Chapter 72: The Ownership of the Famous Sword, The Taboo Descendant
"Oho."
Yoru looked at Miko with great surprise.
"You actually have the same idea as me?"
"What else?"
"I thought you would say that although Onimaru Kunitsuna is a good sword, stealing directly is a crime, so we have to think of another way."
Miko sighed and said helplessly.
"This is a national treasure-level famous sword. Besides stealing it directly, what other way is there?"
Yoru examined her with interest and smiled.
"So you have no objection to this?"
"Of course."
Miko's golden eyes flickered. Compared to the confusion of suppressing her true feelings in the past, she was no longer hesitant.
"Onimaru Kunitsuna, as a powerful spiritual item that allows even ordinary people to slay evil demons, is just wasting its value sitting in a glass display case."
"Only in our hands, using this sword to slay more evil spirits and save more innocent lives, can its use be truly maximized."
Hearing this, Yoru nodded slightly and sighed with emotion.
"Miko, you have grown."
Miko revealed a faint smile.
"After all, I accepted the guidance of the Number One Exorcist of Kyoto, right?"
"Eh, don't say that."
Yoru waved his hand, looking slightly embarrassed.
"For you to grow to this extent today, I can take at most 95% of the credit. The remaining 5% is the result of your own hard work."
Miko rolled her eyes, thinking so you take 95%, huh?
Before she could start retorting, Yoru suddenly stopped smiling and threw out a heavy topic that caught her off guard.
"Then, what is your opinion on the actions I took during the Kyoto Municipal Kindergarten incident?"
As Yoru's voice fell, the air in the clubroom seemed to become much heavier at this moment.
Kyoto Municipal Kindergarten.
For the members of the Super-Quant Club, this was a topic everyone knew about but kept silent on, as if they had completely forgotten it.
Even Yui, who had the worst brain and always seemed a bit silly, knew what Yoru did during that incident.
Killing people.
Although evil spirits were things humans turned into after death, it was obvious that evil spirits and humans were natural enemies that could absolutely not coexist.
Even a Great Yokai like Tamamo-no-Mae, who possessed independent thinking ability, had malice towards all humanity hidden deep in her bloodline.
The Super-Quant Club's policy of action, which was the policy set by Yoru, was entirely based on this point.
As long as an evil spirit possessed the power to interfere with human life, it should be erased.
Then, what about humans who committed crimes and were extremely vicious?
Although those kidnappers committed such crimes under the influence of evil spirits.
Fundamentally, they weren't possessed by evil spirits but merely manipulated; they were still humans after all.
The members of the Super-Quant Club didn't know what attitude to take towards the fact that Yoru had killed people.
Or rather, they didn't want to face it, so they all selectively forgot about it.
Hearing Yoru's question now, Miko was silent for a long time before she spoke softly.
"Even if they are humans manipulated by evil spirits, I think I probably couldn't bring myself to kill them directly."
Immediately after, Miko looked up and stared straight into Yoru's face.
"However, you saved all the innocent people in the Kyoto Municipal Kindergarten. This result is enough. As for the means taken in the process, although I wouldn't do such things myself, I will support you."
Yoru smiled.
"What about the debate between consequential justice and procedural justice? What do you think?"
Miko froze for a moment, then shook her head, looking blank.
"What consequence, what procedure? I don't understand."
Before Yoru could explain, a smile appeared on Miko's lips, and she spoke softly.
"But I think justice is justice. Protecting those innocent people who, like me in the past, faced danger and could only choose to swallow their anger, being in a helpless and desperate situation—for me, this is the goal of joining the Super-Quant Club and the thing I want to do most."
"Mmhmm, that's good."
Hearing Miko's answer, Yoru nodded noncommittally.
He thought to himself that she had indeed grown.
And grown a lot.
From the naive high school girl he just met not long ago, who had a heart to help others but lacked consideration in her methods and almost turned from plaintiff to defendant on the train.
To now, having clarified the goal she wanted to achieve and becoming adept at exorcism.
Thinking of this, Yoru couldn't help but sigh secretly.
If every member of the Super-Quant Club were like Miko, needing only a little guidance to fully clarify their true thoughts, then the combat power capable of resisting evil spirits wouldn't be just him and Miko.
....
After all members gathered in the clubroom, Miko told everyone about the famous sword Onimaru Kunitsuna being exhibited in Kyoto soon.
Rio and Yui had no objections to this.
Just as Miko said.
Leaving Onimaru Kunitsuna in a glass display case was a waste of heavenly treasures.
Such a powerful spiritual item should be used to slay evil demons.
Making the best use of everything.
Sakurajima Mai sat bored by the window, resting her chin on one hand, kicking her long legs clad in black tights one by one, looking like she was sick of idleness.
The only person in the world who could communicate with her now was Yoru.
