Chapter 185: Golden Ball Bell Setsu, Next Meeting An Unseverable Bond, Soul Spirit Points’ Effects
Huh?
Is it tacit understanding?
Shangshan Che, feeling slight pressure and warmth above his finger, was about to speak when he saw Imagawa Yoshimoto’s finger lift again and land nearby.
Then, without a word, she slowly moved her finger covering the city marker off the map.
“This is Yoshida Castle.”
Imagawa Yoshimoto didn’t cover the city; she circled the nearby river mouth marker and waterway with her fingertip, then said clearly,
“It’s a key stronghold guarded by the Matsudaira Clan, a vital transportation hub.
If those demons are numerous and have already controlled many cities, starting from here would be best to subdue Eastern Mikawa.”
She pondered for a moment and continued,
“Moreover, if Hanzō is scouting alone, he would probably check on the Matsudaira Clan first, and we might be able to coordinate with him inside and out then.”
After finishing, Imagawa Yoshimoto looked at Shangshan Che beside her with some surprise: “But Tetsu-kun, why did you point here?”
Logically, Tetsu, who studied Onmyōdō in the mountains all day, shouldn’t know much about military or political matters.
Yet he had pointed out the strategically most valuable spot on the entire map.
“Just did a simple divination in my heart.”
Shangshan Che answered sincerely without looking away.
In reality, the map on the panel showed that “Yoshida Castle” in the Eastern Mikawa Region had the most “big eyeball demons.”
—Since there are many eyeball demons, there must be plenty of other Affliction Kin too.
Being able to wipe out more demons at once is definitely better.
That was the thought behind Shangshan Che’s pointing.
“Divination is really convenient.”
Imagawa Yoshimoto gave him a noncommittal glance but didn’t ask more.
—A qualified lord knows how to let vassals keep some harmless little secrets, giving them a sense of security.
She nodded: “Since Tetsu-kun and I thought of the same place, let’s set Yoshida Castle as the temporary goal.”
“Lord Yoshimoto, but before that.”
Shangshan Che pretended to ponder thoughtfully, then said uncertainly,
“About five days, I think. I need five days to prepare some Onmyōdō techniques against Affliction and its kin.”
—Shangshan Che wouldn’t face one of the Eight Sufferings without knowing anything, even if the current Affliction might not match his raw strength.
He looked straight into Imagawa Yoshimoto’s pupils and suggested: “So for these five days, I think we can first clear the villages around Yoshida Castle, forming an encirclement.
You can also try contacting the Matsudaira Clan during this time to check their situation.
Plus, we can wait for Sister Motonobu to arrive with new reinforcements.”
Five days.
Not too long, not too short—worth waiting…
Imagawa Yoshimoto looked at Shangshan Che’s serious expression and changed her mind.
No, it was time that must be waited.
Sharpening the axe won’t delay chopping wood—she understood that simple truth.
But thinking of one more day of delay meaning more subjects dying at the hands of these demons and diseases made Imagawa Yoshimoto feel more powerless and self-blaming.
Amid the intense blacksmithing sounds, she took a deep breath.
Imagawa Yoshimoto set aside all those rationality-shaking thoughts, looking at them coldly.
Just remember them.
—Especially now, she needed to stay calm, not let emotions sway her, and listen to the true “experts.”
“As you say.”
Imagawa Yoshimoto responded flatly and began discussing more details with Shangshan Che over the map.
Shangshan Che also informed her of the traits of several known Affliction Kin and repeatedly emphasized that the demons they’d face weren’t just these kinds.
He stressed: “Don’t drink from external water sources, don’t eat food given by others, and tell me immediately if injured.”
“I understand.”
Imagawa Yoshimoto memorized every word.
—Until the sun passed its noon peak and slowly moved toward the other horizon, the intense blacksmithing in the ruined temple gradually stopped.
Clang.
The heavy iron hammer hitting the stone slab rang clearly.
Zashiki Warashi’s relaxed and pleasant voice came: “Hey—Imagawa Head! This set of armor is reinforced; come try it!”
Imagawa Yoshimoto, who had just finished discussing and was sitting cross-legged meditating, opened her eyes and nodded to the girl waving happily at her.
She walked over, eyes widening slightly at the stacked, shining, sparkling armor nearby,
“Zashiki, thanks for the hard work.”
“Hey! What’s hard about it?”
Zashiki Warashi waved casually, pointing to her sweat-free neck: “See, not even a drop of sweat— that’s why I call it ‘cold-body forging.'”
