Chapter 918 - 34: Resolute Conviction
Squeak!
The office door suddenly opened.
Holding Togami Kagura’s hand, Kenshan Yellow Springs quickly walked out.
"...Hmm!"
Probably because she didn’t want to stay in the office any longer, Kenshan Yellow Springs hurriedly burst out and almost bumped into Mikko, who had just made up her mind to reach for the doorknob.
"What are you...?"
The quiet girl with long black hair was holding documents in her arms, hesitating whether to enter, and was surprised to see the two rushing out. Before she could say anything, the new transfer student Demon Exorcist gave her a deep look.
Kenshan Yellow Springs scrutinized the quiet girl in front of her, pursed her lips, and seriously said—
"You’d better... be careful."
With that, Kenshan Yellow Springs dragged the somewhat naive Togami Kagura and quickly left the now quiet hallway of the school building.
"..."
"..."
Be careful? Is this... some kind of vague threat?
Yatsugaya Miko was stunned for a moment, then pursed her lips, watching the two transfer students swiftly walk past her, their figures quickly disappearing at the end of the hallway. She withdrew her gaze, calmed her breath, then walked towards the office, poking her head in:
"...Teacher?"
......
...
Meanwhile, having just left the school building, they distanced themselves from the building.
The slanting rays of the evening sun cast down, naturally bringing a gentle warmth and dispelling the subtle chill, probably a psychological effect. This made Kenshan Yellow Springs walk with a noticeably lighter step.
Regardless, this is normal human logic, like leaving a minefield on a beach or moving away from a shark-infested area, which naturally brings a sigh of relief.
However, deep within her, there was a faint suspicion, suddenly wondering if perhaps her judgment was wrong, maybe this person wasn’t actually an Evil Spirit, nor had malicious intent? Mainly because this meeting, apart from her initial wild thoughts and forced composure, seemed...
—The pressure wasn’t as great as expected.
At least she was indeed suddenly a bit suspicious and found it strange.
After all, the other person was completely different from what she imagined, seeming relaxed and gentle. Overall, except for being very insistent on certain things, they were surprisingly easy to talk to, even like a very reliable teacher or elder...
How should one put it, perhaps like today’s class, the other’s performance was quite normal. No matter how you watched, they truly seemed like a very competent and dedicated normal teacher.
—From lecturing to interacting with students, everything was impeccable...
—Even when some students joked or teased, they could respond with a smile...
—And their familiarity with contemporary trends and language was on point...
Perhaps that’s why the teacher is so popular and well-liked. After all, at any time, teachers who can connect with students and have fun are always the most welcomed.
Even Yellow Springs and Kagura, as two Demon Exorcist girls, inevitably knowing more "inside information", viewing with preconceived notions, couldn’t help but feel a bit dazed after the day. One can only imagine what others would think.
"...!!"
Suddenly jolted from her wild thoughts, Kenshan Yellow Springs quickly shook her head, instantly raising her relaxed guard back to high alert.
Hmm! No, no!
Why, in just one day, did I start to waver!
This precisely indicates that a high-intelligence Evil Spirit might be very cunning! Just a simple encounter makes one waver!
"What’s wrong, Sister Yellow Springs?"
Being pulled by the hand, Togami Kagura, following her step by step, blinked in confusion, not quite understanding her sudden actions.
"Kagura, you must remember... Be vigilant! Don’t be easily fooled by this person! Also, don’t hastily draw conclusions, understand?"
Glancing at Kagura beside her, Miss Yellow Springs turned at the staircase, placing her hands on Kagura’s shoulders, the amethyst-like eyes reflecting Kagura’s image perfectly, seriously instructing her.
"Ah? Oh, okay, I understand, Sister Yellow Springs..."
Togami Kagura finally caught on, nodding vigorously to show she understood.
However, probably due to her innate aura or for some other reason, even as she earnestly nodded in agreement, she gave off a slight, natural cuteness.
"..."
"..."
Seeing this, Kenshan Yellow Springs couldn’t help but tug at the corners of her mouth, but she still didn’t say anything more. She simply decided with slight concern that she needed to pay more attention and watch over Kagura more closely.
There shouldn’t be any problems, right?
Though this is in a big city, and still within the school grounds, unavoidably there are many constraints. There’s no way to easily clear the area, nor can they rashly choose aggressive methods. However, it’s not like they can do nothing. Aren’t the younger generation, who are suited for carrying out missions on campus grounds, all here now?
