《Misery Star》


 Prologue

    There was a saying that ¡®a person is the protagonist of their own life¡¯, but Ivan would much rather be a side character. A story centered around him would not be a very fun one at all. If his life were some kind of novel, then his hometown would be his prison, and the warden would be his own misfortune.


    No matter how many times he tried to escape, the invisible shackles of fate would always drag him back home. Like a bird with clipped wings, the dream of flying the nest would only ever remain just that - a fleeting dream. It was a fact proven to him once again after he was kicked out of college in his second year, dragging his feet back to the cage of his childhood home.


    Not even his parents were surprised by his sudden arrival. They too thought that such an outcome was the natural and inevitable conclusion. The fact that Ivan even made it to college was considered a miracle in itself, but his expulsion was the final rusted nail in the overburdened coffin of his parents'' expectations. Much like Ivan upon his return, it was ready to be buried six feet under.


    Returning to his hometown was even more painful than he¡¯d imagined. Growing up in a small town meant that pretty much everyone knew everyone, and they also knew everyone¡¯s business. The luxury of secrets was not afforded to those with quiet streets and nosey neighbors.


    Ivan¡¯s status as the family failure wasn¡¯t exactly new, though flunking out of school was a low even for him. He was sure half the town went up in flames of gossip as his car stuffed full of boxes burned its way down the street and into his parents¡¯ cracked driveway.


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    He shouldn¡¯t have cared what other people thought, especially not nobodies from his hometown. But, Ivan quickly realized that he was also one of those nobodies now, having returned after failing to slip the leash, doomed to a life sentence alongside his fellow small-town prisoners.


    He was no stranger to that sort of gossip, either. He had often been the focus of it growing up. The reason for that was his incredible luck. Meaning, of course, that his luck was incredibly terrible.


    On the day Ivan was born, there was a meteor shower. Shooting stars streaked across the sky, weeping like rain, and everybody at the time took it as a good omen. After all, the stars were the symbols of the gods. If you saw a shooting star, it was often interpreted as a god¡¯s answer to your desires.


    A whole meteor shower on the day of a child¡¯s birth! How could it be anything other than the gods¡¯ blessing? But as Ivan grew older, those around him quickly realized that it was not a blessing at all. If anything, it must have been a curse.


    After all, the stars were the symbols of the gods. A shooting star was just another way to call a star that fell from the sky. And how could a falling star mean anything other than bad luck? Ivan found it almost comical how easily people twisted interpretations just to suit their new agendas.


    After people came to this realization, many of them started to avoid him. They called him the ¡°cursed child¡± or the ¡°child of misfortune¡±. So, at the end of the day, what was some small-town gossip compared to the titles that had already burdened him for so long? If anything, Ivan was just meeting their expectations. In a way, it was comfortable.


    Of course, if it were up to him, he would have overcome the burden he was born with and lived a normal life. He would have finished college and gone off to work in some faraway city, leaving the heavy shackles of his childhood behind and never looking back.


    Unfortunately, in his own life, Ivan wasn¡¯t that kind of protagonist. If only he were a side character, he could have lived a happy, unremarkable life. But since the gods were the authors here, he could only be pulled along by the puppet strings of fate. He had long since accepted that destiny was entirely out of his hands. Ivan just wanted to know which divine author was so hell-bent on his misery, that way he could beg them to leave him alone.

 Chapter 1: Coffee Pot of Destiny

    A week passed since Ivan¡¯s shameful return home, and he spent nearly the entirety of the week cooped up in his childhood bedroom. As it turned out, knowing that you shouldn¡¯t care what other people think and actually not caring what they think were two very different things. A part of him was still afraid to face the harsh stares of judgment that had followed him since his youth.


    It had been nice at first to hide under the covers and pretend that time wasn¡¯t moving and that all his misfortune was just a dream he could wake up from and return to college soon. But after a week, even his fantasies couldn¡¯t comfort him any longer and the room became too suffocating to bear. So, he decided to go for a walk and get some fresh air.


    During his first two years of school, Ivan hadn¡¯t even visited home a single time, avoiding it just as much as it avoided him when he was there. Honestly, he had been terrified that if he returned at all, it would become permanent. Maybe that feeling had turned out to be yet another unavoidable part of his fate.


    As he walked along the sidewalk, he couldn¡¯t shake the oppressive weight that seemed to follow him out of his home. The buzzing of cicadas rang in his ears, much louder than he remembered them. It seemed a bit early in the year for them, but maybe the unusually hot weather had them fooled. Warm wind gently rustled the leaves of nearby trees, echoing through the forest like an eerie choir.


    The air was fresh and clean, and the space around Ivan was open and uncrowded. It should have been a welcome change of pace from the stifling city atmosphere, yet Ivan could feel no relief. Instead, he felt like countless unseen eyes were trailing him, worming their way under his skin and crawling around like ants. The sense of unease that came with being watched made his steps feel sluggish. Each movement took extra effort, as though he were wading through a pool of mud, even as he increased his pace.


    However, when Ivan took a quick glance around, he didn¡¯t see anyone. Well, except for that lone neighbor that was always outside for some reason. Whether the man was mowing the lawn, washing his car, or just sitting on the porch, his presence was practically an eternal fixture in the neighborhood landscape. Ivan suspected he was the nosiest of them all.


    That time, he wasn¡¯t looking at Ivan, though. Rather, he was busy digging around in his car for something. The man¡¯s actions seemed like they were being performed in slow motion, almost as if he was submerged underwater. The rest of the houses around were equally silent and devoid of movement. The skin-crawling feeling intensified.


    Even the small, barely functional playground across the street that Ivan had often enjoyed as a child was abandoned. Weeds had sprung up, almost completely overrunning the mulch. The swing set was rusted and missing the seats, and yellow caution tape wrapped around the slanted poles. It was odd. Were there really no more kids left in the neighborhood that used it? Had everyone somehow grown up at the same time?


    It was haunting, the silence. Even the cicadas had ceased their chirping. The entire environment around him had become like another dimension. Suddenly, a dog barked somewhere in the distance, and whatever spell Ivan was under shattered. The dog rounded the house on the corner, finally coming into view, followed by the person walking it. They smiled at Ivan politely, but their eyes told a different story, and the dog continued to bark at Ivan as it passed.


    A car drove by with the music turned too loud, the bass rattling the vehicle all the way until it rolled out of sight. Birds chirped and an airplane flew by overhead, humming as it left a streak of artificial clouds in its wake. It was as though all life returned to the world at once.


