Chapter 188: Golden Ball Chime · Toru, Next Time We Meet Is an Unbreakable Bond, The Effect of Spirit Points

Huh?

Is it tacit understanding?

Uesugi Toru, feeling slight pressure and heat on his fingertips, was about to speak when he saw Imagawa Yoshimoto's finger rise again and land beside it.

Then, without another word, she gradually moved her finger covering the city marker off the map.

"This is Yoshida Castle."

Imagawa Yoshimoto did not cover the city; she drew a light circle around the river mouth marker and waterway with her fingertip, then spoke clearly,

"It is a fortress guarded by the Matsudaira Clan, a key transportation route."

"If there are many yokai and they have already controlled many cities, then to take East Mikawa, it is best to start here."

She pondered for a moment and added,

"And if Hanzō goes to scout alone, he should return to the Matsudaira Clan to check the situation, and then perhaps we can coordinate with him from inside and outside."

After Imagawa Yoshimoto finished speaking, she looked at Uesugi Toru beside her somewhat strangely: "But Tetsu-kun, why did you point here?"

Logically, Toru, who studies Yin-Yang Technique in the mountains all day, should not know much about military or political matters.

Yet he pointed out the location of highest strategic value on the entire map.

"I simply divined it in my heart."

Uesugi Toru answered honestly without looking aside.

Actually, the map on the panel showed that in East Mikawa Region, this "Yoshida Castle" had the most Great Eye Demons.

—Since there are many eyeball demons, there must be plenty of other Sickness Retainers too.

Being able to take out more yokai in one pot is definitely better.

Uesugi Toru pointed it out thinking exactly that.

"Divination really is convenient."

Imagawa Yoshimoto glanced at him noncommittally, but did not ask further.

—A qualified lord must know how to let retainers keep some harmless little secrets, so as to give them enough sense of security.

She nodded: "Since Tetsu-kun and I think of the same place, let us tentatively set our target as Yoshida Castle."

"Lord Imagawa, but before that."

Uesugi Toru pretended to ponder for a while, then said somewhat uncertainly,

"Probably about five days; I still need five days to prepare some Yin-Yang Techniques to deal with Sickness and its retainers."

—Uesugi Toru could not face one of the Eight Sufferings knowing nothing, even if Sickness's raw strength might not match his now.

He looked directly into Imagawa Yoshimoto's pupils and proposed: "So during these five days, I think we can first clean up the villages around Yoshida Castle, forming an encirclement."

"You can also try to contact the Matsudaira Clan during this period and see what the situation is like there."

"Incidentally, we can also wait for Motonobu-nee to bring new reinforcements."

Five days.

This time was neither long nor short, something they could wait for...

Imagawa Yoshimoto looked at Uesugi Toru's serious expression and changed her mind in her heart.

No, it should be said it was a time they had to wait.

Sharpening the knife does not delay the woodcutter; she understood this simple principle.

But just thinking that every day of delay meant more subjects dying at the hands of these yokai and diseases made Imagawa Yoshimoto's heart feel more helplessness and self-reproach.

Amidst the intense clanging of forging, she took a deep breath.

Imagawa Yoshimoto stored all these distracting thoughts that would shake her reason in one place and looked at them coldly.

Just remember.

—The more it is like this, the more she should stay calm and not let herself be swayed by emotions, so as to listen to the opinions of true "professionals."

"I'll listen to you."

Imagawa Yoshimoto replied with a flat expression and began discussing more details with Uesugi Toru based on the map.

Uesugi Toru also told her the characteristics of several Sickness Retainers he currently knew, and repeatedly emphasized that the yokai they faced were by no means limited to these few types.

He emphasized: "Do not drink outside water sources, do not eat food given by others, and if you are injured, tell me immediately."

"I understand."

Imagawa Yoshimoto remembered every word.

—Until the sun had passed its noon peak and was slowly moving toward the horizon on the other side, the intense clanging of forging inside the ruined temple gradually stopped.

Clang.

