Not a detective

Page 237

She and her sister tried many methods, even dressing up as shrine maidens to pray for blessings, and they searched through many ancient books on Onmyoji, but none of them could save Asakawa Riku.

Asakawa Riku is in a very strange state. His hands, feet and head are broken, but they cannot be easily pieced back together. Even if they are sewn together, they cannot transmit nerve signals and he has no sensation.

It's normal that modern medicine can't cure patients like him, but it's strange that even superpowers and the supernatural can't help him.

Minister Morita brought an operator from the Inspection Department with "healing" superpowers, but they were helpless. Akihisa Kazamatsuri also came several times, bringing many shikigami, but all of them shook their heads and sighed.

Even the power of the extraordinary world could not restore him. He could neither die nor come back to life for the time being, as if he had been fixed in this disintegrated state by some powerful force.

It can only prolong life, but when will it end?

A deep sense of powerlessness spread among everyone.

Yukie lowered her head and said, "Even those [Resonance] and [Divine Descent] states can't help. It seems this is beyond our control..."

They've tried, and even the resurrected [Nirvana Ones] couldn't trigger it.

Other transformations also failed to respond; [Snow Child], [Magara], [Great Tengu], and [True Warrior] were all ineffective.

"Although I'm reluctant to admit it..."

Chizuko's bangs obscured her eyes as she whispered in a hoarse voice, "That woman probably also resonated with Asakawa-kun and somehow managed to freeze the divine descent state..."

In the atmosphere of despair, only the wolf still had the will to fight; she gritted her teeth, and a cold glint flashed in her eyes.

His very nature was vengeful, and now his claws gleamed with sharpness.

"I will find her, smash her to pieces, and scatter her ashes."

Winter of Man: Chapter 3 Shikigami

"elder sister……"

Just as Chizuko was about to leave, Yukie grabbed her wrist.

Her eyes were filled with worry: "Even my brother is like this... We can't let it go on..."

For Yuki, this was a complicated and painful choice.

Like her older sister, she felt angry and indignant about her brother's fate and wanted to fight for him.

But on the other hand, her older brother is already like this, and if something happens to her older sister too... Yukie can't imagine such a future, she won't be able to bear it.

One by one, the important people in my life are leaving...

In the silence, Kirisame Aoi spoke quietly:

"An opponent who can even kill the True Martial God instantly, to be honest, I don't know how to defeat him."

Judging from her dull and lifeless eyes, she seemed to have suffered a great blow.

This statement, though harsh, is true. [True Martial God] should be considered top-tier combat power in this world, yet before Asukai Shi, he was like a puppet easily disassembled, shattering at the slightest touch. Only Kirisame Aoi knew that, in that instant, no battle even truly occurred. If he could lose even in that situation, none of those present had a chance of victory.

Even the "Wind God" won't do.

"So, you're just going to stay here and wait?" Chizuko sneered, pulling Yukie away with her left hand without flinching. "I'm not going to sit here and wait to die. I'll figure something out."

She is a wolf driven by revenge; as long as there is anger in her heart, this wolf will not stop.

Dongyun Sueyue watched her silently.

Last time, in order to avenge her sister Yukie, Chizuko slaughtered more than seventy researchers in the Ryugu Palace Research Institute, none of whom survived.

This time, freed from restraint and completely enraged, it's unknown what kind of revenge she will take for Asakawa Riku.

No one could stop her anymore; in fact, everyone was burning with anger...

Mo Yue shook her head, but ultimately said nothing. She knew that this incident couldn't be solved by simply using her brain or playing detective games; it was a true difference in strength.

The people in this room at this moment have all put aside their work for the past three months. Hoshino hasn't been to the company much, and Chizuko and Yukie have both temporarily suspended their studies.

Looking back on the past three years, Asakawa Riku had always been helping them. Although he sometimes complained and sometimes felt helpless, he always rushed to the front without hesitation, with his tall figure always in front of him. Now that Asakawa Riku has fallen, they realize how much help they have received... So, now it's their turn to stand up and help Asakawa Riku.

As Chizuko pushed open the door to the ward and walked out, Yukie called out to her from behind:

"elder sister."

"Don't try to persuade me, I won't stop."

In a sense, she and Asakawa Riku are practically the same kind of people.

However, what Yukie said next was also quite surprising:

"No... I mean, take me with you, I want to go too."

"you……"

Chizuko was forced to stop and turned around in astonishment.

Yukie clenched her fist against her chest, her eyes equally resolute: "Sister, I may be clumsy and useless, lacking strength and unable to make decisions. But I also want to contribute my share to my brother. Sister, awaken [Kuroyuki], say those two words to me, release that youkai personality, so that I can fight too."

Chizuko's mouth dropped open slightly; she hadn't expected Yukie to make such a decision.

The girl's hair was streaked with white, and though her eyes were filled with tears, she remained resolute.

"……are you sure?"

Chizuko's expression turned serious.

Using "dream therapy," they finally managed to kill the dark side of Yuki's personality, expelling the evil from Yuki's mind and curing her schizophrenia.

Logically speaking, Kuroyuki shouldn't be able to be resurrected, but it's different when Chizuko says it.

As a powerful Onmyoji and the vessel of the Wind God, she could very well revive the evil spirit if she uttered the incantation "monster" to Yukie.

Kuroyuki is also Yukie, but she represents the evil side of her heart, the fierce side of a yokai, possessing powerful freezing abilities and a cold, emotionless personality.

If it were her, compared to Yukie who only makes snow, she would indeed be a great help in combat... but the price would be that Yukie would revert to her diseased state and split apart again.

If that demon is released again, I don't know if I'll be able to shut it down next time.

Is such a sacrifice really worth it? She's only just entered society, started school... just a high school student...

