Tokyo: I can enlighten all obsessions

"boom!"

Another heavy, dull blow slammed into the concrete, sending up a shower of pebbles.

Kamiki Tetsu touched the ground with his toes and slid backward several meters, retreating in one breath to Kujo Hisana's side.

"Tch...no way."

He stared intently at the monster in front of him, whose wound was rapidly giving way to a new "ghost child" to fill the void, and his expression turned grim.

"My blade can inflict a tearing curse that cannot be healed, but that requires the target to have a body."

Kamiki Tetsu gritted his teeth, and the execution blade in his hand emitted a low buzzing sound.

"This guy... doesn't even consider those pieces of flesh that make up his body."

"As soon as it gets tainted by a curse, it immediately tears off that part of the limb and throws it away, just like a gecko shedding its tail."

"The compatibility is too bad. This kind of monster can regenerate infinitely by simply discarding limbs... simple slashing attacks can't kill it."

Kamiki Tetsu narrowed his eyes, thought for a moment, and then quickly reached deep into his backpack with his left hand, finding the strange thing he had found in the corner of the warehouse.

"Then we'll have to find another way to solve the problem."

He abruptly pulled out the ugly wallet that looked like it had been dried from the mouth of some kind of creature.

As he moved, a light blue system panel automatically popped up on his retina:

Title: The Capitalist's Jaws

[Quality: Blue]

[Type: Support]

[Note: This is not just a wallet; it is the "backup wallet" of a legendary capitalist. This respectable man firmly believed that "everything can be priced" and attempted to bribe Death with everything he had to prolong his life.]

Although he failed, his obsession with "solving everything with money" remained intact.

[Special Effects: Forging of Ghost Money]

[Note: It can forcibly chew and compress any flesh and blood that is stuffed inside, then spit out small pieces of flesh and blood that exude an enticing, coppery stench.]

[Special Effects: The Sandstorm of Hell]

[Note: This proverb means that "even in hell, money reigns supreme." These "small coins" are considered absolute hard currency in the spirit world. You can toss coins at any evil spirit or lower-ranking vengeful spirit.]

Once the other party touches the coin, it will be considered "accepting a bribe," forcibly triggering a "contract." For the next 30 seconds, the vengeful spirit must unconditionally execute one of your simple commands.

[Note: This is a forced transaction. Even evil spirits have to do things after receiving money; that's the rule.]

"Gah... Gah gah..."

As if sensing the presence of flesh and blood, the zipper of the leather wallet opened on its own, and the upper and lower jaws collided wildly, making an impatient opening and closing sound.

With his left hand gripping the hungry "beast" tightly and his right hand holding the executioner's blade in reverse, Kamiki Tetsu charged again.

"One more time!"

The blade flashed, drawing a bleak arc in the twilight.

"Pfft!"

Another "limb" formed by several entangled ghost children was brutally severed by the execution blade.

But before the giant baby could "abandon" it as before, Kamiki Tetsu had already reached out his left hand and grabbed the slippery lump of flesh in mid-air.

"Want to throw it away?"

He grinned maliciously and, without hesitation, stuffed the still frantically struggling mass of vengeful spirit flesh into the gaping wound in his left hand.

"Give it to me... to eat!"

"Be careful!"

Kujou Hisana's warning ripped through the air.

Just as the giant baby's remaining arm was about to swat Kamiki Tetsu flat like a fly, a white beam of spiritual energy slammed into its wrist like a cannonball.

"Bang!"

The enormous hand was forcefully deflected, grazing Kamiki Tetsu's shoulder as it slammed into the concrete, sending up a spray of gravel.

At the same time, the "capitalist's jaw" in Kamiki Tetsu's hand also finished eating.

"Glug."

With a swallowing sound, the leather wallet suddenly closed.

Immediately afterwards, chewing and compression sounds came from inside.

Crunch, gurgle, crunch.

Just a second later, the wallet burped like a drunkard who had eaten too much.

"Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!"

With a wet, spitting sound, it spat out three dark red, coin-sized objects, which landed in Kamiki Tetsu's palm.

It was a "flesh and blood koban" with a distorted human face printed on its surface.

They were even wriggling slightly.

Kamiki Tetsu did not hesitate at all.

With a flick of his wrist, the three still-wriggling "flesh and blood coins" traced three dark red parabolas in the air, precisely attaching to the giant baby's bloated shoulders and chest.

"If you take the money, you have to do the job."

As the coin merged into the monster's skin, an invisible wave instantly spread.

Staring at the still-stunned behemoth, Toru Kamiki gripped his executioner's blade tightly and roared out an incomprehensible command:

"Don't even think about escaping work! Attack me now!!"

The moment the words left his mouth, the monster froze.

It was originally preparing to tear off and throw away the skin that felt strange, just like before.

But now, the contract is in effect.

Having accepted the bribe, this part of the body becomes an employed "employee" and must prioritize carrying out the order to "attack Toru Kamiki".

Before completing this 30-second task, it absolutely cannot dismiss these working limbs through "self-harm"!

The invincible and shameless tactic originally used to "avoid bankruptcy" has been forcibly sealed away by this unfair contract clause.

"Roar! Roar! Roar! Roar!"

Driven by the "money contract," the giant baby, while wanting to tear its own body apart due to the excruciating pain of its wounds, was also forced to carry out the "attack" command, waving its bleeding limbs and frantically smashing them at the tiny human in front of it.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The ground was shaking, and dirt was flying everywhere.