The heavy iron hammer falling on the stone slab floor was clearly audible.

Zashiki Warashi's light and happy voice came: "Hey—Imagawa Clan Head! This set of gusoku has been strengthened, come try it!"

Having just finished discussing not long ago, Imagawa Yoshimoto, who had been sitting upright on the ground with eyes closed to nurture her spirit, opened her eyes and nodded to the girl waving at her with a smile.

She walked over, and upon seeing the gleaming, clanking gusoku stacked beside her, she slightly widened her eyes,

"Zashiki, you've worked hard."

"Yaya! What's there to work hard about."

Zashiki Warashi waved her hand casually and pointed to her sweatless neck: "See, not even a drop of sweat, otherwise how would I call it 'Cold Body Forging'."

"If it were really hard work I wouldn't hold back; I'd squeeze you for all the benefits, Imagawa Clan Head."

The little Fortune God said mercilessly.

Then she began explaining the forging effects she had added as a secondary forger,

"Considering the Head's needs, this entire set of gusoku has been forged by me into a unified whole."

She put her hands on her hips, rubbed her little nose, and chuckled,

"The Gusoku's flexibility remains unchanged, yet among the Gusoku parts there is no longer the slightest gap that can be exploited, as if a single close-fitting circular shield wraps around the Clan Head."

"Furthermore, the durability of all parts of the entire Gusoku set can be shared!"

"In other words — if an enemy wants to harm you, the Imagawa Clan Head, whether by open spear or hidden arrow, they must first smash this entire Gusoku set to pieces!"

The Zashiki-warashi made a fist-swinging motion.

"Although it is slightly heavier, and will weaken the lethality when you swing your blade a little, I think this shouldn't be a big problem."

Immediately after, she held up these Gusoku parts, looking at Imagawa Yoshimoto with some anticipation: "Clan Head, please quickly change into it and see, I also want to see the overall effect!"

After hearing the Zashiki-warashi's complete introduction, both of them were somewhat stupefied.

Uesugi Toru was surprised that these two powerful effects could actually be added so quickly, and the forging process didn't even produce a drop of sweat.

Imagawa Yoshimoto, on the other hand, stood rooted to the spot, completely shaken.

Because the safety issue that had troubled so many rulers throughout history when personally leading campaigns.

Was actually solved by the Zashiki-warashi before her eyes, by this one set of strengthened Gusoku.

As long as she wears this Gusoku, she can ignore most of the enemy army's arquebuses, arrow rains, and always stand at the very front of the army to boost morale.

Even when in the palanquin, she no longer needs to fear someone suddenly assassinating the ruler.

After this "simple" forging by the Zashiki-warashi, the significance of this Gusoku for Imagawa Yoshimoto had evidently undergone a major change.

"Good, I'll try it."

Imagawa Yoshimoto didn't say much more, but first tied up her hair, then familiarly put on the Gusoku piece by piece.

Soon, a dashing female general wrapped in black Gusoku appeared before the two of them.

"The weight increased by about thirty percent, but the impact isn't too great."

Imagawa Yoshimoto raised her arm, simply tested it, then picked up a few small pieces of scrap iron from the ground.

For ordinary people or Ashigaru, this 20KG weight increasing by thirty percent would of course be fatal, greatly increasing physical strength consumption.

But for Imagawa Yoshimoto who has cultivated the Breathing Technique, she only needs a short one or two days to fully adapt, and it won't bring any extra impact.

"Tetsu-kun, could you trouble yourself to hold them and throw them at me?"

Uesugi Toru caught the scrap iron, weighed it for a moment, then shook his head, instead raising fingertips flashing with fine electric arcs,

"If even Yin-Yang Techniques can be blocked, presumably it can also resist Yokai attacks."

These words indeed have reason.

If it can block lightning whose speed is who knows how fast, then bows, arquebuses, and ordinary attacks of Yokai and the like are even more out of the question.

Imagawa Yoshimoto nodded: "Then please test it, Tetsu-kun."

