— — — — — —
"So, um… what's the story with that girl and her mom?"
Miko Yotsuya watched the young girl standing beside her mother, her expression a mix of surprise and confusion. She hadn't expected the girl's hunch to be right. Her mom really was here.
But if the mother's spirit had been around all along, why hadn't she appeared earlier? Was she hiding from that monster?
"The mom's kind of an airhead," Kazuma said casually. "She went out to buy food but got lost on the way back. I happened to run into her and escorted her home."
"As for the daughter—well, she inherited her mother's airheadedness. That's why her sixth sense is unusually sharp."
Kazuma's explanation was simple. Normally, as long as the mother's spirit stayed in the house, no evil spirit would dare approach.
But earlier, a roasted sweet potato cart had passed by outside, and the mom—being the airhead she was—got distracted by the smell. She forgot she was dead, wandered off to buy one, and then realized too late she didn't actually have a body.
By the time she figured it out, she was lost.
With the mother's spirit gone, the house was left unprotected. An evil spirit had slipped in to take over.
As for the daughter—she'd probably sensed something was wrong through that sharp intuition she'd inherited, which was why she went searching for an exorcist… hoping to see her mom again.
"…That's it? That's all?"
Miko stared, dumbfounded. It all sounded way too normal.
In every show she'd ever seen, this kind of setup led to some tragic backstory or tearful twist. But this? This was just… a misunderstanding caused by roasted sweet potatoes?!
After seeing too many over-the-top ghost dramas, running into something this ordinary felt weirdly refreshing—and kind of disappointing.
"What else did you expect? Real life isn't a TV drama. It's not all plot twists and tragic reunions."
"Oh, right." Kazuma suddenly turned toward the girl. "If you want to keep those glasses, that'll be an extra five hundred thousand yen."
"Sure thing, I'll send it now."
Without hesitation, the girl pulled out her phone and transferred five hundred thousand to him.
It wasn't cheap, but being able to see her mother again made every yen worth it.
"These glasses… they're radiating incredible spiritual energy!"
The old woman stared wide-eyed at the girl's glasses, absolutely stunned. An artifact like that for only half a million yen? Was this kid insane?!
Something that lets a normal person see spirits? She'd never even heard of such a thing! It must be priceless!
To her, this little gadget that Kazuma clearly didn't think twice about was practically a holy relic.
"Young man, what's your name?" the old woman asked seriously now. She could tell Miko was still a newbie—nervous, unsure, barely past the apprentice stage.
But Kazuma… he was different. The way he talked, the confidence in his movements, the ease with which he handled every step—this was a seasoned professional.
That gun Miko used earlier? It wasn't hers. It was his.
"Me? Name's Kazuma."
"This area's my turf, granny. If you want to poach clients here, you'd better have the skills to back it up."
He smiled faintly. "But judging by that little performance, maybe it's time for you to retire. You're not getting any younger, and exorcism's dangerous work. Wouldn't you rather go home and relax?"
He wasn't threatening her. To him, it was simple—jobs go to whoever can handle them. If you lose work because you're outclassed, that's on you. No point complaining.
The old woman sighed, shaking her head. "You're right. I really am getting old."
She'd once been a respected exorcist, but watching this boy's sheer spiritual power, she realized she'd never even seen anyone like him before.
"The torch is passed to the next generation," she said with a tired smile. "It's the way of things. The circle of life."
She bowed slightly. "Don't worry, young man. I won't be stealing your business. I'll wash my hands of all this tomorrow and head home to enjoy retirement."
With that, she turned and left, shuffling away quietly. With someone like Kazuma around, she could finally rest easy.
When the old lady was gone, the girl and her mother thanked Kazuma again before seeing him and Miko to the door.
"Kazuma-san, thank you so much," the girl said, clutching her mother's hand.
"If you really want to thank me, help advertise for me at school," Kazuma said with a grin. "Exorcisms, fortune-telling, odd jobs—we handle it all."
"Our motto's simple: You have a wish, we answer the call."
"Just make sure you've got the payment ready, or you might end up paying in a way you won't like."
"And by the way, about those glasses," he added, "Don't wear them for too long—it's bad for your body."
Kazuma knew better than anyone that word of mouth was everything. Even the strongest magician needed good PR.
"Got it," the girl said, nodding.
"Oh, and one more thing," Kazuma said, glancing at the spirit standing beside her. "Your mom says when you make offerings tonight, include a roasted sweet potato."
"She says she's not being greedy, she just hasn't tasted one in a long time."
"…and juice? And cake from that new bakery downtown?" Kazuma's eye twitched. "Now you're definitely just being greedy!"
"And stop whispering in my ear! Tell her yourself!"
"If I say it myself, she'll think I'm a glutton!" the mother huffed. "I'm her mom, I have to maintain dignity!"
Her "dignified mom" act reminded Kazuma of a certain childish goddess who also had zero effect despite trying really hard to look important. Yeah, he was talking about Aqua.
Still, her warm personality probably explained why her daughter had grown up so bright and kind.
When everything was finally settled, Kazuma and Miko left the house. On the way back, Miko's mood had lifted considerably.
"Master, I think… I'm actually starting to like this job," she said with a small smile. "Especially when I saw how happy that girl was to be with her mom again."
Her voice softened. Her own father had died in an accident, and though she could sometimes see his spirit at home, she'd never had the courage to speak to him.
Even just seeing him—knowing he was still watching—was enough. She'd been terrified of her ability to see the dead at first, but now… maybe it wasn't such a bad thing.
"The spirits you fear might be someone else's loved ones," Kazuma said quietly. "But a mission is still a mission."
"They make a request, we accept it, and we respond. That'll be our guild's creed from now on."
"Remember it well. And don't ever think you're alone."
"When you need me, I'll show up. After all, you're my precious vice master."
He smiled—and then, as his words faded, so did he.
Just like when he'd first appeared, Kazuma vanished without warning. One moment he was there, the next he was gone.
"…Master, I'll do my best," Miko whispered.
She stood there for a while, staring at the empty space where he'd been. Even though she'd known he would leave, the sudden emptiness still hurt.
She looked down at the pendant around her neck. The green gem reflected her face faintly, proof that Kazuma had truly existed.
She gripped it tightly, eyes full of determination—not just to pay off her debt, but to help others with her own strength.
"…Next time he comes back, I'll take him out for cream puffs," she murmured with a small smile. "That new bakery just opened, and they're supposed to be amazing."
Maybe they'd go shopping after that. Or catch a movie. Or maybe… exorcise another spirit together.
.
.
.