Chapter 48

"Before asking someone else questions, you should really give your own name first."

Kurosaki Akira clicked his tongue, arms crossed, looking for all the world like a delinquent youth judging by his expression alone.

Uesugi Toru spoke his name, and then watched the boy's expression gradually twist, his eyes widening exaggeratedly,

"——You're the one Nanjo mentioned, the once-in-a-millennium genius?"

Huh?

Genius? Me?

Uesugi Toru was completely baffled.

"Since you're that Uesugi Toru, telling you this bit of news won't hurt."

He coughed twice, and Kurosaki Akira dropped that expression mixed with shock and disbelief, but just as he was about to speak, a "thump-thump-thump" echo came from the mirror nearby.

Uesugi Toru vigilantly shifted his gaze, leapt off the hospital bed in one bound to put Kitano Runa behind him, implicitly assuming a sword-drawing stance.

This Kitano Classmate's constitution, could it really be that monstrous?

Shiro Hannya had just left, and now another one comes running out of the mirror on its heels? After the First Wave, won't we have to worry about encountering ghosts every day……

"Oh, forgot to mention."

Kurosaki Akira tapped the mirror with his finger, and a figure draped in white, features blurred, hair disheveled, crawled out: "Let me introduce, this is my Shikigami, Right Bow."

Shikigami?

Right Bow, seems to be a pretty famous Mononoke on the forums too.

Uesugi Toru relaxed his stance, looking at this "Right Bow" that gave him a faint stinging sensation on his skin, with two half-stars floating above its head.

Worthy of an Onmyoji Minor Official, even a random Shikigami is Two-Star or above.

Then he saw Right Bow bow by Kurosaki Akira's ear and say something, making the boy look at Kitano Runa: "Hey, big dumbass, your mom's condition has stabilized, she'll be transferred to a regular ward later, just needs a few days of rest."

Uesugi Toru: "Her name is Kitano Runa."

"Hah?" Kurosaki Akira raised an eyebrow, "I couldn't care less if she's called North-What-Field-What-Runa-What, an ordinary person daring to face a Mononoke with just some Exorcism Tools, if that's not a big dumbass what is?"

He remembered all that, didn't he? What new-era tsundere?

Uesugi Toru thought again, found not a single fault in what he said, and agreed: "Sounds perfectly reasonable."

Kitano Runa laughed awkwardly, a homebody with social anxiety unable to retort to a stranger.

"About the Nanjo matter Uesugi-kun just brought up, I can only tell you they went to exterminate the Friendship Club's headquarters, by time calculation it's probably already finished."

Kurosaki Akira's face was full of displeasure: "Speaking of which, I was originally here to scrape some merit, but because of this dumbass incident I had to rush over."

The Friendship Club's headquarters?

Uesugi Toru froze: "For real?"

That massive shadow that had always loomed over him and Shizuku, actually wiped out this easily by the Special Affairs Division?

There seemed to be Aibetsuri pulling strings behind that Club, would she just watch this happen?

No.

Uesugi Toru narrowed his eyes——the Kurosaki Akira before him didn't look like he knew about Aibetsuri.

"What benefit would I get from lying to you?" Kurosaki Akira waved dismissively, "This was originally Nanjo's job alone, just at the final stage she wanted to play it safe."

"Things like this, Tokyo's full of them."

From his look, he completely didn't take the Friendship Club seriously.

"If it's that easy, why not wipe it out earlier?"

Uesugi Toru frowned.

Kurosaki Akira scoffed lightly: "By that logic, the rats in your house are easy to kill too, but are they that easy to find?"

The boy glanced at his watch: "If there's no problem, I'll be going first."

Uesugi Toru contemplated, slowly nodded: "I understand, thanks for clearing that up."

——The specifics, I'll just ask Nanjo Sister when I see her.

"Small matter, no thanks needed."

Kurosaki Akira shoved his hands in his pockets, grinned at him, and said expectantly: "Hope next time we meet, you can give me a surprise, Mr. Genius."

