Cursed Energy Armor

The so-called Points were a special ability Lin Ran had acquired when he reincarnated into this world three months ago.

These Points corresponded to cursed spirit grades. The stronger and higher-grade the cursed spirit, the more Points it was worth, and Points could be used to claim designated items.

The item-claiming system was somewhat like a game Lin Ran had played in his previous life. There was a line of items: at first, they required few Points but gave fairly good rewards. Once enough Points had accumulated, the next item would unlock.

In short, Points had to keep accumulating. The reward system was as follows.

10 Points＞Cursed Energy Overload. 50 Points＞Basic Blue-Black Flash. 100 Points＞Cursed Technique—Cursed Energy Armor. 150 Points＞Cursed Art—Cursed Energy Output. 250 Points＞Cursed Tool Black Steel. 350 Points＞Time Flash. 450 Points＞Power Doubling. 600 Points＞Domain Expansion—Sun and Moon. 800 Points＞Unlock Space-Time Mirror.

Lin Ran had already obtained the first two rewards, Cursed Energy Overload and Basic Blue-Black Flash. He currently had exactly 60 Points, and those first two rewards had been quite a pleasant surprise—essentially beginner benefits in a game.

Naturally, the later items were even more tempting, but they were not so easy to obtain.

These reward tiers were only the Standard Version. There was also a Deluxe Version, which required 500 Points to upgrade to. Its quality was at least twice as high, but the Point requirements were also staggering.

However, Lin Ran had just dealt with a Grade 1 cursed spirit. Judging by the reward Points, it should be worth at least 60 to 80 Points, which was why he had been so excited from the start. These were Points delivered right to his door.

Still, this reward system was a bit like a nesting doll. It was the same principle as how Lin Ran could not resist spending money in games in his previous life: those items were displayed right in front of you to stir up the urge to pay for them. That was just how games worked.

Only now, the method had changed. Lin Ran needed to earn Points by killing cursed spirits or evil people, thereby receiving the corresponding rewards.

Lin Ran did not object to that. If he wanted to grow stronger, he had to pay a price. At least what he was paying was something tangible, not some vague and intangible notion. After all, having a goal gave one motivation.

Thinking of this, Lin Ran felt quite fortunate. Although he did not know much about this world, he still had some general impressions from his previous life, so he was not completely in the dark.

[Grade 1 cursed spirit killed. Obtained 82 Points.]

The system's voice rang out in Lin Ran's mind, and he grew excited. A Grade 1 cursed spirit was worth 82 Points—equivalent to eight Grade 4 cursed spirits. Most cursed spirits encountered around here were Grade 4, and there were not many of them to begin with, so Lin Ran was thrilled to have gained so many Points.

"82 plus 60 makes 142. I can claim Cursed Energy Armor!" Lin Ran saw that Cursed Energy Armor had lit up on the reward progress bar and immediately claimed it.

[Congratulations. Obtained Cursed Energy Armor!]

Lin Ran lowered his head and looked at his body. A layer of pale blue Cursed Energy emerged from his body, swiftly forming armor-like protective gear that wrapped around his body and head.

"Haha... With this, I won't be a glass cannon anymore. My offense is decent enough, and now I have defense too. I can finally make my way through this world overrun by cursed spirits!" Lin Ran laughed confidently. Most importantly, he only needed to kill one more Grade 4 cursed spirit to receive the next reward. How could he not be excited?

Given his future development, if he grew properly, perhaps even surpassing Satoru Gojo, the pinnacle of Jujutsu Sorcerers, would not be impossible?

The thought delighted him, but Lin Ran knew that surpassing Satoru Gojo would be extremely difficult. Gojo was practically a bug-like existence in this world.

Then again, would he, Lin Ran, not become a bug-like existence in the future as well?

The night passed without incident. The next day.

Morning.

"Grandpa... Grandpa!"

"My grandpa... Ah, it hurts so much... It hurts so terribly!" Hijikata Shichiro lay sprawled across Hijikata Izumi's bed, crying out in agony.

