MHGA Chapter 167 – Miko Yotsuya Is Safe
"Hm?"
Kairo Retsu, now dressed in a jaw-droppingly cool set of armor, stood stroking his chin as he looked at the black-haired JK crouching in the distance, fiddling with her shoes like nothing had happened.
So this was the new handler? With her head down like that, he couldn't really tell who she was… Could she be a character from some series he'd seen?
Didn't seem like there was anything too unusual about her. Just a JK…
But wow, this JK was calm. To arrive at an unfamiliar Gathering Hub and immediately start adjusting her shoes like nothing happened? That kind of composure would rank her top-tier even in Infinity Horror.
Thinking this, Kairo Retsu approached Miko Yotsuya and greeted her cheerfully: "Hello there——"
But after his greeting, Miko didn't move. Didn't even lift her head.
"Hm?" Kairo Retsu scratched his head in confusion.
Was this girl really that arrogant? Completely ignoring him?
"Hellooooooo——"
He deliberately stretched out his tone, trying to get her attention. He even leaned down to try and get a look at her face.
He wanted to see if this was a character he recognized.
"Ah, guess I'll go play on my phone for a bit. My feet are sore."
But before he could see her face, Miko suddenly stood up and walked a few steps away. Then she stood there, head lowered, tapping at her phone.
"Eh?"
Now Kairo Retsu was even more confused.
Was he being… ignored? Did this girl dislike him that much?
It's not like he was some stuck-up noble or a creepy demon—why the cold shoulder…?
Meanwhile, Miko Yotsuya was doing everything she could not to cry.
So scary so scary so scary—
This terrifying armored spirit had actually started talking to her.
She couldn't acknowledge it. If it realized she could see it… she'd die.
And the hallucination hadn't vanished yet. She couldn't tell what was real anymore or where to go.
Miko was panicking. Am I really going to die here…?
"C'mon, don't ignore me, I'm standing right here…" Kairo Retsu muttered, still not recognizing who she was.
There were way too many black-haired anime girls. Now that one had appeared in 3D right in front of him, he really couldn't match the face to the character.
But her voice… it was familiar. He definitely knew this character from some anime. Just… which black-haired girl was it?
"Come on, tell me your name, won't you? And why are you so calm? You're in a whole new world, you know." Kairo Retsu finally decided to ask Miko directly.
As he leaned closer—his fearsome armored helmet almost right in her face—Miko felt like her lungs were collapsing. But she just clutched her phone tightly and pretended not to see him.
Her sheer will to live kept her going…
Now both of them were suffering—Kairo Retsu from being ignored, and Miko from pure terror.
She had already started thinking of her mom, her brother, her friends… even her late father.
She saw the armored "spirit" reach out a hand toward her, but didn't even dare to flinch.
No matter what—don't let him realize I can see him! If he finds out… I'll be killed…!
At that moment, Kairo Retsu waved a hand in front of Miko's face. Still no reaction—she didn't even flinch. Just a hint of moisture at the corner of her eyes…
Kairo Retsu, originally heartbroken from being ignored by a cute JK, suddenly got a feeling. He sucked in a sharp breath and asked:
"Wait… could it be? Are you Miko Yotsuya, the girl who can see ghosts?"
Using the same kind of tone one uses when opening a box of mystery loot, Kairo Retsu clearly saw the way her fingers tightened on her phone—her knuckles turning white with strain.
That's when he understood completely.
She thought he was… a ghost.
Miko Yotsuya, the protagonist of Mieruko-chan—a girl who can see spirits but has no power to fight them, forced to live every day in fear while pretending she can't see them…
Right now, she was desperately holding back tears.
The "ghost" in front of her had said her name. If he realized she could see him, who knows what might happen…
And look at this place—everything had changed, like the whole world had been replaced. Even the usual spirits she'd always seen were gone.
Only this armored ghost… and his feline underlings.
It was too terrifying. Even other spirits didn't dare approach this one…
Miko was doing everything she could to hold on. Her survival instincts burning bright.
I still want to live… I have to survive…!
Then—the hand she thought would pierce through her head instead flicked her forehead.
And the "armored ghost" actually scooped her up and slung her over his shoulder, striding away in huge steps.
The tension in Miko snapped. Thinking she'd been caught and was about to be killed—she fainted on the spot.
When Miko woke up, she felt someone gently feeding her something warm and delicious. As the liquid passed her lips, her mind began to clear.
Opening her eyes, she saw Kairo Retsu—now without his helmet—looking down at her with a warm smile.
"Don't be afraid. I'm not one of those spirits you see."
Kairo Retsu spoke gently, keeping a safe distance from Miko.
"Take a deep breath and listen—I'll explain everything. You're safe now."
He explained it all to her—what a Handler was, what this world was, what her situation was, and how she could return to her original world whenever she wanted…
"You're safe now."
Kairo Retsu sat formally across from her, trying to calm the shaken girl before him.
"I already asked Granny Felyne—there are no spirits here that can hurt you in this world."
"And as hunters… we'll protect you."
"…Really?"
Miko looked around the tranquil room, then toward the window.
Outside was a landscape unlike anything she'd ever seen. And yet… not a single spirit was visible.
A world of peace.
The view—and the overwhelming sense of safety—finally overwhelmed her. Miko burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably.
"…Sheesh…"
Kairo Retsu sighed as he watched the crying girl.
"Yeah… gotta remember to check in on everyone's mental health."
"As Guildmaster, I've really got to work harder."
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