Chapter 35: Open Your Eyes, Hundred Eyes
That white dress. That unusually tall stature. That cascading black hair.
And that oppressive aura that made one's breath catch in their throat.
There was absolutely no mistake.
Yotsuya Miko was 100% certain.
The tall woman in front of her was definitely not human, but the ghost from Sakura Prefecture's folklore—Hachishaku-sama !
"Miko-chan, what's wrong?"
Unlike Miko, whose pupils were already trembling, Yui Yuigahama yawned lazily and waved to Sablé standing at the door.
"Come here quickly, Sablé. If you bark like this every night, the neighbors will be troubled."
Calm down, calm down, calm down.
Miko gritted her teeth, suppressing the fear in her heart.
The training she did with Yoru over the weekend was prepared for moments like this.
As long as she didn't let the other party know she could "see," she wouldn't be harmed.
As for fighting her?
Miko hadn't even considered such a ridiculous idea.
This was the legendary Hachishaku-sama!
Using games and light novels as an analogy, this was like a rookie player who hadn't even finished the tutorial and hadn't named their character yet running straight into an Elite Boss!
I must send a message to Yoru.
Harboring this thought, Miko tried her best to stop her hands from shaking as she prepared to type a text message to Yoru.
Just then, the door to the apartment swung open inexplicably, without any wind.
Sablé, who had been guarding the door, immediately rushed out.
"Sablé?"
Seeing her dog run out, Yui didn't hesitate at all and chased after him out the door.
"Yuigahama-san..."
Miko didn't even have time to stop her.
It's bad. It's over. It's GG.
Only these words floated in Miko's mind.
Humans who couldn't see evil spirits wouldn't be harmed by them.
The problem was...
Could the legendary Hachishaku-sama really be measured by the behavioral patterns of ordinary evil spirits?
If it was truly like the stories she heard as a child, Hachishaku would lure the target out of the house before killing them.
Now Yui had already gone out.
What would happen next?
Miko took a deep breath. Even though her legs were trembling, she typed the message and sent it to Yoru while firmly walking out of the apartment.
She couldn't just watch Yui get into trouble.
At the very least, before Yoru arrived, she had to protect her friend.
When Miko chased out the door, she saw a scene she had never seen before in her life.
Under the pale moonlight, the apartment corridor was filled with yellowing white paper scraps drifting from nowhere.
There was even a thick layer of paper scraps piled on the ground, reaching up to her ankles.
"What... on earth is this..."
Miko's cold sweat had already soaked her pajamas.
At the end of the corridor, Yui had found Sablé and was holding him in her arms.
Seeing Miko follow her out, she walked back quickly, smiling apologetically.
"Sorry, sorry. Maybe Sablé was too excited because we have a guest today and disturbed your sleep."
"N-No, it's fine."
Miko tried her best to force a smile. Although her gaze stayed on Yui's face, her peripheral vision could see it clearly.
The tall figure of Hachishaku was standing right behind Yui.
Amidst the cascading black hair, only a pair of inhuman, pale pupils stared straight at Miko.
"Yu-Yuigahama-san, hurry back inside. It's cold out here, don't catch a cold."
I can't hold on.
Miko felt she really couldn't hold on much longer.
"Mmhmm, let's go back."
Yui smiled sweetly and nodded. She gently patted Sablé's head and said righteously.
"You're not allowed to run around anymore."
Just then.
"Haa..."
Hachishaku, standing behind Yui, suddenly parted her lips slightly and let out a sigh filled with endless resentment.
That wasn't the main point.
What made Miko's pupils dilate in shock was that with Hachishaku's sigh, the tips of Yui's peach-pink hair actually fluttered slightly.
How is this possible!?
Hachishaku's breath moved Yui's hair?
But Yui is just an ordinary person who can't see. Evil spirits shouldn't be able to touch her!
The next second, in Miko's horrified gaze, Hachishaku extended an incredibly pale finger, gently lifted a strand of Yui's hair, and grasped it in her palm.
And Yui, the person involved, was completely unaware, still looking adorable and clueless.
"Miko-chan, why aren't you going in?"
The situation was this:
If Yui took one more step forward, she would feel someone pulling her hair.
And what would happen after that...
Miko didn't dare to imagine.
"Woof! Woof! Woof!"
Sablé barked furiously at Hachishaku, baring his teeth.
"Eh? Why are you barking again?"
Yui was very confused and subconsciously prepared to turn her head.
Miko acted faster than her thoughts.
Bang!
By the time she realized what she had done, she had already slapped Hachishaku's hand away with her left hand, shoved Yui directly into the apartment, slammed the door shut, and leaned her back against it to block it.
"Miko-chan?"
Inside the door was Yui's call.
Outside the door, Miko faced Hachishaku.
"You... can see me?"
Hachishaku first asked softly, her voice carrying a desolate emptiness.
But immediately after, it turned into a hoarse roar.
"You! Can! See! Me!"
In this moment, Miko's mind suddenly became incredibly calm.
All surrounding sounds seemed to vanish.
No matter how fast Yoru moved, it had been less than a minute since she sent the message.
This time, he couldn't save her.
"Is this... my end..."
Facing Hachishaku's giant right hand covering her face, Miko had only one thought.
I'm unwilling to accept this.
I really am unwilling.
Why did I awaken the "Sight"?
Just to experience this moment of despair?
Even though...
I just saved someone using the power of these eyes for the first time.
"Unwilling?"
A woman's voice suddenly rang in Miko's mind.
"You can only 'see', yet cannot change anything. Have you finally become disgusted with such a weak and powerless self?"
"Then, call out my name."
As the voice fell in her mind, a barrier of black mist appeared in front of Miko, blocking Hachishaku's outstretched hand.
A strange light flashed in her golden eyes.
"I see. So this is the ability of the soul's manifestation."
Panic and hesitation vanished from Miko's heart.
She looked straight at Hachishaku in front of her and spoke clearly, word by word.
"Open your eyes, Hyakume!"