Matters to Be Settled / The Cultural Festival Begins

Reciting long lines and shouting like someone having a sudden mental breakdown, the actor finally instilled fear in the tourists. Rather than being frightened, they were more worried that the actor might have suddenly fallen ill.

"Don't you think it's weird? Those lines and actions."

Hua wiped away the tears of laughter from the corners of her eyes, nodded in agreement upon hearing her words, with a hint of schadenfreude.

"Maybe, but my job is as a receptionist, which is a shame."

"I think you're just hoping to see me make a fool of myself, aren't you?"

While complaining, Yuria watched the two bickering and thought about her own affairs.

"At least you two have jobs, but I have absolutely nothing to do in class, I feel completely uninvolved."

Because of her previous overreaction, Yuria's classmates' attitudes towards her changed drastically, especially after receiving professional training, their gazes became even more sinister.

After studying barista skills and the professional skills and qualities of a waiter for more than half a month, these students' entire demeanor changed. Their parents felt that their children were like different people, becoming more elite.

Even Yuria began to doubt whether she had made a mistake. She had clearly enrolled them in training programs related to coffee shop management, but it felt like she had taken them to a training center for social elites.

She went with these students and learned coffee grinding techniques as well. However, because of her status, she was in a different place than the students in her class.

She hadn't found it strange before due to various reasons, but once the training was completely over, she felt uneasy.

Many eyes were subtly watching her, and the students' enthusiasm for learning rose to a new level. So much so that the recent exam shocked all the teachers, who wished they could ask Yuria on the spot what had happened.

The activities for the cultural festival were originally planned out, but after this training ended, the students in the class carried out a more comprehensive and reasonable division of labor—excluding Yuri from all the work.

It wasn't exactly exclusion, but it was rather strange; it seemed like they were taking Yuria for granted as someone who wouldn't do these things.

"That's... so strange."

She muttered to herself, but didn't seem particularly frustrated. She had more or less guessed the reason why.

Most students at this school come from ordinary backgrounds. Having an opportunity to broaden their horizons will inevitably help them grow in some way.

"Isn't that great? Yuria, you can enjoy the cultural festival to your heart's content."

"... A cultural festival for one person is meaningless."

Yuria shook her head.

Her gaze fell on Yotsuya Miko, her meaning was already quite clear, just expressed in a more subtle way.

"Hey... aren't your parents coming at a time like this?"

"They'll probably continue with their own work."

Yuria understood her parents' thoughts very well. So many years of busyness couldn't be changed overnight, even with everything that had happened. And the estrangement that had accumulated over the years... perhaps it would only gradually dissipate after this.

"To be honest, I'm used to it."

"Yuria..."

Hua looked at Yuria in front of her, her words suddenly caught in her throat, unable to utter any words of comfort. It was only at this moment that she remembered again how much loneliness and solitude the strong girl in front of her had suffered.

"Then why don't you come with me and Hua's mother and we go shopping together?"

"Um?"

Yuria looked up, intending to Miko who was speaking in front of her, but the latter suddenly brought her phone screen close to her face.

"I've already said what I wanted to say, so I'll have to leave my mother in your care."

On the phone screen were messages that had been sent long ago, along with responses.

"... Miko, you really are..."

She spoke softly, suddenly recalling their first encounter, which had probably been just as abrupt and unexpected.

"There's nothing I can do, I understand. I'll take your aunt to see the sights properly then."

"That's wonderful, Hua. How about you over there?"

"Hey? Wait a minute!"

Hua was stunned, and only when Miko reminded her did she hurriedly take out her phone from her bag and start typing a message.

"Don't let this happen so suddenly."

She hurriedly sent the message, glancing at Yuria, who had suddenly regained her smile, and a slight curve appeared at the corner of her mouth.

"Yes," he thought to himself.

For Yuria, meeting Miko was truly wonderful.

Matters Defined in Chapter 282

This was my last visit to Divine Gate before the cultural festival.

I originally planned to contact Okita Qishen, but unfortunately I learned some news from Yuria.

"You're not going to be the chief of staff anymore?"

On the riverbank, the young man fishing paused, looking up at the black-haired girl behind him.

He found it strange, so he made no attempt to hide his surprise on his face, and then began to answer Yotsuya Miko's question.

"Yes, the reforms at Divine Gate have been completed."

Divine Gate's reforms were swift, starting around that time and ending just as quickly, without encountering any resistance.

Therefore, after the reform of Divine Gate was completed, the original Investigation Department and Special Affairs Department were merged, and the responsibilities of the districts were reconfirmed. Compared with before, it was much more streamlined.

After completing the reforms, the Meishouin family withdrew from Divine Gate and no longer interfered in Divine Gate's affairs.

It is said that on the day he resigned, Divine Gate changed his name, but Okita Qishen didn't care and didn't think about it.

For him now, there isn't much difference between his old name and his new name.

"Having completed my last task at Divine Gate, it's time for me to retire."

Looking back on his many years at Divine Gate, Okita Qishen was puzzled as to why he had chosen to join Divine Gate and why he had chosen to Divine Gate. Upon closer reflection, it seemed that the reforms that One Kyojun wanted were rather illogical, since the matter had already been resolved by Yotsuya Miko.

"It's a pity."

Yotsuya Miko sighed and used her spiritual energy to move a book in her hand in front of him.

