Supernatural Hunter in the Modern Era

Night time

Manami called one of her friends and convinced her to tell her parents that she was staying with her.

"Wait what?! Why do you need me to lie for you?" 

"It's complicated, can you just cover for me."

"Heh, what are you hiding, can you at least tell me that?... Wait, wait a minute, you're out so late and you have a secret that you can't tell you parents, are you in a guy's house?" 

There was a moment of silence and after a few seconds the voice of Manami's friend burst out from the other end of the phone. 

"Are you for real?! Are you really in some guy's house?! Kyaa, if the guys in our school knew that our little empress actually has a boyfriend I bet they'll die from envy, or most likely they'll kill the guy that stole your heart. Anyway, Manami how could you do this to me?!"

Manami's friend Yuno became incomparably excited as she spoke at a fast pace. On the other hand, Manami could only sigh as she listened to her friend's excitment. Even if she tried to explain it to Yuno the other party would never believe her. 

"Believe me it's not like that. Anyway, later if my mom calls you tell her that I'm staying with you for the night. Also, I'll be coming to your place for a bath and a change of clothes tomorrow morning."

"Wait a minute why would you need to do that, why can't you just go home and do that there? Wait a minute, are you going to-" Before Yuno could finish what she was going to say Manami cut her off. 

"That's enough, whatever it is your thinking is not what's happening, alright. So how about you stop asking questions and just help me. I promise that after all these I'll treat you in that restaurant that you like." 

"Wait, for real?! You're not trying to trick me are you?" 

"Did I ever trick you before?" 

"Alright, then it's a promise. I'll wait for you tomorrow morning. What time do you think you'll arrive?" 

"If everything goes well, I should get there around six, just leave your window open and I'll do the rest." 

"Heh, just like old times huh. The tomboy back then might've turned into a swan on the outside but you're still the same on the inside." 

"Whatever, I'm hanging up now." Manami didn't wait for Yuno to reply as she ended the call. The next person she needed to call was her mother. 

...

While Manami was trying to convince her mother, Niel opened a window and started smoking. The mission given by the system this time was extremely vague as it simply stated that he should save the Damsel in Distress which he guessed was Manami. 

Aside from the mission title, there was no other information about how to save the Damsel in Distress. Niel had no idea what the enemy was going to be like this time. Unlike his parents he had little knowledge about such things, not to mention that there were far too many myths, urban legends, and supernatural stories that fit Manami's experience so until he sees the supposed Shadow Niel had no way of knowing if he could do anything to it at all. 

Still, since he promised the girl that he would do his best, he would definitely do his very best. Right now he had the Kampilan of Lam-ang which was a legendary weapon that could harm even mythical spirits. In the stories he has heard from his mother, Lam-ang was also capable of defeating beings close to demi-gods, so killing a shadow creature should be easy, right? 

'If that doesn't work out, I can just use the ability card Lancelot's swordsmanship, maybe the knight of the lake's swordsmanship could kill the Shadow. I think I remember reading that he was able to defeat a dragon. So his swordsmanship should be able to defeat something like this shadow.' 

Despite being a little scared of the upcoming battle with the Shadow, Niel was actually feeling excited as well. As he was getting a little hyped by what was to come he heard Manami's voice. 

"Umm, I already told my parents that I'll be staying at a friend's house. So how are we going to do this? Also just to remind you, if you even think about doing anything funny, I'll call the police."

Niel turned around and looked at Manami who flinched. She could feel a very dangerous vibe coming from Niel, it was a similar feeling she would get when she passes by the delinquents in her school. Niel looked at Manami's frightened expression and sighed, he pressed on the cigarette he was smoking and threw it toward the nearby trashcan. 

"Don't worry about that, I won't do whatever it is you're thinking." 

"Alright, I will trust you for now. So how are we going to do this?" 

"All you need to is sleep while I watch over you, and when this Shadow turns out to be not a dream I'll deal with it." 

Hearing Niel's simple plan Manami nodded her head. 

"I'll just make a few preparations and you can sleep here," Niel pointed at his own room. Niel then went down to the shop and got a few crosses, buddhist prayer beads and holy water as well as Talismans to ward off evil. He then looked at Manami and asked. 

"Um, are you willing to pay for these items that we'll be using?" Niel then showed the items he got from the shop downstairs. 

"I'll pay for it, as long as we get rid of this Shadow I'll pay." 

Hearing Manami's answer Niel nodded his head and placed the cross and Buddhist prayer beads beside the bed, and sprinkled holy water in the room, he then stuck the Talisman onto the door of the room. Niel then cleaned his room, after he was done Manami sat on the bed. 

"So all I need to do is sleep?" 

"Yes." 

"... Then what will you be doing?"

"I'll be staying guard in the corner of the room, so if anything happens I'll be able to respond." 

"Okay...." 

"Do you want me to turn off the lights?" 

"No, please leave them on." 

"Alright then, sweet dreams."

"I hope so."

...

Surprisingly enough, despite her fears, Manami was able to fall asleep rather quickly. Niel could only shake his head as he watched the beautiful girl sleeping so soundly. He couldn't figure out if the girl was wary of him or too trusting of him. 

Niel summoned his sword and got ready to fight whatever monster will come. Since the System itself told him that this was a genuine mission the Shadow monster must be real. 

After a few hours of waiting, Niel got bored so he started playing on his phone. As he was playing one of the new MOBA games Niel suddenly heard someone banging on the door to his room. Niel quickly held onto his sword and just in case was ready to use the Ability Card he had. 

'So the Talismans we sell downstairs do work. I guess most of what my parents were selling truly were authentic goods.' 

The banging on the door continued, it was then Niel noticed that Manami's eyes were open and she was staring at him and the door. She did not blink as she continued to eerily stare at Niel which was a little unnerving. 

Niel took some of the holy water and sprinkled it on Manami but it did nothing, he then sprinkled it at the door which just made the banging become even louder. 

'Should I wait for it to break through the door and attack or should I just go out and attack it already?' 

Niel was still an inexperienced Spirit Hunter since this was just his second battle so he was unsure as to what to do. Originally he thought that the Talismans won't be able to do anything and the Shadow would appear in front of Manami, at that time Niel would try to cut it down. 

Now it would seem that the Shadow wasn't even powerful enough to get past the Talismans placed on the door.