I am a female swordsman.

"Thanks to you, if this meeting could end sooner, I could have spent more meaningful time," Mado Kureo retorted rather bluntly, as his old boss always had been.

"You still have a sharp tongue! Fine, Raven, finish the cleanup of District 20 as soon as possible, and then be ready to be deployed as support!"

"Understood!" X2

Huang Quan and Ya Men stood solemnly in response.

“Even the ghouls in areas that have been relatively peaceful until now have become active. I think this is likely a sign of something. Our CCG's goal is to drive all ghouls out of Tokyo! That is the only clear task we should be doing, and that will not change! Focus all your energy on carrying out the mission!”

The meeting concluded with an inspiring shout.

But for the three members of the Raven Squad who had just arrived at headquarters, the end of the meeting marked the beginning of another important task. First was the compilation of the Raven Trio's recent reports, a meticulous task that naturally fell to Huang Quan, the only woman in the team. After the reports were compiled, there was a private gathering as per protocol.

A gathering of Mado Kureo's connections at headquarters.

The ostensible purpose was to send the White Wing Badge to Yomi, but strangely, the White Wing Badge had already been delivered to Yomi before the gathering even started. Mado Kureo also told her that she and Amon didn't need to go to that small gathering.

Author's Note:

P.S.: I reiterate that this book is about a single person! At most, there are ambiguous relationships with women; at most, they're comrades-in-arms with men. Being single doesn't mean all feelings are erased. My interactions with Amon were just normal partnerships and comforting moments—don't overthink it!

Chapter 50 The Quietness of District 20

After completing his duties at headquarters, the procedures for officially becoming a Yellow Springs Investigator were also finalized.

She received all the benefits and treatment due to a CCG official investigator without any reduction. Various reimbursements were legitimate, relieving Huang Quan of the awkward situation where her partner Amon often had to pay the bills. The salary increase also meant that Huang Quan could buy some useful gadgets from the Jigoku A and B channels.

For example, high-concentration canned RC inhibitors.

For Huang Quan, who doesn't rely on Quinques for combat at all, this is practically a divine artifact.

If a ghoul inhales too much of this stuff, their kagune will weaken and become fatigued, eventually rendering them indistinguishable from an ordinary human. However, the downside is also obvious: the Quinque weapons relied upon by investigators will also be affected, rendering them only useful for defense against the CCG.

Dr. Di Xing, who had a good relationship with Huang Quan, readily agreed to Huang Quan's request.

However, Dr. Jixing also clearly informed Huang Quan that if she carried RC inhibitors, she should avoid accidentally harming friendly forces, as these substances have a very significant effect on kagune. Accidentally harming a friendly ally's Quink would be a serious crime on the battlefield where lives are constantly at risk.

Knowing about this, Mado Kureo only reminded Yomi not to misuse it and then let her be.

In subsequent task assignments.

It's clear that after the series of upheavals in District 20, the CCG leadership seems to want to keep the Ravens, who stirred up the storm, out of the picture and temporarily give the highly decorated Ravens squad a cold shoulder.

Huang Quan and Ya Men began patrolling and cleaning up in District 20.

Their direct superior, Mado Kureo, seemed to have been provoked by something after a private party in Ward 1, plunging headfirst into the database of Ward 20, searching for something. However, judging from the fact that Mado Kureo's room was lit up almost every night, and his excited expression 24 hours a day, it must be something very important.

It is worth mentioning that!

In addition to the White Wing Badge, CCG headquarters also awarded Yomi the Silver Osmanthus Badge. This badge is an honor earned by successfully defeating more than 50 ghouls in a single year, and Yomi's achievements were more than enough to qualify her for this honor.

From then on, in addition to the delicate white single-wing badge, a pentagonal silver osmanthus medallion appeared on the collar of Huang Quan's uniform coat. Every day, he received admiring and envious glances from the investigators of the 20th Division. After all, how could ordinary people not be envious and amazed that Huang Quan, who was just a trainee investigator, could rise so quickly and acquire so many honors?

Sword Demon Huang Quan's reputation seems to have grown even greater.

