Chapter 149

In the secluded, silent Imagawa Residence, the girl wearing a Twelve-Layered Robe let out a long breath of relief and plopped back down.

Imagawa Yoshimoto leaned backward, supporting her body with hands that trembled from time to time.

"So hot! I've sweated so much, come to think of it it's almost winter already……"

After wiping the sweat beads at her temples, she tilted her head and grinned at Uesugi Toru, who was seeing her like this for the first time and for a moment didn't know what to say.

"——But anyway, I've finally lured you, Mr. Toru, into the Imagawa Clan!"

Uesugi Toru watched Imagawa Yoshimoto peel off the Twelve-Layered Robe piece by piece, her chest heaving violently, and estimated her heart rate had probably spiked to around 160.

He asked with curiosity: "Lord Imagawa, someone as confident as you, would you also hesitate and feel nervous over whether you could recruit me?"

"Ah."

Finally down to only two or three layers of under-robes, her whole body hot enough to faintly emit a cloud of steam, Imagawa Yoshimoto nodded seriously: "That is only natural."

She folded the garments one by one, then turned back to look at Uesugi Toru,

"Because after a successful 'Kyo' there may be more than one Daimyo who gains the Tenka-bito title, but the truly existing Onmyoji up to now is only you alone, Mr. Toru."

Uesugi Toru pondered briefly upon hearing this——with the current Heaven-Earth Spirit Concentration, engaging in Onmyoji cultivation is indeed very difficult.

But this is not something completely impossible.

For instance, those Onmyoji Families with long traditions passed down to the present world certainly existed in the Sengoku Period as well.

It should merely be that they sealed their mountains and lived in seclusion, unwilling to emerge into the world.

Because the Spirit Concentration is too low, those Onmyoji don't even have time to cultivate to the realms spoken of by their predecessors, so where would they find the inclination to meddle in the affairs of the mundane world?

These thoughts occupied only an instant, and he heard Imagawa Yoshimoto continue,

"And it's not just nervousness and hesitation, there's also excitement and joy."

Imagawa Yoshimoto picked up the teacup she had knocked over, tidied it slightly, and simply brewed herself a cup of tea.

Uesugi Toru could see that even now, the girl's hand holding the teacup still trembled slightly.

After taking a small sip of the warm tea, Imagawa Yoshimoto's breathing gradually steadied.

She said with a smile: "I'm human too, so Tetsu-kun, don't place too high expectations on me."

"If there's a problem point it out directly, if there's something you want to say just say it to me."

Imagawa Yoshimoto poked her chin with her index finger: "Because Tetsu-kun you are the one and only Onmyoji, so even if you poke my sore spots, I won't kill you just because I'm angry."

Hearing Imagawa Yoshimoto's covert change in how she addressed him, Uesugi Toru's brow couldn't help but twitch slightly.

At first she called him "Toru-kakka," just now she was still calling him "Mr. Toru," and now not two sentences after recruiting him she's started calling him "Tetsu-kun."

Good grief, she doesn't even pretend anymore.

Uesugi Toru believed that while a close relationship between superior and subordinate is fine, necessary distance should still be maintained.

So he spoke: "Lord Imagawa, your form of address for me is perhaps a bit……"

Because the other party was Imagawa Yoshimoto, Uesugi Toru didn't spell it out bluntly.

Imagawa Yoshimoto indeed understood the implication.

"Please rest assured, I won't address you like that in front of outsiders."

Then, she drawled: "This is a secret known only between the two of us, me and Tetsu-kun you."

Uesugi Toru: "……"

Seeing Uesugi Toru didn't seem very willing to accept this form of address, Imagawa Yoshimoto poured another cup of tea herself,

"Didn't I just say——I want to make Tetsu-kun you willingly follow behind me, bow down at my feet, make you unwilling to leave me no matter what, and raise weapons of rebellion smashing towards me."

She paused, gently pushing the tea before him: "So, I think I have to start working hard from now on."

Uesugi Toru stared wordlessly at the tea brewed from fine tea leaves, his own two eyes facing off against his reflection in the tea surface.

Imagawa Yoshimoto's pair of eyes brimming with laughter suddenly crashed into his,

"Come, drink tea."

She lifted the porcelain cup holding the gently rippling tea and shoved it into Uesugi Toru's hand.

"What if I don't want Lord Imagawa you to call me 'Tetsu-kun'?"

