Zongman I fight weirdness in everyday world

"If these so-called ESP users are as strong as she says, then why are they seeking shelter with your mother?"

Hearing this, Rikka Sakurakawa frowned slightly.

"I'm not here to seek your protection, but to seek cooperation."

"That's right, cooperation."

Yotsude nodded, his tall body stepping forward, his four yellow pupils in his black head staring down at Rikka Sakurakawa.

"However, the method of cooperation is up to us. Only if we agree can you create ESP users. Don't be impatient, we are choosing suitable targets for you and will give you a chance to demonstrate."

The white-haired girl in the red kimono is the being known as Hiruko God. She also has a name, derived from the first person she copied, who was also the original owner of this appearance hundreds of years ago.

Hato.

Although Hato and Yotsude agreed to Rikka Sakurakawa's request for cooperation, they were clearly not simple-minded fellows. How could they let Rikka Sakurakawa turn all the residents of the island into ESP users according to her plan?

It's called cooperation, but there is no trust between the two parties.

The ability of the shadow to copy humans can only be used once, unless the original body is killed within seven days, otherwise the shadow will disappear.

And each person can only be copied once.

That is to say, if Rikka Sakurakawa's plan to copy all the residents on the island and then transform everyone into ESP users is followed, the shadows created by Hato will ultimately end up in ashes.

Moreover, although Rikka Sakurakawa did not say it explicitly, Hato and Yotsude could probably guess it.

The transformed ESP users are at her command, while the shadows are obedient to them.

Sacrifice their own power to fulfill Rikka Sakurakawa?

Don't be ridiculous, that's absolutely impossible.

And Rikka Sakurakawa obviously understood this as well. Although her expression didn't change, killing intent had already arisen in her heart.

She didn't know what kind of creatures this Hato and that Yotsude were, but if…

If she could let her Izanami eat these two guys, perhaps she could possess the power to contend against "Mask".

Similarly, how could Hato and Yotsude not be coveting Rikka Sakurakawa's power?

This so-called cooperation was just each having their own ulterior motives.

…

Several hours later, inside the Kobune Restaurant.

"Yoshingu-kun, have you found a place to stay yet?"

Hearing Ushio Kobune's question from across the table, Yoshingu replied casually while eating.

"Yeah, a hotel should be fine, right? You should have hotels here, right?"

"We do have them…"

Ushio Kobune looked thoughtful, as if she was thinking about something. She suddenly stood up, ran behind the counter, tugged on the sleeve of her father, Allen Kobune, and whispered, covering her mouth.

"Dad, can you let this Yoshingu-kun stay at our house?"

"Eh? This…"

"Please, Dad."

Ushio Kobune tugged at her father's sleeve and whispered.

"He's a high school student traveling here alone… Who in their right mind would travel here? I feel… there must be some hidden reason. Maybe he ran away from home or something. Staying in a hotel is so expensive, and we happen to have a spare room. What's wrong with that?"

Allen Kobune looked embarrassed and hesitated.

"But still, you and Mio are both at home. Inviting a boy to stay, isn't that a bit too… Could it be that you're smitten because he's handsome?"

"Dad, please don't say such things."

Ushio Kobune rolled her eyes and said unhappily.

"As the restaurant owner, taking care of customers is only natural, right?"

"Eh, aren't I the owner?"

"Kobune Restaurant, Ko, bune, Kobune. My last name is also Kobune. Of course, I'm also an owner."

"Sigh… honestly."

Allen Kobune sighed with a helpless expression.

"Alright, I agree, okay? But let's make it clear, it can't be for too long, okay?"

"Thanks, Dad!"

Having obtained her father's permission, Ushio Kobune looked satisfied and immediately ran to sit across from Yoshingu's booth, smiling sweetly.

"Yoshingu-kun, don't stay in a hotel. Just come stay at our house. We happen to have a spare room."

To Ushio Kobune's surprise, Yoshingu shook his head and refused decisively.

"That's not a good idea. I can just stay in a hotel."

"Eh…"

Ushio Kobune was stunned for a moment, then, as if realizing something belatedly, she quickly waved her hand and explained.

"No, no, that's not it. Don't misunderstand. I don't mean anything else at all. I just thought staying in a hotel is too expensive, and we happen to have a spare room. There's no other meaning, don't overthink it."

"I know you don't mean it that way."

Yoshingu replied with a smile, then said faintly.

"Although I really appreciate your help, I'll still go stay in a hotel. Of course, if I need help, I'll contact you."

"Then… okay."

Seeing that Yoshingu had said so, Ushio Kobune could only nod and return behind the counter.

…

Later that evening, after arriving at a hotel and checking into a room, Yoshingu began to think about his next plan.

Judging from the original plot of Summer Time Rendering, although the shadows can obtain all the memories of the original body and have a perfect appearance, there is still a way to distinguish them, which is to pretend to be careless and step on the shadow projected on the ground.

