Chapter 1167

<Episode 1167> 1167. Day 15

Morii Masahiro summoned all the Circle members and explained the current situation.

Everyone wore expressions brimming with dissatisfaction but refrained from outright voicing their complaints. Japan was currently suffering under the双重 threat of typhoons and earthquakes. Complaining about unavoidable natural disasters would change nothing.

“At least we’re fortunate not to have to deal with earthquakes or flooding. We just need to wait until things settle down.”

Morii Masahiro tried to offer some positive words, though they rang hollow. Everyone here lived in the city, after all. The rented studio I called home would likely be in a sorry state when I returned. Just thinking about the cleanup gave me a headache.

That’s when it happened. The fluorescent light began to flicker before going out entirely.

Click-click-click.

Wada Kyoushiro kept pressing the switch, but the dead fluorescent light refused to turn back on.

Even though it was daytime, the living room grew dark due to the newspaper-covered windows.

“Ah, what is this? A power outage?”

The third-year girl and eldest among the women, Nakagami Lisa, muttered irritably.

“Yeah… seems like a power outage. This was bound to happen sooner or later. I’ll go talk to the villagers and see if there’s anything that can be done.”

Morii Masahiro left the building, his demeanor betraying little hope. He anticipated that the outage was most likely caused by the typhoon, leaving the entire village without power. In such cases, all the villagers could do was wait for experts to arrive and fix things once the storm passed.

‘Elsewhere, lives are being lost… considering Japan’s sluggish bureaucracy, it might take months for the power to be restored.’

Morii Masahiro stepped outside. Hudo Jun wandered off to his room with a vacant expression.

Tanaka Hiroshi and the three delinquents approached Hagawa Ryouko and the girls as if they had been waiting for this moment.

“It’s boring. Let’s play some board games. I brought a few when we came to this village.”

Nakagami Lisa abruptly stood up. Her face, illuminated by her smartphone, was filled with irritation.

“Hey, Tanaka! Stop fooling around and do something useful!”

Tanaka’s face tensed slightly at Nakagami’s intervention but quickly masked it with a fake smile as he replied,

“Do something useful? Senior, what exactly do you expect us to do in this situation? There’s nothing else to do but enjoy ourselves. You must be bored too, Senior. Your phone can’t even be charged. I’ll grab some beers—let’s party!”

“Haven’t you been watching the news? The wind will get worse tonight. We need to prepare for the worst-case scenario.”

“What? Why should we bother with that, Senior? That’s the landlord’s job.”

“The problem is, the landlord isn’t here right now. If you don’t want to sleep exposed to the wind and rain, you’d better start preparing yourself.”

Nakagami Lisa turned away, signaling she wouldn’t entertain further arguments, then looked at Wada Kyoushiro and me.

“You two, help prepare the girls’ dormitory.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

“Understood.”

Wada Kyoushiro and I responded.

Tanaka Hiroshi’s face twisted into an ugly sneer.


Body. He was about to say something, then sighed and went out with the other delinquents, wearing raincoats.

“Senior Tanaka! Where are you going?!”

“Wada. Do I look like a kid to you? Do I need to report every walk to you?”

“A-ah, no. Sorry, Senior. But… going for a walk in this weather…”

“Shut up, brat.”

BAM!

Tanaka Hiroshi threw open the door and stormed out. Nakagami Lisa glared at the back of Tanaka Hiroshi’s head as if unimpressed.

The delinquents weren’t really going out for a walk.

Their purpose wasn’t hard to guess.

Of course it’s girls.

The population of this village is 150. On the first day exploring the village, most were elders, but there were some young people too—teachers working at the school, nurses at the hospital, etc.

“Yesterday’s scout didn’t reveal any exceptional beauties in this village.”

My targets remain Hagawa Ryoko and Nakagami Lisa.

The “Miko-sama” everyone talks about does concern me a little, though I don’t know if she’s beautiful or not.

“Just because a woman holds a special position doesn’t mean she’s automatically beautiful. There’ll be a chance to see her later.”

Wada Kyoshiro and I headed to the women’s dormitory. Nothing scandalous happened. Until evening, we had to repair the dorms or prepare for the typhoon.

And that night, the trio of delinquents didn’t return to the dormitory.

—

As Nakagami Lisa said, the wind got even stronger. The noise made it hard to sleep, and the sound of rocks hitting the walls never stopped.

I got up.

“Sei Sho?”

“Wada. Were you awake?”

“The noise kept me from sleeping. What about you?”

“Same here. Also hungry, so I was gonna eat some cup ramen. You want some?”

“Nah, I’m good. I don’t like eating late at night. Senior Tanaka… hasn’t come back yet, has he?”

“Do you worry about those guys?”

“Those guys may not be good people, but they’re still seniors.”

“To be a senior, one must act like one. Just being older doesn’t make someone a senior. If you’re really worried, call them.”

“We don’t have their contact info.”

“…They’ll be fine. They’re not kids.”

I closed the door and stepped outside. Just in case, I stopped by the kitchen before heading to the women’s dormitory.

