Chapter:26 Splurging

Renko and Hori continued their journey home, the conversation shifting to lighter topics. They talked about the upcoming school trip, their favorite places in Kyoto, and the bizarre antics of their classmates.

[04:30 PM]

As they reached Hori's home, Hori gave her a teasing smile.

"Well, Renko, looks like it's time for you to go on ahead. You sure you'll survive the night without me?"

Renko smirked,

"Oh, I'll manage somehow. You go do your student council duties and save the world. I'll be here, contemplating the mysteries of cup noodles."

Hori chuckled,

"Alright, take care, Renko. Don't get into too much trouble."

Renko saluted jokingly,

"Understood, Sargent Hori. Until tomorrow, then."

With a wave, Hori headed off to her home, leaving Renko to make her way to her own apartment unit.

Back in her apartment, Renko decided to take a moment to relax before diving into the challenges of the night. She brewed a cup of strong coffee, hoping it would help combat the lingering fatigue.

[Notification]

[Status: Minor Fatigue (-5% Attributes)]

The caffeine provided a much-needed boost, and Renko took a moment to review her quest log.

[Quest: Transportation - In Progress]

[Objective: Acquire a driving license.

Objective: Acquire a Bike or a Car]

Renko contemplated the steps she needed to take to complete the quest. The idea of getting a bike or a car was becoming increasingly appealing, considering the shit ton of walking she had to do every day.

She had all day to herself, at least on the weekdays, the cemetery thing was only for weekends. 

Indeed, Renko had decided to balance her workload and relaxation. She would spend five days at school, and the weekends at the cemetery while spending the remaining time relaxing.

Renko took a seat on her couch, sipping the coffee as she let her mind wander. The day had been a disaster so far, considering she barely got to sleep, then the fact that Yuki made up with her, and then the quest regarding getting herself a vehicle to drive around in. Now, with the evening stretching ahead, she considered her options.

She began to scroll through the internet on her laptop. Mostly about any driving school in the vicinity or about the motorcycle showrooms in the vicinity and of course, properties.

Her focus was fixed on expansive properties, preferably ones tucked away in seclusion, far removed from the urban clamor. Whether nestled near the cemetery, against the backdrop of the back mountain, or in other tranquil locales, Renko sought these at a low price, maybe even at a bargain

Renko continued her search on the laptop, typing in keywords and refining her criteria. She was determined to find the perfect property that met her specifications. As she clicked through various websites, she came across a listing that caught her eye—a secluded cabin near the back mountain, surrounded by trees and nature. The price seemed surprisingly reasonable. But there was a little problem...

The cabin was, in fact, a shrine!

Renko's eyes widened as she stared at the screen, this was quite the unexpected revelation. But still, a shrine instead of a cabin? Who would be selling a shrine on the internet? She chuckled, finding the situation to be quite amusing... and bizarre! 

Interested, she clicked on the listing to learn more about this unique property.

The description mentioned a rather quiet shrine with some history dating back to about two or three hundred years, dedicated to some god called Bishamonten.

It was rather close to the cemetery, only two kilometers, but a bit distant from the school, five kilometers. In the back mountains, completely surrounded by greenery, the nearest road to it was half a kilometer to the west of the shrine. 

The photos showed a somewhat dilapidated but beautiful structure surrounded by lush greenery and a small pond and waterfall nearby. Renko could appreciate the beauty of the scene, it was charming.

'Consider my curiosity piqued.'

Renko decided to dig deeper into the details, mostly because she wondered why someone should sell such a prime property. Maybe it had some sort of dark history or something, maybe it had some sort of peculiar responsibility.

As Renko delved further into the details of the shrine, she discovered that the property did indeed have a unique history. According to the listing, the shrine was dedicated to Bishamonten, a god associated with warriors and war. The shrine had served as a place of worship for generations, but due to a decline in the local population and interest in traditional practices, the current caretakers were finding it challenging to maintain.

The description also hinted at a local legend surrounding the shrine, it was said that this place was haunted by the wrath of Bishamonten and that several people committed suicide at this place. 

'Hmm, that just makes it more interesting doesn't it?'

But there was still that question, why did no one snatch this property already?

'Oh, wait.' 

She got it now, the property was underdeveloped save for the clearing where the shrine was built, and the seller just happens to suck at making an advertisement.

[Area: 1km2]

[Price: 181,000,000 JPY]

'Eh?'

This property was cheaper than dirt!

What the fuck could ever incite its owner to sell the land for such a cheap price.

Browsing around, she discovered that the reason for its dirt cheap price was because it had already changed hands half a dozen times before being put up for sale again. Not only that, but all its former owners died a gruesome death! 