The moment her voice fell, Uesugi Toru flicked a finger, sending a wisp of fine yet bright enough to be seen electric light shooting toward Imagawa Yoshimoto's shoulder.

Zzt—

Imagawa Yoshimoto blinked, feeling no discomfort at all.

But Uesugi Toru saw clearly.

The electric light vanished in a flash, disappearing into the faintly rippling — gap between the shoulder armor and arm armor.

It seems the Zashiki-warashi's words were not false.

Next, Uesugi Toru slightly increased the Spirit Power output.

But even at the heaviest time, the electric light intensity had already reached the level of instantly killing a Half-Star Yokai.

It could only make Imagawa Yoshimoto's whole body ripple with a barely perceptible faint numbness, fundamentally unable to affect anything.

— The Zashiki-warashi's words were completely true.

— Tenko! She is utterly worthy of the name "Tenko"!

After realizing this point, Imagawa Yoshimoto turned around again, using both hands to tightly grasp the hands of the little Fortune God who was about as tall as her.

She gazed straight into this Zashiki-warashi's pure eyes, extremely sincere:

"Zashiki, from now on you only need to hang a name in the Imagawa Clan, and fundamentally don't need to stay fixed anywhere, only need to occasionally come and use the rare materials we prepare to forge a few weapons.

Whether it is fief, position, cultivation method, or anything else... I can exhaust all efforts to seek them for you.

Such an invitation, are you willing?"

Compared to the previous time, Imagawa Yoshimoto could be said to have taken out one hundred percent sincerity, just short of pointing at the Imagawa Clan Head's position and saying 'Here, you come sit.'

Because she realized, the Zashiki-warashi is not "a very amazing blacksmith".

But the same as Uesugi Toru, a "unique talent in all Tenka".

The Zashiki-warashi, however, was made rather embarrassed by this enthusiasm that was somewhat excessive.

She also didn't pretend to ponder, but still without the slightest hesitation shook her head: "Many thanks for the Clan Head's invitation, but still must say sorry."

The Zashiki-warashi carefully withdrew her hand, placed it on her chest, closed her eyes and slowly said,

"My heart tells me —

Zashiki, you want to go to more and more masters and grandmasters, and those artisans who surpass you in any aspect of this craft, to humbly seek learning.

Zashiki, you want to use your own two eyes to measure the earth, witness those ten thousand myriad different graceful sceneries."

"Sorry to disappoint your kind intentions, but I seem to be just this kind of person who can't stay idle."

The Zashiki-warashi spoke apologetically, yet in her eyes and expression there wasn't even a fraction of wavering.

Imagawa Yoshimoto looked at her.

Want to go overseas, then walk the whole world?

"Truly a grand ambition, Zashiki-warashi... makes one envious."

The Imagawa Clan Head spoke the little Fortune God's full name, then with fervent gaze said: "But next time we meet, I will still extend an invitation to you."

She said resoundingly: "Please do prepare your refusal."

The Zashiki-warashi was dumbfounded, looked at Uesugi Toru beside her, and discovered he likewise had a helpless expression.

After all, it was with just such a fervent offensive that Imagawa Yoshimoto had lured him — who originally intended to seek refuge with Oda Nobunaga — into the Imagawa Clan.

But next time we meet...

When will the next meeting be?

On this long journey, how many people will she be fortunate enough to encounter a second time?

The Zashiki-warashi pursed her lips, then spoke to Imagawa Yoshimoto: "Then I shall still refuse, and please do not be disappointed, Head of Family."

"Mm, certainly." Imagawa Yoshimoto nodded his chin lightly.

So the Zashiki-warashi smiled.

She felt she seemed to have met another person who could become a friend.

But the Zashiki-warashi also felt some regret.

Because she most likely would not be able to meet again with the person who had not yet become a friend...

But where in life are there so many perfect endings?

The Zashiki-warashi patted her cheeks, quietly exhaling all the dejection in her heart.