The wind and rain were so strong that my raincoat was useless. My body got soaked.

“If I’d brought an umbrella, it probably would’ve been blown away.”

There was one advantage, though. The powerful wind and rain covered my presence. I looked at the entrance door. Of course, it was locked. I took out a wire and stuck it into the keyhole. Click-click.

“Looks easy in manga, but… nope, not working.”

After trying for about three minutes, I shook my head and discarded the wire.

“Moving to Plan B.”

I walked past the entrance and approached the window.

The women’s dormitory structure was identical to the men’s. In other words, the window in front of me would be where Wada Kyoshiro and I stayed if it were the men’s dormitory.

“This room belongs to Hagawa Ryoko.”

I couldn’t see inside the window due to the newspaper paper taped over it. They originally planned to use wooden planks, but they ran out while reinforcing the dormitory, so they used newspapers and tape instead.

I placed my right fist against the window. I could feel the smoothness through my fist. I waited for a moment.

When a powerful gust of wind shook the window, I pulled my fist back and struck with full force. A technique called “One Inch Punch,” also known as “Village Chief Punch.” It’s a master-level skill in this world, but just basic stuff in mine.

A crack formed on the window. My strength control was perfect. I gradually applied more pressure to quietly shatter the window. The newspaper helped muffle the sound.

I broke the window.


I slipped my hand into my pocket and unlocked it. Then I opened the window and entered the room. Carefully stepping onto the tatami mat, I closed the window behind me. I took off my raincoat and shirt, stuffing them roughly into the broken window frame to keep out the wind and rain.

Hagawa Ryoko was sleeping against the closet, curled up under a fluffy blanket with a thin quilt pulled up to her shoulders.

“So this is youkai hunting, huh? What an incredible culture.”

My heart bounced as I marveled at the splendid traditional Japanese culture.

I completely stripped off my pants, underwear, and wet socks. Approaching Hagawa Ryoko, I could see the curves of her figure through the thin blanket.

“Her bust must be around E-cup…”

Hagawa Ryoko, a traditional Japanese maiden – I wondered what kind of cries she’d let out beneath me. Anticipating what was to come, I approached her and grabbed the edge of the thin blanket, pulling it away.

At that moment, Hagawa Ryoko’s eyes snapped open in an instant.

“…!!”

She shoved the blanket straight at me, obscuring my vision. Simultaneously, a dagger came stabbing from the left side of the blanket.

It was a cold, perfect ambush. If it weren’t for me…

I hadn’t let my guard down even for a second while covering her. Having fallen for countless beauty traps before, I instinctively knew what to watch out for when embracing a woman. Let alone in a situation like this – rape. It’s only natural for a woman to resist.

Though I didn’t expect her to resist *this* much.

I stepped back, dodging the dagger while wrapping the blanket around my hand to grab its blade and snatch it away.

“You filthy Chosen-jing…”

Hagawa Ryoko wielded another knife hidden under her pillow and swung it at me, aiming precisely for my neck. Her actions were decisive, showing no hesitation – she didn’t look like an ordinary girl.

I blocked her attacks with the dagger I had taken from her.

Clang, clang.

“I came here for a night of youkai hunting, but who would’ve thought I’d end up in a knife fight.”

Hagawa Ryoko wasn’t attacking wildly. Knowing I didn’t intend to kill her, she boldly pressed forward with calculated moves. Her blade skillfully sought any opening the moment I let my guard down – clearly professionally trained.

“Wasn’t she supposed to be just an ordinary college student?”

But there was something lacking:

Real combat experience.

Despite extensive practice, she seemed inexperienced in life-or-death battles. Evidence of this was how she immediately fell for my feints, her vision narrowed by excitement.

I deliberately exposed a weakness, and her blade eagerly lunged toward the opportunity. Instead, I stepped forward aggressively, grabbing her dagger with my forearm and armpit while delivering a punch to her abdomen.

“Guh!”

Hagawa Ryoko staggered, her trembling legs barely holding her up. I twisted her wrist, disarming her dagger, pushed her down onto the bed, and pressed my knife against her throat. With my left hand, I pinned both her wrists, and my legs held her lower body in place.

“Are we done now? Or do you have more weapons hidden?”

Hagawa Ryoko puckered her lips and spat at me. But it wasn’t saliva – it was a needle. I quickly turned my head to avoid it, the needle grazing my chest. Had my reaction been slower, it would’ve pierced my right eye.

“You’re more than just feisty.”

With my knife, I tore her top. Her blue bra resisted for a moment before snapping, her breasts bouncing free as they succumbed to gravity.

“Vile Chosen-jing…!”

Hagawa Ryoko’s mouth opened to scream, so I dropped the knife and forcefully covered her mouth.

“Looks like we can’t part ways nicely.”

I began restraining her, tearing the blanket to gag her and tie her wrists.

“Your armpits are quite interesting.”

I caressed her white armpit. Bound and humiliated, she glared at me with a distorted expression of shame.

Before proceeding further, I checked her belongings.

I wanted to know Hagawa Ryoko’s true identity.

“Once I find out who you really are, things will get even more interesting.”