Chapter 131: The Fake Loli Who Caught Up
Although Takeda Mitsue was full of doubts, she still told Hikigaya Hachiman the method she and Niguredou Yuria used to cultivate.
After learning the method, Hikigaya Hachiman tried it out on the spot.
He found that his spiritual power did indeed increase slightly using Takeda Mitsue's method.
However, in terms of efficiency, it would take several months of training with her method to equal a single day of training using the system's method.
"Then, besides you, are there other spiritual users in Chiba?"
Realizing that having people around him train and increase their strength in a short period wasn't realistic, Hikigaya continued asking.
"In Chiba, yes, there are a few other spiritual users, but their strength is even worse than mine..."
When Takeda Mitsue said this, there was a slight trace of pride in her tone.
After all, although she couldn't compare with Hikigaya Hachiman or those prestigious families, within the scattered practitioner community, she was quite well-regarded.
"What about Tokyo?"
Hikigaya thought of that girl named Tsuchimiya Kagura whom he had met during his previous visit to Tokyo.
As much as it might hurt to say, that girl's strength probably already surpassed Takeda Mitsue's.
"Well... those prestigious families in Tokyo are certainly beyond comparison for people like us..."
Takeda Mitsue's momentum suddenly deflated.
"Then do you know anything about those prestigious families?"
"That's not something a small-time shrine maiden like me would know about."
Takeda Mitsue shook her head and smiled bitterly.
Those families with centuries of history controlled some of the best cultivation methods and resources next to the Exorcists themselves.
How could someone like her possibly know about those big shots?
"I see. Thanks anyway."
Seeing that he couldn't get any more information from Takeda Mitsue, Hikigaya politely nodded and ended the conversation.
After leaving the shop, Hikigaya and Kawasaki Saki didn't walk fast—because he could clearly sense a little tail following behind them.
When they passed a small alley, Hikigaya quickly pulled Kawasaki Saki in with him.
Noticing this, Niguredou Yuria, who had been secretly tailing them, hurriedly emerged from her hiding spot and rushed to the alley—only to find that it was completely empty.
"Why are you following us?"
Hikigaya's voice suddenly sounded behind her.
Before Yuria could react, she felt the collar behind her neck being grabbed, and in the next moment, her whole body was lifted up.
"Let me go..."
Yuria struggled with her little legs, weakly protesting as she asked Hikigaya to put her down.
"Then first tell me why you were sneaking after us."
"Can you at least let go of me first?"
Hikigaya and Kawasaki spoke almost at the same time.
Startled for a moment, Hikigaya quickly let go of Kawasaki Saki's hand.
"Sorry, that was unintentional..."
"It's fine."
Before Hikigaya could finish his explanation, Kawasaki calmly rubbed her wrist and cut him off with a flat tone.
Hikigaya was momentarily choked by her response, then turned back to the still-suspended Yuria.
"So, why are you following us?"
"You guys are students from Sobu High, right?"
Taking a deep breath, Yuria asked with a bit of nervous excitement.
"..."
Hikigaya and Kawasaki exchanged glances, then nodded. The next moment, they carried Yuria into the alley.
"What are you trying to do? Murder and cover-up is a crime, you know!"
In the alley, looking at the two whose eyes seemed to gleam red, Yuria began to regret tailing them so recklessly.
"So, how do we deal with her?"
Still holding Yuria like a kitten, Hikigaya looked to Kawasaki Saki for advice.
"Just bury her. After all, it would be a pain if your identity gets exposed."
Kawasaki responded without hesitation, her tone extremely cold.
"No, please! I won't tell anyone, I swear!"
Yuria's eyes immediately welled up with tears.
Ugh... these two are total monsters! Cold-blooded devils who kill without blinking!
And to think she previously believed they seemed like reasonable people.
"That's not something you get to decide."
With a sinister smile, Hikigaya reached toward her forehead, scaring Yuria so much that she tightly shut her eyes.
But the expected pain didn't come.
Did I die already?
Suspicious, she opened her eyes—only to see a finger zooming in quickly toward her forehead, and then...
"Ugh..."
Now sitting on the ground, Yuria clutched her forehead in pain and squatted down defensively.
"Now do you understand that stalking people isn't okay?"
Hikigaya looked helplessly at the fake loli in front of him, after flicking her on the forehead hard.
He really didn't understand what was going on in her head. She knew he was strong, yet still foolishly chose to follow him.
Fortunately, she had followed him and Kawasaki. If it had been a spirit user with a twisted personality, Yuria might have been in real danger.
"Okay, okay, I get it..."
Her forehead still throbbed with pain.
Clearly, Hikigaya had hit her hard to make the lesson stick.
But the method proved effective—at least Yuria now regretted following them.
After making sure Yuria fully understood the consequences of randomly tailing people, the three of them moved to a nearby McDonald's.
As an apology for scaring her earlier, Hikigaya ordered a kids' meal for Yuria.
Yup—pure malice.
Although she was clearly displeased, Yuria—after the earlier fright—restrained her facial expressions perfectly.
And the enticing smell of the meal didn't help either.
After resisting for a few seconds, she ultimately gave in to the food.
"You go to Sobu High too?"
Watching her gnaw on a piece of fried chicken, Hikigaya leaned one elbow on the table and asked.
"Yeah."
After swallowing the chicken and sipping some iced cola, Yuria nodded.
"I'm in Year 2, Class B. Niguredou Yuria."
"Never heard of you."
"Same here..."
Hikigaya and Kawasaki responded in sync, drawing dark lines across Yuria's forehead.
'Why does it feel like these two are doing this on purpose...?'