Yotsuya Miko Becomes a Devilish Cultivator

"..."

Mr. Cave Bear narrowed his eyes as he watched her, finally sensing her unusual emotions.

"Young lady, do you know? My career wasn't always smooth sailing. When I was twenty-nine, I faced my first major setback. At that time, I thought about committing suicide."

He paused as he spoke.

"Now, I'm still alive and well."

Chapter 72: Mr. Cave Bear's Theory on Friends

If Ghosts were like a real society, then suddenly transitioning from a sweet campus life to such a situation would inevitably bring a sense of internal disparity due to the stark contrast. It would be like thinking you're a rich second-generation heir when in reality you're poor and destitute, or believing you've written a masterpiece only to find out you're a failure in the eyes of others.

Miko was in such a state. Others couldn't see Ghosts, and thus weren't bothered by them. But she could see them, and not only that, she was facing mortal danger. That danger was everywhere, seemingly impossible to avoid. And just as she was trying to prevent such accidents, seeing how others didn't have to worry about them, even feeling a bit disgusted with herself for not dying easily, her despair became overwhelming.

At this rate, her emotional outburst was only natural. Now, being questioned by a friend and even abandoned by her friend, she was truly on the verge of a breakdown. It was a testament to her strength that she could still suppress the wicked, negative thoughts within her.

This kind of emotion was something many people had experienced, but having experienced it didn't mean one could understand if others had gone through it. However, Mr. Cave Bear deeply empathized. He had keenly noticed the emotions in Miko's eyes, emotions that resonated with him. And he wasn't the only one who noticed; another person who did still harbored doubts.

"When I was twenty-nine, my physical condition was at its peak. Just when I thought I could maintain my winning streak, I suffered the most painful defeat of my life. I lost to a younger kid."

In a hotel private room, after finishing lunch, Mr. Cave Bear sipped his tea and nonchalantly recounted his experience.

"Then, the media finally abandoned me. All the honors, all the money, they slipped away. I began to be ostracized. They focused their attention on that more promising kid, and the audience and fans didn't care about a loser."

"Can you understand that feeling?"

Mr. Cave Bear placed his teacup on the table and looked at Yotsuya Miko.

"In that instant, I felt like I had lost the whole world. No, I felt abandoned by the whole world. No one sympathized with me, and I felt wronged and resentful. All those years of hard work and struggle were ruined in an instant. I couldn't accept such an outcome. So, I started practicing desperately. But that kid was indeed more talented than me. My subsequent efforts didn't bring me a single success."

"Under such pain, I thought about suicide."

"Suicide? Was it really necessary to go that far?"

Yuria's expression was one of disbelief.

"It's just…"

"Young lady, if you were constantly ignored by others, wouldn't you feel hurt?"

Mr. Cave Bear looked at her, then pointed to Miko beside her.

"If she distanced herself from you, didn't trust you, or even hated you? How would you feel?"

These words finally rendered Yuria speechless. She seemed to finally understand Miko's feelings of abandonment by Hua.

"But you didn't do it."

"No, I did, I just didn't succeed."

Mr. Cave Bear shook his head, a look of indescribable emotion on his face.

"I was too strong. The rope I used to hang myself snapped under my weight before I could even suffocate. I was too conspicuous. When I tried to drown myself, people gathered around, preventing me from going through with it. I was too cowardly to cut my wrists. Even when I finally mustered the courage, I hit myself elsewhere, and the blade of the knife suddenly chipped, rendering it useless. Finally, the sleeping pills I bought were expired, which led to me having my stomach pumped at the hospital."

He chuckled as he spoke.

"Hahaha—It seemed God really didn't want me to die, so I continued to live, until I saw that kid's car accident. Compared to my good luck, that kid had terrible luck. A car accident ended his life."

"Uh, so you…"

Yuria's expression turned strange.

"You took back everything you owned?"

"That's right."

Mr. Cave Bear was still smiling.

"I took back everything. Before his car accident, I was thinking that if the race hadn't been before his accident, I might never have been able to let it go in my lifetime. But, my luck was good."

"…Perhaps that's considered luck."

Miko glanced at him silently. After hearing his story, she still felt lost about her own situation.

"It's all because of your own efforts, Mr. Cave Bear."

"The answer is mindset."

Mr. Cave Bear shook his head, giving a completely different answer.

"Listen, young lady, I don't know what you've gone through or what role you're playing in it. Everything is unpredictable. You and I meeting was a coincidence, but for me, it was also God, who didn't want me to die, sending me to advise you. Therefore, I am happy to share my experience."

"Mindset?"

Looking at the tough guy before her, Yotsuya Miko nodded reluctantly, accepting his guidance. She pondered the meaning of his words in her heart, then turned her gaze to Yuria.

"Yuria, if you have a falling out with a friend, what would you do?"

"Me?"

Yuria pointed to herself, about to speak, when Mr. Cave Bear suddenly interjected.

"If it's because of me, I would apologize. If it's because of him, I would fight him first and then apologize."

"Then, what if it's about something you can't tell them?"

"Something you can't tell them?"

The Anazuma stroked its beard and turned its gaze to Miko, "It's important?"

"She might get hurt."

"Then, please tell her."

The Anazuma gave its answer, drawing from its experience as someone who had been through it before.

"Your silence will also hurt her, because it's a sign of your distrust towards your friend, your selfishness."

