I have an infinite number of shikigami-Chapter 32 - 30. That spring, white berets blew down the slope.

"Back in February, there were rumors of ghosts at my family's construction site."

"Are you sure?" Fujiwara Reya was intrigued.

"At first, I wasn't sure. I thought it was just an excuse for the workers to slack off," Kitahara Takashi recounted in a hoarse voice. "But later on, three workers began showing signs of mental instability. Then, a security guard fell from the building during a night patrol. I felt something was wrong, so I went to the nearby Yoshiwara Shrine and asked the priest to come and take a look."

"What was the result?" Fujiwara Reya asked.

"The priest said it was definitely the work of ghosts and demanded a huge sum of money to exorcise them," Kitahara Takashi said, grinding his teeth in anger. "I believed him and didn't call the police. Instead, I handed over a full 10,000,000 yen. But after nearly a week of his efforts, there was still a worker death at the site, and the construction progress was forced to stop. We haven't been able to resume yet!"

"How did the worker die?"

"The priest said he was killed by a vengeful spirit."

"A ghost turned into a vengeful spirit?"

"Yes, that's what the priest said."

Kitahara Takashi pulled a tissue from his suit pocket and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"Did the body of the deceased have any distinguishing features?" Fujiwara Reya asked.

"Covered in wounds, flesh and blood blurred together, like it had been gnawed by a wild beast," Kitahara Takashi recalled, looking slightly nauseous as if he remembered the scene. "The priest took one look and declared it the work of a vengeful spirit, demanding more money or else he would quit."

"Did you pay?"

"I did."

"And the vengeful spirit?"

"Still not caught."

"What did the priest say?"

"He said the Spirit Talismans were too expensive, and he couldn't afford them unless I paid more..." Kitahara Takashi laughed bitterly. "At that moment, I felt like a fool and threw him out without another word."

"He probably didn't lie to you," Fujiwara Reya remarked with a smug satisfaction, "The cost of exorcising spirits is indeed high."

*Just so you know,*

*Spirit Talismans are very expensive.*

*But as the Mountain God, Fujiwara Reya's cost for exorcising spirits was close to zero.*

*If the industry were to become too cutthroat in the future, he wouldn't hesitate to start a price war. In the end, he could easily position himself as a hero and drive his competitors to silence.*

"Three days after the priest left, another security guard left at the site died, and I received a letter." Kitahara Takashi said while massaging his aching temples. "The sender said they also wanted to enter the real estate industry but lacked the experience and capital, so they set their sights on me, wanting to partner up. If I didn't agree, the next one to die wouldn't just be a worker."

Fujiwara Reya asked him, "What was your reply?"

"I haven't replied; I've been stalling." Kitahara Takashi shook his head bitterly. "Their so-called partnership is just a way to consume my entire career. I couldn't just give in, but I didn't expect them to target my younger brother..."

At this point, his eyes were bloodshot, and his voice choked up.

"Master Fujiwara, please save our family and avenge Hideki... He's really not a bad kid. He may seem unruly, but deep down, he's still a good child, not that bad... With proper guidance, he has his merits too..."

"My condolences. Rest here for a bit. Leave the rest to me." Fujiwara Reya patted his shoulder reassuringly and turned to exit the tent.

Outside, the sky was clear, and a refreshing breeze blew.

Under the warm spring light, the fresh green cherry trees swayed in the wind. The shiny black top of the police SUV reflected dazzling light, with no trace of shadow in sight.

Facing the sun, Fujiwara Reya stretched greatly.

"Little wizard, little wizard," Inspector Suzuki immediately sidled up with his trademark fawning smile. "So, did you find anything significant? I just knew it. The little wizard looks like a smart genius, and no crime can escape his sharp eyes. It's all so easy..."

"Hold it," Fujiwara Reya gave him a disdainful look. "If you keep spouting nonsense, believe it or not, I'll shove you under the car?"

"Got it!" Inspector Suzuki immediately covered his mouth.

"Are you aware that there are ghost sightings at the Kitahara Family's construction site?"

"Not at all." Inspector Suzuki shook his head right away.

"This case might be related to those ghost sightings," Fujiwara Reya considered for a few seconds, then instructed, "Contact Yoshiwara Shrine and find out which priest took the request. Send me the details and have him meet me at the construction site tonight."

"Uh," Inspector Suzuki hesitated, "Tonight?"

"Is there a problem?"

"I don't have a problem, it's just... aren't we dealing with this vengeful spirit tonight?"

"That question is really brainless," Fujiwara Reya turned his head and looked at Inspector Suzuki in confusion. "For an ordinary vengeful spirit, do we need a whole night?"

"..."

Inspector Suzuki was at a loss for words.

He had worked with around a hundred clergy members over nearly ten years in Unit Nine. Fujiwara, the little wizard, was the first to make dealing with a vengeful spirit sound as simple as handling a live fish.

*Honestly...*

*He's really good at pretending!*

"That's it then, I'm going home to get something to eat first. See you tonight."

Fujiwara Reya waved his hand and started walking back to Asakusa Shrine, his stomach growling the entire way.

*It's normal to feel hungry, a basic physiological phenomenon.*

*After all, yokai need to eat. Otherwise, they'd starve to death (except for yokai that become Shikigami).*

*But ghosts don't.*

*What people generally refer to as ghosts are spirits, vengeful spirits, and urban legends, the spiritual bodies of those who died. Their bodies aren't physical in the true sense but are faux bodies made of resentment. Compared to true flesh, well... They're akin to silicone.*

*Yokai, on the other hand, is a term for all kinds of wild beings and some souls that transformed after death.*

*A yokai transformed after death experiences a second life, requiring air, food, and can even reproduce.*

*Everyone's heard of second-generation yokai, but not second-generation ghosts, and that's precisely the reason.*

"It's a pity that Sadako Aunty isn't a yokai. She could've had lots of cute little Sadakos for me to play with..."

Walking up the sloping road in front of the torii gate, Fujiwara Reya's thoughts scattered like weeds. From little Sadako, he moved to Asuka's shiny nails, and from the knee-high socks Asuka gave him, he thought about Senior Sister Hoshimi. He finally remarked that his own stomach was like the Senior Sister's chest—not quite flat but not noticeable either.

*Hold up!*

*Thinking of a girl and obsessing over her chest size isn't polite!*

*I'm a gentleman with poise...* Fujiwara Reya shook his head, trying to shake the thoughts away.

A sudden breeze blew.

Cherry blossom petals danced from unknown origins, a white object among them blown by the wind, landed directly on his face.

"Hmm?"

"Citrus scent?"

Fujiwara Reya's face turned black.

The object on his face was actually a white beret, a symbol of victory... no, not quite, just a beret.

"Senpai~~"

"My hat."

This chapt𝒆r is updated by frёewebηovel.cѳm.

From the slope above, came an enchanting, clear, lively, and melodious voice, almost heavenly.

Fujiwara Reya looked up.

Under the red torii gate, the girl smiled like a flower.

A pure white dress, pristine white knee-high socks, and innocent lace frills—all pure and white. Yet on this sensual junior sister, Fujiwara Reya could only see shades of yellow.