Kitano Runa was an atheist.
Because ever since she could remember, she had often seen or heard strange sounds "that did not belong to this world" in places with few people, gloomy places, and strange places.
But no matter what she saw or heard, the final result was always a false alarm, as though her childish self had merely been scaring herself.
After coming to Tokyo alone for school, Kitano Runa often explored various popular supernatural phenomenon sites and horror rankings. She had even slept soundly in the legendary mass grave where thousands were buried.
However, Kitano Runa had always been alone.
She acted on the thought that "even if there really are ghosts, only I will die, and my friends and family won't be dragged into it," yet in the end, nothing ever happened.
Thus, Kitano Runa did not believe it. She did not believe that ghosts and gods existed in this world.
When the "popular supernatural phenomenon trend" inexplicably swept across Twitter some time ago, she recorded all the summoning methods she saw as usual, then tried them one by one alone at home.
"If it's real, then come out and let me see you!"
After completing fourteen summoning rituals in one night, Kitano Runa said this.
That night, she heard countless eerie sounds and saw many abnormal shadows, yet she still discovered nothing at all, leaving her disappointed.
Just as before, it was as though someone were making a fool of her, the clown.
"It's nothing more than another round of false advertising, using supernatural phenomena as a gimmick to attract traffic." That was what she thought after completing the final White Brahma summoning ritual.
Then, one day at noon, she saw her best friend Shizuma Manatsu take out her phone and pull up a selfie with White Brahma.
It's probably photoshopped. Kitano Runa thought.
But right afterward, she saw Ririko and that Uesugi-kun turn serious in unison. Then, that afternoon, they brought in someone who looked like a police officer.
Her years of watching anime had taught her that if someone acted on their own and broke away from the group at a time like this, they would definitely be the first to die.
In the car, Manatsu, who was wearing a uniform, told them many things—the gist was that ghosts and gods truly existed in this world, and they were extremely dangerous.
Although Kitano Runa was an atheist, she was not stupid.
So she chose to believe it just in case—
After hanging up the phone, unsure whether it would be of any use, cold sweat trickled down the temple of the girl pressed tightly against the corner of the wall.
But her years of "seeing things" and testing her courage meant that Kitano Runa could remain calm even in such an extreme situation.
She gripped the Stealth Talisman, which had burned more than halfway, and thought that in another thirty seconds or so, she would once again have to face that damned White Brahma.
"No matter what, I have to get Mom out of here first."
Kitano Runa shakily withdrew her gaze from the middle-aged woman who had collapsed on the ground. Gritting her teeth, she pulled the last string of glowing Prayer Beads from her sleeve.
—These Exorcism Tools were all taken from Shizuma Mafuyu's drawer before she came.
—Her mother had come to Tokyo from the countryside to visit her, only to encounter the White Brahma occupying this place. The cause of the whole incident was that simple.
Kitano Runa could not find anyone at the Special Affairs Division who could help, and she did not want to burden Shizuma Manatsu, so she had no choice but to come alone with a few assorted tools.
She held her breath tightly and stared at the pale, vicious ghost mask that had come searching, yet still made not the slightest sound.
Don't panic, Kitano Runa.
She told herself this inwardly.
She groped her way toward her mother. But just as she was about to carry her mother onto her back, Kitano Runa hesitated for a moment.
The eighteen-year-old girl stared at the Prayer Beads in her hand while counting down the time remaining on the Stealth Talisman. She understood that this was her last chance to escape alone.
—If she abandoned her mother, she could definitely survive. But if she wanted to save her mother, both of them might die here.
How should she deci—
"Does a simple question like this really need any thought? This is my damn mother!"
Kitano Runa tore the Prayer Beads from her wrist and threw them with all her strength toward the empty balcony.
The wandering White Brahma was instantly drawn to the glowing Prayer Beads and pounced toward them!
Taking advantage of the opportunity, she hoisted her mother onto her back and ran laboriously toward the open door.
Feeling her lungs begin burning almost instantly, the super-homebody Kitano Runa roared inwardly:
—If I survive this, I'm absolutely going to start exercising!
"Hiss—!"
A faint sizzling sound and White Brahma's furious roar came from the balcony.
Kitano Runa had only just stepped out of the house when she heard the sounds behind her nearly vanish.
Oh no.
The girl's heart went cold. She had not even reached the stairwell yet, and that monster could probably pounce across those dozen or so meters in an instant.
After quickly placing her mother behind the door, Kitano Runa ran in the opposite direction. She raised both hands and shouted at White Brahma, "Weren't you going to eat me? Come on!"
After saying that, she turned and ran downstairs. Under the effects of adrenaline, she crossed ten steps in two strides and moved at the fastest speed of her life.
