Ark Simulator, Don't I Have No Physical Body?

Hoshiguma pulled two copper coins from her boot; these were the change she'd grabbed while eating oden at Naniwa House. She held the coins between her fingers and flicked them lightly—

"Ding!"

The sound of copper coins striking stone lanterns in the distance was crisp and pleasant. The sound of pages turning in the archives suddenly stopped.

What was that sound?

"Let's go take a look."

The moment the footsteps moved toward the door, Hoshiguma leaped through the window like a cat. Her green hair was almost invisible in the darkness, Hannya Shield precisely blocked the closing cabinet door. The most conspicuous spot in the cabinet was empty, with a label that read "Smithing Town Land Deed".

"Really..."

Volume 16, page 892: I can help keep it safe.

Hoshiguma quickly flipped through the adjacent files, his fingertips suddenly touching an unusually thick document. Pulling it out, he saw it was a newly drafted merger agreement, stamped with Mifune's personal seal and several unfamiliar family crests at the end, but notably missing Tetsusai's seal.

"Just take it," Su Rui reminded her.

Su Rui directly stored the items into the System Space.

Why is the window open?

Hoshiguma darted into the shadows behind the filing cabinet with lightning speed. The Hannya Shield clung tightly to her arm, its matte coating absorbing all light. When the guard pushed open the door, all he saw were curtains fluttering in the wind and cherry blossoms scattered on the floor.

"Strange thing..."

The guards muttered as they closed and locked the window. They didn't notice that a cherry blossom petal was stuck to the keyhole of the filing cabinet—a mark left by Hoshiguma.

After leaving the main building, Hoshiguma acted as if nothing had happened and continued strolling in the courtyard. She even went out of her way to the workshop to wave goodbye to Fujiwara, who was still busy at work. The old blacksmith waved his hand without looking up and continued to focus on the blade in his hands.

"Even Master doesn't know?" she asked in a low voice.

[Fujiwara's workshop has recently been relocated.] Su Rui analyzed the details, [The original central work area has been moved to a side courtyard, far away from the decision-making level.]

Hoshiguma tapped her fingertips lightly on the hilt of her sword. Fujiwara was the chief blacksmith of the Metalstone Society, and his workshop should have been located in the most central area. This deliberate marginalization was clearly intended to weaken his influence over guild affairs.

As they rounded a corridor, Mifune suddenly appeared from behind the artificial hill. His single eye gleamed subtly in the shadows, and a kind smile played on his lips, "Hoshiguma, Tetsusai wishes to see you again."

[A lie.] Su Rui immediately warned, [his heart racing.]

Hoshiguma nodded without changing her expression. "That just so happens that I also have something to ask you."

She followed Mifune through the winding corridors, secretly memorizing each corner and the location of the guards. Mifune's pace was quicker than before, his right hand always resting on the short sword at his waist. As they passed a blind spot in the surveillance, Hoshiguma caught a glimpse of metal flashing in the shadows.

[Ambush.] Su Rui's voice tightened. [Three people in the left corridor, two behind the artificial hill on the right.]

Hoshiguma's thumb quietly pushed open the safety latch of the Hannya Shield. In the hidden compartment inside the shield, the Originium Arts that Su Rui had stored beforehand began to flow silently.

"Mifune," she suddenly stopped, "Why does Tetsusai put dried tangerine peel in his tea?"

The one-eyed man's back visibly stiffened for a moment. He slowly turned around, the smile on his face gone, "As expected of ' Onikiri,' even noticing such details."

The sound of the wind in the courtyard suddenly stopped.

"Where is Lord Tetsusai?" Hoshiguma's green eyes were as sharp as knives.

Mifune narrowed his one eye slightly. "A smart person wouldn't ask that question."

He snapped his fingers, and the ambushing guards instantly appeared. Five unsheathed swords gleamed coldly in the sunlight, surrounding Hoshiguma in the center.

"I was going to try to handle this gently," Mifune sighed, drawing his short sword. "After all, it would be a shame to die someone of your strength."

Hoshiguma's lips curled into a cold smile. She slowly raised the Hannya Shield, and suddenly, dark blue patterns appeared on the triangular metal surface—it was the resonance of Su Rui's Originium Arts.

"Mifune," she said softly, "You've got two things wrong."

The patterns on the Hannya Shield suddenly lit up, forming a complex array of spells.

"First of all, I'm not here to die."

The shield slammed into the ground, and the shockwave exploded in a ring. The guards were jolted back, and a look of astonishment flashed in Mifune's single eye.

"Second—" Hoshiguma's figure flashed before him like a ghost, her longsword already pressed against his throat. "Tetsusai is my teacher."

Mifune's Adam's apple bobbed. "You wouldn't dare kill me, the only clue to the contract's whereabouts is..."

"In the third hidden compartment of the archives on the second floor," Hoshiguma calmly interrupted him, "Wrapped in Mikawa Town silk, right?"

The one-eyed man's face turned deathly pale instantly.

Hoshiguma sheathed her longsword, and the blue markings on her Hannya Shield gradually faded. "Tell the people behind the scenes, the game has only just begun."

