Chapter 25: Key Item — Complete Ksitigarbha Statue

【Tennen Rishin-ryu (Entry Level 230/500)】

【Effect: Solid foundation, concise and practical, flexible and versatile】

【Because of your Tennen Rishin-ryu Entry Level, your Physique +2!】

【Because of your Tennen Rishin-ryu Entry Level, you learned a new Sword Move!】

【Uesugi Toru】

【Physique: 8】

【Will: 8】

【Charm: 9】

【Spirit Arts: 1】

When Uesugi Toru opened his eyes again, the first thing that came into view was various data and Shizuku's small face.

Unfortunately, what blocked his view was not the large thunder that could only see half of the dojo ceiling.

"This is also fine, it doesn't affect sword practice."

Shizuku:?

Sighing, Uesugi Toru left Shizuku's lap pillow without any reluctance.

In his eyes, Shizuku = good brother, and a good brother's lap pillow was not something worth missing.

Although Shizuku's thighs were indeed more comfortable than pillows—the muscles of someone who had long undergone high-intensity training were only hard as stone and iron when exerting force, but when relaxed, they were soft as cotton.

"Uesugi-kun, how does your body feel?"

"Very good, better than ever."

Uesugi Toru's answer made her pause for a moment, and the "Want to go to my house for a medicinal bath?" that was originally about to blurt out was naturally swallowed back down.

Actually, Shizuku had thought very thoroughly.

For normal people, the body that broke through limits after high-pressure training must be relatively weak, and at this time taking a medicinal bath could play a good recovery role.

But was Uesugi Toru a normal person?

Which normal person could, after waking up from a sleep, leap from a better-than-average ordinary person's physical quality to an existence comparable to a national-level athlete?

The increase of two Physique attributes not only swept away the previous fatigue and injuries of the body, but also made Uesugi Toru feel the explosive power constantly transmitted from within his body.

Now whether it was a 100-meter sprint in 10.5 seconds, or a 10,000-meter long run in 29 minutes 45 seconds, or a bench press of 200 kilograms, Uesugi Toru believed he could easily complete them.

This was the near-scientific-defying comprehensive improvement brought by the increase of Physique attributes.

And besides this, some new sword move techniques of Tennen Rishin-ryu also surged into Uesugi Toru's mind.

However, this was a later story; he could not possibly demonstrate these in front of Shizuku.

After tentatively moving his body, looking at the dojo where there was still no sign of anyone, Uesugi Toru asked: "How long has it been since I fell into a coma?"

"A bit more than two hours, it should be almost time for school to end." Shizuku stood up and smiled: "What, still want to practice?"

Uesugi Toru stared at the girl whose complexion had turned pale, thinking that she should have been kneeling motionless on the ground for so long just now, and said: "No, occasionally try to relax a bit."

"Hmm..." Shizuku made a meaningless humming sound, then spoke: "During this time your mobile phone rang, I saw the other party called continuously several times so I helped you answer it without permission."

"Nanjo Sister's call?"

"No, the other party said they were that policeman's lackey, saying they would wait for us at the doorway after school."

Uesugi Toru: "That's perfect, I'll go take a shower and change clothes, how about treating Teacher Shizuku to barbecue tonight?"

"I don't care."

Shizuku was expressionless—as long as one ignored her hands that were tightly clutching her abdomen to prevent it from making noise.

Although it was a shower, Uesugi Toru did not forget to enter the Common World and take away the weapons the blacksmith had finished while showering.

But when Uesugi Toru arrived at the Blacksmith Shop, he found that not a single weapon remained in the storefront that was originally full of various goods.

The people were gone and the building was empty.

Uesugi Toru frowned, quickly walked in, looked around, and found that the sleeping blacksmith who originally sat behind the counter had disappeared.

Replacing him was the small bean who had previously stood by his side and had not shown his face.

Fortunately, someone was there.

Uesugi Toru thought for a moment and asked in as gentle a tone as possible: "Where is the old blacksmith?"

