novelraw Chapter 9: The Aura of Courage?
Chapter 9: The Aura of Courage?
"The key to the formation should be right here."
After getting the key from Yukimura Yuri, Izumi Takumi led the two sisters to the rooftop.
While the Yukimura sisters were still looking around, Izumi Takumi imbued his eyes with his spiritual power.
Inside one of the exhaust fans, scarlet gas was continuously billowing out.
"We've found the source."
Izumi Takumi turned to look at Yukimura Yuri, then pointed to the exhaust fan.
The latter understood immediately, stepped forward to remove the protective net, and used his spiritual power to reduce the speed of the exhaust fan.
Once the fan blades slowed down, Yukimura Yuri seized the opportunity and used her spiritual power to pull out an object deep inside the exhaust fan.
This is a dilapidated little peach wood figure, riddled with insects and covered in syrup.
After putting the exhaust fan back in place, Yukimura Mashiro leaned over and curiously examined the small object.
"Is it this thing that attracts those disgusting bugs?"
Feeling a chill run down his spine, Yukimura Mashiro immediately shrank closer to Izumi Takumi.
Yukimura Yuri stared at the little man expressionlessly: "I'll go to the Onmyodo (Bureau of Yin and Yang) and demand an explanation."
Before, they couldn't find any fault with it, but now that they have the evidence, they can't help but disgust the Onmyo-ryo. Yukimura Yuri will naturally have to "return the favor".
The spiritual power contained within a yokai also includes 'yokai energy', while the spiritual energy within an onmyoji is usually pure spiritual energy.
Therefore, these items made from pure spiritual energy are imperceptible to the demons.
The demonic energy within the body can affect the judgment of spiritual power.
But because they possess demonic energy, each demon has different special abilities.
This is also why Onmyoji need to restrict yokai.
After all, it's inevitable that some monsters will do evil deeds.
[Yukimura Mashiro’s favorability +3]
[Yukimura Yuri's Affection +1]
"Thanks to you this time, I will transfer the five million yen I promised you to your account within three days, including your taxi fare tonight."
Yukimura Yuri nodded to Izumi Takumi, her face showing obvious surprise for the first time: "But I really didn't expect that you would become a lower-ranking Onmyoji in just a few hours."
"You've mastered the lower-level Onmyoji's skills so quickly?"
In response, Izumi Takumi shrugged and said, "Maybe I really do have some talent. Although I haven't fully mastered it, I think I've got the basics down."
Yukimura Yuri fell silent.
Although she didn't know what level it meant to go from being a nobody to a lower-class person in just a few hours, judging from Izumi Takumi's previous performance, it must have been astonishing.
"I'm becoming more and more satisfied with you." Yukimura Yuri's face was full of praise and appreciation.
Yukimura Mashiro pouted, "It was clearly my doing! I was the one who found Izumi-kun first!"
"hehe."
Faced with this nonchalant mockery, Yukimura Shinpaku panicked.
He went up to his older sister and wanted to tickle her.
"Izumi-kun, would you like to know your sister's weakness?"
Izumi Takumi quietly pricked up his ears.
"My sister's neck is so sensitive; even a light touch like this..."
Yukimura Yuri shrank her neck abruptly, then her cheeks flushed red as she glared at Yukimura Mashiro with a mixture of embarrassment and anger.
"Izumi, you should go home now."
"No, no! Izumi-kun, don't go!"
Izumi Takumi was ashamed and could only pretend not to hear.
There was no other way; Yukimura Yuri was the sugar daddy, and he didn't want to offend his sugar mommy.
"Traitor! Izumi-kun, that traitor!"
The rooftop echoed with Yukimura Mashiro's unwilling shouts.
The moment Izumi Takumi brought the rooftop door, he saw Yukimura Mashiro being brutally suppressed by Yukimura Yuri.
That snow-white, smooth little hand slapped Yukimura Mashiro's bottom hard.
Snapped!
Izumi Takumi dared not look anymore.
Then he realized he was afraid he would get beaten up too.
When he got downstairs, the receptionist smiled at Izumi Takumi and gestured for him to take care.
Just as he stepped out the door, he heard a muttering behind him.
"Strange, there were so many mosquitoes just now, how come they're all gone in the blink of an eye? Oh well, it's better that they're gone."
When I came, someone reimbursed me, but when I go back, I won't be able to.
Takumi Izumi, who is used to being frugal, honestly chose to take the tram.
On the bus, Izumi Takumi, who was scrolling through posts on his phone, was suddenly interrupted by a yokai encyclopedia.
[Illustrated Guide Achievement: First Mission]
[Achievement Details: You successfully resolved an incident involving Onmyoji, demonstrating your ability to pinpoint key issues even in chaotic conditions.]
[Achievement Reward: Aura of Courage (Low Grade)]
[Aura of Courage (Low Grade): Consumes spiritual power continuously when activated. After activation, the wearer will gain a special effect of +50% Courage, +5% Constitution, and -50% Intelligence.]
[Item Review: A badass life doesn't require brains.]
Startled, Izumi Takumi finished reading the description and then closed the encyclopedia in silence.
I'm scrolling through my phone and you pop up here, isn't that ridiculous? Why are you jealous of your phone?
However, this aura of courage seems to be somewhat useful, yet also somewhat useless?
"Can this be worn by anyone other than me? What would happen if I gave the Aura of Courage to an enemy?"
Takumi Izumi's ingenious idea is coming to fruition.
If you give your opponent a courage aura during a fight, they can instantly become a reckless brute.
This is only of low grade; there should be a chance to upgrade it later, right?
"Does it have a 'fool's halo' effect?"
This is something that Izumi Takumi is very curious about.
……
In a brightly lit high-rise building, a young man who had been relaxing with his feet propped up on his desk suddenly changed his expression.
He hurriedly took his foot off and rushed outside.
On the way, even when he bumped into the corner of a table, he only grimaced for a moment, but his speed did not decrease at all.
The man pushed the door open abruptly and shouted at the middle-aged man who was standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the night view.
"It's bad, Captain! Someone has broken through my array on the 'Snow Joy' Group building!"
"Don't rush." The captain turned around lightly, his bright eyes gradually dimming: "I saw it a long time ago, the bad luck surrounding the 'Snow Joy' building has disappeared."
"So what should we do now? Should we set up an even more powerful formation?" the man asked, bewildered.
"Idiot! That formation is already at its limit!" The captain slammed his hand on the table and roared, "Those beasts are no big deal, but what about the other ordinary people? If someone dies, will you take responsibility?!"
"Yes, yes, it was my ignorance, I didn't have your foresight, Captain!" The man nodded and bowed, continuing obsequiously, "Then shall I go and create another identical formation?"
"If the Yukimura family can break the formation once, they can break it a second time. Someone is opposing the Onmyōryō." A fierce glint flashed in the captain's eyes. "Go and investigate who is helping the Yukimura family. Invite them over for tea and give them a talking-to."
"Yes, sir!" the man quickly replied, still a little hesitant, "Captain, are we sure we won't get into trouble by being so forceful?"
"Look how anxious you are. If something happens, someone from above will protect you."
Impatiently shooing his subordinates away, the captain stood back by the window, gazing at the city under the neon lights, and sighed deeply.
"A beast... is ultimately just a beast."
……