Hikaru crouched beside the pit and looked at the corner of the coffin that had just been exposed under the talisman's light.The smell was thick enough that he had to add another purification talisman to his collar. Even so, every breath left him feeling something viscous scraping across his throat. Not only the smell of a corpse, not only Yin Energy. Within it was humiliation, contamination, and resentment pressed together.This was the smell of a ritual designed deliberately to defile the dead.Hikaru used the edge of the shovel to scrape lightly at a layer of earth clinging to the coffin surface.Beneath it, the wood was a deep brown, nearly black.The grain was unusual. It did not run straight the way ordinary wood did, but twisted into small spirals, like dried and hardened blood vessels. When the talisman light fell across it, those patterns reflected a very thin oil-like sheen, making the coffin lid look as though it were covered by a layer of dead skin.Hikaru frowned.He had

"Right now, the only thing I can do is confirm your condition, understand how you were sealed, and find a way to resolve it gradually." He looked at Shime's body in the coffin, his gaze settling into something heavier. "I need to become stronger. Need to understand more. Need to find out who did this to you."The Yin Energy behind him continued to tremble.But did not erupt.Hikaru turned his head.Urakami Shime hovered in the cold wind, the white funeral veil covering her face completely. She had no eyes to look at him, no mouth to speak, no hands to hold anything. But somehow, Hikaru still felt that she was standing very still, like someone who had waited over a hundred years, had finally heard the answer she did not want to hear, and could not argue against it.Something caught in Hikaru's chest.Feeling sorrow for a Calamity was an extremely dangerous thing.But the person lying in the coffin, at least in this moment, did not resemble a monster wanting to destroy the world.She re

The customized Rolls-Royce Phantom glided smoothly along the winding mountain road leading down to the city. The rear cabin was designed like a private luxurious room, completely separated from the driver’s area by a one-way soundproof glass partition and thick curtains.Soft golden light from the recessed LED strips bathed the interior in a warm, seductive glow. Outside was the pitch-black darkness of the forested mountains; inside, there were only heavy, ragged breaths, the thick fragrance of tea blossoms, and the rising heat of two bodies consumed by passion.The moment the door closed and the automatic lock clicked into place, Maruhi could no longer hold back. She threw herself into Hikaru’s arms like a starving beast, her slender, burning-hot hands slipping under his shirt, caressing his firm chest. Her nails lightly scratched along his abdominal muscles, sending shivers across Hikaru’s skin.“Hikaru…” Her voice was hoarse and trembling. “I can’t hold it anymore… Ever since you l

Hikaru stood at the entrance to the reception room, his gaze moving across everyone inside.Miyuki was not injured.That was the first thing he confirmed.She sat very still in the position of host, back straight, the sleeves of her red and white Miko robes resting at her sides, her expression as serene as always. On the tea table before her, steam still rose from the small porcelain cups. Anyone looking only at her might have assumed this was an ordinary guest meeting.But Hikaru knew otherwise.The suited figures were standing too close.The air in the room was too heavy.And the young man seated across from Miyuki was looking at her with an expression that made Hikaru very uncomfortable.Not crude desire.If the look had been crude, Hikaru would actually have found it easier to handle. A few broken teeth would have settled it.The young man's gaze was far cleaner than that, far more polite, but beneath the politeness was a desire to possess. Like someone looking at a rare antique,

"A little."The answer was direct enough that Hikaru stopped.Miyuki looked at him, her smile unchanged, but her eyes carried a very faint trace of something that was not quite petulance."I know your Romance Fate is very strong. I also know that one day, there will be more than just me beside you."She paused for a moment."But knowing is one thing. Not minding is another."Hikaru said nothing.Miyuki was not reproaching him.That made it harder for him to bear.If she had scolded him, he could have admitted fault. If she had punished him, he could have endured it. But she only sat there, gently acknowledging that she was jealous, as though she did not want to blame him, only could not stop herself from being uncomfortable.Hikaru bent his head and carefully dried her foot with the cloth."Master...""Yes?""I didn't intend to hide it from you.""But if I hadn't asked, would you have told me on your own?"Hikaru went quiet.The answer was already too obvious.Miyuki smiled faintly."