Chapter 37: Laughing Prajna, One Star! (Third Update)

Why did the conversation suddenly shift to such an irrelevant topic? Wasn't the discussion supposed to be about how to deal with "Ai-Beri"?

Seeing that Ririko did not respond, Tomoya Kondo immediately sweetened the deal: "Miss Tokugawa, I can teach you a breathing technique that allows you to step into the extraordinary; all you need to do is register with the Special Affairs Bureau."

At this, Ririko began to seriously consider Kondo's offer. The ability to completely shed her status as an ordinary person, as helpless as a chicken, was exactly what she had dreamed of. After a moment of thought, she looked toward Uesugi Toru. If she agreed, Uesugi Toru would no longer have a sparring partner for the time being.

She had personally promised to be his mentor, and to Ririko, there was nothing heavier than a promise. Naturally, no such thing as a "breathing technique" could shake her heart in the slightest.

In response, Uesugi Toru merely sighed: "Don't treat me like a child."

"Then I accept."

Ririko’s resolute answer brought a look of joy to Tomoya Kondo’s face. He hadn't expected to so easily secure a kendo genius who even he found staggering; coming along with Emi Nanjo today had certainly been the right choice.

Ririko asked, "I have one more question—why could you, Director Kondo, tell at a glance that neither Uesugi Toru nor I were her clones, while I could not?"

"Is it because my training is insufficient?" was Ririko's first instinct.

"Not at all."

Tomoya Kondo’s tone shifted as he explained in detail: "Even among those who possess the 'Clear Sword Heart,' the sword heart condensed by each individual is unique. This leads to all sorts of strange and varied traits—for instance, my trait, 'Micro-Perception,' is particularly well-suited for observation."

Following this, Ririko began to eagerly fire more questions at Kondo regarding swordsmanship. Watching the two of them, Emi Nanjo clicked her tongue, pushed open the conference room door, and beckoned to Uesugi Toru.

"Let's go, let's go."

Wearing her combat boots, she walked with a rhythmic click-clack toward the exit of the Special Affairs Bureau building. As they walked, Uesugi Toru noticed that while the Bureau looked like an ordinary company on the surface, he could spot a trail of stars in his field of vision just by turning his head slightly.

Although those rated one-and-a-half stars or higher were few and far between, one-star and half-star entities were as common as stray dogs... If he didn't know this was the Special Affairs Bureau, he would have thought it was some kind of demon's den.

He didn't linger on the sight and followed Emi Nanjo outside. He watched as she impatiently pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and took a deep drag.

"That was stifling..."

After slowly exhaling a cloud of smoke, Emi Nanjo said: "You’re a lucky one, kid. You should know that there hasn't been any news of Ai-Beri for over a hundred years."

As for why there was no news, it was naturally because everyone who had ever seen Ai-Beri was dead. This had indirectly led to the Bureau having very little intelligence on her, knowing only that she could toy with emotions and manipulate spirits, while everything else remained a total mystery.

Uesugi Toru tasted the implication in her words and replied: "If you want me to work under you, Sister Nanjo, you can just say so. Look at our relationship."

"Speaking so bluntly—your superiors won't be happy," Nanjo said.

Uesugi Toru spread his hands: "Sister Nanjo is Sister Nanjo, and my superiors are my superiors. Those are two different things and shouldn't be mixed up."

Emi Nanjo narrowed her eyes and extinguished the cigarette butt with her fingertips. This time, she said something completely opposite to what she had told him when they first met:

"If you don't join the Special Affairs Bureau, you will die."

"Although we don't yet know Ai-Beri's exact combat power, we can be certain that she is between three and four stars... In the entire Arakawa Ward, there are very few who could go head-to-head with her."

Emi Nanjo said each word with deliberate weight: "Uesugi Toru, you must understand—you have already been marked."

Yet, Uesugi Toru was focused on another issue: "Why are you certain that Ai-Beri's rank does not exceed three stars?"

Emi Nanjo stared at him expressionlessly. Uesugi Toru stared back with wide, bright eyes.

After a long while, Emi Nanjo let out a heavy sigh, as if giving up, and said: "Because of the existence of the 'Sea Level'."

"Before the arrival of the First Tide, three stars—what we often call the 'Evil Ghost' level—is the highest sea level. If one were to break through beyond that, it would not only be incredibly difficult but also draw immense attention."

"If Ai-Beri had surpassed three stars, every Onmyoji in Tokyo would have sensed her presence. That would clearly contradict her current goal of hiding."

The fact that Ai-Beri would not exceed three stars for the time being was perhaps the only good news he had heard in a while.

Uesugi Toru then began to estimate their side's combat power: his Ghost Father was at three stars, the doll that made his father wary was at least at two-and-a-half stars, and he himself was about to break through to the one-star level, which could barely count as one-and-a-half stars of combat power.

By this calculation, not to mention defeating Ai-Beri, he should have no major problem holding out for a few minutes until Emi Nanjo’s reinforcements arrived. Therefore, his refusal wasn't just casual—it was based on his own considerations.

"Then, Sister Nanjo, if I work under you, can you stay by my side every single moment?"

"I'm not your mother..."

See? Emi Nanjo could not be his personal bodyguard, so joining the Special Affairs Bureau would not fundamentally change his situation. Moreover, if he had teammates around, Uesugi Toru wouldn't be able to transform into the Laughing Hannya. If he didn't transform, he was easily killed in one blow by Ai-Beri; if he did transform and was seen by his teammates, he would never be able to clear his name.

In summary, joining the Special Affairs Bureau had no benefits and would instead be a major constraint for Uesugi Toru.

After waiting for Emi Nanjo to finish another cigarette in silence, Uesugi Toru asked with a smile: "Anything else you need to say, Sister Nanjo?"

*This kid is hiding something. That is beyond doubt.*

But Emi Nanjo didn't actually care what Uesugi Toru was hiding, or how much. She only worried that he had too few trump cards and too much confidence, leading him to misjudge his own strength and end in tragedy.

"Just don't end up hiding in a grave box..."

Uesugi Toru blinked: "What did you say, Sister Nanjo?"

"I said," Emi Nanjo tossed him a cigarette, "when the time comes, come and share one with me."

Uesugi Toru grinned and carefully tucked it into his pocket: "Small matter. Well, Sister Nanjo, I'm heading off."

"Go, go! Do you need me to chase you out?"

Emi Nanjo waved her hand irritably and pulled out another cigarette to bite down on. There were too many frustrating things, too much awkwardness and trouble; if she didn't smoke to relieve the pressure, she feared she might destroy the world one day.

...

Pushing open his front door, Uesugi Toru felt an extraordinary sense of comfort at the sight of his Ghost Father’s faceless visage.

*Thank goodness you're still here!*

If he didn't have his three-star father sitting at home, Uesugi Toru would have been truly troubled. But for now, in the time before the First Tide arrived, his home could undoubtedly be considered a semi-safe house.

After greeting his father, Uesugi Toru rushed into his bedroom, closed his eyes, and collapsed onto the bed.

Time waits for no one! Before the Laughing Hannya completed its star-level upgrade, Uesugi Toru had to ensure he knew the exact location of Hachishaku-sama and complete the mission to explore the Haunted Village.

This way, he could minimize the time needed to collect rewards and enhance his strength after leveling up. Clearing the fog on the map of the Arakawa Haunted Village, which he had already half-completed, was no difficult task.

And so, in less than eight hours, Uesugi Toru had finished those miscellaneous chores. Then, he spent a full four hours waiting patiently.

Finally—the first star-level upgrade of the Laughing Hannya was complete!