**Tennen Rishin-ryū (Beginner 230/500)** **Effect: Solid fundamentals, concise and practical, flexible and versatile** **Because you learned Tennen Rishin-ryū, your Physique +2!** **Because you learned Tennen Rishin-ryū, you learned a new sword technique!** *Uesugi Tetsu* **Physique: 8** **Willpower: 8** **Charisma: 9** **Spiritual Arts: 1**
When Uesugi Tetsu opened his eyes again, the first things that entered his view were the various stats and Ririko's little face.
Unfortunately, what blocked his view was not the Great Thunder, which would have allowed him to see only half the dojo's ceiling.
"This is pretty good too. It won't interfere with practicing the sword."
Ririko: ?
With a sigh, Uesugi Tetsu left Ririko's lap without the slightest reluctance.
In his eyes, Ririko was a good brother, and a good brother's lap was not something worth missing.
Although Ririko's thighs were indeed more comfortable than a pillow—muscles that underwent high-intensity training for long periods only became hard as stone when exerted, while they were as soft as cotton when relaxed.
"Uesugi-kun, how do you feel?"
"Great. Better than ever."
His answer left her stunned for a moment. The "Do you want to come to my house for a medicinal bath?" that had been about to leave her mouth was naturally swallowed back down.
Ririko had actually thought things through very carefully.
For an ordinary person, a body that had broken through its limits after high-pressure training would certainly be rather weak. A medicinal bath at such a time could provide excellent recovery.
But was Uesugi Tetsu an ordinary person?
What ordinary person could wake up from a nap and go from having merely above-average physical fitness to possessing a body comparable to that of a national-level athlete?
The increase of two points in Physique not only swept away all of Uesugi Tetsu's previous fatigue and injuries, but also let him feel explosive power constantly surging through his body.
Now, whether it was running one hundred meters in 10.5 seconds, running ten thousand meters in twenty-nine minutes and forty-five seconds, or bench-pressing two hundred kilograms, Uesugi Tetsu believed he could complete it all with ease.
That was the comprehensive improvement brought about by increased Physique, an improvement that practically ignored the laws of science.
Besides that, several new sword techniques from Tennen Rishin-ryū had also flowed into Uesugi Tetsu's mind.
But that was a matter for later. It was impossible for him to display them in front of Ririko.
After tentatively moving his body around, Uesugi Tetsu looked at the still-empty dojo and asked, "How long has it been since I passed out?"
"A little over two hours. School should be letting out soon." Ririko stood up and smiled. "What, do you still want to practice?"
Uesugi Tetsu stared at the pale-faced girl. Thinking that she had probably remained kneeling motionless on the floor all this time, he said, "No. I should try relaxing once in a while too."
"Heh-heh..." Ririko let out an ambiguous hum before speaking. "Your phone rang during that time. Since the other person called several times in a row, I answered it for you without permission."
"Was it Sister Nanjō?"
"No. The caller said he was that cop's lackey and told us to wait at the school gate after classes."
Uesugi Tetsu: "Perfect. I'll take a shower and change clothes. How about I treat you to barbecue tonight, Teacher Ririko?"
"I don't mind."
Ririko's face remained expressionless—if one ignored the hands tightly clasped over her abdomen to keep it from making any sounds.
Although he was only taking a shower, Uesugi Tetsu did not forget to enter Everworld and collect the weapon the blacksmith had finished forging.
However, when Uesugi Tetsu arrived at the smithy, he found that not a single weapon remained in the formerly well-stocked shop.
The place was deserted.
Uesugi Tetsu frowned and quickly walked inside. After looking around, he discovered that the blacksmith, who had previously been sitting and dozing behind the counter, had vanished.
In his place was the little bean sprout who had previously stood beside him without showing his face.
Fortunately, someone was still there.
After thinking for a moment, Uesugi Tetsu asked as gently as possible, "Where's the old blacksmith?"
"Master has already left."