The rumors surrounding Third Investigator Yomi, her striking beauty and aloof demeanor, her cold and detached aura, her supposedly non-Quink sword, and the half-human, half-ghoul legend of the Sword Demon, have resurfaced. Many believe that Yomi, following in the footsteps of the White Reaper Arima Kishou, could become the next rising star investigator.

seem……

In the darkness unseen by the public, someone is deliberately creating this public opinion to elevate Huang Quan to a divine status.

………………

20th arrondissement, antique coffee shop.

jingle!!

Welcome!

Accustomed to the daily ringing of the bell at this time, Irimi Kaname busied herself without even looking up. Her familiar, light footsteps quickly led her to the counter. Irimi Kaname brushed her bangs aside and looked up to see a silver-haired, crimson-eyed girl putting away her sunglasses.

"Good morning, Huang Quan. Coffee and sandwiches again today, it's all ready."

Holding a single serving of coffee and a sandwich, Iruma Kaname skillfully handed them to Huang Quan.

"Good morning."

The antique was quiet in the early morning. The sunlight streaming in from the window was a bright golden hue. Huang Quan, who was backlit by the light from outside the window, had a captivating charm, his expression softening from tranquil indifference.

Her expression softened slightly, and looking at Irimi-chan's genuinely happy smile, Yomi's face seemed to lighten with a hint of relief. Since starting her patrols in the 20th ward, she'd come to [Antiques] every day during her free time, ostensibly to thank Irimi-chan for saving her life, but actually...

Enjoying a kind of perverse pleasure~~

Whenever Huang Quan sees an investigator sitting in a coffee shop, looking as uncomfortable as if he'd swallowed a fly, in a place she thought she couldn't see, she feels a strange sense of pleasure.

Ever since Huang Quan developed the habit of occasionally stopping by the [Antiques] shop for a while, the shop's daily revenue has been plummeting!

But it's not good to kick people out.

"It's as quiet as ever today." As deserted as ever, as if unaware of the trouble her bad habit was causing [Antiques], Huang Quan squinted at the window with a touch of morning laziness. She loved the feeling of the warm sunshine on her skin; it was so comforting and pleasant.

"Yes."

It has indeed become much quieter since you arrived.

Looking at Huang Quan's languid posture, Rujianxuan couldn't help but sigh slightly. Who would have thought that this seemingly frail, silver-haired, languid girl would actually be the ruthless and merciless Baige?

"Yo! Huang Quan-chan, you're here so early again~~!" Another employee, who had just changed her clothes and came downstairs, saw Huang Quan and couldn't help but cross her arms and let out a sigh of helplessness.

Good morning, Mr. Furuma.

"How lucky I am! The first thing I saw at work today was the beautiful Yomi-chan, and I'm so full of energy!" Koma En'er flaunted her suit-style hair, then approached Yomi with a mysterious look, rolling up her sleeves to show that she wasn't hiding anything.

Immediately afterward, with a snap, Koma En'er flicked her wrist and produced a red rose, which she gently placed in a glass on the table.

"Wonderful."

Huang Quan clapped along to the performance, while Ru Jianxuan looked at Gu Jian, who was smugly touching his big nose, with a look of disgust and gestured for him to get back to work and stop making a fool of himself.

This kind of magic trick that distracts from people can only fool ordinary people.

As for fooling the sword demon Yomi, Irimi thought it was just a joke. Didn't she see Yomi's awkward yet polite smile? She was completely playing along with your performance. Disgusted, she chased Koma away. The coffee shop was very quiet and empty early in the morning, so Irimi simply sat down and chatted with Yomi.

Isn't this happening every day lately?

Although Huang Quan and Rujian Xuan sat side by side, they deliberately kept some distance from each other, each with their own concerns. It was as if an invisible wall separated them, an ambiguous and hazy feeling that they both sensed but deliberately didn't point out.

Fangcun store manager, who witnessed this scene, lowered his head and began to carefully select coffee beans.

Author's Note:

P.S.: Gradually losing consciousness from the cold...

Chapter Fifty-One: Admiration

A refined and elegant silver-haired girl and a mature woman with long, straight black hair tied up are sitting together, chatting in a harmonious atmosphere. This beautiful scene is truly breathtaking.

Both Iruma and Yomi are said to possess outstanding beauty in their respective fields.

Even when she was still a naive young girl, Touka Kirishima always seemed dazzling.

