Volume 2 Chapter 2.1 (1/2)

Chapter 2: Sound Eating Stone

PART 1

The next day ––––.

[So you amplified the purification spell with the Lightning element to clear all of the ghosts at once?]

The first thing Mikoto and Sui did after going back to the inn in the morning was to report to Shiratori Takeru. At first she had her doubts whether or not assign this job to them, since Mikoto was bad with ghosts and Sui was just an apprentice, but ultimately she gave in to their pleas.

They were currently renting a single room in a small seaside inn “Oiso”.

And even though Mikoto was trembling in fear during the whole duration of the job, she was now sticking out her chest with pride, boasting non-stop about their deeds last night.

[It was actually Sui’s idea to place the talismans in the key points of the building as to lure the ghosts out in the open, and then thanks to my lightning we managed to get rid of them all at once…… Hm? What’s wrong, Takeru? Do you have a headache or something?] [As if. Ghosts are not youmas, they are far more delicate spiritual beings! What would you do if you failed to exorcise them properly and only angered them? Or if you ended up dying in a really stupid way?]

Takeru scratched her head while her eyes were gleaming with cold light from behind her glasses. She was glaring at both Mikoto and Sui, looking visibly displeased.

[B, but…… I thought if Mikoto-chan was with me, then……] [It’s hard for me to believe that Mikoto, the first Ghost-hater in our Brigade, was the one who did all of the work during this job. I would be more willing to believe that she was crying and lamenting all the time while clinging to your back, isn’t that right, Sui?]

While saying that, Takeru pointed her finger at Mikoto as the red-headed girl’s cheeks blushed furiously. Mikoto wanted to open her mouth and say something back at her little sister, but one glare from Takeru made her stop that. She wasn’t able to talk back to her.

Because Mikoto and Takeru were twin sisters, they knew each other well, their strong points as well as their weaknesses. They were usually pretty laid back with one another, but right now Takeru’s glare was so sharp that you could cut things with it. If Mikoto tried to talk back to her it would only backfire for her, earning even worse scolding for herself.

And thinking about it calmly, it was exactly as Takeru said. Sui was still but an apprentice, so it was Mikoto’s duty to protect her. But yesterday she was just cowering behind Sui’s back, unable to do anything. If some ghosts really wanted to attack them, there would be nothing that they could do about them.

Worst case scenario, Mikoto could even run away, leaving Sui behind by herself.

(That’s right…… It wasn’t just me, Sui’s life was also in my hands there.)

So even if Mikoto wanted to talk back to angry Takeru, she was unable to do that. She could only hang her head in shame.

[…… I’m sorry.]

And she did just that.

But sensing this tense atmosphere, Sui,

(W, what should I do, what should I do, what should I do……!?)

Sui was feeling rather uncomfortable for the moment. Takeru has a strong sense of justice and responsibility, so if someone did something bad she was going to be utterly merciless with them, whether it was her own twin sister or a complete outsider. For Sui, such a heavy atmosphere was utterly unbearable.

[Umm, I was also the one who did bad, so……]

Finally, she couldn’t stand it anymore.