A System with a Three-Year Starting Point

"You damn Pit-Father System, you are absolutely a system without integrity or bottom lines.

Shion is only a few years old, and you're making me do this kind of thing? Just how low can you go?

Also, the penalties for failed missions used to be censored, but I could at least grasp the general idea. Now, what the hell is this complete mosaic?

Are you trying to make me imagine whatever I want for the failure penalty when I inevitably fail?"

Hearing the new mission, Chen felt his perception of the system's lack of bottom line had been refreshed once again.

"Why are you so agitated? Am I not helping you? Isn't raising her from a young age quite good?"

"Get lost. Just how devoid of integrity are you?

Besides, I don't want to get arrested. Is 'three years to life' supposed to be fun?"

"I only said to kiss her; I didn't say anything else. It's you who's thinking of something filthy.

Kissing her hand counts as a kiss, too."

The system's smug voice rang out again, and Chen nearly spat out a mouthful of blood.

In just a few sentences, this unscrupulous system had actually pinned the blame on him? Could there be a more Pit-Father System than this?

"Fine, you win!"

Chen didn't want to talk to this unscrupulous system anymore; the guy had absolutely no integrity.

Ignoring the system, Shion had gradually come to accept what Chen had told her.

"I want to see my mother."

Shion finally spoke her heart, and Chen wasn't particularly surprised by this.

"Since that's the case, let's set off. If we go early, perhaps you really can see your mother."

"I understand."

As she spoke, Shion simply packed her things and pulled Chen straight outside.

The guards stationed outside were all stunned; ever since the former Shrine Maiden Miroku passed away, Shion had been perpetually sullen.

While these samurai hadn't been reprimanded, they certainly hadn't seen a pleasant expression from her.

Right now, although Shion's face was tear-stained, she was showing a rare smile.

"Lady Shion, where do you intend to go?"

"To the Shrine, of course. Make arrangements immediately. I and..."

"Just call me Blood Moon."

"Blood Moon? That's your codename, right? I want to know your real name."

"I am a ninja. I cannot reveal my identity at will during a mission.

Also, only you and I are going to the Shrine where Moryo is sealed. These samurai would only slow us down."

"Hmph, I'll know your name sooner or later. Let's go."

With that, Shion walked straight outside, leaving Chen to shake his head helplessly as he followed.

The group of samurai looked on, at a loss. They glanced at the samurai who had just brought Chen in, and seeing him merely shake his head without any intention of stopping them, they said nothing more.

And so, Chen led Shion toward the Shrine.

Although the distance wasn't particularly far, Shion was just an ordinary person. Despite being a Shrine Maiden, her physique was that of a normal human.

At four years old, she didn't have much stamina, and she was already panting after not having gone very far.

"I'll carry you, otherwise it'll be next year by the time we reach the Shrine."

Seeing Shion standing there gasping for air, Chen spoke up.

Although Shion was dissatisfied, she had to nod in agreement to see her mother as soon as possible.

With Shion on his back, Chen's speed increased immediately. What was originally a walk turned into leaping through the trees, covering in minutes the distance Shion had taken an hour to walk.

Shion, on his back, looked at Chen with curiosity and reached out to take off his mask, but Chen caught her wrist before she could.

"If you don't behave, be careful or I'll just drop you."

"Hey, I'm your employer, at least. Is this how you treat your employer?"

"Let's not talk about the fact that the Land of Demons daimyo commissioned this mission. Even if it were you, the mission content is only to ensure you stay alive, not that you remain unscathed."

"You!"

Hearing Chen's words, Shion instantly bristled. She wanted to retaliate against Chen, but she nearly fell off in the process.

Looking at the dozen-meter drop below, Shion decided her life was more important.

"Hey, what's your name, really?"

She didn't stay quiet for long before Shion spoke again. She was truly very curious about what Chen looked like.

"Blood Moon."

"I'm asking for your real name, not your codename."

"Didn't I just say? Ninjas don't reveal their names casually while on a mission."

"Hmph, don't say it then, as if I care to know."

"Whether you care or not, I don't know, but I do know we're in trouble."

As he spoke, Chen suddenly stopped.

"Come out. Is following us for this long really that fun?"

Chen spoke, but the surroundings remained quiet and completely unchanged.

"Hey, are you stupid? There's no one around at all."

Shion looked around, her face full of confusion.

"Do you think I'm bluffing? Yomi."

Chen spoke again, this time calling the opponent's name directly. Hearing this, the enemy hiding in the shadows realized they had truly been discovered.

Ding, system notification: Hunting mission initiated. Kill Yomi and his subordinates Kusuna, Banner, Shizuku, Setsuna, and Yoshitai. For each person killed, you will receive 100 points of Great Fireball Technique proficiency.

The system's voice rang out. Chen was not surprised by their appearance; after all, they were all subordinates of Moryo.

"Interesting brat, to be able to sense our presence. Hand over the Shrine Maiden, and you can get lost."

Yomi spoke, his eyes filled with contempt.

"That won't do. I intend to keep my mission completion rate at one hundred percent, and I can't bear to let so many experience packs leave."

"You are courting death."

Yomi waved his hand, and the five of them—Kusuna, Banner, Shizuku, Setsuna, and Yoshitai—charged directly at Chen.

"Hold onto me tight and don't let go. If you fall, I won't save you."

"Ah!"

Chen moved the moment he spoke, and Shion hurriedly hugged him tight, too afraid to even open her eyes.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

A massive fireball appeared, heading straight for Banner.

Banner never expected a mere child to possess such strength.

Although these five were very strong in the original story, that was because they had obtained Moryo's power. But now, Moryo was completely sealed, and Yomi had not found a way to break it.

Therefore, their strength was significantly diminished compared to the original.

"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"

Water Release has a natural advantage over Fire Release; almost every ninja knows this.

Coupled with the nearby stream, Banner believed the power of his Water Formation Wall was enough to block the Great Fireball Technique.

However, Chen's Fire Release possessed Fire Attribute Mastery, completely ignoring elemental suppression.

Consequently, the Water Formation Wall lasted less than a second before being evaporated, and in the next moment, the pathetic Banner was directly swallowed by the flames.

Ding, system notification: Successfully killed Banner. Obtained 100 points of Great Fireball Technique proficiency.