Uesugi Toru held the teacup and asked softly.

"Then please let Tetsu-kun you alone not want it." Imagawa Yoshimoto sat back down, enunciating word by word, "Anyway I'll still call you that."

The Quiet Room fell silent for a time.

Facing the fierce offensive launched by his own lord, Uesugi Toru really had a bit of a headache.

He clearly knew her purpose, knew what she wanted to do, yet Imagawa Yoshimoto's nearly open-handed generous methods really made it impossible to dislike her even a little.

No choice.

Perhaps, this is Imagawa Yoshimoto's charm.

This time Uesugi Toru deliberately drank only half the tea.

His complexion unchanged, he placed the teacup where Imagawa Yoshimoto could see clearly: "Then please do as you wish."

"Hmph……"

Imagawa Yoshimoto's beautiful eyes narrowed, knowing he was indirectly pointing at her.

But not urgent either.

The girl withdrew her gaze.

After all, the days ahead are long.

Everything has only just begun.

——The more violently the prey struggles, the sweeter the taste of the fruit of victory when savoring it.

"Right, and that Shiraishi who's been following behind you Toru, he'll naturally join the Imagawa Clan as a Retainer and become a Samurai too."

Speaking of another, Imagawa Yoshimoto's expression turned indifferent again, her tone unconcerned: "But his treatment won't be the same as yours, just go by the ordinary standard."

It was as if she were saying——

The tone from just now, the smile from just now, the gestures from just now, were all revealed only for Tetsu-kun.

Only you can see an Imagawa Yoshimoto like this.

"Tetsu-kun, I can tell that Shiraishi's origins aren't very good, so if you have any spare time, please teach him well, whether it's etiquette or other aspects."

Imagawa Yoshimoto said calmly: "Naturally, before he truly grows up, I will also try to be more tolerant toward him."

Uesugi Toru nodded: "I will."

It seems the records regarding Imagawa Yoshimoto's etiquette and upbringing are still relatively consistent with historical fact.

"——Then let's stop here for today."

Imagawa Yoshimoto bent down, lifting the twelve-layered robe with some difficulty, then said to Uesugi Toru: "I'll go to Teacher's side first. As for Teacher's physical condition, I'll still have to trouble Tetsu-kun to put more thought into it afterwards."

Uesugi Toru hummed in acknowledgment: "Small matter."

"As for afterwards, regarding salary, residence, and Tetsu your own unique needs, let's put them off until tomorrow and come discuss them with me in detail."

——The so-called letting Taigen Sessai recuperate was nothing more than going daily to feed him a drop of Awakening Spirit Mist, then using his own Corona Qi to unblock the stagnation in his body.

Beyond that, Uesugi Toru could do nothing more.

Because Taigen Sessai's Jing Shen had long been sucked clean by the disease demon over such a long time——didn't you see that when the Komainu dragged the disease demon down, it had even become so obese it could no longer walk on its own.

So his body now is like a funnel with a hole in it; no matter what is done, it can only slow the speed of his death as much as possible.

And once Taigen Sessai dies, it seems someone will stir up trouble.

That's what the encyclopedia says.

Uesugi Toru thought, then saw Imagawa Yoshimoto at the doorway, who had been holding clothes larger than herself for a long time but couldn't hook open the sliding door with her fingers.

He silently watched Imagawa Yoshimoto, who clearly only needed to put down the clothes in her hands to pull open the door, and silently clicked his tongue.

Unexpectedly, the actual Imagawa Yoshimoto turned out to be such a scheming woman.

Uesugi Toru stood up, walked behind her, then scooped up that large stack of clothing in one arm, casting a faint gaze: "Lord Imagawa, weren't you just telling me——'if you have something to say, say it directly'."

Imagawa Yoshimoto seemed unable to hear the meaning in his words, nodding thoughtfully: "Then, many thanks for Tetsu-kun extending a helping hand?"

Feigning ignorance while understanding perfectly……

Uesugi Toru noncommittally slid open the door, paused his step to signal for Imagawa Yoshimoto to walk ahead and lead the way.

The latter understood perfectly, smiled and nodded, then put on her geta and walked toward the place for washing clothes.

Shiraishi, who was eating small bite by small bite next door, unwilling to finish the pastry, just saw Uesugi Toru slide open the door.

He hadn't even had time to speak when he saw Imagawa Yoshimoto walk out smiling.