    Even the abandoned playground now looked different, mulch fresh and with no sign of rusting metal. The seats of the swings rocked gently in a particularly strong breeze, chains clanking in the afternoon sun. In the distance, the cacophony of cicadas started up once more.


    What the hell? Ivan thought to himself before quickly shaking it off. Was he hallucinating? Perhaps he had spent too long cooped up inside in the dark.


    Still, he couldn¡¯t shake the uneasy feeling, although it really shouldn¡¯t have been anything new. Ivan had often felt that way throughout his life and chalked it up to just another side effect of his misfortune. He would feel discomfort even in the most mundane of circumstances.


    Since he was a kid, Ivan had been in twelve car accidents, four bus accidents, and even a boat accident. He had also been hit by bicycles and even scooters on multiple occasions (don¡¯t ask him how). Ivan never even got his driver¡¯s license because something always went horribly wrong before he could make it to the driving test stage. All of the accidents he had been in were not his doing, and yet he felt as though they were caused by him.


    Sufficed to say, Ivan preferred to walk most places.


    Those were just some examples, the tip of the iceberg. It was like a heavy cloud of catastrophe surrounded him, and those who were unfortunate enough to be near him also suffocated in it. Broken bones, sudden illnesses, near-death experiences; all of it was commonplace for Ivan and the people around him. In his case, misery really did love company, to the point that company preferred to steer clear of him.


    Even when he had been cooped up in his room the past week, several books had fallen off the shelf above his bed and hit him on the head in his sleep. All things considered, the feeling he was presently experiencing should not have been unusual in the slightest. Despite that, he found that he couldn¡¯t brush it off like he normally did. Goosebumps pricked up along his arm as he further increased his pace.


    Eventually, Ivan reached his destination. It was a familiar diner near the center of town. Though it was old, having been there as long as Ivan could remember, it had been renovated to look like new. It was a family-owned business that was strangely open twenty-four hours. Growing up, Ivan often found himself at the diner when he didn¡¯t know where else to go. It could have been his imagination, but nothing bad ever seemed to happen to him there.


    Being in a small town, there wasn¡¯t much to do. Therefore, the diner was fairly busy most of the time. The bright neon sign lured the bored townsfolk in like moths to a flame, especially once the sun went down. There were more than a few unsavory patrons who frequented the late hours, yet the diner never closed. It was an interesting business decision on behalf of the family, the only employees of the place. Did they never sleep?


    Ivan found it an odd yet comforting phenomenon. Like no matter what happened in his life, the diner would still be there, waiting with open arms and a warm cup of coffee.


    As Ivan pushed open the heavy glass door, a tiny bell chimed, and a wave of nostalgia washed over him. It was just as he remembered. The vinyl booths, the countertop stools, the jukebox in the corner that didn¡¯t even work anymore despite how pristine it appeared. It truly felt like Ivan¡¯s second home.


    It was only late afternoon at that point, the least busy time apart from the dead of night, so the place was still half empty. A few families sat scattered in booths and an elderly couple occupied the far end of the counter. For Ivan, the fewer people the better. He took a seat at the counter, making sure to leave ample distance between himself and the elderly couple.


    Strange, he thought as he sat down, I don¡¯t recognize him.


    The ¡®him¡¯ in question was of course the employee behind the counter. The diner was run by a family, and Ivan had been somewhat of a regular for a long time. However, the man he saw now was someone unfamiliar to him.


    ¡°Excuse me, are you a part of the family that runs this place?¡± Ivan couldn¡¯t help but ask out of curiosity.


    He was sure that if he¡¯d seen the man before, he¡¯d remember him. He was tall and handsome, with dark hair and dark eyes, and a good build to match. He wore a serving apron around his waist and a tight black t-shirt clung to his lean muscles. The man¡¯s features were pulled into a concentrated frown. His thick, furrowed brows contributed to the man¡¯s cold outward appearance as he answered.


    ¡°Of course, I¡¯m working here aren¡¯t I?¡± he replied, not looking up from the pot of coffee he was brewing. His tone was equally as deep and frosty as his appearance.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    Interesting, Ivan remarked to himself. He only ever remembered the owners having two daughters, but not a son. Maybe he was a cousin or something else of the sort?


    ¡°Anyway,¡± the man continued, finally looking up, ¡°what can I-¡°.


    He trailed off without finishing his sentence as he met Ivan¡¯s gaze. His eyebrows rose a fraction and his movements momentarily halted.


    ¡°Is something the matter?¡± Ivan asked nervously. He shifted in his seat uncomfortably.


    There was recognition in the man¡¯s gaze, but no fear or disgust. Only genuine surprise. It was unlike the stares Ivan was used to, and he felt inexplicably unsettled by it. Usually, if someone knew who he was, he got a very different reaction.


    ¡°No. I¡­ um¡­¡± the man trailed off again before clearing his throat and straightening up, his expression returning to normal. ¡°We¡­ went to high school together.¡±


    Oh¡­ oh?


    Now it was Ivan¡¯s turn to be surprised. ¡°Uh, right! Of course,¡± he said with a forced chuckle.


    The man behind the counter sighed and rolled his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s alright, you don¡¯t have to pretend to remember me. I was actually in the grade below you.¡±


    Below me??? He looks at least a year older than me!


    Still, Ivan just continued to smile. He had built up quite the people-pleaser mentality over the years, despite never really succeeding at it. ¡°What¡¯s your name? Maybe I¡¯ll recognize it.¡±


    The man stared consideringly at him for a while and Ivan almost thought he wasn¡¯t going to answer. ¡°Mikah,¡± he finally said.


    Ivan hummed in thought. ¡°Mikah¡­ Mikah¡­¡±


    He tried to recall his high school days as best he could, but he had always had a problem remembering things even on a good day. ¡°Sorry, it doesn¡¯t ring any bells,¡± he eventually responded apologetically.


    The man, Mikah, just sighed again. Ivan wasn¡¯t sure if it was a regular part of his personality or if Ivan not remembering him really had ticked him off. ¡°I already said it¡¯s alright,¡± Mikah said. ¡°Anyway, did you want to order something?¡±


    Mikah continued fidgeting with the stuff around him and even swore under his breath after almost burning himself with the coffee pot. And although he was focusing on other tasks, his eyes kept drifting back to Ivan before flicking away again. He said it was fine, but Ivan couldn¡¯t help but feel bad about not knowing who he was. He just hoped that wasn¡¯t what Mikah was upset about.


    ¡°I¡¯ll just have some coffee for now,¡± Ivan answered politely. He was pretending not to notice the other¡¯s obvious signs of irritation.


