Becoming a Devilish Cultivator Miko

"A troublemaker."

Okita shook the documents in his hand, then paused.

"Is she problematic?"

"Perhaps. If so, she's the most suspicious among the staff here, setting aside the Kaishoku family's influence."

One replied, then handed him the next document.

"This is all the information on Kaishoku Shugaku. Further investigation would delve into the internal conflicts of the Kaishoku family. In fact, this is all the information Kawamori could give us on the Kaishoku family, because more than an exorcist family, they're like a powerful clan—they operate a real business in the Kawamori region."

"Operate a real business?"

Okita narrowed his eyes, understanding the implication.

"On a large scale?"

"When Kaishoku Shugaku's parents were still alive, it was small. Compared to their exorcist talents, the rest of their family had a knack for speculation. In just over a decade, they grew and expanded with the times. Now, they're a major taxpayer in the Kawamori region."

After listening, Okita glanced at the document and took another one from One.

"Who's next?"

He said, looking at One.

"Give me the ones we can handle."

"The Investigation Department can handle the rest."

One looked at him, understanding the meaning behind the Investigation Department head's words.

"Are you going to hand Kaishoku Shugaku's matter over to the Special Affairs Department?"

"No need. That guy probably knows better than I do what can and can't be done."

Okita flipped through the document in his hand and casually ordered.

"Send two people under the guise of protection to guard this young lady Kaishoku. Oh, and remember to ask the Kaishoku family for some protection fees."

"Oh, and remember to use my name."

One, standing beside him, could only spread his hands in a helpless expression.

"I can't do anything about you. Fine, I'll use my name."

Meanwhile, Yuria, who had returned to the classroom after being given riddles by Miko, looked at Kaishoku Shugaku with more scrutiny, causing the latter to glance at her strangely.

"What do you want from me?"

"It's not that. I just find you very strange."

Yuria said frankly. When she didn't intend to get along with someone, her words became much more direct.

"You don't seem like someone who should be here at all."

"Then where should I be?"

Kaishoku Shugaku twirled her hair and looked at Yuria provocatively.

"A dump?"

"A private aristocratic school."

Yuria said, feeling traces of having been in certain places from this person.

"But your attire doesn't suggest that."

Honestly, the biggest incongruity with Kaishoku Shugaku was the clash between her demeanor and her clothing; they were completely contradictory.

"Attire?"

Hearing this, Kaishoku Shugaku couldn't help but look at her own clothes, a thoughtful expression on her face.

"So you judge people based on their clothes?"

She glanced at Yuria's attire. Yuria was properly wearing the school uniform.

"Your attire isn't much better. Honestly, to have people dressed like you chirping in front of me, I don't know where they get the courage."

"When your school uniform arrives, you'll be dressed the same."

"Really? Even so, I'm more human-like than you lot."

Such words, constantly demeaning others while elevating herself, came from the girl's mouth. If this could be called arrogance, it was the extreme of arrogance, bordering on complete narcissism.

Yuria didn't continue the conversation. She simply took out her phone. The message from Yotsuya Miko, which she had told her about, had arrived. Opening her phone screen and switching to the chat interface with Miko, she looked at what Yotsuya Miko had sent, and her expression suddenly changed.

"What's wrong? Not talking anymore?"

However, Yuria merely turned off her phone screen, her expression returning to its previous calm.

"I just feel like I can't talk to you anymore."

The message Miko sent her was brief, just two sentences: Kaishoku Shugaku is a Psychic, and possibly someone from the Shepherd's side.

Looking at the person in front of her, her mindset had completely shifted. Her impression of Kaishoku Shugaku had soured to the extreme.

After all, her impression of this person had never been good to begin with.

"Indeed, I have no interest in talking to an ordinary person like you. You keep staring at me like that, I don't even know what I did to provoke you."

She paused again.

"Could it be that you were bullied because of me? If so, you really should resent me."

Hearing this, Yuria finally gave up on talking to this ill-tempered person and waited to see what Yotsuya Miko would do. If Kaishoku Shugaku was indeed a Shepherd, then someone else would naturally deal with her.

She hoped Kaishoku was indeed one of the Shepherd's people.

Chapter 95: Misunderstanding?

After giving up on talking to Kaishoku Shugaku, Yuria felt the atmosphere around her improve significantly. After all, being able to act alone without anyone bothering her was what she was best at.

The afternoon quickly passed, and before she knew it, it was time to go home.

She looked at the straw doll in her school bag that was not yet finished and headed towards the fortune-telling shop she was planning to visit.

Yuria intended to finish making the straw doll this afternoon, and with this thought in mind, her steps quickened.

Although she felt some pressure regarding the existence of the Shepherd organization and Kaishoku Shugaku, she figured such an organization wouldn't openly confront her at a time like this.

Strolling down the street, she thought about the distance to the fortune-telling shop. It was about two or three blocks away. After passing these streets, she would soon arrive.

However, the road seemed a bit unusual today.

As she passed a narrow alley, she suddenly heard a familiar voice.

This voice, she knew it all too well.

Kaishoku Shugaku...

The owner of the voice in her mind immediately matched the new transfer student, Kaishoku Shugaku. Only someone like her would speak with such disdain.

Could this person really be a Shepherd?

A thought quickly arose, and she quickly hid to the side of the alley, peeking into it with only half her head exposed. She immediately pulled her head back after a single glance.