“If it were really hard, I wouldn’t hold back; I’d ruthlessly take my benefits from you, Imagawa Head.”
Little God of Fortune said mercilessly.
Then she began explaining her added forging effects as the secondary forger,
“Considering the Head’s needs, I forged this entire set of armor into one piece.”
She put hands on hips, rubbed her small nose, and grinned,
“The armor’s flexibility remains, but no gaps for exploitation between parts—like a full-body rounded shield wrapping the Head.
Plus, all parts share durability!”
“In other words—if enemies want to hurt you, Imagawa Head, whether open attack or hidden arrow, they must first shatter the whole set!”
Zashiki Warashi made a punching motion.
“It’s a bit heavier, reducing your sword swings’ lethality slightly, but I think that’s no big issue.”
She picked up the armor pieces, looking expectantly at Imagawa Yoshimoto: “Head, please try it on quick; I want to see the overall effect!”
After hearing Zashiki’s full explanation, both were somewhat stunned.
Shangshan Che was surprised these powerful effects were added so fast, without a drop of sweat.
Imagawa Yoshimoto stood shocked in place.
Because the safety issue troubling rulers since ancient times during personal campaigns
was solved by Zashiki Warashi before her and this reinforced armor set.
Wearing it, she could ignore most enemy arquebuses and arrow volleys, standing at the army forefront to boost morale.
No fear of assassins in the sedan chair either.
After Zashiki Warashi’s “simple” forging, this armor’s meaning to Imagawa Yoshimoto had profoundly changed.
“Good, I’ll try it.”
Imagawa Yoshimoto said no more, tied up her hair, and deftly donned the armor pieces.
Soon, the dashing female general in black armor appeared before them.
“Weight increased by about thirty percent, but not too affecting.”
Imagawa Yoshimoto raised her arm, tested simply, and picked up a few small pieces of scrap iron from the ground.
For ordinary people or ashigaru, a 20KG set gaining thirty percent would be deadly, greatly increasing stamina drain.
But for Imagawa Yoshimoto, who cultivated breathing techniques, she’d adapt in a day or two with no extra impact.
“Tetsu-kun, could you throw these at me?”
Shangshan Che caught the scrap iron, weighed it, shook his head, and raised a fingertip crackling with tiny electric arcs,
“If it blocks Onmyōdō, it should resist demon attacks too.”
That made sense.
If it blocked lightning of unknown speed, then bow and arrow, arquebus, or common demon attacks were no issue.
Imagawa Yoshimoto nodded: “Then Tetsu-kun, test it.”
As her words fell, Shangshan Che flicked, shooting a thin but visible bright electric light at her shoulder.
Zap…
Imagawa Yoshimoto blinked, feeling no discomfort.
But Shangshan Che saw clearly.
The electric light vanished instantly into faint ripples at the shoulder armor and armguard seam.
Zashiki Warashi wasn’t exaggerating.
Next, Shangshan Che slightly increased spiritual power output.
Even the strongest, enough to instantly kill a Half-Star Demon,
only caused a barely perceptible tingle over Imagawa Yoshimoto’s body, no real impact.
—Zashiki Warashi spoke true.
—Master Craftsman! She fully deserved the title!
Realizing this, Imagawa Yoshimoto turned, grasping Little God of Fortune’s hands—about her height—with both of hers.
She looked sincerely into Zashiki Warashi’s pure eyes and said,
“Zashiki, from now on, just put your name on the Imagawa Clan rolls—no need to stay fixed anywhere, just visit occasionally to forge weapons with our rare materials.
Land, position, techniques, or anything else… I’ll do my utmost to get them for you.
Would you accept such an invitation?”
Compared to last time, Imagawa Yoshimoto showed full sincerity, short of offering the Imagawa Head position.
Because she realized Zashiki Warashi wasn’t just “a great blacksmith.”
She was a “one-of-a-kind talent in the world,” like Shangshan Che.
Zashiki Warashi felt embarrassed by the overly enthusiastic tone.
She didn’t pretend to ponder but shook her head without hesitation: “Thanks for the invitation, Head, but sorry.”
Zashiki Warashi gently withdrew her hands, pressed one to her chest, closed her eyes, and said slowly,
“My heart tells me—
Zashiki, you want to humbly learn from more masters, grandmasters, and craftsmen surpassing you in any forging skill.
Zashiki, you want to measure the land with your own eyes, see a thousand varied sights.”
“Sorry to disappoint, but I’m just the type who can’t stay idle.”
Zashiki Warashi apologized, but her eyes and expression showed no wavering.
