To prevent Diego from escaping midway, the patrol officer called in a colleague and had him escorted to the police station by car.
Tohsaka heaved a sigh as she watched him being dragged away, "He's finally caught. Now he can't run around anymore.''
"... I don't think he was actually a bad person," Sakura said as she looked at the advertisement in her hand. "He might have really just been running because he was afraid of getting caught for putting up flyers."
Now that Diego had been taken away by the police, the flyers were also confiscated as evidence.
However, Sakura still managed to keep one.
The short-haired girl leaned in to read its contents.
"Almighty Exorcist —offering spirit communication and exorcism services… So, that guy is actually an exorcist? No way!" Rin Tohsaka wanted to laugh. Unlike those ignorant people, she's a legit magus so she knows if something is true or not and after seeing the flyer, she easily concluded that guy was a fraud.
She recalled Diego's outfit—he didn't look anything like a master of the craft nor does he carry the temperament of one.
If he's a magus, he would have just erased the memory of the officer but instead, he ran away.
"Not at all. If anything, he seemed more like a scam artist. Maybe that's why he ran."
Sakura shook her head, her gaze complicated as she looked toward the crosswalk where she had been earlier and muttered softly, "I'm not sure… but maybe he really can exorcise spirits."
Seeing this, Rin didn't insist but touched her chin in thought, 'That guy… Why does he look familiar?'
She shook her head, not deciding to think about it anymore. Forget it, she will just ask if they meet again
When Diego was brought to the police station, the officers initially thought they had caught a big criminal and quickly arranged for an interrogation.
But the result was disappointing.
Diego's background was completely clean. He had no criminal record whatsoever and was actually a highly promising student who was studying at Homurahara Academy.
He's a minor too.
"…So, you ran just because you were putting up flyers and didn't want to get caught?"
Hearing Diego's explanation, the officer was speechless.
He had thought Diego must have committed some serious crime, but it turned out he was just putting up flyers.
At worst, putting up illegal advertisements would result in a fine. Sometimes, a simple verbal warning would be enough. But because he ran, the officer had to chase him all that way…
"I didn't expect you to chase me! Normally, in this kind of situation, officers just make a show of it, right?"
Diego looked aggrieved.
In his past life, when he worked in fraud prevention, he often set up street stalls for fortune-telling to gather case study material.
Since operating a stall without a permit was illegal, whenever city inspectors showed up, he and other street vendors would quickly pack up and run.
At those times, the inspectors usually only gave a symbolic chase before giving up.
Who could have guessed that this officer would be so determined to catch him…
If he had known the patrol officer was this persistent, he wouldn't have run.
The officer flipped through the written report, still feeling speechless, and casually asked, "When you were running, why did you stop to help that girl? If you had ignored her, you could have escaped."
If he hadn't intervened, he might have gotten away.
"I couldn't just watch her get hit by a car. Even though the drivers didn't seem like they were going to hit her, I figured I should still help if I could."
Helping others was a simple matter that required no justification.
Besides, Diego it's not like he's gonna have a hard time doing it
And that girl looked pitiful too, her hollow eyes and pitiful look of asking for help did touch his heartstrings.
"Geez, if I had known you were just putting up flyers, I wouldn't have chased you so hard. You should have explained properly…"
The officer grumbled as he set down his pen. "Alright, you're free to go."
"No punishment?" Diego asked in surprise.
"You were supposed to be fined, but since you helped someone and also removed those scam flyers from the streets, I'll let it go."
The officer then warned, "However, posting flyers on walls is an unethical act. If you want to advertise, either use designated bulletin boards or hand out flyers. Don't stick them on walls and create a mess for others."
Diego was surprised by this leniency.
After hesitating for a moment, he couldn't help but ask, "But my flyers were about exorcisms. Doesn't that kind of advertisement get penalized?"
