Outside a small park.
At this moment, there was no one around. Inside the park stood a dazed evil spirit.
Arthur glanced at Yotsuya Miko beside him and said with a faint smile:
"Go on, Miko."
As his words fell, he also unfolded a barrier, sealing off the small park that was just over a hundred square meters.
"Mhm."
Yotsuya Miko responded softly.
Her gaze sharpened, full of focus, as she walked toward the evil spirit. Her right hand tightened around the branch she held.
"Hm?"
The evil spirit vaguely sensed the barrier, turning to look at Arthur and Yotsuya Miko. Its bloody single eye swiveled.
Then, it noticed Yotsuya Miko approaching, her gaze locked straight on it.
"She can see me!"
The thought surfaced in its mind.
The single eye on its head instantly bulged wide, its face twisting in a hideous snarl, and it charged at Yotsuya Miko like a ravenous beast.
The terrifying sight carried overwhelming pressure.
"!!!"
Seeing the evil spirit rushing at her, Yotsuya Miko's heart clenched tight.
Her eyes trembled, her legs weakened slightly.
So this was what Arthur meant by reality!
It felt completely different from facing spirits that couldn't move.
Though instinctively frightened, she still reacted quickly, channeling spiritual energy into the branch and slashing twice at the evil spirit.
Two arcs of light, condensed from spiritual energy, cut through the air with sharp whistles.
The next instant, they collided with the charging evil spirit.
Bang! Bang! The arcs shattered instantly, and the evil spirit was sent flying backward.
After struggling a couple of times on the ground, it dissolved into wisps of black smoke.
Her second kill—successful.
"Huff… huff…"
Seeing the evil spirit vanquished, Yotsuya Miko's tense expression eased.
The branch in her hand disintegrated into powder.
She bent forward slightly, pressing her hands on her knees, breathing softly.
Her heart was still racing.
Just now, when the spirit charged at her, her adrenaline spiked.
Footsteps sounded as Arthur walked to her side.
Yotsuya Miko straightened up after taking a deep breath and looked at him.
Arthur smiled and asked:
"Well? Do you feel the reality now?"
"What do you think?"
Hearing this, Yotsuya Miko couldn't help rolling her eyes.
It was way too real.
Her heart was still pounding like crazy.
Arthur arched his brows slightly and comforted her with a grin: "Don't worry, the night isn't over yet."
Yotsuya Miko: "???"
After that, Arthur led his first follower, Yotsuya Miko, wandering the streets at night.
He deliberately steered them toward quieter places.
Arthur kept picking out evil spirits for her to practice on.
All of them were lower-level spirits.
Enough to pose some danger to Yotsuya Miko, but not fatal.
Through battle after battle, Yotsuya Miko grew far more adept at controlling her spiritual energy.
Time slipped to 11 p.m.
"Whew…"
Yotsuya Miko let out a slow breath.
The bluish glow faded from the branch in her hand.
She wiped the sweat from her forehead with her left hand.
Seeing this, Arthur smiled. "Alright, your newbie training—first stage—is over."
He glanced at the intact branch in her hand as he spoke.
"So, what next?"
Yotsuya Miko blinked at him in puzzlement.
Truthfully, she was starting to get a little addicted.
That feeling of defeating an evil spirit.
And why was it addictive?
Probably because every time she destroyed one, she could vent some of the frustration built up from being terrified by them for so long.
"Now? We go home—and sleep." Arthur's lips curved into a faint smile.
"Sleep…"
Yotsuya Miko froze, her expression turning a bit odd.
Something crossed her mind, and her cheeks flushed faintly.
Nervously, she looked at Arthur and asked:
"Um… may I ask… how exactly are we sleeping tonight?"
"What do you think?"
Arthur smiled meaningfully.
Yotsuya Miko: "???"
Hearing the familiar answer, her eyes widened slightly.
So Arthur was trying to make her overthink again?
"Hmph! She pouted, determined not to fall for it."
She wouldn't fall for it this time.
"Let's go. Time to head home."
Arthur extended his right hand toward her.
A flicker of shyness passed through Yotsuya Miko's eyes as she reached out her left hand.
"Ah!"
A startled cry slipped from her lips.
Because Arthur suddenly pulled her into his arms.
His right arm wrapped around her waist, pressing her against his chest. He lowered his head slightly and whispered:
"Hold on tight."
Feeling his warm breath at her ear, Yotsuya Miko's body trembled.
She instinctively wrapped her arms around him.
Arthur activated the Sanctuary of Silver, weak silver light enveloping the two of them as they slowly rose into the air.
Then he cast a concealment barrier.
So ordinary people or electronic devices wouldn't notice.
He didn't dart back home with a swoosh.
Instead, like taking a leisurely stroll, he carried Yotsuya Miko in his arms, flying slowly toward their residence.
Yotsuya Miko pressed her right cheek against Arthur's chest.
She could faintly hear the powerful thump of his heartbeat.
And there was a pleasant fragrance clinging to him.
Unconsciously, she closed her eyes, the corners of her lips curving up into a faint smile.
She stayed quietly in his embrace.
Arthur didn't speak either, just silently flew them home.
About ten minutes later—
Arthur landed gently in the courtyard, still holding Yotsuya Miko.
He lowered his head slightly, teasing with a grin:
"Miko, should I carry you all the way to bed?"
"N-no need!"
Like a startled rabbit, Yotsuya Miko's eyes snapped open, her cheeks red as she scrambled out of his arms.
She hurried off toward the living room.
The sliding glass door that led from the living room to the courtyard had been left open.
Arthur followed her inside, amused.
Afterward, he guided Yotsuya Miko to the first-floor bathroom.
Then he returned to the master bedroom on the second floor, grabbed a change of clothes, and went to bathe.
The house had three stories, each with a separate wet-and-dry bathroom.
The first floor layout: living room, storage, bathroom, kitchen, and a fifteen-square-meter bedroom.
The second floor: master bedroom with a large balcony, a side bedroom, a small living room plus study, and a bathroom.
The third floor: four bedrooms and another bathroom.
In total: seven bedrooms, three bathrooms, two living rooms (one large, one small), plus a kitchen and storage.
Apart from the master bedroom, the other bedrooms were empty—just bedframes, no furnishings.
About twenty minutes later—
Fresh from his bath, Arthur put on loose light-blue pajamas and sat in the first-floor living room, scrolling on his phone.
Yotsuya Miko was still in the bathroom.
Ten minutes passed before the door opened.
Skin faintly flushed and glowing with moisture, Yotsuya Miko stepped out.
She wore pale green pajamas.
The shirt collar was darker, the pants all light-colored.
"Um…"
She walked to Arthur's side, eyes flickering, cheeks red, lips parting as though to speak, then hesitating.
"What is it?"
Arthur looked at her with a smile.
"N-no, nothing."
Meeting his gaze, Yotsuya Miko's face turned even redder. She quickly shook her head, swallowing the words.
"Is that so?" Arthur narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Mhm…"
Feeling guilty, Yotsuya Miko turned her eyes away.
When she had been bathing, she discovered a golden-edged, purple sword-shaped mark on her lower abdomen.
She could clearly sense the power and will within it.
That was the source of her supernatural power.
Linked to Arthur.
Every time she used her ability, the sword-shaped mark would heat faintly, activating the spiritual energy within her.
And amplifying its strength.
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