Imagawa Yoshimoto looked at her.
Wanting to go overseas and travel the whole world.
“Such grand ambitions, Zashiki Warashi… enviable.”
The Imagawa Head said Little God of Fortune’s full name, then fervently: “But next time we meet, I’ll invite you again.”
She declared firmly: “Prepare your refusal.”
Zashiki Warashi was speechless, glancing at Shangshan Che, who looked equally helpless.
—After all, Imagawa Yoshimoto used such fervent pursuit to pull him from Oda Nobunaga to the Imagawa Clan.
But next meeting…
When would the next meeting be?
On this long journey, how many could she luckily meet a second time?
Zashiki Warashi pursed her lips, then said to Imagawa Yoshimoto: “I’ll refuse again, so don’t be disappointed, Head.”
“Mm, definitely.” Imagawa Yoshimoto nodded lightly.
So Zashiki Warashi smiled.
She felt she’d met someone who could become a friend.
But Zashiki felt some regret too.
Because she probably wouldn’t meet again those not yet friends…
But life has few perfections.
Zashiki Warashi patted her cheeks, quietly exhaling her disappointment.
She looked at Shangshan Che, took a tinkling small golden ball bell from her pocket: “Tetsu… Mister, take this before parting.”
Shangshan Che approached, accepting without refusal the small bell identical to the one in her hair when they first met.
But unlike then, its surface was engraved with a faint “Tetsu.”
【Golden Ball Bell·Tetsu】
【Quality: Rare】
【Effect: Brings a negligible amount of good luck to the specific wearer.】
【—Wishing you martial fortune, Tetsu-sensei.】
“Who knows when we’ll meet again after this parting.”
Zashiki smiled, pointing at the bell: “Let this be a memento.”
Shangshan Che was about to say it wouldn’t be long.
But he suddenly recalled Zashiki Warashi had spent nearly a century alone in this ruined temple during the trial.
A hundred years… how long that is.
In that century, countless died and were born; even outside shifted from Nanboku-chō to Muromachi era.
Shangshan Che said no more, rummaging his storage bag for a reciprocal gift.
Moments later, he pulled out a ticket indistinguishable from a normal Shinkansen ticket.
—【Train’s Round-Trip Ticket】.
A precious item obtained after slaying Kisaragi Station; tear the anti-counterfeit mark to board the train to the Eternal World destination of choice.
Even Shangshan Che had kept it unused.
“This is?” Zashiki Warashi puzzled.
Shangshan Che explained: “This ticket lets you see me anytime after the trial.”
But Zashiki Warashi pulled back her hand,
“No need for such an item.”
—Because Zashiki knew accepting it meant always having a safe fallback for key future choices.
People instinctively look to safer paths in danger.
Zashiki didn’t want to unnecessarily test her resistance to temptations like soft candy.
Better not to take it.
Likewise, Zashiki Warashi didn’t want deep entanglements or heavy debts of favor.
Or she’d feel guilty someday far off.
So Little God of Fortune raised her palm like a wall, shaking her head:
“Tetsu-sensei, let’s meet again by fate on future journeys.”
“Fate… huh.”
Shangshan Che blinked.
“Yes, fate.”
Zashiki Warashi smiled faintly.
—If they met Tetsu-sensei a third time on this endless journey, it’d be an unbreakable bond.
That was Zashiki Warashi’s farewell.
Realizing this, Shangshan Che searched his storage bag a while longer.
Finally, he found the unremarkable item that retained perfect function despite long erosion.
—【Foreman’s Crowbar】.
Hm, surprisingly fitting for Zashiki the blacksmith.
Shangshan Che held the short but sturdy crowbar, offering it to Zashiki Warashi: “Then please take this crowbar.”
“Crowbar?”
Zashiki Warashi tilted her head.
“Swing it to easily open sealed doors.”
Shangshan Che placed the crowbar in Zashiki’s rough palm,
“I hope it blasts open all the ‘doors’ on your future path.”
Little God of Fortune raised her brows, gripped the cold heavy crowbar, and laughed: “Thanks, Tetsu-sensei! I love this parting gift.”
“Good.”
Shangshan Che withdrew his hand, knowing parting time had come.
“Then Zashiki, see you next time.”
“See you next time, Tetsu-sensei.”
Zashiki hugged the crowbar, smiling.
She thought this time she watched Hannya and Tetsu-sensei’s backs leave.
After Imagawa Yoshimoto also bid Zashiki farewell, the two stepped out the ruined temple doorway.
Zashiki Warashi followed to the doorway, eyes lighting up at King Kujira still lounging in the nearby woods.
