[Yao-Shaku-Sama]
[Quality: Rare]
[Rank: Zero-Star (One and a Half Stars)]
[Rank Cap: Two and a Half Stars]
[Talents: Curse Marking, Reciprocal Healing, Illusory Entity]
[--Yao-Shaku-Sama... No, I should call her Two-Shaku-Two-Sun-Two-Rin Adult now.]
Heh, I never expected Yao-Shaku-Sama's quality to be Rare. She could now stand alongside the Three-tailed Fox in the one-star pool.
Her rank cap had also reached a full two and a half stars. In terms of potential at this stage, she completely surpassed him, the owner of Laughing Brahma.
"By the way, Two-Shaku-Sama, could you hear me talking to you in my mind just now?"
Two-Shaku-Sama shook her head. The two little braided pigtails that had appeared at some point swayed slightly. "Po~ I couldn't make out the details, but I could sense that you generally wanted me to come out of the Ksitigarbha statue, Master."
Only after saying that did she realize what she had called him. She stomped her feet. "I'm Yao-Shaku-Sama! Yao-Shaku! Turning into this form is only a special circumstance!"
"Alright, Two-Shaku-Sama." Uesugi Tetsu thought for a moment. "Don't call me Master from now on. It sounds too tacky."
Two-Shaku-Sama froze slightly. As far as she knew, Shikigami in the Edo period occupied a subordinate position after signing contracts with Onmyoji.
The former had to obey the vast majority of the latter's commands almost unconditionally.
How was that not calling someone Master?
"My real name is Uesugi Tetsu. Call me whatever you like—just don't call me Master."
Uesugi Tetsu waved his hand. If Two-Shaku-Sama kept calling him Master this and Master that, he didn't dare imagine what expressions Ririko and Sister Nanjō would wear when they saw it.
"Then... Tetsu?" Two-Shaku-Sama ventured. If Uesugi Tetsu didn't want her to call him by his name, she would immediately switch to calling him Lord Uesugi.
"Whatever you like."
Uesugi Tetsu replied indifferently. For now, he had better take a look at Two-Shaku-Sama's talents first.
[Talents: Curse Marking, Reciprocal Healing, Illusory Entity]
[Curse Marking: After briefly observing any target, Yao-Shaku-Sama can continuously track that target. Tracking accuracy gradually decreases over time. Maximum number of tracked targets: one.]
Uesugi Tetsu had expected Two-Shaku-Sama to possess this sort of talent.
After all, in the most widely circulated version of the Supernatural Phenomenon, no matter where the protagonist ran, he would feel Yao-Shaku-Sama following closely behind him like a bone-attached parasite.
Being able to track someone regardless of distance after seeing them only once was practically an essential skill for hunting someone down across a thousand li.
He simply didn't know how easy this curse was to detect or dispel. Reality wasn't a game, after all, and a powerful Onmyoji probably wouldn't have much trouble discovering and removing a curse like this.
[Reciprocal Healing: After being embraced by Yao-Shaku-Sama, both parties receive a continuous healing effect. The higher the embraced person's Charm attribute, the stronger the healing effect.]
Uesugi Tetsu glanced at Two-Shaku-Sama, who had been staring fixedly at his face ever since she appeared, and fell silent.
It was a talent that fit her character perfectly. Its power was decent, too. Combined with Spirit Awakening Mist, it should let him recover quickly after leaving combat.
[Illusory Entity: Yao-Shaku-Sama has no vital points. Each attack only reduces Yao-Shaku-Sama's "Health," and cannot damage her physical entity. Yao-Shaku-Sama dies when her Health reaches zero.]
No wonder he hadn't felt any resistance when he had slashed through Two-Shaku-Sama's body just now... So she had such an outrageous talent.
If that was the case, couldn't he have Two-Shaku-Sama do some extremely dangerous things?
For example, when an ordinary demon saw an adorable little girl in a white hat walking toward it, it would never imagine that rows of explosives were strapped to her body, right?
That was only the most basic application. There were plenty of similar tricks for Two-Shaku-Sama and him to develop together.
Uesugi Tetsu nodded and gave Two-Shaku-Sama a thumbs-up. "Not bad. Very nice!"
The latter put her hands on her hips, proudly refusing to be modest.
But there was a problem at present--
Although Two-Shaku-Sama's theoretical rank was one and a half stars, she was actually no different from a Zero-Star wandering spirit right now. She was so fragile that Uesugi Tetsu could finish her off in two or three slashes even without vital points.
