Volume 1 Chapter 24 Encounter II – The Place We Must Protect
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
They passed through a path lit by floodlights, entering a narrow corridor just wide enough for 2 cars to barely pass each other.
The ceiling, about 3 meters high, was lined with cables, and lights were installed at regular intervals, illuminating walls and floors with a strange texture that was neither dirt nor stone.
”Whoa, Suzuri-chan, can’t believe you didn’t know ’bout this place.”
”What do you mean?”
As they moved smoothly through several turns to the right and left, Suzuri, still looking tense, narrowed her eyes.
”Well, ya might know the location (Umeda), but Shiun-san’s the one in charge of findin’ and lookin’ after this place. And yet, the eldest daughter, and a second-class like you, Suzuri-chan──.”
Naoshi suddenly stopped, pretending to realize something.
”──If you have something to say, why not just say it clearly, Nao-nii?”
”I ain’t sayin’ you’re bein’ a bad daughter or nothin’.”
”You’re saying it clearly! I didn’t expect to lose your trust to the point where I wouldn’t be told something so important…!”
”When did I become the one to teach ya a lesson?”
”It was a blessing in disguise.”
”That ain’t soundin’ like you’re really reflectin’ on it. Why were you actin’ so wild back then? It don’t seem like your character.”
”Honestly, I don’t want to look back on that time.”
”It wasn’t that long ago. You just don’t wanna admit your mistakes ‘cause you’re still young.”
”Well, that’s about it.”
”So why? A rebellious phase? It’s a tough age, after all.”
”Are you really going to ask? Was it bullying!?”
”No, mental trainin’ is important, y’know? If you wanna be first-class, ya gotta be able to shake off the past without a second thought.”
”Specifically?”
”You gotta have the mental strength to smile and talk casually when an ex-girlfriend tries to get back together after some mess.”
”Ahhh…! Again, you’re hinting at a past that bothers me…! Who is it? Whose story is this!? When did it happen!?”
”Come on, Suzuri-chan, it’s just a metaphor!”
”That’s a lie! Ugh, I liked you first! Who’s the thief of your heart…!”
”But that don’t create no rights or obligations.”
”Nao-nii, you weren’t the first to like me…! It’s not fair to take that away later…! That shouldn’t be allowed…!”
”But I did turn down your confession.”
”Guh.”
”Five times, actually.”
”…”
With a sound that seemed to signal defeat, Suzuri slumped against the wall.
”Oh, now you can’t even say nothin’.”
”Does Nao-nii not have a heart…?”
”If ya can’t feel it, I guess I don’t. So, why? I heard you were doin’ stuff like breakin’ into dojos.”
After taking a deep breath and sighing, Suzuri looked away and spoke.
”…I wanted to catch up to you, Nao-nii. I thought if I stayed as just an ordinary person, you wouldn’t even notice me.”
”I see.”
That was actually a correct analysis.
Before remembering his past life, Kazuramichi Naoshi only saw Shiun Suzuri as “a relative and promising exorcist girl.”.
”After forcing me to listen, why such a light reaction…?”
”Well, in this case, whatever I say feels empty, right? But that don’t mean I’m at fault either.”
”You could at least say I was trying hard.”
”It don’t matter what the goal is, ya shouldn’t cause trouble for others.”
”How can you be so logical, Nao-nii…!”
”Can ya stop actin’ like I’m always wrong? Oh, Suzuri-chan, we’re in the middle of a convo, but somethin’s comin’.”
”What is… oh, I see.”
Noticing the familiar presence of ayakashi ahead, Suzuri dashed forward without asking anything more.
* * *
With a low posture, like a hunting dog released, the girl ran ahead.
In the darkness at the corner of the corridor, 2 small figures began to emerge.
”Shh!”
At that moment, silver light flashed twice.
Before they could even scream, the bodies of the youma were sliced in half, rolling onto the corridor floor.
”──I see, this is for this ‘purpose’.”
After carefully watching it dissolve back into the shadows, Suzuri relaxed her shoulders.
She nodded in satisfaction as she sheathed her sword with a single swing.
”Oh, so you’ve already figured it out?”
”I assume you’re guiding the ayakashi’s emergence here? I heard that Kita has been quiet for a while now.”
”Correct. Looks like ‘dungeons’ have that kind of image. Even before tamperin’, there was a tendency for ‘em to have that image, and now it’s bein’ reinforced by some technique.”
”You’re being a bit vague about the important parts, aren’t you?”
”I ain’t no expert on fancy techniques. If ya’re interested, ask your father. I got permission to bring him today, and I think he’ll teach ya.”
”I’m not that interested… No, wait, as the family business, I should probably hear it.”
”There’s always construction sites and redevelopment projects around here, so that’s probably why we couldn’t get rid of this place. There’re probably similar things goin’ on elsewhere too.”
Construction and construction sites are inevitably accident-prone.
That’s why, in addition to holding ground-breaking ceremonies and other superstitious rituals, practical precautions are taken, and even then, accidents still happen, which are then attributed to supernatural entities like curses, and that actually ends up summoning ayakashi.
Such small things that can become the source of ayakashi are being collected in the dungeon beneath Umeda.
