Chapter 14: Gabriel's Fall
Kouya shrugged, his face calm as he continued sipping his tea, savoring the faint aroma that lingered in the air. His composure didn't waver even a little, as if the world around him could collapse and he would still take another unhurried sip.
The cat demon's supposed threatening growl sounded more like a lazy purr. There was not even a trace of menace in it—only a soft, drawn-out sweetness, the kind of drowsy sound a kitten makes when stretching after a nap. Her voice was warm, milky, and far too cute for intimidation.
The miko frowned slightly, her posture graceful yet firm. Her vermilion sleeves fluttered faintly as she spoke:
"Rina isn't a cat demon, she's my shikigami..."
"Shikigami, huh?" Kouya tilted his head slightly, his tone casual but his eyes gleaming with mild curiosity.
Having already absorbed the memories of the boy whose body he now inhabited, he naturally knew a fair amount about onmyoji and shikigami. Yet in this world that had long since embraced science and technology over mysticism, few people had ever seen a real onmyoji. Most only knew of them through anime, novels, and games.
To Kouya, an onmyoji was nothing more than a summoner—a human who used obscure rituals to summon and control spirits or monsters to fight in their stead, while they themselves remained weak and fragile. A profession of power borrowed, not owned.
Shikigami, on the other hand, were spirits bound to their master's command—beings that obeyed, fought, and sometimes even lived or died by their onmyoji's will. The strength of the shikigami was bound to the strength of the one commanding it. A powerful onmyoji could command many shikigami, while a single shikigami could only ever serve one master.
They had abilities beyond those of ordinary humans—stealth, illusions, spirit movement, superhuman speed, and the ability to phase through solid matter. Yet to Kouya, they were still limited, their essence tied to mortal constraints.
'Weak,' he thought, his lips curving slightly. To someone like him, both the masters and their servants were nothing more than fragile curiosities.
He nodded slightly and asked with calm indifference, "So, does that mean I passed?"
The miko smiled, serene and composed. Her lips curved like petals drifting in spring wind. "Not yet. You did say you're very strong, Kou-kun. Then it's only fair that we test that claim, right? If you were exaggerating, that could cause serious trouble later."
Kouya exhaled lightly. "Then let's test it."
The miko's eyes glimmered. "In that case... how about a sparring match? You can face Rina."
Kouya turned toward the cat girl. She was small, agile, and beautiful in a strange, animalistic way. He waved lazily. "Come on, then."
Rina's tail twitched. Her golden eyes narrowed, sharp yet filled with irritation. Her furred ears flicked back, and she gave a sharp "meow" before launching herself forward with sudden speed. Her right claw sliced through the air, wind curling around it like a blade.
Kouya didn't even flinch. His gaze didn't track her movement—he simply moved.
His hand extended slowly, but there was something odd about the motion. It was languid, yet deliberate, carrying an unnatural rhythm, as though the air itself bent to his timing.
The miko's eyes widened in disbelief. Before she could process what happened, Rina crashed straight into Kouya's outstretched palm as if her momentum had turned against her.
His fingers wrapped around her slender wrist, effortless and firm. A gentle tug brought her tumbling forward, her soft body falling directly into his arms.
Before she could react, Kouya raised his other hand and flicked her forehead with a sharp snap.
"Meow~~!" The cry that left her lips was high and trembling. Her body went slack, her limbs losing strength as she slumped onto Kouya's lap.
Kouya looked down at her, expression unreadable. "I've met some night catgirls before," he said idly. His fingers brushed her ear, pressing lightly. It twitched under his touch. "Hmm. Real fur. Soft. Warm."
Of course it's real! Even the miko's expression twitched, though she said nothing.
Just as she opened her mouth to speak, Kouya's hand moved again—this time to the cat girl's tail.
"Meow!" Rina's entire body jerked. A sharp gasp escaped her lips, her face flushing bright red as her tail quivered uncontrollably.
"What are you doing?!" the miko cried, voice rising.
Kouya blinked. "Just checking. It's real too."
The miko sighed heavily, pinching her brow. "You... really are impossible."
Rina, now fully red-faced, leapt from his lap, trembling and teary-eyed. She hid behind the miko, glaring at Kouya with humiliation and indignation.
The miko regarded Kouya for a long moment, her voice soft and calm as falling sakura petals. "Then, Kou-kun, let's work well together from now on."
She placed a hand on her chest and bowed slightly. "I'm Chiba Ruri, the head priestess of Chiba Shrine—and the director of this detective agency."
Kouya blinked once. "Oh. When do I get paid?"
Ruri froze mid-motion. Her long, dark hair trembled slightly, cascading like a river of silk.
