Chapter 72

"Hey, Miss, the commission contract clearly states that the client covers food and lodging."

Koizumi Akako was stunned, then felt her pockets, and felt a bit embarrassed.

This was her first time going out alone, and she hadn’t brought any money.

Her family had a company in Tokyo, and all matters were handled by others; even the commission fee was transferred directly from the company to Akaso Kaze’s office.

So she had forgotten about the need to pay.

Should we go down the mountain to stay?

Seeing the girl’s hesitation, the old abbot of Sannide Temple immediately said with disdain: "It takes six hours to walk down the mountain."

"I’m not trying to scare you, but you’d better stay."

"On a rainy night like this, that guy might be watching you from somewhere."

"Who?" Koizumi Akako asked curiously. "Are there bears nearby?"

"Bears?" The old abbot’s face, shriveled like tree bark, twitched. "That’s not such a cute animal."

"It’s an ancient monster that loves rain and darkness and specializes in eating human souls."

"It is the Fog Tengu!"

Boom! Crack!

The old abbot’s voice suddenly rose, and a flash of lightning at that very moment scared Koizumi Akako’s heart.

This was her first time exorcising a monster alone; she had been excited before, but now that it was actually happening, she couldn’t help but feel a bit afraid.

She said to Akaso Kaze: "You, you pay for me, just consider it a loan from you, and I’ll pay you back when we go back."

Koizumi Akako’s face flushed slightly.

A dignified magician having to borrow money—it was so embarrassing.

Akaso Kaze smiled slightly.

This was a 40 million commission, and he could also earn a magic spell; what was 20,000 yen?

Akaso Kaze couldn’t be bothered to haggle and threw several 10,000-yen bills in front of the old abbot.

"Bring us whatever good food and drink you have."

Seeing Akaso Kaze being so generous, the old abbot immediately beamed.

"Don’t worry, I guarantee you’ll be satisfied. Come, let me introduce you to my four disciples."

After touring the temple and seeing the various landscapes, the vegetarian meal was ready.

Akaso Kaze and Koizumi Akako sat in the seats of honor, with several monks sitting nearby; the meal was very sumptuous.

After eating for a while, Akaso Kaze asked: "What exactly is the Fog Tengu like?"

He wasn’t asking Koizumi Akako, of course; he was asking the old abbot.

"That’s just a boring old legend."

"It is said that the Fog Tengu sneaks into the village like fog on rainy nights, breaks through walls with the brute strength of a giant, and snatches people away."

"Then it uses its feet to soar into the air, hangs the corpses on treetops, and eats them while they are suspended."

"And all the ones it snatches are young girls with delicate skin and tender flesh."

"By the way, just like the young lady sitting here."

The old abbot’s voice trembled; his already creepy old face leaned close to Koizumi Akako, scaring her so much that she backed away and leaned against Akaso Kaze.

"This old lecher, he won’t even rest when he’s about to turn into a soul."

Akaso Kaze’s mouth curled slightly, shielding Koizumi Akako.

Koizumi Akako, feeling terrified, broke into a cold sweat, her body involuntarily shrinking behind Akaso Kaze, one hand clutching his shoulder, not even daring to open her eyes.

Akaso Kaze couldn’t help but look at her.

With such a small amount of courage, she’s also a magician and wants to exorcise monsters?

Wouldn’t she faint from fear when she sees a monster?

[Ding, Koizumi Akako has developed a fondness for you; current favorability is 1.]

Huh, favorability increased.

At this moment, the old abbot saw that the atmosphere was set, and suddenly relaxed his tone, saying pleasantly: "But this is just an ancient legend, there’s no need to take it to heart."

"But I feel that this matter isn’t just a legend..."

A monk named Mune, who was mainly responsible for carpentry in the temple, muttered with a gloomy face: "I still remember that two years ago, the same strange incident occurred..."

After finally finishing the meal, because she had heard a bunch of horror stories, Koizumi Akako strongly requested to stay in the room next to Akaso Kaze.

In the middle of the night, Akaso Kaze’s door was knocked on.

"Akaso-san..."

"Hmm? Miss Akako?"

Akaso Kaze checked his watch; it was already two in the morning.

"Can you come out for a moment?"

The voice outside was very soft, as if afraid of disturbing something.

"What’s the matter?"

"I, I want to go to the bathroom, but I’m afraid..."

"Hey, aren’t you a magician? Why are you still afraid of monsters?"

"I’m not afraid of monsters, but I’m afraid it will suddenly appear; just thinking about that makes me... unable to go."

There was no choice; Akaso Kaze had to come out.

Arriving outside the bathroom, he gave a bitter smile.

Accompanying a girl to the bathroom in the middle of the night?

This is too strange.

Listening to the sounds coming from inside, Akaso Kaze suddenly felt a movement in his heart.

There seemed to be a Fog Tengu mask hanging in the bathroom...

A moment later, a scream came.

Koizumi Akako rushed out and jumped onto Akaso Kaze.

Akaso Kaze hugged her and patted her gently.

Wow, I couldn’t tell, she’s actually quite well-endowed.

Early in the morning, Akaso Kaze, who was sleeping in, was woken up by the noisy sounds outside.

He pushed Koizumi Akako, who was lying next to him.

"Hey, wake up, let’s go out and see what’s going on."

Koizumi Akako got up, blushing as she straightened her clothes.

She had been scared to death yesterday.

Anyone who was squatting there and suddenly discovered a ghost face below would be scared half to death.

After coming back, she refused to sleep alone no matter what, insisting on squeezing in with Akaso Kaze.

Of course, the two were pure, at least before they fell asleep.

[Ding, Koizumi Akako has developed a fondness for you; current favorability is 2.]

It went up again.

Akaso Kaze smiled and went out the door, with Koizumi Akako following closely behind him.

Following the sound, they came to the practice room.

Shunen was sitting on the ground, his eyes full of fear.

"It’s the abbot, the abbot is... dead. It must be the Fog Tengu; it’s come again!"