NOVEL NEXT Chapter 20
1.
Genji sat in a corner of the rescue station’s dining hall, eating mechanically.
Sigh, lunchtime has come and gone, but Miss Somezaki still hasn’t returned. Could she be avoiding me? After what I did to her, I should probably perform seppuku as a samurai would to apologize.
Lost in deep guilt, Genji failed to notice that his soup spoon had been soaking in hot soup. He absentmindedly picked it up and put it in his mouth.
“Ah, hot!”
As he sat there despondently, feeling the rough and numb sensation of his scalded tongue, Airi silently sat down beside him. After a moment of silence, she finally spoke:
“Genji, are you feeling unwell anywhere? Like body aches, lethargy, yawning, tearing up, or a runny nose?”
Ah! So sudden!
Genji dared not look in her direction, keeping his head down: “Uh… I just feel a bit tired, nothing else.”
“This is from a previous experiment…” Airi pulled out a stack of reports from a file, “This is not a mere health product, but a psychotropic drug. Some of its components are very close to hallucinogens. Prolonged use can alter thoughts, cognition, and emotions, leading to memory loss, cognitive impairment, and even insanity. Moreover, this drug hasn’t passed Phase III clinical trials.”
Genji was stunned.
No wonder he had been hallucinating and forgetting things recently. But why would Tanaka-senpai do this? Was someone instructing her?
First, Professor Kanazawa didn’t reveal the deadly contagion and signal jamming system on Yeh Island, then there were issues with the institute’s headphones, and now this?
Right, that student named Kitayama Hirohiko, who was apprehended by security and then mysteriously died. The institute claimed he had already withdrawn and left Yeh Island.
And Yukiyama-senpai, everyone thought she was sick and went home to recover, but then…
“While you were unconscious, the doctors did a thorough check-up, and so far, they haven’t found anything serious. They say that although hallucinogens only cause psychological dependence and not physical, and withdrawal doesn’t typically induce reactions, they still recommend you stay in Soshie Town for a while to recuperate.”
“They… not Dr. Pak? Did Miss Somezaki take me to the town central hospital?” In Genji’s understanding, she should have been averse to that hospital.
“The shrine has its own medical team, who often help out at the rescue station. Dr. Pak is busy with the clinic and can’t come here often.”
Genji suddenly realized: no wonder Miss Somezaki’s first reaction that night when she was bleeding was to want to go home, but because of the urgency, she had no choice but to seek help at Pak Clinic.
“If Genji doesn’t mind, we’ll negotiate with Endomuki residence to handle the check-out procedures. The refund and luggage will be sent here soon.” Her cheeks flushed slightly as she spoke.
Damn, Miss Somezaki must be thinking of what happened on Saturday night!
Genji hurriedly stood up and bowed continuously in apology: “I’m sorry, Miss Somezaki! What I did that night was absolutely unintentional! Please don’t take those nonsensical words to heart!”
“Genji said he wanted to ‘free Miss Somezaki from the deity’s descendant’s bondage’…” Airi slightly bowed her head, letting her hair cover her face, “Were you serious?”
Ah, what a strange turn of events! The deity’s descendant will kill me, right!? What was I thinking that night? Even if it was true, I shouldn’t have said it out loud!
“It’s… ah, no! I mean, I…” Genji paced back and forth, wringing his hands anxiously.
“There’s no need to rush into decisions or make rash promises,” Airi sighed softly, standing up to straighten her clothes.
As Airi prepared to leave, Genji called out to her: “Does… the deity’s descendant know about this?”
“He knows.” Airi bit her lower lip, her face reddening even more.
“Ah, he… he really doesn’t mind?”
Isn’t the deity’s descendant known for being capricious and cold-blooded? How could he be so magnanimous knowing someone made advances on his fiancée? Could it be that the deity’s descendant is a cuckold or… G.A.Y.?
“Don’t mind it, and don’t ask any further.”
With that, Airi covered Genji’s mouth with her hand, quickly retracting it after touching him, pausing for a few seconds before running away.
Genji watched her receding figure, savoring the gentle touch of her fingertips on his lips. It was his
first time seeing this side of Miss Somezaki.
It seems she’s not as silent and aloof as when we first met. That should be good, right? But every time Genji thought of her being the deity’s descendant’s fiancée, a sour feeling welled up in his heart.
Ah, what’s wrong with me? I’m truly guilty! Sinful! Unforgivable! Although I’ve never been religious, now I suddenly want to confess to a priest. How can I cleanse my sins?
With these thoughts, Genji distractedly taught mathematics to the children at the rescue station, breaking numerous chalks, but luckily didn’t make any major mistakes.
2.
In the evening, Genji had dinner at the rescue station as usual, but Airi didn’t come.
“Are you worried that Airi is angry?” Nagareta smiled, “Not at all! She’s been taking care of you for several days. This morning she went to investigate the spray and has to perform an exorcism ritual all night, so she’s resting this afternoon.”
“All night? From 7 PM to 5 AM, that’s ten hours, isn’t it? That’s too exhausting, right?”
“Yeah, you must have noticed the many spirit stones around town. Cicada Hiding Town is not too big or too small, but it still takes time to walk around. The exorcism ritual can only be performed at night, so Airi has been living a nocturnal life since becoming the main shrine maiden. She comes back, skips breakfast, goes straight to bed, gets up at noon to handle shrine affairs, and often trains and studies, really tiring.”
Nagareta’s tone was half admiring, half concerned.
Genji frowned, puzzled: “Isn’t there anyone to rotate with her? Although Miss Somezaki is the main shrine maiden, she’s still a minor; she shouldn’t have to do everything.”
“The shrine designed guardian robots and exorcism robots, but they went rogue not long ago and nearly injured people, so they are still being adjusted.”
“Robots are prone to bugs, but what about humans?”
“Sigh, Airi doesn’t want her subordinates to get hurt, so she does a lot herself. And it’s hard to find skilled and loyal people. You might run into some weirdos!” Nagareta suddenly lowered her voice, “Genji might not know, but there’s an assassination organization on the island called ‘Deicide’…”
Genji pondered in silence.
Deicide, could that be the organization Kasahara Sasa joined?