”I see──shi!”
As soon as she cut her words, Suzuri drew her sword and cut down a newly emerged youma with a smooth, sweeping stroke.
There was not a hint of hesitation in her smooth series of movements.
”Hmm, but this lack of hesitation… Suzuri-chan could probably make a livin’ as a swordswoman in the late Edo period.”
”Are you complimenting me or insulting me…?”
”I’m complimentin’ ya? Your spirit energy (reiki) trainin’ is progressin’ fast, and your output’s growin’, too. How’s it feelin’ to you?”
”──Well, I do feel like I’m getting stronger faster. To be honest, I’m surprised because at Nao-nii’s place, I mostly just do basic training.”
”Not much beats hard work. And once ya get results, ya feel accomplished. Practice is just practice, but once ya put it into practice, it’s yours.”
”Hmm.”
”Once you can do a cartwheel or double jump, you think you can do it again, right? And when you experience that growth, the next one just feels natural. It’s all about repeatin’ that process──That’s why we came here today.”
”It’s a well-thought-out and good plan. If only you hadn’t left the misunderstanding about the date as it was and played with my heart…!!”
”You’re still holdin’ a grudge. Didn’t we go to a hotel, so it’s all good now?”
”That’s one thing, this is another!”
”How annoying. Besides, Suzuri-chan ain’t a little girl anymore.”
”It’s not just that…!”
”Then why don’t I make ya cry by makin’ yer legs shake at night?”
”Um, Nao-nii gets serious, so please stop. The other day, I really thought my waist was gone…”
”You’re bein’ dramatic, no one dies from s*x. Well, if ya want, I can make ya so embarrassed ya can’t even talk back, Suzuri-chan.”
”No, to be honest, I’d rather you did what you wanted at night… I’ve heard from my friends that I’m being treated so well that I can’t even complain.”
”Huh, even that talk gets around? Students are scary. I guess I have to humiliate ya so much ya can’t talk about it to anyone else?”
”No, I don’t want that! Today is our first date, and we’re at a nice hotel, so I want you to be extra gentle and treat me like a princess so I can have a lasting memory!”
”Ya really know how to ask for things.”
Also, it’s kind of recognized as a date, but Naoshi is not sure if fighting ayakashi in a dungeon counts as a date.
”Let me say that much, you idiot! You took my first love and my virginity, and you’re not taking responsibility for it!”
”Hmm? Then I’ll make ya so sweet ya can’t even blush and talk back when ya remember.”
”So, that’s a bit… um, I, well…”
”Too bad, the order’s already in. Look, there’s another refill, so let’s get back to it.”
”Uuuuuu~… Nao-nii, not taking responsibility is really cruel…? My view of men is already in tatters…?”
”I ain’t said I wouldn’t take responsibility. If there ain’t nothin’ for three years after you become a first-class, I’ll marry ya.”
”There’s no way there won’t be anything with this popular guy! Womanizer! Italian!”
”Ain’t that a bit of discrimination against Italians?”
”What’s this? You were flirting with the district commander! What were you doing behind my back after making me worry!?”
”Wow, how’d that get out? It’s a problem if the deputy’s private stuff leaks.”
”If you think that, then you should be more careful!”
”Nah, it ain’t that. It was just a joke to lighten the mood, like a reward for myself before a tough job, y’know?”
”If you want a reward, you can just tell me! If Nao-nii wants something, I’m ready to help with almost anything!”
”Y’know, you’re real cool. But I can’t be askin’ students to do weird things, and Shiun-san’s watchin’ too…”
”Are you planning to do something weird with the district commander!?”
”Ugh, you twist my words every time. This time, we just had a meal together.”
”Isn’t that what a date is?”
”Well, guess you could see it that way.”
”You’re going to stay over with that sneaky cat, aren’t you!?”
”Suzuri-chan, even if it’s me, don’t talk bad ‘bout others like that!”
”Ugh…! Well, that’s true, but…!”
”Honestly, makin’ a big deal outta just havin’ a meal is silly. Students go out to eat too, right? It’s just communicatin’. Plus, it was lunch, not dinner!”
”Y-Yeah, that’s true. My school is strict, but I have heard stories like that…”
”Honestly, if you get too eager from the start when you don’t even know each other, things ain’t gonna go well. We’ll talk more next time after the meal.”
”Hey, doesn’t that sound like you had some hidden motives?”
”Young unmarried folks are healthy, right? If they got a partner, I won’t get too involved. I hate love triangles.”
”But Nao-nii has me as his practically engaged partner!?”
”Practically? This girl’s sayin’ strange things again.”
”You just said you would marry me, you fool!”
”You ignored all the different assumptions before that. Look, look, here comes the next one.”
”Why do these guys always show up at the worst times during a conversation!? Listen, once we deal with this, it’s Nao-nii’s turn!”
”Your lines sound just like a villain. Well, they seem easier to handle than I thought, so I guess it’s fine to keep goin’.”
”I’ve got your words now! Just wait and see…!”
”I’m real impressed you can say that even to me.”
Naoshi watched Suzuri bravely charge in, smiling wryly.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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