Chapter 22: Fifteen, the Age to Venture Out

“That girl… who exactly is he?” Old Lady Sanji whispered to the black-haired girl beside her, glancing at the deep footprint and cracks on the ground, still shaken.

Suddenly appearing in an empty mountain, dressed like that, possessing power unlike anything she had ever seen or heard of… everything was a mystery, yet the utterly ordinary high school girl, Yotsuba Misako, who had barely been noticeable just moments ago, seemed to know him well.

“Illusion? When?!”

Compared to Takeda Sanji, the black-clad man who called himself a modern-tool exorcist, “Genius Rom,” was even less able to believe his eyes.

He knew perfectly well how immense the force needed to be to shatter the ground like that—human physical capability could never achieve it.

So there was only one possibility—they had all been pulled into an illusion the moment they entered here, and even what they saw now was an illusion!

“Don’t worry… this is, I think… my friend…?”

Misako hurriedly explained, though she hesitated slightly on the word “friend.”

Are they a friend?

Though the girl had many friends at school, and even a close companion named Hua, she didn’t truly understand what “friend” meant—especially regarding a first-time encounter with a male netizen from another world. Had they already become friends?

What if it was only her own wishful thinking?

What if he had crossed worlds out of kindness, or merely out of responsibility as the group admin?

The possibility was slim, but not nonexistent—the girl couldn’t be sure.

“What are you hesitating about?!” Despite the mask, his tone carried unmistakable irritation and protest, “What else could we be but friends? A magical girl and her summoned avatar?”

【BigMoeGod: Online acquaintances are friends in real life—no problem at all】

【Xia Na: So you’re not a beautiful girl?!】

【BigMoeGod: Hey hey hey, don’t slander me—I never said I was a beautiful girl】

【AngelAfterDeath: Liar.】

【ForeverSeventeen: I guessed that long ago】

【ForeverSeventeen: Why are you still wearing a mask? Take off that ugly fake face—let big sister see your real face (￣y▽￣)~*】

【BigMoeGod: We’re still just group members—don’t overstep!】

【YinyangEyeMisako: I’m curious too】

【BigMoeGod: Give up that idea—I’m a social phobic and never take off my mask!】

【Xia Na: True—some people take off their masks by putting them on】

【IceQueen: Admin’s physique is impressive—next time let’s hunt dangerous species together】

【BigMoeGod: Next time, next time for sure】

…

While frantically typing in the chat group, he exchanged glances with Misako in reality. Though the two spirit mediums beside them were still baffled, the situation suggested they could now lower their guard.

Saying he was socially phobic was partly true, but mainly he feared his appearance would immediately label him as a criminal.

He wasn’t bragging—once, the leader of that rampage gang had recruited him solely based on his looks, and now he reached the point where students in dark alleys voluntarily handed him protection money.

Seeing Jia Qi meant no harm, Shimachi Shinbo and Genius Rom both exhaled in relief—they were confident they could survive among evil spirits, but had no confidence they could escape from him.

Now that they could observe him properly, the two spirit mediums confirmed one more thing—this man was an 【abnormality】 beyond their limits.

“What now?”

Since he was already here, Jia Qi figured he might as well beat up the mountain god and completely solve Misako’s problem.

“Let’s talk while we walk.”

Genius Rom, looking thoroughly exasperated, hurried ahead to lead the way—he didn’t want to look at this odd man.

Shimachi Shinbo felt the same.

If Misako hadn’t met Shimachi Shinbo first, and tried to find help on her own, over seventy percent of those claiming to be spiritual practitioners would be frauds, over twenty percent barely able to see spirits, and even among the genuine ones, most were just exploiting paranormal events for money.

“I’ve traveled with my master to visit many renowned monks and sages, yet none could display the great magic power or divine ability to subdue ghosts directly. That’s when I realized… the best way to deal with the supernatural is to pretend you don’t see it,” said the white-haired Takeda Sanji with deep emotion.

Famous spirit mediums from TV variety shows, local fortune-tellers with minor reputations, secluded Shugendō practitioners, monks from Koya Mountain… perhaps long ago, cultivators in this world could refine powerful magic power and mental force through daily practice, but now it was utterly impossible.

Even when they poured out all their spiritual energy, it could barely make ghosts feel uncomfortable. Modern spirit mediums now had no choice but to rely on various modern tools and ancient relics.

But Jia Qi was different.

He was unlike any person they knew—stronger than any of them.

“Those evil spirits are as fragile as toys in your hands.”

“You must have trained with unimaginable hardship to gain such power… truly admirable!”

“Don’t say that…” Jia Qi was unaccustomed to being treated with such reverence—he scratched his spiky, Saiyan-like hair, embarrassed: “I’m only fifteen. I’m your junior.”

“Wait—you said how old?”

At that moment, everyone had the same thought:

This guy is fifteen?!

Rom paused, staring at Jia Qi’s thick arms, as thick as his own thighs, speechless.

“All our sports students are like this.”

Jia Qi shrugged, his massive muscles bulging like stacked boulders, forming a terrifying silhouette.

Yet the black-haired girl looked as if she couldn’t accept reality—she stumbled backward several steps, nearly losing her balance.

“He’s not even one year younger than me?!”

Yotsuba Misako was utterly stunned.

Takeda Sanji also fell silent for a moment, then muttered hoarsely: “Truly, the young are formidable. This old woman’s years have been wasted.”

Nonsense.

Haven’t you seen? The pink-haired socially phobic rock musician and the Pokémon breeder Kogoro are also fifteen. Clearly, at this age, whether forming a band or running a gym… becoming a gym leader is entirely feasible.

Fifteen is the age when a person sets out to explore the world.

Jia Qi met Misako’s stunned gaze and suddenly spoke seriously: “I hope you don’t mind my past.”

“Stop saying things that make people misunderstand!!”

If the entire world’s webnovel quality dropped a millionfold, and only I remained unchanged, that would be awesome

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(End of Chapter)