    Mikah nodded, pulling out a ceramic mug from below the counter and placing it in front of Ivan. He grabbed the coffee pot again and went to fill the mug. However, said mug suddenly started leaking out of the bottom, coffee seeping all over the counter.


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry!¡± Ivan said in a panic, hurriedly looking around for something to use to clean it up. He quickly grabbed a napkin and went to wipe up the mess but before he could, Mikah had swiftly grabbed his wrist.


    ¡°Don¡¯t. It¡¯s hot. Also, why do you keep apologizing? The cup obviously must¡¯ve had a crack in it, so it¡¯s my fault,¡± Mikah said calmly.


    I¡¯m not so sure about that. The mug looked fine before, Ivan thought miserably. His luck had struck again, and always at the worst times. He had thought the diner was safe, but after being away for two years, it seemed not even that was sacred anymore.


    Mikah grabbed a thick rag from under the counter and used it to mop up the brown liquid before fetching another cup. Even though he was acting nonchalant about it, Ivan could see the irritation further creeping into his expression. He kept glaring at something over Ivan¡¯s shoulder, but when Ivan turned his head, he didn¡¯t see anything. Still, Mikah kept his cool and went to pour the coffee again.


    Suddenly, the counter shook like it was struck by an earthquake, and coffee once again spilled everywhere.


    ¡°Ah, I¡¯m sorry gentlemen,¡± the old man called from the far end of the counter. ¡°I bumped the counter with my cane as I was getting up.¡± As he stood with his wife to leave, he tossed a few more loose bills on the counter as an added apology.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, accidents happen,¡± Mikah answered, though it was uttered through gritted teeth. He was obviously bothered but was trying to maintain composure. Mikah then made eye contact with Ivan, and it was clear they both had the same thought.


    How could an old man have shaken the entire counter like that with a simple bump of his cane?


    Something was odd, but like many things in his life, Ivan didn¡¯t have an explanation. He could only smile apologetically as Mikah once again retrieved the cloth to clean up the mess. By that point, the once-white rag was almost entirely brown with coffee stains. When he was finished, he turned back to Ivan with a stern expression.


    ¡°This time, you try,¡± he said, offering Ivan the pot of coffee.


    ¡°Uhhh I¡¯m not sure that¡¯s a good idea,¡± Ivan replied nervously.


    He was already pretty sure that whatever was going on was because of him. So far, though definitely unlucky, the outcome hadn¡¯t been too terrible since it had been Mikah handling everything. Handing Ivan the coffee pot in the current situation would be like handing him a loaded gun!


    ¡°Just try it,¡± Mikah insisted.


    Reluctantly, Ivan took the glass coffee pot from his hand. Only, the second he had it firmly in his grasp, the entire thing shattered! Hot coffee poured out in waves as broken glass rained down. Luckily, most of it was over the counter. Ivan and Mikah both jumped out of the way in time to avoid most of the splash. Even then, some managed to stain Ivan¡¯s shirt and pants, and he hissed at the slight burn through the fabric.


    Mikah had somehow gone completely unscathed, not a drop of coffee had hit him, but now he appeared to be furious. No longer bothering to hide it, he slapped the rag down onto the counter in frustration, the wet plop of the cloth making Ivan wince.


    ¡°That¡¯s it! I can¡¯t do it anymore!¡± Mikah exclaimed.


    Then, without warning, he walked around the counter, grabbed Ivan by the wrist, and dragged him into the kitchen. Ivan could feel the baffled looks of the diner¡¯s other patrons burning a hole in his back as he let himself be tugged along. The owners were in the kitchen cooking, and they both looked up in alarm at the sudden intrusion.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± his mom asked, setting aside the spatula in her hand. ¡°What was all that commotion?¡±


    Now that Ivan thought about it, he didn¡¯t know how he hadn¡¯t seen the resemblance sooner. Mikah looked a lot like his mom. She also had pleasant features and beautiful dark hair. His dad was on the more intimidating side, still handsome but much more rugged-looking, merely glancing up before going back to work, unphased by whatever chaos was unfolding. He and Mikah shared the same piercing, cold eyes.


    ¡°Permission to use the back office?¡± Mikah urged impatiently.


    ¡°Can you answer my question first?¡± his mom protested. ¡°Mikah, you can¡¯t just-¡°


    ¡°Honey,¡± Mikah¡¯s father interrupted. ¡°Take another look at that boy beside him.¡±


    Her gaze instantly slid over to Ivan before widening slightly, just like Mikah¡¯s had when he¡¯d first seen him. Was it because of the spilled coffee? Did he look like that much of a mess? Ivan looked down at his clothes. Sure they were stained, but it was manageable. It couldn¡¯t be that big of a deal, right?


    Or maybe they wanted Ivan to repay them somehow for all the damages. That would be a problem, Ivan thought.


    ¡°Fine,¡± Mikah¡¯s mom relented, letting out a huff. ¡°Just try not to make too much noise.¡± Then, she turned back to her husband. ¡°Guess I¡¯ll manage the front for now.¡± After that announcement, she removed her cooking apron and tossed it aside before storming out without another word, grabbing a notepad on her way.


    Mikah simply nodded at his father, apparently coming to some kind of silent understanding, and then quickly pulled Ivan along through another door. It was the back office, rather unassuming except for the fact that it had no windows. Oh, and some weird scrolls with foreign symbols hung on the walls, but maybe his parents were just into some odd decorations.


    Ivan started to panic again when he heard the door lock behind him. He quickly turned around to confront Mikah. ¡°Look, I¡¯m sorry about the coffee, okay? I can tell you¡¯re upset-¡±. Ivan¡¯s words died in his throat as Mikah began to rummage through the desk drawers. ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°I am upset, but not with you,¡± came Mikah¡¯s response, still crouched behind the desk. Then, he found what he was looking for. He pulled out a square wooden box with another one of those weird sigils carved on the lid. When Mikah opened the box, Ivan nearly passed out on the spot.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s a little extreme!? I can pay to replace everything that broke!¡± he pleaded.


    I¡¯m gonna die!!!, he screamed internally. ¡°People saw me come back here!¡± he said externally.


    ¡°Hold still,¡± Mikah instructed. He didn¡¯t seem to be paying any attention to Ivan¡¯s desperate rambling.


    Calmly, he lifted the shiny silver gun out of the box, aimed it at Ivan, and fired.

 Chapter 2: Paranormagnetism

    With a yelp, Ivan ducked down, hastily shielding his head with his arms.


    ¡°Are you crazy!?¡± he screamed from his crouched position on the floor.


