Chapter 150

A prompt appeared, and everything around him instantly turned a lifeless gray.

Everything in the world—the wind and water, heaven and earth, the black-clad man kneeling half-down called Hanzō, and Imagawa Yoshimoto looking his way—

except for Uesugi Toru, all of it froze in place the moment the prompt appeared.

It was as if Uesugi Toru had been detached from this world.

Uesugi Toru tried to turn his gaze, but he found that aside from his thoughts flowing normally, his body was likewise unable to move.

Only the prompt before his eyes continued to pop up—

【You have temporarily left the Late Muromachi Shogunate · Mid-Sengoku Period.】

【Please confirm.】

"So that's what 'the node hasn't arrived yet' meant in the earlier prompt……"

Uesugi Toru chewed over Hanzō's words that had suddenly appeared just now, extracting the two keywords "Mikawa Region Uprising" and "Great Demon."

In other words, starting from now would be the Main Quest Second Ring.

Uesugi Toru thought: "The First Ring Main Quest got me the 'Entry Ticket,' so starting from the Second Ring, it should be time to officially step onto the stage of history."

If so, then it was indeed better to hit "pause" first.

Because the time flow ratio between Genjitsu and the Sengoku Period had reached a terrifying one to thirty.

If something big happened in Genjitsu, even if Uesugi Toru solved it at full efficiency in half a day, half a month would have passed in the Sengoku Period.

Such a long time was enough to finish several battles at Okehazama.

As for how to re-enter, it should be related to the "Key of History Second Ring" he had just obtained.

He could check that only after returning.

Uesugi Toru's thoughts stopped here; he looked at Imagawa Yoshimoto, whose beautiful eyes were slightly narrowed on the rocking chair, looking at him as if wanting to say something.

He sighed inwardly.

"—Then Lord Imagawa, let's meet again later."

Uesugi Toru used his mind to firmly click confirm on the prompt before him.

The next moment, a towering wave surged forth, submerging Uesugi Toru's consciousness.

Brief darkness faded, replaced by the morning sunlight that had grown mildly warm.

This time, although Uesugi Toru's consciousness likewise sank into darkness, upon waking again he inexplicably could feel that only a tiny bit of time had actually passed.

Uesugi Toru opened his eyes in the pavilion at the Okehazama Scenic Area, just framing the sun rising from the end of the horizon.

"It stings my eyes……"

He turned his head to look around, finding the entire scenic area cold and deserted, not a soul in sight, and even the scenic store not far away was pitch black with its doors unopened.

Uesugi Toru took out his mobile phone, and after turning on mobile data to reconnect, he saw the current time.

"Early morning of May 16, no wonder there's no one."

After all, aside from a very few special scenic spots, no godly tourists would deliberately arrive at a scenic spot at six or seven in the morning to torture their previous day's selves.

Uesugi Toru flipped through the calendar and found the Shinken Shiai was on May 18.

Roughly speaking, there were still a little over two days.

Plenty of time, not particularly urgent.

Uesugi Toru stretched, walked out of the pavilion, and while checking his panel, pondered what to eat for breakfast later.

These days at the Imagawa Clan he had eaten well—luxurious meals like polished rice grilled fish and Nanban Pastry.

But unfortunately, the cooking skills of that era were rather backward, and Uesugi Toru's own cooking level only knew how to heat up convenience store bento.

Eating like that for twenty-plus days had nearly made Uesugi Toru's mouth tasteless as a bird.

He made up his mind: next time before going over, he'd have Shizuku teach him a few dishes, and put some modern black technology seasoning into his Storage Backpack.

He also had to let Imagawa Yoshimoto eat something good; otherwise, if the future Tenka-bito ate nothing but rice, cabbage, and radish every day, it would be too embarrassing to say out loud.

No, absolutely not.

Even if he had no time to study cooking, before going in he had to stock up on 711 bento—the previous compressed biscuits had almost been finished off by Shiraishi alone.

Before checking the new Key of History and that Super Epic quality map, he still had to clear the red dot on Five Thunder Method: Kiai first.

