Reincarnated in a Shounen Manga - Chapter 176: My Arranged Marriage

Miku found herself in a small post office in town, handing an envelope to a robust woman behind a window fortified with steel bars. These security measures were in place to deter thieves, but since the post office was frequented by exorcists, not many dared to attempt stealing from them. The belongings of an exorcist were the last thing an ordinary person would want.

Being an exorcist herself, Miku possessed a relentless determination to pursue anyone who dared steal from her, even if it meant chasing them to the ends of the world. In this instance, she was sending a money-filled check to her once-poor family, who were no longer struggling. Her goal was to ensure her siblings could attend school and provide her mother with a comfortable home.

“Please sign at the bottom,” the woman at the counter requested, handing Miku a paper and pen. Miku obliged, signing the necessary documents before walking away, making room for the next person in line.

Despite her status as an exorcist, Miku still had to endure waiting in lines, which Kon seemed particularly insistent upon. It appeared as though he wanted to conceal his presence in the post office.

A week had passed since Miku had started her new job, and things had only become more peculiar after her initial day. However, despite the oddities, the generous pay and relatively safe nature of the job made it difficult to pass up.

There were hardly any reports of demon activity in the area, and Miku hadn’t encountered a single demon in her week there.

“Is this place truly so secluded? Or is something else dealing with the demons?” Miku pondered.

Up to that point, she hadn’t seen Kon’s peculiar fish demon either. She refrained from asking about its whereabouts, fearing that it may have perished during the war. The last thing she wanted was to upset her affluent employer. The thought of him ceasing his lavish spending, as if money held no value, was a genuine tragedy.

Leaving town, Miku embarked on the journey back to Kon’s cabin, a half-hour trek. The lengthy duration was mostly due to her compliance with Kon’s orders, restraining her exorcist powers.

Upon entering the cabin, Miku was greeted by an unusual sight that had become her new norm. Mr. Bear, the talking grizzly bear, was diligently working on the taxes. However, it struck Miku as odd, considering high-ranking exorcists like Kon were exempt from paying taxes.

Why did Kon do this? She had no idea. He was a mystery to everyone else, but himself.

As she approached his office, the smell of perfume grew stronger. Entering his newly built wooden office, Miku saw Kon sitting with a glass of alcohol and several empty shot glasses scattered on the table.

He was drunk? This was unexpected; Kon always seemed composed. However, Miku could understand why. He had lost a friend recently and had possibly succumbed to his inner demons.

Rumors of Kon’s recent achievements had been circulating, with some considering him a genius comparable to The Magician, the previous sage. But to Kon, none of that glory seemed to matter.

Normally, Miku would have made a joke or sarcastic comment, but instead, she silently began collecting the liquor bottle and glasses.

As she brought a glass to her nose, she noticed it had no smell. Suspicions arose, so she tasted the liquid from the bottle, only to discover it was water.

“This is water!” Miku exclaimed, feeling her emotions betrayed.

Kon woke up groggily, looking at her. “What are you talking about?”

“Why did you pretend to drink alcohol when it was water?”

“I don’t really like the taste of alcohol,” he replied, as if blaming her for assuming otherwise. “I work out in the morning and need to stay hydrated.”

Sighing, Miku asked, “Did you go through all this trouble just to tease me?”

“I have a lot of free time on my hands,” he admitted. “Besides, I enjoy drinking water this way. It’s not my fault you misunderstood.”

Miku suspected he had never acted this way before and was simply bored. However, she reminded herself that he paid her a substantial sum to work under him, so she shouldn’t jeopardize her position. Taking a deep breath and gritting her teeth, she changed the subject. “Don’t you have a lot of reports and paperwork?”

Though she wasn’t well-versed in paperwork or the duties of an elite exorcist, she knew the basics. Every human death required paperwork when he was in charge of the supernatural affairs of the town. No matter how powerful an exorcist was, they couldn’t be everywhere to save everyone.

“Meh, I thought leadership would be harder,” Kon replied. “But it’s not much different from managing my old team, although I have to pay you all wages. Bear has been doing a great job with the boring administrative tasks.” Kon leaned back in his chair, placed his feet on the table, and yawned. “Damn, these muscle cramps.”

