Chapter 300: Tsuchimiya Kagura's Arrival
"So, in the end, is she the first to fall?"
Mitogawa Kazuhiro muttered to himself, his legs dangling over the edge of the rooftop as he gazed into the distance toward Isayama Yomi's location.
Operating on the principle of casting a wide net, ever since he obtained the Sessho-seki in his eye, he had buried countless tiny fragments of the Killing Stone into the bodies of everyone he met who met the criteria. However, several months had passed, and those fragments had stubbornly failed to make a single person fall!
Until today...
"Since a suitable vessel has finally appeared, it's time to execute the next step of the plan."
Standing up from the rooftop, Mitogawa Kazuhiro looked down at the bustling streets below, a sinister and cold smile spreading across his lips. Soon, this flourishing metropolis would be turned into a field of ruins!
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"A strange spiritual power source?"
Hearing the system's prompt, Hikigaya Hachiman was currently observing Isayama Yomi with curiosity as she remained unable to move, bound by chains. Of course, he hadn't chosen to tie her up because of any strange fetishes; it was simply that Yomi seemed to have lost her mind and would only instinctively attack any living creature in front of her. Out of necessity, Hachiman had controlled her movements.
"System, scan her entire body."
Isayama Yomi was a woman, after all. Having no intention of taking advantage of the situation, Hachiman naturally chose to let the system perform the inspection in his stead. Following the system's comprehensive, all-encompassing scan, the Sessho-seki fragment in Yomi's neck was quickly discovered.
"A Sessho-seki?"
Gazing at the Killing Stone fragment, which was barely visible even after the system specifically magnified the image, Hachiman fell into deep thought.
His own heart was also fused with a processed Sessho-seki fragment, and thanks to that stone, he had gained incredible self-healing abilities. However, judging from Yomi's current state, it seemed that an unprocessed Sessho-seki had the effect of corrupting one's mind?
"System, can it be removed?"
The Sessho-seki could fuse into a person's body; the imagined method of simply gouging it out was impossible. Therefore, not knowing the exact method for removal, Hachiman decisively chose to ask the system.
"Target cannot be removed at this time," the system replied in its cold tone, indicating it was powerless in this matter.
"The reason?" Hearing only the result, Hachiman helplessly pressed for more information.
"For unknown reasons, the Sessho-seki has fused with the current character's soul. Removing the stone would be equivalent to destroying the subject's soul."
"Is mine the same?"
"The Sessho-seki fused with the Host has been processed by the system; a similar situation will not occur."
"Then is there a way to restore her sanity?"
Hearing the system's answer, Hachiman felt a bit more at ease. He then refocused his attention on the Isayama Yomi before him. Although he could have simply abandoned her in the alley, his character made such a thing fundamentally impossible for him to do.
"It feels like I owed someone a favor in a past life..."
Looking at Yomi's wooden, vacant expression, Hachiman let out a long, weary sigh. He had fully intended to head home, yet he ran into this kind of mess, and he couldn't even bring himself to ignore it...
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"Hikigaya-kun, who is she?"
A few minutes later, Yotsuya Miko, who had been called into the alley by Hachiman, looked at Isayama Yomi—who was bound hand and foot by chains protruding from the void—and turned to Hachiman with confusion. Although she was willing to believe in Hachiman's character, given Yomi's current strange posture, it was hard for her not to think a little too much.
"This girl is a psychic."
Hachiman felt no obligation to keep Yomi's secrets, and also to prove his own innocence, he didn't hesitate to reveal her hidden identity.
"A psychic?"
Miko didn't doubt Hachiman's explanation. On the contrary, she accepted the setting very quickly. After all, since strange creatures like evil spirits existed in this world, it was only natural that there were others besides Hachiman who could fight them.
"So, is her current condition... has she been possessed by a demon?"
Because Hachiman was by her side, Miko curiously stepped closer to observe the immobilized Yomi. Looking at those hollow eyes, Miko immediately associated the sight with plots from novels.
"It's not exactly 'demon possession'; she's likely just lost her mind temporarily."
Isayama Yomi was, after all, a standout among Tokyo's psychics. How could she fall into a demonic state so easily? However, Hachiman was also curious as to why Yomi, who could be considered a top-tier combatant, had succumbed so easily.
"Then what do you plan to do with her, Hikigaya-kun?"
After observing Yomi for a while and feeling that being tied up like this was a bit pitiful, Miko asked about Hachiman's plans. Yomi was a girl of their own age, after all; keeping her bound like this made her seem far too miserable...
"I've already notified someone she knows."
As for how to handle Yomi, Hachiman had naturally planned it out long ago. In fact, before calling Miko into the alley, he had already notified Tsuchimiya Kagura to come and pick her up.
As for calling Miko into the alley, on one hand, he was afraid she would overthink things while waiting anxiously outside; on the other hand, she served as a witness to prove he truly hadn't done anything improper to Yomi... After all, Yomi's current appearance was quite unsightly, and if he were misunderstood because of it, it would be a huge hassle.
About an hour later, Tsuchimiya Kagura—who had been resting at home today—arrived in a hurry by taxi after receiving Hachiman's call.
"Yomi!"
Seeing Isayama Yomi bound up tightly, Kagura immediately cried out in worry.
"Big Brother, please, what happened to Yomi?"
Despite her extreme concern for Yomi's state, Kagura didn't lose her composure. After taking a few deep breaths to calm down, she shifted her gaze to Hachiman.
"For some reason, this girl lost her mind. When she tried to attack me, I trapped her, and now she's like this."
While Hachiman couldn't leave Yomi alone, he wasn't going to be overly polite just because she was a woman—especially since Yomi had tried to slash him earlier...
"Ah, I'm so sorry! Yomi didn't do it on purpose!"
After her own strength had increased, Kagura's perception of Hachiman's power was no longer as vague as before. Sensing the majestic spiritual energy within Hachiman's body and hearing that Yomi had attempted to attack him, Kagura immediately apologized in a panic.
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