"Well, thanks for waiting for me," Hikari said casually.
Kurashiki Reina quickly shook her head and said, "No, no, no! I should be the one thanking you, Hikari-kun!"
"Thank you so much, Hikari-kun, for saving me today! If it weren't for you, I might not even be alive right now!"
"When I saw that legendary vengeful spirit, I was scared half to death. Even now, I'm still terrified…", Kurashiki Reina hugged her chest with both arms, and just recalling the scene in the restroom made her shiver uncontrollably.
Seeing Kurashiki Reina's trembling legs and shivering posture, Hikari subconsciously glanced at her.
'Hmm, the urine stain has already dried.'
Noticing Hikari's gaze, Kurashiki Reina suddenly remembered her embarrassing moment earlier, and her delicate face turned red in an instant.
Feeling both ashamed and embarrassed, she quickly changed the subject and asked, "By the way, Hikari-kun, that ghost Hanako inside… wh-what happened to her?"
"I took care of it. You don't have to worry about it," Hikari gave a casual response to Kurashiki Reina's inquiry.
Although Kurashiki Reina had already witnessed this supernatural phenomenon firsthand and it was impossible to hide it from her, Hikari had no intention of revealing everything to her either.
He simply mentioned that he had learned some kind of exorcism technique at a temple before, threw in some vague explanations, and claimed that he had sealed away the vengeful spirit Hanako.
Since she had been saved by Hikari and had also seen firsthand that he was able to fight the vengeful spirit Hanako on equal footing, Kurashiki Reina had no doubts.
She didn't ask much and simply nodded before thanking Hikari again.
"By the way, Hikari-kun, are you hurt? They say that Hanako from the restroom is extremely violent. Did she hurt you?", Kurashiki Reina asked Hikari worriedly.
"I'm fine," Hikari casually glanced over his body, finding no injuries.
He was only checking briefly just to be sure.
But seeing this, Kurashiki Reina became even more concerned.
"Let me check for you," She quickly walked up to Hikari and proactively reached out to check his arms and places he couldn't see on his back.
"Hmm… no wounds here… none here either…", Kurashiki Reina carefully examined him, her small hands exploring Hikari's body.
This kind of inspection from a beautiful girl was actually quite pleasant.
But Hikari wasn't particularly interested. He smiled, gently grabbing Kurashiki Reina's hands, and casually said, "I'm fine. No need to check me. Men and women shouldn't have physical contact."
Hearing Hikari's words, Kurashiki Reina froze for a moment.
Then her cheeks turned red, and she looked somewhat embarrassed.
"S-sorry… I was just too worried and forgot… Hikari-kun, my apologies," Kurashiki Reina lowered her head and apologized sincerely.
On any other day, if Hikari had said something like that, the proud Kurashiki Reina would have arrogantly retorted that a noble lady like herself touching a loser otaku like him was a once-in-a-lifetime blessing.
But now, facing Hikari, she couldn't bring herself to say such words.
Instead, when he mentioned that men and women shouldn't have physical contact, she felt both awkward and anxious, fearing that she had overstepped her bounds and made him dislike her.
Though she hadn't fully realized it yet, after being saved by Hikari, this school queen had developed quite a bit of goodwill toward him and even a sense of reliance.
"It's fine," Hikari waved his hand.
He didn't particularly like Kurashiki Reina, but he also didn't have any strong dislike for her.
After all, Kurashiki Reina was just arrogant, had a bad attitude, and thought herself superior. She hadn't actually done anything truly awful.
And from her actions just now, it was clear that she had acted out of genuine concern.
"It's getting late. You should head home early," Hikari reminded her before turning to leave.
"Okay!", Kurashiki Reina responded.
Watching Hikari's departing figure, she had a complicated expression in her eyes.
She had just encountered a terrifying vengeful spirit. Something out of legend. And deep down, she was still feeling insecure. Right now, she really wanted to stay with Hikari, maybe even go home with him.
But she also knew that the first time they met, her attitude had been terrible, so Hikari's impression of her was probably quite bad.
Suddenly changing his view of her wouldn't be easy.
So, biting her lip lightly, Kurashiki Reina hesitated to speak.
Then, all of a sudden, she shivered.
"So… so cold…", Kurashiki Reina couldn't help but blurt out.
Hearing this, Hikari turned his head.
Looking at Kurashiki Reina hugging her shoulders and trembling, Hikari glanced down at his own short-sleeved shirt and frowned.
It wasn't winter.
It was just early autumn. The time of year when people were still wearing short sleeves.
Although it was evening and the temperature had dropped a little, it definitely wasn't cold enough for someone to shiver like that.
Even people with slender builds wouldn't be this sensitive to the cold.
And while Kurashiki Reina had a slim waist, she had a rather full figure. Thin where she should be and curvy where it mattered.
With that much fat on her chest, it should at least offer some protection against the breeze.
Yet her shivering, as if she were standing in a frozen wasteland, couldn't possibly be an act.
Seeing Kurashiki Reina trembling from the cold, Hikari suddenly grabbed her hand.
Startled by his sudden action, Kurashiki Reina flinched. But seeing him so close, she didn't resist or pull her hand away.
Instead, blushing, she weakly asked, "Hikari-kun, wh-what is it?"
Hikari didn't answer immediately.
He first felt her palm, it was ice-cold, before asking, "Do you feel like your whole body is freezing, like you're standing in the middle of winter, or even in a frozen wasteland?"
"Yes! Hikari-kun, do you know what's happening to me?", Kurashiki Reina quickly nodded.
