Chapter 51

"Alright, I'm off."

"Take care."

In the entrance hall of the apartment, I gently received Lin-chan's enthusiastic hug and saw her off. There was a vehicle that looked like an armored car parked right outside, but it was probably the armored car itself that Lin-chan's father had spent billions to have made. I waved until she got in, and only turned around after the car was out of sight.

Well, I have a clear plan for today and tomorrow. Catching up with Lin-chan is an ongoing task, but during my interaction with the Oni player yesterday, I managed to get some valuable information. For example, the location of the Oni village, and insights into rare skills. It might not be something I visit regularly, but browsing the bulletin board seems interesting.

☆

Surrounded by swaying boundaries, a large shrine, and its grounds, it seemed that upon logging in, I had been abducted to the Netherworld by Shuten again. Hmm, this forced feeling.

"It seems you've met Kohaku."

Shuten appeared with a grin, still in the same outfit as when we first met. In other words, he was using the same avatar with the missing stomach from that time.

"Why don't you heal the injury?"

"It can't be helped. Creating a spirit body while sealed is quite difficult. Reusing something already made is more efficient. It's eco-friendly."

Treating a person's body like a tool.

Eh, so does that mean I'll have to see my battered self every time I'm abducted by Shuten...?

"If you don't like it, you should hurry and break my seal."

"Seal... Is it true that Shuten can only interfere with the Shounen?"

"Exactly. Interfering with the real world from the Netherworld is impossible in the first place. I can only interfere in the real world through the loophole of my profession."

Despite that, you can still abduct me.

Well, since Shuten is at the top of the Shounen, it's probably not worth commenting on that.

"By the way, Shuten, you know Kohaku. I thought you could only peek at the world through the Shounen."

"I have some freedom to observe the world from time to time. Conversely, it's also true that the Oni were engineered to prevent me from interfering."

"Like putting a single point into Intelligence?"

"Exactly. I don't like it at all. Kohaku was an Oni with more talent than me..."

Shuten closed his fan with a look of deep resentment.

Yeah, I thought Kohaku was being deified, but it seems her Strength stat is off the charts. I think, in terms of Strength alone, Kohaku is on par with Shuten. After all, the Shounen are specialized in 'Physical Skills,' not Strength.

Still, if we look at it comprehensively, Kohaku's claim that she can't even reach Shuten's level isn't wrong.

Besides, wasn't it self-inflicted to be engineered because you were peeking at the world? But if you can peek, you'd probably do it, right?

Anyway, Shuten gestured for me to sit down. After filling a large cup with something that looked like sake, he also sat down on the ground.

"Phew... So, Sukuna, have you seen Kohaku's 'Final Technique'?"

"Final Technique?"

"The ultimate technique of 'Oni Dance.' What, you haven't heard of it?"

"Yeah, I don't know."

Saying that, Shuten wrote the words "Final Technique" on the ground with the sake.

The words exuded a sense of ultimate technique, and even gave the impression that it might be a move worth risking your life for.

"How was the 'Oni Dance' explained to you?"

"It's a skill to boost yourself, consisting of five dances."

"That's not wrong. But Kohaku didn't explain the crucial part."

Saying that, Shuten sighed a little regretfully.

The 'Oni Dance' is a skill exclusive to the Oni, focused on 'self-enhancement.' Kohaku said that by learning all five dances, which require a certain level of Strength, you can obtain the power of a lone warrior. In terms of simple effects, it seemed similar to the 'Hungry Wolf' skill.

"Listen, Sukuna. The 'Oni Dance' exists to unleash the 'Final Technique.' The form it takes depends on the Oni, but it can be a decisive trump card. The reason Kohaku is called 'City Breaker' and I am called 'Oni God' ultimately lies in this."

The passionate explanation made my spine tingle.

In other words, there's a possibility that a one-hit kill technique powerful enough to destroy a city could emerge.