"The Gate of the Underworld has been destroyed, but the balance of Yin and Yang in this world has not been restored. I previously gave you the Life Spiritual Qi Extraction Method, and now, I also have some thoughts about interfering with the Divine Gate."

"A new cultivation technique?"

Okita Qishen glanced at the book, then looked at the river, its surface calm and still.

"Yes, a new technique."

After reaching the state of Nascent Soul Stage, Yotsuya Miko finally saw the true nature and truth of this world, and finally understood the relationship between those Ghosts and humans. However, such things could not be told to outsiders and could only be kept in her heart.

However, for the time being, I still followed Zhang Qiudao's knowledge from my memory and created a cultivation technique based on the essence of the world.

"After a person dies, their essence changes; first they become good, then evil, and thus Evil Spirit gradually increase."

She spoke, saying only what she could say.

"This new cultivation technique is designed for this purpose. I hope that the Divine Gate can become an organization that eradicates Evil Spirit. This technique has the power to dissipate Evil Spirit and also allow good spirits to live on until they naturally perish. Its power is well-defined, unlike the Life Spiritual Qi Extraction Method, and it is even more powerful than the Life Spiritual Qi Extraction Method."

"... Is the rule that defines life and death simply left to worldly organizations?"

"Yes, this is true for the Divine Gate in this country, and for other countries' superhuman organizations as well."

Yotsuya Miko states the facts, the facts as she sees them.

"The Gate of the Underworld will disappear, and there will be no more external interference, leaving only the balance of yin and yang in the human world. This balance was originally defined, but I intend to change it."

This was part of what she and the World Consciousness had predetermined long ago. The World Consciousness, which holds the power over heaven and earth, would cause this world to develop in this direction, just as she is saying now, as one of the prices for destroying the Gate of the Underworld.

"In my opinion, you have great potential to do this kind of thing, and you know what I want."

"Then you think too highly of me."

The hook wobbled, and with an Okita Qishen hooked a small fish into the previously empty fishing gear.

"I don't have the ability, nor do I have the ambition."

No matter how many times, he would be impressed by the strength displayed by Yotsuya Miko, and this time was no exception.

Okita Qishen clearly understood what the person before him was saying, and how Divine Gate would become with her involvement. Divine Gate, who defined the rules of life and death, was truly sacred and noble. But what did that have to do with him?

"I'll have to ask you to find someone else."

"If you don't want to, what about Oune Tatsu?"

"Him? I don't know about him, but I guess he'll agree?"

Okita Qishen shook his head, offering only a guess.

On the day he resigned, Oune Tatsu was still busy with his own affairs, showing absolutely no reluctance.

This guy is probably really obsessed with the Wagen Family's affairs, right?

Thinking about this, Okita Qishen felt a little regretful and disappointed.

Disappointed, I baited the hook and cast it onto the river, creating ripples.

"But this kid... he probably hates you, right?"

He said it so casually, and it was precisely because he had resigned that he could finally say such a thing.

"One Iu and One Kyojun both died because of you. The remaining members of the Wagen Family fear you and resent you, and this kid is probably the same. To be honest, I don't understand it, and I don't want to ask too much. But now that I think about it, I can't keep quiet about it."

Oune Tatsu and Okita Qishen never worried about him. This kid has always been very calm and composed, so much so that he probably wouldn't show much emotion even if a loved one died.

Okita Qishen knew little about the Wagen Family, but the fact that he could connect with such a prominent figure as One Kyojun here suggested that Oune Tatsu and One Kyojun were probably on good terms. He had previously heard that One Kyojun had adopted a group of abandoned children from the Wagen Family who had lost their support—there were many such abandoned children, after all, that's how large families operate, using these abandoned children to develop their networks. He wondered if it was true.

Well, anyway, it's much deeper than my relationship with myself.

"That kid's stubborn."

He complained.

Please don't take it to heart.

"Won't."

"That's good."

"Because he resigned too."

Yotsuya Miko's tone was calm, but Okita Qishen on the fishing rod a little, causing it to sway on the water.

What are you saying?

Miko did not answer, but only looked behind him.

"One Kyojun is dead, but I didn't kill him."

"... I know Mr. Xu Jun wouldn't do that."

"Is it ling h er yi san g ba er Q*UN|?"

Looking at the people walking towards her in the distance, she didn't say much, because explaining would be too troublesome.

"What are your thoughts? I don't have much time."

Chapter 283 The Cultural Festival Begins

The cultural festival has begun.

Starting in the morning, they arrived at the school very early to set up the venue. The prepared tables, chairs, and other items were neatly placed in their designated locations.

After an hour of work, Yotsuya Miko's class finally managed to turn their classroom into a haunted house.

The cultural festival opens to visitors at 10:00 AM, and there is plenty of time before then.

Yotsuya Miko changed into the clothes she had prepared in the dressing room. Dressed in a deathly white outfit, and with the triangular finial on her head, she was clearly a ghost.

"The ghost has arrived."

Yurikawa Hana smiled and pushed Miko, dressed like this, out of the dressing room, while she herself had already changed into her reception attire.

"It's rare to see you like this, Miko."

"... Isn't this normal? If it weren't for this cultural festival, I probably would never have worn an outfit like this."

Yotsuya Miko's expression wasn't exactly calm. She looked at her red-painted nails and her cheap-looking clothes due to budget constraints, and felt a sense of helplessness.

"This is no easy task."