Even if it’s inevitable that many people’s thoughts differ, at least when it comes to fundamental rights and wrongs, they still maintain a united front.
Moreover, with many preparations done outside, as long as the shrine removal plan is successfully completed, the Mind Industry can allocate its main Power back here. Then, no matter what happens, they should be able to handle it... Thoughts flashed through Kenshan Yellow Springs’ mind as she gently pressed her forehead and let out a headache-induced sigh.
In the history of the Mind Industry, there are many stories of senior veteran Demon Exorcists dealing with high-intellect A-level Evil Spirits, ultimately meeting a tragic end. Kenshan Yellow Springs, though not overly familiar with these rumors, was still able to recite them backward.
— Though some are just stories recorded in snippets, unprovable and unverifiable...
— But some truly are shocking, with every page of the record stained with blood...
Back when she was learning these things, the girl couldn’t quite understand why those wise seniors always repeatedly fell to the cunning Evil Spirits. Even if Evil Spirits possessed high intellect, it didn’t necessarily mean they could charm people’s hearts, right? Given the numerous lessons learned, why would those Demon Exorcist seniors still be tempted?
Logically speaking, with the experience and bloody lessons of predecessors, should they not repeatedly fall into the same big pit?
Not to mention direct resistance, facing them head-on.
It’s entirely unnoticeable that one gets caught, tempted into depravity, walking down the path of corruption, forcing themselves down the road to a decaying Soul...
Perhaps it’s the clarity of the bystander, from God’s perspective, many things seem incomprehensible. Anyway, at that time, Kenshan Yellow Springs thought that if it were her, she would never adopt any contact strategy with such dangerous enemies beyond a "hostile" stance.
It’s enough to let the sword and Spell speak. Anyone harboring thoughts of communicating or touching the Evil Spirit to transform it is surely taking the worst strategy...
After all, communication, instead, gives the other side the opportunity.
— At least once before, Kenshan Yellow Springs thought so.
But in retrospect, she found that she was indeed too naive.
They are dark while we are in the open, fear claws back, and many constraints are inevitable. Just like now, when one thinks carefully, isn’t this just the case? It’s not that those senior Demon Exorcists have lost their heads and do not know this principle, but rather are forced into it.
It’s simply because there’s no other way, and they dare not recklessly stir up the most terrifying spiritual disaster in the city. Launching a crusade against A-level Evil Spirits in haste, not to mention whether it’s possible to complete it successfully, thinking about the consequences in a more severe direction, it might truly devastate or even destroy an entire city...
No one can bear the responsibility for such consequences, so even the most radical hawkish group can only pinch their noses in times like these.
After all, what else can be done if it’s not discussed, just going in is unwise, and feigning ignorance is impossible —
In such circumstances, what else can be done?
......
...
At night.
"Killing Stone..."
Sitting on the bed, wiping her wet long hair with a towel, Yatsugaya Miko murmured to herself, her gaze somewhat drifting, her attention flowing to the time after school in the afternoon.
She didn’t understand much about the Killing Stone, but she had heard bits and pieces and did some searching after returning home. If it corresponds to reality, then it should be the stone enshrined in Tochigi Prefecture. It should be that thing...
So — could the legend be true?!
"Hmm, so it’s really like this..."
Recalling the strange developments over this period, although she had long accepted the facts and adjusted her worldview, the girl still found it somewhat surreal.
Looking at the contents displayed on the phone beside her bed, Yatsugaya Miko pondered pensively, thinking this must be the case. What she once thought were just rumored stories actually had a basis, rather than being mere fabrications.
She just didn’t know it before.
If not for suddenly being able to see, she might never have known the other side of this world in her life, right? And the Mind Industry, Demon Exorcists, and such, she only gradually contacted them afterward — she didn’t know about them before either...
But that only means her previous self was out of touch with them.
It doesn’t mean they don’t exist, nor does it mean they are false.
With this subconscious logic deeply held, Yatsugaya Miko firmly believed this was the case. As she thought about all sorts of things, she continued to wipe her wet long hair.
The phone beside her gradually dimmed, still displaying the search results page.
— "The Nine-tailed Demon Fox was besieged by tens of thousands of troops and Onmyoji in Nasuno, but its ambition and obsession remain in the form of the ’Killing Stone’ in Nasuno, waiting for the opportunity for revenge at any moment."