Two-Shaku-Two-Sun-Two-Rin Adult

Yao-Shaku-Sama stood frozen in place as if struck by lightning.

She stared at the suddenly appearing terrifying Brahma face before her, and her thoughts instantly became a jumbled mess.

Uesugi Tetsu gave her no time to react. He guessed Yao-Shaku-Sama was at least one-star, so even if he wanted to subdue her, he would first beat her into submission.

He unleashed the Ki-ai Technique with all his might, and amid his explosive shout, Kaga Kiyomitsu's blade left afterimages.

This slash moves with the speed of someone whose Physique exceeds thirty-five points. Can you take it?

Yao-Shaku-Sama's answer was—

No reaction whatsoever!

That was right. She neither resisted nor dodged. Instead, she was forcibly pinned in place by Fearful Smile and the roar, then took the slash head-on!

The blade passed through Yao-Shaku-Sama's abdomen with almost no resistance, making her entire body grow several shades fainter. Perhaps just a few more strikes would be enough to exorcise the Supernatural Phenomenon known as Yao-Shaku-Sama.

"Popopo—!"

Yao-Shaku-Sama cried out in pain, but Uesugi Tetsu abruptly halted his next strike and stared at the motionless Yao-Shaku-Sama in confusion.

Wait, what's going on?

Uesugi Tetsu was baffled. This was the first Supernatural Phenomenon he had ever seen that simply took a slash without fighting back.

Could it be because of my nine points of Charm? Or is the famous Yao-Shaku-Sama a masochist?

Only when Uesugi Tetsu shifted his gaze to the top of Yao-Shaku-Sama's head did he suddenly understand.

It turned out that of the one and a half stars above this Yao-Shaku-Sama's head, the entire half-star was empty. She was now practically a zero-star wandering spirit. The fact that she had survived his slash was already proof of her formidable vitality.

Looking more carefully, Uesugi Tetsu could even see the label: [Yao-Shaku-Sama (Zero-Star), on the verge of dissipating].

Now, everything was clear.

Yao-Shaku-Sama had not dared approach earlier because she wanted to be courteous before resorting to force. She knew her strength was feeble and had been waiting for an opportunity.

Likewise, when he had transformed into Laughing Brahma and come here earlier, it was not because Yao-Shaku-Sama thought his Charm was too low. She simply had not dared appear at all!

With that thought, Uesugi Tetsu rose and held the blade to Yao-Shaku-Sama's neck. "I ask, you answer. If you can't answer before I count to ten, the blade goes down."

"—Why are you so weak?"

Yao-Shaku-Sama stared at the terrifying Brahma Mask before her and regretted her carelessness. She forced out a sobbing tone: "Popopo..."

"Eight!" The blade moved another fraction closer to her neck, and Kaga Kiyomitsu vibrated cheerfully.

Uesugi Tetsu shouted, "Crying? Crying counts as time too!"

Yao-Shaku-Sama immediately stopped crying and sniffled tearfully. "Be... because not long after the Factory appeared, no one in Arakawa Village remembered me anymore. No one had come here in a long time either. When a Supernatural Phenomenon is forgotten, it can only dissipate."

The Factory—the same blood-and-sweat factory that exploited its workers, practically the source of all evil in Arakawa Ghost Village.

Uesugi Tetsu narrowed his eyes and withdrew the blade by two inches. "I'll give you another ten seconds. Continue with the Factory."

Yao-Shaku-Sama's body trembled slightly. "After that Factory appeared, the farmland was contaminated. The residents either died, fled, or went mad, and the original village was abandoned just like that."

"Do you know anything about that Factory?"

"I do..."

"What kind of people are inside?"

"Farmers, inspectors who supervise the farmers, and the Factory Master."

"Explain in detail."

"The farmers were forcibly dragged in to work. The four inspectors were stronger and more ruthless than I used to be, and the terrifying Factory Master only returned to inspect the Factory once every few months."

"How many Factories like this are there?"

"I heard there are several hundred more..."

Over a hundred zero-star workers, four inspectors who were at least one and a half stars, and a mysterious Factory Master. There might even be a Capitalist Alliance from the Everworld standing behind them.

Yao-Shaku-Sama's words made Uesugi Tetsu put aside his intention of attacking the Factory for the time being once again.

These were troubled times. It was better not to invite trouble on purpose.

Still, judging by this, Yao-Shaku-Sama really had it rough. As a Supernatural Phenomenon well known throughout the modern world, she had actually fallen so far that she was about to dissipate in the Everworld simply because she had been forgotten.

