Chapter 133

"Don't be too sad. After all, three years have passed, it's time to let go."

"Um."

Takanashi Rikka wiped the moisture from the corner of her eyes.

With the Sage absent, she was finally able to show her weakness.

Carrying lanterns, Takanashi and his group walked out of the cemetery and followed a long path lined with candles, just like the other villagers, welcoming the souls of their ancestors home.

More than ten minutes later, I returned home.

"Welcome home, Dad."

"How have you been lately, Father?"

At the memorial tablet in the home, the two sisters offered their father's favorite fruits and water, and burned incense in worship.

There was no response; the two sisters simply continued with the prescribed rituals.

Only after everything was completed were they able to rest.

"What are the Sage doing now? Has the battle begun?"

Takanashi Rikka looked up at the moon in the sky, her thoughts drifting as she stood alone.

The girl's eyes held a hint of loneliness.

She then realized that, besides her deceased father, she had many other people she cherished.

"I'm back..."

"I'm back..."

"I'm back."

Suddenly, a murmured sound came from beside me, seemingly growing clearer as it approached.

Who is speaking?

Takanashi Rikka glanced around and found no one else there, and the voice didn't sound like it was from the television.

"No, that's not right! This voice is..."

Her eyes immediately became extremely alert, and she instantly activated her Spirit Vision ability.

At the same time.

"I'm home now."

A faint voice sounded in my ear, like a thunderclap exploding in the sky.

"This is bad!"

Her honed combat instincts made the girl leap to the other side to dodge, and when she landed, her eyes were as clear as moonlight as she looked back.

A figure slightly taller than her stood there, resembling a gaunt, lifeless human body with empty eyes, a ferocious face, a mouth split open like a tattered rag, long limbs, and black mist swirling around it, emanating a terrifying aura.

Anxiety, unease, fear...

Faced with this long-awaited first real battle, Takanashi Rikka couldn't help but feel a mix of negative emotions.

"Those who can control their own hearts are truly strong."

The Sage's teachings echoed in her mind, gradually calming her heart. As she opened and closed her eyes, her gaze changed, and her body suddenly felt relaxed.

"There's nothing to be afraid of anymore!"

"Because..."

"Now I'm the real deal..."

"The Wicked Eye of the Tyrant King User!"

25 The situation is getting out of control, the moon is turning red, and there's no time left.

The girl was both relieved and disappointed that, judging from its appearance, this slender-limbed evil spirit had nothing to do with her father.

Furthermore, considering the timeline of the Day of Heavenly Change, it is even less likely that they were the ancestors of the Takanashi family.

As for why the other party said those words, it's most likely because it's today's 'Welcoming Day,' corresponding to an evil spirit with this obsession.

As for why they chose to target her?

This is not difficult to understand.

According to the Sage, the stronger one's life energy, the more it attracts the attention of spirits, and even if a person with spiritual power is born weak, their life energy will gradually become more abundant.

"Call..."

Takanashi Rikka adjusts her breathing, lowers her body slightly, places her left hand and left foot forward, and her right hand and right foot back, assuming the starting stance of Gentle Fist.

According to the Sage, the perfect combination in that world is Gentle Byakugan combined with the Byakugan, which allows one to see through objects, in order to fully unleash the essence of this martial art.

In reality, having a set of techniques is always better than just randomly throwing punches.

Moreover, spiritual power can completely replace the effects of Chakra.

These thoughts only flashed through her mind briefly.

What followed was the overwhelming malice emanating from the evil spirit before her.

"I'm back...!"

"Why are you unhappy!"

"Why are you unhappy!"

It roared with resentment and hatred, and its slender hands grew even longer, its fingernails becoming exceptionally sharp, like slit blades, as it reached out and grabbed straight at the target.

"A very simple attack. Is it really just a low-level spirit?"

Takanashi Rikka easily handled the situation, quickly disappearing into the courtyard.

"Come with me."

She glanced back, then ran outside.

Fighting here is too inconvenient for her; she cannot accept either damaging houses or accidentally injuring someone.

Without hesitation, the evil spirit followed.

In its view, the girl in front of it was more alluring.

We arrived at an open space.

The battle between man and spirit has officially begun.

