"Miss Takeuchi, please describe in detail the abnormal situation you encountered that night. It could be a creature, or it could be some kind of phenomenon." Kaguya said softly, "Please don't hold back, tell us everything."
"I understand…"
Under the warm glow of the match, Miss Takeuchi softly recounted the incident of her death.
"That night, I was working at a free information center. At ten o'clock in the evening, I escorted a satisfied customer to a shop…"
The free information centers on Kabukicho Ichibangai, those who know, know.
The so-called shop was actually a bubble bath parlor.
Miss Takeuchi continued:
"When I came out of the shop, I met a very strange person…"
Natsuki raised an eyebrow:
"Tell me in detail."
Miss Takeuchi said faintly:
"The other person was a woman. I don't know her age. The reason I say she was strange is because it was the middle of summer, but she was wearing a thick trench coat, and she kept her head down, her hair hanging down, covering her face… In short, she just looked very strange."
"I received a call at the time and wasn't paying attention while walking, accidentally bumping into the other person. My phone also fell to the ground."
"At that time, while apologizing, I bent down to pick up my phone, and then I saw the other person's face…"
Marin asked curiously:
"What did that person look like?"
Miss Takeuchi shook her head:
"I don't know."
"Eh?" Chika said in surprise, "Didn't Miss Takeuchi see the other person's face? Why do you say you don't know?"
"I… I don't remember." Miss Takeuchi's face showed a bewildered expression, as if a part of her memory was missing. "My mind is blank, I can't remember at all."
Everyone exchanged glances, their minds already made up.
The strange person Miss Takeuchi encountered was most likely an anomaly.
The match quietly burned out. Losing the warmth of the flame, Miss Takeuchi, in her ghost form, became frightened again. Her body began to twist and change, trembling, as if she would disappear into the air in the next second.
Whoosh—
Natsuki lit another match.
The bright flame warmed the heart, calming her.
Kaguya softly said, "Miss Takeuchi, please continue with what happened next."
Miss Takeuchi hugged her knees: "That strange woman seemed startled by something, covered her face with her hands, and turned to run away..."
"I was startled at the time, but I didn't think much of it. Working on Ichiban Street, you encounter all kinds of strange people... After returning to the free information center, I continued working until 11:30 PM."
"After handing over to someone else, I returned to my apartment to rest. All the way, I felt like someone was following me..." Miss Takeuchi's voice was faint, "After returning to the apartment, I had just finished showering and was about to step out of the bathroom when that strange woman was standing outside the bathroom door... I don't remember what happened after that."
It's not that she doesn't remember; it's because she was already gone by then.
Miss Takeuchi was discovered by her roommate, lying at the bathroom door.
Evidently, the second time she came into contact with the anomaly was when the killing intent arrived.
Miss Takeuchi continued:
"I still remember the last thing that strange woman said: 'You saw it.'"
"Thank you for your cooperation." Having asked all the necessary questions, Natsuki had no intention of lighting another match. "Miss Takeuchi, please rest assured, we will definitely catch the culprit."
As the match extinguished, the great terror between life and death swept over again. Miss Takeuchi's body quickly blurred and trembled, as if wanting to dissipate with the wind, but for some unknown reason, it solidified again. Crying, she said, "And, and one last thing, please promise me!"
Kaguya softly said, "Miss Takeuchi, please speak."
"I have a daughter..." Miss Takeuchi's voice was filled with fear and trembling. Crying, she said, "When I was young, I was ignorant and got pregnant out of wedlock, giving birth to a daughter whom I left with my mother back home to care for."
"I haven't gone back to see her all these years. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry... My, my bank card password is... Please transfer all the money inside to my mother and daughter, please!"
There are too many people and things one cannot let go of in this world, even a pimp working at a free information center would think of their loved ones at the very end.
Kaguya pursed her lips and said seriously, "Miss Takeuchi, please rest assured, we will definitely fulfill your wish."