Shiraishi immediately stuffed the pastry into his mouth, not letting himself make a sound she probably wouldn't like beside this Imagawa clan Head of Family, then silently thought,

"Boss this is…… already officially become this woman's subordinate?"

"Then doesn't that mean Boss has also become a Samurai?"

Shiraishi savored the pastry slowly melting in his mouth, couldn't help revealing a happy smile.

He even had the unpromising thought for an instant: "If I could keep tasting such sweet flavor, then even if I died it wouldn't matter."

But Shiraishi's complexion immediately fell silent,

"But if you put it that way, then rounding off…… am I not also becoming a Samurai's running dog?"

Shiraishi hung far behind Uesugi Toru's back.

He suddenly felt a bit dazed.

In just a few days, he had gone from a stray dog by the roadside that anyone could kick to death, to becoming the running dog of the so-called incomparably noble Samurai lords he once hated most.

Although they're all dogs, you still have to look at who the Owner is.

And obviously, the latter is far superior to the former in every aspect.

……

After helping Imagawa Yoshimoto put away the clothes, Uesugi Toru saw her turn and leave without the slightest reluctance, without any muddle or delay.

This newly acknowledged Lord of his, her self-confidence and execution ability are truly terrifyingly strong.

He withdrew his gaze, turning instead to look at the prompts that had long been piled up to the side.

【Current Constant World Walker's Historical Influence: 0.35%→0.5%!】

——This prompt probably popped up the moment he said he would join Imagawa Yoshimoto's command, slightly earlier than the Main Quest settlement.

Uesugi Toru continued looking down.

【Settling Main Quest First Ring·Entry Ticket completion……】

【You chose to join Great Daimyo·Imagawa Yoshimoto's command, gained Basic Evaluation B.】

【Your Historical Influence reached 0.5%, Basic Evaluation B→Evaluation A.】

【You gained Great Daimyo·Imagawa Yoshimoto's unique appreciation, task completion greatly increased, Evaluation A→Evaluation S!】

【You spread the name "Onmyoji Toru" across Tenka, your Muromachi Late Period·Sengoku Period Reputation exceeded 1000 points, Evaluation S→S+!】

Just joining Imagawa Yoshimoto's command got a Basic Evaluation as high as "B", showing this is indeed a very good choice at the current stage.

And if one wanted to gain an even higher evaluation in this area……

Uesugi Toru pondered slightly——it seems probably only going to Owari and following that "Sixth.

That way, one could follow the historical trend and rise together with Oda Nobunaga in this chaotic Warring States era.

And at this time point, Tokugawa Ieyasu had just barely completed Genpuku adulthood, pure and clean from head to toe; Toyotomi Hideyoshi probably still called Kinoshita Fujikichiro, a guy who fetched straw sandals for that Demon King.

But no matter which of the above three one chose, even if they met the task conditions, they also didn't quite match the Walking Watch's requirements.

Hmm, still our own Lord Imagawa is better.

【Settlement Complete!】

【Your Main Quest First Ring final evaluation is: S+!】

【Main Quest First Ring Reward Distribution in Progress……】

Uesugi Toru stood in place patiently waiting for the ellipsis to end, but he waited a full two minutes without seeing the reward pop-up prompt.

Instead, he saw a novelty prompt he had never seen before.

【Main Quest First Ring End Node Not Yet Reached, Please Wait a Moment.】

That meant the reward would be delayed.

That wasn't too big a problem, anyway, in the Sengoku Period one month equaled one day in the modern world, and Uesugi Toru could wait.

「The key is, this time's Main Quest reward seems unable to accumulate and overlap, but is directly distributed? 」

It seemed this was also an effect after using the History Key to open the map.

Uesugi Toru shook his head, then saw Shiraishi standing alone under a grass shed not far away.

He was rummaging in his pocket with his hand, his expression hesitant, as if hesitating over something.

Actually Uesugi Toru had long heard Shiraishi's footsteps following behind him, but because Imagawa Yoshimoto was at his side, he still couldn't turn his head to say hello.

Uesugi Toru walked over and asked him: 「What are you doing? 」

「Ugh! 」

Shiraishi, who was in the midst of an extremely intense inner struggle, was startled, and only after seeing clearly who had arrived did he slowly let out a breath: 「Why is it you, Boss…… You almost scared my soul out of me. 」

Uesugi Toru made an 「oh」 sound: 「What? I'm not okay to come? 」

「Not that I'm not okay……」

Shiraishi stuck out his tongue, took out that piece of white pastry from his pocket: 「Here, Boss, I saw you hadn't eaten this before, so I specially saved a piece for you. 」

But although Shiraishi's words sounded nice, when it came to actually handing over the pastry, his little hand hesitated again, unable to move forward.