    ¡°I told you not to move,¡± Mikah replied indifferently. He stashed the gun away and Ivan finally felt his body slump to the ground, losing all strength as the shock of what just happened set in.


    ¡°Firing a gun this close to me, you¡¯re lucky the bullet didn¡¯t somehow ricochet off of anything and kill you,¡± Ivan chastised. He tried to sound stern but it was becoming increasingly difficult with the way his whole body was going limp. Instead, the words rushed out in a breathless torrent.


    Mikah slammed the desk drawer closed before glancing over at Ivan like he was the crazy one. As if Mikah hadn¡¯t just pointed a gun at him.


    ¡°Wait a minute, let me get this straight,¡± Mikah said with mild amusement. ¡°You¡¯re not upset that I almost shot you, but that I could have somehow gotten hurt in the process?¡±


    After hearing Mikah say it out loud like that, Ivan supposed it did sound pretty stupid. The thing was, Ivan had so many near-death experiences that they hardly fazed him anymore. Sure, his body still responded a certain way, and he would be terrified at that moment, but once it passed he had become so used to just moving on that it became second nature. His own safety barely constituted an afterthought.


    ¡°Well, why did you shoot at me?¡± Ivan questioned, becoming irritated. He didn¡¯t feel like explaining himself to the man who just pointed a gun at him over a broken coffee pot.


    ¡°Take a look at the wall behind you,¡± Mikah said, gesturing for Ivan to turn around.


    Ivan stood up in confusion before doing as told. ¡°I don¡¯t see why you can¡¯t just answer the question,¡± he huffed.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t answer mine either,¡± Mikah retorted.


    ¡°Whatever!¡± Ivan angrily analyzed the wall in front of him. It was bare apart from one of those weird scrolls, and the color was also unremarkable, a bland off-white. He wasn¡¯t sure what he was supposed to be looking at. ¡°I don¡¯t get it. There¡¯s nothing there.¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Mikah said, suddenly sliding up next to him. ¡°Not even a bullet hole. Don¡¯t you find that odd? It should have hit the wall right here.¡±


    He tapped at a spot on the wall behind where Ivan had been standing a moment ago, yet there was nothing there. Ivan realized then what Mikah was trying to say. Obviously, the bullet hadn¡¯t hit Ivan. It should have embedded itself into the wall somewhere, but there was no sign of it. It was like the bullet had vanished into thin air.


    ¡°Are you going to explain what¡¯s going on now or are you going to keep playing cryptic guessing games?¡± Ivan asked, feeling frustrated.


    Mikah merely stared at him, his gaze akin to someone trying to figure out a math problem that had stumped them. Ivan returned his gaze with his own narrowed one, not willing to back down. Finally, Mikah spoke.


    ¡°Then let me do the guessing this time. Before you came into the diner, I¡¯m guessing you felt a heavy presence around you, like an oppressive burden. No matter where you went, it followed, and it felt like someone was watching you even when there was no one around. Maybe you even saw some strange things, but brushed them off as your mind playing tricks on you.¡±


    It was the most Ivan had heard Mikah speak since they met, and each word left Ivan feeling a chill run up his spine, the goosebumps from before making a comeback. His heart pounded in his chest, and he took a small step back. ¡°H-how did you know that? What¡¯s really going on?¡± he asked again.


    Mikah took a step forward, closing the gap. Ivan tried to back up further but his back hit the wall. The office was really too small. Why was Mikah getting so close? Ivan suddenly felt like a caged animal, one that had foolishly stepped right into a waiting hunter¡¯s trap.


    ¡°How do you feel now?¡± Mikah pressed, his eyes searching in Ivan¡¯s gaze.


    ¡°Confused and¡­ scared,¡± Ivan found himself answering honestly. ¡°Who are you?¡±


    ¡°Like I said, I¡¯m Mikah,¡± the other man replied casually. ¡°And that isn¡¯t what I meant. I was referring to that weight, that eerie presence around you. Do you still feel it?¡±


    Ivan paused, breath catching in his throat. With everything going on, he hadn¡¯t even noticed. Since the gun went off, he had felt panic, fear, adrenaline, and even anger. But amongst all of those feelings, that feeling of being watched had completely dissipated. His body felt lighter. His head felt clearer than it had in weeks. It almost made him feel like a new person entirely.


    Ivan¡¯s eyes widened as he looked back at Mikah, who was merely watching him expectantly.


    ¡°How did you do that? Who- no, what are you?¡±


    ¡°That feeling was being caused by a malevolent spirit, the same one that broke the coffee pot. For some reason, it was clinging onto you, so I exorcised it,¡± Mikah explained. He said it all as though it were a natural, normal occurrence. ¡°I¡¯m an exorcist.¡±


    ¡°This has to be a joke, right?¡± Ivan whispered in disbelief. However, he didn¡¯t have any other explanation for the bizarre sequence of events.


    Before Mikah could answer, there was a rapid pounding on the office door, like whoever was on the other side was seconds away from breaking it down.


    ¡°Mikah!¡± his mom¡¯s voice shrieked, muffled through the wood. ¡°Open this door right this instant!¡±


    With a dejected sigh, Mikah opened the door. His mother burst into the room, immediately winding on her son and pointing an accusatory finger in his face.


    ¡°I told you not to make too much noise, and this is what you do!¡± she scolded. ¡°You have so many exorcism tools at your disposal, and you chose the loudest one!¡±


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Mikah mumbled, not sounding sorry at all.


    ¡°Wait, is everyone in your family an exorcist?¡± Ivan asked, still processing.


    ¡°You even told him about that!?¡± his mother continued her rant.


    ¡°Well it would be rude of me to shoot a gun at him and not explain myself properly,¡± Mikah defended, nonchalant as ever.


    ¡°That reminds me, you¡¯re not getting off the hook for that! I had to come up with a lousy excuse to the customers out front for the noise,¡± his mom huffed, crossing her arms impatiently. ¡°I would ground you except you¡¯re too old for that. I know you would just sneak off anyway.¡±


    ¡°Could I please get a full explanation now?¡± Ivan interjected. As amusing as the scene in front of him was, he had a lot of questions. Mikah¡¯s mother turned to him with a look of sympathy and began to explain.


    It turned out that yes, Mikah¡¯s entire family exorcised spirits, and they even came from a long line of famous exorcists. The diner was a cover. As it turned out, it was located along some prominent spiritual ley line, and many wayward spirits ended up there either by mistake or on their journey to somewhere else. The diner was always open because many of the spirits showed up at night, where they were covertly exorcised by the family. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    Ivan also learned that all exorcists had some form of spiritual connection or power tied to the spirit realm. Though his entire family had gifts, Mikah was the only one who could actually see spirits. He had known Ivan was being haunted the minute he walked in and had to watch as the ghost clung to him and repeatedly caused trouble. After getting fed up with its antics, Mikah snapped, eventually exorcising it with the gun.