【Five Thunder Method: Kiai (Proficient 5/1400)】

【Effect: While the Breathing Technique is circulating, release lightning at will.】

【—Qi and lightning, lightning and Qi. This is a serious question of which came first, the chicken or the egg.】

【Because your Five Thunder Method: Kiai rose to Proficient Level, your Physique +2!】

【Because your Five Thunder Method: Kiai rose to Proficient Level, your Spirit Arts +1!】

【Because your Five Thunder Method: Kiai rose to Proficient Level, your Lightning Affinity increased.】

Since exorcising the sickness ghost on the day of the Genpuku Ceremony, Uesugi Toru's Five Thunder Technique had already reached the Proficient Level realm.

Just as its effect description said, Uesugi Toru could almost release lightning smoothly according to his will, just with slightly lacking precision.

Also, even though Five Thunder Method: Kiai itself had no limit on electrical output, this generated current still had to be released to the external world through Uesugi Toru's body.

So first, he had to be careful not to electrocute himself to death.

Uesugi Toru had tested before: the safety limit for a single discharge was roughly comparable to the lightning he released at full power when he first obtained the Blessed Folding Fan.

But before it was a skill usable once every five minutes; now it was a Basic Attack he could release at will.

A single bolt of lightning seriously injuring and crippling a one-star-level yokai was no big problem.

And there was one more advantage: if the Breathing Technique was highly stimulated, using Five Thunder Method: Kiai to release lightning would greatly reduce the Spirit Power consumed.

Rounding up, it was equivalent to getting a free lightning buff while using Corona Breathing Method·Form Five.

Uesugi Toru walked out of the Okehazama Scenic Area, pacing several circles in front of the empty road, but found no breakfast shop wafting food scents.

Not even a private breakfast shop on the streets of this Nagoya, so Tokyo probably went without saying.

If I want to eat a non-industrialized breakfast in the future, it seems I can only count on Shizuku.

Helplessly, Uesugi Toru had to head to the only 711 open by the roadside.

Halfway there, he took the newly acquired History Key out of his Storage Backpack and held it in his hand.

The new History Key was transparent blood-red throughout, looking as exquisite and precious as red agate under the morning light.

The feel of it was completely different from the bone History Key Shrine.

【History Key Second Ring (Special Prop)】

【Effect: Infuse a certain amount of Spirit Power into it to activate it, then enter the Muromachi Period Sengoku Period again.】

【68】【——This is the Node Unlock Key; before using it, nothing will change.】

【——This is the Node Unlock Key; before using it, everything will remain Unchangeable.】

【Note: History Key Second Ring is a One Time Use Item.】

"So this is equivalent to the key to unlocking Time Stop?"

Uesugi Toru muttered a sentence, then put the History Key away—after all, the introduction had already clearly written its usage method and consequences, so there was no need to study it further.

Next, he took out the History Key Shrine again, wanting to see if it had undergone any changes because of this.

The result was that the originally jade-white key was covered by a thin layer of gray film; it seemed it could not be used for now.

"This one hasn't changed either."

Uesugi Toru curled his lip, and just before walking into the Convenience Store, he released the Adult who had been staying in the Jizo Statue for a long time without getting any Wind.

"Wow! You almost suffocated me, Toru-sama!"

The small Adult jumped out and fiercely raised her Hand Palms, tiptoed to stretch, bending her soft body into a fully drawn bow shape.

She ran around Uesugi Toru several times before saying quite dissatisfiedly, "Toru-sama, you actually bore to leave me alone and lonely in the Jizo Statue; I'm so heartbroken, wuu wuu wuu……"

Uesugi Toru arrived at the doorway of the 711, the glass door with infrared sensing automatically opened to both sides, and as he walked, he said to the Adult beside him,

"If there's anything you want to eat, just pick whatever; I'll pay."

"Yay!"

The girl immediately threw away the little displeasure in her heart, humming a song as she ran past Uesugi Toru, and began to impolitely pick out snacks and drinks for herself.

Uesugi Toru first bought a portion of Oden at the Counter for breakfast, preparing to eat while buying.

"1033 yen in total, thank you for your patronage."

Taking over his super-large portion of Oden, Uesugi Toru first sucked a mouthful of soup base full of floating oil, revealing a blissful smile.

——This fresh delicious taste of technology, it's truly been too long!