"Thank you... all of you..."
Miss Takeuchi bowed, and her ghostly form quickly dissipated into the air.
"Damn it!"
Chika couldn't help but clench her fists, very angry: "What did Miss Takeuchi do wrong? She was just a hardworking ordinary person who finished work at 11:30 PM, and she lost her life just like that. It's too much! That anomaly must be eliminated!"
"Exactly." Marin put her hands on her hips. "Ordinary people don't have the ability to eliminate anomaly, so it's our duty."
If, before the Divination, everyone was just participating in the operation with a simple intention of cooperation, after seeing Miss Takeuchi's Ghost, everyone's mindset had changed.
Behind every victim is a broken family.
Life is never just a number; it is an incredibly precious and heavy thing.
Natsuki said softly, "Let's continue with the Divination, get information from the other two victims, and then eliminate that anomaly as soon as possible."
"..."
Without further ado, everyone continued with the Divination.
A moment later, the Ghost of another victim was summoned.
Natsuki lit a match, and Kaguya asked questions, quickly obtaining the desired information. However, the identity of the anomaly was no longer a woman, but a middle-aged man.
Next was the ghost of the third victim.
After the Divination ended, Natsuki exhaled lightly, then said, "Everyone, let's review and summarize the information we just gathered."
Yukino crossed her arms over her chest and said softly, "All three victims encountered strange humans. For now, we can confirm that the identity of that strange human is the anomaly."
Tsubame extended a finger and added, "The information from the Ghosts of the three victims is inconsistent. The strange humans they encountered were a woman, a middle-aged man, and an old person... They have no reason to lie, so I speculate that the anomaly should have the ability to change its identity at will."
Natsuki nodded and said, "Continue."
Marin rested her right hand on her pink cheek and analyzed, "It seems all three victims were attacked after seeing the anomaly's face. Seeing its face should trigger the anomaly's attack rule."
Kaguya softly said, "Also, all three victims were attacked by the anomaly when they were alone, and the time was almost always late at night... There probably weren't many tourists on the street then, so that anomaly is unlikely to appear in crowded places."
"I'll call Mitsui."
Natsuki picked up his phone, dialed Mitsui's number, and began to recount the information he had just gathered.
There's no need to hoard information; eliminating the anomaly as soon as possible is the real priority.
"Thank you, Natsuki-kun!" Upon receiving the call, Mitsui immediately became fully alert, attaching great importance to it, and recorded the information one by one. "The anomaly will appear as a human, but its gender and identity are uncertain; it could be a man, a woman, or even a child or an old person. The anomaly will not wear a mask but will keep its head down. The rule that triggers an attack is seeing its face... All of it has been recorded. I'll inform the other players immediately."
"President."
Kaguya looked up, her eyes signaling.
Natsuki nodded slightly, indicating he understood, and continued, "There's one more thing: the last wishes of Miss Takeuchi and the others..."
To be entrusted by others is to be loyal to their affairs.
What has been promised must, of course, be done.
This small matter was naturally nothing for the Strange Tales Management Bureau, and Mitsui immediately guaranteed, "Natsuki-kun, please rest assured, we will properly fulfill their subsequent wishes."
"..."
"Shall we go?" Seeing Natsuki finish his call, Chika clenched her fists and said, "Let's go downstairs and find that anomaly."
Most people don't walk with their heads held high, but they also don't constantly look down or hide their faces. Indeed, they could take the initiative to search for the anomaly.
Natsuki put away his phone, nodded, and said, "Let's go down."
Everyone went downstairs together to check out at the front desk.
"Welcome back next time."
The front desk lady bowed while looking at Natsuki with a subtle gaze.
So, what exactly did you all, so many girls and one boy, play upstairs?
Walking out of the hotel, Marin suggested, "Let's split up. Walking together is too inefficient."
Kaguya nodded lightly and said, "Indeed, we can split up. That anomaly only attacks when the victim is alone."