    Along with the gun, apparently many spiritual weapons existed. They were simply weapons that had been imbued with spiritual power, whether at the time of forging or even later on. It was common for spiritual weapons to be passed down among generations of exorcists, and even some well-known ones existed within the exorcism world. Those weapons were once held by extremely powerful exorcists before becoming powerful themselves, and any exorcist would be eager to get their hands on one.


    ¡°Not all exorcists need spiritual weapons, however,¡± Mikah¡¯s mom told Ivan proudly. ¡°Our middle daughter only needs her voice.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Ivan didn¡¯t quite understand what she meant.


    Mikah rolled his eyes. Again. Ivan guessed that was a bad habit of his. ¡°Different exorcists possess different degrees of spiritual power. My sister has significantly more than me, so she can exorcise spirits with a spell rather than a weapon. She imbues it into her voice and exorcises them through song,¡± he explained.


    ¡°Woah, that sounds amazing,¡± Ivan couldn¡¯t help but comment in admiration.


    Mikah¡¯s mom looked increasingly pleased. ¡°That¡¯s right! It¡¯s truly a sight to behold. That¡¯s not all, our eldest is no laughing matter either,¡± she continued to brag. ¡°She¡¯s a decent fighter, but her true incredible skill is her ability to read the stars! She can make very accurate spiritual predictions, and even read people¡¯s fate!¡±


    Ivan had no idea what that was supposed to mean, but he did his best to sound impressed. ¡°Wow, amazing,¡± he complimented with a smile.


    ¡°Yeah, well none of your exorcisms would be so effective if you didn¡¯t have my ability to see the spirits,¡± Mikah interjected, mild irritation coloring his voice.


    ¡°That does sound pretty useful,¡± Ivan agreed. However, Mikah¡¯s mom dismissed them both with a wave of her hand.


    ¡°Clio can locate them accurately enough with her predictions, and Wren doesn¡¯t need to see them. Any spirit within earshot of her song would be exorcised on the spot. Besides, your father and I can¡¯t see the spirits, but we can sense them, and that¡¯s good enough,¡± she said.


    ¡°Wow, thanks mom. I had almost forgotten how useless I am compared to the rest of you,¡± Mikah replied dryly.


    Such clear favoritism would have wounded anyone, but Mikah seemed used to it. Ivan was surprised that even a skilled exorcist with the ability to see ghosts could feel so unimportant. He secretly sympathized with Mikah¡¯s bitterness.


    ¡°You know that¡¯s not what I meant,¡± his mom quickly corrected.


    ¡°Yeah, yeah. I know,¡± Mikah reassured her, but Ivan could tell from his expression that he was hurt. He had seen the same look in his own eyes enough times after speaking with his parents. It was the look someone had when they felt like a disappointment.


    ¡°Why was that ghost clinging to me?¡± Ivan intervened, in part to change the subject but also because he was genuinely curious.


    ¡°I would also like to know,¡± Mikah answered, humming in thought. The question seemed to have sufficiently distracted him. ¡°It¡¯s pretty unusual, although in your case I can¡¯t say I¡¯m surprised.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Ivan asked.


    ¡°Even in high school, spirits always seemed to hang around you.¡±


    For some reason, Ivan was pleasantly surprised by that. ¡°You even remember back then?¡±


    Mikah¡¯s cheeks grew the tiniest bit red. ¡°It wasn¡¯t that long ago, and it was hard to miss a guy that had ghosts clinging to him all the time.¡±


    ¡°If I didn¡¯t know any better, I¡¯d think someone put a curse on you,¡± Mikah¡¯s mom chimed in.


    ¡°A curse? Is that really possible?¡±


    She nodded. ¡°They¡¯re rare, but not unheard of. However, from the sound of it, this has been a problem your whole life. Who would put a curse on a newborn?¡±


    ¡°If it were a curse, does that mean there¡¯d be a way to cure it?¡± Ivan asked, no longer able to hide his eagerness.


    ¡°Theoretically, yes,¡± Mikah¡¯s mom agreed hesitantly. ¡°But there¡¯s no guarantee it¡¯s a curse.¡±


    ¡°How would you know for sure?¡± Ivan questioned. He needed an answer. If there was even just the slimmest possibility, no matter how absurd or minuscule, of getting rid of this plague that had been burdening him his entire life, how could he let it slip away?


    Finding out that all of his bad luck, all of his pain and misfortune, might have a real, actual, physical cause? It would change everything.


    ¡°Demons,¡± Mikah said simply, though he didn¡¯t look happy about it. ¡°They¡¯re the ones typically responsible for curses. If you were cursed, a demon would be able to tell.¡±


    ¡°Where can I find one?¡± Ivan asked hurriedly.


    ¡°Woah, slow down Mikah,¡± his mom protested. ¡°Don¡¯t you think you two are getting carried away? He just found out that ghosts exist, there¡¯s no way he can face a demon. Besides, I don¡¯t want him getting his hopes up when nothing is guaranteed.¡±


    ¡°But-¡± Ivan began to counter.


    ¡°No buts!¡± she cut him off. ¡°Being an exorcist is not a game. It¡¯s extremely dangerous, and every day my family puts their lives on the line. Spirits are one thing, but demons are a whole other level. I wouldn¡¯t even send Mikah to exorcise a demon, let alone a child who knows nothing of the spiritual world.¡±


    ¡°Mom-¡± Mikah began.


    ¡°No is no, Mikah. And that¡¯s final.¡±


    Ivan cleared his throat before finally mustering up enough courage to speak again.


    ¡°Miss¡­ uh¡­¡± he realized that he didn¡¯t actually know their last name. Her name tag said ¡®Jane¡®, but it didn¡¯t feel right to call her that now.


    ¡°Mikah¡¯s mom,¡± he continued, ¡°with all due respect, if I truly am cursed, then my life is already in danger. Simple everyday tasks sometimes end up with me or someone close to me in the hospital. I¡¯ve experienced so-called freak accidents more times than I can count. Every moment of my existence feels at odds with the universe. If there¡¯s a way to make it stop, I need to try, no matter what.¡±


    She turned to him with a gaze he hated the most: pity.


    ¡°If what you say is true, you¡¯re basically admitting that I¡¯d be sending you and Mikah to your deaths. What about your parents, what would they think?¡± she responded, tone soft yet pleading.


