Chapter 90: The Simple and Brutal Way to Draw Out Monsters123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfH71CNq5fX
Kouya and the shrine maiden moved through the misty estate side by side, their footsteps muffled by the damp earth. Behind them, the catgirl melted into the shadows, her golden eyes glowing faintly before she vanished completely from sight. The night wind carried the faint scent of pine and soil, brushing past their faces as the two advanced deeper toward the villa.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdkp7iPx2e
It didn’t take long for the signs of chaos to reveal themselves. A massive tree had collapsed across the road, roots jutting up like the ribs of a giant beast. Branches were splintered, the earth around them torn apart, claw marks gouged deep into the ground as if something had been dragged through with inhuman strength. The air still carried the faint, metallic tang of blood.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvajVcPLiRU
"When I arrived at dusk, I asked the client to accompany me to the gate," the shrine maiden explained quietly, her tone calm but tired. "But before we even reached the front, several demons emerged from the shadows. One—a wild boar demon—rammed through the road and toppled this tree, sealing the exit completely."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShwakk74kp
Her voice faded as they stepped closer to the fallen tree. Kouya knelt, brushing his fingers over one of the claw marks. The grooves were deep, the edges still sharp. Whatever made them wasn’t small. The strength behind each strike was monstrous.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFTE2lF1Tj
They left the site behind and continued toward the main building. When they entered the villa’s grand hall, the contrast was almost jarring. The interior was elegant—a perfect balance between traditional Japanese architecture and modern luxury. Wooden pillars stood beside glass walls; tatami mats met marble floors. Gold-trimmed lanterns cast a warm glow that couldn’t drive away the heaviness in the air.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3J2v047mj9
Dozens of guards patrolled the perimeter. They gripped their batons tightly, every small noise making them flinch. Fear hung thick in the room.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡie9vjI170u
On the large leather sofa sat the client’s family. In the center, an elderly man with a square jaw and calm eyes, his white hair slicked neatly back. His posture was rigid, every movement disciplined, like a soldier even in old age.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYT5K4KqJ0
Beside him were a middle-aged couple. The man wore a suit and glasses, his expression tense but courteous; the woman sat close to him, graceful and composed, though her hands trembled slightly as she held a small girl in her lap.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfBoyHS81p
The girl couldn’t have been older than eight. Her cheeks were pale, and her eyes, wide with fear, darted toward every shadow. She looked as if she hadn’t slept in days.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVhJgJT0pb
The shrine maiden and Kouya’s arrival drew all eyes. The man in glasses immediately rose and hurried over. "You must be Kouya-kun! I’m Takeda Koji. It’s a relief you came."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGJfa5EwQl
He extended a hand with a polite bow, his manner respectful despite Kouya’s youth. Clearly, Hirata Sachiko had spoken highly of him.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IQxGZFhR5
After a brief greeting, the pleasantries ended. The tension in the room demanded answers.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkczlWh1sst
"Have you found any way to stop this?" Koji asked, his voice betraying both hope and fear.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsXy7wmLnj
The shrine maiden looked at Kouya. Seeing he had no intention of speaking, she sighed and took the lead. "Mr. Takeda, may I ask—have you made any enemies recently? Perhaps someone in your business dealings who might hold a grudge?"123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5VwZTmaWL
Koji frowned. "You think my competitors hired these… things?"123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtoPRDRPibM
"It’s only a theory," she replied evenly. "Onmyoji capable of commanding demons are rare, but not impossible. Until we uncover the truth, every option must remain open."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNo5uAl028p
Koji was silent for a long moment. Then he exhaled slowly, shaking his head. "Business is never clean. I’ve stepped on toes, sure—but I’ve never resorted to shady tactics, never hurt anyone’s family. I swear it."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwIlBESFfu
"Then it’s likely not human interference," the shrine maiden murmured. Her eyes drifted toward the ceiling, as if sensing something above. "If it’s not a curse born of hate, then something else drew these creatures here. And that means they’re after something—or someone specific."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgFR8ctk4W
The woman on the sofa clutched her daughter tightly, whispering, "Please… please help us. We can’t lose her… Ai’s just a child."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEbiGpTAhH
The shrine maiden’s tone softened. "Don’t worry, Mrs. Takeda. That’s why we’re here. But first, we must know who the monsters want."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHicUcnRqpM
Koji swallowed hard. "And how do you plan to find that out?"123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYUIY9XtAv
"Simple," she said. "You’ll each try leaving the estate one by one. Whoever draws a reaction… is the target. We’ll be nearby, ensuring your safety."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV71HaBwGlJ
Kouya leaned against a column, arms crossed. He didn’t comment. Monsters, ghosts, curses—it was all the same to him. They died just as easily.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePn4fFi0Dx
But he’d learned better than to show his strength openly. People wanted saviors, not reminders of what they feared. So he stayed silent, letting the shrine maiden speak while he watched.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3LLzLM1df