She turned and headed towards the side gate, and none of the guards dared to stop her. Mifune's voice came from behind, trembling with resentment. "You think you can leave Smithing Town alive?"

Hoshiguma waved without turning her head, her green hair fluttering like a flag in the wind. "Give it a try."

[By the way, the contract is with me now.] Su Rui just took the contract.

As dusk settled, Hoshiguma stood on the hillside outside the Smithing Town. From here, she could overlook the entire Metalstone Society complex, its lights lighting up one by one, like a gradually unfolding star map.

"Where would Tetsusai be?" She took out a map she had taken from the archives and studied it by the moonlight.

Su Rui's consciousness sketched out several routes in her mind: [the old smelter in the eastern suburbs, or the old shrine in the northern mountains.]

Hoshiguma's finger moved across the map, suddenly stopping at a location circled in red. "Here..."

It was an abandoned mine. Ten years ago, before she left the Smithing Town, she had gone there with Tetsusai to collect rare ores. There were hidden fortifications at the entrance, and the interior even contained enough supplies to last for several months.

The night wind suddenly shifted, bringing with it an unusual burning smell. Hoshiguma detected an unusual sound frequency in the distance—the roar of engines, and more than one at that.

She quickly hid behind a tree, watching three black SUVs drive towards the main entrance of the Metalstone Society. The doors opened, and several men in suits strode in. One of them raised his hand, revealing a tattoo on his wrist—three crossed knives, the very same mark she had seen at the Naniwa House -ya oden shop.

"Looks like there are quite a few guests..." Hoshiguma sneered.

She took out the bronze plaque from her bosom—a token given to her by Tetsusai as her second-in-command. Under the moonlight, the sword and hammer pattern within the cloud design gleamed coldly.

"Find the old man first," she said, tucking the bronze medal back into her clothes, "Then clean house."

The night was as dark as ink. Hoshiguma hurried along the mountain path, the Hannya Shield gleaming with a cold metallic luster under the moonlight. Su Rui's consciousness spread an invisible net in her mind, capturing every rustle of wind and the slightest movement within a radius of hundreds of meters.

Turn right in 200 meters.

His voice, like a precise searchlight, guided Hoshiguma through the dense undergrowth. Her boots rolled over gravel and dead branches with almost no sound—an instinct honed through years of battlefield experience.

After rounding a steep slope, the entrance to the abandoned mine came into view. The entrance was hidden by vines and weeds, and if Su Rui hadn't reminded him, Hoshiguma would have almost missed the rock with the hidden mark engraved on it—it was the family crest left by Tetsusai when he was young, shaped like a hammer wrapped in flames.

"That old man really knows how to pick a spot."

Hoshiguma parted the vines, her fingertips pausing slightly as they touched the rock face—fresh scratches, the marks of metal rubbing together. Without a word, she drew her longsword, placed her other hand on her Hannya Shield, and slowly walked into the dark tunnel.

[Safe.] Su Rui's senses probed deeper first, [no ambush.]

The air inside the tunnel was damp and chilly, carrying a faint smell of rust. Hoshiguma's demon horns trembled slightly in the darkness, sensing subtle vibrations in the distance. After walking for about ten minutes, a faint light appeared ahead.

As she rounded the last bend, the sight before her made her gasp for breath.

The letter in Volume 16, Chapter 893 was not written by anyone.

Tetsusai sat cross-legged on a simple straw mat, his white hair disheveled, and his right arm wrapped in a blood-soaked bandage. A faint flame burned in the charcoal brazier in front of him, illuminating the various weapons hanging on the rock wall. The most conspicuous spot was empty, its shape perfectly matching Hoshiguma's Hannya Shield.

"You're here?" Tetsusai didn't even look up, poking at the charcoal fire with his tongs. "Two days later than expected."

Hoshiguma sheathed his sword, strode over to the charcoal brazier, and squatted down. "You didn't write the letter."

"Of course not," the old man sneered. "If I wanted to find you, I could just have Fujiwara forge a new sword and send it to Lungmen."

The crackling charcoal reflected in their similar eyes—equally sharp, equally stubborn. Hoshiguma removed the Hannya Shield and laid it flat on the ground. There was a conspicuous notch in the lower left corner of the shield, its edges jagged, as if it had been cleaved open by some sharp weapon.

"Chixiao?" Tetsusai's fingertips traced the scar.

"Hmm," Hoshiguma replied briefly, "Three years ago in Lungmen, Chen Hui-chieh's sword."

The old man snorted, "Lungmen's forging techniques are still so crude." He looked up at Hoshiguma, "Reforge it. Use the Star Iron Ore from the back mountain; it can be completed in three days."

Hoshiguma shook her head and fastened the Hannya Shield back onto her back. "No rush."

Tetsusai's gray eyes narrowed slightly. "So what do you want to do?"

"Go home and visit."

This word made Tetsusai pause. The flames in the charcoal brazier suddenly leaped up an inch, reflecting the fleeting emotion on the old man's face.

"Your dilapidated house collapsed a long time ago," he said gruffly. "No one has repaired it since the earthquake ten years ago."

Hoshiguma's lips curled up slightly. "That's why we're going back."

