Shota is surrounded by monsters!

Since the sun wasn't too scorching, Yomi seemed to be in better spirits. She asked Shota, "I think you'll go bankrupt halfway through the procurement process."

"No, no, I've made up my mind not to do anything related to food anymore. I'm going to do what I do best."

"Oh? What is it?"

"Things related to monsters!"

"……what you up to?"

"Let's start a paranormal detective agency!"

Shota said confidently, "Humans in this world still don't know enough about monsters, so they are inevitably forced to get involved in all sorts of things related to monsters. Many people, including many rich people, don't know about the Countermeasures Office or the existence of exorcists."

Things like this are passed down and introduced by word of mouth.

For wealthy people, the thing they fear most is something that money can't solve—monsters. What Shota wants to do is to give them a way to use money to deal with monsters.

That is, to the paranormal detective agency he owns.

"Have you considered factors like foot traffic, office location, and registration?"

It has to be said that after listening to Shota's words, Huang Quan felt that this guy was surprisingly bright for once, but many things are not as simple as he thought.

She knew people in the same industry before her death. Without a stable client base and access to information, it's easy to be mistaken for a scammer.

"What's there to be afraid of?"

Shota said confidently, "If a club is formed at school now, it will spread quickly thanks to my reputation as the King of Chuunibyou. Whether the rumors are true or false, people who are really troubled by monsters will definitely try it as a lifeline."

"So that's what you were planning."

"That's it. Make good use of your fame."

"But, since it's a detective agency... are you very good at deduction and such?"

“No, not at all.” Shota shrugged and said, “Isn’t that what you’re here for? I just need to show up last and eat the monster.”

"Oh right, right."

Shota suddenly clapped his hands, having come up with a great idea, and said, "I'll just have the Nura Clan's yokai cooperate with my act..."

"No, I think you'd be better off becoming a live-in son-in-law in the Sanhua family than doing that..."

"..."

However, the matter was roughly settled. To make it more formal, a proper storefront was definitely needed. Fortunately, Shota had a backup plan.

Is that all?

"Yes, Taotie Sang."

The Nura Clan had long ago assigned themselves a territory, but Shota rarely went to check on it...

"It's quite big."

Shota approached the two-story office-like building that hadn't been used for a long time and estimated that it was two or three times larger than his own home.

"This used to be one of the old Rat Group's strongholds."

Kurota explained to Shota, "This room has been empty ever since they were disciplined."

There was a desk, a sofa, a coffee table, and a cabinet—enough for an office space. Shota walked to the window, looked at the passersby, and asked, "Is it alright if I use this room myself?"

"no problem."

Kurotabo shook his head and said, "Whatever Taotie-san wants to do."

"That's good. I'll tidy it up myself in a bit."

"Well... Taotie-san, how about we go for a stroll at the Monster Bar?"

"...I have no money."

"What's the point of talking about money?" Kurotabo urged Shota. "Those fox girls really miss you. They'd be willing to pay you to drink with them."

"..."

Shota declared righteously, "I am an upright person!"

As she spoke, she quickly gave Kurotabo a wink, signaling him to stop talking.

Kurotabo nodded as if he understood, then excused himself and left.

"What fox girl?"

Yomi separated from Shota's body, sat down on the sofa, and said in a terrifying tone, "That sounds like an interesting story from the past."

"No, it was just youthful arrogance."

Shota turned his head and looked out the window with a weary gaze.

"Hello, is this Rea?..."

"Sister Huangquan, I was wrong!"

After spending an entire night tidying up his office and casually putting up the words "Kousaka Office" on the window, Shota felt he was about to embrace a new life.

The next step is to build a reputation.

"I want to start a club!"

"Four people are needed."

"Shota Kousaka, Mashiro Kousaka... Eh, four people? Then let's add Yomi Isayama... What, 'Don't joke about dead classmates?' Teacher, are you disrespecting ghosts?! Okay, okay, then Hitagi Senjougahara... No way? I'll go get her handwritten authorization letter later, okay? We're still missing one person?"

After hesitating for a moment, Shota asked in return, "Is it okay for the junior high school students?"

"No."

The teacher shook his head in a businesslike manner.

"Then I'll go with Araragi Koyomi!"

Shota slammed his hand on the table, deciding someone's tragic fate, and said, "Now there are four of us, right? The club's name is Gluttony Group... What? The name is vague? No, no, even a club like the Far East Magic Nap Club has a name like that... Well, they did express their desire to take a nap."

After considering it for a moment, Shota said, "Then let's call it the Supernatural Phenomena Detective Club!"

"From today onwards, I am the regimental commander!"

Chapter 123. The First Deal

"Araragi-kun".

Shota rested his chin on his hands and looked at Araragi Koyomi sitting opposite him, saying, "You should know why I came to find you."

After school, Shota forcibly kept Araragi Koyomi from the Home Club in the empty classroom.

Araragi Koyomi swallowed hard, his eyes darting around nervously. Sure enough, according to the methods of these mysterious people, they would silence or erase the memories of everyone who knew the truth.

This is something that must be done, of course...

"Hey, what are you talking about, Kousaka-kun? I don't understand at all."

Pretend you know nothing. You didn't go out to buy adult magazines that night at all. Yes, it was just a dream!

"No need to pretend anymore."

Shota took off his hat, revealing two horns on his head, and said, "I am not human."

"...That's a really realistic horn, Kousaka-kun..."

"Bam—"

Shota reached out and suddenly pulled the broom from the corner of the classroom into his hand, then emphasized again, "I am not human."

"Oh, you used a wire? That's amazing."

Araragi Koyomi continues to play dumb.

"Snapped--"

Shota slammed a piece of paper on the table and said to Araragi Koyomi, "Sign it!"

"This is……"

Apply for admission?

What is this application for admission?

“Our club is missing one person to start. Look, Araragi-kun, you're the only person I know in the class, so I'm hoping you can sign up or something like that.”

"...Why don't you just tell me directly!"

Araragi Koyomi slammed his hand on the table and shouted, "Was it necessary to scare me with so many things first?!"

"right."

Shota thought about it and realized that it did seem to be true.

"Shuashuashua——"

Araragi Koyomi quickly filled out the form and said, "Being listed as a member is no problem. But I won't participate in club activities. I don't want my ordinary and peaceful daily life to fall apart!"

"No problem, no problem, even if some monster comes to bother you..."

"There are no monsters in this world!"

Araragi Koyomi said as if hypnotizing himself, "There are no yokai."

Shota shrugged and said, "If there isn't one, then there isn't one."

Then, Araragi Koyomi simply ran away. However, Shota had already obtained what he wanted.

Is this a good idea?

"It's nothing, I just need him to be listed as a contact."

Faced with Huang Quan's doubts, Shota put away his application to join the club and said, "Besides, did he... tell you that I once met one of his younger sisters, who was in the junior high school at our school?"

"Non-human."

"Ok?"

"Well, those kinds of monsters are just immortal. And they probably don't even know they're monsters."

Shota shrugged and said, "Let's give him a heads-up first, so he won't be caught off guard if he gets involved in something."

"Alright, let's go back and prepare for the publicity. To celebrate how smoothly things went today, let's go buy some compressed biscuits."