Chapter 48 - Miko: Selling My Body? Absolutely Not!
"Unless you possess true power, it's impossible to resolve this permanently. You might eliminate a ghost today, but others will keep coming. You already have the ability to perceive another world."
Renji shook his head, sympathy rising in his eyes as he looked at Miko.
For an ordinary person, having Yin-Yang Eyes was a catastrophe.
To be able to see ghosts, yet unable to do anything about them… once a ghost discovered you could see it, death was almost guaranteed.
"So the problem… really is these eyes?"
A bitter smile appeared on Miko's face. It wasn't just her sight—she could even hear what ghosts were saying sometimes.
Whenever she slipped up even slightly, a ghastly voice would whisper in her ear, "You can see me… I know you can see me…"
"That's right. You probably know already—some ghosts disguise themselves as humans. All it takes is one slip, one accidental reply, and if you can't talk your way out of it, you're in trouble."
"Yes!" Miko nodded fervently. "Wait, are you like me then?"
She thought back to the time she queued with Hana and ended up lining up behind a ghost. That experience alone nearly gave her nightmares.
"No, I'm different. I can't see ghosts unless I use other methods."
Without powers or tools, Renji couldn't see spirits. In that sense, he and Miko were very different.
Maybe Yin-Yang Eyes were a burden to her, but for Renji right now, it was potential.
"I can handle ghosts, sure. But I've never tried dealing with them remotely. So I'd like to run an experiment with you—don't worry, I'll stay hidden and step in the moment things go wrong."
He wanted to see if the talismans from Zombie Renji's world would work here.
If spiritual items could transcend worlds, then dealing with Miko's ghost problem would be much easier.
After all, while a Shinigami's power worked well, Renji couldn't stay by Miko's side at all times. Talismans would be the better long-term solution.
"Um…"
Being used as an experiment subject…
It sounded a bit off, but Miko knew she didn't have better options.
These ghosts were driving her insane.
She tried so hard to act like she couldn't see them, but they were everywhere. She was starting to feel like she had some kind of spirit-attracting constitution.
"So what should I do?"
"Take this talisman. Go somewhere haunted. Pretend not to notice the ghost, and slap this on it when you're close."
Renji pulled a yellow talisman out and laid it in front of her, explaining how to use it.
Miko stared at the charm in silence for a moment. It felt straight out of a supernatural drama.
But Renji seemed so professional… maybe it really would work.
Just act like she couldn't see the ghost… and paste the talisman. Simple enough.
She quietly hyped herself up. If this succeeded, maybe she'd finally stop being scared all the time. It was worth a try.
"Okay!"
She nodded decisively after only a short moment of thought.
"Great. Here—take it. Let's head out."
With that, Renji dabbed ox tears onto his eyes.
[Mundane Renji]: [It's started. Let's see if the talisman actually works across worlds.]
The power to cross dimensions…
Even Renji wasn't entirely sure it'd work.
[Zombie Renji]: [It should be fine. Ghosts are made of similar energy in most worlds—excluding the Shinigami world.]
He wasn't worried. It should be effective.
[Resident Evil Renji]: [Man, I wish those talismans worked on zombies.]
Ever since he arrived in Raccoon City, things had been going downhill—even though the T-virus hadn't fully broken out yet, it was already a mess.
The mansion was blown up, and Marcus's leech virus had likely leaked. The T-virus outbreak in Raccoon City was now inevitable.
He had no choice but to lay low. His mission had basically failed.
Now he had to prepare to go after the G-virus.
If he was in this world already, he wasn't letting William Birkin's work go to waste.
[Naruto Renji]: [Dude, don't even worry about talismans. You've got rocket launchers over there.]
The iconic rocket launchers from the Resident Evil world—
There's nothing one can't fix with a single rocket. If there is—just fire another.
[Resident Evil Renji]: [You don't get it. My current mission isn't even over, and they've already assigned me a new one. I'm going nuts. But what can I say? I'm just that responsible.]
He didn't want to do more missions, but he couldn't ignore them either.
Since joining Interpol and becoming a shadow operative working for global peace, he had to accept the weight of that responsibility.
[One Piece Renji]: [What's the new job? Kidnap Ada Wong?]
[Resident Evil Renji]: [If it were that, I wouldn't be complaining. But I'm being sent to investigate some place called the Rex Research Institute. No idea what it is, but the name sounds weirdly familiar.]
Another lab… Renji was realizing just how many research facilities this world had.
Something about the name triggered a sense of déjà vu, but he couldn't place it.
[One Piece Renji]: [Don't tell me it's another Umbrella lab?]
Wouldn't be surprising—Umbrella's reach was everywhere.
[Resident Evil Renji]: [I don't know yet. I'll check after the Raccoon City mess is over. Also, something crazy happened—one of the Tyrants vanished in front of me. It got sucked into a black vortex, like these clawed things dragged it in…]
It felt like his world was teetering on the edge of collapse.
Everything was getting more absurd by the day.
[Zombie Renji]: [Bro, don't tell me you're stuck in Dead by Daylight now?]
[Resident Evil Renji]: [Who knows anymore? Anyway, I'm logging off. If anything comes up, I'll report in. And if any of you need backup, don't hesitate to ask.]
After that, Resident Evil Renji logged off.
[Mundane Renji]: [Everyone's pretty busy, huh? Alright, I'll go check on the situation here too. I'll report back if anything comes up.]
Following behind Miko, Renji quickly noticed the magnetic field was changing. More than that, Miko herself seemed to be emitting an eerie aura—one that attracted ghosts from all directions.
