Chapter 186

Inside the Special Affairs Division.

Having just "tamed" Akatsuki Ran into working part-time, Rituna Minami, who hadn't even relaxed for two days, worriedly kneaded her nose bridge and downed the remaining 2L bottled water on the desk in one go.

"Phew——"

Rituna Minami tossed the empty bottle backhand into the trash can in the corner.

She hadn't even enjoyed these good days for a few days, and that guy Uesugi Toru ran into some wretched Sickness Retainer again.

One can only say, thankfully it wasn't a Sickness and Suffering Transform or Sickness and Suffering itself, or one encountered in Genjitsu...

By common sense, Sickness Retainers absolutely would not appear in Genjitsu.

Because the Water Clock Doctor has been staring at Sickness and Suffering every moment, for ten-odd or even several decades now.

But outside Genjitsu, Sickness Retainers are still very common.

Whether in the vast Joto Land or in the "Gaps" — anyway, the operatives who have been to Joto say so.

Sickness Retainers are just like locusts or crickets in grass and rice paddies; take a few more steps and you're definitely bound to encounter one.

——Uesugi Toru encountered a Sickness Retainer, so he wanted to find out how to deal with Sickness and Suffering.

This is very normal.

Rituna Minami thought.

Because he had just recently personally experienced the Red Tide, brushing past one of the Eight Sufferings, Love Parting.

"Also."

Rituna Minami took out a canned one from the Coca-Cola army in the mini-fridge beside the desk, and amid a *hiss* sound said,

"Materials that can let Spirit Control Technique break through a level are available, and current storage has quite a few, but saying this thing isn't rare isn't quite appropriate either.

So if you want them, Uesugi-kun, you won't have any more material, pill, or similar quotas from the Special Affairs Division for the rest of this month."

——Uesugi Toru glanced at the date in his mobile phone.

——2024.5.25.

Mhm, now it's not even a week until the end of May.

Rather, filling up that remaining Spirit Control Technique proficiency is more important.

Can't cultivate Spirit Control Technique in the Sengoku Period, can't squeeze out a few hours of solid time in Genjitsu, and currently it's also not convenient to gacha pull.

All things considered, using this "quota" that's almost imperceptible normally is extremely cost-effective.

Rituna Minami: "You're still in Tokyo right now?"

"Yeah, of course I am." Uesugi Toru replied helplessly, "For this kind of thing, Nanjo Sister, you could just check mobile phone positioning and know, right."

"That's because I'm afraid of violating operative personal privacy."

"I think it's simply that you can't be bothered to check..."

Rituna Minami didn't answer, instead stiffly and decisively switching topics,

"Then I'll prepare on my end, you just come directly to pick up the stuff when the time comes.

The reporting procedure takes about six or seven hours... but that side operates year-round without rest, leave a bit more margin, eight hours later everything will definitely be arranged clearly for you!"

Eight hours?

Placed in the Sengoku Period, that's about five days or so.

This amount of time is still acceptable.

Uesugi Toru was just about to press the red hang-up key, but the other side's Rituna Minami spoke as if foreknowing,

"Don't hang up don't hang up!"

His finger about to descend froze suspended in mid-air.

Uesugi Toru blinked: "Anything else, Nanjo Sister?"

"Seed War!"

Rituna Minami exhaled, her voice gradually shifting from urgent back to lazy: "Almost forgot to tell you about the Tokyo Seed War!"

Uesugi Toru checked the time, found it still ample, and responded: "This Seed War still has a while, what's the point of bringing it up now?"

"A while is a while."

Rituna Minami laughed,

"The key is, originally we didn't know what it was, didn't even know if there was one, but the Seed War Champion's grand prize has already been revealed not long ago."

Mentioning the grand prize, Uesugi Toru's interest was instantly hooked: "What is it?"

"Seems the Five Person Council felt everyone was dilly-dallying, lacking enthusiasm for this Seed War, so the Onmyo Assistant himself took out a legendary Tachi as the final grand prize.

It's something you get just by defeating all opponents and becoming the Tokyo Seed War Champion——"

In the silence, Uesugi Toru heard a thunderous blade name come from the other end of the phone,

"Minamoto no Yorimitsu's, Spider Cut."

"Spider... Cut?"

Spider Cut, originally named Hizamaru, was originally one of two famous swords ordered forged by the Minamoto clan ancestor "Minamoto no Mitsunaka".

