Chapter 108: Mission Settlement, S-Rank Evaluation! (4.2k, Asking for Monthly Votes!)

Once, five times, ten times……

Uesugi Toru had almost lost count of how many times he had used Kaga Kiyomitsu to destroy Aibetsuri on the ground.

Sever, mince, scorch with Corona Qi, then douse with Heavenly Thunder once more.

Uesugi Toru exhausted every method he could think of, yet still could only make Aibetsuri's recovery speed grow slower and slower, slower and slower, step by step.

In other words, no manner of death made any difference to Aibetsuri; all could only whittle down her "vitality" little by little.

"So this also counts as near-death."

The five-minute cooldown reset again; arm-thick lightning plasma fell, covering the charred ground like water, evaporating every last blood drop.

Uesugi Toru stared at that face still smiling at him, and once more drove Kaga Kiyomitsu into her pupils.

Snap.

As if the sound of something shattering rang out.

In Uesugi Toru's eyes, that head draped in long white hair did not fuse again, but instead cracked all over like a fragile craftwork, then fell piece by piece to the ground, turning into specks of ash.

The spiritual fluctuation that had affected his mind until the very last second finally vanished, and Uesugi Toru's thoughts suddenly grew light.

"One hundred twenty-three times."

He murmured low, gazing at the prompt that had finally appeared, exhaling an incomparably weary breath of relief in his heart.

Uesugi Toru looked around, thinking it fortunate that the Onmyoji and Police had not yet arrived here, otherwise there would likely be more complications.

Thinking to just glance at the prompt first, Uesugi Toru's pupils instead contracted heavily——

【You killed the near-death Eight Sufferings·Aibetsuri, gained 999 Soul Ash!】

【You used Kaga Kiyomitsu·Imitation to slay the near-death "Eight Sufferings·Aibetsuri", Kaga Kiyomitsu·Imitation's quality significantly increased!】

【Your Kaga Kiyomitsu·Imitation underwent an unknown change!】

【Your skill, Corona Breathing Technique proficiency +500!】

【Your skill, Corona Breathing Technique has risen to Proficient Level!】

【Your skill, Tennen Rishin-ryu proficiency +500!】

【You obtained, Dissociated Love (Mythic Material)!】

"Better leave this place first."

Angry Eyes' remaining duration was still a full hour and a half; such a long time was completely enough for Uesugi Toru to change a face and rush from Ota Ward to Arakawa Ward.

Entering an alley without monitoring, Uesugi Toru used Thousand Faces to change his appearance and height into those of an unfamiliar youth.

Then he changed into the clothing long prepared in his Storage Backpack, and walked out of the alley generously, brushing past the police cars flashing red and blue lights and wailing sirens beside him.

……

Five minutes later, the ground where Uesugi Toru battled Aibetsuri.

Dense police cars surrounded the area; from almost every police car an Onmyoji descended, forming an encirclement crisscrossing front and back.

If viewed from the sky, one would discover these Onmyoji's positions faintly presented the feel of an Astronomical Way Barrier.

"No active Yokai or spiritual power fluctuations discovered; preliminarily judged that the battle has ended."

The leading Onmyoji took out a radio, reporting with a vigilant expression.

"Hah…… then investigate as usual; leave some necessary personnel, the rest carry out your duties."

The other end obviously breathed a sigh of relief.

"Yes."

Onmyoji and police began screening the scene like digging three feet into the ground.

——Meanwhile, Uesugi Toru had nearly run out of Ota Ward's jurisdiction.

He discovered that along the way, although Ota Ward also had Yokai appear, most were very minor, causing no major riot.

"Seems only Arakawa Ward is unlucky, having an existence like Aibetsuri that differs from ordinary Yokai."

The subsequent sights along the way further confirmed Uesugi Toru's conjecture.

——Perhaps because Aibetsuri was repelled by Nanjo Ai, the Great Demons that had originally echoed and stirred up chaos in Shinjuku and Shibuya had already vanished, and the city's order had also gradually returned to normal.

Unknown whether they retreated on their own, or were already exorcised by this area's controllers within a few hours.

Uesugi Toru leaned toward the latter.

Because the moment he entered these two wards' jurisdictions, he inexplicably sensed waves of spiritual pressure, and he even felt he could trace that quite directional pressure to its owner.

This should be the legendary four-star who broke through the current Genjitsu's 【Sea Level】, an Onmyoji whose strength reached Ghost God Level.

They lay across the sky like signposts, using their own existence to warn all Yokai within the jurisdiction.

Uesugi Toru converged his aura as much as possible, passing silently.

Another half hour plus, and he only made it back to Arakawa Ward before Angry Eyes' duration ended, changed back to his own appearance, and found Shizuku and the others.

She was joining forces with Nure-oni and Hiyobou, and had just killed a flying head that appeared amidst the chaos trying to devour human souls.

