Chapter 046. Suzuka’s Guide to Raising Pets

"Miss Sakura, is something wrong?"

"I've only been an exorcist for half a year—weak, inexperienced, and ignorant. How am I supposed to take care of a monster?"

"Maybe you should find someone more qualified?"

In the living room of Qiao Qiao’s house.

He looked at Suzuka, who had changed into new clothes but still wore her red scarf, and spoke to Miss Sakura.

"Qiao, this is the association's arrangement," Miss Sakura replied, pulling out a document.

On the desk, it was titled:

"Monster Integration Guardianship Program."

Such words.

"? "

Qiao Qiao didn’t quite understand. He took the document and read it carefully.

Then he understood.

To put it simply:

Monsters like Suzuka, who have taken human form for unnatural reasons, lack basic knowledge compared to ordinary monsters and cannot simply be released back into human society.

Therefore,

The Exorcist Association, together with the Bureau of Onmyo, launched this program.

The first trial batch, including Suzuka, consists of three monsters.

Each would be cared for by an exorcist, taught the ways of human life, and so on.

If the results are promising, the rest of the monsters in containment facilities will gradually be introduced into society.

That’s all there is to it.

"Why me?"

Qiao Qiao could grasp the plan. He thought it was quite reasonable and practical.

But he felt, as a newcomer, he was hardly qualified to teach a monster. Such a task required deep knowledge and the qualities befitting a teacher—qualities he did not possess. He feared he might misguide Suzuka.

After all, she was only three years old—still a child.

"Your outstanding performance in the recent case made the association see you as an exorcist worth nurturing," Miss Sakura said, her smile tinged with bitterness for reasons unknown.

"That's why they've entrusted this task to you. It's not merely a job, but also a test from the association."

"I understand," Qiao Qiao replied, recalling a proverb from China: ‘When heaven bestows a great task upon someone, it first tests their resolve.’

Whether it was Priestess Asano or Miss Suzuka, both were trials for Qiao Qiao.

He would accept them.

After some further instructions and paperwork—such as:

Since Suzuka was not naturally transformed, she could not revert to her original monster form. Her spiritual power was weak. She was, for all intents and purposes, just an ordinary person.

For example:

He would need to take her to the Exorcist Association for monthly checkups and submit analysis reports.

Also:

Suzuka’s living expenses would be fifty thousand yen per month, provided by the association.

With these matters settled, Miss Sakura prepared to leave.

Before departing, she looked intently at Suzuka, grasped her hand.

"Suzuka, please don’t stray onto the wrong path."

Then she turned to Qiao Qiao.

"Qiao, I trust your character. Although boys your age inevitably have various needs to be addressed," Miss Sakura placed her hand on his shoulder, "remember, Suzuka is only a three-year-old fawn. Keep that in mind."

"A person cannot—at least, should not."

"I understand," Qiao Qiao replied.

He knew it well. Suzuka was only three. Her worldview, values, and sense of life were yet unformed and needed careful guidance.

Qiao Qiao would never let his frustrations from work or study affect Suzuka.

He would do his utmost, teaching her with a method grounded in materialism.

"What a gentle and thoughtful person," he mused after seeing Miss Sakura off.

During their conversation, Suzuka had sat quietly, obediently at the side.

Now the two sat across from each other.

Ten minutes passed in silence.

"I am but a humble girl; please guide me from now on," Suzuka suddenly bowed her head in salute.

"No, no, the honor is mine," Qiao Qiao replied, returning the gesture, feeling something was amiss.

Afterwards,

Qiao Qiao cleaned out a room on the second floor, formerly used for storage, and made it into Suzuka’s room.

He sent a message to his parents in Shimane via Line, informing them of the situation.

Yes,

Qiao Qiao had told his parents about his part-time work as an exorcist.

They had no particular objections, only asking him to take care of himself.

Regarding Suzuka,

They said they’d already received notification from the Exorcist Association.

Reasonable and understanding.

By the time all this was done, it was noon.

He had lost another two hours of study today.

Qiao Qiao was distressed.

At lunchtime,

Qiao Qiao faced a dilemma.

He could eat rice, vegetables, meat.

But what about Suzuka?

Shouldn’t a fawn eat grass?

He glanced at the backyard's greenery, torn.

"Qiao, I’m hungry~" Suzuka, now dressed in cozy brown pajamas with spots, resembling a little fawn, slipped into her slippers and came downstairs.

She seemed to adapt quickly.

"Suzuka, what do you usually eat?" Qiao Qiao asked.

He remembered seeing Suzuka eat a miso mackerel bento at the supermarket when they met, but perhaps that had been out of necessity.

Maybe, she’d had to summon great resolve to eat fish.

He couldn’t assume that was her usual fare, so he asked to confirm.

"Mm, regular food is fine," Suzuka tilted her head, not quite grasping his question.

"Ah, just don’t give me green peppers—they’re impossible for me to accept," she added.

"What I mean is... are your eating habits different from those of real deer?"

Qiao Qiao had never raised a monster. In fact, until this Golden Week, he had never even encountered one.

He was curious.

But Miss Sakura had warned him not to do anything strange to Suzuka.

Suppressing his curiosity, he only asked about daily life.

"Huh? What do real deer eat? I don’t know," Suzuka’s expression seemed to say, ‘After all, I’m just a three-year-old monster fawn.’

"So you can eat meat?"

"Beef is my favorite!"

"And pork, chicken, fish—those are all okay?"

"Of course!"

"What about venison?"

"Qiao, are you a devil?!"

"Alright, I understand," Qiao Qiao nodded, taking out his phone and starting a new note titled "Suzuka’s Care Guide."

He carefully recorded these details.

After lunch,

Qiao Qiao returned to his studies.

Classes resumed tomorrow.

He would once again plunge into the busy world of work and study.

As for Suzuka, he had no idea what she was up to in the afternoon.

After dinner, Qiao Qiao was still washing dishes.

Ding dong—

Suddenly the doorbell rang.

"Who is it?" he called from the kitchen.

Usually, no one ever visited Qiao Qiao.

He didn’t buy anything that could be delivered so casually.

While he was still puzzled, Suzuka had already scampered to the entryway and opened the door.

"Are you Tamura Suzuka? Please sign for this delivery," the courier said, handing over several large boxes.

Qiao Qiao helped carry them to Suzuka’s room.

When they opened them,

There was a brand-new PC, virtual streamer equipment, gaming consoles, and more.

"I bought these yesterday. I didn’t expect Amazon’s delivery to be so fast. Oh, and Qiao, I upgraded your broadband for you—the speed before was unbearably slow. I really wonder how you put up with it..."

Suzuka rattled off a list.

Qiao Qiao looked at the shiny new equipment, mentally calculating the cost.

When the numbers reached seven digits, he gave up.

"Suzuka, all this must have cost quite a bit, right?"

Suzuka had been squeezed by monster organizations before—where did she get so much money?

Was it the guardianship allowance?

No, fifty thousand yen would barely buy half the computer.

"Money?"

Suzuka thought for a moment, then replied,

"I did a casual stream yesterday morning, mentioned I was moving and needed to buy a lot of things, and everyone was so enthusiastic—they sent me tons of money. Such good people!"

"?"

Upon hearing this,

Qiao Qiao, for the first time, felt—

This world is unfair.