Smoking is starting to become a routine and I can't stretch this far enough.
I may have developed an obsession with it or is it a coping mechanism? I don't know but it's probably just a minor addiction…
Okay, I'm sure it's more than that.
At first you'll be disgusted by the taste and smell, spitting out the lingering nasty residue that you were left with.
Although my first experience with it wasn't that memorable to say the least and I honestly thought that it would deter me from ever indulging into it ever again but instead, I was being pulled in.
I can't help but be addicted to it- And no, I am not addicted to tobacco itself but rather the process of doing so.
Just the notion of blowing away all your pent-up stress away through the smoke you inhaled is quite effective and soothing, though this won't probably result in me trying different kinds of things.
I'd rather not end up in a ditch somewhere in the city being totally hammered.
A insightful lesson I learned thanks to that one woman whom I admit- Forgot her name but she was a very lax person who frequented the shrine for rehabilitation, and suffice to say I don't know what the hell happened to her but her experience is a good reminder that addictive drugs are bad.
Not like I'll ever justify smoking is good either...
After all, the cigs that Yoshikage gave me were addicting to say the least and by their taste and feel, I could say that what he gave me was worse than a blunt joint.
-Okay, I may be exaggerating a bit but in all honesty, the Fuyu leaves that were used makes it practical to an extent I suppose.
Just as the main ingredient's name suggests, the leaves come from persimmon which is a sweet fruit full of nutrients hence why Yoshikage called it 'medicinal'.
By providing a way to vent out stress and help in mana management, the cig is something that I wouldn't necessarily die for but I would put it in a slight level below MAX in terms of value and worth.
It's a good thing that it helped in finally easing my disarranged mind days ago.
The effect of adrenaline at least for me was unprecedented to say the least, it made me delirious to a point that I couldn't even force myself to take a break- I don't even know how the hell I'm still alive without eating anything, I should be starving to death by now but nothing really happened and I'm not really sure on why.
I guess being a deity of sorts will do that to someone and it might be why Yahata has cut off all of his emotions just so he could think properly, still I'm just glad that I could enjoy taking a break even if it's short but I guess it's better than nothing.
Puff.
Smoke escaped my lips as I exhaled whilst looking at the message that I was currently typing.
With a tap, the text was sent and immediately I pocketed my phone.
I am alone right now.
The reason I decided to split apart from them was to take a break and reorganize my thoughts, of course I brought my sniper rifle that I left back at the Headquarters.
It was now kept inside a big case that looked like a guitarist's bag.
Speaking of my workplace, both Yoshikage and Matsuda were there and it's not like I'm needed there, besides I'd rather not listen to another briefing again.
After all, I already get the gist of everything because I was the one who filed this recent incident to begin with and that's why I'm here right now sitting comfortably at a bench and smoking- And no it's not considered as procrastination.
The tip of the MRC has finally reached its end.
Since that was my last one, I can officially say that I've now run out of the MRC or mana rejuvenating cigs which is not that surprising considering the amount that I consume per day.
I'm sure that they're gonna restock soon, in the meantime I'd have to settle with nothing but silence.
It was only limited, the special cigarette I mean- so I couldn't get another pack but if it was available, knowing me, I wouldn't mind emptying my entire savings on a whole cargo of those things...
Again, I'm just exaggerating of course but I will consider splashing out some cash to stock on them.
I mean- I like them and not only that it gives mana which is important to using spells, so it's definitely worth it, I guess.
Then again, I would do the same on MAX too, and if I remembered correctly there were at least four or five cans? At least there are few left in the fridge...
I should buy more and speaking of the fridge, I'm reminded of that troublesome cat again.
That cat even after seeing his owner looking like he wants to jump off a bridge and drown himself to death still continues to act as his usual self.
Still growling at me for food.
Kamakura is an ungrateful cat, but I can't really blame him since I've only been feeding him once a day due to my work.
Maybe I should bring him back to the shrine, but that would mean that no one's gonna look after my apartment when I'm gone off to work.
Yes, the only reason why I brought Kamakura with me is because of the fact that I trained him to be on guard with my stuff, at least I believed that I trained him to do so.
I'm sure he does- As long as he has food of course...
Familiar is the term for this kind of thing but I don't really consider that feline to be one, a parasite with mutual relationships would be much more fitting.
Anyways, now that I actually have the guy who's gonna help us in tracking down the vampires and helping us in killing them, I should probably prepare the things I need for my plan but I'm having some doubts about myself.
I don't know if it's feasible, the plan that is.
What if it doesn't go as intended? Then we might end up in a desperate situation and I've been there already and I don't want to take that risk.
A backup plan would suffice but I need their input in that matter.