Whenever the Super-Quant Club held a meeting, Mai, listening from the side, felt a bit lonely.
The things everyone talks about seem interesting.
She wants to join too.
"Onimaru Kunitsuna..."
After listening to Miko's words, Rio frowned and looked at Yoru.
"Is your plan still to use the 'Door'?"
"Correct."
By the time school ended this Friday, Hachishaku's power would have completed its seven-day cooldown.
This situation was different from the Kyoto Municipal Kindergarten.
It was unlikely for a "Door" to suddenly appear in the exhibition hall.
Yoru planned to enter the Otherworld through an existing "Door" first. After arriving inside the exhibition hall in the Otherworld, he would use Hachishaku's power to open a "Door" and appear directly inside the exhibition hall in the real world.
This process wouldn't leave any trace that could be tracked.
In the eyes of ordinary people, Yoru would just appear directly in the exhibition hall.
Unless the police had narrowed down the suspects to him and checked his alibi for the time of the crime through constant surveillance.
Otherwise, there was no way to trace him.
"Mmhmm... I think there are no problems with other aspects."
Rio held a ballpoint pen, tapping lightly on the table, and spoke thoughtfully.
"But time is an issue."
Yui and Miko didn't understand, but Yoru understood Rio's meaning.
"You mean the time period of appearing in the exhibition hall, and whether just two hours is enough to complete the process of traveling in the Otherworld, arriving at the exhibition hall, taking Onimaru Kunitsuna, and returning the same way?"
"Correct."
Rio nodded, pushed up her glasses frame, sipped the freshly brewed coffee, and began her analysis.
"Although the police are just a group of ordinary people, they are still the police. We cannot underestimate their investigation capabilities."
"Last time, the time period Yoru appeared at the Kyoto Municipal Kindergarten was Ouma-ga-toki (Twilight)."
"If we choose to appear during Ouma-ga-toki again this time... once is a coincidence, but twice might let the police discover the pattern."
"After all, Ouma-ga-toki is a widely circulated supernatural legend in Sakura Prefecture."
"It's naturally best not to let the police discover the pattern within."
"So I suggest choosing the dawn hours from 5 to 7 this time, which is Oujin-no-toki."
Speaking of this, Rio paused slightly to catch her breath before continuing her analysis.
"Also, due to the recent rapid rise in crime rate in Kyoto, the police department has transferred elites from various cities for support."
"At a time like this, holding an exhibition for a national treasure-level famous sword like Onimaru Kunitsuna means the security force on-site will definitely far exceed that of a normal exhibition."
"If we want the plan to be completed smoothly, we must consider many factors: the strength and alertness of the security personnel, the trigger alarm devices in the exhibition hall, the methods to crack the bulletproof glass of the display case, and even the possibility of facing a heavy weapons squad."
"Also, in some exhibitions, the genuine item is actually stored in a metal vault all along, and what is placed in the public display case is actually a seamless replica. Methods to confirm whether it is the genuine Onimaru Kunitsuna also need to be prepared in advance."
After Rio finished speaking, she found Yui and Miko looking at her with shocked eyes as if they had seen Tamamo-no-Mae. She frowned slightly.
"What's wrong? Is there any problem with what I said?"
"Fu... Futaba..."
Yui was thoroughly shocked and sighed from the bottom of her heart.
"You just heard about this matter, and you already thought of so many things that need preparation? Your thinking speed is too fast, isn't it?"
Miko also nodded in deep agreement.
"Mmhmm, fortunately, Futaba is our companion."
When Rio first accepted Yoru's invitation to join the Super-Quant Club, Miko only thought another weirdo had joined the club.
After the various events during this period, especially the analyses Rio made after learning the truth of the Otherworld, she finally understood.
This seemingly cold science girl...
Like Yoru, she was also a gifted person different from ordinary people!
It was shameful to say.
Even as a spirit medium, Miko only considered how to enter the exhibition hall, take Onimaru Kunitsuna, and return.
Things like bulletproof glass, heavy weapons squads, the police noticing the time pattern, and the possibility of a replica in the display case mentioned by Rio—she hadn't considered any of these at all.
Miko was still on the first level.
Rio was already on who-knows-what level.
Four less than two (Eyes < Brains?), verified.
Watching everyone start discussing the specific plan, Yui still had a smile on her face, but her eyes dimmed a bit.
Compared to Miko the spirit medium, Yoru who gathered everyone to protect Kyoto in the dark, and the genius Futaba Rio whose analytical ability and meticulousness far exceeded ordinary high school students.
She...
Was too ordinary.
Recently, the frequency of "Doors" appearing was decreasing.
And because the spring exams were approaching, fewer students came to Yui to issue commissions for supernatural events.
In such a Super-Quant Club composed of people considered geniuses by normal standards, could an ordinary person like her really make a contribution?
Could she really be needed?
Would there still be a place for her in the future Super-Quant Club?
