The next day.
Afternoon.
Supernatural Investigation Club.
Yukino heard a knock on the door of the Club.
"Sister?"
Yukino, who had been making tea for Lynn, looked surprised.
Haruno's face stiffened.
She opened the door and saw Yukino making tea for a man like a good wife and mother.
The sky was falling!
Haruno forced a smile, barely keeping her emotions in check.
After all, this wasn't her territory.
She took a deep breath, forcing herself not to look at Yukino, and instead focused her gaze on Lynn.
"This is the president of the Supernatural Investigation Club, right?"
Haruno didn't act rashly.
This man most likely wielded supernatural powers.
And...
He actually managed to tame Yukino into this state...
So jealous... no, so angry!
He actually made her little sister serve him like that!
Deep breaths, deep breaths!
Yukino was also a bit embarrassed.
Being seen like this by her sister…
"I heard your Supernatural Investigation Club accepts exorcism commissions outside of school, so I came."
Haruno got straight to the point.
Lynn replied calmly, "Off-campus exorcisms start at five million yen."
In truth, the Familia wasn't short on such small funds.
But Lynn wasn't actively seeking commissions off-campus either.
He had to find things for his Peerage members to do.
Speaking of which...
Saeko was already a High-Class Devil.
If he could find a world that wasn't too difficult next time, he could completely leave the invasion to Saeko and the others.
As the master, he should be living the life of a freeloader!
"No problem!"
Just as Lynn was thinking about his freeloader lifestyle, Haruno agreed without hesitation.
It was only five million yen.
Lynn replied blandly, "Miko, go take care of it."
After a moment's thought, he added, "Yukino, you go too."
Since it involved her sister, it was only fitting to let Yukino handle it.
"Yes."
Yukino glanced at her sister helplessly.
Haruno looked at Yukino, then asked curiously, "Is the president not going?"
Lynn looked at her with a faint smile.
"You want me to take action?"
"I'm afraid you can't afford that price."
Hearing that, Haruno immediately responded proudly, "Don't worry, there's nothing the Yukinoshita family can't afford!"
After all, she was the eldest daughter of the Yukinoshita family, one of the leaders of Chiba Prefecture.
Could she go bankrupt just to exorcise a spirit?
Lynn pondered for a moment, then asked, "Hmm… what's the market value of the Yukinoshita family's assets?"
Haruno looked at him strangely, not sure why he was asking.
Still, she answered, "Around five billion yen."
"Alright then. That's the price."
Haruno: "?"
"Wait!"
Haruno's eyes widened instantly.
Was this guy toying with her?!
"What, you don't want me to take action anymore?"
Lynn looked at her calmly.
Like a thunderclap out of nowhere, Haruno's breathing stopped for a moment, and her legs tensed unconsciously.
So, so terrifying!
Just one look!
Gulp!
Haruno swallowed hard and said with a forced smile, "No, no need to trouble you~."
She backed down immediately.
Her sharp intuition made her realize how dangerous this man really was.
He was insanely dangerous!!
Haruno internally let out a marmot-like scream.
Yukino...
Haruno was starting to worry.
...
After leaving Shuchiin Academy.
The atmosphere among the three was a bit quiet.
"Yukino, are you really okay?"
Haruno asked with concern.
Being around that man… must be dangerous, right?
With just one glance from him, she understood something.
Human methods were meaningless against him.
He was absolutely capable of flipping the entire board!
Haruno was confident in her judgment.
Which was why she gave in so quickly.
"What?"
Yukino frowned, not understanding what her sister meant.
What problem?
She was overjoyed right now.
She could feel herself improving every day.
That let Yukino feel the value of her own existence!
How could that possibly be wrong?!
Haruno opened her mouth, looked over at Miko, and could only sigh.
After walking a while, they arrived at an unfinished building.
Miko and Yukino circled the area, then came to a conclusion.
"There are no cursed spirits."
"None?"
Haruno was surprised and looked around.
Well…
She couldn't see anything anyway.
Wasn't this place supposed to be haunted?
Haruno inwardly complained but smiled and said, "It's okay, let's check the next one."
A while later.
Abandoned construction site.
"Still nothing."
Yukino and Miko said at the same time.
Haruno's expression stiffened. "Next!"
After checking five different places.
The three finally stood before an old apartment building.
Miko looked up.
A bloated cursed spirit was staring down at them.