"Why would it? It's not like you're promoting a cult," the officer replied indifferently. "It's the same as temples and shrines advertising their religious services. That falls under freedom of belief, which isn't within the police's jurisdiction. We only step in when customers report fraud."
Just as Diego had suspected, even Japanese police were vague when handling matters related to "superstition"—they only dealt with fraud cases.
In other words, as long as his clients didn't report him for fraud, he wasn't breaking any laws.
"By the way… do ghosts actually exist?" the officer suddenly asked, intrigued. "Can exorcists like you really see supernatural things?"
"If you ask me whether ghosts exist, I can't give you a definite answer."
"Each person sees the world differently. It's like how colorblind people can't imagine what the world looks like to those with normal vision. Similarly, some exorcists might see things that others don't. But whether what they see is actually a ghost… that, I can't guarantee."
Diego's answer was careful. He didn't confirm or deny the existence of ghosts—he simply stated that exorcists might perceive unusual things, but those things weren't necessarily ghosts.
Moreover, he never outright said that he himself could see them, giving himself plenty of room to maneuver.
In short, it was a meaningless answer.
The officer didn't get anything conclusive from it and scratched his head in frustration.
"I don't get it at all. Recently, people are reporting ghost finding. Hell, I even remember this happening across Japan, with Misaki Town being very well known for it.''
"Oh well, talking to you about this won't help. Just sign this statement and you can leave."
Diego signed a guarantee stating he would no longer post unauthorized flyers, and the officer politely sent him on his way.
He hadn't expected the police to be so easy to deal with…
In his past life, Diego frequently worked with law enforcement on fraud prevention campaigns.
But in this life, he was a bit afraid of the police.
After all, what he was doing now technically counted as fraud. It was like a mouse encountering a cat—he had a natural fear of them and lacked the confidence to face them head-on.
Still, as long as no one reported him, he wasn't legally a fraudster.
That realization eased his nerves a little.
An hour later, Diego returned home.
To his surprise, a girl was waiting at the entrance of his exorcism office.
It wasn't a stranger—it was the purple-haired girl he had helped earlier when she cramped up in the street.
Her name was Sakura.
"Why are you here?" Diego asked, surprised.
"The police told me you weren't a bad person," Sakura lowered her head apologetically. "Sorry… because of us, you got taken to the station…"
After confirming it was a misunderstanding and that Diego had committed no crime, the police had called her immediately.
"It's not your fault. If I had run, I might have been caught anyway," Diego said casually, waving it off.
After all, he had technically broken the law. Getting caught was his own fault, not theirs.
"Also, I really appreciate you helping me and bringing me to safety."
"It was nothing. No need to thank me."
Diego regularly performed good deeds for merit points, so he didn't mind.
Diego hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"By the way… your office does exorcisms, right? I have something I want to ask for your help with."
A job!
Diego immediately perked up, looking at Sakura with renewed enthusiasm.
"Is this about an exorcism?"
Sakura nodded hesitantly. "Actually… I think I might be haunted by an evil spirit."
Diego was surprised to hear that. This timid and hollow looking girl was haunted?
But why does she not look worried or afraid? At least she doesn't show any fear or discomfort.
"Your name is Sakura Matou, right? Could you please explain your situation in detail?"
Diego Seijuro invited Sakura into his office and made her a cup of tea.
"Don't worry, the consultation is free. If you're not satisfied, you don't have to pay," Diego added.
Sakura wasn't particularly concerned about that. If Diego could truly perform exorcisms and solve her problem, she wouldn't hesitate to pay for his services.
It was her first time visiting an exorcism office, so she instinctively looked around.
The office's main hall was divided into a reception area and a workspace. The reception area contained only a few sofas and a coffee table, where she and Diego were seated for their discussion.
Compared to her…grandfather's, this style looks modern.
The workspace seemed to be where Diego handled his business. It had a desk with a computer, a printer, and a bookshelf filled with various books.
