Shota is surrounded by monsters!

"Shut up!" Isayama Yu glared angrily at Huang Quan and said, "As a top-tier exorcist, you allowed a monster to enter this house, and then let it escape after killing your brother... Whose responsibility do you think this is?"

"I heard you were out fooling around with men when your brother had that accident yesterday? No matter how strong or famous you become, don't be arrogant! What kind of prodigy is someone who can't even protect his own benefactor and adoptive father!"

Every word Isayama Yu pierced Yomi's heart like a thorn, leaving her powerless to lower her head. Yesterday evening, she had planned to go straight home, but she unexpectedly ran into Iizuna Noriyuki on the way. This time, unlike the previous two days, the two did not fight again. Instead, they talked peacefully for a while.

Perhaps, the two of them could still live together in the future? Just as Huang Quan had dinner with Iizuna Noriyuki with this thought in mind, she returned home only to hear the devastating news of her father's death.

"Huang Quan... is he alright?"

After the family division meeting, Kagura, worried about Yomi's mood, went to her room and found her staring blankly at her phone. When she saw her come in, she put her phone away, looked up, and said with a smile, "Hmm."

"What a nice room."

Just then, Isayama Mei, dressed in black, walked to the door and said, "Both the sunlight and the orientation are excellent."

"Huang Quan, could I use this room?"

"Huh?"

Huang Quan was slightly taken aback.

"I'm sorry, but since Father wants to make this the main residence, I have no choice but to move in. I don't mind staying in the guest room, but wouldn't people say that it's beneath the dignity of the head of the family's daughter?"

"...So what should I do?"

Mei Isayama glanced at Kagura, who was sitting next to Yomi, and said, "How about we go to Kagura's room now?"

"Can……"

“She’s reached the age where she can be independent now, isn’t this a great opportunity?” Isayama Mei said to Kagura, “Your active deeds are widely known in the branch family. However, you’re past the age of being able to act spoiled, and it’s not good to keep bothering others.”

Kagura moved in three years ago. Her mother died in battle, and her father was too busy to care for her. Yomi filled the void in her heart regarding family. And now…

"I see."

Kagura had no choice but to compromise.

"By the way, Huang Quan, please return the Lion King while you're at it."

"what?"

"Father said that you, who failed to protect your uncle, are not qualified to use the Lion King."

"..."

Upon hearing this, Huang Quan silently stood up, went inside the room, took out the Lion King, and handed it back to Isayama Mei.

"If there's nothing else, I'll be going now."

Having obtained the treasured sword Lion King, Mei Isayama did not linger. She nodded to the two of them and then turned to walk upstairs.

"This... is the Lion King Sword."

She drew back the scabbard and gazed at the sword, a family heirloom passed down through generations of the Isayama family. Isayama Mei was immediately captivated by the work of art that was the weapon. Then, at that moment, a strange memory suddenly flooded her mind.

blood.

He was killed by an evil spirit...

He himself murdered his uncle, Isayama Yu...

"What...what did I do..."

Mei Isayama couldn't believe it, but...

Blue butterflies floated past her eyes and fluttered around her.

"Get out of here! Get away from me!"

Inside the Isayama residence, Kagura took one last look at the room that had been her home for three years. After packing her things, she silently bowed to the room and then walked downstairs.

I saw Huang Quan sitting there, his head resting on his knees, curled up.

"Come here, Kagura."

Huang Quan changed his posture and waved to Kagura, signaling her to come over.

"Are you alright?" Kagura felt that the world was too cruel. Just a day ago, they could laugh so happily, but now even smiling felt forced.

"It's nothing, it's just back to normal."

Huang Quan shook his head slightly and said in a light tone, "I originally had nothing."

"How can you say that..."

Huang Quan gently placed her hand on Kagura's head and said, "Only you, Kagura."

"You are my last treasure."

"Click." The sound of the door opening made both of them look towards the entrance. Now... who would come here?

"Senjougahara?"

Standing at the door was Senjougahara Hitagi, who had become Yomi's apprentice. Actually, she had been at the Isayama residence since before going to school that morning, and hadn't been gone long...

Even she is worried about herself.

However, it seems that there was someone following behind her.

A guy who...can't really be considered human.

After Shota entered the room, he took off the large sunglasses he used to conceal his true identity and said to Yomi, "Please accept my condolences."

"Why are you here!"

Huang Quan suddenly became somewhat agitated—which was normal. This was the home of exorcists, and because of Isayama Naraku's funeral, more than half of the exorcist families in Tokyo had gathered here. If a monster swaggered into a place like this, no matter how strong he was, he would definitely be skinned alive.