"If your teacher Kohaku didn't say anything, I'll keep quiet about her 'Final Technique.' You'll definitely get to see it eventually."

"You brought it up yourself..."

"Hahaha!"

When I glared at him, Shuten laughed and drank the sake to cover it up.

Since I'm here, there are still a few things I want to ask.

I'm not sure how much time I have left, so I'll ask what I can.

"Shuten, do you know about Requiem?"

"The funeral song?"

"..."

"Just kidding. One of the Seven Star Kings, Tian Shu's Requiem, right? Of course, I know."

Seven Star Kings. Another new term...

"Since you've defeated Aria, the battle with Lond and Fantasia is inevitable. You're already marked. Well, if you enjoy fighting strong opponents, you shouldn't worry..."

"Are Lond and Fantasia the black one and the white one?"

"Yes. I don't recommend fighting either alone. Especially with the white wolf Fantasia, there's a reason you can't defeat her alone."

The black one is Lond, and the white one is Fantasia.

It's significant to hear about the black wolf and the white wolf that Kohaku explained yesterday. I heard from the bulletin board that there seems to be a black wolf-like entity not far from the sixth city, so it might be enough to just find the white wolf. The information is available in the fifth city, so I'll try to get it if I can go there.

But what does it mean that you can't defeat them alone?

Is there something you need to do simultaneously with someone else, or are they just overwhelmingly powerful?

For now, I'll keep Shuten's warning in mind. After all, I won't have to fight alone once I team up with Lin-chan.

"Speaking of the Seven Star Kings, listen carefully, Sukuna."

As I tried to digest Shuten's words, he put down his cup and started speaking with a serious expression.

"The starting land, which had been dormant, has started to operate, and the world is beginning to stir. Named monsters are roaming the world, and the stagnation has already been broken. Your quick defeat of the Seven Star Kings' spirit bodies has caused them to start moving gradually. There is time, but the flow will continue without stopping."

Wait, that's a bit too ambitious for the world setting, isn't it?

Um, the activation of the starting land probably means summoning players, the stirring of the world is the start of the service, and the named monsters... I defeated Aria... *cough*.

"Although I'm the one guiding you, don't focus too much on breaking my seal. What you need to prioritize now is continuously improving your strength. Strengthening yourself and all the Oni, including the Shounen, will ultimately help break my seal."

Shuten's words were hard for me to nod to easily.

"But I made a promise with Kohaku..."

"I understand your feelings, but do you think she endured for decades waiting for this moment? A little more waiting won't bother her. In fact, by teaching you the 'Oni Dance,' she probably shares the same thoughts as me."

Hmm, that's true.

I've only been playing this game for about a week.

The quest with Shuten and the quest with Kohaku are both likely to be extremely difficult, probably only starting at the 100-level mark.

There's also the realm beyond the 'Shounen' that I heard about the last time I was here. In any case, I need to level up and enhance my skills.

Besides, this is a game. It would be a waste to ignore other enjoyable elements just because I have a special goal.

If I enjoy and grow, I'll naturally get closer to the promises with both of them.

Realizing my own impatience, Shuten's words settled in my heart.

"Heh, you've got a good perspective. It's a shame I won't be able to see you for a while..."

"Eh?"

"I used too much power to interfere with you in a short time. So, I need to recharge a bit."

"Oh, I see."

By saying it, it means...

It's probably time.

The moment I thought that, I, Shuten, and the entire shrine grounds started to dissolve into particles of light.

"Time's up."

"Yeah. When will we meet again?"

"Well, who knows. Hehe, you have Kohaku now, so you don't need my advice anymore. ...Ah, there's one last thing I want to say."

Almost completely dissolved, Shuten left one last message.

"Tell Kohaku that I'm looking forward to seeing her."

"Hahaha, got it. See you."

Without saying anything more.

The Netherworld dissolved and disappeared into particles of light.

In short, the concept of the 'Oni Dance' is to enhance yourself to unleash the ultimate technique.