A kindly old woman sat behind the counter, draped in a cloak favored by mystics for dramatic flair, its edges adorned with crimson eyes, evoking a "Thousand-Eyed Cult" aesthetic. At least seventy, she toiled at her stall—a testament to her resilience.
Her eyes gleamed upon seeing Kagura.
He noticed a purple crystal ball beside her, its radiance far brighter than the first shop's, suggesting this place might hold genuine treasures.
"Let's check it out."
Elated, Kagura instinctively grasped Miko's wrist, pulling her toward the counter.
Miko froze briefly but followed obediently without protest.
The old woman, barely containing her excitement, scrutinized Kagura. He gestured politely toward Miko. "Madam, I'd like to select a protective charm for this young lady. Could you show us your finest items?"
"Oh…" The shopkeeper, Downtown Godmother, eyed Miko, rubbing her hands with a sly smile. "I've got quality goods, but they don't come cheap."
A seasoned peddler, she could spot wealth or poverty at a glance. Though Kagura and Miko dressed modestly, she recognized his left wrist's watch—a model worth at least fifty million yen.
"Uh…"
Miko hesitated, tugging Kagura's sleeve and shaking her head, signaling to try the next shop.
Her modest wallet couldn't withstand such prices.
The Godmother's gaze shifted to Kagura, implying, You're picking for your companion—show some generosity.
Kagura chuckled, thinking, This shop's intriguing… quite the shrewd merchant!
Meanwhile, Yulia clenched her fists, glaring at Kagura's back. "Master, Master, Zeamura's loaded—sell him something good and fleece him!"
Though repeatedly rejected as Godmother's apprentice, Yulia considered her a mentor.
Kagura raised a hand to Miko. "It's fine, let's see."
Turning to Godmother, he said, "Please bring out your true treasures… Since this crystal ball's displayed, you must have items three or four tiers above it, right?"
"Oh ho… A discerning young man."
Godmother squinted, letting out a heartfelt praise.
Her crystal ball was no trifle, but the other displayed items were mere trinkets.
"You flatter me; I only know a bit."
Kagura pinched his thumb and index finger close together.
"Please wait a moment…"
Godmother rose, heading to the shop's depths without looking back.
Met a capable one, and a rich one at that. Perfect chance to sell 'that'… The girl's clearly tangled with something unclean. I won't let a child like my granddaughter suffer…
But profit's still profit!
Smirking, Godmother opened a safe in the shop's innermost recess.
Outside, Miko, hands icy, murmured, "Zeamura, I…"
I can't afford this…
"No worries. If it's truly good, I'll cover it."
"Ah…"
Miko's teary eyes thought, What a debt I'll owe…
Soon, Godmother returned, cradling two redwood boxes—one flat, one taller. The taller bore a faded seal, like a binding charm; the flat one, darker, was unmarked.
"The black one's five hundred thousand; the sealed one, more potent, is two million. You can see the difference, young man…?"
Her withered hands glided over the boxes. Kagura noted their glow: faint silver on the black, pale gold on the sealed—clearly a tier higher.
"F-Five hundred thousand…"
Miko gasped, itching to drag Kagura away.
He shook his head. "Can I inspect the black one first?"
"Of course."
Godmother smiled proudly, lifting the black box's lid with care.
Inside lay prayer beads emitting a soft silver glow, crafted from wood, with nine large beads engraved with Chinese characters and corresponding Sanskrit, forming the Nine-Word Mantra Kagura knew well.
"Facing soldiers, fighters, all arrayed, advance." He murmured, pointing. "May I handle it?"
"Certainly, but it's precious. Be gentle."
"It won't explode on touch, will it?"
Kagura smirked, winking.
He'd pay for quality—money was no issue—but he wouldn't tolerate scams.
"No, no, I, Downtown Godmother, don't play such tricks."
Kagura lifted the beads.
Just as he was about to tell Miko, "These are decent," the beads' rubber string snapped with a CRACK!, scattering beads across Miko and Godmother's heads.
"Ow…!" Godmother yelped, rubbing her head. Miko clutched her forehead, hissing. Kagura checked on her. "Yotsuya, you okay?"
