Tokyo: I can enlighten all obsessions

"Hey? The Metropolitan Police Department? This is Shinjuku..."

Kamiki Tetsu's voice was eerily calm, completely ignoring the hands clinging to his legs, and he continued speaking into the microphone:

"Someone is causing trouble at the convenience store, dressed as a shrine maiden in the middle of the night, and their mental state is extremely unstable..."

"Shut up! Let me finish!"

Kujo Hisana was practically going crazy.

She disregarded her ladylike reserve and practically clung to Kamiki Tetsu's legs.

Just as she desperately raised her head, trying to snatch Kamiki Tetsu's phone, her gaze was suddenly drawn to Kamiki Tetsu's hand hanging by his side.

To be precise, I was drawn to the utility knife that emitted an eerie blue-purple glow.

Although it looked like a cheap plastic toy, as a descendant of the Kujo family, she could clearly feel the chilling aura emanating from the blade.

"The aura emanating from that knife..."

Kujou Hina's voice suddenly changed, and the finger pointing at the knife trembled violently:

"That's a cursed artifact, isn't it? It's definitely a cursed artifact!!"

Kamiki Tetsu paused slightly as he gave the address over the phone, then looked down at the woman who was making such a fuss.

"This is a utility knife."

"Since you can use cursed tools without any side effects and even kill that real demon single-handedly, it means you've long since transcended the realm of humanity!"

Kujo Himeko seemed to have grasped at a last straw, speaking so fast it was as if she were reciting a sales pitch she had memorized perfectly:

"You just started experiencing symptoms, right? You're an unregistered spiritual being, aren't you?!"

She took a deep breath and shouted at Toru Kamiki:

"According to the Special Disability Management Act, individuals like you with sudden high-risk conditions can receive a substantial initial diagnosis subsidy simply by registering with the countermeasures office!!"

"That's a special government-issued stability maintenance and appeasement fund to prevent you from retaliating against society due to uncontrolled power! No need to sign a contract, no need to work, just sign a form to receive it!"

"beep."

A soft sound.

Without hesitation, Kamiki Tetsu turned off his phone screen.

He crouched down, meeting Kujo Hina's gaze, his tone becoming kinder than ever before:

"Tell me more about it."

"How much exactly is this... this compensation money to prevent retaliation against society?"

Kujou Hisana felt that suffocating gaze, her throat went dry, and she swallowed hard.

Under the watchful eye of this money-grubbing man, she felt like a tuna placed on a chopping board at Tsukiji Market, waiting to be labeled "half price".

"Um... I'm not really sure about the exact amount..."

Seeing that Kamiki Tetsu's face, which had just brightened, was visibly turning gloomy again, and that finger on the dial pad was starting to slide again, she was so frightened that she waved her hands and shouted:

"But! But I can assure you, this payment is based on the severity of your lesions!"

To prove she wasn't lying, she cautiously extended her finger and pointed to the utility knife in Kamiki Tetsu's hand, which was still emitting a bluish-purple glow:

"The initial symptoms of the vast majority of those with spiritual disabilities are simply hallucinations or mild physical abnormalities, which are not even enough to withstand a single attack from that evil spirit."

"But you're different! You not only killed it, but you also directly created this heterogeneous weapon that has a physical form and even the power to kill according to its own rules!"

"This is an extremely rare 'manifestation-based' case in the diagnosis of spiritual disorders!"

Kujo Hime said firmly, as if afraid the police would arrive if she hesitated even a second:

"This is proof of high risk and high potential! The Countermeasures Office's rating will definitely not be low! They might even be considered a seeded candidate with the [Fourth-Rank Calamity] qualification!"

"So... that hush money must have been very high! Extremely high!"

"Conjuration...?"

Kamiki Tetsu listened to the girl's confident assurance but did not respond immediately. He repeated the word thoughtfully.

His gaze swept impassively over the heavy execution blade in his hand, its obsidian-like hilt shimmering with a bluish-purple light.

wrong.

In her view, this utility knife might be a so-called awakened cursed tool, but it was definitely not the kind of "accompanying weapon" ability she described.

Kamiki Tetsu recalled the line of dark blue notification:

Strong emotions and obsessions were detected.

Should I offer guidance?

Kamiki Tetsu stared at the [Tax-Inclusive Execution Blade] in his hand, which was emitting a ghostly blue light, and his brain was working at an unprecedented speed in that instant.

Since the evolution of this cheap utility knife was inspired by the intense anger that erupted when I was on the verge of death.

The coin was a testament to the vengeful spirit's extreme resentment towards its fate during its lifetime.

So, does that mean that any item that carries a sufficiently heavy "obsession" or "emotion" can be transformed into equipment with extraordinary power in his hands?

Following this line of reasoning, Kamiki Tetsu's heart began to beat faster involuntarily.

If cheap items from convenience stores and relics from low-level vengeful spirits can be used to create equipment of this caliber...

What if you went to those historical museums that have witnessed a century of history?

Those armors that have left their mark in history books, the weapons that have been wielded by countless famous generals, or the ancient mirrors that were used day and night by the ancients...

Those things carry the strong will and obsession of tens of thousands of people!

If only those things could be enlightened...

"Wouldn't that mean high-level materials are everywhere?"

Kamiki Tetsu inwardly gasped.

If it can really be realized, then the so-called "manifestation" potential is as insignificant as a pebble on the roadside compared to one's ability to enlighten obsessions.

Since this so-called "confirmed case subsidy" is divided according to potential and rarity.

Given his incredible potential to "infinitely synthesize divine equipment as long as there are materials," what kind of exorbitant compensation would the countermeasures team have to offer him to "appease" this potential threat?