Picking up two blue Plastic Baskets, he threw one to the Adult and told her Physical Manifestation was fine.

Uesugi Toru then explained to her the reason for "confinement" before: "If you come out and are seen by Imagawa Yoshimoto, I reckon she'd come up with some new ideas again."

"Oh oh!"

The Adult crazily threw Jelly, Potato Chips, Candy, and Carbonated Drinks—things children especially like—into the basket, thought for a moment, and replied,

"From my observation, that woman seems to be quite interested in you, Toru-sama!"

She leaned over and revealed a mysterious smile to Uesugi Toru, who was eating Oden: "Maybe if you take the initiative to attack once, Toru-sama, you can include her in your Harem……then I can come out openly and aboveboard!"

"That's completely impossible, right."

Throwing the last Bamboo Slip casually into the bowl, Uesugi Toru curled his lip: "I really don't think Imagawa Yoshimoto would develop any extra private feelings for me."

"——Having stayed with her for over ten days, I can only fully feel that she values my strength and the unique identity of 'Onmyoji' immensely."

Uesugi Toru first threw the finished Oden Plastic Bowl into the Convenience Store's Trash Can—so that after going out, if he couldn't find a place to throw it, he wouldn't have to keep holding this thing in his hand.

Uesugi Toru held a viewpoint completely different from the Adult's: "Imagawa Yoshimoto's heart probably can't contain emotions like 'familial love' or 'romantic love' at all."

"——Mm, she is a creature completely composed of self and profit."

Uesugi Toru made a judgment very calmly,

"Rather than saying she's interested in me, it's better to say she wants to put a collar on me, so that from now on I can only bark 'woof woof' at her."

Finally, he raised a Finger to add,

"However, Imagawa Yoshimoto is indeed a good person, and also a very wise and qualified Main Lord."

After listening, the Adult scratched her head, feeling she needed to grow a brain.

She threw a few more bottles of Yogurt into the basket, thought for a moment, and said: "Toru-sama, I just feel her feelings for you are very fervent; this temperature is almost burning me through the Jizo Statue."

The Adult handed the basket filled to the brim to Uesugi Toru, smiling to show her teeth: "Anyway, personally I think she's much better than that flat-chested Demon King; she's generous if she has ideas, instead of keeping words in her heart and then playing edge ball."

Speaking of this, the Adult put her Hand Palms on her waist,

"Heh heh, if Lord Imagawa is fortunate enough to become Toru-sama's principal wife in the future, surely she wouldn't reject me, this Dragon Following Minister who has labored and achieved great merit! Then the three of us can……"

You've never even met her, yet you're calling her "Lord Imagawa" left and right, huh.

Uesugi Toru speechlessly gazed at the Adult scattering nonexistent flower petals into the air with her hand.

It's a pity that just before he was seriously answering the Adult's words, unexpectedly the key point of her thoughts lay in this.

It was finally the moment when the truth was revealed.

After giving the Adult's forehead a Chestnut, Uesugi Toru settled the bill at the Convenience Store's Front Desk.

While Uesugi Toru was settling the bill, the Convenience Store clerk looked around several times left and right, but did not discover a second person.

She recalled the two voices that had come from the store just now, and also remembered that no second person had walked into the store from the Doorway; then the clerk's Calf involuntarily began to tremble.

A ghost, is it a Ghost? Or is it a spirit?

"Tha……thank you for your patronage, welcome to visit again……"

Uesugi Toru looked somewhat puzzledly at the clerk before him, who was forcing out a smile as if about to cry; he took over the two large Plastic Bags, and with the Adult walked out of the Convenience Store.

——Actually, there were no Ghosts or spirits.

——It was just that the Adult after Physical Manifestation was shorter than the Counter, so she wasn't discovered by the clerk.

……

After putting all the supplies from the big purchase into the Storage Backpack, and having the Two-Shaku Adult maintain its Virtual State and continue following beside him, Uesugi Toru took out the Settlement Main Event of the First Ring reward.

—Unknown Core Factory Map.

