Chapter 64: Side Story: My shop of Horrors pt.2
In Liyue Harbor.
Outside Igarashi's shop, two figures are seen observing it.
"You've been looking at Boss Yunru's shop for a while now," One of them, Xingqiu, said while eating a dumpling. "Aren't you gonna go in?"
Chongyun, who was observing Igarashi's shop, shook his head. "I don't know why, but I never noticed until now..."
"There's a spirit residing inside Boss Yunru's shop." He said with all seriousness.
Chongyun had always been keen on senses regarding ghosts. As an exorcist trained since youth, he can detect any ghosts near him. But because of his unique Yang Constitution, he has never actually seen one.
And for some reason, he only found out that the shop he had been going to has a ghost residing in it. Not just that, it seems like his Yang Constitution is also not affecting it.
Hearing what Chongyun said, Xingqiu didn't act all that surprised. "Oh, you mean Splendy?"
"Splendy?" Chongyun turned his head to his friend. "Who's Splendy?"
Picking up a dumpling from the plate he was holding, Xingqiu ate one. "Splendy is the one me and Hu Tao have been hanging out with recently. He's a pretty fun ghost and likes to prank others."
"What?!" Chongyun exclaimed. "How could you do that? Don't you know that ghosts can negatively affect humans? Hu Tao should know this too..."
"Well, I know that." Xingqiu shrugged. "But Splendy is different. He never leaves Boss Yunru's shop and when he does, he only goes 20 meters away."
"He doesn't like hunting people like any other ghosts and only wants to protect Boss Yunru's shop." He added. "Hu Tao told me that, by the way."
"...I See..." Chongyun grasped his chin whole contemplating. "Then... Did this 'Splendy' ever hurt a person?"
Hearing this, Xingqiu abruptly stopped eating. "W-Well... You see... Err..."
"Yahoo!" Suddenly, someone appeared beside them in surprise. "What's going on, you two~?"
A bit surprised, Chongyun looked at the person that arrived. "Hu Tao... Perfect timing. I have some questions for you."
"Now's not the time." Hu Tao shook her head. "Let's go in now! Time for you to meet our friend!"
She then grabbed Chongyun and dragged him inside Igarashi's shop. Xingqiu followed behind.
Arriving inside, they saw that Igarashi's shop still has a lot of readers sitting on the couches.
Going around and picking up cups on the table is a person that looked rather tall. It was the lesser puppet under Sasori's command, Satoru.
He was a rather tall person wearing a suit. He had white hair and always has a blindfold to cover his eyes. Everyone thinks that he is blind, but he never confirms it or denies it.
Of course, because of his looks, many female customers have taken a liking to him. But in the end, he rejected them all.
But simping is a powerful force. Even if they were rejected, some of those women would still come by Igarashi's shop just to talk to Satoru.
Much to Igarashi's happiness.
Seeing them enter, Satoru spoke. "Welcome, you three. What would you like today?"
Although he is considered a Lesser Puppet, due to Sasori's own modification, they gained the ability to speak and have simple intelligence.
Looking at Satoru, Hu Tao waved her hand. "Nothing, we're just here to meet a friend!"
"Alright." Satoru nodded. "Please do not break anything."
He then turned his head at Hu Tao. "Especially you."
"Yes~ Yes~" Hu Tao replied as she dragged Chongyun to the office room.
Opening the door that leads to the other side of the room, another person came out.
It was Saori, another Lesser Puppet.
She has a rather beautiful design. Her hair was cut neck-length and have beautiful sharp blue eyes.
Though, there is always a stoic expression on her face. But despite this, some male customers still simp for her.
Saori looked at the three people and did not say anything and just let them pass.
Hu Tao nodded and continued.
"Hey, aren't we interrupting Boss Yunru's business?" Xingqiu asked behind.
"Nah, it's fine." Hu Tao said without elaborating further.
They then continued walking and saw the office where the mangas are made.
Rows of tables are placed, and one of them, Mo Fan was busy with a manga. Along with him are two more editors hired by Igarashi.
They didn't want to disturb their work, so they continued.
Climbing the stairs to the second floor, they finally arrived at their destination.
"Splendy!" Hu Tao shouted. "Come out!"
Just then, a tall figure materialized in front of them. It has no facial features and wears a dark suit.
"Splendy, meet our exorcist friend, Chongyun!" Xingqiu said.
Chongyun, who had never seen a real ghost before, looked at the figure in front of him. "How is this possible... With my pure Yang Constitution, any ghost should have perished by now."
"What are you...?" He added.
"Oh, don't make a fuzz, Splendy is great! Come on, touch one of his tentacles!" Hu Tao said.
"T-Tentacles...?" Just as Chongyun said this, a black tentacle emerged behind the tall figure and extended towards him.
"Come on, shake it." Xingqiu insisted. "Don't worry, it's fine."
Hearing this, Chongyun trusted his two friends and slowly forwarded his arm to touch the ghostly tentacle.
His arm then grabbed onto it. "N-Nice to meet you..."
And so, the boy who obliterates ghosts before has finally got in contact with one.
Of course, the existence of this ghost is not limited to the three of them.
A certain Geo Consultant and a certain female hydro bow user also know of its existence and also occasionally talk to it.
Sometimes those two mentioned people would even meet and play a round of chess with Igarashi's guardian ghost.
But of course, that's for another time.
* * *
A/N: https://discord.gg/UC9E342XS5
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