At that moment, Kitano Runa felt like a lone hero in an anime, facing away from everyone else and looking unbelievably cool!
Then White Brahma, who was countless times faster than her, slammed her against the wall.
"Ugh—"
Kitano Runa felt her entire body go numb from the impact, as though she were about to fall apart.
Looking at White Brahma looming over her, Kitano Runa stared blankly at the sky and thought that, as expected, a sports failure like herself could not stay cool for more than three seconds.
I'm going to die.
Kitano Runa thought.
She was just about to close her eyes and quietly await death when she suddenly saw a streak of icy light in midair.
Wait, what's that?
Kitano Runa stared in shock, not even noticing that White Brahma had pierced her shoulder with its grip.
—Is a sword flying through the sky?
The next instant, that icy light and a hoarse, low roar arrived before her at the same time, illuminating Kitano Runa's vacant pupils.
"—Fang Thrust!"
The trembling sword point pierced through White Brahma's illusory chest, forcibly stopping the ghost's movement. Kitano Runa turned her head blankly and saw the expressionless face of Uesugi Tetsu.
The girl saw him lower his head slightly and sigh in relief. "Fortunately, I wasn't too late."
Only after his words fell did the fierce wind behind Uesugi Tetsu howl over, lifting Kitano Runa's hair.
The girl was bewildered. This is the fourth floor. How did he get up here?
"Our guest has arrived. Aren't you going to welcome me?"
Uesugi Tetsu used a Diagonal Slash before pulling Kaga Kiyomitsu from White Brahma's body. Only then did he see a prompt appear above White Brahma's head.
[Injured White Brahma Projection (One Star)]
So this was not White Brahma's true body. No wonder he felt that even without transforming, it was not strong enough to be impossible to fight.
Uesugi Tetsu had just ended his Laughing Brahma Incarnation state.
Because Kitano Runa was present, Uesugi Tetsu had tried not to reveal himself. Thus, the Fang Thrust that had ambushed it earlier, delivered while incarnated as Laughing Brahma, had been the final strike of that transformation.
However, judging from its condition, that sword strike had not been very effective. At most, it had only inflicted a light injury.
Bzzz, bzzz, bzzz.
Amid the eerie sounds, White Brahma slowly turned around, allowing Uesugi Tetsu to see that sinister, terrifying mask.
"Weren't you looking to eat fresh, delicious souls?" Uesugi Tetsu beckoned to it provocatively. "Come on."
The foolish White Brahma that the blacksmith had mentioned was indeed easy to anger. It let out a shrill cry, raised its pale hands, and lunged at Uesugi Tetsu.
So fast!
Uesugi Tetsu's pupils contracted. He hurriedly retreated into the open corridor, but even so, a fine cut had already been carved into his forearm.
The wound felt numb and itchy. Uesugi Tetsu glanced at his arm from the corner of his eye and discovered that the blood flowing from it was actually white.
Poison?
It seemed that facing a one-star monster without transforming into Laughing Brahma was indeed somewhat difficult.
"Troublesome."
He temporarily used Internal Energy to seal off that small patch of flesh and slow the poison's spread, then shouted to Kitano Runa, "Can you move? Leave first on your own!"
Kitano Runa coughed up a mouthful of blood. "I... I can't stand up."
Uesugi Tetsu clicked his tongue and knocked aside White Brahma's sharp claws. He thought that otaku who were obsessed with anime really were all fragile. His original body was like that, and so was Kitano Runa.
If this continued, the situation would probably develop in a direction unfavorable to him.
Without hesitating any longer, Uesugi Tetsu poured a drop of Spirit Awakening Mist into his mouth. Then he took a deep breath and activated the Ki-ai Technique with all his strength.
A faint white Qi Aura clung to Uesugi Tetsu's body. As though he had foreseen the attack, he tilted his head and dodged White Brahma's swipe by a hair's breadth. Immediately afterward, he shouted and brought his sword down.
Bamboo Strike!
"Roar—!"
White Brahma let out a miserable scream.
But the next moment, the half-shattered face suddenly transformed into an expression of sorrowful weeping.
"Wah... wah..."
The shrill cries echoed through the area. Uesugi Tetsu felt the world spin before his eyes, nausea sweeping through his entire body and nearly making him lose his grip on the sword.
Slash!
Several more searing pains spread across his arm.
However, the weeping only lasted for a moment. When Uesugi Tetsu recovered, he discovered that Kitano Runa, who had been lying in the corridor, had actually fainted because of it.
The situation would be reversed in an instant because of this insignificant factor.
Uesugi Tetsu withdrew his gaze and slowly curled his lips into a grin at the ferocious-looking White Brahma.
"Congratulations. You successfully unlocked the boss's Phase Two."
Before you continue