A comic book, but a librarian

"No, no, no, no, just treat it as a casual question from me. There's no need to do this."

After much persuasion, Uesugi Cheng finally calmed Goto Doku down, and he even wiped the non-existent sweat from his forehead.

"Remember to come tomorrow." Uesugi Sumiya gave Goto Du one last word. He felt that if he didn't say that, perhaps this introverted and even somewhat self-abased girl might find various ways to escape.

Just like that, Uesugi Cheng stretched and turned to leave, not planning to continue watching Goto Doku's performance. It was a wonderful thing to tease a girl under the right circumstances, but everything had a limit. He didn't want to backfire and let things slide to the side he didn't want to see.

That night, there was only a dim moon on Brancog Island, but the only difference was that singing could be heard from time to time in the Silent Bookstore. Some were in English, and some were in languages ​​that the villagers could not understand at all. They thought that the new bookstore manager was doing some special spells or research. After all, most of the villagers who could settle here were not ordinary people, so no one took the matter seriously.

"So...you joined a band in your free time?! You're really amazing..." Hikigaya was amazed at Uesugi Sumire's time management ability, but since he wasn't the one who had to do so many things, he didn't have any other emotions.

"I didn't join. I just happened to go there to practice."

"Hey, did Asumi-san go there to practice?" Yotsuya Miko joined the topic smoothly. Although she was still using honorifics, Hikigaya Hachiman was very keenly aware that Yotsuya Miko had changed her way of addressing Uesugi Sumi from his surname to his first name.

"It's developing so fast, the current situation is so scary...that's not right." Hikigaya Hachiman complained quietly, but when he thought of the danger that Uesugi Sumire and Yotsuya Miko were facing, he instantly lost all extra thoughts.

"Speaking of which...I recently heard some strange rumors in school again!"

"Hmm?" "Oh?" In an instant, Uesugi Sumire and Hikigaya Hachiman entered the state of listening to the story and eating melon. Seeing this, Yotsuya Miko nodded with satisfaction and lowered her voice as if she was telling a ghost story.

"That is to say... at the old campus... we saw people who were about our age, but their clothes and attire seemed to be from more than ten years ago or even longer ago, right? And it was as if they disappeared when we approached them."

Uesugi Sumire and Hikigaya looked at each other, and Hikigaya understood and opened his mobile phone and quickly swiped out the page.

"Does he look a bit like the people here?"

Yotsuya Miko felt uncomfortable seeing those posthumous-style portraits, and she shook her head and spoke.

"I don't know either. I heard about this from hearsay. Because of my eye problems... I'm afraid that if I see something I shouldn't see again, I'll be lured in again."

Yotsuya Miko didn't finish her words. She didn't want anyone else to get into danger or even lose their life because of their negligence and curiosity.

"They said that although they could see people over there, there didn't seem to be any further progress. The spirits didn't make any moves either, and seemed to leave immediately after being seen. So...what is this?"

"These are some things from the past that are too painful to recall. They are also things that the school doesn't want to tell us. In fact, I don't really want to care about them, but I still know a little bit about them."

Uesugi Cheng scratched his hair, looking somewhat helpless. He should not have interfered too much in this harmless situation. After all, according to the famous saying of programmers, when a program is running, you should not touch it casually. Similarly, when these spirits do not pose any threat, the best choice is to ignore them. However, the old principal's hesitant look that day was still in Uesugi Cheng's mind. He knew why the old principal chose to believe what he said, not just because he showed the old principal the power of the great technique.

The more likely possibility is that the old principal himself has experienced something similar.

"How about this, Miko and Hikigaya, you two should stay away from that place for the time being. There is no smoke without fire. Rumors like this shouldn't be spread unless something has changed. Besides, I have important things to do. If possible, try to dissuade others from going there."

Uesugi Cheng finally came to a conclusion.

Chapter 45 Survey Results and Reading Achievements

"There is basically no change today..."

Uesugi Cheng was carrying his bag, and he looked like an ordinary passerby walking on the street. His eyes, hidden by his sunglasses, were fixed on the blue-haired girl not far away.

Saki Kawasaki, one of the suspicious characters identified by Hikigaya after some reasoning with him, is not only late even more than Hikigaya, but more importantly, this blue-haired girl seems to be very short of money for some reason, and even works a part-time job with a higher intensity than Uesugi Sumire, although most of Uesugi Sumire's part-time jobs are commissions given by acquaintances.

"I see, so you came here straight after class... It doesn't look like a special job, but I'll just write it down for Jing first, maybe I can get a little more reward."

He casually used his camera to take a picture of Saki Kawasaki entering the convenience store, and then Uesugi Sumire passed by the convenience store and took a picture of Saki Kawasaki wearing the clerk uniform.

"Hey, Hiratsuka-sensei? What's up?"