There were several other rooms in the office, but all their doors were closed, without any name plates indicating their purpose.
The entire space was clean and bright, without any eerie artifacts or mystical decorations one would associate with the supernatural.
If not for the sign at the entrance reading "Almighty Exorcist," Sakura might have mistaken it for a law firm.
As for why those mystical objects are not on display? Diego threw them away. It was too hard for him to take his job seriously if he had those things in the entrance.
"Diego-san, is this really an exorcism office?" Sakura couldn't help but ask.
This place was vastly different from what she had imagined.
"You think this doesn't look like a place capable of exorcisms?" Diego chuckled.
"The reception area is just for meeting clients. Besides exorcisms, we also offer services like spirit communication, divination, and fortune-telling. Once we understand a client's needs, we lead them to the appropriate room."
As he spoke, Diego walked over to one of the closed doors and opened it.
Inside, the room was dark, with thick curtains blocking out natural light.
Diego flipped on the chandelier switch, illuminating the space with a warm yellow glow. The light revealed the room's decor—ancient carvings and talismans hung on the walls, alongside crosses and Bibles.
Several crystal balls sat on the table, while the floor was covered with a comfortable carpet and cushions. A magic circle was drawn on the ground.
In one corner of the room, there was a small shrine with incense burning.
The entire space exuded a spiritual and mystical atmosphere—exactly what Sakura had expected from an exorcism setting.
"This room is specifically used for divination and spirit communication. The actual exorcism rooms are elsewhere."
Before Sakura could examine the room further, Diego closed the door.
"Let's get back to your issue. You mentioned that you believe you're being haunted by an evil spirit, correct?"
Diego sat down across from Sakura again, taking out a notebook and pen.
During consultations, Diego always recorded key information shared by his clients.
"Can you tell me what kind of evil spirit is haunting you? Where have you seen it?"
"I've seen the spirit in my bathroom and bedroom," Sakura paused before adding hesitantly, "Even inside my blanket..."
Diego furrowed his brows. That was unusual.
Typically, the bedroom is perceived as a safe space. Even if someone feels threatened outside, returning to their bedroom creates a sense of security.
Especially when hiding under a blanket—it's almost like a protective barrier against external threats.
But Sakura felt no such comfort. If anything, she believed there were evil spirits lurking even under her covers.
This suggested that she was in a constant state of feeling threatened.
"When did you first notice these spirits in your home?"
"Two days ago. Suddenly, I could see them."
"Have you experienced anything strange recently?" Diego asked.
Sakura hesitated before replying, "Strange things... quite a few. But I'd rather not talk about them right now."
Many clients seeking exorcisms had secrets they were unwilling to share, and Diego didn't push further.
He simply nodded with a warm smile. "That's understandable. Everyone has things they'd rather not discuss. So, you're here to request an exorcism? You want me to eliminate the evil spirit that's been troubling you?"
However, Sakura shook her head and corrected him. "No, not just one spirit—there are several. They're scattered throughout my home."
Diego raised an eyebrow.
Multiple spirits?
Usually, clients only believed their home had one spirit.
Of course, spirits didn't actually exist, and most clients couldn't see them. They would simply attribute all strange occurrences in their home to a single unseen entity.
It was rare for someone to describe multiple distinct spirits.
Could it be that Sakura's house was a cursed dwelling? Had many people died there?
"Sakura, have you recently moved?"
"No, my… family has lived there for as long as I can remember. We've been there since I was born."
That ruled out the possibility of a cursed house. So why did Sakura believe there were multiple spirits in her home?
And why does she look hesitant when mentioning her family?
Diego asked, "Do you recognize any of these spirits? Or can you describe what they look like? I know this might bring back bad memories, but it's important."
Sakura's expression darkened, but under Diego's encouraging gaze, she hesitantly began speaking.
"While I was washing my face, I saw a handprint slowly appear on the mirror. When I wiped it away and looked up again... there was an evil spirit of a middle-aged man standing behind me."