【Unknown Core Factory Map】

【Quality: Super Epic】

【Effect: After activation with "Factory Core", will point to an unknown Core Factory at an unknown location; the Core Factory is guaranteed to contain one unknown piece of "Super Epic" quality Equipment/Prop.】

【—Want my treasure? If you want it, I'll give it all to you, go find it! Core Factory! I put everything in the world there!】

Uesugi Toru stroked this sheepskin map that still felt supple to the touch, but from its appearance seemed to have a very long history.

"Unknown, unknown, still unknown... just like opening a blind box."

But when the word "Factory" was mentioned, Uesugi Toru couldn't help recalling that massive factory he first saw in Arakawa Guicun, rumbling day and night without cease.

At that time, he saw far too many Zero-Star and Half-Star Level Worker Monsters inside the factory, and it was also right at the juncture when the First Wave was about to arrive.

So Uesugi Toru didn't go explore the factory, to avoid unnecessary complications.

Uesugi Toru pondered, then turned his gaze to the four words "Factory Core".

【Factory Core】

【—The Power Core of the Factory Giant Steam Boiler.】

Steam Boiler.

—That factory built beside Arakawa Guicun also seemed to use Steam Engines to provide power for the factory's operation.

In Chang Shi, facilities resembling "Factories" with near-modernization aren't that easy to see.

Or rather, almost never seen.

So the two must have some connection; perhaps that factory beside Arakawa Guicun has a Factory Core inside.

But even if the two truly have an extremely small probability of no connection, Uesugi Toru could still spend Two Thousand Soul Ash to summon Katsumi, then ask him about related matters.

Uesugi Toru carefully rolled up the sheepskin map in his hand, and likewise put it back into the Storage Backpack.

—Super Epic Level Equipment or Props are still well worth personally spending time to make a trip for.

And perhaps it could thereby open a brand new map.

"Since that's the case, then let's finish the matters at hand first."

The Top Priority, naturally, is the Shinken Shiai.

When Uesugi Toru took out his Mobile Phone again wanting to ask Rituna Minami about the situation, he discovered she had actually already called him twice, and also left two brief Voicemails.

Before, he thought the Floating Window Red Dots piled up at the top of the Mobile Phone were simply too many, so when checking the time he didn't notice at all.

"Damn it wasting my time... watch me turn off all your Notification Permissions."

Uesugi Toru's Fingers tapped rapidly, and in no time he had Locked all APP Notification Permissions except Line.

This way, no matter who messages him in the future, he can Instant Reply.

Opening Line, Uesugi Toru could see Rituna Minami's two Voicemails.

【2024.5.15 23:11】

【Rituna Minami: Special Affairs Division found you a few candidate Shikigami on this side, pictures aren't convenient to take, you have to come personally to see if any are satisfactory.】

【2024.5.16 3:24】

【Rituna Minami: Don't forget the Shinken Shiai starts on the 18th. Saw it, don't play dead, reply.】

"Nanjo Sister's efficiency is still as high as ever."

Uesugi Toru exclaimed, then without another word directly dialed Rituna Minami.

The Mobile Phone rang for three seconds, then the call connected.

What came through was Shizuma Manatsu's peaceful and completely uncolloquial Work Voice: "Hello? Uesugi-kun?"

"It's me..."

Uesugi Toru froze for a moment, thinking: could there be some Sudden Situation?

"We're already on the way to Yokohama City, Nanjo Daimyo is just now barely catching some sleep, not convenient to take the call."

Shizuma Manatsu's articulation was clear and forceful: "She told me if Uesugi-kun you call, just have you hurry to Yokohama City directly; about the Shikigami matter, we'll talk after the match is finished."

"Understood."

Hanging up, Shizuma Manatsu, who was driving, glanced at the Rear View Mirror, seeing the Bread Van stuffed full to bursting, already completely Overloaded.

In the Passenger Seat sat Rituna Minami with Arms Crossed, face Exhausted even in sleep, Hiyobou resting on her Chest, bringing the Owner just the right amount of Warmth.

In the Back Seat behind her sat Shizuku, who even halfway through the journey was still Cultivating with eyes closed until Sweat covered her head.

Having only learned the Basic Spirit Absorption Method, yet her whole body already Surge with Spirit Power, Kitano Runa sat beside Shizuku, even drowsy to the point of Eyelids Fighting still wearing Headphones chasing New Anime.