Uesugi Cheng picked up the phone and yawned. He had more and more information in his hands, not only about the so-called special part-time job, but also about the so-called "mysterious figure in the old campus".

"What did you say? How did I get that information? Just investigate. Isn't that what you want me to do?"

Hearing this, Shizuka Hiratsuka on the other end of the phone supported her forehead with her hand. She could finally feel Uesugi Sumiya's unique talent in making people angry. The computer screen in front of her clearly displayed the information of all the suspects, the level of detail was so detailed that it would take a private detective to be dispatched.

"I'm really afraid that you'll be beaten to death one day. Do you have a conclusion now? What kind of job is the message from the students referring to? Who is doing this job? I sincerely hope that your answer will not involve anything illegal."

"Then congratulations, teacher. The answer I can give does not involve anything illegal. Of course, it may be that my investigation is still not comprehensive enough. If you have time, please take a look at the last email. That's it. I have something else to do, so I'll hang up first."

Uesugi Sumire paused for a second and then hung up the phone. Hiratsuka Shizuka seemed to want to say something, but he didn't want to discuss things with that nice teacher, so it was better to hang up early.

"Wow, this looks like a really good place. You actually show up here." Uesugi Sumiko said as he looked at Hikigaya who was holding promotional materials for the cram school in his hand.

"If you want to find a place to sit and have a drink, this store is indeed the best choice nearby. But you, are you so careless as to put your information here?"

Uesugi Cheng began to collect the printed papers on his desk. Most of these materials would be destroyed tonight. After all, the records contained therein contained things that slightly violated other people's privacy.

"Cram school? Which university do you plan to apply to?"

"I'm still looking at it. After all, my goal is to get a grade that can exempt me from tuition fees for cram schools, so I have to be more careful in choosing my time and courses."

Hikigaya put away his originally indifferent expression and said seriously that since it concerns his future, Hikigaya also began to seriously consider the cost-effectiveness of various cram schools.

"What about you? Are you planning to go to college?"

"Why not take the exam, but the issue of the cram school teacher..." Uesugi Cheng sighed. As soon as he mentioned the college entrance examination, he felt that his brother and sister were as excited as if they had been injected with chicken blood. They couldn't wait to arrange everything for him from cram schools to mock exams, especially since they planned to find their college classmates to give him free tutoring.

"It seems that you have much more freedom than me. After all, you are Uesugi." Hikigaya also sighed. He asked around recently and sure enough, the Uesugi mentioned by Uesugi Sumiya is the Uesugi from the noble clan. When he thought that he could be friends with the young masters of the noble clan on an equal footing and make money from them, even Hikigaya himself couldn't help but sigh that the world is truly wonderful.

"It seems like over there is... Hikigaya, are you being isolated again? I don't think that Yukinoshita-san is the kind of person who would isolate others." Uesugi Sumiko looked at the three people sitting not far away with interest.

Yuigahama Yui, Yukinoshita Yukino, Totsuka Ayaka, and obviously Hikigaya Hachiman, who should have been there as well, were now sitting in front of him. Isn't this a wonderful kind of isolation?

"It shouldn't be... maybe it's a study session. I remember Ayaka mentioned it. Let's get back to the question. Kawasaki Saki, what is her purpose in being so eager to work part-time?"

"money."

"I mean, what on earth does she want so much money for?" Hikigaya sighed. The answer of money was of course 100% correct, but it was also 100% meaningless. Everyone would want more money and more resources, but the important thing was why Kawasaki Saki would go to places where minors were not allowed to work at night to make money. You have to know that although the school atmosphere of the Unified School is relatively relaxed, it is a very serious matter for high school students to go in and out of such places, whether they are working part-time or not. At least the Unified School will not allow such things to happen openly.

"The only way to know this is to ask her herself. Speaking of which...why don't we go over and take a look?" Uesugi Cheng put away the information, drank the drink in the cup in one breath, and flexed his fingers.

Hikigaya suddenly discovered that there was some strange color on Uesugi Sumire's clothes. The color was like the body color of a moth, but it also seemed to have a hint of gold, which made Hikigaya very curious.

"Care about this color? It's called moth gold, at least that's what the people who made it call it."

【Paint: Moth Gold】: Moths are not often this color. (2 moths)

This is a pigment mixed through a great technique. Although the original purpose of this great technique was to develop an ink that would attract Si Chen's attention, many interesting products were unexpectedly produced in the process, and pigment of this color was one of them.

[Ink of Revelation LV4]: All history is revealed by this ink. (5 Lamps 4 Moths)

It has to be said that the collection of books in the bookstore was so rich that Uesugi Cheng was a little surprised. He even found in the pile of books "Letter to Successor" left to him by the eleventh administrator Van Lauren, his predecessor, and "Light in the Ink Bottle" left by the fourth Baron De Wolfe, Musgrave De Wolfe. Of course, after reading them, Uesugi Cheng had more doubts about the De Wolfe family who built this castle. Were their origins really just mercenaries who were rewarded by the king to Brancoise Island?

