Watching Ye Xing reach for the Tarot deck, Mai Sakurajima and the others held their breath, eagerly anticipating.
What kind of card would he draw?
Strength? Judgement? Death? Justice?
Or perhaps...
The Lovers?
How curious.
In this tense silence, Ye Xing drew a Tarot card, flipped it over, and placed it on the table.
Seeing the pattern on the card, Mai Sakurajima, Miko Yotsuya, Rio Futaba, and Yui Yuigahama were all stunned.
"Eh? Blank?"
Seeing the blank card, Ye Xing looked speechlessly at Godmother Granny.
"I say, you're supposed to be a famous psychic, how come you've got a counterfeit Tarot deck? Did you forget to print this one?"
Godmother Granny retorted irritably,
"What do you mean by counterfeit? Don't talk nonsense if you don't understand. This is a safeguard I left behind."
"I'm not some charlatan who makes wild interpretations; I'm a genuine psychic."
"To prevent severe backlash when reading Tarot, in case I touch upon a fate that my spiritual power cannot interpret, I specifically included a blank Tarot card."
Here, Godmother Granny paused, gave Ye Xing a deep look, and said gravely,
"Drawing this card proves that your fate exceeds the limits of my abilities. I cannot see through it."
"Oh, I see."
Ye Xing was unsurprised by this outcome. While Mai Sakurajima and the others felt somewhat disappointed, they also found it reasonable.
When it comes to divination, if it's just some fraud spouting nonsense, it doesn't matter.
But for someone like Godmother Granny, who genuinely uses spiritual power to glimpse fate, there are naturally certain limitations.
Ye Xing's power is too immense; his own fate is not something an ordinary psychic can glimpse.
That's perfectly normal.
Just then, Godmother Granny's peripheral vision caught something behind Mai Sakurajima, and she frowned deeply.
"This is..."
Oda Noto came out of the inner room carrying four cups of water and also noticed the small, faint white illusion behind Mai Sakurajima, which showed the same expression as Godmother Granny.
"Is this... a spirit?"
What the two of them saw was only a small, blurry patch of white mist.
But in the eyes of psychics like Mai Sakurajima, they saw Menma, petite and wearing a white dress, with a silly, cheerful smile.
"That's one of ours, don't worry about it."
Hearing Ye Xing's words, Oda Noto nodded.
He also knew that evil spirits and spectres wouldn't dare approach him.
"So..."
Oda Noto handed four glasses of water to Mai Sakurajima and the others, then took out a bottle of chilled Coca-Cola and passed it to Ye Xing. Sipping his tea leisurely, he asked, "What brings you to me this time?"
Ye Xing unscrewed the cap and took a sip of cola, smiling faintly. "Nothing major, really. I just wanted to ask if you know any methods to bring the dead back to life."
"Cough, cough, cough!"
Upon hearing this, Oda Noto nearly choked on his tea. After recovering for a moment, he looked at Ye Xing with a sceptical expression. "Wait, are you serious?"
Ye Xing nodded slightly. "Of course."
Oda Noto let out a long sigh and said helplessly, "If I had that kind of ability, why would I be running a shop here and exorcising spirits? I'd have become a billionaire long ago."
"Then could you help me check the ancient texts?"
"I can look into it, but don't get your hopes up too high. Even if there is relevant information, it's most likely just fictional legends."
"Alright."
Ye Xing responded noncommittally, then asked again, "I say, Oda..."
"Don't."
Oda Noto quickly waved his hand. "You'd better just call me Old Man. When you suddenly use my name, it always feels like you're about to dump some troublesome task on me."
"It's not that troublesome."
Ye Xing maintained a friendly smile. "Tell me, do gods truly exist in this world?"
Hearing this question, Oda Noto pondered thoughtfully. "Ordinary people might think not, but for us psychics, since we know evil spirits and spectres exist, it wouldn't be strange if there were so-called gods, right? Although I've never seen one myself."
"Then do you know how to meet a god?"
Oda Noto was momentarily stunned, then chuckled wryly. "Why do you want to meet a god? Don't tell me you're a devout believer? I really can't tell."
"That's right, I'm very devout."
Ye Xing smiled and, in a calm tone, uttered a shocking statement that made both Oda Noto and Godmother Granny's expressions change. "I am very devoutly... intent on killing a god."
The air fell silent.
After a long while, Oda Noto glanced at Mai Sakurajima and the others, forcing an awkward smile as he said, "This... this kid really knows how to joke, huh."
Contrary to Oda Noto's expectations, his attempt to lighten the mood with a jest was met with no trace of amusement from the four girls—Mai Sakurajima, Miko Yotsuya, Rio Futaba, and Yui Yuigahama. Instead, they all looked utterly serious.
"You..."
Both Oda Noto and Godmother Granny were dumbfounded, their pupils widening in shock. "You... you really want to kill a god!?"
Ye Xing replied with a relaxed expression, "Did you think I was joking with you, mate?"
Oda Noto and Godmother Granny exchanged a glance, both veteran psychics sharing the same thought.
This kid...