When the shadow's actions are inconsistent with the person, it can be determined that the other party is not the real person, but disguised by the shadow.

That Hiruko God… and what will be Rikka Sakurakawa's next move?

Creating more shadows?

Perhaps there's a possibility, but that's based on this being a true "first time" scenario.

If this were a timeline that had already been looped, proving that Ye Xing had already killed, or rather, nearly killed Hiruko God at least once, the other party should already understand that ordinary shadows are useless for even delaying him; they would be crushed instantly.

Then… transform all the residents of the island into spirit energy users?

Even if they know his strength, that Hiruko God, and the true mastermind, Kamishiro, probably wouldn't make such a choice. After all, that would be equivalent to handing over the entire Hinamori Island, and their own lives, into Rikka Sakurakawa's hands.

“Assuming this is the first time… hmm, let's give it a try.”

… …

Five days later, inside the shrine on Hinamori Island.

“Excuse me, is this the shrine that worships Hiruko God?”

Hearing the voice from behind, a tall man wearing simple clothing and glasses turned around, looking at Ye Xing standing there, his eyes narrowed and a smile on his face as he spoke.

“You must be that rare young tourist on the island, right? I've heard about your arrival, and I was curious why you hadn't visited the shrine after all these days.”

Ye Xing returned the smile and said softly.

“You… were you looking forward to my visit?”

“I wouldn't say 'looking forward to'.”

The bespectacled man put down the broom in his hand and said with a smile.

“It's just that there really isn't much to see on the island. If you were to talk about historical sites, I'm afraid only this shrine could barely be considered one. Since you're a tourist, you would definitely come to visit.”

After saying that, the bespectacled man continued.

“My name is Yanagiri Masato. As you can see, I'm the sole person in charge of this shrine. If you have anything to say, please come inside.”

“Alright.”

As he turned around, leading Ye Xing towards the shrine, Yanagiri Masato's lips curled into a strange smile, and a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes beneath his glasses, as he asked casually.

“By the way, are you here alone today? Have you made any new friends on the island these past few days?”

Ye Xing replied calmly.

“Apart from me, a tourist, the rest of those young people probably aren't interested in shrines, right? So it's fine for me to come alone.”

“That's true.”

Yanagiri Masato led Ye Xing to sit down at a table inside the shrine, poured him a cup of tea, and said with a smile.

“Speaking of which, you look very young. Are you a university student or a high school student?”

Ye Xing picked up the teacup, took a sip, and replied casually.

“High school student.”

“Oh, a high school student. What made you suddenly think of traveling to Hinamori Island alone?”

Just as Yanagiri Masato finished speaking, a dazzling light, like a camera flash, suddenly flashed inside the shrine, accompanied by a clicking sound like a shutter being pressed.

“Replication… successful…”

After the light flashed, Yanagiri Masato instantly stopped concealing his true face, his expression becoming twisted and hideous, and a black shadow enveloped his body.

“Next, I just need to kill your main body, and then…”

Just then, Yanagiri Masato suddenly heard a painful wail from behind him.

He turned his head to see the scene before him, and his pupils shrank in shock.

The shadow that should have successfully replicated and turned into the same appearance as Ye Xing was now in human form, but its body was writhing and twisting, as if a pair of invisible giant hands were tearing at its limbs.

“Ah! No… No!!!”

The black shadow struggled in pain, but in the end, it did not transform into Ye Xing's appearance. The black body, like ink, burst open and dissipated with a bang.

“Replication… failed?”

Yanagiri Masato never expected such an unforeseen situation to occur.

Shadows replacing the main body could potentially fail, but that was only because the main body wasn't eliminated within the time limit, or because the shadow was killed before eliminating the main body.

Failing to even replicate was a first.

“Surprised?”

Ye Xing slowly stood up and said with a light smile.

“Judging from your reaction, this is indeed a true 'first time'. You don't know who I am, do you?”

“As for why I came to Hinamori Island…”

At this point, Ye Xing had already instantly appeared in front of Yanagiri Masato, who had transformed into a four-armed form, and the Onimaru Kunitsuna in his hand drew a dark arc.

“Of course, it's to kill you.”

Yanagiri Masato's body was vertically cut in half by the sword, and the scenery before him was also divided in half with this sword. Immediately afterward, all he could feel was the fear and shudder before being devoured.

“So it's in that place…”

After devouring Yanagiri Masato's soul, the specific location of the underground cave instantly appeared in Ye Xing's mind, which was where Rikka Sakurakawa and Hiruko God, Yatsuka, were located.

… …

On the other side, Yatsuka, with an IV drip inserted into the back of his hand, suddenly changed his expression and muttered to himself.

“Shadow… Shadow…”

As the source of all shadows, Yatsuka has a telepathic connection with all shadows.

At that moment, she felt it.

The intense pain brought about by trying to replicate something that cannot be replicated, and the despair of dissipating in fear.

Seeing the change in Yatsuka's expression, Rikka Sakurakawa's expression also changed.