460 Pest elimination” (1/2)

Seiji hugged little Shinobu while casting a spell with Yomi's assistance.

As he uttered the incantation, the space around them gradually darkened as red light glowed on the little girl's body with blood-red runes.

Shinobu's consciousness gradually faded. However, she didn't feel like resisting as she always had before because he'd said that she would be fine.

And just as she believed, a warm feeling was transmitted to her body from him again, which maintained her sense of self.

This was his—Seiji Haruta's—Mana.

Shinobu really liked this… even though she didn't have a clear understanding of the concept of ”like” yet.

She simply felt that this was wonderful, and that meeting him was a wonderful thing.

He gave her something very nice, and she wanted to give him something equally nice. However, she didn't know what she could give him.

She decided to think hard about this later.

As long as she followed him, she would be able to continue thinking, and always be able to think. She would definitely think of something!

The little girl closed her eyes and revealed a faint expression of bliss in his arms.

While holding on to Shinobu and entering the path to the netherworld, he noticed that her body was changing.

The traces of her being put together by various ”materials” vanished completely, and her hair became clean and pure silver rather than being messy and silver mixed with blood-red. Her entire body seemed to be turning somewhat translucent as well.

He hurriedly asked Yomi what was going on.

”The part of her soul affected by the negative energies there has remained behind. Currently, her soul's main portion is being sustained by your Mana, so her form has changed,” the female spirit explained to him. ”As for why she's turning translucent, that's because she's currently in a weakened state. As long as you continue providing her with Mana, her form will gradually stabilize.”

”So, she's still alright?”

”Naturally.”

”That's good, then.” Seiji looked at the little girl in his arms who was seemingly asleep. ”What will happen to the portion of her soul that remains behind there?”

”Nothing at all. It'll just be like a cicada discarding its outer shell, and it will simply remain there.”

”That's a rather subtle analogy.”

”I think it's quite an appropriate one, hehe…” Yomi chuckled.

She was quite delighted to see what had happened.

Long, long ago, a Yin-Yang Master had acted just like the current Seiji Haruta, holding a weak little demon while walking home.

That Yin-Yang master saved her, taught her, and helped her learn about the world, letting her experience so much.

”Without realizing it, you've become quite strong… your name doesn't seem to fit your current strength anymore. How about changing your name to a more suitable one?

”Eh? You don't want to change your name? Just treat it as your nickname then. Or, treat your original name as your childhood name, and your new name as your adult name.

”Let's give you a really cool-sounding new name. You'll be called...”

Seiji gradually opened his eyes.

It was light outside and time to wake up.

He silently tried sensing his own body. Apart from the spirit Yomi, he could sense an incredibly weak and small existence inside him as well.

That was Shinobu Miaki.

”You don't need to keep her in your mind at all times. Leave her to me. I shall communicate with her and teach her various things.” Yomi had told him that before he woke up.

It was nice that she was willing to do this. However, why was she suddenly so proactive? Didn't she usually enjoy her ”sleeping?” Seiji was rather curious about her sudden change in attitude.