Chapter 7: 【work To Die】 And 【moon Sand Sauce】
What came into view was a dirt road slowly flowing with mud, and a large area of steep gassho-zukuri eaves dripping with raindrops.
The air was filled with misty water vapor, and the low cottages on both sides had quite the architectural style of the early Edo period.
Edo Castle was really built during the Edo period…
Gassho-zukuri, simply put, is a crude wooden house with a roof covered in a huge pile of thatch.
The reason it’s called that is just to distinguish the homes of ordinary people from shops called “machiya” and the “nagaya” where artisans live.
But there’s one strange thing.
Why are all the houses built upside down?
Beside the laughing hannya whose head and body had separated at some point, the red-faced, glaring-eyed samurai carelessly withdrew his gaze.
Shangshan Che’s consciousness fell into darkness, and in his final moments, he could only curse in his heart:
“You tell me this TMD is increasing the probability of triggering hidden events…”
……
Massive water pressure came crashing in.
Shangshan Che, lying on the bed, suddenly opened his eyes, sat up drenched in sweat, tremblingly touched his neck while gasping for air, dry air flooding into his lungs.
Looking around again, the surroundings were not the inverted gassho-zukuri and muddy streets, but the familiar layout of his room.
Beside him there was no red-faced rōnin, but the two-dimensional patterned body pillow the original owner had bought early to hug while sleeping.
Shangshan Che breathed a sigh of relief, his racing heart gradually slowing.
He had only just learned that when a person’s head is severed, they can retain consciousness and thought for a few seconds, proving that Lavoisier from centuries ago really didn’t fool everyone.
Calling up the yellow enter Eternal World option, he could see behind it a glowing yellow （ Revival count: 1/2）, followed by a prompt that the revival count recovers once every 12 hours.
In other words, if he wanted, he could go get his head chopped off by that oni warrior once more.
After hesitating for a moment, Shangshan Che still didn’t click the yellow enter Eternal World option.
He wasn’t afraid of dying; he just didn’t have a fetish for getting beheaded.
Taking out his mobile phone to check the time, Shangshan Che found that real-world time had only passed a few minutes.
The time flow rate between reality and the Eternal World, even if not identical, was approximate… so it was better to sleep now and explore more after waking up.
That oni warrior who one-shot him couldn’t possibly have nothing better to do than guard the spawn point doorway every day.
And before sleeping, there was one thing he needed to test.
With a thought, Shangshan Che effortlessly took the Walker from his backpack into his hand.
—Items from the Eternal World could be brought to reality; he just didn’t know if real-world items could be brought to the Eternal World, or if he could play American iaijutsu.
Just as he was about to put away the token, the mobile phone on the bed vibrated, the screen lighting up.
A message popped up.
Shangshan Che was stunned, stared at the token in his hand for a moment, unsure if this was a coincidence.
Still, better not to put the token away for now.
【Work to Die】: To be fair, getting dragged out of bed by a call in the early morning to stand by the roadside blowing cold wind really isn’t a human life. I want to die, really want to die.
Looking at this somewhat unfamiliar LINE friend name, Shangshan Che closed his eyes and recalled, finally remembering who this was.
The original owner used to frequently visit various supernatural sites to test his courage; aside from accompanying his two good brothers, he himself was quite interested in supernatural events.
And this 【Work to Die】 was a corporate slave uncle he had met on a supernatural forum who had been working for years.
The two had a very good relationship; the other often complained to him about inhumane superiors and insane work hours, while he would ask the other about supernatural-related questions.
The two had even reached the point of being able to meet offline—except the original owner had social anxiety, only trash-talking online but never daring to meet netizens in person.
Just flipping through the chat history revealed a long string of very niche knowledge related to supernatural events and ghost gods.
But Shangshan Che didn’t fully believe this content.
Could a mere corporate slave netizen know so much? Then why be a corporate slave; better to become an onmyoji for an iron rice bowl.
【Work to Die】: At this point, time to eat first. （Bento.jpg）
Shangshan Che could tell at a glance that it was the cheapest near-expiry chicken cutlet bento from the 711 convenience store.
Eating classic pre-prepared meals during sudden overtime; he didn’t know if the old corporate slave’s liver could hold up.
