Chapter 171 I, Yagami Hakuto, Do Not Need to Whitewash
Returning from Yae Miko's Grand Narukami Shrine, Hakuto immediately took out the aged starter dough given to him by Nene. Then he began using the Bai Luo Snake Coiling Chain to knead the dough.
Having practiced it thousands of times in the spiritual space, he used the Bai Luo Snake Coiling Chain as naturally as moving his own arm.
The white flour coiled around the Bai Luo Noodle Rod like a snake. Then, with a flick of the rod, the white snake instantly fell into a basin.
While letting the dough rise, Hakuto began preparing the filling. The filling was relatively easy, just the rehydration of dried goods.
He proceeded step by step in an orderly fashion. Rem and Ram watched Hakuto in the kitchen from outside.
"Rem, do you think the pervert master will succeed?"
"He will definitely succeed."
Rem's voice was filled with certainty.
As Hakuto cooked, a serene aura began to emanate from the kitchen. Anyone enveloped by this aura would calm down, no matter how irritable they were.
The rolling steam from the green bamboo boat steamer constantly changed shape, finally forming the four Spirits.
This time, the Four Spirits of the Heavens successfully took shape. Then the white mist forming the Four Spirits of the Heavens crashed into the bamboo boat steamer. The Four Gods Eight Treasures Seafood Bun was complete.
Witnessing this firsthand, Rem and Ram stared wide-eyed, their mouths open, utterly shocked and almost incredulous.
If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, who would believe that cooking could look like a ritual? Dragons, phoenixes, tigers, and black tortoises. Only the Four Gods Eight Treasures Seafood Bun could have such a spectacle.
As the supreme pastry dish, such a display was not surprising. In fact, Hakuto knew very well that this Four Gods Eight Treasures Seafood Bun was not yet the complete version. Only the Four Gods Eight Treasures Seafood Bun made with Shu Han aged starter dough was the true complete version. The older the aged starter dough, the more delicious the dish. It was a delicacy that evolved over time.
As Hakuto took out the bamboo boat steamer, the white steam formed the image of the Four Spirits of the Heavens. The next moment, the Four Spirits of the Heavens dove back into the buns.
Hakuto picked up a bun and took a bite. Instantly, rolling black fog erupted from his body. As he continued to eat, the black fog gradually diminished.
Finally, only a thin layer of black fog remained, but it never dissipated.
At that moment, Hakuto felt unusually calm. Recalling everything he had done before, he suddenly felt that his past actions seemed... like a dark history.
"If I had been in a normal state, I probably wouldn't have been so harsh and absolute."
If he had been in a normal state, Hakuto might have left Tomoya one hand and one leg, instead of cutting off all four like he did.
And he wouldn't have taken his anger out on Utaha's family. So, everything was fate, not up to the person.
If Hakuto hadn't been assassinated, and then semi-darkened by the anger of the two Spirits within him, he wouldn't have ended up like this.
On the other side, Utaha was lying in bed like a salted fish, staring at the ceiling.
She couldn't understand why Hakuto hated her so much. Even if she had done wrong, weren't his actions too cruel and vicious?
Suddenly, a diary hit Utaha in the face.
[Hakuto's Diary Copy (Kasumigaoka Utaha Exclusive).]
Looking at the words on the diary cover, Utaha paused. Then she opened it. As she read the diary, Utaha finally understood why Hakuto hated them so much.
Hakuto had died. To be precise, Hakuto's other personality, his predecessor, had died from overwork because of them.
So Hakuto wanted revenge. From Utaha's perspective, was Hakuto wrong to seek revenge?
No.
She then remembered what Hakuto had said to Tomoya earlier: If I let you go, who will let me go?
Utaha hadn't understood before, but now she understood. For his own revenge, Hakuto couldn't let anyone off.
After reading the diary, all of Utaha's doubts were eliminated. Then she smiled bitterly.
She had brought it upon herself.
Everything was her own fault. If she hadn't been bewitched by her feelings for Tomoya and deliberately targeted Hakuto because of Eriri, she wouldn't have ended up like this.
"It's too late for me to regret now."
What was the use of regretting now? It was too late. What was done was done.
"If I had gotten this diary earlier, would I have ended up like this?"
Smiling bitterly, Utaha closed her eyes. Unable to sleep since that incident, Utaha, having resolved her inner conflict, could finally dream.
[The Four Gods Eight Treasures Seafood Bun is complete. Unfortunately, without the Shu Han aged starter dough, it's not the true complete version. The malice from Them has been significantly reduced. Although some remains, it has restored my calm and rationality.]
[Reflecting on what I did before, I feel like I was turning dark. And I actually forced myself on Kasumigaoka Utaha and Sawamura Sayuri. And Momobami Kirari too. If I had been in a normal state without feelings, I probably wouldn't have done that kind of thing.]
[Also, I was quite decisive, wasn't I? Because of the Sunset Manor, I was actually ready to directly kill off the Suzuki Family. Hmm... turning dark is scary. Fortunately, I'm back to normal now. But even if I hadn't turned dark, faced with the same situation, I probably would have made similar choices. Turning dark just magnified my desires.]
[And Sawamura Spencer Eriri. Tsk. Just talking about this woman is annoying. Forget it. I'll put her aside for now.]
[Never mind. I feel like I'm whitewashing myself. I, Yagami Hakuto, do not need to whitewash.]
[Speaking of which, I haven't claimed yesterday's rewards yet. Let me claim yesterday's rewards first.]