A Special Quality Never Seen Before-Kaga Kiyomitsu's Spiritual Awakening! The Seed Battle's Super Grand Prize?

Inside the Special Affairs Division.

After "recruiting" Akatsuki Ran to work, Nanjō Emi had barely enjoyed two days of relaxation before she rubbed her temples in frustration and downed the remaining two-liter bottle of water on her desk.

"Phew—"

Nanjō Emi casually tossed the empty bottle back into the trash can in the corner.

She hadn't even enjoyed her good days for long, yet that Uesugi Tetsu had run into some troublesome Suffering Retainers again.

At least it wasn't the Eight Sufferings Incarnation, the Suffering Incarnation itself, or something he had encountered in the mortal world...

Under normal circumstances, Suffering Retainers absolutely should not appear in the mortal world.

After all, the Water Clock Doctor had been keeping a close eye on the Suffering Incarnation around the clock for decades.

But outside the mortal world, Suffering Retainers were still extremely common.

Whether across the vast lands of Everworld or within the "fissures"—at least, that was what the operatives who had visited Everworld said.

Suffering Retainers were practically like locusts or crickets in grass and rice fields. As long as one walked a few more steps, one was bound to encounter them.

—Uesugi Tetsu had encountered Suffering Retainers, and therefore wanted to learn how to deal with the Suffering Incarnation.

That was perfectly normal.

Nanjō Emi thought.

After all, he had personally experienced the Red Tide not long ago and narrowly escaped encountering Ai Bielie, one of the Eight Sufferings.

"There's one more thing."

Nanjō Emi took a canned soda from the army of colas in the mini-fridge beside her desk and said with a hiss of carbonation,

"Materials that can raise your Imperial Spirit Technique by another level are available, and we have quite a bit in storage. But it wouldn't be quite right to say this stuff isn't precious.