Has he finally gone mad from fighting evil spirits and spectres day after day!?
Kill a god?
How could such a thing even be possible?
"To kill Him, we must first find Him."
Ye Xing said with a smile."So I wanted to ask - in your circles, are there any shrine maidens, ritual performers like Ogami, or people who can communicate with deities?"
Oda Noto's pupils slightly contracted as he looked at Ye Xing's half-smiling expression, forming a thought in his mind.
The other party wasn't joking.
He was serious.
"People who can communicate with deities..."
Oda Noto took a deep breath, his mind rapidly working.
At this moment, he recalled everything that had happened since his first meeting with Ye Xing.
Oda Noto's mind began flashing through memories.
Though only a high school student, he was the most powerful psychic he had ever encountered.
No matter what kind of exorcism request, Ye Xing could resolve it.
Moreover, the number of psychics around him kept increasing.
Starting with Miko Yotsuya, then Rio Futaba, followed by Mai Sakurajima, and now Yui Yuigahama has joined them.
One thing Oda Noto could confirm was that aside from Miko Yotsuya, the other three girls had been completely ordinary when he first met them, without any spiritual power.
Now, they possessed an aura similar to spiritual power.
Could psychics be created after birth?
Ye Xing...
Had mastered a method to awaken spiritual power in ordinary people?
No, that wasn't the main point.
Oda Noto still remembered some time ago, when the other party had brought a girl with long black hair and another tall, beautiful girl with light blue hair to ask him about the legend of the Weather Maiden.
In the Weather Maiden story, only the live sacrifice of the Weather Maiden could restore normal weather.
The object of the live sacrifice...
Was the deity who controlled the weather.
"Could it be..."
Oda Noto's pupils contracted in shock as he pointed upward, looking at Ye Xing with disbelief.
"Your target is the one in the sky..."
"Correct."
Seeing Ye Xing admit it without any concealment, Oda Noto took another deep breath, calming the turbulent emotions in his chest.
"Mr Oda."
Miko Yotsuya had known Oda Noto the longest and was quite familiar with him.
She stepped forward proactively, her golden eyes radiating determination.
"An existence that threatens humanity with weather and demands human sacrifices, even if it calls itself a deity, is nothing but an evil spirit coveting human souls."
"As an exorcist, you share our mission to eliminate evil spirits and protect humanity."
"This isn't a choice between sacrificing an innocent girl and restoring normal weather."
"Rather than choosing between weather and a girl's life, what we should do is address the root of the problem."
"Namely, the evil spirit calling itself a deity."
Hearing Miko Yotsuya's words, Oda Noto and Godmother Granny exchanged glances, both showing expressions of helplessness and relief.
They were getting old.
But to participate in the new generation of exorcists' operations in their twilight years...
How thrilling.
"In that case..."
Oda Noto slowly stood, a flash of his youthful spirit in his aged eyes.
"Ye Xing, come with me to the inner room. I have a specially written memorandum recording intelligence from across Japan. We might find a psychic who can establish contact with the deity."
"Alright."
After Ye Xing entered the inner room with Godmother Granny and Oda Noto, Mai Sakurajima looked around the shop's interior with a nostalgic expression.
"It's lovely here. It's hardly changed since my first visit."
"Eh? You've been here before?"
"Yes, but back then, only Ye Xing could see me, so we came together. Afterwards, we even travelled to Wakayama City."
"Ehhhhh—"
Yui Yuigahama drew out her exclamation, puffing her cheeks in mock anger.
"So Mai-senpai already went on a trip alone with him long ago, and only mentions it now? That's too sly of you."
Mai Sakurajima shook her head with a wry smile.
"Look who's talking. Haven't you all gone on dates with him, too?"
Hearing this, Yui Yuigahama recalled the heavy rainstorm and the night she spent with Ye Xing in a cramped internet cafe booth, her cheeks slightly flushing as she murmured.
"Well, yes, I have..."
Rio Futaba also remembered setting off fireworks with Ye Xing by the riverside, similarly responding with shy awkwardness."
"Mmm... me too."
"You've all been?" Miko appeared somewhat surprised.
"I don't think... I have."
"You haven't?"
Hearing this, Rio Futaba, Yui Yuigahama, and Mai Sakurajima all looked rather sceptical.
"How could that be? You and Ye Xing met on the first day of school, didn't you?"
"We've gone out alone quite a few times, actually."
Miko mused as she recalled.
"Let me see... The first time was to an alley with a Gate, then we went home separately."
"The second time was coming to this shop... then he came to my house to speak with my father's spirit about some matters, then he went home..."
"The third time was to an abandoned building full of evil spirits where we ate bento together..."
"Stop!"
Before Miko could continue reminiscing, Rio Futaba interrupted with a complicated expression.
"Don't say anymore..."
Rio Futaba, Yui Yuigahama, and Mai Sakurajima all wore complicated expressions as they looked at Miko Yotsuya, their gazes even carrying hints of pity and sympathy.
"Besides exorcisms, have you never gone out alone with Ye Xing just to relax and enjoy yourselves?"
Miko Yotsuya shook her head honestly.
