The television in front of me remained on, displaying various channels that changed one after another without any meaningful pause. The light from the screen was the only source of movement in this quiet room.
However, it was no ordinary television. The device was a Cursed Tool in the form of a TV, designed to capture and broadcast channels from across Japan without the limitations of conventional equipment.
The images displayed were clear and stable, almost completely free of interference, as if distance, signal strength, or disruption simply did not matter to it.
Even the sound it produced was cleaner than it should have been, giving the impression that this device operated beyond the limits of normal technology.
Then, what would happen if the government became aware of a building in this city that could not be found, even after following maps or directions accurately?
That possibility did exist, and it was not something impossible to occur—especially if someone was observant enough to notice a "gap" in maps or location reports.
But in the end, they would arrive at one conclusion—that this was not something that could be handled through ordinary means or standard procedures.
They would request assistance from the Jujutsu world, or perhaps from a Shinto mystic faction with a deeper understanding of such matters. That way, the resolution would immediately be directed to the appropriate parties.
And that meant I would only have to deal with them—people who already understood situations like this and would not overreact—instead of the general public, who knew nothing and would only complicate matters.
With all that, this shop would remain safe from unwanted interference, whether from the outside or from those who should not be involved.
I could also entrust the protection of this shop to Yaeko, of course with several additional layers of safeguards I had prepared beforehand to ensure her safety under any circumstances. No gaps were left unguarded.
Ah… there she is. Yaeko has finally arrived.
After waiting for several hours that felt longer than they should have, that figure finally appeared at the end of this street. The figure of Yaeko Nishimiya was clearly visible, walking among a few passersby without drawing any particular attention.
Her steps were neither too fast nor too slow—steady, like someone lost in her own thoughts. Her shoulders sagged slightly, as if carrying an invisible burden, while her gaze occasionally drifted without clear focus.
Her eyes eventually fell upon the job vacancy flyer I had posted in front of the shop. She paused for a moment, standing right in front of the store, reading it carefully without rushing. Her eyes moved slowly along each line, as if making sure no information was missed.
A few seconds passed in silence before she let out a small breath—a sign that she was making a decision, even if she was not entirely certain yet.
Slowly, she walked toward the shop's entrance, her steps still carrying a hint of hesitation. Her movements were not completely doubtful, yet not fully firm either—a step caught between two choices.
Her hand lifted, pausing slightly in the air before finally touching the door handle. Then, with a gentle push, the door opened.
A small bell above the door rang clearly, breaking the stillness that had filled the room until then. The sound was brief, yet enough to signal that someone had entered.
Yaeko stepped inside.
Her eyes immediately swept across the room, moving from one corner to another with a confused yet cautious expression.
Her brows furrowed slightly, as if trying to understand this place in a short moment—assessing whether it was safe, whether it could be trusted.
A few seconds later, Yaeko's gaze shifted toward me.
I sat casually behind the counter, behind the glass display case, my position unchanged from before. One hand rested lightly on the table, while my eyes observed Yaeko calmly, without revealing any easily readable expression.
Without saying a word, Yaeko walked closer to the counter. Her steps were slow but steady, carrying with them all the doubt and hope still mixed within her.
"Excuse me, is the salary notice in front of the shop really true?" Yaeko asked hesitantly. Her brows furrowed slightly, forming faint lines on her forehead, while her gaze didn't seem fully focused.
She glanced several times toward the shop window behind her, where the job posting was placed, as if trying to confirm that the number she had read earlier wasn't a mistake or merely an embarrassing misunderstanding.
Her lips parted for a moment, then closed again, as if she was holding herself back before finally gathering the courage to ask.
"The salary notice? Is there something wrong?" I replied calmly, looking at her. My voice sounded relaxed, without any hint of urgency or suspicion.
I tilted my head slightly, trying to recall what I had written on the notice in front of the shop. As far as I remembered, there was nothing strange—the number had been carefully considered. In fact, to me, that amount was already more than enough for a simple job like taking care of this shop.
"On the job posting attached to the shop window, it says the monthly salary is one million yen. Is that correct?" Yaeko asked again, this time in a softer voice.
Her tone was cautious, as if she was weighing each word so as not to sound rude. Her fingers lightly clasped together in front of her body, revealing the nervousness she was trying to hide.
"Ah, about that, it's true. The offered salary really is that amount—there's no mistake," I nodded casually, without the slightest hesitation.
My expression remained ordinary, as if that number wasn't anything special. To me, it was simply a figure that matched my needs, nothing more and nothing less.
"Sorry if I'm asking too many questions, but... is the job really just to look after this shop?" Yaeko asked again. This time, she turned her head further, observing the shop more carefully. Her gaze swept across the neatly arranged wooden shelves along the walls, their surfaces clean and free of dust.
The glass display case in front of her gleamed softly, reflecting the light. Even the corners of the room appeared calm and well-organized, without the slightest sign of mess, giving off an atmosphere that felt strangely too quiet for a workplace.
"Of course it is," I answered lightly. "Besides, the price of the items in this shop is no joke. Even the cheapest one is around ten million yen."
I gave a small nod again to emphasize my words, as if it were nothing more than an ordinary fact that didn't need questioning. Yet that simple response caused Yaeko's expression to change drastically in an instant.
"Ten… ten million yen?" Yaeko repeated in a faint, almost faltering voice. Her eyes widened immediately, her pupils trembling slightly, and her breath caught for a moment. She looked like someone who had just heard something beyond what her common sense could accept.
Unconsciously, Yaeko took a few steps back. Her movement was stiff, almost like a reflex. Her body leaned slightly backward, as if trying to create distance from the reality she had just heard. Her hands, which had been clasped together, loosened slightly, her fingers trembling faintly.
"Are you sure?" Yaeko asked again, this time with a much more disbelieving tone, as if hoping for a different answer.
"Of course." I remained calm, nodding without the slightest doubt. My expression barely changed, as if all of this was truly something ordinary that didn't need to be questioned.
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