Chapter 16: Justice Served
Yotsuya Miko noticed that the expressions of the passengers watching around them hadn't changed in the slightest. It seemed they couldn't see the faintly flickering, pale giant hand at all.
Otherwise, they would have started panicking long ago.
As expected, is it an evil spirit?
Since awakening her Sight, this was the first time Miko had seen such a bizarre existence.
Calling it an evil spirit seemed wrong, as it was just a hand without a human body.
But calling it something else didn't fit either, as its aura was similar to an evil spirit... no, it was even more terrifying than an evil spirit.
What exactly... is this thing?
Just then.
Miko suddenly realized that in the moment she had spaced out, the pale giant hand had vanished without a trace, as if it had never appeared.
"Just kidding."
Yoru patted the pervert's cheek, smiled, and released his grip on the man's wrist.
"Ugh..."
The groper, who had been arrogant just moments ago, was now drenched in sweat. Clutching his wrist, he squeezed out a whimpering sound from his throat, trying to suppress the intense pain.
His body was curled up like a shrimp on the cold floor of the train carriage.
"Um..."
Seeing the situation escalate to this point, the woman in the OL uniform seemed to want to say something.
But before she could speak, Yoru glanced at her and said softly.
"People like you are even more despicable than perverts, you know that?"
Being scolded like this in public, the OL woman's face clearly turned ugly, and she argued unreasonably.
"I... I didn't ask you to help me! Mind your own business!"
"Still barking at me?"
If it were an ordinary high school boy, he might have just endured it and let it pass.
But Yoru, a renowned "pianist" who had honed his skills in the toxic wastelands of League of Legends (Zaun server), knew well the principle that taking a step back only makes you angrier, and enduring only makes you lose out. He had no intention of indulging her.
He held up his phone and shook it in front of the OL woman's face.
"You like barking? Then later, I'll just happen to have bad luck and my phone will get stolen."
"Coincidentally, my phone doesn't have a lock screen password, so anyone can open it."
"Even more coincidentally, the person who steals my phone will upload this video to the internet."
"And finally, by a one-in-a-million coincidence, your colleagues and your boss will all receive a copy."
"Tell me, isn't that a coincidence?"
Hearing this, the OL woman's face changed drastically.
Yoru didn't stop there; he continued his verbal assault.
"Of course, if you were just harassed by a train groper, perhaps you would only receive sympathy from everyone, since you are the victim."
At this point, Yoru smiled and changed his tone.
"However, if someone were to tell the whole story—that the pervert had already been caught, but you refused to testify—why would that be?"
"I think there are only two explanations."
"First, you are a cowardly person with no moral compass."
"Second, you are actually a pervert yourself. You seem resistant, but in reality, you enjoy this kind of harassment."
Yoru sighed helplessly and shook his head.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. If everyone thinks you're the second type, you're going to become famous."
"In your daily life from now on, the probability of encountering perverts will likely increase a lot, right? Since you'll be a celebrity."
"Don't worry. I... oh, wait, I mean the person who steals my phone will definitely tell everyone that you aren't cowardly, but a woman with a deeply twisted mind who enjoys the process."
Hearing this, the OL woman's body stiffened completely.
She didn't dare imagine what would happen if her reputation truly became like that...
How would my friends, colleagues, parents, and family look at me?
"Done barking?"
Seeing the OL woman acting timid and afraid to speak, Yoru smiled.
"That's better. Be a good girl and rot in silence."
Just as he finished speaking, the train arrived at the station.
It wasn't until Yoru pulled her off the train that Miko finally snapped back to reality.
She hesitated for a long time, not knowing where to start, but finally whispered two words.
"Thank you."
"Yeah, you should thank me."
Yoru's blunt response actually made Miko feel a bit more relaxed.
"By the way... how did you know to record beforehand?"
"It's not that I knew, it's that you're too naive."
Yoru retorted casually as he walked forward.
"If that woman truly had courage, would she have needed your help? She would have fought back long ago. This is a rush-hour train."
"With so many people around, she didn't even have the courage to call for help. Maybe she didn't want to cause trouble, or maybe she was afraid of losing face."
"Whatever the reason, helping someone like that will only land you in the situation you were just in. It's meaningless."
At this point, Yoru stretched and looked at Miko with a smile.
"So, will you help next time?"
Miko paused. After a few seconds, she nodded firmly.
"I will still help. But next time, I'll be like you and secure evidence first."
"As expected of you."
Yoru had no intention of persuading Miko to change.
No one wants to be a saint who gives unconditionally.
But everyone hopes that there are more saints in the world willing to help others unconditionally.
A Yotsuya Miko like this wasn't bad.
After leaving the train station, Yoru led Miko to a shopping street and found the shop where he had bought the protective charms.
Sure enough.
The old man with white hair and beard, looking like a sage, was sitting in the shop leisurely smoking.
Miko looked around. Although the shop wasn't large, the variety of goods on the shelves was extensive.
Protective charms, bracelets, warding necklaces, prayer beads, statues—it had everything.
"Hey, old geezer."
Yoru walked unceremoniously to the counter, pulled out the stack of protective charms from his pocket, and slammed them onto the counter, kicking up a cloud of dust.
"Return goods, refund money."
"Eh?"
When Yoru walked into the shop, the old man had a smile on his face. But hearing the demand for a refund, his wrinkled old face showed surprise.
"Now, young man, don't be so aggressive. These protective charms are definitely useful."
After saying this, the old man's eyes scanned the area behind Yoru, as if looking for something.
This tiny detail didn't escape Yoru's notice.
Thinking as I expected, Yoru pulled up a chair and sat opposite the old man, speaking slowly.
"If I'm not mistaken, you are a genuine spirit medium, right?"
The old man smiled and nodded, looking like a respected elder.
"Look at you, what a thing to say. When I was young, I was also..."
"Alright, stop bragging."
Yoru didn't give him a chance to boast about his past glory. instead, he spoke slowly.
"You should have real goods in this shop, but the fact that you sold me completely useless fakes proves you are a genuine spirit medium."
"Because you can see—or rather, you can't see—any ghosts or evil spirits around me."