Yukino said, "Looks like you actually stumbled upon one this time, sister."
After checking so many places, she finally understood her sister's intentions.
She hadn't told her anything yesterday, so today she came to verify things on her own.
She probably bought all these properties overnight, right?
Back when they were rushing around, her sister clearly wasn't familiar with the locations.
"What do you mean stumbled upon it? I told you it was haunted here!"
Haruno didn't get embarrassed even after being exposed.
But she suddenly thought of something, and her face went stiff.
"Wait!"
Stumbled upon it?
What does that mean?
Haruno asked in disbelief, "Are you saying there's actually something here?!"
Yukino ignored her sister's fussing.
She looked at Miko.
Understanding the signal, Miko said, "It's just a Grade 2 cursed spirit. Use it to practice. I'll support you from the side."
After speaking, Miko pulled out the Twisted Mirror.
It could influence the outcome of reality, perfect for backup.
Yukino looked at her gratefully, then took a deep breath and locked eyes with the cursed spirit.
This was her first time facing a Grade 2 cursed spirit.
"Wait!"
Haruno was starting to panic. "You've been saying things I don't understand from the start."
"So, what exactly is there?!"
Yukino frowned and spoke softly, "Sister, step back."
"Uh…"
Haruno was stunned.
This was the first time she'd seen Yukino like this.
But after being scolded by her, she finally calmed down.
She quietly retreated to a more distant spot.
Still…
Yukino actually dared to yell at her?
She was definitely remembering this grudge!
As she was muttering to herself, the cursed spirit noticed Yukino and Miko.
It grinned and said excitedly, "You can see me! You can see me!!"
Whoosh.
It leapt down from above, charging at them!
Miko raised the Spirit Word Warping Mirror.
The cursed spirit, which had been lunging toward them, suddenly twisted midair and slammed into the ground nearby!
Bang!
A deep thud echoed.
The violent impact cracked the cement!
Seeing this, Haruno's eyes widened, her body frozen in place.
Even if she couldn't see it, she could clearly see the ground suddenly split open!
"Th-there really was something?"
Her voice trembled.
Even after everything she'd seen in her life, facing such strange phenomena for the first time was still terrifying.
And now…
Yukino was going to fight something invisible?
She looked at her little sister, full of worry.
Then, she saw cold air rising from Yukino's body, snowflakes began falling around her.
"Eh?"
Haruno was dumbfounded.
But Yukino's actions didn't stop.
She waved her slender hand forward, snow whipped up like a windstorm and flew straight ahead.
The cursed spirit tried to dodge, but Miko's Twisted Mirror froze it in place.
Cursed spirit: "…"
Crack crack—
As the snow touched its body, it froze it like poison seeping into bone!
In an instant, a massive ice sculpture appeared at the base of the old apartment.
Haruno stared blankly, feeling like she was dreaming.
This was too surreal.
Yukino had really become that Yukino?!
Moreover…
She glanced at the ice sculpture.
Even though it was deformed, it looked like a monster had been frozen inside.
But she still couldn't see it!
Yukino ignored her sister and walked up to the sculpture.
She gently touched it with her pale hand.
Bang!
The entire sculpture turned to powder!
Even the cursed spirit inside disappeared with it.
Miko looked on with envy.
She really wanted such a cool ability…
After eliminating the cursed spirit, Yukino turned to Haruno and said calmly, "Sister, the commission is complete."
"…"
Seeing her sister frozen in shock, Yukino sighed.
She understood the feeling.
After all, she had gone through the same thing herself.
Her sister would need time to process it.
She stepped past Haruno and got ready to continue grinding experience with Miko.
Pa!
Suddenly, Yukino's arm was grabbed.
She turned around in surprise.
Her sister was smiling at her stiffly and said, "Yukino, this time… you've gotten ahead of me."
Yukino pressed her lips together and didn't reply.
Sister…
You're the strong one.
You accepted reality far faster than I did.
"Go on, Yukino. I still have things to do."
Yukino gave her a concerned look, then silently walked away.
She couldn't help her sister with anything.
It had always been like this since childhood.
After Yukino left, Haruno's expression turned complicated.
She glanced back at the old apartment.
Then she broke into goosebumps.
She shuddered and quickly left the area as well.
On the way back, her smile returned.
This was an opportunity!
(To be continued.)
***
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