"There really hasn't been. Either we're performing exorcisms, or we're preparing for exorcisms."
After saying this, Miko finally noticed the extremely complicated expressions on the three girls' faces and tilted her head in confusion.
"What's wrong?"
"Don't say anymore."
Mai Sakurajima, who considered herself the mistress of the harem, was filled with emotion at this moment. She stepped forward and patted Miko's shoulder, speaking with deep feeling.
"We've accumulated quite a few exorcism requests during this period. Since Yui and I still need to get used to fighting evil spirits, we'll take our leave now."
"Eh? Going for exorcisms? Then I'll come along too..."
"No."
Rio Futaba also stepped forward, took a deep breath, and said softly to Miko Yotsuya.
"Miko, I'm begging you, go have fun. Go have fun with Ye Xing. Leave this to us."
It's too tragic.
Really too tragic.
Even Mai Sakurajima, who had been constantly competing with Miko Yotsuya and Rio Futaba to defend her position as the harem mistress, couldn't bear to watch anymore.
Miko Yotsuya, who had known Ye Xing the longest, when she went out alone with him, was either performing exorcisms or on her way to perform exorcisms?
It was enough to make anyone who heard it shed tears and feel heartbroken.
This opportunity should be given to Miko.
This child really has it rough.
...
Meanwhile, in the inner room of the shop.
"Let this old man see now..."
Oda Noto wore reading glasses as he flipped through a notebook, muttering to himself.
"Hmm... these people, I'm not sure if any of them have real skill..."
There were many who claimed to be psychics, but eight or nine out of ten were frauds.
Even psychics like Oda Noto and Godmother Granny, who possessed merely basic Mystic Eyes and could only see blurry illusions, were considered famous exorcists in the city.
This showed just how rare truly skilled exorcists were in this era.
"You useless old man."
Godmother Granny jabbed from the side.
"Carrying such a thick notebook, I thought you actually knew some impressive people, but it turns out they're all frauds."
Oda Noto rolled his eyes.
"If you're so capable, you Godmother of the gods, then find one yourself?"
"Heh, I actually do know one."
Godmother Granny looked quite pleased with herself as she turned to Ye Xing and said.
"When I was young, I travelled to many places. I can't vouch for the others, but there's one shrine maiden family living in a remote town - I could tell they could truly communicate with the gods through certain rituals."
"Remote? Shrine maiden?"
Hearing these two words, Ye Xing already had a guess in his heart.
"It couldn't be... with the surname Miyamizu?"
"Eh? How did you know? Yes, it's Miyamizu. The location is Itomori Town. If you want to go, I can make a phone call to ask."
Ye Xing thought to himself, so it really is Miyamizu.
Itomori Town, huh...
"No need for now. When I have time, I'll go there in person."
"Alright."
Seeing Ye Xing like this, Oda Noto couldn't hold back any longer, his face showing concern as he asked.
"But... have you considered how to kill a god? If such a deity truly exists, it would be one capable of controlling the weather across all of Japan, a powerful being that has existed for hundreds or even thousands of years. For humans to try to kill a god is ultimately too..."
"It doesn't matter."
Ye Xing waved his hand dismissively, revealing a kind smile.
"It's not really a god."
"And I'm not exactly a pure human either."
"Let's just say..."
"It better not let me catch it."
"If I do, it's going to suffer terribly."
...
After leaving the inner room, Ye Xing saw only Miko Yotsuya standing there alone and couldn't help but ask curiously.
"Where's Mai and the others?"
"They... had something to attend to and left first."
"Oh, I see. Aren't you going?"
"I... I..."
Seeing Miko Yotsuya hesitating and stammering, Ye Xing immediately saw through her thoughts and smiled.
"Well, if you're free, how about going on a date?"
"A d-d-date... Y-yes, that would be fine!"
Ye Xing's physical abilities far exceeded ordinary people, and his hearing was no exception.
While in the inner room, he had overheard the conversation outside.
"In that case, what should we actually do?"
Miko Yotsuya murmured to herself as she walked out together with Ye Xing.
"Yes... What should we do..."
Just as Miko was thinking, she suddenly noticed a large standing board in front of a cinema displaying a very frightening image.
"Eh? A horror film?"
Miko's golden eyes showed anticipation as she looked at Ye Xing beside her, speaking somewhat shyly.
"Um... I've never watched a horror film at the cinema before, so... would you like to watch one together?"
Ye Xing ruffled Miko's hair and nodded with a smile.
"No problem at all."
The reason Miko Yotsuya didn't watch horror films was simple.
She had Mystic Eyes.
If she watched horror films, it would be easy to mistake real evil spirits for those on screen and reveal her weakness.
Even when with Mai Sakurajima and others, if she revealed her weakness during the film, she could be attacked by evil spirits in public, which would be too dangerous.
But with Ye Xing, she had no such worries.
Within several kilometres around him, ordinary evil spirits didn't dare approach.
After buying the movie tickets, Miko Yotsuya blushed shyly, hesitantly reaching out her hand as she whispered softly.
"That... since this is a date... c-could we hold hands?"