Chapter 56: Kisaragi Station, Unlocked!
The doors on both sides opened.
Shangshan Che first looked outside, and only after confirming there were no demons or supernatural phenomena did he allow Kitano Runa to get up and leave.
That high school student Miyamoto Ryo was still the first to rush out of the train regardless, having learned nothing from his narrow escape from death just moments ago.
If there were demons hiding outside the door, he would surely have let out an embarrassing cry by now.
Hattori Ayako was different; after observing for a while, she confirmed this was Nippori Station in reality, then came to Shangshan Che’s side and handed him a note with a phone number using both hands.
But this action made Kujo Tsubaki, who had also prepared a note behind her, pause, tapping her cane discontentedly.
Since someone had already given him her phone number, doing the same would put her at a disadvantage; perhaps Mr. Hannya would forget her the moment he turned away.
No choice, time to try a different approach.
Hattori Ayako said with a serious face: “If Mr. Hannya has any difficulties in the future, I will do everything in my power to help!”
Shangshan Che silently accepted it.
After bowing to him once more, Hattori Ayako woke up the drunk man who had slept the whole way and dragged him outside by force.
Then she ran back in and forcibly dragged out Makiya Hitomi, who was still sitting, sparking a quarrel between the two.
Finally, it was Kujo Tsubaki.
Tapping her guide cane lightly, she gracefully walked to Shangshan Che’s side and said calmly: “Your Excellency Hannya, I boarded this train as part of a two-star investigation commission from the Kyoto Onmyo-ryo. Afterward, the Onmyo-ryo will likely designate this train as a key object of attention.”
Shangshan Che was slightly taken aback, realizing she was reminding him as a gesture of goodwill.
So he replied: “Thank you.”
“Then, Mr. Hannya, farewell.”
Kujo Tsubaki’s lips curved slightly, and then she slowly stepped off this train that had nearly taken her life multiple times in the past week.
The train started up again, but there were no incidents to disrupt the journey this time.
Everything went surprisingly smoothly.
However, thanks to this train ride, Shangshan Che truly felt the weight of that saying in the Eternal World: “From different eras, fallen into one bag.”
The Dean hesitated repeatedly before getting off at a quiet village called Inunaki Village; the Oni General laughed boldly and strode alone into the bustling, prosperous Heian-kyo.
During this time, a stunning woman wearing a mask and a bizarre-looking Tsuchigumo boarded the train, but without exception, they sat quietly in their seats like real passengers.
—If you ignored the Tsuchigumo demon occupying an entire row of seats.
“Next stop, Kisaragi Station…”
“Next stop, Kisaragi Station…”
Shangshan Che stood up.
This time, it was his turn to get off.
After confirming no troublesome demons from the train were getting off at his station, Shangshan Che took Two-Foot Adult by the hand and stepped over the threshold onto the ground of Kisaragi Station.
Instantly, a bone-chilling cold spread through Shangshan Che’s entire body.
Two-Foot Adult sneezed: “Sniff—Che Adult, something’s off here.”
“It’s supposed to be off.”
Shangshan Che circulated his Ki-Gong Technique, dispersing the eerie chill before looking around.
—Forest and railroad tracks; as far as the eye could see, aside from the Kisaragi Station with a small shop in front of him for some reason, there were only these two monotonous sights.
The seemingly endless tracks stretched along both sides of the road before vanishing into faint mist, while the forest rustled faintly.
But that wasn’t Shangshan Che’s concern right now.
The new shrine was already at Kisaragi Station; lighting it should complete this area’s unlock task.
“Two-Foot Adult, let’s find the shrine together.”
“Po!”
The two searched back and forth through Kisaragi Station several times, finally discovering the shrine hanging on the overhead railing right above where Shangshan Che had stepped off the train.
The dusty little wooden cage was empty inside, instead covered in spiderwebs, like a discarded item.
Talk about missing what’s right under your nose.
Shangshan Che clicked his tongue and reached out to touch the shrine.
Two-Foot Adult watched curiously from the side, wanting to touch it but not daring to.
In an instant, the shrine emitted a faint glow, and the prompt appeared.
