Chapter 41: Lady Nishaku Two-shaku Two-sun Two-bu
Hachishaku-sama stiffened in place as if struck by lightning.
She stared at the evil spirit’s face that suddenly appeared before her, her thoughts instantly becoming a chaotic mess.
Shangshan Che, however, gave the other no time to react at all. He guessed that Hachishaku-sama was at least One-Star or above, so even subduing her would have to wait until after beating her into submission.
He fully unleashed the Ki-Gong Technique, pulling trails of afterimages from Kaga Kiyomitsu’s blade amid a explosive shout.
This sword, with divine speed from over 35 Physique points—can you block it!
Hachishaku-sama’s answer was—
No reaction!
That’s right, neither resistance nor dodging; she was simply pinned in place by the terrifying smile and roar, forcibly taking this sword head-on!
The blade sliced through Hachishaku-sama’s abdomen almost without resistance, making her entire body fade several degrees. Perhaps just a few more swords would exorcise Hachishaku-sama, this supernatural phenomenon.
“popopo——!”
Hachishaku-sama let out a cry of pain, while Shangshan Che abruptly halted the motion of the next sword, somewhat baffled as he examined the motionless Hachishaku-sama.
What is this situation?
Shangshan Che was also a bit confused; this was the first time he had seen a supernatural phenomenon that just took hits without fighting back.
Could it be because of my 9 Charm points? Or is the renowned Hachishaku-sama actually the latter type from the Ace Admirer sect?
When Shangshan Che finally shifted his gaze to the top of Hachishaku-sama’s head, he suddenly understood.
It turned out that the one-and-a-half star above this Hachishaku-sama’s head was completely hollow. She was now almost equivalent to a Scattered Wandering Soul; surviving his sword was already proof of her tough Vitality.
Looking more closely, Shangshan Che could even see the【near-dissipating Hachishaku-sama（Zero-Star）】 label.
Now, everything made sense.
Hachishaku-sama hadn’t dared to approach earlier not because of courtesy before force, but because she knew her own Strength was weak and needed to wait for an opportunity.
Likewise, when he had come here incarnated as Laughing Hannya earlier, it wasn’t that Hachishaku-sama thought his Charm was too low—she simply hadn’t dared to appear!
With this thought, Shangshan Che stood up, pressing the blade to Hachishaku-sama’s neck and saying: “I ask, you answer. If you don’t answer before I count to ten, the blade comes down.”
“—Why is your Strength so weak?”
Hachishaku-sama stared at the terrifying Hannya Mask before her, regretting her carelessness, and let out a sobbing “popopo……”
“Eight!” The blade drew a fraction closer to her neck, as Kaga Kiyomitsu pleasantly vibrated.
Shangshan Che shouted: “Crying? Crying counts toward the time!”
Hachishaku-sama instantly stopped crying, sobbing with teary eyes: “Because… after the Factory landed not long ago, no one in Arakawa Village remembered me anymore, and no one’s come here in a long time. If a supernatural phenomenon is forgotten by people, it can only dissipate.”
The Factory—that bloodsweat Factory exploiting workers, the root of all evil in Aragawa Ghost Village.
Shangshan Che narrowed his eyes, pulling the blade back two fractions: “Ten more seconds. Continue from the Factory onward.”
Hachishaku-sama’s body trembled lightly: “After that Factory appeared, the Farmland was polluted, the residents died or fled or went mad, and the original Village was abandoned just like that.”
“Do you know about that Factory?”
“I do……”
“Who’s inside?”
“Farmers, overseers supervising the farmers, and the Factory Owner.”
“Tell me in detail.”
“The farmers were all forcibly dragged in to work. The four overseers are stronger and more cruel than the original me, and the terrifying Factory Owner only returns to inspect the Factory once every few months.”
“How many such Factories are there?”
“I heard there are several hundred……”
Over a hundred Zero-Star workers, four overseers at least One-and-a-Half Star or above, and a mysterious Factory Owner, with possibly even an Eternal World Capitalist alliance behind them.
Hachishaku-sama’s words made Shangshan Che once again temporarily abandon thoughts of acting against the Factory.
In these turbulent times, it’s best to avoid stirring up trouble proactively.
