Becoming a Devilish Cultivator's Miko

Yotsuya Miko sighed and offered an insincere apology to Hana before shifting her attention to Tono Zen. Unbeknownst to him, Miko had attached an Iron Pellet to Tono Zen. This Iron Pellet acted as a tracker, allowing Miko to sense its location at any time, as long as Tono Zen hadn't discovered it yet.

Though, being discovered was only a matter of time.

Should I make something he'll have to wear all the time... No, if I can figure out which way he goes home, I won't need anything that troublesome.

With that thought, Yotsuya Miko decided she would track him tonight...

"Tch... I've been found out."

"Found out what? Miko?"

Yurikawa Hana looked at her, confused, and shook her arm.

"Are you really okay? You look so tired. You should really go to the infirmary."

Without waiting for Miko's response, Hana grabbed her arm and dragged her to the doorway before Miko could react.

"Hana... I really..."

Yotsuya Miko tried to stop her, but it was only then that she realized how weak her body felt. She was limp and powerless, even a light jog left her exhausted. Her heart pounded rapidly, the dull thudding seeming to resonate right against her eardrums, unusually loud.

So... I overestimated my physical condition, huh?

Yotsuya Miko couldn't help but give a wry smile.

Well then, I'll let you off the hook for today.

She thought, and as Yurikawa Hana forcefully pushed her onto the sickbed, Miko closed her eyes tightly, completely losing consciousness.

"What do you mean, 'I'm okay'?"

Hana looked at the now-sleeping Yotsuya Miko, raising an eyebrow. She decided she would have a serious talk with Miko when she woke up.

"This is clearly not 'okay'!"

However, seeing her friend's pained expression even in sleep, Hana's anger gradually subsided, replaced by a long sigh.

"Can't you tell me what's bothering you, Miko?"

After all, she understood Yotsuya Miko too well. She had noticed more or less what had been happening to Miko over the past few months. But she just didn't know what kind of things could make her friend wear a worried expression every day, a deep anxiety lingering even after moments of joy.

"I really want to punch you, just so you'll spill everything out."

She said, puffing out her cheeks, and then pulled a bag of bread from her pocket, tearing it open.

"Clang--"

Back in the teachers' office, Tono Zen still wore an unruffled expression as he walked to his seat with his lecture notes and registration forms. As he sat down, a small, silvery-white ball slipped from his pocket and fell to the floor.

"? Is this some kind of prank?"

Zen frowned, picked up the small, silvery-white ball from the ground, and held it up to the light, examining it. He couldn't find anything unusual about it.

"Ah, are you the new teacher, Tono Zen?"

The other teachers also returned to the office and, seeing the new teacher, greeted him politely. A sharp-eyed female teacher quickly noticed the small ball in his hand.

"Is that... one of those urban legend Silver Balls?"

The young female teacher said hesitantly. Seeing Tono Zen's troubled expression, she seemed to understand why he was perplexed and stepped forward to explain.

"Teacher Tono Zen probably doesn't read urban legends, does he? There's a popular rumor going around lately about a powerful guardian spirit bestowing silvery-white balls upon people in trouble. Those who receive the ball without realizing it soon find their troubles resolved, which is why they're called Silver Balls."

She said, with some emotion, "I never thought I'd encounter something like this, but for you to have received one, Teacher Tono Zen, your next period should be exceptionally smooth."

"Indeed."

The other teachers, who had heard of this urban legend, agreed, attempting to quickly build rapport with the new teacher in this way, to avoid any awkwardness in their future interactions.

"I see... This is the first time I've heard of such a rumor."

Tono Zen nodded and thanked the surrounding teachers in a polite but distant tone, then put the ball back in his pocket. After a brief chat with the school's teachers, he returned to his seat and began his work.

The teachers simply assumed he was a bit reserved, not yet accustomed to the new environment, and didn't bother him as he settled into his work. The female teacher who had spoken first wanted to say more to Tono Zen, but out of consideration, she had to put the idea aside.

I'll invite him out after work, she thought, glancing at some of her younger colleagues who were also working, a proud smile on her face.

If you guys aren't going to make a move, then I'll strike first.

However, she would soon regret her superficial thinking. The other young teachers, like her, began to harbor their own little schemes, using excuses like helping him get familiar with the campus or offering assistance, all in an attempt to get closer to the new teacher, Tono Zen.

Compared to the immature high school girls at the all-girls school, these women were far more unscrupulous and reckless.

But Tono Zen seemed oblivious to the overt and covert hints, diligently continuing his work. By the time he finished work, no one had succeeded in getting closer to him.

Is this guy... dense?

The initial female teacher felt both frustrated and a little relieved. She quietly took on the task of clearing out the trash bin next to Tono Zen's desk, hoping to find out more about his preferences. However, upon seeing the gleaming silvery-white ball in the trash bin, she froze slightly.

Her fleeting attraction vanished completely.

"What a... trash teacher. (Whispering)"

Chapter 48: Affection and Care

Yotsuya Miko didn't know how long she had slept.

Gazing at the golden afterglow filtering through the window, she looked outside, and a sense of frustration surged from the depths of her heart.

Ghosts, as usual, were mixed in with the crowds, never disappearing. And her? She was squandering her body while living in fear of death. She had slept, and while most of her fatigue had dissipated, she felt increasingly dissatisfied with herself.