I picked myself up and took out my phone and texted Yoshikage.
After some vibration, there was feedback already.
'We just finished our briefing, we're currently in the middle of signing some documents.'
Paperwork? Might be some sort of document kind of like a contract that Matsuda has to sign.
'Meet me at the villa after you're finished'.
With that text, I shoved my phone back and began walking to a bus stop and boarded one en route near to my apartment.
It was a five minute ride going from the Chiba Prefectural Police Headquarters to the bus stop near my apartment.
In that time span I spent it all meditating.
Trying to clear myself of every physical strain I could find within, I closed my eyes and stretched my upper body for a bit however it was cut short.
I opened my eyes as the bus stopped, stepping out of it I immediately headed to a convenience store and bought two cases of MAX then headed straight to my apartment.
I walked without taking in my surroundings too much, but as usual I went on autopilot as soon as I stepped foot inside the complex.
After greeting the people working in the lobby, I took the stairs and went to the second floor.
Before I could open the door to my apartment I heard a can clanking around.
The door swung open just for me to see my cat opening a can of tuna with his sharp claws.
I stared at him blankly as I stepped inside but he didn't seem to notice me opening the door as he continued doing the daily ways of being a glutton.
This cat...
He's gonna get fat if he keeps this up.
Kamakura only noticed me when I closed the door with an exaggerated force that exuded a loud noise.
He finally turns around for a bit but returns to eating his food anyways.
Not only is this cat ungrateful he is also disrespectful, I would've brought him back to the shrine if he wasn't obligated to protect my stuff.
I placed the luggage beside the couch and strolled to the kitchen to put the two cases of MAX inside the fridge and grabbed a single can of it on the way back.
Gulping it all down in one go, I threw its empty shell into the trash bin, then I went to the sink to splash some water on my face.
After wiping my face with a towel, I went to my drawers where I kept my talismans.
I stash a lot of it inside my coat, I don't know how much but I'm sure it is enough that my trench coat could no longer carry anymore.
However I think it's not enough so I will bring all of it since I have something that could store it into.
I also brought the entire set of null talismans with me but it would be better if I had more of it- No, this should be enough.
On the couch, I opened the luggage that my sniper rifle was in.
Clicking it open, I took it out and did an inspection of the long-ranged weapon then disassembled everything from the barrel to its stock, disassembled like a gunpla.
After confirming its condition, I decided to tweak its scope a bit, setting the curtains to the side with a steady hold.
I peeked through the lens like a telescope.
Clearly I could see the mall from here and if I were to estimate the distance then it would be far...
The limit of the scope has yet to be determined, so I scanned for places that can challenge it.
There! The Chiba port tower.
I adjusted the scope's dial and after some slight twisting, I could now get a clear view of the tower.
Then I changed the scope's course to the streets of Tokyo, the bustling traffic was noticeable but it wasn't clear, all the minute details were starting to get harder to see.
So the limit of this sight is a prefecture away and anything that goes beyond is starting to become obscure...
Without a doubt I could see further but I'm already satisfied with the results of what this scope has, so I moved on to tuning its trigger next.
It didn't really take a while but I managed to tune it to my preference.
Now that I'm done with all the things I needed to do with my sniper rifle, I assembled the barrel back and did one last inspection before setting it aside to the couch.
I have enough ammunition to last for a year right now that's why I'm bringing it all with me and I still have that pouch Yahata gave me.
Reaching for the pouch on the upper row of the shelf, I stored the things I needed inside it including my personal belongings such as my wallet and phone though not my badge and radio.
With that, I stored the mags after, it managed to fit the entire year worth of ammunition but it was starting to get heavy.
Fortunately it's only comparable to the weight of my school bag, so it wouldn't be a drag to carry it around.
But shouldn't it be much heavier since it's much more compact and dense? I guess this bag is some sort of artifact or something like that...
I was going to put my sniper rifle inside but decided against it since it would be convenient and easier if I had it slinging around with me.
Since I had already prepared everything I needed, it was time to head out to the Villa but before that I needed to conceal my rifle if I were to carry it around- So I muttered an illusion spell.
The appearance of the rifle was still the same If I were to look at it however if I were to show it to a mirror or to a camera then it'll project a completely different object, I pulled out my phone and used my camera to confirm if it worked and there it showed the appearance of a slim briefcase with a sling.
Like a corporate slave, I went in front of the door to put on a military boot instead of the usual.
Now I was set to go but I wasn't going there through normal means.
I still have that scroll that Mizayawa gave to me though I don't know how much longer it'll but judging from its condition.
It was still usable.
