The time spent exorcising the spirit passed quickly, mainly because the resentment within Hiraki Hanako's body was too strong. After repeated deep exchanges during the exorcism, Baishi Chuan finally managed to completely clear her resentment.
As the level of the skill 'Vitality' increased, this level of exertion was no longer enough to tire him out.
He cast his gaze towards the girl leaning against the wall, her legs dangling on the floor, as the holy light left behind from the forced exorcism slowly flowed out.
The white school shirt that Hiraki Hanako had originally worn had been completely torn to shreds during the exorcism process, and as for her skirt, it had long since disappeared.
With the complete removal of the resentment within her, the shadow at the corners of the originally delicate girl's face vanished entirely, if one ignored her identity as an urban legend.
She looked just like a JK high school girl!
“Your skill ‘Purification’ gained experience +4500 (Lv4→Lv5)”
“Current profession ‘Exorcist’ has reached the maximum skill level.”
“The exorcism is finally over. Although it wasn't particularly tiring, I still pushed myself quite hard.”
As for the imagined scenario...
The intense battle scene in the school dormitory corridor, where Hiraki Hanako attempted to escape and the righteous exorcist decisively pursued her, did not unfold.
Baishi Chuan looked at the girl with tear stains at the corners of her eyes, who was sobbing continuously, and did not continue to provoke her. Instead, he found the red pleated skirt in the corner and handed it to Hiraki Hanako.
“Put on the clothes first...”
“As for that white shirt, I’m really sorry. I couldn't control it and it got torn apart. If you don’t have any other clothes to wear, I can go out and buy you a set right now.”
“...”
Tears welled up in her eyes.
In Hiraki Hanako's dazed gaze, there was no light to be found. Noticing Baishi Chuan's eyes on her, she subconsciously covered her chest with her arms.
Her body trembled uncontrollably...
Is this guy really an exorcist?!
The intense methods just now had almost become a shadow over her life. The reckless holy sword curry stick had nearly broken her...
Without the initial aggressive tone, her voice now carried a sobbing tone: “Exorcist, the resentment within me has been completely cleared. May I ask...”
“Can I leave now?”
“Wait until you leave, and then use the resentment to continue strengthening yourself, and once your strength recovers, come back to take revenge on me?”
This was how the plot developed in the original story.
Logically speaking, encountering lowly creatures like goblins, Baishi Chuan, whose body remained relatively intact, would still go for the finishing blow, let alone the urban legend known as Hanako-chan.
One could vaguely see the blood that had first flowed out.
Resolving the aftermath directly using the methods of a ‘Holy Sword User’ would definitely not be a problem. The key was that he couldn't reach that level.
“...”
Her inner thoughts were pierced through, and Hiraki Hanako didn't even dare to focus her gaze, quickly shaking her head in denial. If the forced exorcism continued, her mind would collapse!
Or perhaps, dying at Baishi Chuan's hands could be a form of relief?
She slowly closed her eyes, not expecting that after becoming an urban legend, she would instead graduate smoothly, as if there were no other regrets...
However.
The ending that Hiraki Hanako had envisioned did not come.
Instead, she felt a warm breath, and her legs and waist were gently embraced by arms. She opened her eyes again and carefully examined Baishi Chuan's handsome face.
“Although I don't know what you've been through.”
“But holding onto this resentment and living as an urban legend must be quite boring, have you considered changing your life?”
Baishi Chuan spoke lightly, draping his coat over Hiraki Hanako's shoulders. Becoming an extraordinary being still required some worldly considerations, which was somewhat lacking.
Even as an urban legend.
He wanted it all!
“Hmm?”
Hiraki Hanako had not expected Baishi Chuan to have such an attitude. She tugged at the coat with both hands, and the resentment deep within her began to quietly dissipate.
But a moment later, her smile turned somewhat self-deprecating.
“Hey.”
“Baishi Chuan, I’m just a ghost who can never see the sunlight. What you’re saying is something I don’t dare to think about.”
“But what if I have a way to help you change?”
#
Having truly completed the exorcism, Baishi Chuan did not linger in the abandoned dormitory building but chose to return to the apartment building, accompanied by the girl wearing the coat and the red pleated skirt.
The boy walked ahead.
While the girl kept her head down, silently following behind.
She did not speak up, and Baishi Chuan didn’t mind, casually saying, “My house is quite big. If you don’t want to live together, I can get you a rental apartment.”
“If you’re not used to living in a house, I can build you a women’s restroom?”
“...”
Hiraki Hanako's expression froze instantly. She wanted to muster the courage to retort with a thank you, but although she was an urban legend, it was more like an interest akin to a bound spirit.
Unable to leave the women's restroom.
But that didn’t mean she didn’t want to live a normal ghost life. Now that she could leave the restroom, it was already beyond her expectations.
Perhaps, life could really change because of Baishi Chuan?
......
Returning to the apartment building.
Baishi Chuan settled Hiraki Hanako in a vacant rental apartment. After solving dinner, he began to consider how to arrange her future.
Perhaps letting her meet Mary would make the next steps much smoother.
As he pushed open the security door, he was greeted by the familiar indoor slippers that had been prepared in advance. Izumi Miori and Saki had already arrived, and the mother and daughter were preparing a rice bowl.
At the entrance, he caught a whiff of a rich aroma.
And at that moment.
Baishi Chuan heard the familiar notification sound in his mind again.
“Ding!”
“Current dimension chat group members: 10, the chat group sign-in and points exchange system has been opened.”
“No way...”
“I just took a moment to peel off a layer, how come there are so many people in the chat group?!”