    ¡°Even if I were to disappear, they likely wouldn¡¯t notice or care,¡± Ivan answered solemnly.


    She looked pained but didn¡¯t respond, instead facing her son. ¡°And you, Mikah? You really want to help this boy?¡±


    Mikah nodded. ¡°I¡¯m not as useless as you think. I can¡¯t just stay cooped up in the diner all the time.¡±


    Her eyes widened, before lowering in defeat. ¡°Fine, I understand. This old woman won¡¯t stand in your way anymore.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not it. I know you¡¯re just being considerate. I appreciate it, really,¡± Ivan rushed to reassure her.


    ¡°However,¡± her gaze snapped back up, fire sparking back to life, ¡°I won¡¯t let you come face to face with a demon unprepared.¡±


    Mikah sighed. ¡°I knew you agreed too easily. What is it now?¡±


    ¡°We recently got a commission. I was waiting to give it to Wren since I thought it suited her best, but I¡¯ll give it to you, Mikah. Take this boy along with you, show him what it¡¯s like out in the field, how dangerous and unpredictable it can be, and see if he still wants to go through with this. If you both come back in one piece, I¡¯ll help you track down a demon,¡± she said with finality.


    ¡°What¡¯s a commission mean for exorcists?¡± Ivan asked. Though he was practically diving headfirst into everything, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a little excited.


    ¡°There¡¯s a whole network of exorcists that stay connected,¡± Mikah explained. ¡°When they get reports of paranormal activity, they contact the nearest compatible exorcists in the area to deal with investigating and resolving it.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Mikah¡¯s mom nodded, ¡°and there are different degrees of difficulty to these jobs as well. The harder the difficulty, the more experienced the exorcists they call in. This commission should be around B-rank. Not too much for you, right Mikah?¡±


    ¡°Of course not,¡± Mikah said with a frown. ¡°Despite what you and Dad think, I am fully capable.¡±


    ¡°I know, I know. You want to prove something to your father and me, I get it. But don¡¯t forget, this time you¡¯ll also be responsible for the safety of another person,¡± she pointed out.


    Mikah glanced at Ivan and their eyes met briefly, only to quickly look away again. ¡°Not a problem.¡±


    ¡°All right, then I¡¯ll give you all the details,¡± his mom said with a small, reluctant smile. ¡°Just¡­ please, be careful.¡±

 Chapter 3: 100% Off Sale - All Ghosts Must Go

    ¡°You know¡­ when your mom was talking about a haunted location, I wasn¡¯t expecting a department store of all things.¡±


    That same night, Ivan and Mikah had made their way to the location specified by the commission, and soon found themselves crouching outside the maintenance door of a shopping mall a few towns over. Mikah looked up from where he was actively trying to pick the lock with an unimpressed stare.


    ¡°What were you expecting? A desolate haunted house in the middle of nowhere?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ sort of,¡± Ivan admitted sheepishly.


    ¡°Ghosts were once human, so they tend to prefer hanging around places frequented by other humans. A haunted mall is not unusual,¡± Mikah responded, once again concentrating on the lock.


    A snap echoed in the quiet of the night, and Mikah pulled the broken lock pick out before throwing it on the ground in frustration.


    ¡°Dammit! That¡¯s the second one that broke already. I usually have no problem with this¡­¡± As he spoke, his gaze shifted back to Ivan, the accusation clear even without a word.


    ¡°Seems like my bad luck is rubbing off on you,¡± Ivan said with a chuckle.


    ¡°Is it something to laugh about?¡± Mikah huffed. ¡°Just¡­ give me some space.¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± Ivan pouted while crossing his arms. Begrudgingly, he took a few steps back and looked away.


    ¡°Remind me again why we have to break in? What if we get caught by a security guard or something?¡± Ivan questioned, observing their surroundings as though he expected someone to jump out at them at any moment. However, Mikah¡¯s car was the only one in the entire, barren parking lot.


    The lock finally clicked open on the third try, and Mikah stood up as he answered. ¡°Exorcists aren¡¯t exactly a profession recognized by the general public. We often have to carry out missions in secret like this. As for the security guards, there aren¡¯t any.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Ivan turned back to the now open door. The towering mall loomed over them like a beige cinderblock fortress. ¡°In a big place like this? There must be.¡±


    ¡°There were,¡± Mikah corrected, moving inside and gesturing for Ivan to follow. ¡°But they all quit after witnessing paranormal activity.¡±


    Ivan gulped, feeling a little nervous. Just how bad was it that even several trained security guards couldn¡¯t handle it anymore? Compared to them, Ivan was probably like a freshly hatched chick leaving the nest for the first time. Unlike his partner, he didn¡¯t have any supernatural combat abilities or experience. Should he be worried?


    As if sensing his nerves, Mikah put a firm hand on Ivan¡¯s shoulder as they slinked down one of the long marble corridors. However, the accompanying blank look on his face was hardly what Ivan would call ¡®reassuring¡¯.


    ¡°Just stick close to me, and you¡¯ll be fine,¡± Mikah said quietly. All Ivan could do was nod.


    They finally exited the narrow maintenance hallway and entered the main body of the mall. It was much more open, with shops lining either side of the length of the building across two floors. The only light they had was the pale moonlight streaking through the skylights overhead, washing over the scene in patches of white.


    ¡°This place gives me a bad feeling,¡± Ivan muttered, practically clinging to Mikah¡¯s back.


    He was shamelessly using the taller man as a human shield. Mikah was experienced, after all, and his build gave Ivan confidence in his abilities. He clearly worked out, something Ivan never gave much merit to. He tried to imagine himself in a gym and shuttered. So much could go wrong in an environment like that. Getting shredded by a treadmill or crushed by a barbell was not on his to-do list.


    Apart from being more physically built, Mikah was also taller than Ivan, though only by a little. Ivan didn¡¯t consider himself short by any means, but Mikah was surely above average. Suddenly, Ivan remembered that Mikah was a year younger than him and got slightly ticked off. He should share some of his height with his elders.


    ¡°Maybe you have an aptitude for spirits after all,¡± Mikah said in a low voice. ¡°Because this place is crawling with them.¡±


    Ivan could only imagine how the scene must appear through Mikah¡¯s eyes, actually being able to see the alleged spirits. Despite that fact, the other man remained calm.


    ¡°Do crowded places always look like that to you?¡± Ivan asked in realization.


    ¡°Pretty much, but I¡¯m used to it now. Besides, most of them are harmless,¡± Mikah said with a shrug.


