Tokoyo Walker

What the hell was this suddenly appearing [Enter Tokoyo] option?

Uesugi Tetsu studied the option with interest.

[The appearance of a Tokoyo rift has been detected. You may now choose to enter Tokoyo and explore.]

Other than that, there was no additional explanation.

He nodded thoughtfully.

Yeah, I don't understand it.

Then Uesugi Tetsu clicked the [Enter Tokoyo] option, which was glowing brightly.

There was no point overthinking it. Game mechanics that made no sense became clear the moment you actually played the game.

In an instant, Uesugi Tetsu's vision went black, and he collapsed onto the bed.

Cold, without shaking.

The smell of rotten straw filled his nostrils. Uesugi Tetsu took a deep breath of the murky, icy air, covered his head, and unsteadily sat up.

Without hesitation, he directly chose to incarnate as Laughing Brahma, and the chaos in his senses immediately faded by more than half.

When Uesugi Tetsu opened his eyes, he saw a gloomy thatched hut and a large amount of translucent text before him.

[Your long deep dive has ended. You have arrived in Tokoyo...]

[This land, once connected to the Present World, was forgotten by everyone after the passing of countless years and sank into the depths of the abyss. Thus, no one even knew of the fall of the Lord of Tokoyo.]

[Tokoyo has lost its supreme ruler. Different eras that once existed separately have fallen into the same sack. Filth has bred across the decaying land, and evil spirits run rampant...]

[This is paradise for monsters and demons, and hell for the living.]

[You who are a living soul and can only incarnate as the weak Laughing Brahma—the future Lord of Tokoyo.]

[Welcome to Tokoyo.]

Tokoyo?

In his memories, it seemed to be the world from mythology that stood opposite the [Present World] inhabited by humans...

The world where ghosts, monsters, demons, and supernatural phenomena dwelled.

Uesugi Tetsu's eyes lit up.

Then wouldn't the streets of Tokoyo be packed with all kinds of demons and spirits, with mobile, walking Soul Ash everywhere?

These are all precious gacha resources!

He stood up impatiently, but accidentally bumped his head against something overhead.

Whoosh—

A faint light illuminated the dilapidated thatched hut. Uesugi Tetsu looked up and saw that it came from an old, ruined shrine covered in spiderwebs.

[You have lit the shrine in Edo Castle.]

[Shrine: Basic anchoring point. After being lit, it can be used for teleportation or revival.]

Uesugi Tetsu more or less understood. This was the equivalent of a fountain in an online game, though this online game probably had only one player.

At that thought, Uesugi Tetsu immediately prepared to leave and explore thoroughly, while cutting down every minor monster he encountered along the way to stockpile resources.

Soul Ash, here I come!

[Current area unlocked: Edo Castle (Four Stars)]

[Main Quest One: Explore at least 80% of Edo Castle. Current exploration: 0%]

[Main Quest Two: Purify the Oni Warriors—Thousand Man Slayer Fang Xiang (Four Stars), Thousand Enemy White Bone, Wax Statue (Three and a Half Stars).]

[Side Quest One: A Gaze from Beneath the Earth—Ever since you entered Edo Castle, you seem to have sensed an intermittent gaze.]

Uesugi Tetsu froze as he was about to push open the thatched hut's door. He narrowed his eyes and examined the two characters after "Edo Castle." After confirming that he had not misread them, he stood there in bafflement and fell silent.

Are you kidding me?

I'm a half-star juvenile Laughing Brahma, and you're sending me into a four-star map to explore?

Wouldn't some random monster passing by on the roadside be able to kick me to death?

And this Main Quest... you're asking a half-star nobody like me to purify a four-star Thousand Enemy Oni Warrior?

If that's the case, haha, I'm invincible.

But then again.

Uesugi Tetsu fell into deep thought.

Risk often meant opportunity as well.

A high-star map definitely contained more than just minor monsters capable of kicking him to death. It surely also held high-star items and equipment far beyond what he could obtain at his current stage, whether in reality or from the gacha pool.

Furthermore, judging from the shrine's information, he did not have only one life. He could continuously revive in Tokoyo.

Thinking of it that way, it was not so difficult to accept.

And the prompts had not ended yet.

[Weak future Lord of Tokoyo, please choose one of the following three identities to serve as the foundation for establishing yourself in this troubled Tokoyo.]

Uesugi Tetsu glanced over all three identity options, and immediately made his decision.

[Hojo Remnant: Our clan has fallen. The Kamakura era was reduced to ashes in a great fire. Now, you are the Hōjō Clan's only hope. Effect: Charisma +10, increased reputation. Unlocks the unique special event "Revive the Hōjō Clan."]

[Tokoyo Walker: Since ancient times, walkers have measured the history and land of Tokoyo with their own feet. So do you. Effect: Increases the probability of triggering hidden events.]

[Sengoku Ronin: Ronin have become lost across the land of Tokoyo. Effect: Physique +5, immediately obtain "Ronin Katana," immediately obtain 500 Soul Ash, slight increase to swordsmanship training speed.]

The Sengoku Ronin option needed no further consideration. He eliminated it immediately.

Although the Ronin Katana gleamed with a deep blue light and was probably a fine weapon of rare quality, it would also immediately grant him 500 Soul Ash, filling the current shortage.

But this was clearly an early-game hero, and he was not facing any urgent threat to his life right now. Its only late-game talent that increased training speed was also limited to "swordsmanship."

Its development potential was simply too narrow. Pass.

As for the two identities remaining, Uesugi Tetsu thought for a moment before eliminating the Hojo Remnant, which increased charisma and reputation.

Because if he had guessed correctly, the clan mentioned in "Hojo Remnant" should be the Hōjō Clan from the late Kamakura period.

There would be no problem with reviving the Hōjō Clan. He might even obtain plenty of unexpected benefits from this identity.

The problem was that the different eras in Tokoyo all existed on the same land.

Uesugi Tetsu did not want to face the colossus that had destroyed the Hōjō Clan the moment he entered Tokoyo. His half-star Laughing Brahma was probably weaker than their watchdog.

That left only the choice of Tokoyo Walker.

Increasing the probability of triggering hidden events sounded good, but exactly how high that "probability" was would require careful investigation.

And Uesugi Tetsu felt that his luck had never been very good. Otherwise, he would not have transmigrated into a freezing metal cabinet.

[You have chosen the identity "Tokoyo Walker."]

His hand suddenly grew heavy. Uesugi Tetsu saw a bronze token covered in rust and dust appear in his palm. It bore some blurred characters, which should have read "Tokoyo Walker."

Uesugi Tetsu picked up several stalks of straw, tied them into a simple knot, and hung the token from his waist.

He stood there and waited several more seconds. After confirming that no new prompt appeared, he took another deep breath, put on the Laughing Brahma mask inlaid with the eyeballs of Hundred-Eyed Demon, and gripped the old woodcutter's knife, ready to stab someone in the back at any moment.

In this state, Uesugi Tetsu was even confident he could contend with a one-star evil spirit.

Then he gently placed his palm against the thatched hut's door.

He slowly pushed it open.