Chapter – 48
Adachi Collapses
On this day, a large-scale event was being held at an arena near the station.
Along with the flow of people, spirits were also gathering.
Since they were just wandering spirits, it was fine if they were carried to the underworld by the vortex of light.
But if there were too many spirits, not all could rise, and evil spirits would gather there as well.
At crowded places like event venues, motion sickness can sometimes be related not only to the autonomic nervous system but also to spiritual phenomena.
When Mukai and the others arrived near the arena, Sakuma and Tadokoro were already setting up a barrier.
Before Makino could turn into a black mass, they used the underworld talisman to remove it, while Enato drew circles with her fingers to capture the evil spirits.
“That’s an incredible number,” Mukai said to Sakuma.
“It’s unavoidable at large events. It seems more evil spirits are gathering behind the scenes as well, so could you handle that?”
“Understood. Adachi?”
Mukai noticed something unusual about Adachi standing next to him.
“What’s wrong?”
“N-nothing,” Adachi replied, and suddenly ran off.
Mukai hurriedly followed him.
The alley a little away from the arena had fewer people, but evil spirits seemed to be drawn there as well.
When the two arrived, Saki was using a spirit gun to send evil spirits to the underworld.
“Finally, you’re here~”
“Sorry I’m late.”
“This spirit gun is light and easy to use, but it can only hold a few spirit orbs at a time, so it quickly runs out.”
“It’s the Prototype II model, but there’s still room for improvement,” Mukai remarked.
At that moment, Adachi suddenly lost consciousness.
“Huh?”
Mukai and Saki froze for a moment, unsure of what had happened.
Mukai quickly set up a barrier and supported Adachi.
His eyes were open, but he was unconscious.
“Adachi!!”
He gently shook him, but there was no response.
“What happened? Are you okay?”
Saki knelt beside Adachi, shocked.
“I thought something seemed off, but this is a bit abnormal,” she said.
“Mukai, the evil spirit is getting bigger! The barrier won’t hold!”
Saki loaded her spirit gun with spirit orbs.
“Saki-chan, aim at the center of that evil spirit.”
“I’ve got it.”
“When I give the signal, fire.”
“Understood.”
Mukai muttered something, which took the form of a glowing sphere.
“Fire!!”
The spirit orb Saki fired was overlaid with Mukai’s sphere of words.
It struck the evil spirit that had broken through the barrier head-on, creating an explosion-like impact that incinerated it instantly.
“Amazing… Mukai, can you really do something like that?” Saki exclaimed.
“For now, let’s return to the underworld while we can,” Mukai said, picking up Adachi and running.
Saki followed behind, staying alert.
“Ah, more spirits are starting to gather. This is bad,” Saki said, firing her spirit gun while curling up defensively. Her familiars formed a shield.
A hawk appeared, soaring into the air.
“Pii~~kyaaa!!”
With a single cry, it flapped its wings powerfully, instantly turning the evil spirits into dust.
The hawk continued flapping, opening a gate to the underworld in the air.
Mukai and Saki, carrying Adachi, jumped through the gate and disappeared.
Arriving in the underworld, they laid Adachi down in front of the Shinigami Division.
“Adachi!!” Mukai called out.
Special cases like him don’t get sick, so there must be another reason for his collapse.
Mukai touched Adachi and stiffened at what he felt.
“What’s wrong?”
The Shinigami gathered around.
“I’ll contact the infirmary,” Saki said, starting to walk away.
“Wait, Saki-chan. The Underworld King should be in the workshop. Call him,” Mukai said.
“Huh? The Underworld King?”
“Yes. I feel only the Underworld King can handle this,” Mukai said, gently laying unconscious Adachi on the floor.
“Is he breathing?”
Okuto crouched beside him and touched Adachi.
“!! He’s hot… definitely abnormal,” he said.
Mukai noticed that the ring Adachi was wearing was fading. What happened? he wondered, recalling the moment he collapsed.
“What happened? Adachi collapsed?”
The Underworld King arrived, crouching beside Adachi.
“Underworld King, Adachi’s ring is about to disappear,” Mukai whispered.
“Okuto!!”
“Yes.”
“Tell Development Director Kyuki to bring that thing to my room immediately.”
“Understood,” Okuto said, leaving the scene.
“What’s going on with Adachi?” Saki asked, looking slightly flustered.
“He’s probably overexerted and lost control over the spirits. He’ll be fine. You must be tired too—take a short break,” the Underworld King said, patting Saki’s shoulder and looking down seriously at Mukai.
“Please bring Adachi to my room,” he instructed.
Mukai nodded at the Underworld King’s serious expression and carefully lifted Adachi.
Watching them leave, Saki whispered excitedly to a nearby elf:
“It’s my first time seeing the Underworld King up close… is he hot older guy? Cute older guy? Dashing? He’s a good-looking man, isn’t he? Right, right?”
