After the man left, Tojo Aoi put down the pen with a cold expression and began to think.
After countless investigations over these past few days, she had found no precedent for a Chaos ritual turning into an order ritual.
On the contrary, these two rituals could definitely be called as incompatible as fire and water.
So, because of that female voice, a ritual that should have been on the Chaos side was really twisted into order?
Who was that woman who transformed the ritual? A... deity from the order side?
She chuckled a few times, her mouth curling open like an exquisite doll wearing heavy makeup.
No one knew that she had changed from Chaos to order.
Therefore, she only needed to act according to the identity of a 'Lying Ghoul.'
Ability? Cost? It was all made up.
She had to thank the days spent with Sen Getsusa. Back then, they would often have discussions centered on the plot of a certain manga or anime.
Thinking of Sen Getsusa, Tojo Aoi pouted, and her expression finally gained a human sense of vitality.
"What should I do? Can't Father just name that organization and then hurry up and die? It's getting too late; I'm afraid Sha-chan will run away..."
————Sen Getsusa starting to run ing————
There were very few people in the cold drink shop.
Perhaps Hiratsuka Shizuka considered both of them 'victims' of mysterious powers and subconsciously categorized Sen Getsusa as one of her own. When facing Yukinoshita Haruno, she not only sat firmly on Sen Getsusa's side but also reached out to put an arm around her shoulder.
As a result, the woman whom Hiratsuka Shizuka called a friend saw this scene when she walked in.
"Your new kept lover?" she asked with curiosity and seriousness.
Hiratsuka Shizuka:... "Shut up." Hiratsuka Shizuka replied crossly, "This is Sen Getsusa. You should know, right? The orphanage."
Realization dawned in Yukinoshita Haruno's eyes, and she asked tentatively, "So... the matter with your uncle has been completely resolved?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka replied flatly, "It's not resolved, but I've drawn a clear line."
"Phew, I advised you long ago. Isn't this better? You, after all, are more suited to be a teacher."
Yukinoshita Haruno ordered a milk tea for herself, ignoring the 'lovers' opposite her. "Don't worry about the other matters. This is also the family's decision. I only kept it from you before because you were too simple-minded."
Yukinoshita Haruno gestured with her pinky finger toward Sen Getsusa. "A woman of this age, yet still as simple as a virgin... Eh? Shizuka, you are one, right?"
"Shut up."
"You must be Sen Getsusa, right?"
After teasing Hiratsuka Shizuka enough, Yukinoshita Haruno turned her head and winked at Sen Getsusa. "I'm truly sorry about the orphanage. That kind of crude method clearly comes from my mother."
"I've already had my subordinates stop such actions! Including the cooperation with Shizuka's family—I've terminated that partnership and called the police! I was too busy before and didn't look into this side. I'm truly sorry for the trouble caused to you and the children!"
Yukinoshita Haruno apologized sincerely to Sen Getsusa and significantly increased the compensation amount for the orphanage.
She seemed very concerned about the children at the orphanage and ashamed of the massive problems caused by her temporary 'error.' Thus, the terms she offered were very generous.
"If you have any other requests, you must tell me."
"I am in charge of this matter now. Even if you haven't finished discussing it or haven't decided where to move, you can continue living there for a while."
"I'll stall things on this end. It's fine; you can stay as long as you want."
Sen Getsusa looked at the short-haired woman in front of her. With just a few words, she had solved the problem and easily blocked everything Sen Getsusa had intended to say.
She nodded and agreed with Yukinoshita Haruno's approach. "An organization like the Matsutani-kai indeed cannot be cooperated with. Actually, we've already chosen a place to move to and have been packing lately."
"Please let me find the moving company for the children!" Yukinoshita Haruno put her hands together in a 'begging' gesture and said with a face full of grievance, "I'll cover all the moving costs. Consider it an apology. Please let me do it! When the time comes, I'll also personally go to apologize to the children and the Dean!"
Sen Getsusa looked at Hiratsuka Shizuka, who nodded at her.
"Alright," Sen Getsusa said.
"Yay! That's great! Thank you so much! Really, when I heard what Shizuka told me, I was devastated. Ah, how could my mother do such a thing..."
Yukinoshita Haruno began to ramble with a smile about her mother's issues, the company's issues, and her own issues. In short, it was a complete, full-set apology to Sen Getsusa.
"It's just that Sha-chan is a good person; otherwise, this way of operating would have caused big problems." Yukinoshita Haruno drank her milk tea, picking out the pearls one by one and throwing them away.
If she didn't like them, why add them?
"Because it's fun this way." She seemed to see Sen Getsusa's confusion and spoke indistinctly while biting the straw.
"Sometimes, I really don't want to admit you were my student..." Teacher Hiratsuka covered her face, giving Sen Getsusa a 'you see what I mean' look. "It's good that the matter is resolved. I'm going to move the car; shall I drive you back in a bit?"
Yukinoshita Haruno made a gesture. "OK, and Miss Sen?"
Sen Getsusa waved her hand. "No need."
Teacher Hiratsuka jiggled her car keys and pushed the door open to leave the cold drink shop.
The two of them fell into silence for a moment.
Yukinoshita Haruno was no longer as cheerful as before. She sipped her milk tea flatly, her eyes scanning Sen Getsusa up and down, left and right.
"You're quite a popular girl, aren't you?"
Sen Getsusa: "Hmm?"
Yukinoshita Haruno: "Are you satisfied with this handling of the matter, Vic—tim?"
This sudden wave of malice made Sen Getsusa a bit uncomfortable.
Was that smiling demeanor from just now only for Teacher Hiratsuka?
Seeing that Sen Getsusa didn't answer, she didn't care and continued talking to herself.
"Shizuka is quite simple-minded; she thought her uncle was doing some legitimate business. How could that be? She's an idiot; you'll realize it once you've spent time with her, right?"
"Even though she's not young anymore, she's still so naive."
"Since you're satisfied with my solution, don't dump your negative emotions on her anymore. Don't be fooled by that heartless act; she's the type to go home and cry into her pillow at night."
Sen Getsusa explained, "I am Miss Hiratsuka—Teacher Hiratsuka's student. I will be once school starts."
Yukinoshita Haruno was slightly surprised. "Oh? Then it's even more troublesome. In the future, can I ask you not to mention these things to Shizuka again?"
"If you require it, I can authorize some additional compensation fees."
Sen Getsusa looked at the woman in front of her with amusement, brushing the hair from her eyes to look at her. "You think I'm doing this for money?"
"You hired them, didn't you? Those thugs. You hired them to harass the orphanage. And then you pretend it was 'mother's doing'? If it weren't for Teacher Hiratsuka, do you think I would be sitting here right now, speaking to you calmly?"
As the words landed, both of them understood each other perfectly.
Sen Getsusa noticed that the woman opposite her was looking at her with a certain malicious expression. Through her pupils, a natural sense of superior control overflowed.
After a long while, Yukinoshita Haruno finally spoke.
"Oh, I've been found out?"
Yukinoshita Haruno put on a theatrical display of shock, covering her mouth with an exaggerated palm. "Don't tell Shizuka, otherwise, you'll have even more trouble."
Sen Getsusa said coldly, "I won't expose you. In exchange, please keep your promise."
Sen Getsusa ignored Haruno's weak threat. She stood up, pulled out some money and threw it on the table, not looking back. "You'd better not send anyone there again. There won't be a next time, Miss Mask."
Yukinoshita Haruno watched Sen Getsusa's departing back with great interest.
---------------------------------
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