Natsuki said, "Everyone, keep in touch at all times."
"..."
After a brief discussion, everyone quickly decided to split into pairs.
Kaguya and Chika were one pair, Marin and Sayu another, and Yukino naturally with her older sister. Finally, there were Juju, Shoko, Natsuki, and Tsubame left.
Juju put her hands on her hips and said, "Of course, Shoko and I are a pair."
Natsuki shook his head and said, "No."
"Huh?" Juju tilted her small face. "Why not?"
"Because it's too dangerous for you two to go together." Tsubame-senpai was understanding and said tactfully, "It's best to split up."
An elementary school student and a the the timid girl who can't refuse others—the two walking together would be like a lamb falling into a pack of wolves. One must know that there are not only anomaly on Kabukicho Ichibangai but also countless pimps and special workers.
"Tsubame-senpai is right." Natsuki looked at Juju and smiled, "So, which of you, you or Shoko, will go with me?"
Juju crossed her arms over her chest and turned her small face away, saying, "Shoko, you go with Natsuki."
The the timid girl quickly shook her head, embarrassed:
"N-no..."
That day, she accidentally possessed Marin and suddenly entered the adult world, which caused a huge mental shock to Shoko. She still didn't dare to be alone with Natsuki, fearing that she would be taken advantage of into doing the same things.
Tsubame said softly, "Shoko is very unwilling, Juju, why don't you go with Natsuki-kun?"
Juju pouted and said, "I don't want to go with him either."
"Juju seems to have a big problem with me." Natsuki said nonchalantly, "Since that's the case, I'll still choose Shoko."
The the timid girl nervously shook her head, quickly hiding by Tsubame's side.
"Shoko and I are leaving first." Tsubame gave Natsuki a look, then led Shoko away first. "You two be careful."
Watching Tsubame and Shoko leave, Natsuki looked down at Juju, extending his right hand and saying, "Let's go."
"Hmph." Juju snorted lightly, refusing to hold hands. "I can walk by myself."
Natsuki didn't believe that statement at all.
If he didn't hold her hand and just walked away, this Juju would get angry.
Natsuki grabbed Juju's small hand and said seriously, "When out and about, you must hold an adult's hand tightly to avoid getting lost."
"Bastard!" Juju immediately got angry. "Are you saying I'm an elementary school student?"
"I didn't say that."
"You clearly meant it!"
"..."
Natsuki led Juju to a small park, then sat down on a long bench.
"Didn't you say we were looking for the anomaly?" Juju asked confusedly, "Why are we sitting down?"
"We've been running around all day, and our mental energy is severely depleted, so we need to rest." Natsuki said casually, "Besides, what we can think of, the Strange Tales Management Bureau can also think of. There should be many people searching for the anomaly on Ichiban Street right now. We won't make much difference whether we're there or not."
Juju widened her eyes, puzzled, and said, "Then why did you let everyone split up?"
"Because Chika and Marin are both very angry and can't sit still." Natsuki said softly, "We can't stop them."
"Hmm..." Juju was a little worried. "What if everyone encounters the anomaly?"
"Then we'll go and eliminate the anomaly." Natsuki's tone was confident. "Everyone isn't a newbie anymore; they won't make the simplest mistakes."
Juju rolled her eyes and couldn't help but complain,
"Stupid Natsuki, don't jinx it!"
"Yes, yes." Natsuki gently tightened his arms, pulling Juju onto his lap. "My energy is recovering too slowly; I need to quickly perk up."
Juju bared her small fangs, glaring fiercely. "You want to perk up, why are you holding me?"
"Of course, it's to gain pleasure from Juju."
Natsuki leaned down and kissed her as he spoke.
"Dream on!"
Juju had anticipated this, and her small fangs immediately bit down. At first, she tried to resist, but under the'Slick Tongue' skill's influence, her body quickly softened, and she closed her eyes in embarrassment.