Hey! You haven't even done anything yet! How can you already ask about salary?!
"The more money, the better," Kouya continued with a shrug. "Working's kind of annoying, so I might as well get something out of it."
Calm down, Ruri told herself, taking a deep breath. You're the one who hired him. You. Not anyone else.
"Our payment depends on completed tasks," she managed to say with forced composure. "At the moment, we have no active commissions. When one arrives, I'll notify you immediately."
"I see," Kouya said. "Then I'll take my leave."
He turned without hesitation. Work, to him, was merely another game—something to observe, to experience. Money meant nothing. He could conjure wealth and power in moments, but what use was that? Predictable results bored him.
As he stepped toward the door, the little girl from earlier appeared again, peeking up at him shyly.
"Onii-chan, you're going home?"
"Yeah," he said. "It's getting late."
The girl hesitated, then asked innocently, "Um, Onii-chan... do you like playing airplanes?"
Kouya froze.
What the hell did she just say?
(Ps: a slang term referring to male masturbation, originating from a humorous metaphor comparing the act to shooting or flying airplanes.)
A little girl, no more than eight years old, asking something like that?! Broad daylight, no shame—what kind of world was this?
"The boys in my class said playing airplanes is super fun," she continued, smiling brightly.
Kouya's brain short-circuited. 'What the hell? Kids these days already talk about that so casually?! And she's a girl!' He swallowed hard.
"So, Onii-chan, wanna play airplanes with me?"
What kind of cursed conversation is this?! Even if I wanted to, you don't even have the right parts!
"Ah, you don't know how? That's fine! You can just watch me play!"
Kouya's mental stability crumbled. Watch you play?! What kind of nightmare hobby is that supposed to be?!
Before he could yell, the girl pulled out a handheld console, her face lighting up. "Look! This new fighter jet game is amazing! I secretly played it yesterday—it's super fun! Wanna try it, Onii-chan?"
Kouya blinked. "Wait... you mean an actual game?"
"Eh? Of course! What else did you think I meant?"
Kouya coughed into his hand, looking away. "...Nothing. Never mind."
Games, huh... He had never really played any, but maybe he'd give it a try.
---
Meanwhile, in her small apartment, Gabriel had just finished greeting her new neighbors. She tied her golden hair into a loose ponytail, rolled up her sleeves, and started sweeping the floor with lazy diligence. The afternoon sun poured through the curtains, warm and sleepy.
Suddenly, a cry echoed from her computer.
"Help! Someone, please help me!"
Gabriel jumped. "Eh?!" She hurried over and saw her monitor flicker as a new window opened—a fantasy game interface.
On the screen, a young knight surrounded by monsters was desperately swinging his sword. He was exhausted, bleeding, and about to fall. His voice trembled with despair. "Please... anyone... help me!"
Gabriel gasped. "How pitiful! A wounded warrior left to die... how tragic! I can't just ignore this!"
With divine compassion shining in her eyes, she clasped her hands, clicked 'Create Character,' and designed an angelic healer with golden hair and white wings. Her virtual self appeared on screen, radiant and pure.
"Hang in there! I'll save you!" she cried, her fingers moving clumsily over the mouse. A glow of holy light burst forth as she cast her healing spell.
The knight's health bar filled instantly. He stood up, astonished. "Thank you, kind angel lady!"
Gabriel blinked, cheeks glowing. "Eh? You... knew I was an angel?"
"Of course! Only an angel could be that kind!"
Her heart fluttered. Before she knew it, more cries filled the chat window. "Angel lady! Over here! Help me too!"
"Coming!" she called, rushing from one battlefield to another, healing every wounded player she saw. The gratitude that flooded her chat made her chest swell with pride and joy.
But after a while, something went wrong.
"Eh? Why can't I use my skill anymore?" she murmured.
A blinking message appeared: [Not enough mana.]
"Mana...? That's... the energy mages use, right? Oh no! They still need healing! I can't abandon them! I'm an angel!"
Her eyes darted to the in-game shop. "Maybe I can buy a better wand..."
The price tag flashed: [2,980 yen.]
"S-so expensive... but... I can't just leave them... they're counting on me!"
Her sense of duty as a celestial being clashed with her wallet's despair. In the end, her heavenly heart triumphed. She clicked "Purchase."
"Ding! Your wand has been sent to your inventory. Please check."
A cheerful message followed: "Creating games with care, bringing joy to life!"
Gabriel stared blankly at the screen, unsure whether to smile or cry.
And from that day onward, the once-proud angel who descended to Earth began her true fall—down the endless pit of online games, late nights, and the sweet addiction of microtransactions.