was somewhat embarrassing.
Even if it was an urban legend.
He wanted them all!
"Huh?"
Hiraki Hanako hadn't expected Shiraishi Kawa to have such an attitude. She clutched the jacket with both hands, and the resentment deep within her heart quietly dissipated.
But a moment later, her smile was a bit self-deprecating.
"Hey."
"Shiraishi Kawa-sama, I am just an evil spirit who can never see the sunlight. Everything you said is beyond my imagination."
"But what if I have a way to help you change?"
#
Having completed the Exorcism in its true sense, Shiraishi Kawa did not linger in the abandoned dormitory building, choosing to return to the apartment building. Following beside him was the girl, wearing his jacket and a red pleated skirt.
The boy walked in front.
And the girl followed silently behind him, her head bowed.
She didn't speak proactively, but Shiraishi Kawa didn't mind, saying in a relaxed tone: "My house is quite big. If you don't want to live together, I can get you a rental apartment."
"If you're not used to the house, I can build you a women's restroom?"
"..."
Hiraki Hanako's expression froze. She really wanted to muster the courage to sarcastically say, "Thank you," even though she was an urban legend, she was more akin to a Jibakurei (earth-bound spirit).
Unable to leave the women's restroom.
But that didn't mean she didn't want to live a normal ghost's life. Now being able to leave the women's restroom, this was already beyond her expectations.
Perhaps, her life could really change because of Shiraishi Kawa?
...Returning to the apartment building.
Shiraishi Kawa settled Hiraki Hanako in the vacant rental room. After taking care of dinner, he would consider how to arrange her specifically.
Perhaps letting her meet Mary would make the subsequent actions much smoother.
Pushing open the security door, the indoor slippers were already neatly placed. Izumi Miori and Sagiri had already arrived, and the mother and daughter were preparing donburi.
At the entrance of the genkan, he smelled a rich aroma.
And at this moment...
A familiar notification sound echoed in Shiraishi Kawa's mind again.
"Ding!"
"Current Dimensional Chat Group members: 10. Chat Group sign-in and points exchange system have been activated."
"No way..."
"I just finished an Exorcism, how did the Chat Group get so many people?!"