Just this much... and I can't take it anymore.

Her hands tightly gripped the blanket, lost in a long silence, a long speechless moment.

Until, a pair of cool hands were placed on her cheeks.

The girl with short orange hair silently hugged the black-haired girl, letting her small head rest on her chest.

"Don't think about anything, Miko. You're already very tired."

"But..."

Hana's index finger blocked Yotsuya Miko's lips, cutting off her words.

"Miko, you know, I really like you."

Yurikawa Hana said softly, "I like how you worry about me, I like how you get angry for me, I like that you're always by my side in your own way."

She spoke her honest feelings, gradually growing a bit more spirited, "I know, in your heart, I've always been someone you need to protect, because I'm clumsy, right? I'm not athletic, I eat a lot, I'm full of all sorts of flaws."

"But why can't you let me protect you just once?"

Even her anger was helpless, because just as Hana understood her, Yotsuya Miko knew that in front of her, Hana was always a kind, gentle child.

But precisely because of that, Yotsuya Miko didn't intend to, didn't want to.

She listened quietly, without speaking, not even offering an apology. She simply closed her eyes, as if giving her consent.

Okay.

Let me lie here a little longer, Hana.

I'm really so tired.

Her heart poured out bit by bit, that unspeakable torment. From that stormy night until now.

Hana, do you know, I'm really scared. When I saw that ghost, I really wanted to scream out loud. But I couldn't. I really couldn't. Because compared to the ghosts, I'm more afraid of death, afraid of never seeing everyone again, afraid of never seeing you again.

So, I endured it.

I've gone through so much, so much, but I'm sorry... I can't say it.

I can't say it.

She opened her eyes, wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, and looked sincerely into Hana's eyes, smiling.

"Thank you, Hana."

She broke free from Yurikawa Hana's embrace, stretched her limbs, and then looked back at the cute, pouting girl in front of her with an apologetic expression.

"I stayed up late watching Mr. Cave Bear videos last night, so I'm really sorry."

"Mmm--"

Hana looked at her, stunned for a moment, then put on a sulky expression.

"Honestly, why are you like this?"

She seemed to believe the excuse and began to complain about Yotsuya Miko's behavior.

"You can't stay up so late! You need to sleep properly."

"Miko-sa... classmate, are you alright?"

Just as the two were playing along, someone else rushed into the infirmary from outside.

The anxious girl with blonde twin-tails almost shouted a respectful title for Yotsuya Miko in her haste. Seeing Yurikawa Hana by the sickbed, she quickly changed it to "sis."

"Yuria-chan? You came to see Miko too?"

Yurikawa Hana smiled as she looked at Futamido Yuria entering.

"As expected, you two have a good relationship."

"...I only just found out about Miko-classmate being sick, and since it's nothing serious, I came to visit."

Yuria, who was awkward with others, naturally denied it. Then she turned her gaze to Yotsuya Miko, her expression turning serious.

To her, Yotsuya Miko being sick was no simple matter. She must have encountered a powerful ghost!

Ever since their trip to the tunnel, Futamido Yuria's attitude towards Yotsuya Miko had completely changed. She had come to believe Miko was a truly reliable and powerful psychic, and thus began to revere Yotsuya Miko more and more.

What kind of powerful ghost could have injured Miko-sama...

Yuria began to imagine powerful ghosts that would match Yotsuya Miko in her mind. It must have been a gigantic ghost, like a small mountain. Even though Miko had used her powerful psychic energy to crush its body again and again, the ghost's immense strength still allowed it to counterattack with terrifying moves.

But in the end, the equally powerful Yotsuya Miko had emerged victorious. After a battle that could only be described as brutal, she had collapsed.

Yes, it must have been like this.

Yuria, believing she had deduced the entire situation, looked at Yotsuya Miko with admiration.

This intense emotion left Yotsuya Miko a bit bewildered, but based on her understanding of Yuria, she could roughly guess that this chuunibyou psychic had once again imagined herself battling powerful ghosts.

"Is that so?"

Yurikawa Hana didn't overthink it, pointing at Yotsuya Miko with an expression that said, "You've come at just the right time."

"Then you can try to persuade Miko too. Honestly, she stayed up all night watching videos and chatting in the group."

Stayed up all night watching videos?

Yuria thought for a moment and arrived at a logical conclusion.

That's right, Miko must have battled those terrifying ghosts all night, finally dragging her exhausted and wounded body to school. She must have fainted because she didn't get enough rest.

Was it to avoid others noticing her abnormality?

Yuria's expression gradually turned resolute.

"Miko-san, I don't know what happened, but please get some good rest and don't overexert yourself."

(Miko-sama, although I did not witness that earth-shattering battle, you have worked hard. Please do not overexert yourself for trivial matters.)

I understand, but I really didn't fight any ghosts like that.

Yotsuya Miko twitched the corner of her mouth. With her Spiritual Sense, she could grasp about seventy to eighty percent of Yuria's meaning.

Besides, going to school isn't some trivial matter.

"Mm, I understand."

She was still being perfunctory, but seeing the two people in front of her anxiously concerned about her well-being, for whatever reason, Yotsuya Miko felt a touch of warmth.

She smiled and nodded.

"Thank you, Hana, and Yuria-chan."

"If you want to thank me, then treat me to something delicious, Miko."