Hearing this, Hikari nodded as well, "Then there's no mistake. I suspect that when you encountered Hanako's vengeful spirit, some of her dark energy seeped into your body."
"Though not much, yin and yang are incompatible. Even a small amount of vengeful spirit energy is enough to make an ordinary person seriously ill."
"And if it isn't removed, not only could you fall seriously ill. You might even die."
Upon hearing this, Kurashiki Reina's face turned pale with fear.
Kurashiki Reina, terrified, asked Hikari, "Then… then what should I do?"
"Hikari-kun, can you help me?", Kurashiki Reina pleaded pitifully.
Hikari thought for a moment and said, "There's a way that might help. First, hold my hand."
Despite being rebellious and not one to listen to teachers or parents, Kurashiki Reina obediently grasped Hikari's hand right away.
After all, Hikari had just saved her life, so she trusted him.
And since this could be a matter of life and death, she dared not hesitate.
Her hands were soft, slightly fleshy in the palms, like a cat's paw pads. Quite pleasant to hold.
But Hikari didn't dwell on that.
Instead, he silently focused his mind and activated the Vajra Demon Suppressing Technique, channeling its power into his hands.
[Ding! The host has helped Kurashiki Reina remove vengeful spirit energy, reducing her chances of mental instability. Successfully promoting the spirit of pure love.]
[Reward obtained: Pure Love Points +20!]
Hearing this notification from his system, Hikari was a bit surprised.
Helping with an exorcism actually earned him rewards—nice.
"Wah! So warm!"
On the other side, Kurashiki Reina instantly felt that the hand she was holding had become scorching hot, just in time to warm up her previously ice-cold palm that had been affected by the resentful spirit's power.
The warmth transmitted from Hikari's hand made her entire body feel comfortable.
It was like drinking a big cup of warm water on a freezing winter day. Her whole body was filled with a cozy warmth.
Seeing Kurashiki Reina's surprised yet delighted gaze,
Hikari casually explained, "I've learned some exorcism techniques. Through this method, I can help remove the resentful spirit's power from your body."
Hearing this, Kurashiki Reina hurriedly pleaded, "Then, Hikari-kun, can you help me? Sorry for the trouble!"
Hikari nodded and said, "I can help you."
"But there's something I need to explain to you in advance."
Kurashiki Reina quickly asked, "What is it?"
Hikari slowly said, "The method to remove the resentful spirit's power is just like how I had you hold my hand earlier. It requires direct physical contact between us."
"Also, right now, your entire body has been invaded by the resentful spirit's power. Although the resentful spirit Hanako only grabbed your limbs at the time, the resentful energy has already spread throughout your body."
"So, if I want to help you remove it, I need to touch the areas affected by the resentful spirit's power, and only then can I gradually dispel it."
"And in the current situation, your whole body is already soaked in the resentful spirit's power. So, if I want to completely exorcise it, my hands will need to touch every part of you. Do you understand?"
Hearing Hikari's words, Kurashiki Reina quickly realized why he had specifically given her a heads-up before starting. It turned out to be for that reason...
A slight blush immediately appeared on Kurashiki Reina's fair cheeks, but she still quickly nodded and said, "I... I'm okay with it!"
After all, on one side was a life-threatening problem, while on the other, it was just being touched a little more intimately. It wasn't actually a difficult decision.
If it were another girl, she might struggle with the decision for a while.
But Kurashiki Reina had always been a face-connoisseur. She was even so narcissistic that those so-called handsome celebrities never caught her eye at all. However, Hikari's top-tier looks had already moved her before. She had even thought about making him her boyfriend. She already had some level of aesthetic appreciation for him.
Adding to that, Hikari had just saved her, further increasing her favorability toward him.
So at this moment, even though Kurashiki Reina still felt a tiny bit of shyness toward Hikari's words. Ater all, she was still a pure maiden. Deep down, she was actually more expectant than embarrassed.
Normally, she wasn't the type of girl who was easily shy. She had a queenly demeanor.
So, to show her gratitude for Hikari's help and to assist him in performing the exorcism better,
Kurashiki Reina even took a step forward, proactively leaning into Hikari's embrace.
Her soft, jade-like body rested against Hikari like a peacefully sleeping kitten, staying completely still.
Looking at the obedient Kurashiki Reina, Hikari nodded in satisfaction and didn't hesitate.
He first activated the yang energy in his body, infused the Vajra Suppressing Technique into his hands, then reached out and moved his hands over the areas of Kurashiki Reina's body that were ice-cold from the resentful spirit's power.
[Ding! The host has helped Kurashiki Reina remove the resentful spirit's power from her arm, successfully promoting the spirit of pure love! Reward obtained: Pure Love Points +20]
[Ding! The host has helped Kurashiki Reina remove the resentful spirit's power from her lower abdomen, successfully promoting the spirit of pure love! Reward obtained: Pure Love Points +20]
[Ding! The host has helped Kurashiki Reina remove the resentful spirit's power from her chest, successfully promoting the spirit of pure love! Reward obtained: Pure Love Points +20]
[Ding! The host has helped Kurashiki Reina remove the resentful spirit's power from her hips...]
During the exorcism process, the system's reward notifications kept ringing in Hikari's mind.
Although each individual point reward wasn't much, they added up over time. And this was an unexpected bonus.
So Hikari was quite satisfied with it. After all, the exorcism process wasn't tiring or difficult, was it?
On the other side, perhaps because the exorcism was highly effective,
Or maybe because that warm, cozy sensation was just too comfortable...
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