"My selfishness?"

Yotsuya Miko was stunned, finding this statement incomprehensible.

"Yes, you treat her as your possession, not your friend. One party giving their all to the other without wanting the same in return isn't friendship, it's more like love."

The Anazuma spoke frankly, taking a sip of tea in the process.

"Only love makes one this blind."

His words made Miko pause for a moment, and she subconsciously touched her face.

Thankfully, it wasn't red or hot.

"Friends are like traders who share everything; they naturally avoid intruding on each other's affairs and instead consider things from their own perspective for the other's benefit. Because, that is trust. Therefore, even if you don't tell her about this, but speak to her with a sincere heart, she will regain her trust in you. This is my answer."

Chapter 73: Is it okay now?

The Anazuma left. His schedule was very busy; a very important competition awaited him afterward. Before leaving, he took a commemorative photo with Miko and Yuria.

"Consider it a memento of my visit,"

he said, grinning broadly. He felt that what he had encountered today wasn't too bad; at least he felt much more at ease when he thought about the girl named Yotsuya Miko.

"Mm."

Miko watched the car drive away, then quietly looked at the photo on her phone, their group picture. She then turned her gaze to Yuria.

"Come with me somewhere else."

"Where?"

Yuria looked at her, puzzled. She glanced at the photo on her phone and felt a strange emotion. In the picture, the Anazuma had his strong hands placed on their heads, and she always felt as if, in the next moment, their heads would end up like watermelons on the beach.

"The fortune teller's shop."

"The fortune teller's shop? You mean the Godmother... but isn't that place closed?"

Yuria asked, confused, looking at Miko with uncomprehending eyes. Miko didn't offer much explanation. She simply closed her eyes, confirming her resolve once more. After being lectured by the Anazuma, she finally felt motivated to do something.

The premonition, which had not resurfaced since the Kimono Ghost, once again appeared in her mind, urging her to go somewhere.

"No, someone is there."

"Who? Hua?"

"Rom."

In front of the fortune teller's shop, a man wearing a top hat leaned dejectedly against the wall, idly playing with a stone in his hand. People bustled by on the street, their chatter filling the air.

Rom waited like this, listening, for instance, to rumors about the Silver Balls.

He looked at the stone in his hand and thought that the so-called Silver Balls were merely similar products, but they likely contained far too much spiritual energy. He then recalled the "Deity of the Silver Ball" and unconsciously pulled his top hat down a little.

A creation of a god?

Due to his childhood experiences, he harbored a deep-seated aversion towards deities and similar beings. Naturally, he couldn't muster any fondness for these so-called "Silver Balls." If such gods truly existed, why hadn't they saved him along with them?

Recalling past events, Rom's lips twitched, his face filled with bitterness.

"I wrote a letter to the old lady—well, I hope she arrives sooner rather than later."

Looking at the still-closed fortune teller's shop, he again fiddled with the stone in his hand, aimlessly listening to the passersby's conversations. He inexplicably thought about the day's events, unsure of what to do.

"Were you planning to commit suicide today, Mr. Rom?"

Direct, piercing words entered his mind. The stone in Rom's hand stopped moving. He sighed and turned his gaze to the Psychic, Yotsuya Miko, whom he had only met once before.

"Miss Yotsuya, your words are quite baffling. I wasn't planning to..."

"You've decided,"

Miko abruptly interrupted his flippant remark, her expression serious as her golden eyes peered directly into his heart.

"Today is the day you go to deal with that monster in the mountains."

"..."

Rom fell silent for a moment, then smiled and looked at the blonde girl beside her.

"It's not good to involve people who are not concerned, especially since they wouldn't understand this kind of thing."

"What are you two talking about?"

Yuria, listening to their riddle-like conversation, couldn't help but speak up.

"Is it about ghosts? Well, although I am indeed weak, I'm not exactly a common person, am I?"

"...Another Psychic?"

"To be precise, a normal person who can see a little bit."

Miko glanced at the fortune-telling shop next door and sighed.

"Do you know the Godmother? I plan to have her teach Yuria some skills."

"You mean Granny Saegusa? I'm quite familiar with her, but—is that why you're here?"

Rom smiled as he looked at Miko, trying to glimpse something from her slightly cold eyes. He realized the girl before him wasn't just looking for a teacher for the girl named "Yuria" next to her.

"No, I want to kill that monster and gain sustenance for myself."

Miko said this, looking at Rom, and deliberately explained.

"That monster's soul is a means for me to become stronger."

Instead of dwelling on her own weakness and fearing the death she might face, she would continue to grow stronger until she could completely disregard the difference between what could be seen and what could not.

"Is that so?"

Rom didn't understand, but he instinctively chose to refuse.

"That monster is really strong. Even you would probably have trouble dealing with it."

"Then, with your abilities, Rom, can you handle it?"

Miko retorted, simply looking at him, hitting the nail on the head.

"Your expression has already betrayed you. That's why I asked you about suicide."

Under the scan of her Spiritual Sense, even the slightest emotional changes were nowhere to hide, and she perceived them all. No matter how much Rom denied it, his lies were just lies, and Miko couldn't believe them.

"...Your ability is really unreasonable."

Rom rubbed the tips of his hair, stuffed the stone in his hand into his pocket, and gave up his stubborn denial, admitting it readily.