She looked at Uesugi Toru again, and from her clothing pocket took out a small golden bell chime that made a jingling sound: "Toru... Mr., please accept this item before our parting."

Uesugi Toru walked over, taking this small bell chime — identical to the one hanging on her hair tips when he first met the Zashiki-warashi — without declining.

But unlike that time, the surface of this small bell chime was engraved with a faint "Toru" character.

【Golden Bell Chime·Tohru】

【Quality: Rare】

【Effect: Can bring a negligible amount of good luck to a specific wearer.】

【——Wishing you martial luck, Mr. Toru.】

"This parting, who knows how long until we meet again."

The Zashiki-warashi smiled, pointing at this bell chime: "This bell chime, let it serve as a memento."

Uesugi Toru was about to say it wouldn't be long either.

But he suddenly recalled that in the trial, the Zashiki-warashi had spent nearly a hundred years alone in this ruined temple.

A hundred years... just how long a time that must be.

In these hundred years, who knows how many people died, how many were born; even the outside world had changed from the Nanbokucho Period into the Muromachi Period.

Uesugi Toru spoke no more, instead rummaging in his storage backpack, wanting to similarly find a memento.

A moment later, he took out from his backpack a ticket no different from an ordinary Shinkansen ticket.

——【Train's Round-trip Ticket】.

A precious prop obtained after slaying Kisaragi Station; as long as the anti-counterfeit label on it is torn open, one can board the train to Chang Shi and arrive at the destination in one's heart.

Even Uesugi Toru had kept it unused all this time.

"This is?" The Zashiki-warashi looked puzzled.

Uesugi Toru explained: "This is a ticket that lets you see me anytime after the trial is completed."

The Zashiki-warashi, who had been about to take it, withdrew her hand,

"Such a prop is unnecessary."

——Because the Zashiki-warashi knew, once she accepted this ticket, it would mean that before every critical choice in her future, there would be an available retreat to choose from.

When people encounter danger, they subconsciously look toward the safer path.

The Zashiki-warashi did not want to test, for no reason, a self who couldn't even resist the temptation of soft candy.

So it's still better to simply not accept it.

Likewise, the Zashiki-warashi also did not want to form overly strong entanglements with others, owing overly deep debts of gratitude.

If so, on some day very, very far in the future, she might feel very guilty.

So the little Fortune God raised her palm as a wall, shook her head and said,

"Mr. Toru, then let us meet again by fate on future journeys."

"Fate... huh."

Uesugi Toru blinked.

"Yes, fate."

The Zashiki-warashi smiled gently.

——If she could meet Mr. Toru a third time on a journey so long its end cannot be seen, that would surely be a fate that cannot be severed no matter what.

This is the Zashiki-warashi's farewell.

After realizing this point, Uesugi Toru searched in his storage backpack for a good while again.

Finally, he found that ordinary item which, even under the erosion of vast time, could perfectly maintain its original function.

——【Foreman's Crowbar】.

Mm, it seems unexpectedly fitting for the Zashiki-warashi's blacksmith identity too.

Uesugi Toru held this not-long but exceptionally reliable crowbar, extending it toward the Zashiki-warashi: "Then please accept this crowbar."

"Crowbar?"

The Zashiki-warashi tilted her head.

"Swing it, and you can easily pry open those sealed doors."

Uesugi Toru placed the crowbar into the Zashiki-warashi's rough palm,

"Also hoping it can help you smash wide open all the 'doors' on your future path."

The little Fortune God raised her eyebrows, gripped the ice-cold crowbar in her hand, and after feeling its full weight laughed: "Thank you, Mr. Toru! I really like this farewell gift."

"That's good."

Uesugi Toru withdrew his hand, knowing it was time for parting.

"That Zashiki, let's meet again next time."

"Meet again next time, Mr. Toru."

Zashiki hugged the crowbar tight and smiled.

She thought this time it was her watching Prajna, and also Mr. Toru's retreating figure leaving.

After Imagawa Yoshimoto also bid farewell to Zashiki, the two stepped out of the Ruined Temple's boundary.

