Chapter 31: Spirit-Awakening Mist

After finishing the silent dinner with a taste as bland as chewing wax, Uesugi Akira put down his chopsticks and looked at Ririko.

He asked, “Ririko, have you made up your mind?”

To stay and face the relentless supernatural events or to leave and bury oneself in an ordinary life.

The crossroads of fate had never been clearer than it was now.

If they missed this moment, this face-to-face might be the closest distance between them from now into the future.

Quietly, Ririko placed the last greasy piece of A5 Wagyu beef into her mouth. Sitting cross-legged on the sofa, she put down her chopsticks as if laying a katana flat before a warrior.

Calm and resolute.

“A swordsman must not flee the battlefield, Uesugi-kun,” she said.

Ririko gracefully wiped the grease from the corner of her lips with a napkin. “Besides, the target is right in front of us. What’s there to hesitate about?”

“You’ll die. Hasegawa is a living example,” Uesugi sighed.

“Then, Uesugi-kun, would you consider running away? Even for a moment?” Ririko retorted.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Uesugi shook his head. “I wouldn’t.”

“—Then neither will I.”

Ririko smiled, gripping his hand tightly with unusual force. “It’s as simple as that.”

…

After parting ways with Ririko, Uesugi returned to the safe house guarded by his ghostly father. He decided to accelerate his conquest of the eerie Arakawa Village tonight and tomorrow.

Having endured tremendous water pressure, the Smiling Hannya opened its eyes inside the dilapidated thatched hut.

After days of training and battles, his attributes had transformed into—

【Uesugi Akira】

【Physique: 15】

【Willpower: 10】

【Charm: 6】

【Spirit Arts: 3】

If he activated the advanced Kiai technique, his physique would instantly surge from 15 to 17, undoubtedly a terrifyingly superhuman physical condition.

Not to mention, Uesugi now wielded the sharp Kaga Kiyomitsu. Even a sturdy farmer appearing before him would likely be dispatched with a single strike.

“The White Hannya is a one-star boss at the bottom level; better wait a bit,” Uesugi mused, stroking the sword’s hilt. “First, deal with the Twisting Wriggler whose location is confirmed, then wait for the Smiling Hannya to level up before capturing the Eight-Foot Tall Lord.”

With that decided, Uesugi’s figure became a gust of wind, weaving through the eerie village.

---

Along the way, something seemed amiss at the large factory. Uesugi unexpectedly encountered several lost factory workers.

Presented with soul ashes handed to him on a silver platter, Uesugi naturally accepted without refusal.

Drawing Kaga Kiyomitsu, he effortlessly claimed several heads.

【You have slain the stray wandering souls “Oppressed Factory Worker,” gaining 14 soul ashes.】

【You have slain the stray wandering souls “Oppressed Factory Worker,” gaining 11 soul ashes.】

【You have slain the stray wandering souls “Oppressed Factory Worker,” gaining 10 soul ashes.】

【You obtained “Factory Worker’s Jacket (Damaged).”】

The soul ashes were plentiful; the factory owner had yet to squeeze out the last value of these wandering souls—not as ruthless as reality. There was still room for growth.

He also acquired a damaged quality worker’s jacket. Although it offered no effects or attribute boosts, Uesugi guessed that collecting a full set might allow him to infiltrate the factory for some purpose.

Unfortunately, the reality of the situation forbade him from embarking on a time- and life-consuming side quest.

After about twenty minutes, Uesugi stopped in front of a familiar gray field.

He lowered his head, staring intently at the muddy ground and the foul ditch beneath his feet.

Last time, taking an extra glance at the Twisting Wriggler got him sent away. He wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.

Drawing Kaga Kiyomitsu, Uesugi slowly closed his eyes, focusing on his hearing, smell, and touch.

In an instant, the once vague hiss of steam burst into a deafening roar. The direction of the wind became clear, and he even heard unknown insects burrowing into the soil beneath him.

Too far.

He needed to narrow his sensory range.

With rhythmic breathing, Uesugi’s sharp senses gradually contracted until they encompassed only this small patch of field ahead.

That was better.

A faint static noise kept emanating from a nearby spot. Uesugi knew that was the Twisting Wriggler.

He took a deep breath and stepped into the abandoned field.

Though legend said that except for those who saw it directly, there was no other way to attack the Twisting Wriggler, it remained just a legend—something to reference, but not to take at face value.

Clenching Kaga Kiyomitsu, Uesugi noticed a subtle change in the noise.

It had discovered him!

Without sneaking closer, Uesugi immediately shifted tactics, fully activating the Kiai technique.

Muscles bulging sharply, his subconscious took a stance resembling the Hirazuki (Flat Thrust) of the Aoi Eye style. Then he strode toward the Twisting Wriggler with determination.

With Kaga Kiyomitsu enhancing his thrusting sword technique, Uesugi aimed to deliver a devastating blow.

Buzzing—

---

As the distance between them rapidly closed, the static noise around him grew exponentially. Though less intense than seeing the creature directly, it was enough to drive ordinary people mad and dance with it.

But Uesugi had anticipated this.

The Smiling Hannya, calm as still water, suddenly curled its lips into a grin.

With a significant boost in willpower, the terrifying smile silenced the surrounding buzzing noise for a split second!

In that instant, Uesugi’s chest swelled violently. The Kiai technique thundered like muffled lightning as he unleashed the simplest yet most skillful sword strike—

—Yatotsu! (Fanged Thrust!)

Ten meters—gone in a flash!

Even Uesugi himself hadn’t reacted before Kaga Kiyomitsu had already plunged into the Twisting Wriggler’s viscous, misty body, prompting a piercing screech.

The sudden surge in volume caused blood to stream from Uesugi’s orifices, but his hands did not waver.

Gripping the hilt tightly, he executed a decisive Kesa-giri (Diagonal Cut).

Screech!

Like tearing fabric, the sword’s tip drew a streak of flowing pale white, abruptly silencing the Twisting Wriggler’s incessant static.

【You have slain the one-star grudge “Twisting Wriggler,” gaining 132 soul ashes!】

Uesugi trembled, collapsing onto his knees in the field. He felt as if his brain quivered along with the dissipating noise, about to melt into a thick liquid flowing from his senses.

Just a little more, and the Twisting Wriggler’s final counterattack would have succeeded.

But fortunately, his skill was superior!

Uesugi grinned, summoning his last strength to pat the katana that had turned the tide of battle.

The blade of Kaga Kiyomitsu trembled lightly, emitting a clear ringing sound, as if pleased.

Within seconds, Uesugi’s vision darkened, and the Twisting Wriggler’s lingering death rattle sent him back to the mortal realm.

【You used Kaga Kiyomitsu·Replica to slay the one-star grudge “Twisting Wriggler.” The quality of Kaga Kiyomitsu·Replica has slightly improved.】

【Your skill proficiency in the Kiai Technique (Remnant) has increased by 19!】

【Your skill proficiency in the Natural Reasoning Flow has increased by 7!】

【Side Quest Two — The White Scarecrow is complete!】

【You may choose to claim the reward for this side quest immediately or wait to accumulate rewards from multiple quests before claiming!】

【You have obtained the Awakening Spirit Mist (Special Item)!】