Chapter 29: The Manifestation of the Soul
"Flash, Retreat, Sell, Run!"
Hearing these words, before Yotsuya Miko could react, she was suddenly scooped up into a princess carry by Yoru.
"Eh!?"
After the pale giant ghost hand and the snake-shaped evil spirit appeared, the evil spirits that had previously gone berserk were now huddled in the corners like little lambs watching two tigers fight, looking timid and submissive.
Miko had originally thought that when Yoru said retreat, he meant taking the stairwell.
The problem was...
Why were they getting closer and closer to the window!?
"Let's go."
Yoru ran to the window with lightning speed. Without any hesitation, he leaped out while holding Miko.
Visually, the scene looked a bit like a teenage version of Titanic.
Except for one crucial point.
This was the twenty-eighth floor.
"Eh, eh, eh!!?"
Feeling the cool breeze blowing from outside the window and watching the concrete ground getting closer and closer, Miko's life started flashing before her eyes.
Am I... going to die here?
Also, jumping from this height, we'll definitely be smashed into meat paste, right?
When they clean up the scene, won't I be fused together with Yoru?
We're doomed.
If I get infected by his "abstractness" and become an abstract ghost, what should I do?
Just as they were less than twenty meters from the hard concrete ground, and Yoru and Miko were about to undergo a Mega Evolution fusion into "Yoru-Tsuya Miko-Xing," Yoru whispered softly.
"Come back."
The pale giant hand, which was fighting the snake spirit on the twenty-eighth floor, seemed to hear Yoru's summons. It flew rapidly through the wall, spread its palm, caught Yoru, and landed them smoothly on the ground.
"Dadadadadada..."
Hearing this strange sound, Yoru frowned slightly. What is that noise?
A Chicago Typewriter (Tommy Gun)?
Are the weapons configurations of the Yakuza in Kyoto this professional now?
Looking down at his arms, he realized what it was.
It turned out to be Miko's two rows of silver teeth chattering uncontrollably, transforming her into a human-shaped Chicago Typewriter.
As soon as he put her down, Miko's legs gave way, and she collapsed to the ground, though her hands subconsciously hugged his thigh tightly.
"Dame dame dame. (No, no, no.)"
"Muri muri muri. (Impossible, impossible, impossible.)"
"I can't, I can't, I can't."
Yotsuya Miko (Soul has left the chat).JPG
Seeing her like this, Yoru pouted and sighed.
"Sigh. Young people these days. Haven't you ever been bungee jumping? You want to be a professional exorcist, but you can't even handle this little thrill?"
There were so many things wrong with that statement that Miko didn't know where to start retorting.
But even if she wanted to retort, she couldn't open her mouth right now.
She was completely shell-shocked.
Just then, two incredibly pale fingers with sharp black nails extended in front of her face.
Miko shrank back in fear.
But what happened next exceeded her expectations.
The index and middle fingers of the white ghost hand slowly pressed together, and then...
Formed a heart shape. (Finger Heart).
"Hah?"
Before Miko could comprehend this bizarre scene, Yoru waved his hand impatiently.
"Alright, alright, stop adding drama to yourself. Disappear."
The white ghost hand seemed reluctant to leave, even waving a "bye-bye" gesture before finally vanishing into thin air.
"What exactly... was that thing..."
Hearing Miko's question, Yoru shrugged and yawned nonchalantly.
"Your performance today really exceeded my expectations. Since you saw it anyway, I'll explain it to you."
Then, Yoru squatted down slightly, looked straight into Miko's eyes, and spoke in a rare solemn tone.
"That thing can be considered... another me, as a spiritual entity."
A look of realization appeared in Miko's golden eyes. She nodded slightly.
"Mmhmm... I didn't understand."
"Sigh, why are you so dumb?"
Yoru rolled his eyes and waved his hand.
"Anyway, you can think of it as my trump card against evil spirits, my strongest ability. Its source is something manifested through my own soul, possessing a nature similar to that of an evil spirit."
"I see. Does this ability have a name?"
"Name? I don't really care about that. Call it whatever you want. Stand, Persona, Superpower, Spiritual Ability, Cheat Code—anything works."
"Is that so..."
Miko nodded noncommittally, then suddenly asked in a small, tentative voice.
"Let me ask you a question."
"Go ahead."
"That giant hand is the extension and manifestation of your soul, did I understand that correctly?"
"Yes, that's the gist of it."
"Then... it made a heart gesture at me just now. Does that represent... deep down in your heart, you actually wanted to make that gesture to me?"
Yoru: "...."
"Hey, sister, at a time like this, can you not be lovestruck? Shouldn't you first ask if you can awaken this kind of ability?"
"Oh, right."
Miko's pretty face turned slightly red, and she hurriedly changed the subject.
"Then, can I awaken this kind of ability?"
"I think you probably can."
"What do you mean by 'probably'? Isn't there a definite answer?"
"It seems you still don't understand."
Yoru patted Miko on the shoulder and spoke earnestly.
"Miko-san."
Being stared at so intently by him, Miko suddenly felt an inexplicable nervousness in her heart.
"Wh-What is it?"
"You and I are very likely the most powerful spirit mediums in the history of Sakura Prefecture."
"Isn't that a good thing?"
"Not at all."
Yoru shook his head.
"This means that if there are things even we don't understand, or evil spirits that neither of us can handle, then even if we search through ancient texts, we can at most find some reference information. No one can provide us with a solution. Do you understand?"
Hearing this, Miko finally realized the gravity of the situation.
What she and Yoru were facing was likely a paranormal event that had never happened in the history of Sakura Prefecture.
Or there was another possibility.
Such a paranormal riot had happened before.
Recalling the scene she had just witnessed in the unfinished building, Miko couldn't help but remember a legendary tale in Sakura Prefecture.
Hyakki Yagyo (Night Parade of One Hundred Demons).
Were she and Yoru alone supposed to deal with such a terrifying future?
Miko felt her shoulders suddenly become much heavier.
Just then.
A drop of rain fell on the ground.
Followed by a continuous, intensifying downpour.
"It's raining."
Yoru muttered to himself as he watched the rain hitting the ground.
Miko looked confused: "The weather forecast didn't say it would rain today."
Yoru: "Did you bring an umbrella?"
Miko asked back: "No. You?"
"Didn't bring one either."
Yoru shook his head and sighed.
"Then it looks like we're going to become drowned rat."