It was indeed Kaishoku Shugaku, but she didn't know what she was doing.

When she peeked out again, a sharp cry made her shrink back.

"Spirit Summoning!"

But it didn't seem like she had been discovered. She was shouting at something else. With each sharp cry, Yuria finally confirmed this and was finally willing to look at her for a longer period.

There was only Kaishoku Shugaku in the alley. In front of her, there was nothing, but there were many ghost shadows that appeared for a moment before disappearing.

It seemed like she was performing an exorcism?

An exorcism?

Yuria couldn't help but be stunned. She rubbed her eyes in surprise and confirmed it several times before finally admitting that Kaishoku Shugaku was performing an exorcism. Her level seemed much higher than hers, as she was eliminating spirits that Yuria couldn't see at all—if those scenes of seemingly fighting the air were indeed exorcisms.

But... this exorcism was too sudden, wasn't it?

She grumbled inwardly, as if Kaishoku Shugaku had deliberately staged this scene, knowing Yuria's original route. Was the next scene going to be her discovering Yuria from outside the alley and playing out a classic scene from a movie?

While thinking, she had already taken out her phone and found Yotsuya Miko's contact. If Kaishoku Shugaku really did that, she planned to contact Yotsuya Miko directly to handle the situation.

However, Kaishoku Shugaku, having done all this, did not notice her presence. Instead, she walked towards the other end of the alley, heading somewhere unknown.

Seeing her act so unpredictably, Yuria was slightly taken aback. She glanced at the communication device in her hand and finally calmed down a bit.

Since this was the development, she decided to follow Kaishoku Shugaku.

Regardless of whether Kaishoku Shugaku was part of the Shepherd organization, her actions appearing on Yuria's path was enough to make her uneasy. Although she could have asked Yotsuya Miko for help, it would have been too much trouble for her.

Besides, even if her tracking went wrong, she could still send a message in time. With Yotsuya Miko covering for her, she wasn't worried.

With that thought, she quickly explained the situation to Yotsuya Miko and then headed in Kaishoku Shugaku's direction. Kaishoku Shugaku was still walking slowly, completely unaware of being followed, showing no signs of caution.

Yotsuya Miko, who was shopping with Hana, stopped laughing. She took out her phone from her shoulder bag, was slightly surprised by Yuria's message, and then shook her head.

"What's wrong, Miko?"

"Nothing."

Saying this, her expression remained largely unchanged, but the topic shifted.

"Speaking of which, it's been a while since I've had Butt Mochi. I wonder if they have the strawberry flavor."

"Is that so? But right now... the strawberry flavor is probably sold out. Would other flavors be okay?"

"Yes, they would! Can you come with me, Hana?"

"Sure! I want some too."

Yuria's actions weren't exactly bad news for Miko. Just as Yuria had an inexplicable trust in Yotsuya Miko, she wasn't too worried about the Shepherd organization either.

Although she hadn't learned any incantations specifically for cultivators, the supernatural forces in this world were quite scarce. From Takeda Mie, they, the exorcists, seemed to have no established system, focusing their supernatural abilities on exorcism while being almost like ordinary people in other aspects. Against ordinary people, any method used by cultivators would be extremely effective, even if these ordinary people had firearms.

Therefore, she wasn't too worried about Yuria's safety. The poison fly umbrella charm she had given Yuria could hold out until she arrived to rescue her. However, necessary precautions were still needed, in case the Kaishoku Shugaku that Yuria was following was indeed a member of the Shepherd organization, and this organization possessed methods she hadn't considered.

With this thought, her steps quickened slightly, and she began to worry a little about Yuria's safety. But at least Yuria wasn't foolish enough to follow Kaishoku Shugaku blindly without sending messages. If she had, Miko would have really wanted to get angry on her behalf.

Meanwhile, Yuria, unaware that Miko was already heading her way, continued to follow Kaishoku Shugaku silently. Her expression became increasingly strange.

The place Kaishoku Shugaku was walking towards was all too familiar to her. As they got closer to a certain building, her heart grew more and more anxious. Without a doubt, Kaishoku Shugaku was heading towards her location. That building was her home.

What does she want?

Yuria gripped her schoolbag tightly, watching Kaishoku Shugaku grow closer to the building's main entrance, feeling more confused than ever. An anxiety of being completely seen and understood washed over her. If Kaishoku Shugaku was one of the Shepherd's people, then the reason for knowing her movements so well became clear—the Shepherd had set their sights on her.

She's just casing the place now, and next she'll be trying to find...

Yuria was a little slow to react as the main entrance suddenly opened and Kaishoku Shugaku walked in.

If she wasn't mistaken, Kaishoku Shugaku seemed to have gone in with a room key.

And having a room key meant...

She bought a place here.

Is the Shepherd organization really that rich?

She thought subconsciously, then shook her head and walked up to the front of the building, taking out her own room key.

As the main door opened, she began to wonder if she had misunderstood something.

After all...

She glanced at the building in front of her.

Setting aside the question of money, buying a place here required a series of local certifications and documents, and entry wouldn't be permitted until everything was thoroughly checked.

Or there was another way, but that was even less likely.

"So this girl is actually a rich young lady?"

Yuria muttered, yet her attire made it hard to believe. It wasn't that she was poorly dressed, but rather that she hadn't even considered dressing up at all.

Chapter 96: Hana? What are you doing here?