The little bean sprout, whose entire body was hidden beneath a cloak, spoke. With some difficulty, he took a weapon from beneath the counter and placed it on the table. "This is the weapon Master forged for you, Mr. Brahma. He said you would definitely like it."
"Please take it."
Lying on the old wooden table was unmistakably a katana housed in a vermilion scabbard.
The misunderstanding was resolved.
"Thank you."
He first gave his thanks solemnly, then picked up the katana with both hands.
The first thing he touched was the scabbard.
*Regenerating Sheath* **Quality: Excellent** **Effect: Slowly repairs the durability of the sheathed sword.** **—A matching sheath made by the Nameless Blacksmith for Kaga Kiyomitsu Replica**
Good stuff.
Durability was incredibly important for a cold weapon.
For example, his woodcutter's hatchet had already suffered considerable wear from clashing with farmers' bones and crowbars. Its edge had dulled and chipped, and its killing power was no longer what it had been at the start.
If he continued using it for much longer, the blade might even break outright.
With this scabbard, however, none of those problems would exist.
This blacksmith is such an honest man!
Uesugi Tetsu was delighted. If the scabbard was already this satisfying, what kind of surprise would the main weapon bring him?
After slowly drawing the blade, Uesugi Tetsu began carefully examining the entire katana.
The blade was seventy-two centimeters long. Its body was as clean and crisp as a windless lake, without any complicated lines or patterns. The edge was thin, yet its chill was as biting as winter. The entire sword was far heavier than a hatchet, but it felt extremely comfortable in Uesugi Tetsu's grip.
He then looked at the weapon panel that appeared.
*Kaga Kiyomitsu Replica* **Quality: Superior** **Effect One: Thrust Enhancement. Thrust-based sword techniques deal a large amount of additional damage.** **Effect Two: Soul Cleaver. When Kaga Kiyomitsu Replica is used to kill demons, monsters, specters, and evil spirits, its quality gradually increases.** **—A katana forged by the Nameless Blacksmith based on his memories of Kaga Kiyomitsu. This time, however, he poured his heart into it.**
Uesugi Tetsu fell silent.
He wondered what he had done to make the blacksmith forge such an absurdly powerful weapon for him.
Could it really have been because he had helped eliminate the noise from the workshop? That seemed unlikely. The blacksmith had already left Arakawa Ghost Village, so whether he had a workshop or not was no longer important to him.
Then it could only be...
Uesugi Tetsu looked at the little fellow behind the counter. "Bean Sprout, did your master ask me to look after you?"
The gray cloak trembled slightly. A timid voice came from within it. "Master said that depends on you, Mr. Brahma. He only forged an ordinary weapon for you. Aside from that, there is no connection between us."
"How could there be no connection..."
Uesugi Tetsu sighed and returned the blade to its scabbard. "From now on, come to me if you need anything."
The cloak trembled twice more, as if the little fellow inside were nodding.
Then Uesugi Tetsu saw him take out a...
Miniature Ksitigarbha statue?
"Master also said that if you took the initiative to offer me protection, Mr. Brahma, I was to give this statue to you."
"What if I didn't take the initiative?"
"Then I was to use this statue as the price and ask you to protect me."
Uesugi Tetsu paused, then leaned toward the counter with Laughing Brahma's false mask on his face. "What if I planned to take it by force?"
The cloak trembled even more violently, but the little fellow said, "Master said you wouldn't steal it. He said you aren't cut from the same cloth as those demons and evil spirits."
"Tsk."
Uesugi Tetsu cursed inwardly.
That old bastard had taken care of both the good words and the bad words. How could someone who looked so honest have so many tricks up his sleeve?
"Give me the statue."
The little fellow obediently did as he was told.
The moment Uesugi Tetsu took the miniature Ksitigarbha statue, his eyes narrowed.
**You have obtained the key item for Side Quest One—the complete Ksitigarbha statue!**
Before you continue