Chapter 125: The Renovated Cursed Building!
After they finished asking their questions, Kasumizuki did not let the accompanying police take the cultists away.
Instead, she had Shibuya Jun handle them.
"You're not handing them over to the police? Are you keeping enemies around to justify your own importance?"
Luke looked suspiciously at Kasumizuki, unable to understand her intentions.
"What do you mean, keeping enemies around? His ability is unusual, and I have an idea…"
Kasumizuki pulled a small notebook from her miko robes and began writing in it.
"…Are you planning to make him inject energy into ordinary containers, mass-produce exorcism tools, and sell them?"
Luke guessed.
According to the branch leader, he had only ever injected energy into an existing exorcism tool to create an evil spirit like Kuchisake-onna.
Still, based on his explanation, there was at least some chance that ordinary containers could work.
Kasumizuki stiffened upon hearing Luke's words.
She hurriedly raised her head and glanced at their colleagues. After her gaze wandered around, she quietly leaned closer to him.
"Don't tell them. I'll give you a share later."
"That cult leader didn't actually hurt anyone, so we might as well put useless trash to work."
Luke curled his lips.
He knew she could not possibly have good intentions.
"What?! What kind of person do you think I am?"
"Do you believe I'd hide something like this for a little money?"
He suddenly lowered his voice and spread five fingers.
"I want fifty percent."
Kasumizuki frowned speechlessly and glanced at him.
"Thirty percent at most."
"Didn't you still owe me money from that batch of mannequins?"
"They haven't all been sold yet…"
She hesitated.
"Fine. Fifty percent, but you need to provide some of the items you collected during your previous exorcisms."
Kasumizuki reluctantly agreed after seeing Luke's disgusted expression.
She could not believe he still remembered that debt.
"Fine."
Luke accepted her condition.
When he performed rites to send spirits onward after exorcisms, he sometimes obtained objects containing the lingering emotions of the dead.
They were inferior to exorcism tools born from evil spirits, but they would be ideal experimental materials.
The factory became empty again, returning to its original appearance.
"It seems things will finally remain peaceful for a while."
Kasumizuki sighed with emotion.
"Are cults really that popular?"
Luke asked in confusion.
According to her, groups of people formed cults and caused trouble every few years.
For an old woman like Kasumizuki, this was practically a recurring annual dungeon.
He had no idea why so many people were willing to take such risks.
"Of course they are…"
Kasumizuki painfully twisted her neck.
Luke guessed it was from playing too much mahjong.
She explained, "Just look at the current employment environment—horrible employment rates, salaries below ¥200,000, the yearly suicide count, tax increases, and pensions you'll never recover no matter how much you pay…"
"Sigh… Plenty of people are willing to gamble everything."
Luke fell silent for a moment.
"…Could you not reveal reality so directly to a high school student? You're making me not want to graduate."
"What does any of that have to do with you? Aren't you an exorcist?"
"Besides… you're not short on money, are you?"
"What if a volcano erupts, floods break out, or aliens invade…"
Kasumizuki rubbed her forehead and stared at the new generation's defeatist exorcist.
"If humanity is wiped out, why would you still need to worry about any of that?"
Luke considered it.
"…That's true."
"Enough of that. Let's visit the cursed building."
"Has the renovation finished?"
"Mm. We inspected it and found no structural problems."
"After renovating it, we'll advertise for businesses and delay things as long as possible. Everything is ready except the official opening."
Luke thought about it.
He had nothing else planned today, and missing one day of revision before the upcoming exams would not matter much.
"Don't you need to accompany the police?"
"All the cultists have already been arrested. What else would they need me for?"
"Fine. But let me make this clear—I'm not playing mahjong at the cursed building."
"…Then don't come."
Luke returned to the cursed building with Miko and Yuria.
The once-gloomy structure filled with evil spirits had completely transformed.
Previously, the cursed building had struggled to attract business because evil spirits constantly gathered there. After the construction team renovated it, it now looked brand new.
Even the plumbing and electricity had been completely replaced.
The moment they arrived, Kasumizuki, who had already found new mahjong partners, eagerly rushed toward the game room she had kept inside.
"Wait."
Luke hurriedly grabbed her.
"Are there any places here for entertainment? Why are you rushing to play mahjong? Show us around first."
Kasumizuki glanced at him, then pulled a facility guide from beneath her robes and threw it over.
"Read it yourself. This was prepared for the grand opening."
"Isn't exploring a newly completed shopping complex more enjoyable on your own?"
That was clearly an excuse.
She simply wanted to play mahjong as quickly as possible.
"Fine. Go ahead."
Luke stopped interfering.
With her gone, he could conveniently spend time alone with Miko.
However…
Luke examined the facility guide while glancing at the small and inconveniently present Niguredo Yuria beside him.
Miko stood nearby, lightly pulling the strings of her beige hoodie while looking over the guide.
"Is there anywhere you want to visit, Niguredo? They have a private theater, a VR center, and an arcade."
Yuria raised her small head and blinked at Luke.
Instead of answering Miko, she asked, "Sensei, don't we need to continue training with our exorcism tools today?"
"I'd rather practice exorcism skills than play."
This girl was remarkably dedicated.
Luke began considering an excuse to send her away.
After thinking it through, he lowered his head and looked solemnly at Yuria.
"How about this? Aren't you familiar with supernatural locations?"
"I need you to search for places suitable for training."
"Eh? I know many places like that! Mass graves, abandoned shrines…"
"You already told me about those places."
Luke interrupted her.
"But are you satisfied with only those few haunted areas?"
"To become a qualified and powerful exorcist, you need countless experiences. The places you currently know are nowhere near enough."
"Don't you want to surpass the shrine priestess and become the greatest exorcist?"
"Surpass the shrine priestess? The greatest?"
Yuria murmured excitedly.
She abruptly raised her head.
"Understood, Sensei! I'll search around the city and find more locations occupied by evil spirits!"
"Mm. It appears you've found your resolve."
Luke also warned her, "Remember to stay safe. Don't act on your own."
"Caution is an essential quality for every exorcist!"
"Mm! I'll be careful!"
Yuria nodded heavily and prepared to leave.
"Don't rush."
Luke opened his wallet and took out a ¥10,000 bill.
"This is for transportation. Use whatever remains to buy candy."
"If it isn't enough, call the ghost taxi driver and ask her to pick you up."
"I-I have money."
Yuria hurriedly waved her hands at the bill.
"Just accept it. This is… trust between exorcists."
Luke looked directly into Yuria's eyes.
Yuria slowly clenched the banknote.
"Mm. Trust!"
Beside them, Miko helplessly covered her face, unable to continue watching the innocent Yuria.
She was far too easy to deceive.
"Miko, how about the private theater?"
Miko lowered her hand.
"A private theater?"
Luke explained despite never having visited one himself.
"It's a small cinema where you can choose whatever you want to watch and talk freely without disturbing anyone else."
"Oh~"
Miko thought briefly.
"Sure."
Just as he had in the dream, Luke naturally hooked his hand around Miko's soft one and followed the guide toward the theater.
…
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