How many years of good deeds will it take to become human?
Kawashima Toya couldn't imagine how long Kyon-Kyon would have to struggle in the mortal world to achieve her wish.
While he didn't know the exact amount of merit required, it was surely a staggering sum.
"Please wait a moment. I need to bring my coffin."
Just as Toya was about to speak, the small girl—barely five feet tall—hoisted the massive coffin onto her shoulder with one hand. The visual was completely absurd.
Kyon-Kyon looked at him with innocent, wide eyes. "Is it... not allowed?"
"It's fine," Toya replied after a brief silence, nodding.
Being a Kyonshi certainly has its perks. She can carry hundreds of pounds like it's nothing.
Due to the monster rumors, the streets were almost entirely deserted.
Even the occasional pedestrian fled the moment they saw the duo approaching.
A little girl hauling a coffin was a suspicious sight no matter how you looked at it.
"Kawashima-san, why is everyone running away?" Kyon-Kyon asked, looking troubled.
"Are we really that scary?"
"Leave me out of it," Toya said gently. "You're the only scary one here."
"You're an undead, and you're carrying a literal coffin."
"If I were a normal person, I'd stay far away from you, too."
The young man from earlier was a perfect example.
If the train had arrived any sooner, he probably would have hoisted the whole carriage onto his back and sprinted away.
Kyon-Kyon looked stunned. "Am I really that frightening?"
"But I need to do good deeds. If everyone is afraid of me, how will I manage?"
"Don't worry. Normally, no one would realize you're a Kyonshi," Toya said with a smile.
"As long as you aren't carrying that coffin, people will just think you're an ordinary child."
"That's a relief." She let out a sigh of pure joy. "I was worried my plan was over before it started."
Toya glanced at her. "Let's move. We need to get out of here."
"If someone figures out your identity, you'll be taken away for dissection."
He led her into a quiet, deserted alleyway.
Just as they vanished into the shadows, a police car with flashing lights drove past.
These were the officers sent to investigate the sightings, but Toya had already moved the evidence.
.....
Trash Fox Detective Agency
The main hall was bustling, waves of steam hitting Toya the moment he entered.
"Onii-chan, come have some food!"
"Utaha-senpai and Yurine-san prepared some amazing ingredients." Kasugano Sora greeted him with a bright smile.
Her smile faltered instantly when she saw the girl and the coffin standing beside him.
Kasumigaoka Utaha looked surprised. "A coffin?"
Hanazono Yurine narrowed her eyes. "Kawashima, that girl isn't human, is she?"
"Yeah, she's our new resident," Toya said calmly. "I was handling a job at the beach and found her inside that coffin."
"She's sentient and harmless, so I decided to bring her back."
Kyon-Kyon set down the ornate coffin, stepped into the light, and bowed politely.
"I am Kyon-Kyon, a Kyonshi from a Demon World in a Foreign Country. Please take care of me."
"A zombie?" Jashin-chan scoffed, wearing a characteristic scum-snake grin. "What a piece of trash."
"You dare stand before the great Jashin-chan?"
"Go find a doghouse by the door. That's your home from now on."
Toya looked at the trembling, clearly irritated Kyon-Kyon. "Do as you like, Kyon-Kyon."
"Just try not to disturb the others."
Jashin-chan was a bully who preyed on the weak while fearing the strong. She never showed respect to other monsters.
After all, she was a high-ranking demon from the abyss.
Toya's policy was simple: let her learn the hard way.
"Thank you very much," Kyon-Kyon said with excitement. "I won't let it bother anyone, Kawashima-san."
Jashin-chan rolled her eyes. "A low-level corpse thinks she's someone special? Who gave you that confidence?"
"I'll deal with you before we eat."
Jashin-chan cracked her knuckles and slithered toward her with an arrogant smirk.
Toya sat at the table and took the cold cola Sora handed him.
That snake is about to have a bad time.
Jashin-chan was strong, but her performance depended entirely on the opponent.
She could fight angels, but against almost any other race, she was a professional at losing.
"Is this just going to be another daily beating for her?" Hanazono Yurine asked indifferently.
Jashin-chan ignored her, tail twitching with mock intimidation.
"Think a low-rank zombie can take on Jashin-chan?"
Yurine went back to ignoring her.
"You're a nasty one," Kyon-Kyon said, her face flushing with anger. "I'll make you regret this."
Before she could finish, Kyon-Kyon lunged at the snake demon. She wanted to teach this arrogant creature a lesson.
"So weak." Jashin-chan kept her hands behind her back, acting like a lonely master. "You're too slow."
"I'll show you the power of a top-tier demon."
In the distance, Toya chuckled. The 'invincible' Jashin-chan is finished.
As if to prove him right, Kyon-Kyon's speed surged. In the blink of an eye, she was in front of the stunned Jashin-chan.
Kyon-Kyon opened her mouth and bit down on the demon's neck.
Oh no. The thought barely crossed Jashin-chan's mind before her body stiffened.
She was instantly transformed into a hopping kyonshi from an old movie.
The arrogant Jashin-chan now had her arms locked straight out, forced to hop awkwardly on the tip of her tail.
The sight made Toya burst out laughing. "That is just pathetic."
"When will she learn that appearance doesn't determine danger?"
"Jashin-chan..." Sora sighed.
Toya ignored the defeated snake and turned to the newcomer. "Kyon-Kyon, do you eat human food?"
"If so, come join us."
"I can eat!" Kyon-Kyon said with a sweet smile. "Thank you so much!"
Toya had only just started eating when he felt someone repeatedly bumping into him.
He looked over to see Jashin-chan, still stiff as a board, trying to push against him.
"Don't worry, it's not permanent," Toya teased. "Kyon-Kyon has good control over her abilities."
"You'll be back to normal in about half an hour."
Jashin-chan could only make muffled whimpering sounds.
I want to eat too! Will there be anything left in thirty minutes?!