Returned from Another World, Earth Turned Out to Be Quite the Fantasy Too. Also, Losing Heroines, Stop Looking This Way. - V4 Chapter 08

Chapter 08: “An Uninvited Guest, Huh?” ①

In a certain yokai village in Tono, Senju, Yusuke, and Nekomata-san strolled along after their bath.

Having fallen into the sea earlier, Senju and Yusuke were now dressed in borrowed jinbei and yukata.

Senju had chosen the simple jinbei, while Yusuke had picked the yukata but struggled to tie the sash properly, requiring Nekomata-san’s help—something he was clearly enjoying. Nekomata-san herself had swapped her sailor uniform for a yukata.

“That was such a good bath. Everyone should visit Tono’s yokai village at least once!”

“Stop making it sound like a travel ad.”

“First-timers aren’t welcome, nya~n.”

Instead of heading back to Nurarihyon’s mansion, Nekomata-san led them to a nearby teahouse, where she ordered tea and dango.

Senju and Yusuke didn’t make any effort to return to the mansion themselves.

Nurarihyon had originally come to Mukaijima City specifically for Natsuki.

They were just tag-alongs and had no intention of getting in the way.

“The tea made by the Rokurokubi-san here is amazing!”

“…You’re really consistent about this stuff.”

“It’s been decades since I’ve seen someone who loves yokai as much as this kid, nyan.”

“…Wait, you’ve been around that long, Nekomata-san?”

“Of course, I’m a yokai, nyan!”

“Fair enough.”

While Yusuke chatted away with Rokurokubi-san, Senju and Nekomata-san sipped their tea, engaging in casual small talk.

Of course, Senju was also subtly gathering information as they talked.

“This is such a peaceful village. I always thought yokai would be scarier.”

“These days, who knows what’s true, nyan? Are there no yokai around anymore, nya?”

“They exist, but it’s mostly stuff like demons from overseas, vengeful spirits clinging to grudges, ghosts born from human obsessions, and sometimes dangerous ones like mazoku. As for yokai, the only one I’ve personally encountered is a kappa.”

“I don’t like demons, nya. There are yokai who’ve lost their homes because of them, nyan.”

“…I see. Sounds like it’s tough for yokai too.”

“Yeah, it’s really tough, nyan.”

As a psychic, Senju had dealt with many supernatural entities in both his professional and underground work, but his encounters with yokai had been few and far between.

He had heard that yokai were more prominent in areas like Kansai, where their influence kept demons at bay, but he didn’t know much about that region.

“So, yokai don’t like demons. Got it. Makes sense. By the way, I hate isekai people to death! Oh, well, I guess I did die once, though!”

“…Yeah, I can understand why you’d have a grudge against isekai people.”

Satisfied after chatting with Rokurokubi-san, Yusuke returned to the table.

His hatred for isekai people had legitimate reasons, ones anyone could understand. If Natsuki had been there, he likely would have agreed.

“Senju-san, is there anything you hate?”

“Of course, I’ve got things I hate.”

“And what’s that?”

“I absolutely hate humans! Especially the Nanamori family!”

“Wow. Senju-san, your past is just as dark as everyone else’s, huh? What is it with this group of guys and their tragic backstories?”

“How should I know?”

Natsuki had been constantly dragged around by his childhood friend, and Ren had suffered due to his powers. Senju, as the child of a mistress, had been treated cruelly, and Yusuke’s experiences in the other world were far from kind. Even Seishiro had been abandoned by his fiancée, carrying his own share of scars.

“Humans sure have it rough, nyan. That’s why us nekomata live carefree, taking it easy every day, nyan.”

“That sounds great, nyan.”

“I’d love to do that too, nyan.”

As the three of them meowed back and forth, a sudden tingling sensation ran down the back of their necks.

“—Oh.”

“—Huh?”

“Nya-nya-nya?”

All three stood up simultaneously.

“Hey, Nekomata-san, let me ask you something. Were there any plans for another human—specifically, a psychic—to show up today besides us?”

“None, nyan. …This spiritual power… it’s an uninvited guest, nyan.”

“Senju-san.”

“Yeah, I get it. Time to repay the hospitality. Humans are best handled by humans. No need for yokai to bother dealing with them.”

Senju and Yusuke asked Nekomata-san to inform Nurarihyon and Natsuki about the arrival of the psychic. Then, they dashed toward the village entrance.

〜〜Afterword〜〜

They’re here!

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Volume 2 cover with Nancy!