Chapter 34. The Highway of Death

On the outskirts of Tokyo.

Along the highway.

The truck driver, Kazuo Oshima, was at the wheel.

“...But I really like him. What should I do?”

“I understand the difficulties you’re facing, dear listener...”

A late-night radio show about love and heartbreak played in the background.

Kazuo Oshima turned up the volume a little.

Even in Tokyo, the highway at midnight was quiet and lonely.

Though the road was bathed in bright lights, something about it stirred unease in the heart.

After all, this was a world where the supernatural truly existed.

And his cargo, in one way or another, had some connection to that world.

Kazuo Oshima was nearing thirty-five, and after years of night shifts and rotating schedules, his health had declined.

He was planning to finish these last few runs and then change careers, maybe open a small diner.

It was late.

At a gas station, Kazuo Oshima had used the restroom and smoked a cigarette. As he prepared to return to his truck, he noticed a child standing near the door.

“What are you doing?”

As he approached, Kazuo Oshima saw the boy was trying to unscrew the valve stem from his front tire.

“Bleh!”

The boy, seeing he’d been caught, stuck out his tongue and made a face.

Then he darted away.

Kazuo Oshima didn’t even get a chance to catch him and give him a scolding.

“Whose kid is that?”

He searched the area, but the boy had already vanished without a trace.

Probably a kid from a nearby home.

He checked his tire—thankfully, it was fine.

Muttering a few curses into the night, Kazuo Oshima got back in the cab and continued driving.

The road was eerily quiet.

Not even the sound of insects could be heard.

Kazuo Oshima focused on the drive.

Suddenly—

“Uncle, let's play a game.”

A child's voice drifted from the passenger seat.

Kazuo Oshima jolted, glancing over.

Nothing.

A trick of the mind?

He turned his attention back to the road.

At that moment, a child darted onto the highway from the roadside.

“Damn!”

Kazuo Oshima only had time to curse as he yanked the wheel, trying to swerve.

But the truck refused to obey.

A piercing screech of brakes tore through the silence.

Crash—

The truck smashed through the guardrail and slammed into the woods nearby.

Kazuo Oshima's face was covered in blood. As his consciousness faded, he saw a boy.

The same one from the gas station.

“Uncle, let's play a game.”

The boy grinned widely.

...

In his room.

Qiao Qiao sat before his computer.

Ding—

A clear, crystalline chime sounded from his computer.

It was the sound of a kagura bell, recorded with the help of Ariko Asano.

“As expected of a professional studio—the audio quality is excellent,” Qiao Qiao mused.

He was editing the chime using audio software.

He turned it into a phone ringtone.

Qiao Qiao’s idea was simple.

If this bell chime truly had exorcising power, then why not spread it far and wide?

He could reach out to phone manufacturers—Oni, Pine, Trinity—and license it so they could set it as a default ringtone.

Then, with every phone call, perhaps a vengeful spirit might be banished.

No more fear of the midnight ringing curse.

Wouldn’t that be a small contribution to society?

Of course, all of this depended on whether the chime was truly effective against vengeful spirits.

Qiao Qiao had no way to test it.

Since taking on the assignment from Gray Hat Software, he hadn’t had time for other cases.

All because of midterm exams.

At the end of April, Fengcheng University Affiliated High School was holding midterms.

After the exams, students would be off for Golden Week.

Though Qiao Qiao was an exorcist, he was first and foremost a high school student.

Studying and taking exams was a duty he could not shirk.

He had to do it well.

After all, Qiao Qiao’s excellent grades meant that when he needed to take leave for exorcisms, his homeroom teacher always agreed without fuss.

So, he had to study.

After two days of exams, Qiao Qiao had planned to celebrate by taking on an exorcism tonight.

But unfortunately, Miss Sakura had no new requests.

Qiao Qiao could only go home alone and work on his previous project.

Still, two hours of research was not without results.

At the very least, Qiao Qiao discovered that the kagura bell’s chime, even after being recorded, had a soothing effect and relieved fatigue.

If so, perhaps it would work on vengeful spirits as well.

At that moment, Qiao Qiao’s phone vibrated several times.

[Ariko☆Kira]: Teacher, will there be any exorcisms during Golden Week?

[Ariko☆Kira]: That said, I’m actually traveling abroad with my family tomorrow, so I won’t be able to observe and learn~

[Ariko☆Kira]: Teacher, you should rest during the holiday too! Don’t overwork yourself~

The Asano miko was truly bursting with energy.

Qiao Qiao glanced at the three consecutive Line messages.

At the same time, he thought of how she had been livestreaming almost every night lately.

Well.

Qiao Qiao hadn’t been watching, but the app sent notifications.

Every night after ten:

Ding—

“Your subscription to [Alice-chan’s Exorcism Classroom] is now live.”

The alert always came right on time.

But the Asano miko always ended her stream before midnight.

Though Qiao Qiao believed it was best not to interfere with others’ training, for the sake of her studies he still offered a reminder.

[Qiao Qiao]: Mm.

[Qiao Qiao]: You’re already in your third year of junior high; are you managing your studies? Don’t let your training get in the way of schoolwork.

A minute later, Ariko Asano replied.

[Ariko☆Kira]: Teacher, are you... worried about me?

Before Qiao Qiao could finish reading, more messages popped up.

[Ariko☆Kira]: Thank you for your concern, but it’s all right~

[Ariko☆Kira]: I’ve already received a recommendation for direct admission to Fengcheng University Affiliated High School~

[Ariko☆Kira]: Starting next spring, I’ll be your junior, teacher www

A recommendation for direct admission.

In other words, she was guaranteed a spot.

Fengcheng University Affiliated High School had an average deviation score of seventy-five.

Even without the supernatural connection, it was an outstanding school.

To win a guaranteed place was no easy feat.

Who would have thought the Asano miko was an academic star too?

Qiao Qiao suddenly felt woefully inadequate.

Look at Asano—top-notch exorcist, eager to learn, a gamer, a streamer who made money, and now an academic ace.

And you?

Apart from being handsome, you had nothing going for you.

Shameful, isn’t it?

Utterly embarrassing.

Qiao Qiao was overcome with guilt.

He replied quickly, put down his phone, and continued editing the kagura bell audio.

Even if it couldn’t exorcise spirits, it would make a good lullaby.

If all else failed, it could be adapted as background music for morning exercises.

Play it at the same time every day.

Surely the students would come to love it.

Midnight.

Twelve o’clock.

Qiao Qiao prepared for bed.

On nights without work, he always went to bed at this hour.

He’d fall asleep quickly, never letting fatigue and stress carry over to the next day.

But tonight, something felt off.

As someone with spiritual sensitivity, unease was never just his imagination.

Qiao Qiao sat up.

The next moment, his phone vibrated.

It wasn’t Ariko Asano.

It was the Boss.

[Boss]: Qiao, are you free tomorrow during the day?

Since the message had already been marked as read, Qiao Qiao couldn’t pretend he hadn’t seen it.

Of course, he always took the Boss’s requests seriously.

He replied right away.

[Qiao Qiao]: I don’t have any other plans tomorrow. What’s up?

[Boss]: A friend of mine is in a bit of trouble and needs an exorcist on site.

[Boss]: Unfortunately, I have to go to Kyushu for a class reunion tomorrow. Can you go in my place and check it out?

[Boss]: I’ll make sure you’re compensated afterward.

[Qiao Qiao]: No problem.

Qiao Qiao replied.

The Boss had helped Qiao Qiao so much; it was no trouble to lend a hand now.

Soon, Qiao Qiao received the details and some contact information.

“The highway?”

Qiao Qiao frowned at the unfamiliar address.