    Suddenly, he came to an abrupt stop and his gaze shifted rapidly, following something only he could see. He reached for the weapon at his waist and took a step back, pushing Ivan further behind himself.


    ¡°Shit, that problem of yours is really annoying,¡± he said, no longer trying to be quiet. ¡°They¡¯ve already noticed you and are starting to surround us.¡±


    ¡°I thought you said they¡¯re mostly harmless!¡±


    ¡°They are. Clearly, something about you agitated them,¡± Mikah snapped.


    With a swift motion almost too quick to follow, he unsheathed his spiritual sword. When they left, Ivan had asked him why he chose a sword rather than the gun he used before. It turned out that the sword was his actual weapon and also the one he was most proficient with. The gun was stored in the back office for emergencies, and Mikah had only used it out of convenience.


    Swinging the sword in a large arc, a streak of white light shot out. It stopped after a few feet and burst into a blinding light that made Ivan have to shield his eyes, and he assumed that it had hit its target.


    ¡°That was only the first wave,¡± Mikah told him, continuing to hack and slash at invisible enemies.


    His movements were graceful and controlled, barely even budging an inch from his spot in front of Ivan. Staring at his broad back, Ivan felt like he was being protected by an immovable wall. He couldn¡¯t see the ghosts, but he was surprised to find that he fully trusted Mikah at that moment.


    Bursts of light continued to explode in front of them like fireworks as the sword sliced through the air. After a few minutes, Mikah let out a breath and sheathed the weapon. His skin was glistening with a light sheen of sweat, and it took him a moment to collect himself. Ivan wasn¡¯t sure how many ghosts the other had exorcised just then, but it couldn¡¯t have been easy.


    ¡°T-thanks,¡± he said awkwardly now that it had become unnervingly quiet again. ¡°Is it over now?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Mikah told him, expression frosty. ¡°Those were just the small fries. The actual commission is over there.¡±


    Saying that, he pointed to the left. At the end of the long building was the looming entrance of a department store. It seemed to be going out of business, with bright yellow banners on either side reading ¡°Sale - 70% Off¡± and ¡°Everything Must Go¡±.


    The unnerving feeling from before increased tenfold as Ivan stared into the abyss beyond the entrance. Metal shutters were blocking the way like a prison gate, and past that only pitch black awaited. All light, even the reflection of the moonbeams, stopped right at its border as if denied entry.


    ¡°We have to go in there?¡± Ivan asked nervously.


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome to stay out here,¡± Mikah said, patting his sword. ¡°But I can¡¯t protect you if more spirits show up.¡±


    Ivan hated the smug expression on the other¡¯s face. Still, he hurriedly agreed to go with him.


    ¡°Who knows? Maybe your spirit attraction skill will be useful in luring out the culprit. This spirit seems to like hiding away,¡± Mikah added, eyes narrowing as he began to walk towards the department store.


    ¡°How can you tell?¡±


    No matter how scary a situation Ivan found himself in, his curiosity always seemed to win out in the end. And besides, he was there to learn, right?


    ¡°Every spirit in this place flocked to you as soon as they sensed you,¡± Mikah explained before coming to a stop in front of the metal shutter. ¡°Except for this one.¡±


    He unsheathed his sword once more, slicing through the metal like butter. The bottom half of the shutter clattered to the ground with a bang, the sound jarringly loud in the quiet space. Ivan couldn¡¯t help but be amazed. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    ¡°Exactly how good is your spiritual weapon?¡± he asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s an S-rank,¡± Mikah replied without looking, but Ivan could see the proud smile on his face.


    ¡°Does that mean it belonged to someone famous?¡±


    ¡°My great-great-grandmother. She was a big-shot exorcist.¡±


    Just then, a low groan rumbled through the air, so powerful that Ivan felt it rattle his bones. Mikah¡¯s expression quickly grew stern once more, determined ice sharpening his gaze.


    ¡°It was waiting,¡± he said.


    ¡°Well you didn¡¯t exactly break in quietly,¡± Ivan pointed out.


    ¡°Shut up. It was already aware of our presence before that,¡± Mikah defended.


    He readied his sword as he took a step forward, preparing to go inside. However, before he could even cross the threshold, something slammed into him and Mikah flew back several feet, barely managing to stay upright.


    ¡°Run!¡± Mikah yelled as he returned to a fighting stance with a cough. ¡°It¡¯s after you!¡±


    Ivan wanted to follow his advice and run, he really did. Only, he was presently glued to the spot. The reason was that he had seen the ghost that pushed Mikah back. He had actually seen it! How was that possible? He hadn¡¯t seen any of the spirits up to that point.


    A dark figure emerged in the shape of a human, peeling itself out of the inky darkness. It lacked depth, like a cloud of black mist, as it advanced towards Ivan.


    ¡°Ivan!¡± Mikah called again, rushing forward just in time to parry the shadow¡¯s attack with his sword. Still, he grunted from the force of the blow before letting go with one hand to shove Ivan out of the way. ¡°Move, idiot!¡±


    Ivan finally returned to his senses, backing away a few steps in alarm. ¡°Where do I go!?¡± he yelled in panic.


    Even if he wanted to run, they were in a very open space. Besides, he still felt much safer by Mikah¡¯s side than he would going off on his own.


    The silhouetted figure melted into the shadow of a pillar on the floor and disappeared, before reemerging in front of Ivan once more. In a flash, Mikah was there, slashing his sword right as the ghost disappeared again. It seemed to be avoiding Mikah¡¯s attacks entirely.


    ¡°Stand under the brightest spot of moonlight!¡± Mikah commanded. ¡°This thing hates light.¡±


    Without needing to be told twice, Ivan sprinted to an open space under the skylight, the moon almost directly overhead. He was instantly bathed in that white light, and the ghost shifted around the perimeter of that square of protection, not daring to cross it.


    Mikah was tracking it with his eyes, able to follow its every movement even better than Ivan. But every time he slashed at it, it dodged his attack and disappeared into the floor.


    ¡°Something¡¯s wrong,¡± he panted out, slightly breathless as he tried to pin down the spirit. ¡°This is much stronger than a B-rank.¡±


    ¡°What do we do? Can you handle it?¡± Ivan called from his spot some distance away.


    ¡°Of course, just give me some time to think,¡± Mikah retorted bitterly, missing yet another slash. ¡°Dammit, come out and fight me, you coward!¡±


    The spirit¡¯s determined avoidance was severely grating on his nerves. It seemed it didn¡¯t intend to confront Mikah at all, focused entirely on Ivan instead. If they fought one one-on-one, Mikah was sure he¡¯d have a fair chance of exorcising it. If only it weren¡¯t so damn slippery!