【You have lit the shrine at Kisaragi Station.】
【Your area unlock task is complete!】
【You obtained Special Transfer Use ×1, Eternal World Train intel ×1.】
Special Transfer Use, as the name implied, allowed his main body to transfer to the corresponding shrine’s location in the Mortal Realm—for example, transferring to the Edo Castle shrine would take him straight home.
Similar rewards were within Shangshan Che’s expectations.
The train intel piqued his interest, so he tapped to view it.
【1. Each train’s route is not completely fixed.】
【2. Terrifying things happen when the carriage is full and the power goes out; get off immediately.】
The intel consisted of only two points, yet contained plenty of information.
First, the phrase “not completely” was subtle; Shangshan Che guessed the train probably passed through popular spots like Heian-kyo and Sengoku ruins every trip, while abandoned stations like Kisaragi Station might only see it after a long time.
Next was the intel Kujo Tsubaki had once told him, but now with the added condition of “power outage.”
Shangshan Che rubbed his chin, wondering—if he could get the train schedule, could the Eternal World Train become a new, reliable form of safe transportation?
After thinking it over, he decided against it for now.
No other reason; travel time was too long.
In the time it took to sit on a train for a few hours, Shangshan Che could die twice over.
Pushing train-related info aside for the moment, Shangshan Che checked Kisaragi Station’s area description.
【Current area unlocked: Kisaragi Station（Two-Star）】
【Main Quest One: Explore Kisaragi Station at least 80%, current exploration progress: 0%】
【Main Quest Two: Save Ye Chun.】
【Main Quest Three: Exorcise the supernatural phenomena Horse-Brained Music, Taiko Bell, High-Speed Grandpa.】
【Side Quest One: Tunnel to the Eternal World—They say any vehicle that passes through this tunnel enters the other side of the world.】
【Side Quest Two: Mountain Inn—There’s said to be an inn near Kisaragi Station; if you’re without a place to stay, why not check in?】
Still the classic tasks of exploring the map, exorcising supernatural phenomena, plus two side quests… right?
Shangshan Che focused on Main Quest Two.
Ye Chun.
He remembered that name vividly, as in one version of the Kisaragi Station supernatural phenomenon, the protagonist Ren Shi’s real name was exactly that.
But he recalled that the Kisaragi Station supernatural phenomenon had only spread in 2004.
And now it was 2024.
Yet the Main Quest told him to save Ye Chun.
In other words—the protagonist of the Kisaragi Station supernatural phenomenon, Ye Chun, an ordinary person, had survived in this two-star map for twenty years without help?
Shangshan Che found it hard to imagine.
Never mind anything else; just annual colds and fevers would give Ye Chun plenty to endure.
Let alone everything else.
But if Ye Chun had gained some opportunity and become a three-star or four-star supernatural phenomenon herself, then surviving this long was possible.
That wouldn’t require saving, though.
He had no idea how to approach this Main Quest for now.
Plus, the supernatural phenomena in Main Quest Three weren’t marked with star levels this time, giving Shangshan Che a headache.
Was this a strategy map or a puzzle game…?
“Two-Foot Adult, head back into the Ksitigarbha Statue for now.” Shangshan Che patted the girl’s head, looking at her sleepy eyes. “You’ve worked hard during this time.”
“Not hard at all, Che Adult.”
Two-Foot Adult grabbed the brim of her hat with both hands and smiled: “Actually, just being with Che Adult is my greatest relaxation and reward.”
The smile was so genuine that even Shangshan Che couldn’t tell if it was a joke or the truth.
Even so, he took out the Ksitigarbha Statue: “Alright, time to go back.”
“Popo~”
Two-Foot Adult blew him a kiss and slipped into the mini Ksitigarbha Statue.
With Two-Foot Adult settled, Shangshan Che began his transfer.
Transfer location—Aragawa Ghost Village shrine, aka the school playground.
After all, Shangshan Che didn’t want his sudden appearance to startle Old Man Ghost and cause some unforeseen incident.
The transfer fluctuations came and went quickly; when Shangshan Che opened his eyes again, he saw the bright sun in the sky.
Wait, it was daytime?
Shangshan Che was startled.
He clearly remembered only spending three or four hours on the train.
It should still be the middle of the night right now.