"Mmm—!"
A moment later, Juju suddenly opened her eyes, pressing down on Natsuki's right hand in embarrassment, her small fangs glinting menacingly. "Take your hand out!"
A kiss was one thing, but he even put his hand inside her clothes! If she didn't stop him, this guy would surely take an inch for every mile!
Natsuki whispered, "I'm just helping you with a massage, since I'm idle anyway."
"I don't need it!" Juju gritted her teeth. "Take your hand out!"
Natsuki said, "That healing skill has the effect of increasing size with massage. You experienced it last time, so you should know I'm not lying."
...
Upon hearing this, Juju's small face showed a hesitant expression.
When she measured her bust this morning, it really was a tiny bit bigger. At the time, she wondered if it was just her imagination... Could it not be her imagination, and it really got bigger?
Thinking of this, Juju couldn't help but hesitate.
If it really could get bigger, then letting Stupid Natsuki help with a massage wouldn't hurt... Anyway, they had done worse things, and for the sake of getting bigger, any sacrifice was worth it.
Seeing Juju remain silent, Natsuki knew her attitude—if she truly didn't want it, she would have jumped out of his arms long ago, and wouldn't have stayed obediently still.
So Natsuki continued to help with the massage.
"Mmm... Hmm—!"
A low moan escaped her lips.
Juju frantically raised her right hand, covering her lips with the back of her hand, her small face flushed crimson like fire. "W-wait a minute... This is a park... Let's wait until we get back..."
"This is a corner of the park," Natsuki said while providing the massage service. "Basically, no one will come over."
"Y-you idiot..." Juju's small face was flushed crimson like fire, and steam began to rise from the top of her head. "W-what if someone comes over?"
"Don't worry," Natsuki whispered. "I'll be alert to everything around me. If someone comes, I'll take out the cloak immediately."
"...Pervert!"
He insisted on doing such things in the park; he was too much of a pervert!
Juju had no choice but to tightly cover her lips with the back of her hand, enduring silently.
After an unknown amount of time, the vibration of a phone suddenly broke the quiet in the corner.
"L-let me go!"
Juju's body trembled, and she suddenly opened her eyes, then frantically jumped up from Natsuki's body. However, her legs went weak upon landing, and she couldn't stand steadily, almost falling to the ground.
"Careful." Natsuki supported Juju.
"It's all your fault!" Juju bit her silver teeth in embarrassment, raising her leg to kick Natsuki, but it was soft and didn't hurt at all. She huffed, "...Hurry up and answer the phone!"
Natsuki picked up the phone, raising an eyebrow slightly. "It's Mitsui's call."
After connecting, Mitsui's voice quickly rang out: "Natsuki, we've found a suspected anomaly. Please come investigate."
"Understood." Natsuki stood up. "I'll be right there."
Juju pricked up her ears, eavesdropping. "Have they found an anomaly?"
"I don't know if they made a mistake." Natsuki nodded, putting away his phone. "So, while we were recharging, it didn't hinder Mitsui and the others from taking action at all."
"Tch." Juju snorted disdainfully. "You were clearly just being lazy; don't make it sound so good."
Natsuki extended his right hand. "Let's go."
Juju covered her small skirt with her right hand, took a deep breath, and stepped forward. "I can walk by myself."
The evening breeze was cool.
As it blew on her, Juju felt a chill and wanted to go to the restroom to change clothes, but now that an anomaly had been found, there was naturally no time.
Darn it!
It was all Stupid Natsuki's fault! She would never let him get his way again!
Leaving the park.
Natsuki quickly received messages from Chika and Marin, among others, apparently having also received the notification from Mitsui.
After replying to each, they agreed on a location, and everyone quickly gathered at the entrance to Kabukicho Ichibangai. Then, led by Mitsui and accompanied by several Strange Tales Management Bureau staff members in suits, they headed straight for the anomaly.