However, these things probably cannot be explained to Hikigaya, so Uesugi Cheng plans to change the subject.

"Compared to this, they seem to have seen you." Uesugi Sumika pointed at Totsuka Ayaka who seemed to be looking around, and said to Hikigaya.

Chapter 46: The more people who help us, the better

"To be honest...Yuigahama-san really needs a study session like that."

This was the conclusion Hikigaya came to after hearing Yukinoshita's question and Yuigahama Yui's answer. Hikigaya Hachiman and Uesugi Sumire who came over naturally scared Yuigahama Yui, but what made her even more embarrassed was Totsuka Ayaka's unintentional words.

"Ah, it's Hachiman-san. Are you here for the study session as well? I just saw you chatting with Uesugi-san over there."

Yuigahama Yui immediately turned her face away, trying to hide the expression on her face that said, "Oops, someone who was not invited came by himself."

"Study meeting. I have something else to do, so I have to leave first. Good luck to you guys."

Uesugi Cheng still had no plans to participate in this kind of activity. After all, as long as he nodded, he could choose either a private tutor or a private school.

"By the way, Hikigaya, remember to print that document for me and bring it over when the time comes. It will be useful."

That thing naturally referred to the investigation materials on supernatural phenomena. Hikigaya really didn't want to do such a thing at first, but when he found that the place where the phenomenon occurred seemed to be very close to the school where his sister, Hikigaya Komachi, was studying, he burst out with enthusiasm and patience that made Uesugi Sumire doubt whether it was Hikigaya Hachiman himself.

"Uesugi-san... Um, thank you so much for what you did last time."

When Uesugi Sumiya turned around, he heard Yuigahama Yui's thanks, perhaps for the tennis match, or maybe for saving the cute puppy in her family. However, Uesugi Sumiya didn't intend to care about such things. Based on the principle of not wasting, he turned around and extended his hand to Yuigahama Yui.

"How about making friends?"

[Assistance of Yuigahama Yui]: A cute high school girl with vitality. As for what she can do, it is probably something that fits her status. (1 cup 1 heart 1 moth)

"Eh? But aren't we classmates already?" Yuigahama Yui was a little surprised, her cheeks were slightly red, and she didn't know if it was because the temperature here was a little high, or for some other reason. Anyway, Hikigaya Hachiman didn't want to think about this kind of thing at all. He looked at the scene of Yuigahama Yui and Uesugi Sumire shaking hands, but his mind was filled with reports about the disappearance incident a long time ago. The evil spirit that controlled others to jump off the building last time was still deeply impressed in his mind. Even if there was only a one in ten thousand possibility, he must not let Komachi be in danger.

"Ah, it's my brother!!" A cute girl full of youthful energy walked in and shouted after seeing Hikigaya Hachiman. Uesugi Sumire turned around and saw that although they had some similarities in facial shape, Hachiman's sister was much cuter and easier to get along with than him, at least that's what it seemed.

As for the suspicious boy following his sister, Hikigaya frowned and put him on the list of people to be observed.

Uesugi Cheng was not interested in the discussion they were about to have. Regarding Kawasaki Saki, he used a little bit of unplanned power to investigate, and accidentally discovered...

"You hid your age, worked part-time late at night, and worked as a bartender at the bar on the top floor of a hotel? If Shizuka Hiratsuka knew about this, she would be furious. Do you really not care about your student status? Saki Kawasaki."

Uesugi Sumi, dressed in formal attire, sat at the bar nonchalantly and read out what he had investigated bit by bit. Kawasaki Saki's expression remained unchanged, but Uesugi Sumi could sense that she felt quite helpless about the arrival of this unexpected uninvited guest.

"It seems that you are not going to give up this job...right?" Uesugi Cheng glanced at the foreman next to him. Just this one glance made the foreman stand straight and look a little too nervous. Perhaps his identity as the youngest son of the Uesugi family was too prestigious for a bar on the top floor of a high-end hotel that mainly served high-end customers.

"Of course, I need money after all."

Wearing a bartender's uniform, Saki Kawasaki looked very heroic as she wiped the wine glass with a rag. She really needed money, but not for herself.

"Is that so... You're actually that short of money... It's probably because of your family."

Saki Kawasaki paused for a moment, she turned around and looked at Uesugi Sumire with an almost threatening and rude look. If she had shown this kind of look and expression under normal circumstances, she would have been deducted from her salary and scolded by the foreman, but what surprised her today was that the foreman didn't seem to notice at all.

"Please... don't... pry into other people's privacy."