Now the group was turning over ruins, preparing to rescue the people inside.

Shizuma Manatsu was not here; she should have already been sent back to the Special Affairs Division.

The reason Uesugi Toru did not directly change back to human form was because although the Red Tide had been entirely recovered by Aibetsuri as capital to fight Nanjo Ai, the current Arakawa Ward still had not settled down.

The longer he could retain some power the better; once Angry Eyes' time truly ended, Uesugi Toru with all attributes turned to "1" would truly become a squishy.

Crash——

A snow-bright blade light slashed across, splitting the piled wood pillars and boulders cleanly in two, revealing smooth cross-sections.

Nure-oni reacted swiftly, instantly extending her hair to rescue several elementary schoolers crying "ura ura" from within.

Shizuku, who had been digging stones with both hands, froze, turned her head, and couldn't help showing a delighted expression: "Glad you're not dead!"

What kind of blessing habit is this.

Uesugi Toru sighed: "Shizuku, how's the situation on your side?"

Getting down to business, Ririko frowned: "It's strange. Not long ago, those seeds infected by the Red Tide suddenly collapsed onto the ground, losing all mobility."

"And not just here—coming along, I found that the Red Tide across the entire Arakawa Ward seemed to vanish in an instant, the disturbance stopping abruptly. I suspect it has something to do with Ai Parting Li."

Suspect?

Could it be that the news of Ai Parting Li being repelled by Nanjo Ai hasn't been announced yet?

That shouldn't be.

But after Uesugi Toru looked Ririko over once more, he understood—the girl was covered in tatters, wounds on her fair skin still bleeding; forget a mobile phone, not even the pocket holding one remained intact.

So he explained things to Ririko, and the girl turned to look at the sky that had already fallen silent.

A faint sense of helplessness rose in her heart.

"In other words, Nanjo Shao Shu won?"

"Probably... besides that, Ririko."

Uesugi Toru looked at the remaining few minutes of Angry Eyes time and explained: "I just used a secret art that overdrafts the body's potential, so I'll be completely weak later. Please take me back to the Special Affairs Division."

—Activate a secret art to resist the Red Tide, then be brought back to the Special Affairs Division after losing combat ability; such a script is perfectly reasonable and no one would suspect it.

"Small matter."

Ririko nodded, then heard the cheers of two shikigami behind her.

She and Uesugi Toru looked over and saw Nure-oni laughing, water gushing out all over her body with splashing sounds, causing the two or three elementary school students in her arms to stop crying and stare blankly at the scene.

Not long after, Angry Eyes time ended, and Ririko carried the limp Uesugi Toru toward the Special Affairs Division.

In the streets and alleys everywhere were "seeds" with eyes tightly closed, collapsed on the ground. Uesugi Toru swept them with a glance and found they had all lost their souls, leaving only empty flesh shells.

Along the way they could already see many onmyoji bringing shikigami to rescue people in the ruins, and fire brigades putting out fires everywhere.

But soldiers, who should be most common and most effective in such a situation, were still nowhere to be seen.

When they reached the doorway of the Special Affairs Division, they saw that this place had apparently become a temporary medical outpost, filled with onmyoji suffering severe injuries.

Ririko thought again of those "all fled" old masters and couldn't help cursing: "Such a pack of worms should all be hanged at the city gate!"

"—I and Nanjo Shao Shu feel the same way, Miss Tokugawa."

A strange, cold voice came, and Ririko turned her head in confusion to look.

A blindfolded girl wearing a blood-stained haori and holding a white cane bowed her head to her and sighed apologetically: "Sorry, we were delayed for quite some time by unexpected yokai on the road. By the time we arrived, the disturbance in Arakawa Ward had already ended."

She said: "But in the time ahead, I and this Tokugawa Haruhiko will remain in Arakawa Ward as reinforcements sent from the Kyoto Onmyoryo, to deal with the arrival of the First Wave together with all of you."

—Kujo Tsubaki?

Uesugi Toru, surprised to meet an acquaintance here, froze slightly, then noticed Kujo Tsubaki's empty right arm.

"Hey, Kujo."

The sword-carrying boy beside Kujo Tsubaki clicked his tongue: "Why apologize to her? Your injuries are far worse than this guy's, aren't they?"

Kujo Tsubaki frowned and struck the boy's shin hard with her white cane: "Tokugawa Haruhiko, is that how you speak to your own sister?"

Tokugawa Haruhiko turned his head away: "Tch, just dumb luck, a collateral branch relying on parents and a face to live in the main house. What qualification does he have to make me call him sister..."

Before he could finish, a chill kept rising from Kujo Tsubaki's body, but just as she was about to speak to reprimand him, Ririko interrupted.

"Miss Kujo." Ririko said indifferently, "This younger brother of mine has been like this since childhood. Sorry for the trouble."

