Tokyo: The Player Behind the Scenes.

Chapter 149, Section 147: The Demon Blade Emerges (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Oshima Umeta has been acting very strangely these past few days.

During class, he stares intently at the podium, seemingly fixated on something. But upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that his pupils are completely unfocused, and he doesn't react even when someone walks right in front of him.

The teacher should at least try to manage such blatant daydreaming, but he was daydreaming too much, as if he were looking at his great-grandmother.

This gave the teacher a chill down her spine, and she wanted to seek help from an expert, so she couldn't help but call the other party's family to inquire about the situation.

He only learned upon asking that Oshima's mother was hospitalized and in serious condition. He was speechless and had to coax her, suggesting that she rest for a few days before returning to school.

"So, Oshima, Oshima? Are you listening?"

"Ah, oh, teacher, please tell me."

In the teachers' office, the class teacher saw Oshima's dazed look and sighed helplessly. It turned out that all his words had been wasted.

However, seeing his mother so distraught and dejected because of her serious illness, he was truly a filial son who moved people to tears. He couldn't help but think of his own mother, and his eyes reddened slightly.

What can I do? Forgive him.

"In short, your teacher thinks you should rest well these few days. Don't worry too much about your studies. I will organize a study group in the middle of the month and will arrange for you to study with my grandson's classmate. If you work hard with him, you will catch up soon."

".good."

"Then take three days off to rest and adjust. You can come back to class on the 14th. If it needs to be extended, just have your father tell me."

"it is good"

Oshima spent his three-day vacation in a daze, but he couldn't feel happy at all.

My mind is filled with images of myself killing people uncontrollably in the game these past few days.

Again and again, the crashing waves washed over his mind.

Once the game ended, the bloodshed, pleas for mercy, severed limbs, despair, and hateful gazes seemed to collapse, the world tremble, and all sorts of emotions turned into a vast ocean, engulfing everything.

The only time he escapes this state is when he's in the game every day, holding a knife but not killing anyone.

The demon sword will enhance his adaptability, while his autonomous rationality will prevail, allowing him to avoid most emotions and focus on problem-solving.

But at the same time, it forced him to kill more people, plunging him into an even deeper abyss in reality.

This is an endless loop.

The only way is for him to get through it in reality.

Make yourself understand that those are just game characters, and no matter how realistic they are, they are still fake. Killing game characters is not a crime, and there is no need to feel guilty.

Besides, this wasn't his intention; he was being manipulated by the demon sword, which might be part of the game mechanics!
"Hey, be careful."

He had just turned around to leave the office when he almost bumped into a teacher.

"Sorry, teacher."

The teacher didn't say anything, but led a very pretty and gentle student behind her to his seat: "Muramasa-kun, this is the document; you need to sign some more."

Oshima was about to leave the office quietly, but the name Muramasa triggered his PTSD. He twitched as if he had been electrocuted and then straightened up.

His teacher was so startled that he almost jumped up as well, as if he saw his bonus turning into a shower of cold snowflakes falling from the sky. He quickly rushed to support him.

"Oshima, what's wrong? Are you alright?!"

"It's okay, I'm fine! Thank you, teacher."

Oshima glanced at the girl surnamed Muramasa, and she looked back at him.

He quickly took a few deep breaths, forced an awkward smile, and hurriedly left.

He wouldn't go so far as to assume that a fellow student with the surname Muramasa has any connection to the characters or events in the game just because he heard that the person is from the same school.

Although there is indeed a deep connection.

"What a strange student. Hmm, that's good. By the way, I heard you took PE class with us?"

"Yes, I really enjoy exercising with everyone."

"Okay, take care of yourself, don't push yourself, and tell the PE teacher if you have any problems."

"Ok."

Muramasa Taki walked out of the office, glanced in the direction where Oshima had disappeared, and looked thoughtful.

The other person suddenly became excited after hearing his surname.

Is it
Keeping her suspicions to herself, Taki returned to Class 3, Grade 1 without changing her expression. It was just after school, and quite a few students were still in the classroom, slowly packing up their things and chatting about trivial matters around the seat of the core member of their social circle.

"Muramasa-san, are you a member of any clubs?"

"May I call you Takii?"

When someone saw her return, they smiled and gathered around her; she seemed to be quite popular among the girls.

Perhaps it's because she speaks pleasantly and gives the impression that she values ​​those she's communicating with.

The boys who tried to strike up a conversation were squeezed out and scratched their faces in frustration.

However, today is a day of great peace, and she and Riyan have agreed that they would go to Honmyoji Temple to have their blood drawn every other day of a day of great peace.

"I've only joined the literary society for now."

"Sure, I'll call you Saya too."

After chatting for a while, Taki said goodbye to her classmates and went to the literature club to greet the familiar club members.

This was at the request of Master Riyan, who wanted her to interact more with her classmates.

She started studying at Komagome Academy in middle school. Because she missed most of the first half of the semester at high school, she is now more familiar with the literature club and her former classmates.

She preferred swordsmanship to reading, but she did not join the school's kendo club.

".Thousand-leaf mulberry".

She saw Chiba Shion sitting by the window, hesitated for a moment, but still took the initiative to go up and greet her.

Upon hearing this, Chiba raised his eyelids to glance at Takii, nodded in response, and then lowered his head to continue reading. Takii was used to Chiba's indifference, and after saying hello, he was about to leave when he caught a glimpse of the book cover.

