Chapter Nineteen: Working Overtime on Short Notice

“A witch refers to a special woman who, having endured the most extreme suffering and torment, is thus favored by the deity of the Abyss.”

“The greater their pain, the more power they draw from the Abyssal God. We surmise this could be a kind of transaction: the witch offers her agony and emotions to the deity, and the deity grants corresponding authority in return.”

“Of course, this is only our speculation,” Chen Zi’ang concluded.

“Do you think it’s a transaction?” Nico asked with a bright smile. “Well, every race tries to interpret the gods through its own culture.”

“So, are we mistaken?” Chen Zi’ang ventured.

“I don’t know,” Nico replied, “but it’s definitely not a transaction.”

“Because, as far as we know, the gods have no need for suffering emotions. It’s true that some deities take pleasure in inflicting pain on lesser races, but those are rarely the ones who form bonds with witches.”

“If you ask for my view, I believe that witches are unique beings who possess ‘divinity.’ When they suffer unbearable pain and their humanity is deeply scarred, the divine essence within them, once suppressed, awakens—granting them powers far beyond the ordinary.”

“Then, where does this divinity come from?” Chen Zi’ang asked, puzzled.

“I don’t know.” Nico’s tone grew ethereal. “Anything involving the gods is always unpredictable, unfathomable.”

“But let’s set aside speculations. Our Enlank has a war mission. Would you like to consider it, Mr. Ask?”

“A war mission?”

“And it’s an indiscriminate one. As long as the mission is completed, everyone who accepts it earns merit points, regardless of their actual involvement or contribution.”

Seeing that Chen Zi’ang didn’t refuse, Nico continued:

“In the ancient city of Enlank, the Nightmare Clan serves the Lord of the Deep Sea.”

“The Lord of the Deep Sea once had a group of ghoul followers, but those shameless, despicable creatures betrayed him, choosing instead to serve the ‘Ghoul King’ of the Flesh Faction.”

“Thus, the Lord of the Deep Sea has issued an oracle: anyone who kills the Ghoul King’s witch will earn 1,800 merit points.”

1,800 merit points! Chen Zi’ang was stunned.

Usually, when he used the Mandala Sword to slay anomalies, the flames he seized were in single digits. Now, hearing the reward was 1,800 points—well, it was like someone used to a monthly salary of a few thousand suddenly being offered a private job worth millions; the sheer magnitude of the reward left his mind reeling.

Wait a minute…

The Ghoul King’s witch?

Recalling the mutated ghouls at the Sky Silver Seat, Chen Zi’ang cautiously inquired, “The witch you speak of—who exactly is she?”

“She’s human as well,” Nico replied softly. “As for her human name, it should be ‘Miye Fujiwara.’”

Miye Fujiwara? Chen Zi’ang was dazed for a moment before realizing that this name referred to “Miye Nishikawa”—the witch who had placed the divine relic in the Sky Silver Seat.

Among the Islanders, it’s customary for women to change their surname after marriage to match their husband’s. Nishikawa was, in fact, her husband’s family name.

A witch of the Ghoul King, placing the Deep Sea Lord’s relic in human society—coupled with Nico’s hints about the enmity between the Deep Sea Lord and the Ghoul King, Chen Zi’ang felt as if he’d glimpsed the edge of some dangerous, swirling conspiracy, looming faintly over the city’s northernmost skies.

————————

Back in reality.

Chen Zi’ang packed away his Mandala Sword and the spiritual pressure gauge, glanced at his phone, and saw that it was already 1:20 in the morning.

Hmm?

Someone had messaged him around 11 last night.

Due to his work at the Sixth Countermeasures Division, he might be summoned for emergency duty at any hour, so he opened the message right away.

[Stubborn Jade Rabbit]: Senpai, are you asleep? /heart gesture

[Stubborn Jade Rabbit]: Uh, my dad was just joking around earlier, don’t take it seriously, okay?

[Stubborn Jade Rabbit]: Good night, see you tomorrow /sweet dreams

The messaging app indicated when messages were read, so Chen Zi’ang had developed the habit of always replying. He quickly typed his response.

[Heard Any Urban Legends?]: Oh, it’s fine. If you hadn’t mentioned it, I’d have forgotten. See you tomorrow.

After sending the message, Chen Zi’ang set the phone aside and burrowed into his covers to sleep.

The Tsukimi Household.

Their daughter had already returned to her room, leaving the worried Tsukimi Kiyomasa discussing matters with his wife, Chiyoda, in the study.

“Since Suzuna likes him so much, why must you stand in her way?” Chiyoda coaxed gently. “Besides, since that young man shows no intention toward her, at least it proves he’s not the sort to covet our family’s power or wealth.”

“I only worry about two things,” Kiyomasa sighed. “First, that boy’s family has little means. If Suzuna ends up with him, I fear she’ll suffer in the future.”

“That’s not a problem,” Chiyoda replied with a smile. “Our money will eventually go to Suzuna anyway. As long as the man doesn’t gamble, abuse substances, or chase reckless ventures, we can easily support the two of them for a lifetime.”

“Perhaps we could use our connections in the security department to give him a promotion?” Kiyomasa mused aloud.

“Let’s not do that,” Chiyoda advised. “Right now, Suzuna and he are colleagues; they see each other at work every day. If you promote him but not your daughter, you’d be separating them at work. If you promote Suzuna, she’s barely started her job—people will gossip.”

“That’s true,” Kiyomasa nodded. “But my second concern is whether Suzuna truly likes him.”

“Young people’s feelings come and go so quickly. I’m afraid Suzuna will act on impulse and end up hurt in the future.”

“That’s a fair point,” Chiyoda agreed gently. “Shall I talk to her?”

“What do you plan to say?”

“I’ll have to think it over…”

While her parents fretted over her love life, Suzuna was oblivious, sprawled across her bed with her phone.

Usually, when out, she tied her lustrous hair with a pompom scrunchie—but now it cascaded over her shoulders, making her look pure and sweet. Dressed in a fluffy, pink-and-white pajama set, her delicate wrists peeked out from the loose sleeves as her fingers flew across the screen.

She scrolled through short videos for a while, switched to her chat app to glance at her messages, then back to videos, repeating the cycle with tireless delight.

Suddenly, a chat notification popped up at the top of her screen.

It was Senpai!

Suzuna’s heart leaped, and she tapped eagerly—could he be wishing her good night?

He probably would, right? After all, she’d wished him good night, and even if Senpai was clueless, he’d know to reply with “Good night”…huh?

[Heard Any Urban Legends?]: Tentacle, tentacle, if you don’t tentacle, I’ll almost tentacle, tentacle tomorrow

Suzuna: ????????

She leapt out of bed without thinking, didn’t bother changing out of her pajamas, just threw on a jacket, and rushed out of her room.

Chiyoda was standing at the door, pondering how to broach the subject with her daughter, when Suzuna suddenly burst out, startling her so much she nearly lost her balance.

“Suzuna!” Only when her daughter reached the entryway to change shoes did Chiyoda recover enough to call after her. “Where are you going?”

“Overtime!” Suzuna called back, barely pausing. “Last-minute overtime!”

“Wait, I’ll have the chauffeur take you!” Kiyomasa hurriedly stood from the sofa.

“No need!” Her voice echoed from outside, growing fainter as she vanished into the night.