No wonder he'd never seen ghosts before. It wasn't that ghosts didn't exist—it was just that they weren't drawn to him.
But Miko, ever since awakening her Yin-Yang Eyes, had apparently become a magnet for spiritual beings.
According to the rules of "The Girl Who Can See Them," ghosts usually haunt someone or something for a reason—obsession, attachment, or parasitic tendencies. They didn't just stick around for no reason.
In a park, a small ghost child sat alone on a swing.
Miko took a deep breath, pretending not to see it. She clutched the talisman tightly in her hand and instinctively glanced back at Renji. Seeing him still following close behind, she felt a little more at ease.
Right now, only the talisman and Renji gave her any sense of safety.
She'd always tried to avoid ghosts, and now she was voluntarily walking right up to one. It was a huge step for her.
She kept telling herself she'd be fine and pushed herself forward. As she got close to the child ghost, its neck suddenly stretched unnaturally long. Its face twisted, and a chilling voice crept into her ears.
Miko almost lost her composure then and there, but she bit her lip hard and forced herself to stay calm.
She pulled out the talisman.
Even before she got it near the ghost, it already started squirming as if it sensed something dangerous.
Just as the ghost tried to flee, Miko acted fast—slamming the talisman onto it.
In the next second, flames erupted from the ghost's body, consuming it in a burst of spiritual fire. Its tortured cry didn't even last a full second before being completely snuffed out.
No one around them seemed to notice a thing.
But Miko… she was sweating cold bullets. Her panic slowly faded as she realized—Renji really could deal with ghosts.
That talisman had just obliterated a ghost in an instant.
"Looks like the talismans work. But they'll get used up fast, especially with your constitution attracting spirits nonstop."
Renji thought aloud.
"And since I can't stay by your side all the time, relying on these talismans might be the best option for you… though they're not cheap to produce."
He considered the situation carefully. The real profit here wasn't selling talismans—it was Miko herself.
"Hmm… maybe that fox spirit?"
It felt like he was getting closer to another major story development. Renji was starting to grasp how the world recognized significant narrative changes.
"That talisman… do you have more? I can pay for them!"
Miko rushed over, eyes full of determination. After experiencing its power, she was eager to buy more.
"Your problem can't be solved just by buying charms. Haven't you noticed? I haven't been attracting any ghosts, but they keep coming for you. You've been marked."
Exactly like a walking curse!
Just like how Conan brought death wherever he went, Miko brought ghosts.
"What should I do then? Um… would it be alright if I became your apprentice?"
Miko looked embarrassed but hopeful. She could tell her constitution was a problem.
Maybe talismans weren't enough.
So… what if she learned to make her own?
"I'm not looking for a disciple right now. And even if I was, you might not be able to learn. Drawing one charm costs a million yen."
"Wha?!"
That price nearly knocked her flat.
She thought she could afford a few. Clearly, she was too naive.
"Also, I might not even sell them. Drawing charms takes a lot of energy. But I am looking for a secretary to help with various tasks at the Yorozuya. If you work for me, I can deal with the ghosts around you each day and give you one talisman for emergencies."
Renji gave her a once-over.
Honestly, using Miko as ghost bait wasn't a bad idea.
She could help him attract spiritual anomalies—stuff he'd otherwise have no way to encounter. More incidents meant more chances to change the world's storyline.
And that meant more rewards.
Sooner or later, he'd have to deal with Conan, too.
Might as well plan ahead.
"Eh!?"
Miko had just been considering begging him for a payment plan.
But after hearing that offer and seeing the way he looked at her…
Wait… he didn't mean—
"You're not… trying to take advantage of me, right?!"
"Don't get the wrong idea—I mean, I'm not some nice guy—I mean! I swear on my honor, I only need a secretary. I'm interested in your spiritual trait, that's all! You attract ghosts—I want to use that."
Wow. What a twisted reason.
Miko rolled her eyes internally.
Everyone else wanted to avoid ghosts, but this guy was actively hunting them down.
Also, did he even realize what he just said at first!?
"But… I still have school during the day…"
Miko shyly played with her hands, unsure how to respond.
She still had classes to attend.
"Evenings are fine."
As soon as Renji said that, Miko's eyes changed.
Evenings? Secretary work? What kind of 'secretary' was he hiring!?
"I can't!!"
"Yes, you can."
"No, I really can't! I've never done anything like that! I don't think someone should offer their body as payment, even if I want to survive—things like that should only happen after feelings develop!"
"…Huh?"
"You mean you'll have me organize files, make tea, manage the app… wait, you weren't trying to blackmail me with that, were you!?"
Renji suddenly realized they had completely misunderstood each other.
They were speaking on two different wavelengths this whole time.
"Eh!?"
Miko's face turned beet red.
So that wasn't what he meant?
Her mind had gone off the rails, thinking he wanted… that kind of secretary.
She'd always longed for love—she'd never even had her first kiss. Even with her spiritual vision, she was still just a girl dreaming of a sweet romance.
"I'm not that kind of guy. If I ever have to rely on forcing beautiful girls to sell their bodies, I've completely lost my way."
"I'm sorry… I misjudged you…"
Miko lowered her head in shame.
She'd imagined the worst. But now, she felt embarrassed for even thinking it.
A man with power like his—why would he stoop to something so sleazy?
"It's fine. So when are you showing up in your secretary outfit? Make sure you wear stockings, okay?"
"…"
(End of Chapter)
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