In Yui's concept, friendship needed to be catered to.
She originally thought that even if she was just an ordinary person, she could still do her best to contribute to the Super-Quant Club.
But with recent events, the insecurity in her heart surged again.
If this continues...
I will be left behind.
....
After this discussion, the specific time of action was set during the spring break after the exams ended.
Which day specifically depended on Captain Yoru's arrangement.
Miko would also participate in the plan to take Onimaru Kunitsuna.
Rio specifically reminded them not to underestimate the police's capabilities and means.
After all, behind them was the support of the entire country (Kyushu reference might be a typo for Japan/Nation here or referring to mainland support contextually, but in this setting, likely means the whole Sakura Prefecture/Nation).
Rio decided to take responsibility for intelligence gathering at the exhibition site.
No mobile phones, no searching on the internet, avoiding any possibility of being traced by the police.
This time was different from the Kyoto Municipal Kindergarten incident.
Onimaru Kunitsuna was a national treasure-level famous sword attracting attention from all over Sakura Prefecture. They had to be extremely cautious.
.....
After school, Yoru went to that familiar gym.
Since he didn't plan to go to the Otherworld for the time being, he took this opportunity to exercise.
Yoru wasn't trying to enhance absolute strength, explosive power, stamina, etc.
To improve physical fitness, devouring evil spirits was the most convenient and rapid method.
Coming to the gym to exercise was to allow him to adapt to and control his rapidly improving physical functions in all aspects.
Power that could be fully controlled was true power.
What one couldn't control oneself was a burden.
Mai didn't follow him but wandered around near the gym.
When she was an actress, she occasionally enhanced her stamina by running due to role requirements.
But Mai herself didn't have much interest in fitness.
Moreover, others couldn't see her. In a gym where people walked around with equipment everywhere, her situation was too prone to accidents.
Better to wait outside.
It was agreed initially that Mai would stay at Yoru's place for the weekend.
Today was Monday; she should go back to her own home.
Of course, Yoru wasn't stupid.
If Mai didn't mention going back, he didn't need to bring it up proactively. Couldn't he play dumb?
Having a former national idol beautiful senpai at home was quite pleasing to the eye.
"Shizuka-chan (Cute Shizuka) and Kirisu Mafuyu... didn't come today."
Yoru, having changed into sportswear, scanned the gym and didn't see the figures of those two teachers.
Makes sense; they couldn't possibly come every day.
"Oh my, Young Brother, you finally came."
Seeing Yoru, who hadn't appeared in the gym for a long time, finally show up again, a burly man with thick arms and an honest face ran over in three steps two.
"You don't know, a fierce man came today."
"Fierce man?"
Yoru thought you've seen me doing sets with 200kg bench press, and you still say he's a fierce man? He must have some real skills.
"Where is he?"
"Look, right there."
Yoru looked in the direction the burly man pointed and saw a man with white buzz-cut hair and angular features doing squats.
The barbell had several plates of the heaviest weight hanging on both ends, bending the bar.
But the man looked relaxed and calm, not even wearing a waist belt or knee wraps, looking effortless.
"How much weight is that?"
"400 kilograms."
"Impressive."
Yoru thought limit squatting 400kg and doing sets with 400kg are completely different concepts.
A bit worse than my current self, but indeed very fierce.
However...
Seeing the man's eyes, which were pure black without whites, with only eerie white pupils in the center, Yoru wasn't surprised anymore.
Kure Raian (From the anime world Kengan Ashura).
A genius of the Kure Clan, a family of assassins for generations. His title was The Taboo Descendant (The Devil).
Among the Kengan fighters who possessed abnormal physical fitness, Kure Raian was considered outstanding, after all, he was a strongman who could participate in the Kengan Annihilation Tournament.
Although Yoru had heard rumors about fighters before and could roughly guess that this world had merged with Kengan Ashura, this was the first time he saw a genuine fighter with his own eyes.
Why is Kure Raian here?
Could it be related to the exhibition of Onimaru Kunitsuna in Kyoto?
"Alright."
Yoru patted the burly man's shoulder and smiled.
"I'll go to the locker room to change first, come back later."
"Okay."
After Yoru walked into the locker room, Kure Raian, who was doing squats, flashed a look of crazy excitement in his eyes and dropped the barbell from his shoulders directly to the ground.
Bang!
Even though the floor was covered with thick foam mats, this sudden drop made the entire gym tremble.
....
Inside the locker room.
Yoru had just changed into his sportswear and was about to walk out to start exercising when he saw the door being pulled open.
Kure Raian walked in slowly with a crazy twisted smile on his face.
Click.
He locked the locker room door from the inside, looked straight into Yoru's eyes, and a look of excitement bordering on madness appeared in his black-sclera white-pupil eyes different from ordinary people.
"Are you the guy they said has amazing physical fitness?"