Chapter 92

“This is a business opportunity! A real business opportunity!” cried the editor-in-chief of Japan’s Jump manga magazine.

Unlike others, he didn’t go to Higashi-Oku, because he knew too many people would be there already—his old body wouldn’t stand a chance of getting anything, and more importantly, he understood the Japanese government would never let valuable items be taken away.

So he wisely chose not to go—but not going didn’t mean he’d sit idle. From the Higashi-Oku incident, he spotted a massive business opportunity.

“Notify the Ministry of Justice—I want to register trademarks for commercial names like Master Kūkai, Venerable Kūkai, and others. Also, hurry up and tell the manga artists to create comics themed around monks, demons, and gods.”

Meanwhile.

ALTER, one of Japan’s largest figurine manufacturers.

“Shut down all your factories immediately. I want them producing new figurines in the shortest possible time.”

The ALTER president waved his hand decisively.

“Hire the best figurine designers. I want them to design the ultimate figurines of Master Kūkai and Jizōdōji. Yes—I want every factory producing figurines of Master Kūkai and Jizōdōji. Within two days, I want to see the first batch. If you can’t deliver on time, you’re all fired!”

Watching his subordinates scramble, the ALTER president, with his beer belly, bit down on a cigar and let out a villainous laugh.

“This is the chance—my chance to make ALTER the top figurine manufacturer in Japan.”

At almost the same moment, foresighted individuals across Japan recognized the opportunity, anticipating a supernatural boom and moving swiftly to capitalize on it.

These people spanned every industry: anime, food, pharmaceuticals, clothing, figurines…

Even funeral homes and crematoriums had people trying to profit from it.

The funeral home owner planned to launch a service: pretending to invite descendants of Master Kūkai to recite scriptures written by him, to guide the deceased into the afterlife—and add a gimmick: claiming such rites might one day bring the dead back to life.

Online.

While most people rushed to Higashi-Oku or chased business opportunities, some didn’t go.

Not because they didn’t want to—but tickets were sold out, and they lacked the capital to act. They were just ordinary office workers and students.

Besides, they figured the government would never let ordinary citizens get their hands on the plants, soil, or wood.

So they chatted online with netizens about topics related to Master Kūkai, hoping to uncover something new.

And if they truly discovered something new, they might gain attention, earn rewards, or even get hired by the government.

Simba: “Anyone else notice the four words Master Kūkai said—‘the original battlefield’?”

The next moment.

Countless netizens posted “1111.”

Clearly, many had caught one of the most critical pieces of information in Master Kūkai’s words to Jizōdōji: “the original battlefield.”

But at the time, they’d been too stunned by Tsukuyomi Xia Mei’s identity as a descendant of Abe no Seimei, so they’d overlooked it—now, recalling it, they were filled with curiosity.

Passerby_Million: “I searched Yahoo, but found no explanation of ‘the original battlefield.’”

All netizens fell silent.

Are you kidding me? If Yahoo had the answer, I’d chop off my dick and use it as a toothpick.

The next second.

Passerby_Million: “But while I didn’t find ‘the original battlefield,’ I did find ‘battlefield.’”

‘Battlefield’ originates from ancient China during the Western Zhou dynasty, meaning a battlefield along the national border. The border itself is called ‘frontier,’ and the battlefield on that frontier is called ‘battlefield.’”

I boldly speculate that ‘the original battlefield’ might simply mean ‘battlefield.’ Yahoo’s definition confirms that ‘battlefield’ means a frontier battlefield.

This isn’t a baseless guess. First, Yahoo’s definition is one reason. Second, Master Kūkai’s dialogue—we all heard he never answered Jizōdōji whether they’d meet again.

Since ancient times, battlefields have been brutal, human lives as fleeting as grass. No one can guarantee survival on a battlefield—bullets don’t care who you are. This fits perfectly with Master Kūkai’s uncertainty about whether he’d return alive.

Jizōdōji himself said he’d fight until his last drop of blood rather than stand on that side. From ‘fight until the last drop of blood,’ we can infer that ‘that side’ had previously fought against demons and supernatural forces—another proof linking it to war.”

Countless netizens: “666666”

Every netizen found this well-reasoned analysis convincing to some degree—including Professor Tanaka, the yokai scholar who had nothing better to do than browse online and happened upon this guess.

“Director Takahashi, take a look at this speculation.”

Director Takahashi, currently deploying forces in the combat zone to prevent citizens and foreign spies from stealing the plants, soil, and wood, took his phone, glanced at it, and blinked in surprise.

“Professor Tanaka, how credible do you think this speculation is?”

“I can’t guarantee it’s 100% reliable, but I’d say 70–80% credible.”

Professor Tanaka adjusted his glasses.

“Director Takahashi, I suggest the Supernatural Response Division set up an online big-data analysis system: after combining analyses from our scientists, historians, and yokai experts, we could further cross-reference with online public data to reach more definitive conclusions.”

I know you might think the internet is full of rumors and silly guesses—but don’t underestimate netizens. Their wild, imaginative theories might provide crucial insights.”

Director Takahashi nodded. “Good. I’ll add your suggestion to the agenda for my next meeting with upper management.”

Online discussion continued.

GentleCatOwner: “I just realized something—the term ‘battlefield’ in ‘the original battlefield’ comes from China. Master Kūkai traveled to China. Why does everything keep tying back to China? Honestly, I’m curious—does China even have the supernatural?”

Netizens: “!!!!”

Thanks to this netizen’s remark, curiosity surged among everyone.

The supernatural has now been proven real, and it’s tied to Japanese gods and demons—proving these myths aren’t pure fiction, but based on actual events…

So here’s the question.

Japan isn’t the only country with myths and monsters. Other nations have them too: Greek mythology’s Twelve Olympians, Norse mythology’s Odin and his pantheon, and China’s ancient divine myths—the oldest of all.

Could these foreign myths and monsters, like Japan’s, be real—not fabrications?

Remember, Japan isn’t some delusional little country that thinks it’s the center of the universe, that everything belongs to it, that all cultural heritage and myths are theirs.

The Japanese aren’t that foolish—they don’t believe only Japan has the supernatural.

Tusuhongtoujie: “I don’t know if other countries’ myths involve the supernatural, but I’m certain China’s myths have a very, very high chance of being real—almost definitely exist.”

…