After thinking, Shangshan Che decided to first test the depths of this netizen.
【Moon Sand Sauce】: I have a friend who wants to play kitsune-dog in the early morning; is it dangerous?
【Work to Die】: If you really want to court death, little fellow, I suggest you play in a crowded place.
【Moon Sand Sauce】: ?
【Work to Die】: Because more people die slower. Heh, just kidding. Better report to the police station first before playing, safer that way.
Police station?
Shangshan Che’s eyes narrowed.
Normal people encountering a supernatural event wouldn’t think of the police station; they’d go to a shrine for an amulet or find a temple master to resolve it.
Unless the other knew about the existence of the Special Affairs Office.
Shangshan Che drew in a sharp breath; this netizen seemed to actually have some real knowledge.
He recalled the red-faced samurai who had beheaded him in one stroke in the Eternal World, typed a string of descriptors, was about to send and ask when he saw the other’s profile picture go dark.
【Work to Die】: Gotta go, leader’s here, talk next time.
Helplessly, Shangshan Che could only send the message first.
After waiting two seconds with it still “unread,” Shangshan Che put down the mobile phone, toyed with the Walker in his hand, and recalled the effects of the Walker identity:
【Walker: Since ancient times, Walkers have measured the history and land of the Eternal World with their feet, and you do the same. Effect: Increase probability of triggering hidden events.】
Opening a door and getting one-shot by an elite monster, picking up a mobile phone and discovering the online corporate slave uncle he’d chatted with for over a year actually had real goods in his belly.
If this was called a coincidence, he’d never believe it.
As for why Work to Die was called a “corporate slave uncle”?
Someone who smoked daily, drank heavily every few days, had an inverted day-night schedule, and often complained to him that the leader wasn’t human—definitely a single fat corporate slave with over ten years of tenure.
Shangshan Che didn’t think more about it and directly closed his eyes to start sleeping.
In a few hours he had to go to school, and before that, he still needed to explore Edo Castle once more.
……
“He uses the same LINE ID online and in reality.”
In the meeting room, Nanjo Emi expressionlessly put down the two mobile phones in her hand, looking at the identical friend “Moon Sand Sauce” among them, feeling an indescribable strangeness.
Normally, names with “sauce” or “hime” are what girls use online, right?
Didn’t expect this little fellow Shangshan Che to seem so proper but actually be that kind of person.
Flipping the mobile phone face down, Nanjo Emi then saw the middle-aged man with a sword at his waist, walking in from the doorway, glance over the people present:
“Everyone here?”
The man nodded, stopping the onmyo junior officials who wanted to stand and bow to him, and spoke briskly: “No nonsense.”
Nanjo Emi, unmoving in her seat, glanced at the other three onmyo junior officials, thinking these guys really had no eye for it.
Respecting seniors in the workplace is good, but you also need to pay attention to the “senior’s” personality.
For example, their direct superior, the onmyo major official Kondo Yuya who oversees the Arakawa Ward Onmyo-ryo, hated these empty formalities.
“First, the general location of the Friendship Club is clear; who will handle it…”
“I’ll take full responsibility.”
Before the other colleagues could speak, Nanjo Emi raised her hand.
As soon as the words fell, she seemed to feel the murderous gazes from the other colleagues.
As if saying: Rolling Dog really deserves to die!
Kondo Yuya frowned indifferently: “Nanjō, you planning to use ordinary people as bait?”
“No.” Nanjo Emi pointed to Hasegawa standing behind her: “Him. The reward is promotion to 【tokugyosei】 after this mission.”
“Please give me your guidance.”
Hasegawa stepped forward, grinned, and showed an open smile to everyone in the meeting room.
The meeting room went quiet for several seconds.
Kondo Yuya said no more, just nodded: “Next, about the First Wave.”
Everyone present showed puzzled expressions.
The plan for responding to the arrival of the First Wave should have been set months ago.
Kondo Yuya seemed to see through everyone’s thoughts, so he knocked his knuckles on the table and spoke seriously: “Just over ten minutes ago, an urgent message came from the Astronomy Path.”
“—The Eternal World has abnormal turbulence; the First Wave is imminent.”
New book period begging for follow reads; follow reads are everything!
Please everyone try not to stockpile the book, begging you!