The thread of mana I emitted grasped the paper, its engravings started to glow and after a second my feet felt nothing and my point of view turned skewered as multiple sceneries merge, I closed my eyes instinctively.
My body once again was pulled away aggressively but for some reason, I didn't find it irritating at all.
Finally my feet touched what felt like the ground, then I opened my eyes, now I was back at the alley again and just a couple of meters away I could see the entrance of the villa.
It was being guarded by the police since the investigation was still ongoing even though the news stated that a gas leak was responsible.
We still have to confine this area since we haven't finished up yet, so we had to come up with another excuse.
I walked towards the entrance with a steady pace, I adjusted my briefcase to a more comfortable position.
Prttt!
With a high-pitched noise, a raised hand stopped a group of kids.
"Halt! This area is off limits and is still under investigation so why don't you all play somewhere else." The law enforcer warns the daring kids.
"No way! Stop lying about it being an accident. This was obviously done by aliens!" The brown haired kid who seems to be the leader of the group exclaimed in front of the officer, the other kids enthusiastically backed him up.
The officer looked like he wanted to strangle the kids but he kept a strained smile with closed eyes and politely warned the kids again.
I walked past the kids meeting the officer head on.
"Uh, sir. Reporters are strictly prohibited to enter the premises of this villa-" I took out my ID and showed it to him, the officer quickly apologized and told his other colleague to open the gates.
"How come this oji-san can get in? This is unfair! I'm the red ranger that came from the heavens!" His words were soon rallied up by the other kids.
These kids really needs to shut the fuck up, and the most effective way of doing that is by scaring the hell out of them.
I stopped to turn around and gave them a stare that bore through their very souls.
Upon seeing this, the brown haired kid trips as he backs away and his pants now stained.
"It's a creepy dead-eyed alien monster! Run!" He picked himself up and sprinted like his life depended on it leaving his lackeys behind but like a chain reaction, the herd followed their leader who was now far away.
The officer thanked me for dealing with the kids, I gave a small nod to him before finally entering the villa.
A barren urban wasteland is what I would best describe it.
The houses and other buildings were gone, reduced to ashes or rubbles, I guess the fire power we used was a bit too powerful, it even melted some of the rebars of a concrete building.
I walked around and saw the burnt grasses and trees, the vehicles were also caught up in the mess, and along with it was the road with the very evident scorched marks making the paint job into a mess.
The folks from the Chiba HQ had mixed reactions when I did this...
Some had argued that things could've gone much better and differently but the rest applauded me for handling it the way I did it but looking at it, it could've been worse if I didn't act much sooner.
To be honest, I didn't really care about their opinions and judgement towards me and the situation I've created.
I only did what is necessary for this job to preserve and hide the existence of the supernatural, so there's no point in crying over spilled milk.
Would bitching about it help the situation? Of course not, getting carried away by your flaring emotions just because you've felt your heart twinge in guilt after hearing what transpired at that villa...
Why not grow a pair and instead make the best out of it?
Though that still doesn't change the fact that innocent people turned into casualties here, maybe more than a hundred of them died by my hands and it is really a sad prospect and I guess I am to be blamed for that...
Still there's not much that I can do about them other than giving some sort of closure.
I try not to care about it too much however this burden I now carry will come back to me, I know and understand that much that's why at the end of the day
-They're all just statistics, a record in our reports.
A sigh escaped from my lips as I continued my trek then placed my boots firmly on the ground as I felt someone's presence- No, it was multiple now that I scanned the entire villa.
"Please be careful and watch your steps! We are only here to collect the black substance and nothing more."
Hearing that with my heightened sense, I was immediately alarmed, no one should be around here other than the ones working in this case.
After concealing myself, I sneakily trek towards where the voices were at, carefully maneuvering around the debris of the aftermath and shuffling my foot to not step on objects that may cause some noise that might attract attention, after taking a turn around at a ruined booth I could now finally see them.
They were wearing what seemed to be robes, each had different designs on them but one noticeable feature of them were the insignia that I recognized from a certain institution...
What are they doing here? I don't really know but what I do know is how to disperse them.
I walked closer and dismissed my concealment spell on myself and along with the 'briefcase' which turned to its original appearance.
When I revealed myself to them, their initial reaction was confusion and their inquisitive leers but they soon started pale as they turned their attention towards my face and whenever my cold and calculated eyes landed on one of them, they couldn't help but quiver.
Hands twitching, then gulping out of fear, they were all carefully acting in a way like how a herd of sheep is whenever a predator encircles them.
To them, I might have been the wolf that a poses a huge threat.
With my usual attitude of not giving a shit, I made my way towards them with my instrument of death hanging behind my shoulders.