    Just as his sword cut another long gash into the marble floor, the worst possible thing happened. A large cloud passed over the skylight, effectively blocking the moon! How unlucky!


    In an instant, the spirit rushed Ivan, who could do nothing but await the inevitable. Mikah was still several feet away, one step behind. He wouldn¡¯t be able to parry the attack in time.


    Cursing under his breath, he did the next best thing he could think of. Mikah channeled a huge amount of energy into his sword, and from it burst a pure white light. It lit up the area like a flashbang, so bright that everyone present had to squeeze their eyes shut. A shrill shriek of pain echoed out as the spirit was hit by that light.


    Mikah opened his eyes to see that the cloud overhead had passed, Ivan once again safe under the square of moonlight. He let out a breath of relief before he felt the spirit¡®s claws at his back. Apparently, the attack hadn¡¯t been quite enough to exorcise it, leaving it wounded instead. And now it was finally taking its anger out on Mikah.


    He hissed in pain as he whirled around, swinging outward with his sword. But the spirit had already become an expert at dodging his attacks, able to use the shadows as cover. It could pop out from anywhere there was darkness, and Mikah could only remain on high alert.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡± Ivan called out in concern. ¡°Come over here into the light!¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Mikah responded, his entire demeanor filled with frosty determination. ¡°I need to exorcise it. We can¡¯t both run from it forever.¡±


    Ivan couldn¡¯t help but feel like the statement was a slight dig. ¡°Hey!¡±


    ¡°Still,¡± Mikah continued, eerily calm even as more scratches appeared across his body from the spirit¡¯s attacks. ¡°It can¡¯t run from me forever, either.¡±


    He moved swiftly, stabbing his sword into a shadow on the ground. The spirit wailed as it was impaled. Mikah had correctly predicted which shadow it would emerge from!


    Still, it seemed that it wasn¡¯t enough. After the grand display with the great big flash of light, Mikah¡¯s spiritual energy was seriously depleted. He didn¡¯t put enough into his strike just then, only enough to wound, and he was quickly running out.


    The spirit was growing increasingly agitated as well, having been injured twice now. It attacked even more ruthlessly, and Mikah could just barely fend it off. A few more hits landed, fresh wounds littering his torso.


    As he slowly ran out of steam, Mikah gathered the last of his spiritual energy into one final slash, hoping it would be enough to finish the job. He readied his sword, letting out a long sigh. If the next attack failed, they would both be done for.


    In that instant, the worst possible thing happened again, and Mikah felt his heart drop. All light was blocked as another cloud moved in, and Ivan was left exposed in the pitch darkness. That bastard¡¯s shitty luck!


    The spirit rushed straight for Ivan, and Mikah could only helplessly watch. He didn¡¯t have enough spiritual energy left to do another blast like before. Was there really nothing he could do?


    Then, the black mist abruptly stopped and began to writhe in pain on the floor as a young girl¡¯s voice carried across the space. It was humming a pleasant melody, but as it echoed around the empty mall it sounded unnervingly otherworldly.


    The spirit let out one final pitiful cry before dissolving into mist and vanishing completely. The beautiful tune also stopped, and at the same time, a young woman jumped down from the second floor and landed gracefully between them.


    As the clouds finally parted and the moonlight filtered down, it illuminated her youthful appearance. She was on the shorter side, with long black hair woven into two slick braids. She had a distinct and somewhat familiar fire in her eyes. Her overall features were quite pretty, and that¡¯s when it clicked for Ivan.


    ¡°Wren,¡± Mikah grunted out in greeting.


    She turned to him with a teasing grin. ¡°Hello, little brother. Mom told me you might need my help, and it turns out she was right.¡±


    ¡°I had it under control,¡± he said, sliding his sword back into its sheath with a huff.


    ¡°Really? Because you seem pretty worn out to me,¡± she commented before strutting over to him, poking him in the forehead repeatedly. ¡°You should be thanking me, you ungrateful brat. I rushed over here even though I just came back from my own job.¡±


    Mikah ignored her, turning his head with a frown.


    ¡°Hey, are you even listening to me!?¡±


    ¡°Um¡­ thank you for the help,¡± Ivan chimed in, walking over with a polite smile.


    ¡°That¡¯s more like it!¡± Wren said cheerfully before pausing. ¡°Huh? Wait. Who are you?¡±


    Ivan froze awkwardly. Did Mikah¡¯s mom not mention him?


    ¡°His name is Ivan,¡± Mikah answered for him, finally tuning back into the conversation now that his forehead was free from assault.


    Wren¡¯s eyes instantly lit up in recognition. ¡°I¡¯ve seen you in the diner before! And you went to high school with my brother, right?¡±


    ¡°Uh, yeah, but how did-¡°


    ¡°Let¡¯s get to the point,¡± Mikah interrupted. ¡°This commission was for a B-rank spirit, but that was clearly wrong information.¡±


    Wren put her finger to her chin in thought. ¡°Hmmm, I agree. How could a spirit that dangerous go unchecked for so long? If they knew about it, it should¡¯ve ranked at least an A and been taken care of by now.¡±


    Mikah¡¯s expression was grim. ¡°Something¡¯s off about this job. When we entered, there were way more spirits than usual. Even though they were lower ranked, so many in one place without a cause is suspicious.¡±


    ¡°Why did you act like it was normal, then!?¡± Ivan asked in disbelief.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t want you to panic,¡± Mikah answered simply.


    Ivan was about to protest but was cut short.


    ¡°Well anyway, we definitely need to report this,¡± Wren said. ¡°Maybe another investigation is in order.¡±


    The sound of approaching footsteps froze them all on the spot.


    ¡°There shouldn¡¯t be any spirits left,¡± Wren said with a frown. ¡°Any that were lingering should¡¯ve been exorcised once they heard my voice.¡±


    ¡°They were,¡± a voice answered, coming from the same direction as the footsteps. It was the direction of the department store.


    Suddenly, a new person emerged from the depths, stepping casually over the fallen shutter before they came to a stop in front of the group of three, head lowered.


    It seemed to be a young man, but a dark hood hid most of his features. A long cloak shadowed his body, and he slowly looked up at the exorcists before him. Immediately, one thing stood out. His eyes were a bright, bloody red, and they shone even in the dim light.


    Mikah and Wren recoiled in shock before settling into defensive positions, shielding the clueless Ivan behind them. Wren¡¯s frown became a full-blown scowl. What terrible luck, she thought, to run into one here.


    She spat one word under her breath, causing Ivan¡¯s hair to stand on end.


    ¡°Demon.¡±