Zashiki Warashi followed and arrived at the temple doorway, her eyes brightening at the sight of the Mountain Whale King still lying in the woods not far away.

She called out loudly: "Little Pig!"

"Master Tenko! What are your orders!"

The feigning-sleep Mountain Whale King instantly stood up.

Zashiki Warashi twirled her hair with her finger, showing a somewhat embarrassed expression: "Little Pig, can you go down the mountain together with Mr. Toru and the Imagawa Clan Head?"

Gazing at the disappointed Mountain Whale King, Zashiki Warashi continued,

"Because I also noticed, the calamity those Yokai outside have produced during this time is quite great... if not solved, I'm afraid even your and your little associates' habitat will disappear in the future.

They should be the ones come to solve those Yokai, so could you please go down the mountain and help them?"

The Mountain Whale King fell silent, finally bowing deeply: "Since it is Master Tenko's words, what reason would I have not to obey."

"And before too long, I should be leaving this place anyway, so Little Pig you also don't need to keep protecting me outside day and night anymore."

Zashiki Warashi flashed a cheerful V-sign at the dumbfounded Mountain Whale King,

"From now on, you're free."

"Mas... Master Tenko?"

Under the gaze of the three, the Mountain Whale King hurriedly moved its sturdy hooves, reaching the Ruined Temple doorway in three two steps.

It stared blankly at that figure which to it was once incomparably Gundam-high, but now appeared quite short: "Master Tenko, did I do something poorly? I can change..."

"No, not at all."

Zashiki Warashi shook her head: "It's just that I'm about to complete my own Trial, and simply continue walking forward."

She reached out her hand, as if to stroke the Mountain Whale King's head, and the latter also hurriedly knelt on the ground,

"All these years, you've truly worked hard."

"Merely some things that should be done, I absolutely have no hardship to speak of..."

Zashiki Warashi said seriously,

"So, could you please go help Mr. Toru and them? Go together with them and exorcise clean those evil Yokai harming the Human Realm."

Not daring to face the Mountain Whale King with trembling pupils, Zashiki Warashi slightly averted her gaze, then closed her eyes.

She said softly,

"This is my last request, Little Pig."

—Hope we can all continue walking forward, and hope we can meet again in the future.

—Zashiki Warashi thought thus.

The Mountain Whale King's mountain-like body heaved violently.

Finally, it let out a rumbling farewell,

"Master Tenko, goodbye."

As if with no lingering attachment, the Mountain Whale King straightened up directly, then walked step by step towards Uesugi Toru and the other not far away, shrinking.

Then descended the mountain together with them.

Zashiki Warashi stood in place, dazedly watching the three figures vanish in the thin mist.

She turned her head, looking back at the Ruined Temple behind her that had grown cold and quiet once more, somewhat in a trance.

"Hah..."

It's back to how it was again.

Zashiki Warashi thought.

She spaced out in place for a while, then placed the crowbar aside, and instead gripped tight the iron hammer she had placed on the ground.

Now, it's time to continue Refining.

Zashiki Warashi recalled the various details and sensations of today's strengthening and forging of Kaga Kiyomitsu.

For a long time, Zashiki Warashi, like countless times before, took an ordinary iron ingot, and alone in a stretch of silence raised the iron hammer.

Then, brought it down heavily!

Flying sparks illuminated Zashiki Warashi's pupils, and also illuminated the thought in her heart that would absolutely never waver,

I will become Tenko.

—I will, become the best blacksmith in this world!

The other side.

The Mountain Whale King, shrunk to only thirty or forty centimeters, walked before Uesugi Toru and the other, leading them down from Mount Kujira where wisps of Miasma still lingered.

"These two horses, they're yours too, right."

Stopping before the two horses that were instantly stunned but didn't know where this pressure came from, the Mountain Whale King asked blandly.

Uesugi Toru walked up, patted the two horses' foreheads: "Lord Mountain Whale King, could you converge your pressure?"