Uesugi Tetsu pondered for a while, then heard Yao-Shaku-Sama beside him say in a tearful voice, "Ask me quickly. I'll tell you anything."

Uesugi Tetsu found it somewhat amusing, so he dispelled his transformation, revealed his face with nine points of Charm, and asked again, "Then let me ask you this: Are you willing to accomplish great things with me in the future?"

Seeing the fierce Brahma before her suddenly turn back into that handsome swordsman, Yao-Shaku-Sama was momentarily entranced.

Uesugi Tetsu raised an eyebrow. He had not expected this Yao-Shaku-Sama, who had stayed in Arakawa Village during the Meiji era, to look almost identical to the more widely circulated modern manga depiction.

—White hat, black hair, and delicate features.

—More importantly, she was a sucker for Charm.

Yao-Shaku-Sama stopped crying. Thinking that such a good thing actually existed, she nodded like a pecking chick. "I'm willing! I'm willing!"

Even if she were left alone, she would dissipate before long anyway.

Besides, Yao-Shaku-Sama admitted that she could not possibly defeat this swordsman who could transform into a Brahma. In that case, she might as well submit quickly and lie down to enjoy herself.

As for why this was described as a swordsman transforming into a Brahma rather than a Brahma disguising itself as a swordsman... the answer was that one's worldview followed one's looks.

"But I've already become the bound spirit of Arakawa Village." Yao-Shaku-Sama pointed at the shattered Ksitigarbha statue lying in the shrine. "Without a [Possession Object], I can't leave the boundaries of Arakawa Village."

"That's easy."

Uesugi Tetsu took a mini Ksitigarbha statue from his storage backpack and placed it before Yao-Shaku-Sama. He lightly swayed the gleaming tip of Kaga Kiyomitsu. "Will you go in yourself, or shall I help you in?"

"No need for you to help. I can move on my own."

Yao-Shaku-Sama had not even had time to be shocked before she saw the swaying blade. She hurriedly squeezed out a stiff smile at him, transformed into a cloud of mist, and burrowed into the Ksitigarbha statue.

The next moment, a notification appeared before Uesugi Tetsu.

[The one-and-a-half-star Supernatural Phenomenon "Yao-Shaku-Sama" is attempting to voluntarily become your Shikigami. Do you agree?]

[You chose to agree.]

[You subdued the one-and-a-half-star Supernatural Phenomenon "Yao-Shaku-Sama"!]

[You have subdued your first Shikigami. Reward: "Universal Incarnation Prototype" ×1!]

[Side Quest One—The Ksitigarbha Statue's Damage has been completed!]

[You may claim the reward for this Side Quest immediately! You may also wait until multiple quests are completed and claim the accumulated rewards!]

[You chose to accumulate the quest rewards.]

About one or two minutes later, the shaking Ksitigarbha statue finally stabilized completely, indicating that Yao-Shaku-Sama had successfully made it her "Possession Object."

Generally speaking, when an Onmyoji subdued a Supernatural Phenomenon or demon to become a Shikigami, they had to use Onmyōjutsu to sign a contract with it, then use a Possession Object compatible with it to subdue the Shikigami.

During this process, not only was Onmyōjutsu difficult to learn, but Possession Objects capable of containing the target Supernatural Phenomenon or demon were also extremely hard to find.

This led many Onmyoji to use parts of their own bodies as Possession Objects for their Shikigami, containing them by constantly damaging their bodies and consuming their lifespans.

After sensing a subtle yet incredibly tenacious connection appear within his heart, Uesugi Tetsu tried to activate it and spoke inwardly:

"Come out, Yao-Shaku-Sama!"

The mini Ksitigarbha statue glowed faintly, and Yao-Shaku-Sama, now Uesugi Tetsu's Shikigami, crawled out once more.

Uesugi Tetsu stared blankly at the white-hatted, black-haired little girl standing before him, who did not even reach his thigh.

Is this... the Yao-Shaku-Sama from before?

Uesugi Tetsu gestured at her height and found that it was almost exactly one-fourth of her original height.

"This is clearly Two-Shaku-Two-Sun-Two-Rin Adult!"

At that moment, Yao-Shaku—no, she should be called Two-Shaku-Sama now.

Two-Shaku-Sama also noticed the change in herself and let out a soft, shocked cry: "Popopo?!"

A translucent prompt appeared beside Two-Shaku-Sama.

[Click to view the Shikigami panel]

Uesugi Tetsu clicked it with his mind.