I became the Lord of the Eternal World in Tokyo.

The zashiki-warashi, who had intended to do so, withdrew her hand.

"Such props are unnecessary."

—Because Zashiki knew that once she accepted this ticket, it meant that she would have a fallback option for every crucial decision she made in the future.

When people encounter danger, they will subconsciously look towards a safer path.

Zashiki didn't want to test herself for no reason, especially since she couldn't even resist the temptation of gummy candies.

So it's better not to accept it at all.

Similarly, Zashiki-warashi do not want to have too strong entanglements with others or owe too many favors.

In that case, she might feel very guilty someday, a long, long time from now.

So the little god of fortune held up his palm as a wall, shook his head, and said...

"Mr. Che, let's hope we meet again on our future journeys."

"Fate... is that it?"

Uesugi Tetsu blinked.

"Yes, it's fate."

The zashiki-warashi smiled.

—If I could meet Mr. Che for the third time on this long and seemingly endless journey, then it would surely be an unbreakable bond.

This is the farewell of the Zashiki-warashi.

After realizing this, Uesugi Tetsu searched through his storage backpack for a while longer.

Finally, they found that unremarkable item that had perfectly maintained its original function even after being eroded over a long period of time.

—【The foreman's crowbar】.

Hmm, it actually seems to suit Zashiki's identity as a blacksmith quite well.

Uesugi Tetsu held the crowbar, which wasn't very long but seemed exceptionally reliable, and handed it to the Zashiki-warashi: "Please accept this crowbar."

"A crowbar?"

The zashiki-warashi tilts its head.

"By waving it, you can easily open those sealed doors."

Uesugi Tetsu placed the crowbar in Zashiki's rough palm.

"Hopefully, it can help you knock away all the 'doors' on your future path."

The little lucky charm raised his eyebrows, gripped the cold crowbar in his hand, and smiled after feeling its considerable weight: "Thank you, Mr. Che! I really like this farewell gift."

"That's good."

Uesugi Tetsuya withdrew his hand, knowing it was time to say goodbye.

"Well then, Zashiki, see you next time."

"See you next time, Mr. Che."

Zashiki hugged the crowbar and smiled.

She thought that this time, she was watching Prajna, and also watching Mr. Che's back as he left.

After Imagawa Yoshimoto also bid farewell to the zashiki, the two stepped out of the threshold of the dilapidated temple.

The Zashiki-warashi followed them to the temple gate, and its eyes lit up when it saw the Mountain Whale King still lying in the woods not far away.

She called out loudly, "Little pig!"

"Master Tiangong! What are your orders?"

The dozing mountain whale king immediately stood up.

The Zashiki-warashi twirled her hair with her fingers, a slightly embarrassed expression on her face: "Little pig, can you go down the mountain with Mr. Tetsu and Headmaster Imagawa?"

Gazing at the dejected Mountain Whale King, the Zashiki-warashi continued,

"Because I've also noticed that the demons outside have caused a lot of trouble lately... If this isn't resolved, I'm afraid even your and your friends' habitat will disappear in the future."

They must be here to deal with those demons, so could you please come down the mountain and help them?

The Mountain Whale King remained silent, then bowed deeply: "Since these are the words of the Heavenly Craftsman, how could I possibly disobey?"

"Besides, I should be leaving here soon, so you won't have to protect me outside day and night anymore."

The Zashiki-warashi cheerfully gave a thumbs-up to the bewildered Yamagawa-o.

"From now on, you are free."

"Heavens...Master Tiangong?"

Under the watchful eyes of the three, the Mountain Whale King quickly took a few powerful steps and stopped at the entrance of the dilapidated temple.

It stared blankly at the figure that had seemed incredibly tall to it then, but now appeared quite small: "Master Tiangong, is there something I did wrong? I can correct it..."

No, no.

The Zashiki-warashi shook its head: "It's just that I'm about to complete my trial and move on."

She reached out, as if to stroke the head of the mountain whale king, who immediately knelt down.

"It's been really hard on you for so many years."

"It's just some things that I should do; I haven't experienced any hardship at all..."

The zashiki-warashi said earnestly,

"So, could you please help Mr. Che and the others? Go and work with them to cleanse these evil demons that are afflicting the world."

Not daring to meet the gaze of the trembling mountain whale king, the Zashiki-warashi slightly averted her eyes and then closed them again.

She said softly,

"This is my last request, little pig."

—I hope we can both continue to move forward, and I hope we can meet again in the future.