"I-I'm fine…"
Miko's mind trailed ellipses, shaking her head.
It really exploded…
"Ahem, Madam, this…?"
Kagura pointed at the scattered beads, smirking.
From her pole, Yulia gasped.
"No matter, Godmother hasn't played her trump card… The sealed box holds the real treasure!"
She reassured herself, trusting her "Master's" prowess.
"A fluke!" Godmother's face flushed. She tore the seal off the red box, opening it. "No compensation needed. Try this—our shop's ultimate treasure, the mightiest prayer beads!"
Like the first, they bore the Nine-Word Mantra, but made of emerald-like material, vividly green.
Relieved no payment was demanded, Miko exhaled. Kagura calmly lifted the beads under watchful eyes.
Then—
Hiss…
A faint sound.
All three leaned in. The emerald beads cracked in Kagura's hand, crumbling into fine green powder, finer than river sand, drifting away, leaving only the rubber string.
Kagura and Miko exchanged stunned glances, then stared at Godmother.
Yulia's jaw nearly hit the ground.
"T-Two million…"
Miko trembled, thinking, I can't even sell myself for that… I'm done!
"No…" Godmother, awestruck, shook her head, taking the string from Kagura, gazing at him reverently. "Sir… who are you…?"
"Ahem…" Kagura was dumbfounded, unprepared for beads shattering at his touch.
He summoned the system.
"Greetings, Lord Kagura. Your issue stems from your [Nine-Word Mantra] ability, granting unparalleled spiritual power. Potent protective items can't withstand your touch—the stronger they are, the more they shatter. Weaker ones are unaffected."
"So I'm a jinx?"
Kagura chuckled wryly.
"No jest. You must respect your spiritual might. [Nine-Word Mantra] is extraordinarily potent."
"Fine… End service." Returning to reality, he pointed at his shoulder. "Can you see it?"
"…"
Godmother squinted, straining to discern his shoulder.
After a moment, she faintly glimpsed an outline—a nine-tailed fox?
She removed her hood, stepped from her seat to open ground, faced Kagura, clapped twice, and bowed ninety degrees, hands clasped. "My eyes are dim, failing to recognize a sage. My deepest apologies…"
Her动作 mirrored a shrine prayer.
"Wow…"
Miko gaped at Kagura, then Godmother, mouth agape.
Yulia was the most shocked, stumbling from behind the pole, crashing to the ground.
Her fall went unnoticed by Kagura and Miko, but Ai, ever-vigilant unlike Eriri, spotted her as the tiny girl from the first shop.
"H-How… My revered Godmother, bowing to him…?" Yulia rubbed her reddened forehead, scrambling back behind the pole.
Is Zeamura's spiritual power greater than Godmother's? She's the strongest I've met, versed in countless rites… Yet his touch shatters beads, and she bows… Should I seek a new master?
Yulia fixed her gaze on Kagura's back.
"No, no…" Kagura helped Godmother up, glancing at a speechless Miko, thinking, "System, what now?"
"Lord Kagura, you're overcomplicating. Why seek external tools? Protect her yourself."
The words struck like a thunderbolt, leaving Kagura dazed.
Of course—[Nine-Word Mantra] was his power, not a trinket. It should enable exorcism, talismans, and seals.
Seeking a donkey while riding one!
"Ahem… How do I do it?"
"For instance, write the Nine-Word Mantra on her with a pen. Try it later."
"Alright, I'll try. End service."
"You owe nothing. Leave—my wares aren't worthy of you."
Godmother waved generously, though visibly shaken, likely questioning her existence.
Kagura and Miko departed.
"Sigh…" Miko lifted her wrists, teary, voice near death. "Zeamura… what do I do…? Sniffle…"
"Today, I'll take matters into my own hands."
Noting the time, Kagura led her to a budget buffet barbecue joint Hachiman had mentioned. Slightly pricier by three or four hundred yen, it offered private booths. Since no charms were bought, a small splurge was fine for Miko.