She called loudly: “Little Pig!”
“Master Craftsman! What orders!”
King Kujira instantly stood.
Zashiki Warashi twirled her hair with a finger, looking sheepish: “Little Pig, can you go down the mountain with Tetsu-sensei and Imagawa Head?”
Gazing at the dejected King Kujira, Zashiki Warashi continued,
“I’ve noticed the demons outside caused huge disasters lately… If unsolved, even your and your friends’ habitat might vanish.
They’re here to deal with those demons, so can you go down and help them?”
King Kujira was silent, then bowed deeply: “If Master Craftsman commands, how could I refuse.”
“And soon I’ll leave here anyway, so no need to guard me day and night outside anymore.”
Zashiki Warashi cheerfully made a V-sign to the stunned King Kujira,
“From now on, you’re free.”
“Ma… Master Craftsman?”
Under the three’s gazes, King Kujira hurried over on strong hooves, stopping at the ruined temple doorway.
It stared dazedly at the once-towering, now tiny figure: “Master Craftsman, did I do something wrong? I can change…”
“No, nothing.”
Zashiki Warashi shook her head: “I’m just completing my trial and moving forward.”
She reached out as if to pet King Kujira’s head; it knelt promptly,
“These years, thanks for your hard work.”
“Just what I should do; no hardship at all…”
Zashiki Warashi said seriously,
“So, can you help Tetsu-sensei and them? Go purge these human-harming evil demons clean.”
Avoiding the trembling-pupiled King Kujira’s eyes, Zashiki Warashi looked away, closing hers.
She said softly,
“This is my final request, Little Pig.”
—Hope we all keep moving forward, and meet again in the future.
—Zashiki Warashi thought.
King Kujira’s mountain-like body heaved violently.
Finally, it rumbled a farewell,
“Master Craftsman, goodbye.”
As if no attachment, King Kujira stood straight, walked step-by-step shrinking toward Shangshan Che and the other nearby.
Then descended the mountain with them.
Zashiki Warashi stood watching their backs vanish in thin mist.
She turned to the now-desolate ruined temple behind, somewhat dazed.
“Hoo…”
Back to normal.
Zashiki Warashi thought.
She stood stunned a bit, set the crowbar aside, gripped the iron hammer she’d placed on the ground.
Now, time to forge again.
Zashiki Warashi recalled today’s details and sensations reinforcing Kaga Kiyomitsu.
After a long time, as countless times before, she took an unremarkable iron ingot, and in the silence alone raised the hammer.
Then smashed down hard!
Sparks illuminated Zashiki Warashi’s pupils and her unwavering resolve,
I will become a Master Craftsman.
—I will become the world’s best blacksmith!
……
Meanwhile.
King Kujira, shrunk to thirty or forty centimeters, led Shangshan Che and the other down Mount Yamajira through lingering mist.
“These two horses are yours too.”
King Kujira stopped before the two horses instantly awed but unsure by the pressure source, asking flatly.
Shangshan Che stepped forward, patted the horses’ foreheads: “Your Excellency King Kujira, can you restrain your aura?”
“Mm, you’re right.”
The mini pig paused, recalling the constant qi from its body needed reining in.
It had stayed in the mountains too long, almost forgetting.
As the little pig tensed and trembled, the horses’ tension quickly faded.
—Seems King Kujira is quite approachable if not involving Zashiki Warashi.
Shangshan Che sighed in relief.
Zashiki Warashi sending King Kujira to assist was a pleasant surprise, but arrogance or disobedience would ruin things.
Now, no such signs.
Mounting with Imagawa Yoshimoto, Shangshan Che pulled out the map but fell into brief thought.
—Key passes, ferries, and cities were marked clearly, but minor villages weren’t.
And from earlier, Imagawa Yoshimoto seemed unfamiliar with these villages too.
So Shangshan Che turned,
“King Kujira, do you know nearby village locations…”
“Call me ‘Kujira San.'” King Kujira interrupted, “I’m third among brothers and sisters.”
Then its short legs hopped, landing lightly on the saddle: “I know, of course.”
“Since young, I often played outside.”
King Kujira said casually behind Shangshan Che: “Once nearly caught and eaten by humans.”
You big “mountain whale” deliberately approaching radish-and-rice villagers—anyone not salivating was superhuman.
Shangshan Che shrugged: “If you’d spoken then, they probably wouldn’t dare eat you.”
“No lip service, human.”
King Kujira responded coldly, then sniffed viciously: “This stench… those damned invading demons!”