"Mm, you're right."

The pocket-sized Little Pig froze a moment, only then remembering the aura constantly emanating from its body needed converging.

It had stayed in the mountain too long, had almost forgotten this matter.

As the little pig tensed and trembled all over, the two horses' nervousness quickly vanished.

—It seems that as long as the Zashiki-warashi isn't involved, this Mountain Whale King is actually quite easy to communicate with.

Uesugi Toru let out a breath of relief.

The Zashiki-warashi proactively saying it would have the Mountain Whale King assist them was indeed an unexpected joy, but if it thought too highly of itself and refused to obey orders, it would ruin things.

As it stands, the Mountain Whale King shows no such sign.

Together with Imagawa Yoshimoto, he mounted his horse, and Uesugi Toru once again took out the map, but fell into brief contemplation.

—On the map, important passes, ferries, and large and small cities were all clearly marked, but those scattered small villages had no trace.

And judging from the previous situation, Imagawa Yoshimoto also seemed not very familiar with these villages.

So Uesugi Toru turned his head,

"Mountain Whale King, do you know the locations of the surrounding villages..."

"Just call me 'Whale Three'," the Mountain Whale King interrupted him, "because I rank third among my brothers and sisters."

Afterward, its four short little legs gave a hop, and it landed lightly on the saddle: "I know, I naturally know."

"When I was little I always used to go outside to play."

The Mountain Whale King said casually behind Uesugi Toru: "Back then, I was almost caught and eaten by humans."

You, this big-headed "Mountain Whale", specially ran before those villagers who eat white radish and rice grains every day — anyone who could hold back their drool at that would have to be a Kami.

Uesugi Toru shrugged: "If you had spoken in front of them back then, those people probably wouldn't have dared to eat you."

"Don't run your mouth, human."

The Mountain Whale King first replied in a cold voice, then wrinkled its nose and said viciously: "This air that stinks to high heaven... those damn foreign Yokai!"

It said: "You go ahead, I'll guide the way as we walk."

Uesugi Toru looked at the Black Armor girl beside him.

"Let's go."

Imagawa Yoshimoto gave a brief command.

With the Mountain Whale King navigating the whole time, in less than an hour, Uesugi Toru's party saw the first village.

Hii-hii-hii~

Uesugi Toru pulled the reins, deliberately making the horses stop at the village entrance.

With such a big commotion, as long as there were still people alive in the village, someone would surely come to check the situation before long.

Sure enough, not even two minutes passed before a group of able-bodied villagers carrying grass forks and rusted uchigatana squeezed to the village head, staring at him with some vigilance.

But the villagers also didn't dare act rashly.

Because the attire of the two people before them really exceeded their cognition somewhat.

Uesugi Toru looked left and right, but didn't see a single person who could take charge appear.

He blinked, somewhat puzzled.

The Village Chief died?

Forget it, dead is dead.

It merely increases the communication difficulty a little; this kind of situation is bound to be encountered.

Uesugi Toru gathered his Gang Qi and said in a loud voice: "I am a doctor of the Imagawa Clan! Hearing that plagues are rampant in Mikawa Province, I have come specially to treat the sick and save people!"

Watching these villagers hesitate, start discussing among themselves, but not knowing when they would reach a conclusion, Uesugi Toru also couldn't be bothered to say more.

He made a move to leave,

"If there is no one in the village troubled by disease, I'll go to the next village!"

The moment these words came out, the villagers' differing opinions instantly reduced to just one.

"—Please wait a moment, Doctor Adult!"

Many villagers immediately turned around, carrying their tattered weapons and running into the village.

Uesugi Toru also dismounted, waiting right at the village entrance.

Imagawa Yoshimoto and the Mountain Whale King remained on their horses, silent.

Before long, six or seven unconscious people with flushed complexions and tightly closed eyes were carried over and placed on temporarily spread grass mats.

Men, women, old and young, all were present.

Uesugi Toru glanced over casually and discovered these people were all troubled by the same kind of illness.