Obviously, he couldn't bear to part with it.

Uesugi Toru was amused by his appearance: 「Just a piece of pastry, eat it if you want to eat it. 」

「No! 」

Shiraishi shook his head firmly, tightly closed his eyes, as if making some major decision, used his hand to break the pastry, then handed half of it to Uesugi Toru,

「Boss! Take it quickly! I'm about to lose control of myself! 」

Uesugi Toru didn't decline, directly picked up the pastry and tossed it into his mouth.

He chewed a couple times, tasted the sweetness of sugar and honey, but besides that there was nothing else.

The flavor could only be described as barely passable.

But such a pastry for Shiraishi before him was——

He ate the remaining, last half piece of pastry into his mouth little by little with tear-filled eyes, even though his mouth was already tired of the taste, he still couldn't help but reveal a happy smile.

Uesugi Toru glanced at Shiraishi's now-bulging little belly and said: 「Don't eat so full from now on, there won't be less for you, and there won't be a risk of starving to death anymore. 」

After hearing this, Shiraishi gradually converged his smile, even though he had already mostly confirmed it in his heart, he still asked: 「Boss, did you become that Imagawa's subordinate? 」

Uesugi Toru: 「More or less. 」

「Oh……」

Shiraishi responded listlessly.

He thought this was also good, this way, he wouldn't be kicked to death by other samurai like a stray dog in the future.

Shiraishi accepted this result

Because if he really had to choose between life and dignity, he would without hesitation choose to abandon the latter and embrace the former.

For Shiraishi this was fundamentally an option that didn't need thinking.

He had chosen too many times already.

Shiraishi mumbled: 「Boss, then from now on can't I say dirty words as I please, that Imagawa seems not to like this kind of talk. 」

「She probably really doesn't like it, if you say too much she might very well chop off your head. 」Uesugi Toru explained.

Shiraishi didn't speak.

After a pause, Uesugi Toru added: 「But you just need not to say it in front of her, anyway you can be considered a samurai of the Imagawa Clan now, she isn't so strict as to manage things unseen and unheard. 」

「Oh! Boss you really are a genius! 」

Shiraishi had just exclaimed, then as if realizing something he froze: 「Boss, what did you just say? 」

「——She isn't so strict as to manage things unseen and unheard. 」

Shiraishi shook his head repeatedly: 「No, the previous sentence. 」

「——Anyway you can be considered a samurai of the Imagawa Clan now. 」

Uesugi Toru spoke clearly, word by word to the little bean sprout before him.

Thus Shiraishi was stunned.

He blankly opened his mouth, suspecting if he had misheard.

After a while, he patted his cheeks and asked again: 「Boss, what did you just say? 」

Uesugi Toru then repeated it once more without tiring.

「Heard clearly? 」

「Heard, heard clearly……」

Shiraishi still answered dazedly, he shook his head vigorously and then confirmed this was not his own illusion.

「But this kind of trash seen everywhere in this garbage heap…… how does he have the qualification to be a samurai? 」

——Shiraishi detested samurai, this was an indisputable fact.

But he also understood, those guys who could be called samurai, even setting aside the blood flowing in their bodies, were far stronger than him, this kind of scum who survived year after year relying on various petty cleverness.

For Shiraishi, this sentence was equivalent to granting him the qualification to be human, letting him from now on not have to walk with his head down, not have to regard himself as trash, scum anymore.

——Shiraishi didn't understand this point.

He only knew that he had become the very samurai he despised most, and was actually feeling happy about it……

Two incomparably complex emotions intertwined in Shiraishi's heart, causing nausea to surge up his throat, making him unable to suppress the urge to retch.

But the next moment he thought of the fact that he had just eaten so many pastries.

Wouldn't vomiting them out mean he'd eaten them for nothing?

So Shiraishi forcibly suppressed the violent nausea and urge to vomit, breathing heavily, and only after a good while did he dazedly say to Uesugi Toru,

"Boss, thank you……"

Uesugi Toru looked at him for a good while, did not press further, but shook his head: "No need for thanks. If you must thank someone, thank yourself for not truly harboring killing intent toward me at the start."