Tetsusai stared at her for a few seconds, then suddenly pulled a key from his pocket and tossed it to her. "The warehouse at the end of the street, I clean there occasionally."

The key was heavy, its bronze surface polished to a shine. Hoshiguma held it in his palm, the coolness of the metal seeping through his skin.

"The matter of Mifune..."

"I'll handle it myself," Tetsusai interrupted her. "Since you didn't come back for this, don't get involved."

Hoshiguma raised an eyebrow. "You think I'm here on vacation?"

"Otherwise what?" The old man poked the charcoal block hard with his tongs.

A burst of sparks suddenly erupted from the charcoal brazier. By the firelight, Tetsusai scrutinized Hoshiguma's expression. "So, this is why you refused to reforge?"

"Part of it," Hoshiguma readily admitted, "Every scar on the Hannya Shield has meaning."

Tetsusai scoffed. "Including this gap?"

"Especially this gap."

The old man was silent for a moment, then suddenly pulled a small iron box from the charcoal ash. "Take this."

Inside the box was a jet-black metal piece, shaped like a willow leaf, with edges as sharp as blades. Hoshiguma recognized it at a glance—this was the first blade she had forged independently, which Tetsusai had dismissed as "scrap metal" and casually tossed into the furnace years ago.

"They actually kept it?"

"It was occasionally used for scaling fish," Tetsusai said sternly. "Now it's returned to its rightful owner."

Hoshiguma held the blade up to her eyes; the inferior metal gleamed dimly in the firelight. She suddenly remembered when she was fifteen, she had squatted in front of the forge for three days and three nights without sleep, just to forge her first decent weapon.

"Thanks." She put the razor blade into her sleeve pocket. "But I'll be using a sword to scale fish now."

Tetsusai's lips twitched. "Get lost, it's almost dawn."

*

Before dawn, the Smithing Town was shrouded in a pale blue mist. Hoshiguma avoided the main street and followed the drainage ditch. Su Rui's directions were incredibly precise, allowing her to perfectly evade all the patrol posts set up by Mifune.

[Turn left ahead, around the well.]

Hoshiguma's fingertips traced the rough, familiar texture of the mottled brick wall. She used to run this path three or four times a day as a child; she could walk it blindfolded without ever getting lost. Turning the last bend, the alleyway from her memory appeared before her—

Then she froze on the spot.

What should have been her home is now just a vacant lot overgrown with weeds. The wooden house has long since collapsed, with only a few charred beams sticking out of the ground. Most of the courtyard wall has fallen down, revealing ruins overgrown with wild vines.

"The old man wasn't lying..."

Hoshiguma's voice was soft, as if afraid of disturbing something. She walked slowly into the ruins, her boots crunching over broken tiles and shards of pottery. The spot where the forge once stood was now piled with fallen leaves, and in the corner leaned a rusty iron pot—the one she used to cook midnight snacks as a child.

"[The warehouse is in the southeast.] "Su Rui whispered a reminder.

Hoshiguma took a deep breath and turned to walk towards the end of the alley. The warehouse that Tetsusai had mentioned was a low stone building, unremarkable in appearance, but the door lock was a state-of-the-art mechanical structure. She inserted the key, and the sound of the lock cylinder turning was exceptionally crisp.

The moment she pushed open the door, a whiff of dust hit her. As Hoshiguma's pupils adjusted to the darkness, the sight before her made her gasp slightly.

In the center of the warehouse, all the items she thought she had long lost were neatly displayed: the wooden sword she used for training as a child, the yukata she wore to her first festival, and even the lucky cat piggy bank that she had broken and then glued back together. All the items were spotless, clearly indicating that someone regularly took care of them.

The most eye-catching thing was the weapon rack on the wall - three long swords of similar shape hung on it, each with the word "star" engraved on the scabbard. Hoshikuma recognized them. They were new swords that Tessai forged for her every three years, and they did not stop even after she left.

"That old man..."

Her fingertips traced the scabbard of the newest sword, the cool metallic temperature seeping through her skin. The way the rope was tied around the hilt was her unique habit, and even the color was her favorite deep green.

He's been waiting for you to come back.

Su Rui's voice was soft, yet it struck Hoshiguma's heart with a heavy weight. She suddenly noticed an inconspicuous iron box in the corner, with a strangely shaped lock hanging on it—the keyhole was shaped exactly like the willow-leaf blade she had forged independently for the first time.

Hoshiguma took out the blade given to him by Tetsusai from his sleeve, his fingers trembling slightly. The moment the blade was inserted into the keyhole, the mechanism made a crisp "click".

Inside the box was a brand-new set of the Oni Clan armor, its breastplate engraved with intricate cloud patterns, and its shoulder armor shaped like a roaring demon mask. Beside the armor lay a letter, the handwriting of Tetsusai on the envelope bold and clear:

"A gift for my good-for-nothing apprentice."

Hoshiguma slammed the box shut, her chest feeling as if something was blocking it. She looked up at the window; the east was already turning a pale white. Morning light streamed in through the small warehouse window, casting a warm dappled pattern on the floor.

"Su Rui," she suddenly said, "I want to reforge Hannya."