A talisman to ward off evil spirits.
Sunday Serenity immediately furrowed her brow.
She was familiar with such things—those yellowish papers inscribed with red characters, often used by Taoist priests, Yin-Yang masters, or shrine maidens to suppress demons and malevolent spirits.
But to Sunday Serenity, such objects were more decorative than practical.
After all, there was no definitive proof that ghosts and monsters truly existed. No one could say for certain whether the charms distributed at shrines were genuine, or if they really had the power to ward off evil and avert disaster.
Now, however, trapped within its influence, she began to grasp the issue.
The entire door seemed enveloped in an invisible electric net, emitting a faint, whitish glow.
Slowly extending her hand, Sunday Serenity attempted to touch that light.
Instantly, a searing pain shot through her palm, as if she'd been burned by fire. The scorching sensation began creeping up her arm, startling her into yanking her hand back.
"It seems an exorcist has taken an interest in this place," Sunday Silence remarked, her tone distinctly displeased.
"So exorcists really do exist…"
"Those who've grown up in shrines, devoting their lives to serving the gods, do possess the ability to perceive spirits. Though their spiritual sight may not be as naturally powerful as, say, Manhattan Cafe's, it's more than enough to detect ghosts."
"So I've been targeted?"
"No, most likely this was just placed randomly for general protection. If someone wanted to exorcise a spirit, a single slip of paper wouldn't be nearly enough."
"What happens to a spirit that gets exorcised, anyway?"
"It vanishes," Sunday Silence replied. "Ghosts don't have a concept of death in the same way, but their form and consciousness dissolve—much like a human brain ceasing all activity."
This wasn't exactly comforting news.
Though devoid of human material desires, spirits could still be affected by objects like these talismans and enchanted beads, steeped in practices like feng shui.
It seemed the world wasn't as safe as she had imagined.
Shaking her head, Sunday Serenity decided to leave through the back door—only to find a soft white glow emanating from there as well.
Another talisman, presumably placed outside.
At this, she halted.
"Suppose a room has no reflective surfaces like mirrors, just a single main door," she mused. "If a talisman is placed on that door, would the spirit inside still be able to get out?"
"It would be difficult, but not necessarily impossible."
"And if talismans were plastered all over the walls and ceiling?"
"Then there would be no way out."
"I see… That makes sense."
Nodding to herself, Sunday Serenity filed this information away and approached the library's front desk.
"Hello, Rob Roy-san," she addressed the bespectacled girl with twin braids sitting behind the counter.
"Oh, Cafe-san! Is there something you need?"
Setting down her brown-bound book, Zenno Rob Roy looked up.
"Actually, when I came in, I noticed something odd stuck to the door."
"Something odd?"
"It didn't look like a library decoration. More like something another student left behind."
"Really? Where?"
As a librarian, part of her duty—besides cataloging books—was to collect items left behind and place them in the lost-and-found.
Leading her to the door, Sunday Serenity pointed at the talisman pasted there.
"See?"
"You're right! Who would play a prank like this? The library isn't a place for games."
Muttering under her breath, Zenno Rob Roy peeled off the talisman and crumpled it in her hand like trash.
"Thanks for letting me know, Cafe-san. If a teacher had seen this, they'd definitely be unhappy."
In this temple of knowledge and science, posting such things blatantly on the door was downright disrespectful to library discipline!
"No trouble. I'd also prefer such a serious place not be disturbed by outside influences."
"I see you're a book lover too, Cafe-san."
"I just sometimes want to escape reality and lose myself in books. Oh, and Rob Roy-san? It looks like the back door has one of these too."
"I'll go remove it right away. Those troublemakers ruining the library's atmosphere better hope I don't catch them."
"Thank you for your hard work. I have things to attend to, so I'll get going now."
"Sure! If you ever want a book recommendation, feel free to ask!"
"I will."
With that, the girl walked out through the door without the slightest hindrance.
"A very skillful handling of the situation," Sunday Silence remarked from beside her.
"Just a simple trick."
The logic was straightforward: if she couldn't touch it herself, why not have someone else do it?
Having been in this world for several months now, Sunday Serenity had gained a fairly clear understanding of how things worked.
It was actually quite similar to her own world.
In the public consciousness, spirits still belonged to the realm of the vague and unverifiable.
Most people held attitudes like "Maybe they exist," "How creepy," or "No way, that's just stuff to scare kids."
Their existence remained in doubt.
So, in remote mountain villages or abandoned houses, people would instinctively avoid talismans.
But here at Tracen Academy, a campus of thousands, the sight of a talisman evoked a completely different reaction.
These so-called evil-warding slips were seen as nothing more than disruptive graffiti—the kind of thing that would earn you a strict reprimand from the discipline committee.
Case in point—
"Aieeeee!! My ear, my ear's going to tear off!"
A brown-haired girl with a white headband bearing the character for "Dream" and an armband marked [Discipline Committee] was dragging Matikanefukukitaru by the ear, hoisting her up like a misbehaving rabbit.
"Matikanefukukitaru, what is the meaning of plastering these things all over the school?"
The short-haired girl shook a stack of talisman papers in her hand, visibly gritting her teeth.
"Ow, ow, ow—!"
"Do you have any idea how much trouble you're causing for the cleaning staff?!"
"It was Shiraoki-sama's divine revelation! They said this would bring good fortune and ward off misfortune!"
"Oh really? Then I'll be taking your 'good fortune' with me. You can come reflect on your actions in the discipline committee room."
"Nooo! I've already learned my lesson—!"
"Save your excuses."
"Eek!"
With that, the short-haired girl marched off, still pulling Matikanefukukitaru by the ear.
That was the fate awaiting those who posted charms indiscriminately around the school.
Even if you told the truth, how many would actually believe you?
Dodging the yellow papers stuck on trees, tucked in bushes, and pasted on sections of the ground as if avoiding landmines, Sunday Serenity moved carefully along.
"Cafe, I've been looking for you."
A voice sounded from not far behind.
Turning, Sunday Serenity saw a woman with long bangs covering one eye, her ice-blue gaze fixed firmly on her.
It was Manhattan Cafe's trainer.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.