Chapter 37: The True Anti-Evil Spirit Noble Phantasm
"Huh? Yoru-kun?"
Yui turned around and was astonished to see Yoru standing there.
It's past 1 AM, why is he here?
Unlike the confused Yui, Miko breathed a sigh of relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted upon hearing Yoru's voice and seeing him standing there. But then, remembering something, she hurriedly warned.
"Be careful, she's different from ordinary evil spirits..."
"Yeah, I know."
Before Miko could finish, Yoru waved his hand to interrupt. He took two steps forward, looking at the silent Hachishaku standing not far away. With a look of emotion on his face, he spoke slowly.
"I never thought I'd see the real Hachishaku one day. I've heard so much about you."
Hachishaku seemed a bit wary. She glanced at the paper scraps burning with black fire on the ground, parted her lips slightly, and emitted a bone-chillingly cold voice.
"Who... are you?"
Yoru shrugged.
"Anyway, I'm not a pony (small horse), and I'm not your type."
In Miko's eyes, Hachishaku was a legendary great demon who had killed countless people.
But in Yoru's mind, his impression of Hachishaku was completely different.
What is a model worker?
What is the unsurpassable peak of the 'Small Horse Pulling a Big Cart' genre?
Hachishaku obviously couldn't understand this meme. After all, this was the normal world, not the other world (Hentai world), and her lore didn't include being pulled by a small horse. She simply repeated emotionlessly:
"Who... are you?"
Hearing this question, Yoru suddenly dropped his frivolous smile. His face became calm as he walked forward.
As he walked, the yellowing paper scraps on the ground began to burn with black flames in his wake.
"My name is Yoru. I'm 16 years old. My house is in the southwest section of Kyoto, in the bustling district, and I am currently single and unmarried."
"I attend Kyoto Municipal Sobu High School. I usually finish school before 5 PM. I don't smoke, and I don't like drinking."
"Every night, I go out around 10 PM to ensure I get at least eight hours of nighttime activity."
"Before going to school, I eat many delicious evil spirits and do some soothing exercises to help my body and mind relax."
"This lifestyle keeps me clear-headed to welcome the new day. My health is in good condition, and my psychiatrist even praised me, saying everything is normal except for my sanity." (Note: Yoshikage Kira monologue parody).
Listening to Yoru's self-introduction, the two girls, Yui and Miko, as well as the puppy Sablé, all looked dumbfounded.
What does this mean? Why the sudden self-introduction?
Are you on a blind date with Hachishaku?
"In summary."
By the time he said this, Yoru had already walked right in front of Hachishaku.
"I am the existence that destroys all evil spirits and protects this beautiful world. I am the natural enemy of you evil spirits."
As his voice fell, Yoru extended his right hand toward Hachishaku. His fingers slowly curled into a grip as he enunciated each word clearly.
"Come out!"
As he spoke, Yui saw a giant pale hand suddenly appear in mid-air. Its five fingers with sharp black nails clenched rapidly, grabbing the tall Hachishaku in its palm like a toy.
"Wh-Wh-What is this!?"
Yui and Sablé were completely stupefied.
One person and one dog were stunned by the scene before them.
The tall woman in white, the yellowing paper scraps filling the sky, the giant pale ghost hand.
Is this a movie shoot?
Yui and Sablé exchanged glances. Neither human nor dog could comprehend what they were seeing.
"Yo... Yoru."
Miko leaned against the wall, fighting the heavy exhaustion that made her want to close her eyes, and forced herself to speak.
"Be careful. She's not an ordinary evil spirit."
As if to confirm Miko's words, the pale ghost hand that had wrapped around Hachishaku suddenly exploded into a cloud of black mist and dissipated into the air.
"You... can see me too."
By now, Hachishaku had completely torn off her disguise.
In the legends, she would target minors who had recently lost a relative, mimicking the voice of the deceased relative to lure them out of their homes and kill them cruelly in a deserted place.
And now, Hachishaku's face, which could have been called dignified and beautiful, twisted into the true visage of an evil ghost. Her black pupils gradually dilated until they became pure black like ink, staring dead at Yoru's face.
"Getting angry?"
Unlike Miko, who looked anxious seeing the pale ghost hand disappear, Yoru remained calm. He even had the mind to make a teasing remark.
"Normally, I'm a cautious person, and I should retreat at a time like this. However..."
Yoru looked at Miko and Yui behind him, and Sablé squatting on the ground with his tongue out. He shook his head, looked straight into Hachishaku's eyes, and whispered.
"It seems this time, I have to get a little serious."
As his voice fell, Yoru extended his right hand again and made a gripping motion toward Hachishaku.
"Come out."
With his command, the giant pale ghost hand appeared again.
Yui didn't understand, but Miko, who had also awakened the ability of soul manifestation, knew the reason.
Simply put, whether it was her Hyakume or Yoru's pale ghost hand, they were just projections of the user's heart and soul.
If the projection was destroyed, it would have some impact on the user, but as long as they could bear the consumption, they could summon it again.
The pale ghost hand seemed to feel it was shameful to be destroyed by a mere Hachishaku. As soon as it manifested, it raised its middle finger and gave Hachishaku an internationally recognized gesture of "friendship."
This comical scene left Yui and Miko speechless.
As expected of a projection of the heart and soul.
The pale ghost hand can't even speak, but judging by this, its level of abstractness is no less than Yoru's.
If it grows a mouth one day, wouldn't it also possess the effect of mental attacks?
"Go."
As Yoru whispered these words, the giant pale ghost hand lunged at Hachishaku in the same manner as before.
Hachishaku just stood there quietly, her ink-black eyes locking onto the flying ghost hand.
"The same attack? How can this be effective?"
Miko's heart, which had relaxed upon seeing Yoru arrive, now sank to the bottom.
In terms of pure power, neither her Hyakume nor Yoru's ghost hand could contend with Hachishaku.
After all, this was a legendary demon with high fame in Sakura Prefecture, passed down for hundreds of years. She was definitely not comparable to ordinary evil spirits.
Although Miko was just a beginner in exorcism, she understood that the same attack would only produce the same result.
Yoru summoning the pale ghost hand twice showed his ability was indeed strong.
But how long could he maintain it?
Once his power ran out, the fate of their group would not change.
Just as Miko was thinking this, Yoru suddenly made a move that exceeded her expectations.
While Hachishaku's attention was fully focused on the pale ghost hand, Yoru had silently and unknowingly circled behind her.
Then, he pulled a silver nail from his pocket. With absolutely no mercy in his eyes, he drove the nail directly into the center of Hachishaku's back, right where her heart would be.
Hachishaku's tall body collapsed to the ground, emitting a shrill scream that made Miko and Yui feel like their eardrums were about to burst.
The pale ghost hand gave her no chance. Its sharp black fingernails, like sharp blades, pierced directly through Hachishaku's limbs, pinning her firmly to the ground.
After doing all this, Yoru squatted down, looked straight into Hachishaku's terrifying ink-black eyes, and smiled.
"As a professional exorcist, the ghost hand is just one of my tools."
"The true Anti-Evil Spirit Noble Phantasm... is me."