—That's what Zashiki-warashi thought.

The Mountain Whale King's mountain-sized body heaved violently.

Finally, a thunderous farewell resounded.

"Goodbye, Master Tiangong."

As if without any hesitation, the Mountain Whale King stood up and walked step by step toward Uesugi Tetsuya and his companion not far away, shrinking in size.

Then we went down the mountain together.

The Zashiki-warashi stood there, staring blankly as the three figures disappeared into the thin mist.

She turned around and looked at the dilapidated temple behind her, now deserted again, feeling somewhat dazed.

"call……"

It's back to normal now.

Zashiki-warashi thought.

She stood there in a daze for a moment, then put the crowbar aside and instead gripped the hammer she had placed on the ground.

Now, it's time to continue forging.

The Zashiki-warashi recalled the details of strengthening and refining Kaga Kiyomitsu today, and felt a sense of accomplishment.

After a long while, as he had done countless times before, the Zashiki-warashi took a plain iron ingot and, in the silence, raised the hammer alone.

Then, it slammed down hard!

The sparks that flew up illuminated the Zashiki-warashi's pupils, and also illuminated the unwavering resolve in her heart.

I will become a master craftsman.

—I will become the best blacksmith in the world!

……

the other side.

The Mountain Whale King, shrunk to only thirty or forty centimeters in size, walked in front of Uesugi Tetsuya and his companion, leading them down from the Mountain Whale Mountain, which was still shrouded in some mist.

"These two horses, they're yours too, aren't they?"

The Mountain Whale King stopped in front of the two horses that were instantly stunned but did not know where the oppressive feeling came from, and asked calmly.

Uesugi Tetsu stepped forward and patted the foreheads of the two horses: "Your Majesty, could you please tone down your aura?"

"Hmm, you're right."

The miniature pig paused for a moment before remembering that it needed to suppress the aura emanating from its body at all times.

It had been in the mountains for so long that it had almost forgotten about it.

As the piglet tensed and trembled, the two horses' tension quickly dissipated.

—It seems that as long as Zashiki-warashi are not involved, this Mountain Whale King is quite easy to communicate with.

Uesugi Tetsu breathed a sigh of relief.

It was indeed a pleasant surprise that the Zashiki-warashi offered to let the mountain whale king assist them, but if it became arrogant and disobedient, things could go wrong.

It seems that the Mountain Whale King shows no signs of this.

As Imagawa Yoshimoto mounted his horse, Uesugi Tetsuya took out the map again, but fell into a brief moment of contemplation.

The important passes, ferry crossings, and cities of all sizes were clearly marked on the map, but there was no sign of the scattered small villages.

Judging from the previous situation, Imagawa Yoshimoto also seemed to know little about these villages.

So Uesugi Tetsu turned his head.

"Mountain Whale King, do you know the location of the surrounding villages...?"

“Just call me ‘Whale Three’,” the Mountain Whale King interrupted him, “because I’m the third oldest among my brothers and sisters.”

Then, it hopped on its four short legs and landed lightly on the saddle: "I know, of course I know."

"When I was little, I always went out to play."

The Mountain Whale King casually remarked from behind Uesugi Tetsuya, "Back then, we almost got caught and eaten by humans."

You, a giant "mountain whale," deliberately went to those villagers who eat white radishes and rice every day. Anyone who could resist drooling would be a god.

Uesugi Tetsu shrugged: "If you had spoken up in front of them back then, those people probably wouldn't have dared to eat."

"Stop talking nonsense, human."

The Mountain Whale King responded coldly at first, then sniffed and said viciously, "This stinking air... those damned foreign demons!"

It said, "Just keep walking forward, and I'll give you directions as you go."

Uesugi Tetsu looked at the armored girl beside him.

"Let's go."

Imagawa Yoshimoto gave a brief order.

……

With the Mountain Whale King's time navigation, Uesugi Tetsu and his group saw the first village in less than an hour.

Xilulu~

Uesugi Tetsuichi pulled on the reins, deliberately stopping the horse at the village entrance.

With such a commotion, as long as there are still people alive in the village, someone will surely come to check on the situation soon.

Sure enough, less than two minutes later, a group of young and middle-aged villagers carrying pitchforks and rusty knives crowded to the village entrance, staring at him warily.

But the villagers dared not make any rash moves.

Because the clothing of the two people in front of them was really beyond their comprehension.

Uesugi Tetsu looked around, but didn't see anyone in charge appear.

He blinked, looking somewhat puzzled.