Chapter 102: Evil Spirit's Ability

Finding a chair nearby to rest for a long time, Ran Mouri and Sonoko Suzuki finally felt their emotions stabilize a bit.

"Evil spirit... it really exceeded my imagination..."

Sonoko Suzuki really felt it this time; the real mysterious world is not only exciting but also dangerous.

The images of evil spirits are different, but they have similar characteristics.

Serrated teeth, as if they were born for better chewing.

The pitch-black eyes revealed a scarlet light, which seemed to be the core of their own resentment.

And the image of the evil spirit seems to be their image at the last moment before death.

From the moment you see them, you can feel how terrible human malice is.

You can also understand why they became evil spirits the moment you see them.

"Evil spirits are born from human malice."

"So, they are symbols of despair, and likewise, symbols of malice."

Ren Amamiya bought two bottles of cola from the convenience store and brought them to the two girls.

Suzuki Sonoko took a cola, paid no mind to anything else, twisted off the cap, and took a few steady gulps.

The sting of the carbonation made her throat itch, but it did indeed suppress the discomfort she had felt just moments ago.

"Haa..."

"So, Amamiya, is that the kind of thing you've been facing all this time?"

"?"

Ren Amamiya looked at Suzuki's complex expression; he felt he needed to explain, so as not to cause any misunderstandings on this matter.

"No, I think you're overthinking it."

"Although I have seen evil spirits, I've only seen three, and they were all inside the house I was renting."

"Doesn't that mean your situation is about the same as ours, Amamiya?"

Suzuki Sonoko suddenly became incredulous.

"Then why is there such a big difference between your reaction and ours?"

"Hmm... I think the reason is quite simple, and easy for you to understand."

Ren Amamiya raised his hand, caught an evil spirit drifting in the sky, and grabbed it casually.

Endless mist instantly transformed into tentacles, dragging that evil spirit in front of Ren Amamiya.

He gave it a casual squeeze.

"Pop!"

It was just like a video with the sound turned off, the scene of a watermelon being crushed instantly.

"..."

Having seen with their own eyes the moment the evil spirit was crushed, Suzuki Sonoko and Mao Li fell silent.

Now they could finally understand why Amamiya wasn't afraid of evil spirits.

Those evil spirits were, in Amamiya's hands, exactly like balloons being popped at will.

How could such evil spirits make Amamiya feel fear?

Isn't that a joke?

"So, this is your trump card?"

"Yes."

"This trump card of yours is truly terrifyingly hidden."

Although she didn't know what Amamiya's hidden trump card was, Suzuki Sonoko knew why Amamiya needed to hide it.

This trump card was simply too exaggerated.

"Power doesn't come for free."

"Most of the power I possess requires a price to be paid."

"It's just that my luck is a bit better, so I don't have to pay an unimaginably high price."

Equivalent exchange.

Suzuki Sonoko had heard Amamiya say similar things before.

This kind of trump card really needed to be kept well hidden.

Suzuki Sonoko sighed.

"Since it's a trump card that needs to be hidden, why did you show it to us?"

"I believe Suzuki-san and Mao Li-san will help me keep the secret."

This very firm statement made the two girls look at each other and smile.

"Alright then."

Suzuki Sonoko retracted the smile from her face.

"Mao Li and I can help you keep the secret, but you should be careful too; don't just reveal your trump card every time you want to show us evidence."

"Exactly."

"A trump card is a trump card precisely because it needs to be hidden."

Mao Li continued on Sonoko's topic.

Even if they would help keep the secret, he still needed to be careful about whether others might see things they shouldn't.

Therefore, such a trump card should be hidden in the deepest place, and only revealed when there is no other choice.

Seeing that the two had entered lecture mode and their faces were no longer pale, Ren Amamiya smiled and said.

"Is your mental state better?"

The two were stunned for a moment; they did indeed feel much better than the discomfort from before.

"Yeah."

"That uncomfortable feeling is much better too."

Suzuki Sonoko could feel that things were much better.

"Mm."

Mao Li also clearly no longer felt the intense nausea.

Not knowing the reason, both of them looked at Amamiya in tacit agreement.

"Amamiya, what happened to Sonoko and me just now?"

"Your fear of evil spirits was being induced."

"Induced?"

They understood the word, but they didn't know how such a situation could occur...

Ren Amamiya explained it to them.

"Evil spirits are born from obsession, so when facing people who harbor fear toward them, they instinctively induce that emotion to erupt."

"More powerful evil spirits can more easily induce the fear in their target's heart, thereby causing the target to lose the ability to resist."

He pointed his finger at the evil spirits still drifting in the sky.

"Their range of activity is still too large."

"If controlled within a smaller range, they can exert even more terrifying power."

"As long as you are induced to feel fear in your hearts by them, they can even pull you into a dream, letting you be toyed with until you die in that dream."

"And they can continue to absorb the negative energy you produce to strengthen themselves."

"Therefore, most evil spirits are extremely dangerous."

Even the lowest-level evil spirit is not something an ordinary person without ability can contend with.

The special abilities possessed by evil spirits can almost instantly kill any ordinary person who lacks extraordinary abilities.

Only shrine maidens like those from the Saginomiya family, who possess exorcism abilities, can face those evil spirits.

"Moreover, those evil spirits don't just possess these abilities; some troublesome ones can also have a screech that affects the mind and soul."

"Once hit head-on by that roar, there is almost no possibility of survival."

Being hit directly by an evil spirit's screech.

If you're lucky, you're killed instantly by the roar.

If you're unlucky, and you don't die from the screech, it means the subsequent torture will continue.

Therefore, the threat level of evil spirits is also quite high.

Ren Amamiya emphasized the threat of evil spirits; he needed Mao Li and Suzuki Sonoko to have a clearer concept of it.

Actually, Ren Amamiya didn't need to emphasize it too much; Mao Li and Suzuki Sonoko understood well enough.

"Then were you intentionally letting us fall for it just now?"

Suzuki Sonoko brought up the key point.

Mao Li also looked over.

"No."

Ren Amamiya shook his head slightly to deny it.

"I originally hoped you would observe the evil spirits bit by bit, have your fear induced bit by bit, and then I would help you recover your emotions bit by bit, so you could control that fear."

"But who knew it would be interrupted."

Well, as one of the reasons for the accident, Mao Li also lost her ability to speak.

— Author's Notes —

PS: A bit late today, I'll try my best to update.