Yet in Lin Ran's eyes, Hijikata Shichiro did not seem all that heartbroken. If anything, he looked a little excited.

Hijikata Izumi had actually passed away the previous night. Without the Grade 1 cursed spirit's possession binding her, her death was considered a natural one. In truth, this should have been her fate months ago.

Lin Ran saw a Jade Pendant clutched in Hijikata Izumi's hand, with traces of Residual Filth from the Grade 1 cursed spirit on it. That Grade 1 cursed spirit had likely been attached to this Jade Pendant before.

Just as Lin Ran was about to tell Hijikata Shichiro about the Jade Pendant—

Hijikata Shichiro noticed his grandfather's tightly clenched hand. He pried open Hijikata Izumi's palm. "Eh? Isn't this the Square Jade that has been passed down by our ancestors..."

Then Hijikata Shichiro directly picked it up and hung it around his own neck.

Lin Ran had originally intended to remind Hijikata Shichiro to keep the Jade Pendant safe, but Hijikata Shichiro was more proactive than anyone. Lin Ran could only add, "Take good care of that jade."

For a Grade 1 cursed spirit to have taken an interest in the Jade Pendant, it was certainly no ordinary item. Although only some Residual Filth remained on it now, it could still drive away certain low-grade cursed spirits.

After putting on the Jade Pendant, Hijikata Shichiro finally let out a relieved breath. "Hijikata Crematorium cannot go a day without a master. I'll take charge starting on another day."

Lin Ran gave an awkward smile. This guy had changed gears fast. Maybe he had been waiting for this day to "ascend the throne" all along?

Still, Lin Ran did not expose him. This had been Hijikata Izumi's final wish months ago; it had merely been delayed for a while. It was only natural.

The day after Hijikata Izumi's burial, Hijikata Shichiro took over Hijikata Izumi's position. Perhaps because he had been influenced by Hijikata Izumi before, Hijikata Shichiro handled matters in an orderly fashion even amid the bustle. He was capable of standing on his own.

"Compared to chopping wood and adding coal, maybe he's better suited for this." Lin Ran smiled. Now that Hijikata Shichiro had become the master of Hijikata Crematorium, it was time for him to leave as well. After all, he had only been here to train and earn money.

"Ran-chan, do you really have to leave?" At a well-known local tavern, Hijikata Shichiro treated Lin Ran to a meal. Clearly, he did not want Lin Ran to go, and he even promised to make Lin Ran his assistant so that he would no longer have to handle corpses.

Lin Ran smiled and shook his head. "What does a tiny crematorium like this need an assistant for? Shichiro, you got what you wanted, so run your crematorium well. Oh, right—can you take care of what I asked you about before now?"

Seeing that Lin Ran was determined to leave, Hijikata Shichiro was somewhat disappointed, but he was also happy for him. "It can be done. Sugisawa Third High School in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, right?"

"Yes, that's the one. Can you arrange my enrollment?" Lin Ran perked up. Though he was not very familiar with this world, he knew that if he wanted to truly delve into it, he had to start with Sugisawa Third High School.

"No problem. I can write a recommendation letter, and you're just the right age for middle school. I'll pay your tuition. Study properly over there. Handling corpses isn't something someone your age should be learning. Oh, and remember to come back and visit me when you can."

Lin Ran was only fourteen, eight years younger than Hijikata Shichiro. At his age, he should have been attending school.

But Lin Ran's family background had always been a mystery. Hijikata Shichiro did not know the details, and even Lin Ran himself seemed to have rather hazy memories. Everyone at the crematorium treated Lin Ran as an orphan, so they usually looked after him especially well.

Then Hijikata Shichiro raised his cup and looked at Lin Ran with reluctance. Although Lin Ran had only accompanied him for three months, he was the only person in the entire crematorium that Hijikata Shichiro truly got along with—or rather, the only one willing to listen to him talk about anime and manga...