These words were almost squeezed out from between Saki's teeth, and her face was full of the expression "You are not welcome here".

"It's just a small inference, but I want to remind you of one thing. My presence here is just the beginning. Even if I don't say it, you should have noticed that the rumors among classmates have become more and more intense, because they have realized that this matter is different from those unfounded rumors, and the truth exists around them... I think you should understand what I mean. If you continue, you will probably be interviewed."

"I don't think this has anything to do with you."

Saki Kawasaki was a little annoyed by the aggressive Uesugi Sumire in front of her. Of course, she knew about this kind of thing, but when she thought about the huge gap in the tuition fees for her younger brother and herself to attend cram school, as well as the poverty of her family, Saki Kawasaki had to shoulder the responsibility of paying tuition for her family and helping them to seek a better future.

"Orange juice."

"what?"

Saki Kawasaki was thrown off balance by the sudden request and made a puzzled sound.

"Aren't you the bartender? Even if you can't serve me wine, you can always give me a glass of orange juice, right? Or do you want us to look like we are chatting with peers? I have to tell you in advance that the head waiter here knows me."

When Saki Kawasaki heard this, her body shuddered, and she almost immediately turned around and walked away to prepare the orange juice.

"Mr. Uesugi... Welcome. May I ask why you are here today?"

At this time the foreman came over very tactfully. Although it was said that there were rumors in the upper circles that the Uesugi family did not value the youngest son very much, and there were even rumors that the Uesugi family would expel the youngest son from the family, a small fry like him did not need to sacrifice his job for rumors.

"Nothing, I haven't been here today, understand? Feel free to tell my brother or sister, just tell the truth."

Uesugi Sumire moved his shoulders. Uesugi Shin and Uesugi Saki wouldn't care about him coming here. Even if he got drunk and went home, he would probably only receive caring calls the next day.

"Got it, have a nice night."

The foreman left at the exact same time that Saki Kawasaki came back with the orange juice.

"Please... enjoy your meal." The sound of the orange juice being placed on the bar was not gentle, but Uesugi Cheng didn't care. He looked at the blue-haired girl in front of him and continued to speak.

"Then let's continue with the topic we were discussing."

Chapter 47: Talk therapy is not a panacea

"What else is there to continue..." Saki Kawasaki's tone was much weaker than before. She was not idle when she went to get the orange juice. She realized that what Uesugi Sumika said was right, but she absolutely could not give up this high-paying job. Summer vacation was not far away. If she didn't work hard to make money now, her brother would not even be able to go to cram school the following summer vacation.

"As far as I know, it is impossible to allow minors to work here... In other words, you should be hiding it from two or three people, right?"

Saki Kawasaki looked away awkwardly, and her act of not saying anything already acknowledged the correctness of Uesugi Cheng's inference.

"Of course I can't ask you to give up making money and working. No one's life is that simple. But I must remind you that the risks and benefits you face now are completely disproportionate."

"Then find me a safe, high-paying job where the risk and reward are proportional... You're just talking nonsense."

Saki Kawasaki's fists creaked, and she felt that the classmate in front of her was the most hateful person in the world.

"...How about working for me?"

"Huh?" Saki Kawasaki suddenly felt that Uesugi Sumire in front of her had lost his mind and actually said such strange words.

"Don't look at me like this. I have a little money after all, and the jobs I have are definitely well-paid and safe."

"Uesugi-san, I think what you need most right now is to finish your orange juice and go back to your bed to sleep, instead of talking in your sleep here."

Saki Kawasaki always felt that Uesugi Sumika's behavior looked like that of a rich young man who was greedy for her body, but his actions did not seem that way. However, Saki Kawasaki really had no reason to continue wasting time with Uesugi Sumika. After saying those few words, she was already tired enough in her heart.

"Then I'll be leaving first. If you really need anything, you can come to me. By the way, Hikigaya is actually working for me... You can ask him for details."

Uesugi Cheng waved his hand casually, drank his orange juice and prepared to leave immediately. After all, he had said everything he could say. If he continued to lobby there or stay there shamelessly, it would only affect Kawasaki Saki's impression of him and the accuracy of her choice. It would be better for him to go home early and enjoy the soft big bed and comfortable quilt.

Moreover, regarding the matter of Saki Kawasaki, he didn't want to recruit this person at the beginning. He was just simply trying to trick her into talking. The recruitment he just mentioned was just an olive branch thrown out at the right time.

Uesugi Cheng opened his mobile phone and edited the collected information, including Kawasaki Saki's work, work reasons, location and time, into an encrypted email and sent it to Hiratsuka Shizuka, adding a sentence at the end: "When will the balance be settled?" Then he went home happily to sleep, leaving Kawasaki Saki to deal with it expressionlessly. He happened to be at a different time from Uesugi Cheng, so he didn't see his Hikigaya trio.