Yotsuya Miko.
Sixteen years old.
High school student.
Initially, like most girls, she was just an ordinary student.
Until an accident took the lives of her father and younger brother.
Her once warm family was left with only her and her mother.
Although life wasn't too difficult thanks to her father's savings,
Something was always missing from their quiet home.
Until one day... Miko suddenly started seeing, seeing those 'things' she couldn't see before!
And... she also discovered something very terrifying!
Those wandering 'things' harbored strong malice!
They would entangle themselves around ordinary people, asking tirelessly.
"Can you see me?"
"Can you see me?"
In those hoarse questions, an uncontrollable hunger was revealed.
As if the moment the other party responded, they would be devoured!
Gradually... Miko became less cheerful, trying her best to diminish her presence.
Lest she appear too conspicuous and be targeted by those terrifying evil spirits!
Even... when walking, she got used to looking down.
Because... the moment she looked up, she would make eye contact with 'them'!
"Can you see me?"
"Can you see me?"
Always the same, yet hair-raising!
Shrines, temples, churches... Miko had been to many places, but nothing worked.
Even she herself felt despair.
Until... in that remote park, she met that person.
That handsome youth who made her heart flutter, who could communicate with Yokai!
Only then did the first ray of light shine through the cracks into the dark world that imprisoned her!
...reality... In the park... "Actually, you can see, can't you...?"
The terrifying Yokai let out an excited query.
It had been observing Miko for a long time!
Although this girl was very good at disguising herself, she still gave herself away!
"Hehe... hehehe..."
"Hey..."
"You can see, can't you...?"
The Yokai with inverted features opened its grotesque, bloody maw.
Its dark yellow, interlocking fangs were getting closer and closer to Miko's face!
Miko's face was pale, but she remained unmoved.
She wasn't scared stiff; she knew very well.
This cunning evil spirit was still testing her!
Once she showed any unusual reaction, she would die a horrible death on the spot!
So... she just had to pretend she couldn't see...
Miko appeared calm on the surface... but inside, she was already frantic beyond words...
Ren-kun... no... her esteemed President...
If he didn't show up soon, his excellent employee Miko would have to say goodbye to him!
Finally... when the evil spirit's bloody maw was less than half a meter from Miko's small face!
That familiar voice finally rang out... "Hey! You evil spirit bastard!"
"Who gave you the guts to scare my subordinate!"
From his unkind tone, a killing intent, capable of sending shivers down the spines of even evil spirits, was revealed!
As the voice sounded,
Lu Ren, holding two cans of drinks in his hands, walked over with a gloomy expression.
"Oh...?"
The ferocious evil spirit, which had been trying to attack Miko, heard the voice coming from behind him.
His movement paused... his head rotated backward in an incredible way, staring at the newcomer.
"So... you can see..."
The ugly face with inverted features revealed a terrifying, eerie smile.
But his words were cut short by Lu Ren before he could finish!
"I see your mother!"
Lu Ren blurted out a curse, directly reached out his hand, and forcefully grabbed the evil spirit's head!
Then!
He directly poured his violent spiritual energy into the monster's body!
Bang!
The monster's deformed body exploded into fragments, like a balloon filled with water!
And this scene!
Made all the other evil spirits present show expressions of terror!
Run!
Having died once already, they understood the preciousness of life more than any living being!
However!
How could Lu Ren, whose killing intent was set, let them escape?
"Hmph..."
Lu Ren disdainfully raised his finger, pointing at the evil spirits fleeing in disarray.
The spiritual power, compressed into a solid form, transformed into a dazzling beam of light.
Too fast!
Miko's eyes couldn't even see it clearly!
The evil spirits swept by the beam let out piercing screams and wails!
Until they were reduced to ashes, their bodies still maintained the posture of fleeing!
It was over... the terrifying and brutal evil spirits that had made Miko feel despair!
To Lu Ren, they were just bugs to be crushed effortlessly!
...Thump!
Miko's legs went weak, and she knelt on the ground, sobbing and rubbing her eyes with her hands.
"Waaah—!"
"Why did you... take so long to come!"
"If you were any later, you wouldn't see me again!"
The girl cried aggrievedly, tears flowing uncontrollably down her cheeks.
Thump... Lu Ren playfully placed the canned coffee on Miko's head.
"You really dare to say that..."
"It's over an hour's journey from here to where I live."
"After I washed up, I teleported over; I haven't even had breakfast yet!"
Lu Ren rolled his eyes at Miko and lazily sat on the long bench.
He casually pulled the tab open and took a sip of the fragrant coffee.
"Uh..."
Miko's crying stopped abruptly.
She sniffled softly and carefully took the coffee from her head into her hands.
"What is this?"
Miko looked at the pair of golden bells tied with a red string on the canned coffee.
Her pure golden eyes were filled with the clear foolishness of a child.
"That..."
"I snatched it from the mountain god at the shrine on the back mountain..."
"Cough cough..."
"It was given to me by the mountain god; it's a bell that can summon a Shikigami."
"When you need help, just shake it a few times with sincerity."
Lu Ren leaned back in his seat, leisurely drinking his canned coffee.
"Ah—?"
Miko looked at the bell, letting out an incredulous sound.
If her ears weren't mistaken,
She seemed to have heard the word 'snatched' just now!
However... compared to such a minor detail, what Miko cared about more
Was what would happen after ringing the bell.
Miko took a deep breath, clasped her hands together, and placed the bell in her palm.
Jingle!
Jingle!
Miko rang the bell as if praying to a god.
Then... a fierce cold wind suddenly blew through the park!
Ethereal white mist appeared along with the cold wind.
Jingle!
Jingle!
As if responding to Miko, the sound of bells rang from within the white mist.
Two petite maidens, dressed in Miko attire and wearing Fox Spirit masks,
Appeared before Miko!