"He wore tattered work clothes, as if he had been buried underground. His entire body was swollen and had a sickly bluish-purple hue, emitting a dark aura. He looked like a zombie. He just stared at me..."
As she recalled the spirit's hollow gaze, Sakura felt a chilling sensation creep up her back.
She thought she can endure pain but the mental torture is not something she can bear.
She shivered and her eyes welled with tears.
Diego gently patted her shoulder in reassurance before continuing, "And then? Did the spirit attack you?"
After calming herself, Sakura replied, "He just kept staring at me. Then he asked if I could see him. I was terrified, so I pretended I couldn't see him. Since I ignored him, he didn't attack."
"Did he follow you?"
Sakura shook her head. "No, he stayed in the bathroom and didn't come out."
"So, the one in your bedroom must be a second spirit," Diego noted while jotting down details. "Can you describe the second spirit?"
"The second evil spirit..." When Sakura mentioned the second spirit, her face darkened even further.
"The second evil spirit was an infant ghost. When I was lying in bed, getting ready to sleep, I suddenly felt something moving under the covers. When I lifted the blanket, I saw the baby spirit."
"The baby's head was disproportionately large, and its entire body was a bluish-purple hue. Its eyes were hollow, and its face was twisted into a sinister grin as it stared at me intently. It even called out, 'Mommy, Daddy…'"
"I was terrified that it would attack me, so I pretended not to see it and silently pulled the blanket back over myself. I kept my eyes shut, and eventually, I fell asleep. When I woke up the next morning, it was gone."
As Sakura recounted this, she shivered, as if unwilling to recall such a terrible experience.
'As long as you ignore them, evil spirits won't attack you.'
So that's the world of spirits Sakura has constructed in her mind.
Diego noted down this key piece of information.
"You said... this evil spirit was lying on your stomach. How heavy did it feel?" Diego tapped his pen against his notebook.
"Weight?"
Diego nodded. "Yes, weight. Generally speaking, a newborn baby weighs about three kilograms. If something weighing three kilograms was pressing down on your stomach, you would have felt a significant amount of pressure."
A one-liter bottle of soda weighs roughly one kilogram. Three kilograms would be like having three large bottles stacked on top of you—something Sakura would have definitely noticed.
Sakura thought for a moment before hesitantly replying, "I did feel some weight at the time, but... it wasn't much. It might not have even been as heavy as my phone."
If Diego hadn't pointed it out, she wouldn't have realized this detail.
"Diego-san... Do ghosts have a different mass than humans?" Sakura quickly asked.
Diego neither confirmed nor denied the question.
"I'll answer that later. I have a few more questions for you." He continued, "When you woke up the next morning and the baby spirit was gone, was the middle-aged man's spirit still there?"
Sakura nodded. "Yes, he was still there. As long as I go to the bathroom, I can see him."
"Have you ever interacted with him? Can you touch him?"
"I've been avoiding contact with him and keeping my distance." Sakura looked at Diego nervously. "Diego-san, am I doing the right thing?"
"Yes, you're doing the right thing. The closer you are to an evil spirit, the more likely it is to disturb you. It's best to stay as far away as possible." Diego nodded.
"If close contact is unavoidable, you should at least avoid making eye contact. What you're doing now is good—if you ignore them, they won't harm you."
Of course, Diego was just making things up.
There's no definitive rule on how to deal with evil spirits.
Some believe that cursing at them, acting fiercer than they are, will scare them away.
Others, like Sakura, believe that avoiding contact and not making eye contact will prevent any consequences.
There's no right or wrong—it's simply a matter of perspective. After all, ghosts don't exist in reality; they only exist in one's mind.
Since Sakura believes that "ignoring them" is the way to avoid being harmed, Diego saw no need to contradict her. Challenging a client's beliefs would only make them doubt his expertise.