But from this, Hachishaku-sama really was quite pitiful; as a household-name supernatural phenomenon in the Mortal Realm, she had fallen to the point of nearly dissipating in the Eternal World due to being forgotten.
Shangshan Che pondered for a moment, then heard Hachishaku-sama beside him say in a sobbing voice: “Ask quickly, I’ll tell you anything.”
Shangshan Che found it a bit amusing, so he dispelled the incarnation state, revealing his 9-Charm face again as he asked: “Then let me ask you: are you willing to join me in doing big things from now on?”
Seeing the ferocious Hannya before her suddenly revert to that handsome swordsman, Hachishaku-sama was momentarily entranced.
Shangshan Che raised an eyebrow, not expecting this Hachishaku-sama who had stayed in Arakawa Village during the Meiji era to look almost identical to the more widely known manga image of the present day.
—White hat, black hair, delicately beautiful features.
—More importantly, she eats Charm Attribute.
Hachishaku-sama stopped crying. She thought there was actually such a good thing, so she nodded vigorously like a pecking chick: “Yes, I’m willing!”
Anyway, even if left alone, she would dissipate again in not long.
Moreover, Hachishaku-sama figured she couldn’t beat this swordsman who could turn into Hannya anyway, so she might as well submit quickly and lie back to enjoy it.
As for why it’s the swordsman turning into Hannya rather than Hannya disguising as a swordsman… the answer is that worldview follows facial features.
“But I’ve already become a land-bound spirit of Arakawa Village.” Hachishaku-sama pointed to the shattered Ksitigarbha Statue fallen in the shrine and said, “Without a【Familiar】, I can’t leave the range of Arakawa Village.”
“That’s simple.”
Shangshan Che took out a mini Ksitigarbha Statue from the Storage Bag, placed it before Hachishaku-sama, and lightly shook Kaga Kiyomitsu’s gleaming Blade Tip: “Will you enter yourself, or should I help you in?”
“No need for your help, I can move myself.”
Before Hachishaku-sama could even be shocked, she saw the swaying blade and hurriedly forced a stiff smile at him, turning into a wisp of mist and drilling into the Ksitigarbha Statue.
The next moment, a Prompt popped up before Shangshan Che’s eyes.
【One-and-a-Half Star supernatural phenomenon “Hachishaku-sama” is attempting to become your Shikigami voluntarily. Agree?】
【You chose to agree.】
【You subdued One-and-a-Half Star supernatural phenomenon “Hachishaku-sama”!】
【You have subdued your first Shikigami, rewarded with Item “Universal Familiar Prototype” ×1!】
【Side Quest One—Damage to the Ksitigarbha Statue completed!】
【You may choose to claim this Side Quest’s reward immediately! Or wait to claim accumulated rewards after completing multiple quests!】
【You have chosen to accumulate quest rewards.】
About one or two minutes later, the shaking Ksitigarbha Statue fully stabilized, indicating Hachishaku-sama’s success in using it as her “Familiar.”
Generally, if an Onmyoji wants to subdue a supernatural phenomenon or demon as a Shikigami, they must first use Onmyōdō to form a Contract with it, then use a compatible Familiar to contain the Shikigami.
In this process, not only is Onmyōdō hard to learn, but finding a Familiar that can contain the target supernatural phenomenon or demon is also extremely difficult.
This also led many Onmyoji to use parts of their own Body as the Shikigami’s Familiar, continuously consuming their physical Body and lifespan to contain the Shikigami.
Feeling a subtle yet incredibly resilient Sensing link added to his heart, Shangshan Che tried activating it, speaking inwardly:
“Come out, Hachishaku-sama!”
The next moment, the mini Ksitigarbha Statue glowed faintly, and Hachishaku-sama, now Shangshan Che’s Shikigami, emerged again.
Shangshan Che stared at the white-hatted, black-haired little loli standing before him—not even reaching his leg height—and was momentarily stunned.
This is… the Hachishaku-sama from just now?
Shangshan Che measured her height and found it was roughly a quarter of her original.
“This is clearly Nishaku-sama, right!”
At this time, Hachishaku… oh no, now it should be called Nishaku-sama.
Nishaku-sama also noticed her own change and let out a soft, surprised “popopo?!”
At this moment, a translucent Prompt appeared beside Nishaku-sama.
【Click to view Shikigami Panel】
Shangshan Che clicked with his Thought.
