Chapter 49 - Sadako's Videotape
"Pervert!"
Inside the Odd Jobs Office.
Miko stood awkwardly in a secretary outfit, wearing black stockings on her legs. This mature look was something someone her age wouldn't even dare to imagine.
To think she had always believed Renji was a gentleman. Clearly, she had misunderstood him.
As expected, she was still too young.
"Miko, clean up the place a bit first, then tidy up the things here. I'm heading out for a meal. Want anything? I'll bring something back for you."
Renji looked Miko up and down. So this is what they mean by 'a feast for the eyes.' Looking closely, aside from a less-than-stunning figure, everything else was quite appealing.
Especially having a JK girl dressed as a secretary, with that slightly embarrassed expression — it gave Renji a very different kind of feeling.
It was a kind of aura those slick old-timers of the corporate world didn't have.
No wonder those bosses in his previous life all liked hiring college girls as secretaries.
That contradictory aura — it really put leadership to the test!
"I'm fine with any bento."
Even though she had mentally labeled Renji as a pervert, Miko still kept a modest posture.
She was here to work, after all. And while Renji looked, he didn't leer, and he didn't try anything inappropriate. So she didn't say much.
Still, why did it feel like she had come here just to do chores?
Looking at the mess around her, Miko couldn't imagine what the office would be like without her — probably a disaster zone.
"Alright."
Renji nodded, then went out to eat and also got a meat-and-vegetable bento for Miko.
When he returned and pushed open the door, he saw Miko kneeling on the floor, back facing him as she cleaned under the desk.
From that angle, Renji finally understood why those 'stuck' scenarios happened in certain films. He suddenly had the urge to pay tribute to those "teachers."
"Is the boss back?"
Miko twisted her body slightly and backed out from under the desk. As she turned around, her face was smudged with dust, and she wore a headscarf — looking just like those housemaid characters from role-playing games.
"Miko, you're about done, right? Let's eat first."
As he spoke, Renji handed her the lunch box.
"Mm, thanks, boss. I cleared out a lot of trash earlier and threw it all away for you. Also, there was a delivery package here — looks like it's for you. I saw you hadn't opened it, so I brought it out."
She handed over a package addressed to the Odd Jobs Office through the app — clearly meant for here.
"That's strange. My Odd Jobs Office hasn't even been open that long. Someone already sending me packages? Same-city delivery?"
Renji rubbed his chin, his eyes thoughtful.
Since the name on the package was the office, not him personally, it meant the package was intended for the business.
Well, whatever. Let's just check it out. No one's gonna mail me a bomb, right?
With that thought, Renji opened the package. Inside, there was only a single videotape lying quietly.
"Uh, boss, you didn't... order those kinds of tapes online, did you? Should I step out?"
Miko hadn't thought much at first when she saw the tape, but once she saw the cover, her expression turned odd.
"Miss Secretary, you don't want to lose your job, do you? Your husband Ryosuke is on the layoff list!"
Ah!!!?
Secretary?
That's supposed to be her?!
And the cover… was really hard to describe.
In a dorm room… retrieving something? If she had to choose two characters from all the nonsense text on it, Miko didn't even want to imagine!
Her head steamed. Thinking about her identity, then looking at the disc, she suddenly realized her situation might be quite dangerous.
But the disc said she was married — she wasn't married in real life, so maybe it was fine?
Or maybe… the marriage was just a setup for Renji's preferences?
Huh?
"I didn't buy this! Who the hell sent me this crap? I'm gonna rip them apart!"
Damn it!
Who would send this kind of tape to him!?
With a judging glare, Renji popped the disc into the computer.
He had to see what kind of storyline this was!
"Um…"
Miko's legs felt weak. She wanted to run, but it was like her body had no strength at all.
No!
She couldn't stay here any longer. If she did, something bad might happen!
She forced her legs to move, but before she could leave, a scene on the screen caught her eye — a dry, old well.
"Eh!? This doesn't look like that kind of tape…"
The setting seemed eerie and creepy.
If it were that kind of tape, shouldn't there be some passionate music to start things off?
Next, a pair of hands reached out from inside the well, and Renji gave Miko a strange look.
This videotape was a recording of a girl being attacked — it was the legendary Sadako videotape!
Anyone who watched it would die in seven days. The only way to lift the curse was to show the tape to someone else, transferring the curse.
Everyone was stunned.
This girl really had a spiritual magnet physique!
She'd only just become his secretary, and now she was already being targeted by ghosts?
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
Miko looked at Renji warily. He wasn't thinking about reenacting a scene with her, was he?
And then secretly recording it?
Then using the video to blackmail her forever?
Damn it!
She was still just a young girl, with endless possibilities ahead. So why did it feel like she was doomed already?
"It's nothing. Just that your constitution is seriously incredible. This videotape is Sadako's tape. Anyone who watches it will be killed by Sadako within seven days."
Renji shrugged. He could tell what Miko was thinking. Compared to what she was imagining, he had no energy for flirty talk. In the past, he might've teased the girl in front of him.
But now, being targeted by Sadako was no joke.
Whoever sent that disc—damn you, you mutt!
Even used this kind of packaging to bait him.
Curiosity really does kill the cat!
"No way? I'm this unlucky?"
Miko's face immediately fell. It hadn't even been that long, and now a ghost was after her.