Whole bodies feverish, different parts of their body surfaces beginning to ulcerate.

【288】 Miasma Ghost.

Miasma Ghost.

—The Sickness Retainer he had seen earlier on the road in Totomi Province seemed able to inflict this kind of illness on people.

But this illness is still quite mild; two or three streams of Gang Qi to disperse the evil Qi in their bodies should completely cure it.

"Doctor Adult... please look."

"Can these still be saved?"

The surrounding villagers crowded around nervously.

Uesugi Toru asked: "Are there any other patients with different symptoms?"

The villagers looked at each other in blank dismay, and after brief communication all shook their heads.

"Then the matter is very simple."

Uesugi Toru's fingertips condensed seven streams of pure white scorching Gang Qi, shooting them electrically into the unconscious people's bodies.

In just a moment, he completely swept away that newly emerged, not yet deeply rooted disease-heat Qi!

"Done."

He addressed the villagers surrounding him who were waiting for him to "practice medicine and save people": "Next, take me around the village. I need to clear out the source of the disease foci."

The villagers clearly had not reacted yet.

Someone stared blankly.

Still others subconsciously countered.

"Th-this is all it took?"

"Could this be some fraud who came to amuse himself at our expense..."

"Judging by this Doctor Adult's attire, surely not."

The heated discussions all around vanished abruptly the moment the first patient groggily opened his eyes and asked where this was.

In an instant, the look in every villager's eyes as they gazed at the calm and collected Uesugi Toru changed completely.

Shock, pleasant surprise, respect, and... reverence.

Because the Village Chief was also one of those seven comatose people, upon waking and hearing what had happened he immediately bowed deeply to Uesugi Toru,

"Adult, please come with me."

The events that followed were nothing worth mentioning.

Uesugi Toru only found a single Half-Star 【Miasma Ghost】 in the village, and after slaying it with Kaga Kiyomitsu the matter was as good as finished.

—Compared to the village previously slaughtered by Fu Yan, and Mountain Whale Village forced to leave Mikawa Province, this was luck to the extreme.

From the looks of it, the Sickness Retainer situation each village encountered was not exactly the same either.

He obtained a few more Omamori, infused a bit of Thunderbolt Power into them, and handed them to the Village Chief, saying they could ward off evil.

Finally, he asked the Village Chief to summon all available villagers to the village entrance—

Uesugi Toru mounted his horse, then spoke, letting his voice reach every villager's ears,

"Fellow villagers."

He bowed slightly, spread his hands toward Imagawa Yoshimoto who had not spoken a word from the very beginning, her face stern and cold,

"The one who dispatched me to save you all is precisely this great and generous Lord of Mikawa, Head of the Imagawa Clan, Imagawa Yoshimoto Adult!"

Imagawa Yoshimoto scanned the sallow, emaciated villagers, calmly inhaled a breath: "From now on, those Yokai that spread disease, and the turbulent environment of today, shall cease to exist!"

"I will let everyone live the life they did before... no, live a life better than ever before!"

"Because—I, the Lord of Mikawa, Imagawa Yoshimoto, have come!"

She raised her hand high, proclaiming forcefully word by word.

As her words fell, a sunny-day thunderbolt exploded with a boom behind her, causing the villagers to hurriedly kneel and prostrate themselves in panic, revealing expressions of both pleasant surprise and dread.

With that done, Uesugi Toru and Imagawa Yoshimoto rode off on horseback, hurrying to the next village.

On horseback, Uesugi Toru looked somewhat concerned at the prompt that appeared just now after slaying the Miasma Ghost, where instead of choosing to gain Soul Ash he chose to gain Soul Spirit Points.

【Your Kaga Kiyomitsu: Blade of Parting gained Soul Spirit Points ×1.】

Because after this prompt popped up, seven out of the eight major effects in the Kaga Kiyomitsu Panel column lit up with a faint Glow.

As if twisting their waists saying—

Click me.

Come click me!

(End of Chapter)