But it gained fame after Mitsunaka's son Minamoto no Yorimitsu inherited it, and during his serious illness after slaying Shutendoji, he used this sword to slay a Tsuchigumo that came to assassinate him.

Since then, the name "Spider Cut" has been passed down through later generations.

Hence even Uesugi Toru couldn't help but freeze.

No way?

A Tachi whose fame has spread since the Heian Period, most likely reaching Legendary grade, can actually be casually taken out as a reward?

He asked disbelievingly: "The Minamoto Clan is actually this generous?"

"Actually the generous one isn't the Minamoto Clan, it's the Assistant."

Rituna Minami, rarely having no complaints about her superior,

"Others were actually fine all along; otherwise they wouldn't have shouldered the dual pressure of the Minamoto Clan and the Onmyoryo, taking the lead in bringing a batch of new blood to Tokyo to establish the Special Affairs Division."

Probably a legendary blade, at least Super Epic Level tachi, and it definitely has a unique effect affix attached.

"I really do want this blade, Nanjo Sister."

Uesugi Toru felt that with his current arm strength, wielding a blade one-handed shouldn't be a problem.

By then, Kaga Kiyomitsu in the right hand, Spider Cut in the left.

Swinging both blades down, the negative effects on the enemy's head would explode off the charts, piling up like mountains!

"Is that so."

She smiled: "In that case, Uesugi-kun, you'll have to take this Tokyo Seed Tournament more seriously."

Next, Rituna Minami lowered her voice:

"These opponents aren't like that certain M girl beside you now, huffing and puffing as she carries documents, easily brushed off."

As Rituna Minami's words fell, several messages popped up on Line.

Uesugi Toru glanced at the file names and found they were simple dossiers on the Seed War opponents.

"Currently in Tokyo 23 Wards, two wards have already confirmed their entry slots."

"One of them is us?"

Uesugi Toru finished downloading the document and opened it.

Rituna Minami shook her head: "No, Shinjuku and Shibuya respectively—Shinjuku has two people, Shibuya one."

Uesugi Toru narrowed his eyes in confusion.

As far as he knew, weren't Shinjuku and Shibuya the most developed, most populous regions of Tokyo?

And supposedly the Five Person Council and Special Affairs Division Headquarters were also in that area, right?

Logically, competition in these two wards should be especially intense.

But unexpectedly, they were the first to confirm their entry list, becoming wards others focused on studying.

He flipped through the document.

"Shinjuku seed participants... 【Saito Ryuichi】 and 【Takiya Kai】, both jutsushi cultivating Yin-Yang Technique, though the former is Three-Star Half while the latter is only Three-Star."

Uesugi Toru continued reading, but strangely let out an "eh": "Nanjo Sister, why does Shibuya Ward have only 【Minamoto Shizumi】 participating? Isn't it possible to have two to three participants?"

"Ah, your words reminded me."

Rituna Minami said faintly,

"Although the Assistant is a good person, he isn't so generous as to hand down a famous family blade to someone."

"So." She paused, repeating what a colleague had said the previous two days, "This Spider Cut is probably because he couldn't let go of his pride, wanting to give it to this fourth daughter of the Minamoto Clan as a coming-of-age gift in such a roundabout way."

"And this Minamoto Shizumi, just last night single-handedly beat all of Shibuya Ward's seed participants and prospective contestants until they couldn't fight back."

Only then was her request to participate alone approved."

Uesugi Toru carefully examined the data—

Minamoto Shizumi, the fourth daughter of this generation of the Minamoto Clan.

She cultivates one of the Four Extremities Breathing Techniques, current progress unknown.

She has also achieved notable results in the ancient school "Shinto-ryu," and the mental state she outwardly displays seems to have reached the level of "Hundred Temperings."

Judging by her record of slaying multiple Three-Star Half yokai head-on, her strength is at least on par with the White Bone Wax Figure, and being stronger wouldn't be surprising.

In short, unless he goes into rage berserk mode, even if he maintains his state from the Warring States Period, the outcome of a fight against her is uncertain.

And if she only wears a mask and jade tablet, maintaining human form, Uesugi Toru estimated he'd probably be slapped to the ground within two or three strikes.

But there's still one or two months before the Seed Tournament begins.

No rush, not at all.

Uesugi Toru: "Then if I really take first place and take this Spider Cut, which has the nature of a gift, will that Onmyo Assistant secretly give me trouble later?"