Not with the gaze of a ghoul, but subconsciously with the gaze of a woman, she felt utterly defeated. Irimi-san possessed a mature and tolerant air, weathered by life's trials, her mystery like a fine, mellow wine. The sword demon Yomi, on the other hand, exuded a clean and sharp danger, his words and actions carrying a certain ruthlessness.

"Don't be envious, Dongxiang-chan! You'll grow up to be a great beauty too!"

Koma, seeing Touka staring blankly in the direction of the underworld, couldn't help but tease her.

"Who, who's envious!? I'm not envious of that guy at all!" Like a cat whose tail has been stepped on, Touka immediately bristled and started ranting at Koma.

Koma, with a wicked grin, gave a knowing look that said, "I understand, you don't need to say anything more."

Just as the two were bickering, Yoshimura, the shop manager, slowly walked out from behind the counter carrying three cups of coffee. This unexpected action by the shop manager caused Koma and Touka to stop arguing and stare in bewilderment at Yoshimura, who was walking towards the underworld.

"This is coffee I brewed myself. Would the Underworld Investigator be interested in tasting my skills?"

The Fangcun store manager looked at Huang Quan with a very kind expression.

For a fleeting moment, Huang Quan's raised crimson eyes seemed to contract involuntarily. Her inexplicable gaze fell upon the smiling Fang Cun, her fingers tracing the rim of the cup. She quickly regained her usual composure, accepted the coffee personally brewed by the manager, and said thank you.

"good smell."

Huang Quanyi was succinct and shocking; she had never cultivated any refined taste and could only say it tasted good based on her own feelings.

"Thank you for the compliment."

She sat down without hesitation. Manager Fangcun watched Huang Quan sip her drink slowly, his gaze lingering for a moment on the two medals on the collar of her white dove uniform before looking away.

"Yellow Springs Investigator, you seem to be showing up at [Antiques] every day lately. As the manager, it must be a bit of a hassle, since customers are clearly scared away when it comes to ghouls." Yoshimura said this half-jokingly and half-seriously, while also taking a sip of his coffee.

"I'm sorry, I haven't paid attention to that. It was introduced by a junior at first, and then Xuan saved my life. Plus, [Antique] is indeed quiet and comfortable, so I come to bother you whenever I have the chance."

Huang Quan answered very naturally, while subtly revealing a hint of apology.

"If this is causing any inconvenience, then I will stop bothering you so frequently starting tomorrow."

"Huang Quan, that's not true..."

Hearing that Huang Quan wouldn't bother her anymore, Irimi Kasumi instinctively wanted to dissuade him. Having spent these past few days with Huang Quan, she had gradually come to regard him as a friend, thoroughly enjoying their free-flowing conversations, mutual care, and occasionally even fantasizing together about the beautiful cherry blossoms of Mount Fuji.

"Alright, Xuan, we can't let this store go out of business because of me, right, Manager Fangcun?"

Using the same half-joking, half-serious tone, Huang Quan lowered his eyes and carefully examined the coffee in his hand.

"That's not the case; it's just that others have misunderstood."

"Yes, misunderstandings will always exist in this world. People are unwilling to believe what they see and only want to believe what they already believe. For example, my job. They think that being an investigator is a tough and dangerous job, but they are all wrong. If they became investigators, they would know that being an investigator can lead to death."

The young Huang Quan was talking about death.

This creates a bizarre sense of being severely out of place with reality, and subconsciously people will not believe what Huang Quan is saying, thinking that what she is saying is just the innocent ramblings of a child.

However, if these words were spoken by Yomi, a third-class investigator who had slaughtered more than 50 ghouls in just two months, they would carry an unspeakable weight of conviction.

Do you find death terrifying?

"Of course, nothing is colder than death." Having faced death many times, Huang Quan understands better than anyone else the helplessness of death gripping your throat. Fear overwhelms you like a tide, dark and cold, something you'd never want to experience again.

"Aren't you considering changing jobs?"

"No, at least not right now. I can't just stand by and watch someone die, no matter what."

Huang Quan looked out the window and happened to pass by a father and daughter. Their faces were full of bright and happy smiles, smiles that were incredibly healing to look at.

"I see."