“I’m sure.” Ke Xuehui nodded vigorously without hesitation for a second: “If it weren’t for my brother, I would still be trapped in the mountains. He brought me out and risked his life to help me and cure my illness. My brother saved me and that’s why I am who I am today… I will give everything for him.”

Yukie's hair had turned completely white. She opened her arms and quietly waited for the personality of Kuroyuki to cover it.

Chizuko simply smiled, slowly approached, and embraced her.

Simply say the word "monster" to complete the task.

But what he said wasn't those two words, but rather—

"【Shikigami】".

"……what?"

Yuki was stunned for a moment, then slowly released her grip, only to find that her body was shining with light and undergoing all sorts of strange changes.

A chill rose up, but it didn't envelop the entire ward; it only settled in a small area around the patient.

Chizuko smiled gently: "You're my sister, how could I possibly harm you?"

She did not choose to awaken Kuroyuki, as Yuki had suggested.

Instead, he signed a contract with the Snow Woman as an Onmyoji.

Yukie's body contains three personalities; even if [Kuroyuki] disappears, there is another candidate.

Although Yukie's "Yuki-onna" is not a real yokai, but merely a name for superpowers, it has long possessed the foundation for possession through observation, rumors, and concepts.

With the addition of Chizuko's magical power, it can be made real.

At this moment, Yukie's transformation stopped. Her hair had turned completely white, and her bewildered eyes seemed to indicate that she still didn't know what had happened.

I only felt a change in my own power...

"This is……"

"that's it."

A snowflake mark appeared on the back of Chizuko's right hand, then disappeared in an instant.

There's no need for Kuroyuki. This is enough to unlock Yuki Onna's full power, and Yuki will become a reliable fighting force.

However, this time, Chizuko still couldn't get out smoothly.

Just as I turned my back, someone else called out to me.

"Miss Kazamatsuri."

Xingyu stepped forward. She seemed to struggle with her thoughts, but in the end, she chose to say those words:

"Could you turn me into a shikigami too?"

Winter of Man: Chapter Four - Battle

"A red stingray...a half-demon?"

Chizuko saw through her true form with just one glance.

She turned her head away and immediately refused, saying, "Don't say such irresponsible things. Your situation is different from Yuki'e's. Yuki is a member of the Kazematsu family and will inevitably be involved with the world of demons sooner or later. You are a half-demon, and you can choose to be either human or demon. I heard you have businesses and a group in the real world. You're doing just fine as a human, so don't think about doing something rash."

Despite her cold tone, Xingyu smiled:

"To be honest, I was quite afraid of you when I first met you, Kazamatsuri. Now I realize that you are a kind person."

"……what?"

Chizuko frowned in displeasure.

"My reason is the same as Ms. Yukie's; rather, I was moved by her words."

Hoshino wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and said with a firm gaze, "If it weren't for Asakawa-kun, I'd still be stuck on that island, all alone. Just like what happened at school, if I hadn't gone to investigate, I probably wouldn't even know I'd been possessed by Hannya. He gave me meaning. Asakawa-kun said that if I got lost, he'd pull me out and bring me back no matter what… He did it, and that's how I am today. Now it's my turn to pull him out, how can I back down? I'm sure, Kazamatsuri-san, I want to go too—"

Her voice trembled with tears, but she tried her best to conceal it; beneath her calm exterior lay a deeply moved heart.

Chizuko was somewhat at a loss. Not wanting to be infected by their crying, she could only grit her teeth and say:

"Hey, you there. Aren't you her master? Talk to your maid."

“My name is Moyue, and I am not her master, but her friend.”

Lying in her hospital bed, Mo Yue smiled: "I'm happy that she can make her own choice. That's all."

Why would Mo Yue, who is naturally carefree, try to persuade Xing Yu?

Moreover, rather than a life that has been arranged for her, she hopes that Xingyu can one day break free and live the life she wants.

Even if we hit a brick wall and are smashed to pieces, it's fine to be together.

"Miss……"

Xingyu glanced back, and the tears she had been holding back almost burst forth.

She continued walking towards Chizuko, who could only say fiercely:

"I'm asking you one last time. Don't blame me for not warning you beforehand, but a shikigami contract isn't something to be trifled with. It's not something you can just bind or unbind at will. Perhaps Sueyue won't become your master, but from now on, I will be your master. Even if I send you to your death, you can't resist. It's that serious. Yukie is my sister, and it's fine that she trusts me. But you and I are just strangers. You're just entrusting your life to a stranger like this. Don't you think about it carefully?"

"It's alright," Hoshino said calmly. "I believe that since she's a girl that Asakawa-kun has taken a liking to, she can't be a bad person."

"you……"

Chizuko seemed speechless at this nonsensical answer, but then smiled helplessly and said, "Fine, I like this answer."

So, their hands clasped together.

As the light of the contract ritual shone brightly, the water curtain rose and fell and disappeared. Xingyu's appearance did not change much, but he felt something awakening within his body.

Having truly mastered the power of the Red Ray, her half-demon balance is being broken, with the demon side gaining dominance.

"When I was transformed into an island, I somehow gained the ability to turn back time. If I could regain that power... maybe there would be a chance to save things."

Hoshino no longer hid anything and told everyone about "Summer of the Crimson Ray." Now, the important thing was to share information.

This was exciting news, and although Chizuko was surprised, she nodded and said, "Okay."

A red fish mark appeared on the back of her hand, then disappeared.

Signing contracts with two shikigami at once greatly enhances her strength... especially since Yuki-onna and Akashi-sun are both incredibly powerful yokai.

Although we don't know how far we are from the final goal, this is at least a good start.

Chizuko led them outside, and sure enough, they were called back again.