Chapter 12.4: Evil Spirit Exterminator IV


    All the<em>i</em>objectives were aplished. With this, the case was closed. As Yakumo mentioned, if we stayed here<em>i</em>any longer, the departed would again<em>i</eme swarming back, sniffing the presence of the living, so we promptly left the<em>i</em>ce and retrieved Yakumos motorcycle, which he had abandoned on the way. Being apanied by Yakumo, who was moving forward without faltering, as if he was reeling in an invisible thread, we had indeed returned<em>i</em>to our original ce.


    Stars<em>i</em>were still twinkling in the sky that I hadnt seen in a long time, though the<em>i</em>sun would begin to ascend within a matter of hours.


    Having finally been liberated from<em>i</em>the moring darkness and miraculously made it back alive, Iy down on the concrete, where cars rarely passed, all with a huge<em>i</em>sigh of relief.


    To be<em>i</em>able to step on this concrete again, ah how moving.


    Guessed I could go<em>i</em>home.


    When I thought<em>i</em>of that, rather than being overjoyed, my whole body loosened up with a<em>i</em>sense of relief.


    Are<em>i</em>you<em>i</em>okay? Uh you have gone through so much that its not okay.


    Its fine. Since everything is over, forget it


    Just<em>i</em>being in close contact with the concrete like this made<em>i</em>me extremely happy.


    It was unbelievable that I could<em>i</em>return alive from that sea of trees that everyone was dreading. Yakumo did not fabricate a lie, after all. He indeed brought me back safe and sound.


    Speaking of that Yakumo, I was stunned to find that he was breathing heavily and walking on his own two legs without any support. Although I had grown ustomed to seeing this situation by now, from his head to his feet, his appearance was so awful that I was tempted to say, What kind of horror movie did you spring out of?


    I didnt bother to ask you since youre doing the best you can, but are you okay?


    Even if he were to fall down and die, it wouldnt be surprising.


    I mean, falling off a cliff and getting trapped under arge tree hey. If anything, how were you still alive?


    Yeah to put it simply, it hurts like hell. My whole body is burning, jiggling, throbbing, and aching.


    A parade of unintelligible mimetic words. He was beyond severe, evidently.


    Phew this is a true panic sale, haha.


    Stop talking nonsense, dont move anymore, sit down!


    Despite all theplications I encountered, thanks for bringing me back in one piece as promised. At least call an ambnce.


    Leaning back on his bike, Yakumo drew in shallow breaths as he opened the cell phone, which had reestablished reception, and he fumbled in his back pocket and put it in my free hand.


    I think this is too cheap of a thank you, but this is the only thing I can give you right now Sorry.


    He handed me a small piece of thick paper, about the size of a business card.


    This is a ticket for the ramen shop I work at, an extremely rare free ticket that can be used indefinitely and as many times as you want Its in Osaka, and if you want toe to visit me, Ill feed you plenty of ramen on my tab Oh, but the gyoza is better than the ramen there, haha, isnt that funny?


    Yakumo, who was struggling to connect the words, was breathingboriously.


    Not good, an ambnce really needed to be called right now.


    No more talking, you, shut your mouth!


    Sonny, thanks


    Like I said, dont talk!


    <em>No kidding, youre going to die!</em> I warned him, and a weak smile shed across his face.


    Dont worry. It hurts, but I have a feeling I can walk home to Osaka like this.


    No, no, no, no!


    That was undoubtedly absurd.


    No problem, this will heal itself if I spit it out.


    Theres no way it will heal!?


    Perhaps sleepiness had set in, and Yakumo leaned back against the bike and crouched down deeply.


    Yakumo hey! Yakumo! Dont sleep, you fool!


    I shook him, and his neck jerked, but his breath was faint.


    Im calling an ambnce right now just hold on a little bit longer!


    He was really ready to this guy. I impatiently pressed the number on the cell phone.


    Even though the case had just been settled, if he fell off in front of me or something I might burst into tears.


    Yakumo? Hey, youre not dead, right Please, dont die!


    Please dont tell me that these words were no longer spoken to a human being. My fingers were trembling so much that I kept making the mistake of pressing the wrong button.


    I meanHuh The emergency number, 110 or 119 which was it


    My mind went nk the moment I lost my mind in a panic. Right at that moment, the bushes at the entrance to the sea of trees rustled violently. What


    When I lifted my head


    Wahhhh!!


    A person sprang out of the darkness apanied by a loud, super-hyperactive voice.


    Akane! Iming to save you! Sorry for the dy!!


    Douuuuuuwaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!?


    It was impossible not to be taken aback by a third party who unexpectedly emerged from such a ce.


    A scream erupted from me that I had no idea how many times I had raised it this day.


    My organs jumped up and fell all at once to the bottom of my abdomen. How many years had my life expectancy shortened by this?


    W-Whooooooooooooo!


    Who was it!?<em>Trantor:MadHatter</em>


    An unfamiliar face burst out of the darkness.


    Dressed in a tight ck suit like a bodyguard, with a red tie around his neck. He was a young man with chestnut hair and blue eyes, approximately the same age as Yakumo.


    With lots<em>i</em>of leaves on his shoulders and in his hair, he showed up at a hell of a timing, looking quite out of ce and neatly dressed.


    I supposed he<em>i</em>was not a specter because he was not see-through, but Even so, why did hee out from the sea of trees with such a brilliant smile on his face? It was too frightening.


    I mean, it seemed like he just mentioned Yakumos name


    Your acquaintance?


    Yakumo, who had been breathing quietly and heavily, stood up straight and walked up to the young man who had appeared.


    He gave him not a hug but rather a headbutt.


    You bastard what<em>i</em>ce did you think you wereing out from?


    Ouch! B-But you look to be fine I mean, it hurtsss!!


    Youre way toote! Idiot!


    Following a headbutt, he grabbed him by the chest and threw him over his back.


    The man in the suit screamed, and Yakumo, who had been breathing faintly until a moment ago, seemed to have hit some kind of switch when the man in the suit appeared on the scene, and stormed over to him with his mouth agape and a snarling attitude.


    What sorry for the dy! You fool! I almost died when you didnt hurry up and get here!


    Yeah. From the looks of it, it looks like you made another spectacr screw-up.


    Whose fault is it! By whom? You irredeemable person who has no sense of direction!


    I mean, about this new smartphone? Without Akane, I cant operate it properly!


    So I told you not to preemptively buy something you cant use!


    Ugh, sorry! Excuse me! Pardon me!


    Sorry doesnt cut it! You idiot! God damn it youre going to get your ass kicked!


    Faaaatsu!?


    With a face that would make a bloodthirsty killer cry, Yakumo approached the young man, who was on the run.


    Wait! Thats not allowed! No, no, no, no! Were buddies, were a team! Hurting each other is wrong!


    Shut up! You made me suffer so hard! Take my pain in your ass, you little!


    Aaahhh!<em>Not shared on aggregator sites</em>


    A game<em>i</em>of tagmenced around me as I watched.


    Apparently, the fellow Yakumo was referring to was him. Whatever the circumstances, Yakumo was<em>i</em>greatly aggravated. I rushed to restrain him, as he seemed to be on the verge of violent outbursts with a bat in hand should I continue to only watch on.


    As expected, that spiked bat was dangerous.


    How<em>i</em>should I stop<em>i</em>him