***

It had only been a week since my new subordinates arrived, and life had become more boring than ever. Even my attempts to appear unintelligent failed, as Miku seemed to be the Einstein of this group.

There were no demons to fight, as Carpy had already claimed this entire territory as his own. He had ascended to the rank of a high-class demon, and his sensory abilities had developed at an astonishing rate. Any low-class demon that came near a body of water, even a puddle, would be swiftly slain by Carpy’s water blades.

Though I wouldn’t categorize Carpy as an ultimate-class demon, he was definitely displaying his power as a high-class demon. Among his peers, there was no doubt that Carpy stood at the top.

“So, are you going to keep pulling stunts like this?” Miku narrowed her eyes.

“Hey, come on. I pay you more than triple what any other place would. Not to mention exorcists make a good income even elsewhere, but I’m paying triple whatever that number,” I reminded her. With abundant wealth at my disposal, I enjoyed lavish spending. There was a pretty good chance that I was going to die in a year, what was the use of saving money then? God forbid, I died with money and it was transferred to my clan.

“Throwing money at your problems won’t solve them,” Miku frowned. “Some people have integrity, something you can’t buy. If you continue down this path-”

“Alright, I’ll double your pay if you’re willing to tolerate my antics.”

“Have I mentioned what an incredible boss you are?” Miku’s face immediately brightened, erasing her previous glare.

As an ex-minimum wage employee who had an asshole boss, I knew how to handle unsatisfied workers; just throw money at them! At least that was what I wished my boss would have done at the time. It would have made the bastard more likable.

…

The day after felt like any other day. Bear arrived at work an hour early, Miku came in fifteen minutes early, and Pan barely made it on time. Pan, in particular, immediately started slouching upon arrival. He was the type of person who did the bare minimum of work.

Yeah, Carpy was really keeping these guys busy. But I wasn’t going to interfere with Carpy’s actions since he had probably saved many lives. After all, demons usually only get dealt with after someone informs the exorcists of their presence, which often meant someone had already died due to a demon attack.

I couldn’t help but feel bored. There were no interesting books, TV shows, or internet access. Even if there was internet, with the existence of literal magic, it would be hard for anything else to compare.

Although there was a temptation to train and play with my Ord, I knew I needed rest. Unlike Agon, I didn’t have the convenience of regeneration and infinite stamina. I relied on Perfect Me to heal myself, but that healing came with its own drawbacks as it required some fuel.

Had I turned into one of those weirdos I always was confused by? No, that couldn’t be.

I wanted to explore everything this world had to offer, and the thought of dying terrified me. At the same time, while I enjoyed fighting and witnessing new special abilities, I didn’t want to lose a fight or put my life at risk. I enjoyed winning a heck of a lot more than losing.

Before coming to this world, if someone had asked me how well I knew myself, I would have confidently answered that I knew myself inside out. I had a clear vision of the life I wanted, my likes, and dislikes.

However, since arriving here, my mind had been overwhelmed by a whirlwind of incredible experiences. The powers, abilities, and people I’ve encountered had been both dangerous and awe-inspiring. Even though I often found myself living on the edge, life here had been undeniably fulfilling, something I couldn’t say about my previous existence.

Perhaps I should consider writing a book. Something original, like a tale about a half-demon with a sealed demon inside them. I envisioned the main character as Narumo, accompanied by a friend named Sasume from the Ushiha clan.

Just then, there was a knock on the door, and Pan, who was assisting me with typing letters, went to answer it. With the office door open, I caught sight of our new guest—an emissary of the governor, or so it seemed.

The man cleared his throat and delivered the message. “Sir Nok, the Water Exorcist, the governor has informed me that the nation’s princess has arrived, and a grand banquet will be held in her honor. You have been cordially invited.”

A party filled with wealthy and arrogant individuals? That sounded like a nightmare. The princess was likely supposed to be my fiancée, but I couldn’t care less.

Women were temporary; the allure of magic was eternal!

However, I considered that the party could bring some intriguing twists. I had never attended such an extravagant event. “Sure, I will come. I just need to find a suitable suit.”

“Sir, your creepy smile is scaring the mailman,” Miku whispered.