Shiraishi did not reply; he merely stared silently at his own palm, lost in thought.

……

Afterward, Uesugi Toru and Shiraishi spent a rare, precious period of daily life at the Imagawa Residence.

On the second day, Imagawa Yoshimoto said she would give him a salary of five hundred kan upfront, and frankly stated that if it wasn't enough he could ask her for more.

Uesugi Toru didn't quite understand the purchasing power of five hundred kan in the Sengoku Period; he only knew that the moment Shiraishi walked in, he threw himself onto a huge pile of copper coins shouting he'd struck it rich!

At Uesugi Toru's request, a secluded quiet room with a small courtyard in the Imagawa Residence was specially cleared out for him.

However, Uesugi Toru later discovered that his room was actually not far from Imagawa Yoshimoto's residence — even at a slow walk it would take at most two or three minutes to reach.

Aside from that, Uesugi Toru had no further demands.

The day of the Shinken Shiai was fast approaching; he wanted to use this peaceful time to integrate all he had learned, and incidentally explore the path of Mental State Hundred Forges.

Almost every day he trained Material Arts, Corona Breathing Technique, and Tennen Rishin-ryu in the courtyard, and during breaks he would instruct Shiraishi in Kiai Technique.

And the latter did not disappoint his expectations, advancing by leaps and bounds on the path of "Imitation Kiai Technique."

It hasn't even been half a month yet, but Shiraishi's Kiai Technique has probably reached Proficient Level.

You have to understand, he completely failed to understand the so-called oral formulas and principles Uesugi Toru explained, and achieved it purely by mimicking Uesugi Toru's movements and breathing.

There was also one unavoidable matter.

Ever since the first time he witnessed Uesugi Toru swinging Kaga Kiyomitsu in the courtyard, training Tennen Rishin-ryu.

——Every morning or evening, Imagawa Yoshimoto would sit in the small pavilion beside Uesugi Toru's courtyard, watching him cultivate and train while handling pending administrative trifles.

Imagawa Yoshimoto always watched with great relish, and did not stint on praise for Uesugi Toru.

She would always exclaim in surprise "Tetsu-kun actually knows this," "Tetsu-kun actually knows that too," and clap her hands rapidly, providing emotional value to the fullest.

But Uesugi Toru didn't buy it.

Could he really not see through such a petty trick?

Another morning.

Imagawa Yoshimoto sat properly on a small rattan rocking chair, eagerly awaiting Uesugi Toru to finish meditating, rise, and swing his blade.

To her, Uesugi Toru's sword swings and training were always filled with an aesthetic, a clean, pure, and serious beauty.

——When she first saw Uesugi Toru draw his sword, Imagawa Yoshimoto's heart still held strong disdain.

After all, what kind of swordsmanship could an Onmyoji who releases lightning by waving a fan and summons Shikigami possibly display?

Nothing more than casually waving it around a couple of times, guaranteed to be at the level of "knows how to use it" at best.

But she was wrong.

After witnessing one complete training session of Uesugi Toru's, Imagawa Yoshimoto was captivated by him.

Since then, Imagawa Yoshimoto had not missed a single day.

"Tetsu-kun's thirty minutes of meditation…… is almost up."

The thought had just fallen in Imagawa Yoshimoto's mind when she saw Uesugi Toru, sitting cross-legged in the center of the courtyard, abruptly open his eyes and coldly look ahead of her.

Huh? Why early?

Imagawa Yoshimoto blinked, only to discover an additional pitch-black figure standing before her.

Upon seeing the newcomer clearly, she immediately composed her relaxed expression, straightened her posture, and spoke,

"Hanzō."

The figure wrapped entirely in black cloth, of unknown gender and known only as Hanzō, spoke hoarsely: "Imagawa Clan Head, a riot may soon break out in the Mikawa Region."

Having said that, he glanced back at Uesugi Toru, who was already walking over this way,

"——It seems a Great Demon is secretly causing trouble."

As Hanzō's words fell, Uesugi Toru felt everything before him lose color and suddenly fall still.

A prompt that had not appeared for a long time popped up.

【Distributing Main Quest First Ring Reward……】

【You obtained Key of History Second Ring (Special Prop)!】

【You obtained 1500 Soul Ash!】

【You obtained "Unknown Core Factory Map" (Super Epic Prop)!】

(End of Chapter)