I Created Urban Legends in Parallel World
[Original – YakuMan]
[TL – MiT7]
[PR – Spades]
Chapter 17: Anomalies Can't Be Killed
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The next day, Fuchigawa Kazuma arrived at the Metropolitan Police Department bright and early.
After a night's rest, he was refreshed, no longer the drained wreck from before.
Entering Investigation Division 1, he scanned the room and asked, "Where's Inspector Aoji?"
Though the Hell Girl case had been handed to Aoji of the Special Division, Fuchigawa had done some digging last night. The MPD had no record of a "Special Division"—or even an Aoji.
Yet Director Yasuda knew of it, meaning Fuchigawa, as head of Investigation Division 1, lacked the clearance to know about this unit.
It hit him hard. He didn't want to believe it, but piecing things together, Hell Girl's urban legend seemed undeniably real.
The Special Division must specialize in cases like this.
Still, he wasn't sure how to address Aoji formally.
"Inspector Aoji came in this morning, copied the past two days' files, and left," Nishino replied.
"Inspector?"
"Yes, he told us to call him that."
"Got it." Fuchigawa nodded. "Did Inspector Aoji leave any other instructions?"
"No. He said to await his orders," Nishino said, hesitating before adding, "Chief Fuchigawa, should we block 2ch?"
The question gave Fuchigawa a headache.
His instinct was to shut it down. But it was too late—if he'd known how tricky that post was from the start, he'd have ordered it blocked immediately.
Now, Hell Girl was already spreading.
Blocking 2ch now would be a dead giveaway—proof the legend was real.
After mulling it over, he dialed Koike Oto. "Assistant Koike, could you ask Inspector Aoji if we should block 2ch?"
Aoji hadn't left a number—Koike's was their only link.
"Sure." After a moment, Koike replied sheepishly, "Aoji-sama says 'decide yourself.'"
Decide myself?
Was he dodging responsibility?
Fuchigawa's face darkened. Hanging up, he thought hard for a few minutes, then turned to Nishino, voice firm. "Tell Cyber Division to block 2ch."
"Yes, sir."
"I recall Mishima's a national idol now, right?"
"Yes."
"Leak some dirt on them. Heat it up."
"Yes, Chief Fuchigawa."
…
Adachi Ward. Koike Oto pulled up to Aoshiro Private High's gates.
Before stepping out, she got a message.
"Understood," she said, hanging up and turning to the passenger seat. "Aoji-sama, 2ch's been blocked."
"Noted," Aoji replied, lounging back lazily. "Guess the MPD's not completely clueless."
Blocking 2ch now was late—practically an admission of guilt. But as long as that post lingered, the legend would keep spreading.
Belief or not, people would test it. And he knew those Hell Girl took were mostly delinquent teens.
Those contacting her? Obviously their bullied victims.
These kids were already crushed inside.
Faced with a grudge-erasing legend, even knowing it might be fake, they'd cling to it like drowning men to a lifeline.
But block the forum, and even if some believed, it'd fade with time—out of sight, out of mind.
"Aoji-sama, if you thought 2ch should be blocked, why not just say so?" Koike asked, puzzled.
Aoji paused, sizing her up with a frown. "How long were you trained at Special Division?"
"Huh?" Koike blinked, then answered honestly, "Three days."
Three days?
Aoji's face twisted, nearly choking on his rage.
Taking a deep breath, he pulled out a special phone and dialed. The moment it connected, he snarled, "You old bastard, trying to get me killed?"
"Don't get mad—tell me what's up," came a frail, elderly voice, each word a struggle.
"Special Division sent me a three-day newbie as an assistant?" Aoji sneered, ignoring Koike's awkward fidgeting. "No good explanation, and I'm out."
"No choice," Kimura Kohei sighed. "Experienced assistants are nearly gone. Anomalies can't be killed, and now there's a new one. We had to send a rookie. If you don't like her, send Koike back. But then you're handling Hell Girl solo."
"Even so, why send someone with first-stage Spiritual Power?" Aoji's anger cooled, but resentment lingered. "Doesn't Kujo Shrine have a third-stage girl? Why not her?"
Silence stretched on the other end.
Finally, Kimura spoke slowly. "I'll give you Kujo Shrine's contact. Call them yourself. If they agree and Hanai's willing, she's yours."
Aoji went quiet, then hung up without a word.
"Sorry, Aoji-sama," Koike said, bowing as he eyed her. "I didn't mean to hide being a newbie—I thought you knew."
"Forget it," Aoji waved it off.
"So… should we tackle this anomaly now?"
"Tackle?" Aoji snorted, nearly mocking her. But seeing her rookie earnestness, his interest faded. He looked at her flatly. "What'd they teach you in Special Division?"
"Courses on ghosts, grudges, and anomalies," Koike said, sheepish. "Mostly, though, they had us memorize the inspectors' profiles to avoid offending you all."
"What do you know about anomalies?"
"Not much," Koike admitted, head down in shame. "Just that they're unsolvable to humans. But I believe with inspectors like you, they can be destroyed."
"Looks like the seasoned assistants really are dying off," Aoji said, expressionless. "Here's a harsh truth for you."
"To humans, anomalies aren't just unsolvable—they're unkillable."