Love is War: 99 Techniques to Get Your Crush to Confess His Feelings

What an unexpected type!

In the past, she would see Chiba reading foreign books.

After chatting with her friends for a while, Takii left the school and boarded the train to Honmyoji Temple.

"Is it closed today?"

Takii was quite surprised to see the closed gates when she arrived at Honmyoji Temple. Honmyoji Temple should be open at this time. Although she only comes about once every two weeks, she lives not far away and passed by here a few days ago when the gates were open at the normal time.

She called Riyan, but he didn't answer, so she called Richeng.

“Three days ago, Master Riyan told me that the time had come and asked me to take my disciples to the temple to retrieve the robes and relics of Master Nichiren. But alas, they are unwilling. I have been begging at the gate for three days now.”

"It's laughable that even today, various sects still firmly believe in the ancient records that the human world was once teeming with demons and monsters, and that only Master Riyan and I remain."

"Even the recent extraordinary events have not made them completely believe our Honmyoji Temple's explanation."

After hearing this, Takii immediately sensed something was wrong.

Was the critical moment that Master Riyan spoke of another unusual movement by the demon sword? But why didn't she sense it?
Logically speaking, she should still be the Ninth Muramasa, so she should be able to sense something unusual about the Myōhō Muramasa.

“Master Richeng, why don’t you come back and take a look? I feel that something is wrong with the situation at the temple.”

"Alright, I understand. I'll bring my disciples back now."

Taki put down the phone and looked at the walls of Honmyoji Temple, feeling that the silence inside was terrifying.

Hopefully, it won't be as she imagines.

She tried her best to maintain her usual calm demeanor, but she couldn't even remember what she looked like normally. Her mind was filled with the whispers of the demon sword from the game.

At first, she could only learn about how terrifying the demon sword was from her father's teachings and from Riyan's words, and how difficult it was to resist once she was chosen by it.

She was thinking the worst about everything, but once she entered the game and took on the role of the ancestor, she realized that the demon sword was far more terrifying than she had imagined.

In particular, the murderous intent that surged wildly at anyone she saw made it increasingly difficult for her to resist.

At this rate, she doubted she would be able to reach Edo Castle without killing anyone.

"Namo Myoho Renge Kyo. Beautiful lady, are you a follower of the Nichiren sect?"

Her thoughts were interrupted by the slightly flippant words spoken in front of her.

Looking up, I saw a blond foreign man with a camera in hand and a bright, sunny smile on his face.

He had a very standard American smile, and his clothes seemed casual but were actually well-coordinated. From his attire to his actions and demeanor, he gave people a very comfortable feeling.

But if you encounter someone with a keen eye, they can tell at a glance that it was deliberate.

"I originally planned to take photos of various temples in Tokyo and upload them, then categorize them by sect. Unfortunately, this temple, Myoji, has been closed for several days in a row. It's such a shame. Do you know what happened?"

Taki shook his head, his expression gentle but his eyes distant: "I'm sorry, I'm not quite sure what happened either."

"Oh, I see. Okay then. Sorry to bother you, have a good time." The man sensed the unfamiliarity in the other person's expression, raised an eyebrow, and left with a smile without pressing the matter further.

Taki watched as the other person took a few more photos around the wall, then, camera in hand, disappeared around the corner. Judging by the direction, they were heading to the nearby Jigenji Temple.

Half an hour later, Richeng returned with a group of dejected disciples.

"You've kept me waiting, benefactor."

“Master Richeng, please open the door. I’m worried something might have happened inside.”

Ri Cheng's expression was serious. On his way back, he also called Ri Yan Shangren. The call was connected, but the other party's tone...
"Richeng, in the future, when you encounter problems, you should think more for yourself."

When he called back, the phone was switched off.

Ri Cheng recalled the hoarse voice of Master Ri Yan when he answered the phone, unlocked the door, and slowly pushed it open.

"Faming, Fakong, you two guard the door and don't let anyone in."

"Yes, senior brother."

It was so quiet, so very quiet.

Previously, in order to suppress the demon sword, someone needed to constantly chant scriptures, but now even the birdsong is gone, leaving only the sound of wind chimes being tinkled.

Ri Cheng unconsciously quickened his pace, walked through the courtyard, and made his way to the main hall, where the door was tightly closed.

He calmed his breathing.

“Master Nichiren, your disciple Nichiren is incompetent and failed to obtain the sacred robe and bowl of Nichiren. Please punish me, Master.”

"Please punish me, Master!"

The disciples behind them repeated it.

Takii sniffed the air, and a familiar scent made her expression change drastically. Forgetting all etiquette, she quickly stepped past Ri Cheng and forcefully pushed open the palace door.

“Shi—”

Ri Cheng's actions and words were frozen in place, his eyes wide open, staring in disbelief at the scene before him.

The disciples behind them were even more panicked, shouting and some even collapsed to the ground in fright, retreating away.

The blood-stained statue of Shakyamuni Buddha stands high above, calmly observing everything, without sorrow or joy.

"It's over."

As if her strength was being slowly drained away, Takii staggered a few steps, leaning against the door frame, muttering to herself.

"A demonic sword has been born."

　Thank you to "空佑天" for the 500-coin reward.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)