Once these words were spoken, the matter before them became a family affair, and Kujo Tsubaki instead couldn't interject.

Uesugi Toru was left somewhat bewildered by this sudden turn of events—how could he run into Ririko's younger brother at the doorway of the Special Affairs Division while walking along fine...

Is this world so small?

—Speaking of which, he still hadn't learned what Ririko's family was really like; she seemed to have never mentioned it.

After saying this, Ririko wanted to carry Uesugi Toru into the building and settle him first before saying anything else.

But before she could step onto the stairs, an unsheathed tachi blocked her path.

Tokugawa Haruhiko looked at Uesugi Toru on her back with a teasing gaze: "Don't rush off yet, Tokugawa Ririko. Won't you introduce the person on your back?"

He said with a smile,

"If Great-Grandfather knew you ran to Tokyo and privately found a man worse than an ordinary person, what would he think?"

Ririko stopped in her tracks, raised her head and coldly stared at him: "Tokugawa Haruhiko, if you have a brain sickness, go get treated. No need to show off your presence here with elementary school boy behavior. Miss Kujo couldn't possibly think you're handsome acting like this."

Ririko swept away the disguise of the Jade Heart Technique in one go, word by word: "Everyone has a sickness of disliking stupidity."

For a moment, everyone's gaze turned toward Ririko, and even Kujo Tsubaki tapped her white cane in surprise.

Tokugawa Haruhiko's face stiffened, and the mocking words he was about to blurt out were forcibly stopped.

Sword heart sword heart... Sword Heart Penetration?!

Tokugawa Ririko completed Sword Heart Penetration... how is this possible?

A mere collateral concubine daughter, forbidden from contacting supernatural knowledge, an ordinary person who hasn't cultivated the "Four Extremities" Breathing Technique—how could she reach the realm of Sword Heart Penetration just by ordinary sword swings!?

Even within the clan, among their generation, only the eldest brother had a sudden epiphany of Sword Heart Penetration two years ago, stepping into this profound and mysterious realm that absolutely cannot be taught by others.

Besides, even the third sister, who had already stepped into the Ghost God Realm, was stuck in Jinken Gōitsu just like him, unable to make any progress.

—Even though Tokugawa Ririko's parents died early and she is a collateral concubine daughter without backing, once she stepped into the realm of Sword Heart Penetration, everything changed.

—The elders would reassess her value, probably making her a direct-line descendant in legal terms, and the Four Extremities Breathing Technique would likely be opened to her.

This is bad.

Tokugawa Haruhiko hurriedly withdrew his tachi, put his hands behind his back, and forced a stiff smile: "That... Fifth Sister, I was just rude just now."

Uesugi Toru couldn't help but laugh: "First harsh then respectful—thinking about it is laughable."

Tokugawa Haruhiko looked at him, showing a disdainful expression,

"I am indeed apologizing to my Fifth Sister, but what are you anyway?"

"—He is my person."

Ririko coldly stared at him: "Tokugawa Haruhiko, weren't you going to report to Great-Grandfather? Then go and relay my words."

「Now, can I get lost? 」

Ririko ignored Tokugawa Haruhiko, whose face kept twitching, and walked up the steps carrying Uesugi Toru on her back as if nothing had happened.

Their conversation came from ahead——

「Ririko, your cheap younger brother changes faces faster than a chameleon. 」

「A piece of trash, he only dares to show his displeasure to those weaker than himself since childhood, not even as good as a barking dog. 」

Hearing these words, Tokugawa Haruhiko's complexion gradually darkened; he gripped the tachi's sword hilt and ground his teeth in his heart, repeating the five characters Tokugawa Ririko over and over.

Suddenly, Kujo Tsubaki closed the small notebook in her hand: 「Special Agent Third Rank Tokugawa Haruhiko, I recorded our exchange truthfully in the mission report just now. 」

Tokugawa Haruhiko stood stunned for a long time, finally lowering his head deeply: 「Sorry, Special Agent Kujo……」

……

Because the infirmary was already full, Uesugi Toru, who had no obvious injuries, was placed in Ririko's personal room with its door open.

He leaned against the floor mat, finally having time to check the large number of prompts that had popped up long ago——

【Special Limited-Time Mission, "Red Tide" settlement begins!】

【Target One, with Ai Minami, suppress the spread of "Red Tide", completed!】

【Target Two, with Ai Minami, exorcise Eight Sufferings·Aibetsuri, completed!】

【Compiling mission participation and contribution……】

【Your participation in suppressing the spread of "Red Tide" is——B.】

【Your participation in exorcising Eight Sufferings·Aibetsuri is——SS!】

【Comprehensive evaluation complete——Your participation evaluation in the Special Limited-Time Mission "Red Tide" is S!】

End of Chapter