Koji, ever the decisive businessman, nodded after a moment’s thought. "All right. We’ll do it."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpGbxEmKfY
The group moved out under the dim lanterns, accompanied by a handful of trembling guards. The air grew colder as they approached the blocked road. The smell of damp bark and rotting wood filled their noses.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPJ4loWe5t
Koji stood first, straightening his tie as if facing a boardroom meeting. "I’ll go. Please… keep the others safe."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUu74vZVwEI
He stepped past the fallen tree.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczDkFkj1NR
Nothing happened.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3uwtLlX4b
He turned back, eyes wide. "I made it? I’m safe?"123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2KhjwcmYF
"It seems so," the shrine maiden said calmly. "The spirits aren’t after you."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepnFI3XxcQ
Koji exhaled in relief, though his hands were still shaking. His wife followed, clutching Ai’s hand tightly. The little girl trembled as they crossed the threshold—but again, no reaction.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuETDggplnV
Silence.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ck0wnuRzL
Then, all eyes turned toward the old man.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fVACYe642
Takeda Kazuya rose from the sofa with measured grace. His face was pale but steady. "I’ll go next."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpXcYgGOHw
The shrine maiden nodded. "Be careful. We’ll stay close."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOag3fHjnf
"Thank you both."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FMDDBpqZU
He took his first step—and the night itself seemed to hold its breath.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7xIKo96d2
When he crossed the fallen tree, the wind shifted sharply.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaoAvqvVo95
A split second later—123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKb0HEe1p2
A sharp whistle cut through the darkness.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgkDBbID5m
BOOM!123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJObPDJ1vdq
A massive rock exploded against the ground before them, scattering dirt and debris into the air. The impact left a smoking crater just a few steps ahead.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZnvyIhJkL
Gasps erupted from the guards. The little girl screamed and buried her face in her mother’s chest.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRq3tQ3MaDA
Kazuya stood frozen. The shrine maiden’s eyes narrowed, and Kouya’s hand slid casually into his pocket, unfazed.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVNa8g4z7e
"So that’s how it is," Kouya muttered.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs976xVeNxD
Koji was pale. "No! It can’t be! My father’s done nothing wrong! He retired years ago—he’s hardly spoken to anyone outside the family! Why him?"123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2T3U01pTf
"Many things attract demons," the shrine maiden replied softly. "A grudge. A relic. A curse carried unknowingly. Or perhaps something from his past. We’ll need to ask him."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxpho2ykYz
"Father?" Koji turned to Kazuya desperately.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtB6jfP4EKB
The old man took a deep breath, his expression unreadable. "I don’t know why. I’ve done nothing to deserve this. Koji… take your wife and daughter. Leave me here."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS16ScmG8fg
"Never!" Koji shouted. "I won’t abandon you!"123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjx0iCHCjbN
He turned and bowed deeply to Kouya and the shrine maiden. "Please—protect him! I’ll pay you another ten million yen if you keep him alive!"123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXdthWaMDI
The shrine maiden frowned faintly. "If we don’t uncover the cause, even driving them away won’t help. They’ll return."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSelXCKC35
The hall fell into silence, broken only by the faint rustling of trees.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTiYz8VDDp
Then Kouya spoke.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcLfyz7cLg
"If we can’t figure out why they’re coming… why not just ask them?"123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFIMYVtQr7
Everyone turned to him, eyes wide with disbelief.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGuEkqA82On
"A-Ask… the monsters?" Koji stammered.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9j5HqnY8n5
Kouya shrugged. "Sure. Saves time."123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CrfN8B2HG
He stepped forward, his shadow stretching long under the moonlight. His voice rang out across the forest, sharp and commanding. "Hey! You hiding out there! Come on out! I’m asking nicely once. You got the guts to answer?"123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDwMltAXzyS
His words rolled through the trees like a thunderclap, a strange vibration echoing in the still air. The wind stirred. The leaves trembled.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLE7aqqC8ND
The guards exchanged uneasy glances. Even the shrine maiden’s lips quirked faintly, remembering the last time Kouya had used that same ridiculous yet effective method.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0Xr2rkrwV
Koji, nervous, tried to intervene. "M-Maybe we should check the cameras again instead—"123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIq2ZuvyuE7
He didn’t get the chance.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuizcPeCFG
From the darkness came a shrill, rasping caw.123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cPBwGo0jT
"Answer? Fine! You wanted an answer, didn’t you? Who’s afraid of who?! Our boss fears nothing!"123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmNfQkaFG6
1234 copyright protection119ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAXpkxMYwE 尼

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