I Created Urban Legends in Parallel World-Chapter 21: First Move Loses

I Created Urban Legends in Parallel World

[Original – YakuMan]

[TL – MiT7]

[PR – Spades]

Chapter 21: First Move Loses

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The principal's office was steeped in silence.

Aida Daichi's eyes flickered with confusion. He didn't know why the man had pulled back.

But with the bloody stench gone, the air felt fresher. He didn't dare ask, just stood there, waiting.

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After a long pause, Aoji looked up at Koike Oto. "Let's go."

"Huh? Oh, right," Koike replied, puzzled but quick to follow.

"What about me?" Aida Daichi asked hesitantly as they moved to leave.

"Wait for notice," Aoji said coolly, pushing the door open.

He spotted Principal Komori hovering nearby, all smiles, and ignored him, striding off.

Komori froze mid-grin, awkwardness settling in.

"Sorry," Koike murmured apologetically.

Trailing Aoji with lingering questions, she soon understood why they stopped at Shinshin Lake.

Shinshin Lake was Aoshiro High's scenic gem.

The water encircled a towering tree, sunlight filtering through dense leaves, casting an orange glow that danced on the surface—a warm, soothing sight.

Aoji stood by the lake, gazing down as if peering through to the bottom.

Whoosh.

A faint sound, like a breeze, hummed as a massive wave of Spiritual Pressure surged from Aoji, enveloping the lake. The calm water erupted, waves splashing as if struck by a boulder.

Shriek!

A sharp cry pierced the air. Koike flinched, then saw a tattered figure rise from the lakebed.

Tattered, because its soul bore countless stab wounds.

Koike wasn't fazed—ghosts and grudges kept their deathly forms.

The figure trembled, its wrathful eyes wide with fear.

"Iwakuro Yuto?" Koike checked her files, matching the photo. It was him.

So, after Aida Daichi killed him, Iwakuro Yuto had turned into a grudge.

Aoji watched impassively, doing nothing. With a flex of Spiritual Pressure, he crushed Iwakuro Yuto's soul.

As it began to dissipate, Aoji reached out, snagging a grain-sized gray bead.

"For you," he said, handing the soul bead to Koike. "You're doing well. Grow fast—don't die too soon."

It was the second time he'd said it.

As a Special Division inspector, each got an assistant.

Koike was his seventh. The first six had perished in anomaly cases.

He liked her, though. Past assistants hesitated or questioned his orders, clinging to life.

In anomaly investigations, every delay spiked the danger.

Koike, a newbie, never wavered at his commands—rare.

"Thank you, Aoji-sama," Koike said, accepting the tiny bead with glee.

Small, but she knew it was purified.

Aoji's pocket buzzed. He glanced at the caller ID and answered coldly, "What?"

"Aoji, help me out. Check a photo," came the voice.

"Get lost."

"Don't be so cold—we're colleagues. With those glasses, you won't die," the voice teased lightly. "This photo's killed nearly 200 people. I haven't looked, but my assistant says it's an eyeball pic. MPD data suggests it mentally tortures viewers into suicide."

"Most who see it are fine, so I'm guessing it targets specific people—or those with Spiritual Power. You know, like that old anomaly—inspector killer."

Aoji's face soured. "You've got a theory and still want me to look?"

"You won't die," Red Sound quipped, then shifted gears. "Or... let your new assistant take a peek. How's that?"

His assistant was seasoned but powerless.

"Sure," Aoji said, a cold smirk tugging his lips. "How about we swap cases? You take Hell Girl, I'll handle your eyeball photo. Don't worry—I've got a grip on Hell Girl's rules. Swap, and I'll spill everything."

Red Sound's eyeball photo was a confirmed anomaly.

Special Division had tapped him for it, but then Hell Girl popped up. With her rules laid bare on 2ch, he'd picked her case, thinking it'd be easier.

He hadn't expected a mere curse mark to reek of death. If he'd used *The Hand of Theft* earlier, he might be gone.

Aoji brushed his glasses, a flicker of relief in his eyes.

Silence hung.

"Actually... we could team up," Red Sound said with a grin. "Two anomalies at once—two heads are better than one scared stiff. If we die, at least we've got company."

"Deal," Aoji agreed instantly. "But you come help with Hell Girl first."

"You said yes too fast," Red Sound hesitated, then slapped his thigh, groaning. "Wait—you were about to call me, weren't you?"

First move loses.

Should've waited.

Regret aside, he nodded. "Fine, MPD meetup."

Hanging up, Aoji motioned for Koike to drive back, but she hesitated. "What's up?"

"Aoji-sama... files say another student, Ryosuke, went missing too," Koike said cautiously. "Aida said you only get one shot at Hell Girl per lifetime. Should we check Ryosuke?"

"No need," Aoji waved it off. "He's likely Iwakuro Yuto's kill. Humans are fragile to grudges. Grudges are fragile to inspectors..."

He trailed off, gazing up. Blue skies and white clouds soothed the soul, but he saw no hope.

Even inspectors, strong as they were, faced death at an anomaly's whim.

Their rules killed. Caught in one, even a god might drop dead the next second.