"He isn't that narrow-minded; rather, he'd probably be even happier to see this scene."

Rituna Minami coldly snorted: "Someone should have long since proven in public that the Four Extremities Breathing Technique isn't omnipotent."

"Uesugi-kun, you, go take her down,"

"Then I can rest easy." Uesugi Toru didn't feel much pressure.

Wait one or two months, heaven knows how long he cultivated in the Warring States Period, and how strong the yokai avatar in his hand would become.

"But since even the fourth daughter of the Minamoto Clan is participating in the Seed Tournament, aren't there still three ahead of her?"

Seizing the last of the time, Uesugi Toru asked doubtfully: "Could it be that the three older brothers and sisters ahead are actually weaker than her?"

Rituna Minami was speechless: "The reason it's called the Seed War is to let potential 'seeds' compete against each other and prove themselves."

"What's the point of bringing out strong fighters already famous far and wide to compete?"

She said lightly: "Not to mention Tokugawa Hoshi, whom you've already met, take the Minamoto Clan's eldest daughter 【Minamoto Shizu】 for example."

She defeated the current Sword Saint when she was young, and not long ago, when the wave came, she one-shotted the hardest-to-kill spirit-type ghost god."

She and you are not on the same level at all."

"So how do we fight?"

Rituna Minami retorted,

"Let her come to kindergarten to bully the weak?"

Uesugi Toru's forehead veins jumped.

Fine, another Ghost God Level.

—How does it feel like Ghost God Levels are now everywhere on the streets, my combat power in the modern world swelling to this extent in just a few weeks, right."

Uesugi Toru couldn't help but retort in his heart twice.

But he knew, actually they had been cultivating bitterly for who knows how long, it's just that he only now learned of them through Rituna Minami's channel.

The saying "one minute on stage, ten years of work off stage" is exactly this.

And that Shizu Minamoto, as the eldest daughter of this generation of the Minamoto Clan, one of the Four Great Families, having Ghost God Level strength is only natural.

If the strongest of the younger generation didn't have Ghost God Level, that would be strange.

"Alright, Uesugi-kun." Rituna Minami admonished, "Her battlefield is the Imperial Precedent Grand Tournament; you stop overthinking now, just cultivate step by step and that's it."

She said as a matter of course: "With your talent, you'll catch up to them sooner or later."

Although Uesugi Toru listened quite comfortably, he still asked: "Then Nanjo Sister, why did you sign Shizuku and me up for the Imperial Precedent Grand Tournament before the Tide?"

"A free trip! Didn't I say so long ago? This Special Affairs Division has so much funding, not taking advantage would be a waste!"

Rituna Minami spoke with righteous confidence.

Those words actually seemed correct.

Uesugi Toru smacked his lips, looked at the time which had already passed nine minutes: "Then Nanjo Sister, see you at the Special Affairs Division in eight hours."

"No seeing, no seeing!" Rituna Minami's tone was nasty, "Finally got to slack off a bit, don't pass your troublemaker constitution to me!

At least wait until I finish tomorrow morning's hot pot before talking!"

As soon as she finished speaking, she slapped the phone down and hung up.

Uesugi Toru put down the mobile phone, shrugged.

——Let it be like this then, anyway it's just a matter of picking something up.

Besides, Nanjo Sister is also due for a good two days' rest.

"Good, the planned schedule is proceeding quite smoothly, not a single hitch."

Uesugi Toru took out the History Key again, wondering if it was because he encountered the Zashiki Warashi.

……

In the ruined temple on Mount Kujira.

Uesugi Toru opened his eyes and saw the door, its Gang Qi intact, not having moved an inch.

"Water pressure is almost non-existent too."

He weighed the wording regarding "indoor divination", put on a faint smile, and pushed open the door.

The moment he pushed open the door, he saw Imagawa Yoshimoto, who had been sitting at the doorway, stand up at once, her tone slightly urgent and expectant,

"Tetsu-kun, how did the divination turn out?"

During the long wait, the girl had already temporarily removed and set aside most of her Gusoku, so her hair had also come loose.

This half-wearing black Gusoku, half-wearing Kosode appearance had a distinct heroic flavor.

Uesugi Toru didn't look more, and said slowly: "Although the road is fraught with peril, the future is incomparably vast, broader even than this whole Tenka."

"Road fraught with peril……"

Imagawa Yoshimoto softly repeated these words, her gaze becoming firm once more.

