Becoming a Demonic Cultivator Miko

"Oh?!"

Yurikawa Hana poked her head out from the side, looking at the pudding in the yellow packaging.

"They sold this last year too, it's really delicious."

"Mm."

Miko nodded in agreement, then turned her head to look at Hana.

"Actually, I didn't get to try it last year."

Because some things happened, some rather unpleasant things.

Miko naturally wouldn't say that to Yurikawa Hana. She just looked at the pudding and picked up another one from the counter.

"Then it's been aged for a year."

Hana teased.

"Don't go maturing it on your own."

Miko retorted, tucking the two puddings she was holding into her chest.

"Then I'll buy one too."

Saying that, Yurikawa Hana reached out and picked up a pudding. She already had quite a few snacks in her arms, which made Miko's gaze drift towards her chest. Even so, after picking up the pudding, she thought of another snack.

"I forgot I also need to buy the Gluttony Pineapple Bun."

Before she could even finish speaking, she hurried off towards another section.

"You go ahead and pay."

Miko didn't say anything, but she remembered the snacks Hana had piled up on her chest just now, and a chest that matched the quantity of snacks.

All her calories went to her chest.

She glanced again at the barely discernible curves beneath her beige jacket.

I'm so jealous of her.

Placing the two puddings on the counter, Miko listened to the cashier's listless "Welcome," and opened her wallet.

Let's see, 220 yen…

"That'll be 206 yen."

She looked up at the Ghost extending its hands next to the cashier. Judging by its attire, it seemed to be a former employee of this store.

206 yen? Did they used to sell it cheaper, or what?

"That'll be 206 yen."

The Ghost, stretching its neck, said so. Its distorted eyes and fluffy yellow hair standing straight up like a broom made the Ghost seem relatively approachable and kind.

"Um… the total is 220 yen."

Looking at the stunned girl before her, the cashier reluctantly stated the price.

"206 yen!"

The Ghost corrected her again, insisting on its price. As if out of anger, several small holes on its neck spewed out gray-black gas.

"Ah… is there anything else you'd like to buy?"

Hearing this, Miko finally shifted her gaze from the Ghost to the poster next to it.

(Kanto-style Oden 60 yen)

"Cod Treasure."

"Okay."

The Ghost trembled, and for some reason, began to lose its form, quoting the price again.

"Th-that'll be… 6… 1… yen."

Consumption tax 3%.

Yotsuya Miko inexplicably thought of this, and glanced at the Ghost again. It didn't seem to be quoting prices randomly. So… could she get an 8 yen discount?

"The bag costs extra, would you like to buy one?"

"Yes."

"Thank you for shopping with us."

Accompanied by the cashier's weak voice, Miko and Hana walked out of the store carrying their bags. The difference was, Yurikawa Hana's bag was heavy, while Miko's bag was light, much like the contrast between their chests.

"You bought so many things."

Hana marveled, while Yotsuya Miko looked at the Cod Treasure in her bag, the oden she bought for an experiment.

"Hana, do you want the Cod Treasure?"

"I do!"

Hana raised her right hand high.

"I'll take any food, no matter what it is!"

"Is that so? Then…"

Miko bowed slightly, took out the wrapped Cod Treasure from her bag, and picked up a piece with the attached small chopsticks.

"Ah…"

Yurikawa Hana cooperatively opened her mouth, letting Miko feed her the piece of meat.

"Oh, this is delicious too."

"Really?"

She picked up another small piece of Cod Treasure from the bag and put it in her own mouth.

"Mhm, it really is."

"Another piece!"

"Okay, okay…"

The Cod Treasure was thus divided and eaten by the two of them, piece by piece.

"Next time, I'll buy one too,"

Hana said, smiling at Miko.

"As a return favor."

"…Ah…ah."

Incidentally, the Mountain God doesn't seem to be a Ghost… it's more like something that came into being after a spiritual attachment. But I understand the principle; why does it look so bizarre?

Chapter 21: Older Sister and Younger Brother

Tonight, as usual, was spent watching "Horror" (a program featuring ghosts and the supernatural) with my little brother—before I discipline this kid.

She hadn't forgotten what the brat had said this morning.

"Ow."

"Who told you to say that this morning?"

Yotsuya Miko rubbed Kyosuke's head and said with a smile, "Next time, don't let me hear you say that again, okay?"

"N-no problem."

After getting Kyosuke's assurance, Yotsuya Miko released her hand from his head and continued watching the TV in front of her.

"100 Paranormal Photos."

"Next up is this photo."

An uncle with two lit candles stuck in his hair lowered his voice and moved a photo in front of the camera.

"This was taken while we were having a campfire by the river. It looks like a very happy camping memory photo."

The man and woman in the picture, illuminated by the firelight, were smiling and making peace signs at the camera. It was indeed a sweet memory for the people involved.

"At first glance, there's nothing wrong,"

As he spoke, the uncle's voice suddenly rose, and the screen abruptly changed, displaying text in blood-red characters.

"Did you all viewers notice?"

If you're referring to the Ghost on the right side of the TV, then yes, I noticed.

Yotsuya Miko felt nothing about it, even calmly glancing at the Ghost standing over there.

Speaking of which, should I make some Talismans or artifacts at home? These guys are appearing too frequently. Thinking this, Yotsuya Miko rubbed her head again, recalling her father.

She wasn't sure how to make Talismans and artifacts into smart designs, but making one for Hana would be quite nice.

As she thought, the screen returned to the camping photo, and the camera's perspective gradually moved down to the tent beside the young couple.

"Please look, if you examine it closely, you'll find that inside the tent…"

As the photo's brightness increased, a face suddenly appeared in the middle of the tent.

"Waaah…!" (TV show special effect)

"Haha… it's obviously photoshopped,"

Kyosuke pointed at the screen, leaning slightly towards his sister as he said this, seemingly seeking Miko's agreement.

"It's because they underestimate the viewers that people are watching TV less and less."

"Right?"

Saying this, he turned his gaze to Yotsuya Miko, who was still watching the screen.

Your expression makes it hard to say you weren't "horrified."

Miko glanced at him, a bit perfunctorily.

"Yeah, right."

"We'll be right back after this short commercial break. If you change the channel, you'll be cursed."

"Why are we having another commercial already?"

Yotsuya Kyosuke was a little displeased. While he was indeed a bit scared, the show itself was quite interesting, even more so than his fear.

"They just love to be mysterious. No wonder no one watches TV anymore."

It's better if they just keep being mysterious. If you actually saw ghosts, it would be terrible.

Miko thought this as she watched the commercial on screen and the ghosts' performance within it. She glanced at her younger brother again.

If you knew there were ghosts on TV, who knows what would happen.

"Fragrant hair, a shining formula for lasting smoothness."

The commercial seemed to have a hidden agenda. Although it focused on a woman's smooth hair, the corner of the TV screen was framed at an excellent angle, as if it were pushing the boundaries.

Yotsuya Miko could only see the woman's face, as everything else was blocked by uninvited dark priests.

"I'm going to buy something to drink."

Seeing the dark priests all over the screen, Miko lost the desire to keep watching TV. She was a little thirsty anyway.

"Huh?"

Seeing his sister get up, Kyosuke was confused.

"Why so sudden?"

"I just suddenly felt like a hot drink."

"Then I want a cola."

"Okay, I got it."