The investigation went on for a couple of months before being called off as another group of people either went missing or were torn to shreds. The reason why this group of victims was special? Well, because most of them were the investigators who were on the case and two of them were apparently from a special department too.

There was no detail as to the special department's origins on the internet.

'No one's gonna buy a semi-holy, back mountain land with a record of killing all its owners for a hundred and eighty-one million Yen!'

No one, except Renko Ivanov!

She decided to contact the seller and arrange to visit the shrine the next day. 

The property was lying about as a wasteland and the government had no interest in investing any more of its personnel in a certified deathtrap of a wasteland.

As she awaited the response from the seller, Renko continued her search for driving schools and motorcycle showrooms. Balancing the quest for a vehicle with the potential acquisition of a shrine added an unexpected layer to her plans.

[*Ping*]

[Notification]

[Real Estate Agent's Response: If You Are Certain, Then Please Confirm For An Appointment Tomorrow at 4:00 PM]

Renko smiled at the prompt response and marked the appointment on her phone's alarm clock. Tomorrow promised to be an eventful day, and most likely an expensive one too.

With that thought, she closed her laptop and slumped down on the sofa, sinking deeper into the cushion.

She glanced at the clock and realized that the day had flown by. The evening shadows were stretching longer, and the city outside her window was beginning to light up. Renko decided to make the most of the remaining hours of the day.

Setting aside thoughts of the shrine for now, Renko turned her attention back to her quest for a driving license. She found a nearby driving school with positive reviews and decided to enroll in their program. She filled out the online application and made a mental note to check her schedule for available time slots.

While waiting for the confirmation of her enrollment, Renko shifted her focus to the motorcycle showrooms. She browsed through the list for almost an hour, researching models that would suit her preferences and budget.

After a thorough investigation, she narrowed down her choices to a few sleek and practical bikes. Renko made a list of the showrooms she wanted to visit to get a closer look at the options. The prospect of being able to zip around the city in her personal vehicle. After scrolling through list after list of bikes, she settled for a sleek black Kawasaki Z250SL.

[*Ping*]

[Notification]

[Driving School Enrollment Confirmed]

[Timing: 4 Sloths available:

Slot 1: 8 AM - 10 AM

Slot 2: 11 AM - 1 PM

Slot 3: 2 PM - 4 PM

Slot 4: 5 PM - 7 PM]

[Please register at the time that is most convenient for you.]

Renko grinned at the notification on her phone. It seemed like things were falling into place. The driving school enrollment was dealt with, now she needed to fit it into her schedule. Well, all she had was time so there wasn't much to think about, she would just need to rush straight to the driving school from school.

As Renko pondered her next move, she received another notification.

[Ping]

[Message from Hori]

*Had a good evening, Renko? Don't forget to eat something healthy. See you at school tomorrow!*

Renko chuckled at Hori's message. It seems that their relationship is much better now than the misunderstanding between them was resolved. She replied with a quick assurance that she was doing fine and promised to have a proper meal.

With the day's tasks and plans sorted, Renko finally allowed herself to unwind. She decided to spend the rest of the evening indulging in her favorite activity, goofing off on the living room couch and enjoying a simple, homemade dinner of mixed-flavored cup noodles.

She leaned back on her couch, slurping noodles while contemplating the mysteries of the world. Soon she began researching the Kawasaki Z250SL in more detail, reading reviews, and checking specifications, and prices.

[Type: Naked motorcycle]

[Displacement: 249cc]

[Engine: Liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, 4-valve, DOHC]

[Power: 27.8 hp @ 9,000 rpm]

[Torque: 20.4 Nm @ 6,700 rpm]

[Top speed: 187 kmph (116 mph)]

Time slipped away, and before she knew it, the clock struck 8:00 PM. Renko realized she had spent a significant amount of time immersed in her laptop and decided to take a break. She stretched, yawned, and made her way to the kitchen to prepare a proper meal, heeding Hori's advice.

As she cooked, the aroma of stir-fried vegetables and rice filled her apartment... along with the smoke from the previous four attempts that were burnt to crisps.

Renko appreciated the simple joys of a home-cooked meal. She sat down at her dining table, savoring each bite and relishing the peaceful solitude of her apartment.

After finishing her meal, Renko cleaned up the kitchen and returned to the living room. The clock now read 9:30 PM, and with the day's tasks completed, she decided to unwind with a bit of leisure. Renko began to finish the homework she had piled up over the previous month.

Afterward, Renko settled into her bed, but she still couldn't help but feel a mixture of anticipation, curiosity, and excitement. With these thoughts swirling in her mind, Renko closed her eyes, drifting into a peaceful slumber, ready to face whatever she had to on the day tomorrow. But...

'Why the fuck can't I sleep!?'