Ki-ai Technique, Proficient!

The doll, already staggering toward the door, was stopped by Uesugi Tetsu, who shook his head at it.

"I'll get it."

He mouthed the words, took a deep breath, and placed the doll in a corner of the wooden desk, next to a pile of long-neglected homework.

"Dad? Knocking now, is he going to make me prepare a late-night snack?"

Muttering in dissatisfaction, Uesugi Tetsu casually strode to the door and pulled it open.

Standing outside was the faceless middle-aged man.

He stood still, facing Uesugi Tetsu, without a word.

A silent pressure washed over Uesugi Tetsu. Just as his face was about to twitch instinctively, he immediately entered a state of mental tranquility.

"What, you can watch the game, but I can't stay up late to watch a match?" Uesugi Tetsu pulled out his phone, ostentatiously displaying the flashing game on it. "Esports are also competitions!"

With that, Uesugi Tetsu calmly walked past the man and said while running water in the bathroom:

"If you want a late-night snack, just say the word. I'll heat up the bento in the fridge. If you don't say anything, I'll eat it all myself."

Shivering, and after washing his hands under the man's gaze, Uesugi Tetsu took out the bento from the refrigerator, heated it up, and ate while scrolling through his phone, occasionally chuckling.

From beginning to end, he showed not the slightest sign of abnormality.

Finally, just as Uesugi Tetsu was about to lick the plastic bowl of his extra-large curry beef bento clean, the faceless man, who had been examining his cheek pressed against his own, slowly walked away.

He returned to the sofa in front of the television, which was perpetually replaying the same game, and sat down.

Uesugi Tetsu appeared completely oblivious, still focused on the bento in his hands.

Only after finishing the bento completely did Uesugi Tetsu toss it into the trash bag as if he had achieved victory.

Before returning to his room, Uesugi Tetsu even said to the faceless man on the sofa:

"Dad, I'm heading to bed. You should get some sleep too."

Thump.

The moment he closed his room door, Uesugi Tetsu collapsed.

Like a drowning person just pulled ashore, he gasped silently and deeply, his previously dry back instantly drenched.

Thank you, Ririko!

Uesugi Tetsu gasped for air, leaning on the corner of the desk, never having been so grateful for someone at this moment.

If he hadn't maintained the mental tranquility Ririko had taught him, he would have definitely sweated, his hands would have trembled, or he would have revealed some flaw he hadn't even noticed himself.

Then, he would have been devoured by his three-star dad, known as an "Evil Ghost"!

Uesugi Tetsu looked at the doll that had scurried to his side and thought that perhaps he wouldn't be instantly killed, but he would definitely face his three-star faceless dad head-on.

In that case, not only would he lose the doll that Nanjō-sister had given him, which was enough to deter his dad, but he would also lose a three-star safe house!

That's right. The reason Uesugi Tetsu had dared to open the door earlier was to allow his "Dad," who sensed something was wrong, to observe him and then be reassured.

After ruffling the doll's head, Uesugi Tetsu lay on the bed holding it, sighing with relief.

--Plan successful!

Uesugi Tetsu's idea was simple.

His dad wanted to harm him for an unknown reason, but he was wary of the doll, which was why he had blurred his memories and was waiting for the right moment.

And since his dad was "keeping" him, he naturally wouldn't allow other demons and monsters to cause trouble.

Thus, wasn't Uesugi Tetsu essentially getting a bodyguard with three-star combat power for free!

"And thank you, too."

He poked the doll's drooping little face and placed it on the bedside table before pulling the covers back over himself.

"Three stars..."

He sighed, glancing at the progress bar for the Laughing Brahma, which was not even halfway complete.

The road ahead was truly long.

Thinking this, Uesugi Tetsu unconsciously fell asleep while maintaining the breathing rhythm of the Ki-ai Technique.

[Through practice in your sleep, your proficiency in the skill, Ki-ai Technique Fragment, has increased by 7!]

The next day.

Uesugi Tetsu, on his way to school, looked surprised.

He hadn't expected the proficiency of the Ki-ai Technique to actually increase while sleeping.

Even if it wasn't as much as normal practice, this was a huge discovery!

And...

Uesugi Tetsu stared at the display "[Incomplete Ki-ai Technique (Novice 87/100)]" before him, determined to max out the remaining proficiency during morning classes and break through before lunch.

With the help of mental tranquility, the teacher's teachings and the noisy chatter of his classmates passed by his ears like a gentle breeze.

By the time Uesugi Tetsu reconnected with this world, he found the classroom empty.

"Did they go to gym class?"

He smiled knowingly, unbothered.

Because after nearly a whole morning of dedicated effort, the Ki-ai Technique had finally broken through.

[Your skill, Ki-ai Technique Fragment, proficiency +13!]

[Your skill, Ki-ai Technique Fragment, has been upgraded to Proficient level!]

[Ki-ai Technique Fragment (Proficient 0/300)]

[Effect: Gathers the body's ki, uniting it in one place with noticeable results.]

[Your Physique +2!]

The instant the breakthrough was complete, Uesugi Tetsu could feel a comfort all over his body, as if he were submerged in warm water.

After this sensation faded, Uesugi Tetsu could feel a body far more robust than before, and his "ki" within him was more than double its previous thickness.

"I'm evolving, getting stronger."

Uesugi Tetsu murmured softly, clearly experiencing the transformation from his former frail weakness to his current powerful body.

This feeling was truly exquisite.

Opening his status panel again, the data had changed to--

[Uesugi Tetsu]

[Physique: 6]

[Will: 8]

[Charm: 9]

[Spirit Arts: 1]

Aside from his Spirit Arts stat, which remained a pitiful "1," both his Physique and Will had seen significant increases.

As for Charm...

Uesugi Tetsu didn't think it was very useful. Could it make demons willingly drop Soul Ash?

Taking a deep breath, Uesugi Tetsu circulated the ki within him, and immediately saw his Physique stat increase by another +1.

"Not bad."

Uesugi Tetsu showed a smile like an old farmer.

A single upgrade to the Ki-ai Technique had brought a full 3-point increase to his Physique in his normal state.

Even accounting for the previous 0.5 point of Physique he had been carrying over, it was still a very substantial gain.

There were still half an hour until the end of class, so Uesugi Tetsu didn't act conspicuously. Instead, he walked onto the sports field and quietly blended into the crowd watching the sports students play basketball.

With his low presence, naturally, no one noticed another person suddenly appear in the throng of onlookers.

The basketball court was bathed in brilliant sunshine.

"Andō-kun and the others are playing so cool!"

Listening to the cheers of the girls beside him, Uesugi Tetsu nodded in agreement, "Yeah, they're playing very cool."

Then, he found a dark, secluded corner and continued to quietly practice the Ki-ai Technique.

Basketball? Cool?

What was that? Could it be eaten for Physique? Or could it tell a demon, "Hey brother, hold up, I want to challenge you to a one-on-one shooting contest" when they attacked?

Uesugi Tetsu didn't think so.

Therefore, Uesugi Tetsu, having blended into the cheering crowd, was still silently cultivating.

"This afternoon, I'll drag Ririko along to skip class and go train."

He thought.