Was it that the exorcist's honor had been tarnished by this monster, or was he worried that the monster would be attacked, or even reminded of the monster that had brazenly barged into his home yesterday... Huang Quan had no reason not to be agitated.

"I was just a little worried because I suddenly realized this morning that no one was letting me copy their homework."

Shota casually made up an excuse, saying, "Well, putting aside our differences, we were classmates after all."

"..." Huang Quan was silent for a moment, then said, "Thank you."

"However, you should leave as soon as possible. Senjougahara, you should know the consequences of bringing him here, but why..."

"Because he wanted to come, and I couldn't stop him." Faced with her master's questioning, Senjougahara seemed somewhat humble, but she quickly came up with the best excuse.

Hearing Senjougahara's words, Shota chuckled helplessly. However, his purpose in coming here this time was not simply to check on Yomi's condition.

"It's somewhat similar, yet somewhat different."

Shota muttered to himself inexplicably that in this room, besides the different scents of exorcists, there was also a lingering, strange aura—even though it was small, it was unusually noticeable mixed in with the exorcist's scent.

A blue butterfly... The only person Shota could connect with it was the one who possessed the Killing Stone and had fought him.

However, this aura was slightly different from what I had sensed before. But without a doubt, this malevolent energy filled with hatred was definitely the Killing Stone.

"What resembles what?"

Kagura asked, somewhat puzzled.

"No, it's nothing." Shota shook his head, then looked at Yomi and said, "Anyway, the difficult times will pass. Come back to school when you feel better."

"..."

Huang Quan remained silent.

When Shota walked in, he had overheard the conversation and knew that she had been stripped of most of her glory. He could only comfort her by saying, "Everything will be alright."

To be honest, Shota is all sarcasm and no good at empty words or comforting words. After saying this, he and Senjougahara left the Isayama residence.

"Are you sure?"

“We have a rough idea,” Shota explained to Senjougahara. “It’s definitely related to the Killing Stone.”

"The Killing Stone? That's not..."

Every exorcist knows about the evil Sessho-seki (Killing Stone).

“I didn’t notice before. If I had known, I would have taken care of that guy with the old man sooner.” The old man Shota was referring to was Nurarihyon. They had also sensed the power of the Sesshoseki, but they hadn’t caught up with him.

"Hey, Senjougahara."

Shota suddenly stopped and said to Senjougahara, "If it's alright, how about you leave the rest to me alone?"

That guy's strength, while not necessarily greater than mine, should at least be enough to delay me from finishing the battle for a moment.

“I am capable of protecting myself. If you think I am a burden, you can simply knock me out and leave me here.”

Senjougahara stubbornly answered Shota's question—this woman was far too self-centered and principled.

“Hey Senjougahara. Normally, I don’t care if you insult, mock, or belittle me. It doesn’t really bother me.” Shota looked at Senjougahara seriously and said, “Although I’m glad you didn’t say those things today, what happens next is not something you can get involved in… Speaking of which, why did you choose to become an exorcist in the first place?”

Few humans who become too entangled with monsters end up with a good end.

Shota had told Senjougahara about this a long time ago.

Senjougahara glanced at Shota out of the corner of her eye, then suddenly turned her head to look at the other side and said, "Why should I tell you, Kousaka-kun? Curiosity is one of the original sins. Every year, countless felines are killed by curiosity. This is definitely not an astronomical number compared to what you encounter in your daily life."

"...Just consider it satisfying my curiosity. You see, I skipped class with you today, so I can't leave without giving you anything in return, can I?"

Shota shamelessly replied that for someone like Senjougahara, you have to be thick-skinned and patient to slowly wear her down.

"..."

Senjougahara's gaze became somewhat unfocused, but she quickly regained her composure and looked in the exact opposite direction from where Yu Shota was, saying, "Because cultivating spiritual power can guarantee eternal youth."

"..."

This reason is absolutely outrageous!

Shota suddenly felt his brain couldn't keep up. Although this situation does exist, cultivating spiritual power can ensure that a woman's appearance does not decline before the age of fifty or even sixty, and it also has a certain function of prolonging life.

"I guess that's just how women are?" Shota muttered, then suddenly thought of a contradiction and said, "But isn't this a bit much? If you keep looking like this, your future boyfriend or husband will feel a lot of pressure, right? Think about it, one person stays young forever while the other slowly ages. Isn't that a bit cruel for both of them?"

"Oh, really?"

Senjougahara's tone revealed an unusual tension. Shota could even clearly hear Senjougahara's heart suddenly begin to race as she stood beside him.

It's as if we've touched on some serious issue.

"Generally speaking, two people are more compatible if they both stay young forever, right?"

Shota gave a strange smile.

"Ah, yes."