Behind the two of them sat a man and a woman, both Seeds recently unearthed by Special Affairs Division.

Shizuma Manatsu's Brain Sea surfaced their data.

The man is called Maki Hitomi, S-Rank potential. His talent in Yin-Yang Technique is very strong, especially proficient in Astronomy Dao and Water Clock Path, but he also Cultivated part of Five Elements Onmyodo to compensate for weaknesses.

Shizuma Manatsu recalled the scenes of him releasing Yin-Yang Technique several times, adding in her heart: "Very strong, very strong."

Moreover, Maki Hitomi is precious in being extremely Calm.

The woman is called Hattori Ayako, A-Rank potential.

Actually the one with potential isn't Hattori Ayako herself, but the Three Star Shikigami Isohime contracted with her.

About a week ago, Hattori Ayako accidentally fell into water while Rescuing someone, and just as she was about to drown, Isohime saved her.

The specific details Shizuma Manatsu isn't too clear on.

She only knows that to save the near-death Hattori Ayako, Isohime Involuntary Contracted her, preserving the other's life.

And according to Nanjo Daimyo, this Isohime doesn't seem to be an ordinary Three Star Monster, but a Great Demon that fell from Four Star Kishin Class due to some unknown reason.

Because Isohime was too powerful, Hattori Ayako could not actually summon her at will.

—As long as Isohime appeared, an ordinary person like her would be weakened, and as for combat, it would quickly drain Hattori Ayako's Jing Shen, unable to last long at all.

In conclusion, she gave Hattori Ayako, an ordinary person with neither Onmyodo talent nor the ability to practice Breathing Technique, an "A" rank evaluation.

It can only be said that she has a promising future.

Shizuma Manatsu saw the red light, steadily stepped on the brake, and placed her gaze on the face of the fresh-faced youth curiously looking out the van window.

Shigemitsu Yusuke, S-Rank potential. A talent recommended by the former Onmyo Daizoku Kondo Tomoya, his Breathing Technique talent was outrageously strong, and his Swordsmanship Talent was also quite good; it could be said his cultivation speed was truly a thousand li a day.

It was said that after only one month of exposure to Breathing Technique, his strength had already reached roughly the two-star level.

Shizuma Manatsu thought: "He and Shizuku are probably the epitome of true genius and the ultimate hardworking ordinary person."

Besides them, there were the Tailorbird sitting at the back of the vehicle and three Special Affairs Bureau Staff in black suits—they were responsible for the safety of the "Seeds" on the vehicle.

But hearing the laughter and cheer from the back, it seemed Sister Nure and the three uncles were getting along quite well.

Shizuma Manatsu stepped on the accelerator, taking the Observation Study Group for this Shinken Shiai, to be precise—the substitute personnel—slowly driving toward Yokohama City.

……

On the other side, Uesugi Toru had already boarded the Shinkansen heading to Yokohama City.

As usual, he bought a Window Seat ticket for the Adult.

—Perhaps because she had been stifled in the same Place for too long before, now the Adult always liked to breathe Fresh Air and see the scenery of different Places.

However, this time the Adult begged Uesugi Toru to let her physically manifest and sit on the seat, so she could eat snacks while sightseeing.

It can only be said that she knew how to enjoy herself.

Uesugi Toru also leaned back in his seat, looking at his 3160 Soul Ash, and opened the Edo Castle gacha panel.

Tailorbird, Sick Ghost, plus the 1500 Soul Ash from Task rewards, exactly enough for two Ten-Pulls.

But Uesugi Toru still did not plan to exhaust his Soul Ash all at once—leaving some Soul Ash not urgently needed might help greatly at critical moments.

So this time he would stop after one Ten-Pull.

In the gacha pool, the black-haired Hundred-Eyed Demon Loli was curled up floating in midair, clearly asleep.

Uesugi Toru glanced outside through the van window, saw it was Sunny Weather, and withdrew the idea of immediately pulling.

He was not in a hurry anyway; since he was on the Shinkansen, he might as well wait until it rained outside later to observe the gacha pool situation.

Indeed, within fifteen minutes, the originally sunny weather outside turned into continuous rain, and even the Adult enjoying the view pouted unhappily.