"Anyway, since you watched the tape with me, you're also marked. I don't really care, but you're a different story. Sadako can strike you anytime, anywhere. And this ghost is way more dangerous than any you've faced before. It's not like you can just pretend not to see her and expect to be fine. We've already triggered the curse!"
Ghosts in this world seemed to follow certain rules when killing people.
For example, needing to be seen, or having a medium—like Kayako's house or Sadako's videotape.
Without triggering the medium, everyone could live safely and not be targeted by ghosts.
"So, for your own safety, you should move in and stay with me for now. Don't worry, I absolutely won't touch you!"
"Move in!!?"
Miko's eyes widened as she stared at Renji in disbelief. Did he even realize what he was saying?
"Of course. It's the only way I can protect you. Besides, people call me 'Honest and Reliable Young Master.' I always keep my word!"
That just made it more suspicious!
She had believed Renji once before and ended up in black stockings and a secretary outfit.
Now it felt like if she really moved in with Renji, something seriously bad might happen.
"Boss, your place has two rooms, right?"
Miko's eyes lit up with a bit of hope. If there were two rooms, maybe it wasn't that bad.
"Don't worry, there's only one room at my place."
Hearing Renji's annoying tone, she really wanted to punch that smiling face of his.
But Miko didn't dare challenge her superior.
"Will I really die?"
"You will. I wouldn't joke about something like this. And just in case, I'll give you two talismans. If anything happens, call me immediately. This ghost is a serious threat, got it?"
Renji looked at Miko with a serious expression. He'd already seen her usefulness.
And he didn't want her dying either—he still needed her around to lure ghosts for him.
Besides, Renji had a hunch that once he dealt with Sadako, he'd earn a chance at a lottery draw.
"I got it, Boss. But you have to swear not to do anything shady!"
"I swear on my... four!"
Renji quickly raised his hand.
'Oh, little girl, do you really believe a man's vow means anything?'
"Then go back and pack your things. Don't worry, she won't come after you today."
Seven days to die—but it was usually safe for the first few days. No need to panic.
"Oh, then can I come over on the seventh day?"
Smart girl. She learned to infer. If it was the seventh day that mattered, why not just show up on the seventh day?
"Of course you can!"
Renji's smiling eyes still left Miko uneasy.
After all, she didn't know if Sadako would actually wait until the deadline. If that ghost didn't stick to a schedule and came early, she'd be dead meat.
Lowering her head, Miko said goodbye to Renji and went back to pack her things. She was going to move in for a while.
She was hesitant—after all, it was her first time living with a man. Even if the circumstances were weird, she actually believed Renji.
Because she had heard of Sadako's videotape!
She used to scoff at those urban legends, but ever since she started seeing ghosts, she believed.
Though she'd only heard of the tape before, this was her first time seeing it. So this was what Sadako's videotape really looked like.
Also, what people used to say and what Renji said didn't quite match.
Shaking her head, Miko decided to trust Renji. Maybe those who had encountered the legend before were already dead, and the rest was just exaggeration or made up. Renji seemed more trustworthy—after all, she'd used his talisman to actually eliminate a ghost.
[Daily Life Renji]: "Just watched Sadako's tape... I'm freaking out!"
If it were the urban legend version, that'd be one thing. But if it was the Sadako from the Ring novel series, then he was absolutely screwed.
That one was already playing with concepts. In that version, Sadako was basically an unbeatable force.
[Naruto Renji]: "Damn, that strong!?"
[Yōkai Renji]: "Don't you have Conan over there? Who says seven days has to mean seven actual days?"
Talking about time in the world of Conan?
Sadako might not even show up for years.
[Zombie Renji]: "Makes sense. But she might also show up instantly, since the Conan timeline doesn't follow logic."
So it was either never… or right away. Not impossible either way.
[Daily Life Renji]: "Just praying it's not the novel version of Sadako!"
Honestly, he wasn't too worried about when Sadako would appear. He was more worried about which Sadako it was.
[One Piece Renji]: "I've always wondered: if Sadako comes out of a TV, and you shut off the TV halfway through… would she get stuck halfway? Wouldn't that give us a chance, like in those shonen anime?"
Damn?
Bro, isn't that a weird angle to be thinking about?
You're seriously trying to game Sadako?
But if turning off the TV actually froze her halfway, that did feel familiar from some anime.
[KOF Renji]: "Here's another idea. Set up two TVs side by side, both plugged in. Will Sadako just keep crawling in a loop until she exhausts herself, then we strike?"
[Resident Evil Renji]: "I suggest turning the screen to face the wall. When Sadako crawls out, she'll slam right into it!"
[HK Movie Renji]: "Three people, one table, play mahjong. Leave one seat open. I bet Sadako won't be able to resist joining!"
[Bleach Renji]: "Get a cage. Point the TV at the door. Once she crawls in, shut it and study her up close!"
[One Piece Renji]: "Nah, you're all outdated. Buy her an LV bag. No woman could resist that!"
[Zombie Renji]: "Not reliable. Just marry Sadako and live happily ever after!"
[Daily Life Renji]: "You guys are ridiculous! Absolute geniuses!"
'Seriously… are you people comic relief sent by monkeys?'
[Daily Life Renji]: "Whatever, we'll see what happens. [@Bleach Renji], lend me your Zanpakutō when the time comes!"
[Zombie Renji]: "I'll lend you something too. Can't chat now—almost at Renjia Town. Talk later."
(End of Chapter)
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