It said: “Go forward; I’ll guide on the way.”
Shangshan Che looked at the black-armored girl beside him.
“Let’s go.”
Imagawa Yoshimoto commanded briefly.
……
With King Kujira’s real-time navigation, less than an hour later, Shangshan Che’s group reached the first village.
Neigh~
Shangshan Che pulled reins, stopping the horses at the village entrance deliberately.
Such commotion—if anyone alive inside, someone would check soon.
Sure enough, in under two minutes, young villagers with pitchforks and rusty daito crowded the village head, eyeing him warily.
But villagers didn’t dare act rashly.
The pair’s attire exceeded their cognition.
Shangshan Che looked around, seeing no authority figure emerge.
He blinked, puzzled.
Village Chief dead?
Whatever, dead is dead.
Just slightly harder to communicate; such situations happen.
Shangshan Che gathered qi, calling loudly: “I’m the Imagawa Clan’s doctor! Hearing of the plague rampant in Mikawa Province, I’m here to heal the sick and save people!”
Seeing the villagers dithering, debating endlessly, Shangshan Che grew impatient.
He feigned leaving,
“If no one in the village is plagued, I’ll head to the next!”
This unified their divided opinions instantly.
“—Please wait, Doctor!”
Many villagers turned, running into the village with ragged weapons.
Shangshan Che dismounted, waiting at the entrance.
Imagawa Yoshimoto and King Kujira stayed mounted, silent.
Soon, six or seven flushed, comatose people—eyes shut—were carried out, laid on makeshift straw mats.
Men, women, old, young—all.
Shangshan Che glanced, seeing all plagued by the same symptoms.
Burning fever, rotting sores on various body parts.
Miasma Demon.
—The Affliction Kin he saw on To-ōmi Province roads could cause this.
But mild case; a few qi dispersals of their evil qi would cure fully.
“Doctor… please see.”
“Can they be saved?”
Surrounding villagers crowded tensely.
Shangshan Che asked: “Any other symptoms?”
Villagers exchanged looks, shook heads after brief talk.
“Then it’s simple.”
Shangshan Che condensed seven pure white blazing qi strands at his fingertips, shooting them into the comatose.
In moments, sweeping away the nascent, unrooted feverish evil qi!
“Done.”
He told the waiting villagers: “Next, take me around the village; I need to eliminate the disease source.”
Villagers didn’t react immediately.
Some stunned.
Others subconsciously questioned.
“Th-that’s it?”
“This doctor’s no prankster…”
“His attire doesn’t suggest that.”
The heated discussions vanished when the first patient groggily opened eyes, asking where this was.
Instantly, all villagers’ gazes at the nonchalant Shangshan Che changed.
Shock, joy, respect… and awe.
Since the Village Chief was among the comatose, upon waking and hearing, he bowed deeply to Shangshan Che,
“Your Excellency, follow me.”
The rest was uneventful.
Shangshan Che found one Half-Star 【Miasma Demon】 in the village, slaying it with Kaga Kiyomitsu—done.
—Far luckier than the village massacred by Fukahiko or Yamajira Village forced from Mikawa Province.
So each village’s Affliction Kin situation varied.
He made a few amulets, infused them with lightning power, gave to Village Chief as demon-warding.
Finally, he had Village Chief gather able villagers at the entrance—
Shangshan Che mounted, spoke so all heard,
“Villagers.”
He bowed slightly, gesturing to the silent, stern-faced Imagawa Yoshimoto:
“Sent to save you is this great and generous lord of Mikawa Province, Head of the Imagawa Clan, Lord Imagawa Yoshimoto!”
Imagawa Yoshimoto surveyed the gaunt villagers, breathed calmly: “From now, disease-spreading demons and this chaos will end!”
“I’ll ensure everyone lives better than before… no, better than ever!”
“Because—I, lord of Mikawa Province, Imagawa Yoshimoto, have come!”
She raised her hand high, declaring emphatically.
As words fell, a bolt from the blue thundered behind her, making villagers kneel in panic, faces mixing joy and fear.
……
Done, Shangshan Che and Imagawa Yoshimoto rode off to the next village, hurrying.
On horseback, Shangshan Che glanced curiously at the prompt after slaying the Miasma Demon—choosing soul spirit points over soul ash.
【Your Kaga Kiyomitsu·Blade of Parting gained Soul Spirit Points×1.】
After the prompt, seven of Kaga Kiyomitsu’s panel’s eight effects glowed faintly.
As if swaying hips saying—
Pick me.
Pick me!
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