Part One
Even Little Demons Go to the Underworld
The Juvenile Guidance Division’s job is to guide wandering spirits who don’t even realize they’ve died.
Spirits with strong lingering emotions are sent to the Dispatch Division;
the rest usually end up as prey for evil spirits.
That’s why any soul that fails to ride the vortex of light is taken to the Underworld as soon as it’s found.
A little demon who had been watching Saki and Adachi trembled nervously.
Seeing that, Saki said,
“See? You’re scaring the poor thing, Adachi. You’ve got that grumpy face again.”
“It’s not that,” Adachi replied. “There are too many of us gathered here—
that’s why the spirits are being drawn to us.”
Mukai glanced around.
He had to admit, there did seem to be more spirits than usual.
Not just ghosts—there were even living spirits among them.
Anyone with high spiritual sensitivity would probably feel sick right now.
Those with special abilities can toggle their sensitivity on and off,
so when they’re not working, they turn it off to avoid seeing spirits.
If you don’t switch the sensor off, the constant visions will wear you down.
Makino spoke to the little demon.
“Just don’t look at the ghosts.
If you get scared, they’ll only come closer, so don’t let it bother you.
I can’t be bothered turning my sensitivity on and off, so I just ignore them.”
“Wow, you’re fearless,” Saki said.
“As soon as I’m off work, I shut everything down.
Otherwise, I’d be surrounded by the dead up above too.
If I kept seeing ghosts both up there and down here, I’d go insane.”
“This one’s still a child,” Mukai said, looking at the little demon.
“Yōkai live long lives, so it might take time before it’s ready for proper service.”
“Then it’ll never survive exorcism work,” Saki scoffed.
“How’s a ghost-fearing yōkai supposed to make a living?
It’ll die right away.”
“Am… am I going to die?” the little demon asked timidly.
Saki looked down at it.
“Well… you’ll either get eaten by another yōkai,
or get absorbed by an evil spirit.
One or the other.”
She made a clawing motion with both hands, pretending to attack.
The little demon’s face scrunched up, almost in tears.
“You’re mean,” Makino muttered as he ate some sashimi.
Seeing the pitiful creature, Mukai stood up and effortlessly lifted it with one arm,
as though carrying a small child.
“I’ll head back now,” he said.
“I can’t keep the higher-ups waiting any longer.
I’ll take this kid to the Grim Reaper’s office.
You all go ahead and enjoy your drinks a bit more.”
“For real? You sure?” Makino said, perking up.
“Young folks should take it easy once in a while,” Mukai smiled.
“Then I guess I’ll head home too,” Tadokoro chuckled.
“They say overwork kills even the dead, remember?
Might as well get some rest.”
Mukai turned to the little demon.
“Once you get official approval, you’ll get a name and a place to live.
You’ll have meals, and you can play with toys.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
Then Mukai added,
“Everything up to now is on me and Tadokoro.
Anything extra, you guys cover it yourselves.”
“Lucky! Thanks for the meal!” Saki cheered.
“Wait, I’m paying too?” Tadokoro protested.
“Of course,” Saki said.
“You ate and drank the most.”
Mukai plucked a skewer of tsukune (chicken meatball) from a plate
and handed it to the little demon, who happily took a bite.
Leaving the cheerful group behind, Mukai and Tadokoro headed to the register.
As they finished paying, a few new customers walked in.
“Welcome,” the staff greeted them.
“There sure are a lot of drones out tonight,” one customer said.
“Government scouts, probably.”
“Careful, or they’ll label you a subversive and arrest you.”
“I saw someone get taken away the other day just for complaining about policy.”
“Ugh, what a world. You’re not a spy, are you?”
“Of course not.”
Grumbling, the customers went to the back of the shop.
The clerk, overhearing them, stepped outside and looked up at the sky.
“A lot of stores around here that opposed government bills have already been shut down.
We’ve got to be careful too.”
“That sounds rough,” Mukai said.
“It can’t be helped,” the clerk sighed.
“If we object even once, they just pass another law.
For small shops like ours, we’re lucky we’re even allowed to operate.”
He smiled wryly.
“Please come again,” he said before heading back inside.
“See? That’s why I’m hesitating to reincarnate,” Tadokoro muttered as he started walking.
Mukai followed slowly behind.
Living is hell. Dying is hell.
If it’s all the same, perhaps freedom lies only in the Underworld…
Mukai gave a faint smile.