With that, he hummed a fierce Showa-era song and slammed the door out, while Right Bow also slowly bowed to the right and once more entered the mirror surface, disappearing.

After Kurosaki Akira vanished, Kitano Runa asked: "Uesugi Classmate, what were you two talking about just now?"

Uesugi Toru pondered, then shook his head and spoke the exact same words Nanjo Ai had said at the time,

"Ordinary people shouldn't touch these things."

Even if Kitano Runa has a special constitution, it's still better she temporarily touches this world's other side less.

Kitano Runa clicked her tongue: "Tch, if you won't say then don't, I'll go ask Mami Knot later."

Uesugi Toru didn't bother with her further, if Shizuka Mami was willing to tell her it didn't matter, his warning was simply out of kindness since she was Shizuku's best friend.

——Kitano Runa and him, Shizuku are different, she's a truly powerless ordinary person, if he had come a step later today, Kitano Runa would probably be buried in the dirt by now.

But he won't meddle in more things either, he's not Kitano Runa's dad.

And because of Kurosaki Akira's intervention, after a long think Uesugi Toru finally made his final decision among the five rewards.

【You have selected Reward Two, Reward Five!】

That's right, in the end Uesugi Toru still decided to choose the item related to Wanderer Identity first.

As for lowering Skill Proficiency, that can be put off for later.

After all, unlike Wanderer Identity which can't be promoted by other means, Skill levels can be raised by grinding.

Uesugi Toru, the thing he lacks least is grinding!

【Distributing Rewards……】

【You obtained "Wanderer" Identity Mission Item——Broken Walking Token (Special Item)】

【Broken Walking Token (Special Prop)】

【Quality: None】

【Effect: None】

【——Old acquaintances, old matters, not worth mentioning.】

【Your Identity Mission has been issued!】

【「Walker」Identity Promotion Mission: Deliver the 「Broken Walking Token」 to the 「Nameless Sword Saint」 inside Edo Castle; once the Nameless Sword Saint accepts the token, the mission is complete.】

【Your Yokai Avatar Warai Hannya's quality has not reached 「Rare」, so the reward is temporarily stored.】

【Once your Yokai Avatar Warai Hannya's quality reaches 「Rare」, the reward will be distributed as usual.】

A very humanized reward—Uesugi Toru feared that Warai Hannya's quality promotion would cause a visible effect to the naked eye, so he did not use Haku Hannya's mask in the hospital for now.

「Kitano Classmate, why not…… together……」

The prompt that popped up again before his eyes interrupted Uesugi Toru's words, making him put aside the thought of 「going with Kitano Runa to see if they would encounter moving Soul Ash again」.

【Since you have completed all missions in the current region 「Arakawa Ghost Village」, the 「Region Unlock Mission」 has been issued!】

【Region Unlock Mission: Midnight Call】

【Unlock Condition: Tonight at 22:20, take a train to the terminal station at any subway station within Tokyo, then transfer back to the starting point, and finally board the Train to Tokoyo arriving at 「Kisaragi Station」 to be considered as completing the Region Unlock Mission.】

Kisaragi Station?

Uesugi Toru smiled: 「This really is, famous far and wide, like thunder in the ears……」

「Uesugi Classmate, what did you say? 」Kitano Runa asked.

「No, nothing. 」Uesugi Toru shook his head, 「I'm leaving first, Kitano Classmate, remember to go back there together with the several Special Affairs Division staff outside, don't walk alone again. 」

Kitano Runa clenched her small fist: 「I won't make the same mistake twice! 」

「That's good. 」

Uesugi Toru smiled, discovering that once he got a little more familiar with her, that originally socially anxious atmosphere completely disappeared…… Is this one of the traits of being a shut-in?

He couldn't quite understand.

Uesugi Toru pushed the door and went out; he wanted to find a quiet, deserted place to promote Warai Hannya's quality.

And then board that Train to Tokoyo heading to Chang Shi tonight, to witness the legendary Kisaragi Station.

End of Chapter