Receiving Diego's approval, Sakura suddenly felt relieved and even more convinced that he was a genuine exorcist.
"Diego-san, can you help me get rid of these two spirits?" Sakura pleaded, looking at Diego with hopeful eyes. "I don't want to see evil spirits in my home anymore!"
Anymore?
Diego caught onto that word immediately. Did this mean she had encountered even more spirits besides these two?
However, he didn't press further.
As an exorcist, his job was simply to fulfill the client's request. If she only wanted to remove these two spirits, that's all he needed to handle.
"Before I accept the job, I need to understand how these spirits came to be," Diego explained. "Different spirits require different approaches—just like how zombies are repelled by peachwood swords, and vampires are countered with crosses and holy water. I need to determine the root cause before prescribing the right solution."
"Master, you've dealt with zombies and vampires before?!" Sakura's eyes widened in amazement. "I didn't know such creatures actually existed! I've never seen one before..."
"Yes, I've dealt with them while working abroad." Diego maintained a straight face, lying effortlessly. "Different countries have different geographical conditions and customs, which lead to the appearance of different supernatural entities. Don't worry—you won't encounter those here in Japan."
Before Sakura could ask for more details, Diego swiftly changed the subject.
"Anyway, I'm going to ask you some questions. This will help me understand why these spirits appeared."
"How many people live in your house right now?"
".... Three. Me, my brother and… grandfather."
Diego frowned hearing her reluctance but continued.
"Do you often watch horror movies?"
"Yes, sometimes. I also watch late-night paranormal shows."
"Have you visited any haunted places recently?"
"No." Sakura shook her head, then hesitated before adding, "Although, I was at school at night once... does that count? There are a lot of ghost stories about my school."
Diego didn't respond, merely jotting the information down before continuing.
"How is your relationship with your family? Do they enter your bedroom freely?"
".... I have a great relationship with them. My brother cares for me." She lowered her head saying that.
Diego's frown deepened but did not interrupt. Why does it sound like she's not describing ghosts but something else instead?
Sakura sighed and said with a reluctant look. "As for my bedroom... My brother sometimes barges in to wake me up in the morning. He even yells to…startle me, so I can't go back to sleep."
"Has your sleep been poor only recently, or has it always been bad?"
Diego noticed the slight dark circles under Sakura's eyes. She looked exhausted, but for some reason, her eyes told something deeper.
"It only got worse after I noticed the spirits in my house two days ago. Before that, my sleep was fine."
This was an important detail.
Sakura was used to sleeping at home and didn't have a habit of waking up in the middle of the night. So why did she suddenly feel unsafe in her own bed?
After a moment of thought, Diego asked, "I hope you don't mind, but do you have any recent photos of your bedroom? According to some feng shui theories, improper furniture placement can attract spirits."
Sakura pondered for a moment before answering with some hesitation "... A few days ago, my brother took a picture of me waking up. He said my sleeping posture was… bad and took the photo just to tease me."
She slowly pulled out her phone and found the picture before showing it to him.
In the photo, Sakura was groggily rubbing her eyes in her pajamas. A stuffed pillow had fallen to the floor.
Diego's eyes narrowed at something beside Sakura's pillow.
A humanoid plush toy.
It had a single eye drawn on its face, long limbs, and a downturned stitched mouth—giving it an eerie appearance.
"What's this?" Diego asked.
"Oh, that's a popular mascot called 'Little Eye'. I really like it, so I bought both the plushie and a keychain version."
She showed him a matching keychain with the same eerie design.
Diego sighed. So this is what young girls are into these days…
"One last question—have you seen any babies recently, or heard news about someone being pregnant?" Diego asked.
"Um, our homeroom teacher is pregnant. I heard that in a few weeks, she'll be going on maternity leave, and another teacher will take over her position," Sakura answered, though she was a bit puzzled.
Diego narrowed his eyes slightly.
Good. Everything matched up.
The puzzle… seemed to be solved.