Crucially, a female spirit, as short as Yulia, loitered by the entrance, a "Spirit" tag on her chest, holding a sign: Big brother, play with me~
"See it?"
Kagura nodded toward it from across the street.
"Ugh!"
Miko glanced, biting her lip, nodding frantically.
"Let's eat first. I'll teach you to handle her after. This place okay?"
"Totally fine…"
Seeing the "buffet" sign, Miko relaxed, clenching her fists and nodding firmly.
During the meal, Miko was listless. Kagura feared she'd cry into her pillow if sent home unresolved. She ate little meat—just potatoes, corn, enoki mushrooms, and peppers, with a few chicken cartilages. Kagura ate sparingly too.
The booth's charcoal fire died. Kagura had Miko wait, fetched a translucent brown plastic cup from the drink machine, filled it half with ice water, half with hot water, mixing to about forty degrees, and returned to the cramped four-person booth.
Closing the stiff wooden door, he set the cup before Miko, pointing to the empty seat beside her. "Mind if I sit there?"
"Of course…"
Miko scooted toward the wall, though space was tight. She tossed her backpack across, making room.
Her eyes lingered on the water. She nearly said, "Is that for you? I don't need it," but her lips only twitched.
Kagura gazed at her silently, making her shy, before asking, "Scared?"
"Uh… of what?"
She averted her eyes, thinking, Sitting beside you? Not scary…
"What I'm about to do."
"Huh?"
Miko shrank against the wall, hands retreating into her sleeves, one covering her mouth, visibly nervous.
"Hahahaha, you're really spooked!" Kagura laughed, pointing at the cup. "Don't worry, I'm just planning to write on you."
"Uh… Like a talisman, right?"
She glanced at the cup, easing her hand down.
"Something like that. You okay with it? If so, I'll try."
He recalled the shop's entrance, smiling and raising his right hand.
Instantly, the girl spirit loitering outside was yanked to their booth's opposite seat, like a piercing gravitational pull.
This was a [Nine-Word Mantra] ability, effective only on spirits.
"Eek—?!"
The move terrified Miko. She turned, clutching her knees, trembling, face pale, lips a wavy line, eyes spiraling like mosquito coils, voice quivering.
If not pale but flushed, one might quip, Classmate, you don't want to miss a talisman and get haunted, right?
To Miko, the once "pretty" girl spirit now clawed wildly, eyes hollow with bloody tears, limbs gaunt like a starved centenarian, restrained by an invisible net preventing her advance.
"She's under my control. No need to fear."
Kagura patted Miko's trembling shoulder, startling her again. She slumped, grabbing his leg, head against his chest, panting heavily.
"Ah… huff… ah—" Covering her mouth, legs shaking, she pulled back, tears welling. "Zeamura… don't scare me like that… sob…"
"Sorry, sorry. Did you hear me?"
"Uh… Please repeat."
"Her actions are controlled. Don't be afraid. Want to try me writing… uh, a talisman on you?"
He pointed at the cup.
With his potent spiritual power, even a random scribble might work.
Seeing her teary eyes, he couldn't resist teasing her—much like Eriri, easily reduced to tears.
"Y-Yes…"
Miko glanced at the snarling ghost, then at Kagura's calm demeanor, admiring him more. She touched her flat stomach, then her leg, before extending her right hand, palm up.
Her terrified yet resigned look resembled a child baring their rear for a shot.
"Don't worry, just writing. It won't hurt." Kagura raised his right hand, hovering his index finger over her palm. "Okay?"
"Mhm…"
Miko swallowed hard, eyeing the ghost, fearing it might break free.
She'd seen countless ghosts but never admitted seeing them, always ignoring them. Realizing she could see it, this ghost turned ferocious.
Kagura, unfazed, chatted as if the clawing spirit didn't exist.
What composure and confidence! Zeamura's incredible.
"Heh, let's use your hand's back. Water on the palm distorts too easily."
"Y-Yeah…"
Miko flipped her hand.
Kagura held her right wrist with his left hand, having her consent. She flinched at his touch, her palm sweating, unaccustomed to male contact.
