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Chapter 76: The Shadow on the Map and the Secret of the Warehouse
Renji Miyauchi had already begun testing the limits of the Diary's interface. Although he was currently holding Mashiro's Diary, the system's "shielding rules" were in full effect. To any outside observer—including the watchful Mayuzumi—he appeared to be simply holding a stack of Mashiro's latest manga drafts, offering constructive criticism as any diligent producer would.
Mashiro listened with rapt attention, her large eyes fixed on him. Whenever she felt Renji's logic was sound, she didn't even need a pen; she simply used her mind to manifest changes directly onto the pages of the Diary, refining the linework and perspective until they were perfect.
And for the parts she initially questioned...
Renji was an expert at persuasion. Using real-world examples and emotional cues, he could almost always make her see the necessity of a specific narrative beat. The only thing he had failed to change her mind on was the character design for the male protagonist of their current project, Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend.
Despite the original source material, the protagonist in Mashiro's version bore absolutely no resemblance to Aki Tomoya. Instead, his height, his sharp gaze, and even his subconscious habits were a carbon copy of Renji Miyauchi.
"I don't know other men," Mashiro had explained with her usual blunt innocence. "I don't know Tomoya. I want to draw what I am familiar with."
Renji had tried to dissuade her, fearing the implications of having his own face plastered on a character who—if the story followed the original path—would eventually be labeled a "scumbag" by the readers. But Mashiro was immovable.
Fine, Renji thought with a silent sigh. If I have to be the face of a controversial protagonist, so be it.
While the designs for Utaha and Eriri had been subtly adjusted, their core "vibes" remained recognizable to anyone who knew them. However, the character of "Megumi Kato" had become a unique fusion of the real Kato's understated presence and Mashiro's own ethereal beauty. Mashiro was proving herself more cunning than Utaha; she had no intention of letting her self-projection become a "losing heroine."
"I've already reached out to editors at several major magazines for you," Renji said, transitioning to business. "You'll still need to go through the Rookie Award circuit. It's a necessary rite of passage to build a professional reputation and gain a following before serialization."
He flipped to the latest section of her Diary, scanning the commissions that had refreshed that morning. The difficulty seemed manageable.
The first was the "Debut Commission": Secure a high ranking in the Rookie Awards. The rewards were scaled to her placement, but the failure condition was oddly specific and, for Mashiro, devastating: A one-month ban on eating Baumkuchen.
Renji winced. For a girl who practically ran on German spit-cake, that was a death sentence. However, with Mashiro's supernatural talent bolstered by the Diary's mental drawing functions, he couldn't imagine her failing—unless a massive corporate entity actively suppressed her. But in a world where Kaguya Shinomiya held the reins of Japan's largest capital and was actively trying to recruit the girls in the chat group, "capital" was more likely to be an ally than an enemy.
The second task was a long-term "Life Commission," similar to Umaru's chore-based tasks, but centered entirely on Renji.
Commission: Have Renji Miyauchi select her daily outfits. Reading Value earned based on outfit matching score. (Max 10 per week).
Renji scratched his head. Is the Diary trying to turn my life into a specialized version of Love Nikki? Given Mashiro's complete lack of fashion sense (and her tendency to forget clothes entirely), he didn't mind. He could easily designate a school uniform every day to farm easy points. However, he had to be careful; with Mayuzumi and his sister Hikage watching, he didn't want the "unfiltered" Hikage spreading rumors back in Asahigaoka that he was playing "dress-up" with a girl in Tokyo.
The third commission, however, was where things got serious.
B-Rank Commission: Investigate a suspected haunted zone in Tokyo and perform an exorcism.
"Aside from Kaguya's A-rank investigation, you're the first one to get a direct combat commission like this," Renji noted, handing the Diary back to Mashiro.
Mashiro blinked, then checked her phone. The chat group was buzzing. Everyone was exploring their new Level 3 functions, but no one else had mentioned a ghost hunt. She nodded firmly, confirming his suspicion.