"Master has already left."

The small bean, whose whole body was shrunk under a cloak, spoke, and he took out the weapon from under the counter with some difficulty and placed it on the table: "This is the weapon Master forged for Banruo Xiansheng you, saying you would definitely like it."

"Please accept it."

What was placed on the old wooden tabletop was unexpectedly an Uchigatana stored in a Vermilion Scabbard.

The misunderstanding was resolved.

"Thank you."

After solemnly expressing thanks, Uesugi Toru then picked up this Uchigatana with both hands.

He first touched the Sword Sheath.

【Regenerating Scabbard】

【Quality: Excellent Quality】

【Effect: Will slowly repair the durability of the worn sword.】

【——A matching Scabbard forged by the nameless blacksmith for Kaga Kiyomitsu·Imitation】

Good Things.

Durability was too important for a Cold Weapon.

For example, his Firewood Knife had already been worn down quite a bit from collisions with farmer bones and crowbars, the blade had become dull and chipped, and its lethality was no longer as good as at the beginning.

If used for much longer, the blade might even snap outright.

And as long as he had this sword sheath, none of these problems would exist.

—This blacksmith is truly an honest man!

Uesugi Toru was overjoyed; if the sheath alone was this satisfying, what surprise would the real thing bring him?

Slowly drawing out the blade, Uesugi Toru began to carefully examine the entire uchigatana.

The blade was seventy-two centimeters long, and the blade body was as clean and neat as a windless lake surface, with no complex patterns or designs; the blade was thin, yet its chill was as piercing as winter, and while the whole sword was far heavier than the firewood knife, it felt very comfortable in Uesugi Toru's grip.

He then looked at the pop-up weapon panel.

【Kaga Kiyomitsu·Imitation】

【Quality: Superior Quality】

【Effect One: Thrust Strengthening. When using thrust-type sword techniques, it will deal a large amount of additional damage.】

【Effect Two: Shousatsu. When using Kaga Kiyomitsu·Imitation to slay Demon Monsters, Yaoguai, the quality of Kaga Kiyomitsu·Imitation will gradually improve.】

【—An uchigatana forged by an unnamed blacksmith imitating Kaga Kiyomitsu from memory, but this time he poured his heart and soul into it.】

Uesugi Toru fell silent.

He was wondering what he had done to make the blacksmith forge such an overpowered weapon for him.

Could it simply be because he had eliminated the noise from the workshop for him? That was unlikely, because the blacksmith had already left Arakawa Ghost Village, and whether there was a workshop or not was unimportant to him.

Then it could only be...

Uesugi Toru looked at the little one behind the counter: "Doudou, did your master ask me to take care of you?"

The gray cloak shook, and then a timid voice came from within: "Master said, it depends on you, Banruo Xiansheng; he only forged you an ordinary weapon, and besides that, there is no other connection."

"How could there not be..."

Uesugi Toru sighed, sheathing the blade: "From now on, if you have anything, just come find me."

The cloak shook twice more, as if the little one inside was nodding.

Then, Uesugi Toru saw him take out a...

Miniature Jizo Statue?

"Master also said, if you, Banruo Xiansheng, actively offer to protect me, he will give you this statue."

"What if I don't actively speak up?"

"Then I will use this statue as the price to ask you to protect me."

Uesugi Toru paused, wearing the smiling Banruo mask as he leaned close to the counter: "What if, I plan to just take it by force?"

The cloak shook even more violently, but the little one said: "Master said you won't rob; he said you are not on the same path as those Yaoguai."

"Tch."

Uesugi Toru cursed silently in his heart.

He had said all the good and bad words to that old thing; why did he look so honest, yet have so many schemes?

"Give me the statue."

The little one obediently complied.

And in the instant he took the Miniature Jizo Statue, Uesugi Toru's eyes narrowed.

【You have obtained the key prop for Side Quest One — the Complete Jizo Statue!】

End of Chapter