Her face flushed, avoiding his gaze, likely forcing calm.
But Kagura misread—Miko was thrilled.
Miko Yotsuya was a hand fetishist, drawn to beautiful hands. Kagura's slender, well-kept fingers, honed by piano and pampered, hit her sweet spot. His elongated middle, index, and ring fingers—capable of reaching Ai's depths—were perfection.
"Writing now."
Kagura dipped his right hand in water, bringing a droplet to her hand's back.
"Mhm…"
Miko nodded solemnly.
Writing Chinese characters was tedious, so he chose a simple kana "い." Meaningless alone, it was a test.
As his finger touched, Miko trembled violently, more than Ai in ecstasy. Her cheeks flushed, breathing quickened, eyes locked on his fingertip, as if yearning to lick it.
"Uh… Yotsuya, you okay?"
Kagura panicked, unsure if she was.
"Ahem… I-I'm fine…"
"But you're shaking. Really okay?"
"It's fine… Please write… Anything."
Miko bit her lip, thinking, Oh no, oh no! Why's this so intense?! I'm soaked… I nearly climaxed! What perverted fetish is this? It's addictive…
"I'll continue then."
Kagura eyed the cup warily—plain water he'd fetched. No odd additives, right?
"Please… go on."
Miko slipped into honorifics.
Still odd, but with her consent, he dipped again, slowly tracing "い."
Miko shook again, legs pressed tight, toes curling, breathing sensually, suppressing blissful gasps.
As he dotted the right stroke, her left hand covered her mouth, hips thrusting forward twice. She bowed, flushed, hair veiling her face, panting.
Did I… climax? From him writing on my hand? Seeeko, what's wrong with you?! Snap out of it! This isn't the time to get aroused! How can you lust after Zeamura? What face do you have for Yui? If the school girls knew, you'd be burned at the stake.
Coughing to mask embarrassment, she waved her left hand to silence his questions, pressing it to her abdomen, panting before saying, "I'm fine…"
"Doesn't look it…" Kagura grew wary. "Yotsuya, you're not allergic to men, are you?"
"Probably not…"
She tucked her hair, feigning composure.
No glow or miracle followed, but Miko didn't doubt him—his earlier feat was too striking.
"Really? Try touching it."
He pointed at the now-calm ghost, which, to his optimized view, was just a seated block-person.
"R-Really touch it?"
Miko gripped her right wrist with her left hand.
Damn… I didn't bring spare panties… Gotta get home. Climaxing like this… Not just panties, my hotpants are soaked. What's happening?
Due to Kagura's world-altering "Squirt, Girl!" item, Miko's climax drenched her underwear, seeping into her hotpants.
"Just touch it. It's safe."
Kagura focused on teaching her to handle spirits.
"Okay…"
Miko clenched her left fist, half-standing, edging her right fist toward the ghost.
The ghost wailed, flailing in refusal, blood tears streaming, muttering, "No… don't… please…"
Miko steeled herself, shut her eyes, and pushed forward.
The moment her fist touched, the ghost vanished into firefly-like golden specks.
Miko peeked, blinking in disbelief, then turned to Kagura.
"Nice."
He gave a thumbs-up.
Miko couldn't hold back. Sobbing pitifully, she hugged him, crying into his shoulder. "Zeamura, thank you… sob I was terrified, so terrified… I thought I'd be eaten… waaah…"
She soon pulled back, covering her mouth, mumbling, "Sorry… Got carried away…"
"No problem." Kagura pulled her to his right shoulder, patting her arm gently. "Scared, huh? You're safe now. I'll help, and… you can borrow my shoulder for a bit."
"Ugh…"
Miko froze, eyes wide, speechless.
I'm… hugged by Zeamura? By that Zeamura… Good thing no one saw, or I'd be torched at school Monday…
In a booth two doors down:
The scarlet charcoal fire had died, leaving faint meat and roasted vegetable aromas. Ice clinked in a translucent brown cup, mingling with the bzzz of a taser—a harmonious scene.
Eriri, in her mustard-yellow cap, sat alone. Opposite were Ai, stone-faced with taser in hand, and Yulia, hands on knees, head bowed.