Renji leaned back, pondering. Aoi Hinata received commissions about [Blank] because of her obsession with their previous gaming defeat. Kaguya's tasks were tied to her investigation of the inner world and her recruitment of Kamubo, which linked her to the local shrine's spiritual Leylines.
But Mashiro? She just wanted to draw. Did the Diary give her this because her Ripple training was now strong enough to hurt spirits? Or was the system intentionally giving her a "gimme" task because it knew Renji would be there?
Renji's Pure Yang Body was a natural deterrent to the undead. Most vengeful spirits would evaporate just by being near him if he unsealed even a fraction of his power.
"I should check the place out first," Renji murmured. He thought of Nanami Kento, the Grade 1 sorcerer who had asked to be kept in the loop about his "filming" locations. "It would be unkind to stumble into a Grade 1 curse's nest without a professional... even if I'm just looking for a good background for a video."
After discussing the plan with Mashiro—who agreed to everything without hesitation—Renji turned his attention to the most dangerous new feature: the Map Function.
To the other girls, it looked like a safety tool, highlighting names and potential threats. But to Renji, it was a radar aimed directly at him. The map didn't just show locations; it scaled the "blips" based on the entity's spiritual and physical strength.
Normal humans were tiny white dots. Dangerous spirits were red.
Renji looked at the dots currently in the apartment. Hikage and Mayuzumi were similar in size—Hikage because of her sturdy country upbringing, and Mayuzumi because her recent Ripple training was closing the gap.
Mashiro's dot was twice as large as Hikage's, a testament to her Ripple prodigy status.
Then, Renji secretly unsealed a mere 1% of his power. His dot on the map instantly ballooned, dwarfing Mashiro's until he was a giant white circle in the center of the room. He slammed the seal back into place immediately.
"I just want a quiet life," he muttered. "Why does this Diary keep trying to expose me?"
He realized he couldn't let Jerry—his powerful summon—return to Mihana Town without a heavy seal. If Jerry appeared on the girls' maps in his full glory, the "mysterious person" identity would be blown instantly.
"Mashiro," Renji said, his voice serious. "Find a way to mention this map function to the other girls in the chat. Let them compare their 'sizes.' It will help establish your status as a powerhouse in the group, which will give you more influence later."
Mashiro nodded, only half-understanding the tactical move, but trusting him implicitly.
A moment later, a sharp knock came at the door. "Renji, Mashiro! Breakfast is ready!" Mayuzumi called out.
Mayuzumi entered cautiously, her eyes darting between the two teenagers. She knew Mashiro had a habit of... lack of boundaries, and even though she trusted Renji's character, she couldn't help but be protective. But seeing them sitting respectably with "manga drafts," she relaxed.
At the dining table, the aroma of the preserved egg and lean meat porridge filled the room. Hikage was already on her third bowl, slurping loudly.
"Thank you for the meal, Mayuzumi," Renji said politely, ignoring his sister's lack of manners. "Actually, it reminds me—there are some old cookbooks in my family's warehouse back home. I think they were written by a 'Special Grade Chef' about a century or two ago. I'll bring them for you to look at after the holidays."
Hikage stopped mid-slurp, her face a mask of confusion. "Warehouse? We have cookbooks? I thought we just had those dusty scrolls that gave me a headache."
Renji rolled his eyes. "You only looked at the ones with pictures, Hika-nee. You threw a fit because the kanji was too hard. I found them while I was bored this summer."
He then added a subtle layer to his cover story. "They were likely left by the same wandering swordsman who taught our ancestors the breathing techniques I've been showing you."
Hikage's eyes lit up. She didn't care about "Special Grade" titles, but if the food was as good as Mayuzumi's current cooking, she wanted in. "I'll help you carry them! We need those recipes!"
Renji nodded, satisfied. Hikage was the perfect accomplice because she genuinely believed his lies. His family did have ancient warehouses, and he had found books there—though they were mostly fragmented records of the Demon Slayer Corps. By mixing truth with his "system" rewards, he was building a fortress of a backstory that no Diary could easily tear down.