She curved her lips: "Looking across ancient and modern famed monarchs, whose path was smooth sailing?"

Uesugi Toru saw her grip his palm, and say seriously,

"Tetsu-kun, I will accept in full all the hardships that will eventually arrive, and use them to polish myself."

Gazing at Imagawa Yoshimoto, who was not tense or anxious because of these words, but rather delighted by them, Uesugi Toru suddenly recalled a saying.

As the saying goes,

——To bear the state's disgrace is to be the lord of the altar of the soil and grain; to bear the state's ill omen is to be the lord of Tenka!

Imagawa Yoshimoto, perhaps she has already stepped onto this road right now.

She casually released Uesugi Toru's wrist, then looked at the Zashiki Warashi who was still forging wholeheartedly, not producing even a shred of distraction due to external changes,

"Tetsu-kun, the forging under the Zashiki Heavenly Craft Pavilion is perhaps about to finish."

Uesugi Toru likewise turned his gaze, looking toward the anvil where sparks were flying.

——Wearing only wet cloth wrapped around her chest, her whole body already covered in sweat beads, the Zashiki Warashi's face was like ice, raising an iron hammer that felt heavy as a thousand jun just by looking at it.

Then, once, and again, mixed with that swaying Fukusawa Fire, smashing toward Kaga Kiyomitsu's blade——

With all her might!

Every hammer blow, exhausting all strength!

Simultaneously, every hammer blow's angle was beyond reproach!

Uesugi Toru could see that the dazzling golden light on Kaga Kiyomitsu lying on the anvil had already spread to more than nine-tenths, about to envelop the blade tip.

Bang!

Between the pitch-black iron hammer and the immovable anvil, fine sparks burst and scattered.

Bang!

Fukusawa Fire fell like raindrops, the Kaga Kiyomitsu wrapped in brilliant gold trembled violently.

"Give me…… success!"

The Zashiki Warashi unconsciously murmured, her pupils reflecting that last trace of silver-white blade tip, took a deep breath with all her might, raising the iron hammer high.

Bang!

The heavy iron hammer fell, settling all superfluous movement.

All stilled!

Clatter!

A burst of intense golden light erupted, followed by the Zashiki Warashi's voice as if she were about to collapse,

"Banruo Xiansheng, I……"

"——Did not fail the trust!"

Uesugi Toru, shaken by this burst of intense golden light, didn't think much, hurried to the Zashiki Warashi's side, and supported her up as she nearly slumped to the ground.

Uesugi Toru lowered his head, yet saw a pale face brimming with joy and self-satisfaction.

"Banruo Xiansheng, aren't you going to look at Xiao Jia first?" The Zashiki-warashi smiled weakly, "Tossing me aside, just resting a bit is fine."

She hehe'd a smile: "We blacksmiths are quite durable!"

Buzz buzz buzz~

Along with the Zashiki-warashi's voice falling, Kaga Kiyomitsu rose with a swish from the Anvil.

Immediately after, it actually slowly floated in midair, then actively whooshed and drilled into Uesugi Toru's palm.

Uesugi Toru supported the Zashiki-warashi with one hand, while staring blankly at this never-before-seen quality before his eyes.

【Kaga Kiyomitsu: Blade of Parting】

【Quality: Epic→Epic+++!】

After Epic, there can still be three "+" signs?

This actually hasn't become Super Epic?

Or is it that originally there was only "+", and this "+++" is purely because the Zashiki-warashi's forging foundation is too powerful?

He discovered "Epic+++" still had a faint glow rising above it, so he used his mind to click it.

【Epic+++: This is an extremely special quality, can only be forged by a craftsman of extremely profound skill relying on special materials, and is not calculated between the qualities of "Epic" and "Super Epic".】

Now understood.

This bizarre quality is a miracle completed only by the Zashiki-warashi who has settled here for a hundred years, plus this piece of Qualified Spirit Gold.

Uesugi Toru slowly supported the Zashiki-warashi to the Temple Pillar at the side.

Then, only continued gazing at the Kaga Kiyomitsu happily trembling lightly in his hand with an expectant gaze.

【Soul Spirit Points: 0】

Hm, an extra row of incomprehensible Prompt appeared.

But no rush, finish reading first then speak.

【Effect One: Thrust Strengthening·Extreme.】

【Effect Two: Shousatsu→Soul Absorption Slash (Unique)!