"Two-Shaku-Sama, is there any way for you to recover your strength?"
"Just staying by Tetsu's side is enough." Two-Shaku-Sama giggled twice and took several steps closer, nearly pressing against him. "But if you can hug me, I'll recover even faster."
Uesugi Tetsu took half a step back and raised a hand to block Two-Shaku-Sama as she lunged at him. "For now, keep this distance."
He fell into thought.
Although Two-Shaku-Sama's method of recovery was thrifty, practical, and economical, there was Ghost Dad at home. It wasn't as if he could sleep while hugging her.
Uesugi Tetsu also didn't want to expose Two-Shaku-Sama to the outside world. At a crucial moment, she might become his trump card for turning the tables.
But wouldn't that greatly slow Two-Shaku-Sama's recovery?
"Try this."
Uesugi Tetsu took out a portion of Soul Soothing Incense Ash (Minor) and placed it in his hand.
Since Soul Soothing Incense Ash could be used as an enhancement material, he wondered whether it might also have miraculous effects on a Supernatural Phenomenon's recovery.
But before he could speak, Two-Shaku-Sama's little face leaned over. She stared intently at his palm, practically drooling.
"Wh-what... what is this..." Two-Shaku-Sama's chest still rose and fell exaggeratedly as she panted heavily. "Why is it so tempting!"
Uesugi Tetsu held out the Soul Soothing Incense Ash and asked, "If I give this to you, can it shorten the time needed to recover your strength?"
"Popo!" Two-Shaku-Sama nodded repeatedly, stars shining in her eyes.
"Then use these three for now. Ask me for more when you run out."
With that, Uesugi Tetsu took out the three portions of Soul Soothing Incense Ash (Minor) he had drawn not long ago and handed them to Two-Shaku-Sama.
Two-Shaku-Sama opened and closed her mouth, her expression somewhat dazed.
She thought this had to be a fantasy before her dissipation. Otherwise, how could a handsome and generous young man have contracted her, rescued her from this dead land, and then given her such precious treasures without the slightest hesitation?
This illness will be cured after one good night's sleep...
"Why are you still standing there? Go lie down in the Ksitigarbha statue and recover."
Uesugi Tetsu's voice brought Two-Shaku-Sama back to her senses.
She pursed her lips, unsure how to begin. In the end, she could only bow deeply and say in a childish yet utterly sincere voice:
"Thank you for your mercy, Lord Tetsu."
Uesugi Tetsu smiled at her and placed the Ksitigarbha statue in his storage backpack. If Two-Shaku-Sama wanted to come out, she could activate the connection in her heart and let him know.
Next, Uesugi Tetsu took out the Universal Incarnation Prototype he had received for subduing his first Shikigami.
[Universal Incarnation Prototype]
[Quality: None]
[Effect: None]
[--There is nothing it cannot become, only things you cannot imagine. But first, you need a good blacksmith.]
In other words, as long as he had a skilled crafter, he could have it forged into an incarnation vessel capable of subduing any demon or Supernatural Phenomenon.
Uesugi Tetsu thought of the little fellow at the blacksmith shop. He wondered whether the boy had learned any real skills from the blacksmith.
He would ask him when the time came.
After putting away the Universal Incarnation Prototype, Uesugi Tetsu clapped his hands.
With that, the mission for this life had been completed perfectly. It was just a pity that he hadn't spent the life yet.
Uesugi Tetsu decided to explore Edo Castle and deliberately get himself killed. As for killing White Brahma, he would wait until Two-Shaku-Sama had recovered some combat strength.
At the very least, she had to recover enough to release Curse Marking on White Brahma in an instant.
Thus, Uesugi Tetsu had no intention of investigating White Brahma's location yet.
If the other party possessed enough intelligence to think, it would definitely hide and recover from its injuries after being alerted.
By then, the mission would become much more difficult.
Uesugi Tetsu had only one principle when doing things: steady!
When he had a winnable situation, he absolutely wouldn't fool around or throw the game. Instead, he would advance cautiously and steadily, taking absolute victory into his hands.
Ten minutes later.
Not long after leaving the house, Uesugi Tetsu was chopped up like vegetables by the passing three-and-a-half-star Oni Warrior "White Bones," and returned to the living world as he had wished.
This time, it was refreshingly quick. One slash to the neck, and he hadn't felt any pain at all.
White Bones's swordsmanship was no joke!
Buzz, buzz.
Uesugi Tetsu's phone began to vibrate.
When he opened it, he saw that the message had actually been sent by Ririko.
Before you continue