Thinking of this, Kamiki Tetsu lowered his gaze slightly and landed on the wooden gohei that Kujo Hisana was tightly clutching.

The handle of the imperial coin already had fine cracks, and the white paper tassel at the end was also a bit wrinkled from the tumbling just now, but the patina on the wooden surface, which had been rubbed for many years, had a sense of weightiness that came with the passage of time.

Perhaps this can also enlighten us?

"Miss Kujo".

Kamiki Tetsu suddenly spoke up, "Could I take a look at that thing you're holding?"

"Huh? You mean this?"

Kujo Hisana paused for a moment, instinctively pulling the gohei closer to her chest, but when she met Kamiki Tetsu's eyes, she still handed it over as if possessed.

After all, in her view, a powerful "Awakener" who could kill vengeful spirits was unlikely to look down on an old relic like hers, who was a member of a family.

As Kamiki Tetsu reached out, the moment his fingertips touched the cold wooden handle, a familiar, eerie blue lightning bolt flashed across his retina once again.

[Discovered a special blue item: [Old Exorcism Coin]: This ritual implement, enshrined in a remote shrine for decades, embodies the unwavering will of generations of shrine maidens who fought against terror to protect others.]

Status: Not owned, not activated.

[Special Effect: Flame of Life (Inflicts true burning damage on spirits and suppresses the regeneration of resentment).]

[Rationality Anchor (The holder gains a mental resistance bonus. When encountering unavoidable mental corruption, the Goki will use intense heat to scorch the holder, forcibly dispelling hallucinations through pain and pulling them back to reality.)]

[Not yet activated; ownership needs to be acquired by the host.]

[Note: What rots is wood, what is immortal is will. The gods have never answered prayers, but in the past fifty years, the priestesses who hold it have never retreated a step.]

Kamiki Tetsu's eye twitched slightly.

"Not yet activated; ownership required."

These words were like a bucket of cold water, instantly extinguishing his idea of ​​trying to "get" enlightenment on the spot.

It seems that this ability is not the bandit-style "forced plunder".

To turn these items, which carry obsessions and emotions, into your own equipment, you must first legally or practically possess them.

"...It's an old item."

With a calm expression, Kamiki Tetsu handed the gohei back to the nervous Kujo Hisana, and the last trace of doubt in his heart was thus resolved.

While you can't just give away other people's things, now that you know the rule of "ownership," you should be able to find a way to buy them or have them given to you in the future, thus fulfilling the requirements.

He stood up, casually brushed the mud off his shirt, pointed to the dark rain outside the door, and his tone returned to its indifferent state.

"Let's go, Miss Kujo. Since my potential is so high, it's best to get this serious business of collecting money as soon as possible."

"If I go too late, I might get upset because I won't get compensation, and if I get upset... I might actually start having thoughts of revenge against society."

Hearing this, Kujo Hisana shuddered. She felt that the way this man had looked at her just now was as if he were looking at some kind of second-hand item for sale.

She quickly put away the imperial coins and nodded hastily:

"Please follow me! Um... our branch is nearby! Although the entrance is a bit... hidden, it's definitely a legitimate organization!"

Kamiki Tetsu nodded in understanding.

"I understand. The more a department deals with extraordinary phenomena, the lower its presence in the city. According to the tropes in light novels, your headquarters is either hidden in the basement of a place with a coffee shop sign or concealed in a detective agency that looks like it's about to go out of business."

He even added, following the train of thought, "This sense of seclusion, of being a hermit in the city, does indeed fit that special kind of workplace aesthetic in a certain sense."

A picture had already appeared in Toru Kamiki's mind.

Push open a heavy walnut door, and you'll find either a sophisticated monitoring screen with a cyberpunk feel, or an antique, mysterious library piled high with parchment scrolls.

"Um... I'm so glad you understand."

Kujo Hisana chuckled, but her eyes darted around nervously.

She walked ahead, leading the way, holding her umbrella low so that it almost covered most of her face, as if afraid that passersby would recognize her slightly tattered shrine maiden outfit.

The two walked through the still bustling main street of Shinjuku at midnight and turned into a dimly lit residential area where even the vending machines looked a bit old.

The air was filled with the smell of rain washing away the soil, and occasionally you could hear stray cats rummaging through trash cans in the distance.

"We're almost there, in that community park up ahead."

Kujou Hisana pointed to a small space in front of her, enclosed by a rusty iron fence, containing only a few sets of dilapidated slides and swings.

Kamiki Toru looked around the park, which appeared extremely desolate in the rain, and frowned slightly.

What about a high-end coffee shop? Or a technologically advanced underground bunker?

In this dilapidated park that stretches as far as the eye can see, the only thing that can be considered a building seems to be that one standing in the corner, its exterior covered with pale green, peeling tiles...

Public toilet.

Kamiki Toru stopped in his tracks, his gaze darting back and forth between the public restroom marked "Male/Female" and Kujo Hina.

"Miss Kujo".

"Yes, yes!"

"While I have a high tolerance for a sense of seclusion, isn't your aesthetic for the Policy Department a little... a bit too down-to-earth?"

Kamiki Toru pointed to the building, which smelled faintly of disinfectant and had an old-fashioned feel, and said in a calm tone that made it impossible to tell whether he was being sarcastic or serious, "This is the so-called secret branch?"

"Well... it's because rent in Shinjuku is just too expensive, and places like this don't really attract the attention of ordinary people..."

Kujou Hisana lowered her head, her voice barely audible, "Actually, the interior is quite clean, really!"

Kamiki Toru sighed.

So-called mysterious organizations, elite gatherings, transcendent awakenings...

All illusions were shattered by the cruel reality at that moment.

So, in this world, whether it's humans or the supernatural, if you don't have money, you'll end up spending your time in public toilets?