Beneath a row of colorful lanterns stretched a long line made up of stalls, and flowing within that line were groups of people.

"What a sweet death! I've always wanted to try this in Dekumori, but I never expected it to be today."

Dekomori Sanae took a bite of the apple candy and a satisfied smile appeared on her face.

"Kids just love eating candy, I wonder when they'll ever grow up."

Nibuya Morika Mori made a comment, then took a bite of the taiyaki in her hand, captivated by the aroma of red beans.

"How dare you say I'm dead!"

Dekomori Sanae looked disdainful, then, taking advantage of her unpreparedness, took a big bite of the taiyaki and smeared her mouth full of red beans.

"You brat...!"

"This is the punishment for angering the Dekumori: death!"

Nibuya Morika was furious, and the only countermeasure she could think of was to do the same thing. However, Dekomori Sanae had anticipated this and protected the apple candy with her right hand.

"It's no use, I've seen through your entire plan, Death!"

The latter burst into laughter, leaving the former helpless.

Beside.

Hasegawa Izumi watched their interaction as if it were nothing out of the ordinary.

"Club President, come on, open your mouth, ah~"

Suddenly, Natsukawa Masuzu smiled slightly, stuck a toothpick into a takoyaki ball, and then held it up in front of him.

Anyone who didn't know better would think they were a couple.

"Thanks."

Hasegawa Izumi's eyes flickered slightly. She reached out and took the toothpick from the girl's hand before swallowing the takoyaki.

Throughout the entire process, his saliva didn't get on the toothpick at all.

"Club President, you big idiot! You're so clueless about romance!"

Natsukawa Masuzu took the toothpick that was handed back, her eyes filled with resentment, then turned her grief and anger into appetite, and ate the remaining takoyaki one bite at a time.

Honestly, if the Club President were to cooperate with her in an ambiguous way, she would be at a loss for how to respond.

After everyone had eaten their fill, their attention turned to one spot again.

"Is this the legendary goldfish scooping death?!"

Dekomori Sanae jogged and crouched down, looking at the little goldfish swimming in the pond, her eyes shining.

"Miss, would you like to try? It's 100 yen per try. Just use a paper net to scoop them up, and you can take these cute little goldfish home."

The middle-aged man with thinning hair revealed a shrewd, businessman-like smile.

"I want to play Death!"

Without saying a word, Dekomori Sanae pulled out a 1,000 yen bill from her pocket, which was very generous.

"Hey, how long are you planning to play?"

I can't help but say that Nibuya Morika said.

"Hmph, imposter Mori Summer, let's have a duel, Death! The loser has to grant the other one a request!"

Dekomori Sanae tilted her head back.

"I'm not betting with you, and besides, what's so difficult about this for us?"

Nibuya Morika scoffed at this.

The biggest challenge in catching goldfish is that the paper net easily tears under the weight of the fish, but for those with spiritual powers, it's incredibly easy.

"Of course we can't use spiritual power to kill! That would be too cheating, and there would be no winner... Why are you still hesitating? You can't even accept such a fair challenge, you really are a fake Death."

Dekomori Sanae, with a mocking expression, used a provocation tactic.

"Alright, let's give it a try... But let me make this clear first: you can't do anything to insult the other party's character if you agree to the conditions."

After a moment's hesitation, Nibuya Morika still mustered her confidence.

As Dekumori said, how can a strong person fear a challenge?

"Then let's leave it at that, death."

Dekomori Sanae agreed to the condition because she wasn't entirely confident of victory.

"Wait... count me in."

Just as the two were about to begin, Natsukawa Masuzu suddenly interrupted, also showing a very interested expression.

"By the way, Club President, would you like to give it a try?"

She turned her head expectantly and asked.

"If I join, wouldn't that be a bit unfair?"

Hasegawa Izumi didn't want to take advantage of them.

Even without using spiritual power, he could still demonstrate incredibly skillful goldfish scooping techniques.

"Oh, right."

Natsukawa Masuzu's eyes flickered, a strange sense of embarrassment creeping over her.

She had been trying so hard to embody the identity of a superpowered Ability User that she forgot that the Club President's advantage over them was not just supernatural things like spiritual power.