Uesugi Toru looked into the gacha pool again and found that Hundred-Eyed Demon Loli actually slowly opened her eyes, yawned, walked to her Throne, crossed her legs, struck an expression, and began doing business.

Uesugi Toru blinked, not expecting his earlier guess that weather affected the gacha pool to actually be true.

So, combined with previous shipping experience, did the Edo Castle gacha pool probably have two mechanisms?

First, when it was Rainy Weather and Hundred-Eyed Demon Loli opened her eyes for business, at that time it should be no different from a normal gacha pool, but perhaps there was a chance to trigger a transaction with Hundred-Eyed Demon.

Second, when it was Sunny Weather outside and Hundred-Eyed Demon Loli was resting.

If one clicked to pull at that time, it would wake the sleeping Hundred-Eyed Demon, making her very irritable, causing extremely unstable shipping.

But at the same time, one might also pull out a Powerful Hidden Item.

For example, the previous Epic Level Yellow Turban Strongman Talisman; this talisman had not been displayed on the gacha page.

After weighing for a moment, Uesugi Toru decided not to trust his bad luck, and just do a Ten-Pull right now.

Using Mind to casually click Ten-Pull, Uesugi Toru, not hoping for any Good Things, quietly stared at the gacha pool.

Thus he could see Hundred-Eyed Demon Loli, who had just woken up and sat on the Throne, pout unhappily, as if lightly humming before getting down from the not-yet-warmed Throne.

She picked and chose among the Treasure Pile for a while, finally throwing out ten Items together—

【Soul Incense Ash (Small) ×2】, 【Soul Incense Ash (Medium) ×3】, 【Hundred-Eyed Demon's Single Eyeball ×2】, 【Enpo Scroll (Fragment) ×2】, 【Demon Essence】.

Uesugi Toru simply glanced at it, then nodded.

As expected.

Not pulling out an Epic Item like this, nor triggering Hundred-Eyed Demon's special storyline, was normal gacha pulling.

It was the non-lucky gacha pulling he was familiar with!

Moreover, the first nine Items were old acquaintances; only the last thing pulled out was something Uesugi Toru had not seen before.

He stared at the Icon, which looked like a very Viscous black-red unnameable object dripping juice, "Demon Essence," and slightly raised his brow.

【Demon Essence】

【Quality: Rare】

【Effect: After giving it to a Shikigami to take, accelerates their Promotion Progress.】

——"Essence" mixed by Hundred-Eyed Demon when bored to avoid waste. As for what it contains? Who knows.

Uesugi Toru glanced at the Adult slurping Jelly with the corner of his eye, and also saw the short Progress Bar of "3%" above her head.

Fortunately, this thing was not for him to "take"... otherwise after swallowing it, he would probably feel nauseous for at least a whole day.

This Meat Ball that looked like a biochemical weapon at first glance was really not suitable to be taken out on the Shinkansen.

Uesugi Toru still had this bit of quality.

—And although he pulled out Hundred-Eyed Demon Eyeballs this time, Hundred-Eyed Demon Loli seemed to have no intention of trading with him.

He did not know if it was because the cooldown from the last trade had not passed yet, or she had not digested the last three eyeballs well.

Anyway, let's keep these two big eyeballs and the damaged Enpo Scroll together first.

After all, a mere 200 Proficiency did not count for much at the current stage, and Uesugi Toru also had the novel idea of whether "others using Enpo Scrolls had any effect."

Afterward, Uesugi Toru observed the bored Hundred-Eyed Demon Loli for a while, and only after confirming she really had no intention to trade did he silently close the gacha panel.

"By the way, ask Shizuku and the others if they arrived..."

Uesugi Toru took out his Mobile Phone, and his hand paused slightly as he was about to open line.

Because he saw the Wikipedia APP staying at the Bottom Right of the screen.

After a moment of silence, Uesugi Toru looked at the clear "0.5%" History Change Degree on his Walking Watch.

—Had history really been changed by himself?

Uesugi Toru slowly took a deep breath, calming his complex emotions.

Then he silently opened the software and typed the four characters "Imagawa Yoshimoto" into the Search Box.

End of Chapter