When using Kaga Kiyomitsu: Blade of Parting to slay Yokai, Yaoguai, the quality of Kaga Kiyomitsu will undergo more efficient Improvement!

Simultaneously, when you slay Yokai you can choose to abandon Soul Ash acquisition, converting it into Kaga Kiyomitsu's "Soul Spirit Points"

Consume Soul Spirit Points, can strengthen and improve Kaga Kiyomitsu's various effects.】

Uesugi Toru slightly opened his mouth, if he were drinking water he would definitely have sprayed a mouthful onto Kaga Kiyomitsu.

So the Soul Spirit Points above are for this!

Accumulate enough Soul Spirit Points, and can actually strengthen the effects on Kaga Kiyomitsu?

This plus Kaga Kiyomitsu's strengthened Shousatsu effect...

Not just absurd?

Simply absurd!

Can say, now Kaga Kiyomitsu itself comes with a "Deep Blue Panel"!

Actually seeing here, Uesugi Toru was already completely satisfied.

Just this one "Soul Absorption Slash (Unique)" effect completely lives up to this Epic+++ quality!

But perhaps, not only this.

【Effect Three: Slash Strengthening·Extreme.】

【Effect Four: Shiretsu→Fukushima Blaze. When slashing with Kaga Kiyomitsu: Blade of Parting, enemies will continuously suffer dual damage of body and Spirit.

Simultaneously, there is a tiny probability to improve luck for a following period of time.】

This change in the Shiretsu effect is roughly the result of the Zashiki-warashi continuously using the Iron Hammer to bring down the Fukusawa Fire just now.

Similarly something only the Zashiki-warashi could do.

Seeing this, Uesugi Toru couldn't help but look back at the Zashiki being cared for by Imagawa Yoshimoto, completely unable to suppress her beaming smile.

Always feel, owe her a very very big favor.

How to repay this later?

Uesugi Toru had a bit of a headache.

【Effect Five: Separation Blade (Unique).】

【Effect Six: Hyakuren Nyoi. Kaga Kiyomitsu's toughness, hardness Significantly Increased, becomes extremely hard to break. Simultaneously Kaga Kiyomitsu will become easier to adapt to forging.】

Letting his gaze pass by one of the contributors who made Kaga Kiyomitsu into its current appearance, Uesugi Toru looked toward that last, and only newly popped-up Prompt.

【Effect Seven: Spirit. After enduring vast time's polishing, drinking countless Yokai's fresh blood, and the Zashiki-warashi's forging, Kaga Kiyomitsu: Blade of Parting's spirituality has finally achieved Perfection awakening.】

【——This is the blade that slays Eight Sufferings·Aibetsuri. Under the forging of Heavenly Craft·Zashiki-warashi has already perfectly awakened its own spirituality, simultaneously far tougher than before.】

Spirituality awakening?

How did a Riddle effect description pop out?

Uesugi Toru carefully finished reading the "Spirit" introduction.

Then, shook the Kaga Kiyomitsu in hand which, besides the blade emitting a faint pale gold glow symbolizing fortune, and trembling more violently, seemed no essential difference from before.

Uesugi Toru observed up and down again, but still couldn't see any essential change.

But by convention, this kind of single-character effect are all especially powerful.

Just like the Four-Tailed Fox Incarnation's "Anger".

So he used his finger to flick this beautiful blade body that could attract all Sword Saints in an instant just by unsheathing, curiously asking,

"Xiao Jia, where did you awaken?"

Buzz~

Kaga Kiyomitsu shook the Blade left and right.

Uesugi Toru said in Confusion: "Didn't you also buzz before?"

Buzz buzz buzz!

Kaga Kiyomitsu vibrated Dissatisfied.

Then it actually whooshed out from his palm, buzzing as it Smash Towards him, raising high its Blade suffused with pale white and brilliant gold.

As if there were a spirit behind gripping its Sword Hilt.

Uesugi Toru watched, Stunned.

What to do if the family Uchigatana flies up to kill its master?

Very urgent, waiting online.

Seeing this, Kaga Kiyomitsu happily spun several circles in midair, then buzzed twice at high frequency, as if saying something to him.

At this moment, Uesugi Toru discovered in shock.

In his heart.

There was actually another Heartstring connected, extremely faint, so faint that without sinking his heart to Perceive it would be impossible to Observe!

End of Chapter