All of the students there were silent like a dead mouse, not even moving an inch.
Are my eyes really that scary? The answer to that is probably no.
They've probably noticed it by now- That ominous feeling that the man before them has spilled blood and covered it all over his hands, that's why they are like this and I understand that, I too would be scared of myself if I were them.
I straightened myself then took out my badge showing them my identification however that didn't seem to snap them out of it, well only a few did but before I could speak, a couple of students had the courage to come to me and arrogantly asked what is my purpose here.
Coldly, I replied to them that I was one of the people working in this case, then I asked them to tell their supposed adviser to come and talk with me.
They obediently followed my instruction and a purple haired woman with glasses entered my view.
"What is it? Don't you know it's rude to not introduce yourself?" She admonished me.
The one who said that reached out from inside her coat and brought out a book, I presumed it was a grimoire.
"No. Who and what the hell are you all doing here? This villa is under the jurisdiction of the Special branch of Chiba Quarters. You know this is a breach of protocol right? Or does College think they can just run around to where ever they want just because of their power and reputation?" I said with a calmly yet icy voice.
She scowled at me, with us being face to face she pointed her fingers at me and said. "First of all, I am Professor Rikako Asakura and second, these are my students and we are here for our research." So you're treating this as a field trip now. "-You are from the special unit correct?" I answered with a nod.
She scoffs and says. "Haven't you heard? Me and my students are permitted to collect the black substance as research material." This woman's way of speaking reminds me of a certain homeroom teacher.
Still if what she said is true, then I can still revoke it.
"You said that you were permitted, right?" She scoffs at me again and looks at me with a grumpy look, her face says it all.
"One moment please." I grabbed my phone and called the front desk of HQ. "Hello, this is Superior Private Hikigaya Hachiman speaking, I'd like to revoke Professor Asakura's visit here at the site on the premise of breaching certain protocols- Yes, just tell him that. Hmm, I see then thank you for taking your time." I turned around to see that woman's baffled face.
She was at a loss of words but that confusion turned into realization and she immediately apologized then desperately pleaded with me. "Wait! I said wait! Is there any way we can work this out? I really wanted this class to experience at first hand how working on an incident feels like."
So that was her reason for going all the way out here instead of fetching the narcotics from the HQ.
Maybe if you realized sooner than later that your authority from the College doesn't apply here then I might have a change of heart...
Who am I fooling, my decision would still be the same.
I was going to tell her that nothing would change my mind but I stopped myself when I sensed the presence of both Yoshikage and Matsuda.
They took care of their business earlier than I expected, I was going to start ahead of them but it seems otherwise.
I turned around to see both of them approaching me, both of them expressed their greetings and I responded with my usual nod.
Yoshikage taps my shoulder and says, "I'll take it from here."
He walks towards the professor and begins to talk with her.
I was now left alone with Matsuda, I turned my attention towards him but he seems to be focused on the surroundings.
He looked like he was deep in thought with his arms position like a thinking detective.
"So, you did all of this in such a short time." He says as he sits on the trunk of a burnt up car.
I think this was his attempt at starting some small talk with me but unfortunately for him, I wasn't really in the mood.
"We should start finding their trail, the sooner we can find them the sooner we can finish this."
He sighs and says, "Fine. Let's start finding them."
A weird device came out from his pocket, it seems to be a compass of sorts, he then brings out a very small vial containing what seems to be blood.
"Is that perhaps the blood of Tsurumi-sensei?" I couldn't help but ask him that question.
He shakes the vial in a circular motion and pops the lid open.
"It is, and I'm quite impressed that they could gather this much considering it came from his dried up blood." He says, probably implying to the special unit.
I'm not even going to question how they even got that.
"I see." I watched him do his thing.
He clicks his copper compass and a small glass comes out.
He gently pours the blood on the glass then slides it back close, the compass starts to turn rapidly until the needle on the center stops at what seems to be northwest, I assumed since there were no labels.
Intuitively, I looked away from the compass and redirected my line of sight according to what the compass pointed.
He was also looking in that direction and after a while he asked me a question. "Is there anything in the northwest?"
There was a temple in that direction if I remembered correctly but just to make sure, I needed to know if I was right so I checked my phone for confirmation, I quickly scanned through the maps then found what I was looking for. "There is a temple named Kenponhokkeshu Yakushido, we could ask the folks there if they know anything or just check the area."
"It would be good if we head there right now, but we should bring Yoshikage-san with us." Matsuda says.
"I'll go fetch him." After I said that, he turned around and resumed looking at the surroundings.
As for me, I went ahead to tell Yoshikage that we are on the move.
Finally, progress is starting to pick up its pace.