OREGAIRU : Hikigaya Hachiman's Exorcism Story

"Ding! Congratulations to the host for defeating a high-level evil spirit, successfully leveling up to an Advanced Exorcist, and earning 500 Spirit Coins."

As the body of the bird-headed evil spirit disappeared, the system notification rang again in Hikigaya Hachiman's mind.

After confirming the evil spirit's death, the tension in his body instantly relaxed.

With a "thud," Hikigaya Hachiman collapsed onto the playground, his body exhausted. As his eyelids trembled and he felt like he might fall asleep, the system automatically pulled up his attribute panel.

Name: Hikigaya Hachiman 

Age: 17 

Occupation: Advanced Exorcist 

Spirit Power: 2/100 

Ability: Spirit Flow Technique (Beginner) 

Weapon: Intermediate Demon Slayer Sword 

Spirit Coins: 1125 

"So I've already got this much money?" 

Looking at the Spirit Coins at the bottom of his attribute panel, Hikigaya Hachiman couldn't help but feel amazed.

Before entering the dungeon, he was someone who couldn't even gather 200 Spirit Coins, but after going through the dungeon, he not only upgraded his weapon and learned new skills, he even became a Spirit Coin millionaire...

Almost instinctively, Hikigaya Hachiman swiped to the store page.

Looking at the items in the store, he immediately snapped out of his drowsiness.

"Is... is this what's in the advanced store?"

His eyes widened in shock as he stared at the wide variety of products. 

When he was at the beginner and intermediate levels, the store only had two items, and he had thought that when he reached the advanced level, there might be just a few more. But to his surprise, the system had completely transformed the small store into a department store!

"Previously, the system was just selecting the right host. Now that you meet the binding requirements, the Exorcist system is fully open to you."

Maybe sensing Hikigaya's confusion, the system took the opportunity to explain why there were more items now.

"So, I was just a backup candidate?" 

Hikigaya Hachiman raised an eyebrow. A feeling of dissatisfaction spread in his chest.

The feeling of having done everything right but still being seen as replaceable by others was hard to let go of.

"Not exactly. You were indeed the most suitable candidate chosen by the system for binding. However, just to be sure, the creator added a few extra conditions to confirm if you were truly worthy of being bound."

"Like what?"

"After gaining power, you must either not do any bad deeds for three months or risk your life to save someone."

Well, okay.

Hikigaya shrugged helplessly, realizing that he had unknowingly fulfilled both conditions at once.

"So after unlocking the permissions, is there anything else besides the increased store items?"

"No."

"!"

Hikigaya was momentarily stunned.

He had already unlocked all the permissions, and yet the only change was that more items became available in the store?

"Your strength has grown too quickly, and the system has nothing more to teach you."

For the first time, Hikigaya sensed a hint of helplessness in the system's cold tone.

The system had never expected Hikigaya to defeat a high-level evil spirit without its help.

Before entering the dungeon, he was just a Junior Exorcist with a basic whiteboard tool.

But who would have thought that the first mid-level evil spirit would be so easy to deal with, allowing Hikigaya to level up right away?

Then, with his newbie gear, Hikigaya Hachiman had managed to kill the Samurai Evil Spirit and the Bird-Headed Evil Spirit.

This was the first time the system had encountered such a bizarre storyline.

It had planned to guide Hikigaya Hachiman through a proper newbie tutorial, but he had finished the last task right away—defeating a high-level evil spirit.

So, what could the system do? It was just as helpless.

"Wait, you mean you actually planned to teach me something?"

Hikigaya Hachiman frowned when he heard the system's words. 

It seemed like he had accidentally done something major. 

"Yeah, originally, after the host reached the intermediate exorcist level, I was going to guide the host in some training. After all, high-level evil spirits are several times stronger than intermediate ones..." 

Maybe because it was about to leave, the system, which had barely spoken before, suddenly became talkative. 

"But I didn't feel like that bird-headed evil spirit was much stronger than the samurai evil spirit?" 

Hikigaya Hachiman scratched his head, with a bit of a smug look. 

But he wasn't lying; the samurai evil spirit had nearly killed him. In comparison, the bird-headed one, which could only summon tornadoes, wasn't as much of a threat. 

"The strength of that high-level evil spirit is much more than that." 

When talking about the high-level evil spirit, the system's tone revealed obvious disdain. 

"After it flew into the air, its speed would increase significantly, and it could shoot wind blades to attack. Fighting it on open ground without cover would be extremely disadvantageous. But it surprisingly stayed on the ground because it didn't want to give up its food. I didn't expect that." 

By the end, the system couldn't help but sigh. 

What kind of situation was this? 

It had thought it would be working with this host for a few more months, but suddenly got pulled into a high-level quest and was immediately out of a job. 

Even being a system wasn't easy anymore. 

"Alright, since the host has completed the beginner tutorial, the smart assistant should leave now." 

"Wait, you're leaving?" 

Hearing the system's words, Hikigaya Hachiman realized something was wrong. 

If the system left, didn't that mean he'd be back to his old life from months ago? 

"Don't worry, only my assistant will leave. The system will still stay inside the host." 

Since this wasn't the first time explaining it, the assistant made it very clear and simple. 

"So, where are you going?" 

Hikigaya Hachiman, relieved that his current life wouldn't disappear, became curious about where the system was headed. 

"Of course, I'll be randomly traveling to the next world to find a new host. Who knows, maybe I'll need your help again someday. I hope you won't turn me down..." 

"You have a help feature?!" 

Hikigaya Hachiman's eyes widened. 

Why hadn't he used that feature at all?! 

"The help feature only activates after the second certification, but you completed the tutorial during your second certification." 

The system explained somewhat aggrievedly. 

"Alright, so what does the help feature do?" 

"Of course, it's to summon my previous host to help when you can't handle the current opponent!" 

The system said in a tone that was almost disappointed. 

What else would the help feature be for? 

"Uh, so it can only be the previous host?" 

"Exactly, it can only be the previous host. Otherwise, the power gap would be too large, and the current host might gain too much strength easily. That's something the creator wanted to avoid." 

"Alright, I'm fine with that." 

After asking all his questions, Hikigaya Hachiman shrugged, signaling that the system should leave so he wouldn't get any more frustrated. 

"Then I hope you'll agree quickly when the help feature activates." 

Seeing that Hikigaya Hachiman wasn't taking the system seriously, the assistant didn't hesitate. It left one last reminder before disappearing from Hikigaya Hachiman's mind. 

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