Yes, Yulia Nimudou, her blonde hair fading to peach-red.
"Fine, thought you were suspicious. Since you're a Sobu High classmate, it's a misunderstanding."
Eriri propped her chin, bored.
"Huff… huff…"
Yulia panted softly, eyeing Ai's taser nervously.
Indeed, as Kagura and Miko left Godmother's shop, Ai and Eriri "arrested" Yulia, the "unknown figure," and coerced her into the booth, interrogating her with the taser.
Yulia's sole declaration: I want to apprentice under your brother!
She mentioned neither spirits nor Kagura's power, just a vague "apprenticeship," leading Eriri and Ai to dismiss her as a chuunibyou, letting her go.
"My apologies." Ai pocketed the taser, gracefully kissing an inch above Yulia's hand. "Due to Young Master Kagura's status, he's guarded nearby. Sorry for implicating you—your behavior was rather odd."
"Oh…!" Yulia blushed, yanking her hand back, pouting and turning away. "Sorry my behavior's so weird~"
Her words carried a barb, but since Eriri's side erred, they had little to say.
Ai, in male disguise, was a stranger to Yulia.
"Whatever, this meal's our apology, and—" Eriri pulled out dozens of ten-thousand-yen bills, stacking them and tapping Yulia's face like dismissing a beggar. "Take it. Don't tell anyone about today."
"Don't underestimate me!" Yulia swatted her hand, arms crossed, glaring. "My family doesn't need your pocket change!"
She nearly snapped, "What's with that attitude?" but the taser's threat silenced her.
Yulia's parents were wealthy, though far below Kagura's league, with one foot in the bourgeoisie. Abroad often, Yulia lived in a Chiba villa with maids, her allowance generous, often spent on overpriced psychic trinkets and books.
(Her home's lavish decor, seen in manga and anime, screams wealth.)
"I don't want money. If you're apologizing, I have one request."
"Oh? Let's hear it."
Eriri's curiosity piqued, raising an eyebrow.
Yulia pointed, face stern. "Introduce me to your brother!"
"HAA?!" Eriri leaned forward, slamming the table, standing. "No way, you're dreaming!"
Another vixen!
Yulia shrank, muttering, "Y-You don't have to get so mad…"
"Oh… ahem, sorry…"
Eriri, knowing she was wrong, dipped her head and sat, resuming her propped-chin pose.
Fuming, she kicked Yulia under the table.
"Ow—!" Yulia clutched her leg, face scrunched, slamming the table. "Talk properly! Why kick me?"
"No reason… You just annoy me."
"Huh—?"
Yulia retaliated, kicking back.
"OW—!"
Eriri grabbed her ankle.
Soon, they were kicking like brawling schoolboys, barely restrained by the charcoal brazier, or they'd have grappled. Ai watched, face twitching.
Please… You're high schoolers. Act mature.
After lunch, Kagura offered to escort Miko home, but she declined, so he called Nao to drive him back.
Both thought Miko was now ghost-proof, but they were gravely mistaken.
Saturday, 7:40 p.m. After an afternoon of piano, Kagura stretched, returning from the second floor to his third-floor bedroom. Sayuri's room was wide open, empty, a white bra and panties strewn on the bed—wherever she'd gone.
He shut her door, planning a shower and rest, when the system chimed.
"Greetings, Lord Kagura. New bounty: Choose one or skip:
A: Sniff a woman's underwear deeply.
B: Sniff your own underwear deeply.
C: Pick up the walkie-talkie by the bed."
"Sniff a woman's underwear… Right after I saw Mom's? Creepy." Kagura shuddered, choosing, "C."
He grabbed the walkie-talkie for Kawasaki.
The system chimed, "Thank you for completing the bounty. Rewards: [Random Hole] x3 and one Female 5% Sensitivity Enhancer."
"Random Hole…?"
Kagura puzzled over the system's quirks.
"As the name suggests, this item creates a hole at a random nearby location, trapping someone without seeming unnatural. Activate by saying, 'Random Hole, Open!'"