But for Tetsu Kamiki, this was the perfect rhythm.

He was like a petrel darting through a storm, sidestepping, sliding, and bowing his head.

Every dodge was a close call, and every time the monster's heavy punches nearly grazed the corner of his clothes.

"That's right... Now that you've taken the money, you'd better work hard until you die!"

In the instant they passed each other, the execution blade was drawn again.

"Pfft!"

This time, the black blade sliced ​​open the monster's side.

Blood gushed forth, and the curse took effect instantly.

The monster instinctively reached out to tear at the wounded flesh, but its movements froze just before its fingers touched the skin.

That muscle is on its way to "attack Kamiki Tetsu," and it cannot be "dismissed."

"Waaah... Why... why can't I get rid of it..."

Taking advantage of the moment when the monster's movements were stiff, Kamiki Tetsu swung his knife and sliced ​​off a piece of rotten flesh from the outside of its thigh, stuffing it into his wallet in his left hand without even looking at it.

"Crack! Squeak! Ptooey!"

The greedy wallet instantly chewed and digested, spitting out two more dark red coins.

"Nine! Restrict its left side!"

Kamiki Toru roared and flung the freshly made coin out again.

"learn!"

Without needing much verbal communication, Kujo Hisana suddenly thrust out the gohei in her hand.

"Shinto Style: Wind of Binding!"

Several cyan wind ropes, like serpents, tightly coiled around the monster's left arm as it tried to defend itself, pinning it in mid-air and exposing its defenseless chest.

"well done!"

Kamiki Tetsu leaped into the air, stepping on the monster's knee, and slammed the two warm "flesh and blood coins" deep into the still-bleeding wound on its chest.

"This is overtime pay, keep it safe!"

This is an absurd "forced labor".

Slash, tear, toss coins, contract.

Kamiki Tetsu was like a heartless factory owner, repeating this suffocating combo countless times.

Each "flesh and blood coin" that enters the monster's body is an overtime notice that cannot be refused.

The giant baby, which used to detach its tail to survive whenever it was injured, was now covered in coins representing "bribes".

Every inch of its skin and every muscle was frantically executing the "attack" command under the forced orders of the contract, making it completely unable to cut itself.

The curse brought by the [Tax-Inclusive Execution Blade] is like a black hole that can never be filled, greedily drawing out its enormous life force.

"Waaah...waaah...so tired...so tired..."

The monster's movements became slower and slower, and its originally pale and swollen skin began to shrivel and wrinkle like a dehydrated orange peel.

Of course, all of this is predicated on the fact that Toru Kamiki is still alive and standing here.

"Kamiki-kun! To the right!"

"Obstacles—unfold!"

Whenever Kamiki Toru was about to be smashed into a pulp by the berserk giant arm due to excessive greed for his sword, Kujo Hisana's support would always arrive precisely in time.

They could either use wind pressure to push his body away, or use a spiritual barrier to withstand a fatal blow.

The young lady, dressed in an elegant uniform, had her hair soaked with sweat, and her fingers holding the gohei were trembling slightly.

If it weren't for her repeatedly coming to the rescue, Kamiki Tetsu would probably have been crushed by this crazed mountain of flesh long ago due to exhaustion.

This is a team effort where everyone is indispensable.

finally--

"It's over."

Looking at the enormous creature that had completely stopped moving, Kamiki Toru breathed heavily and sheathed the execution blade in his hand.

puff.

The terrifying demon that once stood three meters tall was now emaciated.

It let out a mournful cry, and its massive body could no longer support itself, collapsing heavily to its knees in the sandpit.

No more foul blood flowed out, because it had been drained dry.

Under this cruel contract that mandates "working even if it means bleeding to the last drop," its vitality is completely reduced to zero.

wow-

Like a sandcastle being toppled, the withered body instantly disintegrated, turning into black dust that filled the sky and dissipated in the cold night wind.

With the monster's complete demise, the wailing that drove people's sanity to its lowest point finally disappeared.

Instead, there was a deathly silence.

Only the rusty swing continued to make a monotonous "creak, creak" sound due to inertia.

Kamiki Toru let out a long sigh of relief, and was about to shake off the filth from the blade when he noticed that the black dust floating in the air did not fall to the ground.

As if drawn by some unseen force, they slowly swirled above the sandpit, coalescing into a dim vortex.

The next second, a pale blue system light screen unfolded in front of him.

Strong emotions and obsessions were detected.

Without any hesitation, Kamiki Tetsu silently recited the phrase in his mind.

"Enlightenment".

As the command was given, the black dust, filled with resentment and malice, seemed to have suddenly found its home and rapidly collapsed towards the center.

Just a few seconds later, the remnants that once belonged to the evil spirits coalesced into a palm-sized object, which floated lightly into the palm of Kamiki Tetsu's hand.

It was a small, human-shaped doll that was so exquisitely crafted it was almost excessive.

It has big eyes and an innocent expression, and it's soft and fluffy, looking like the kind of best-selling item that would be displayed prominently in a boutique, making high school girls who pass by scream "kawaii!"

However, when Kamiki Tetsu focused his gaze on it, the system description that popped up was full of chilling dark humor.

【Title: Japan's Treasures】

[Quality: Blue]

【Type: Pendant】

[Note: This is a tangled obsession formed by hundreds of young souls who "long for a hug".]

Even if they're making a ruckus on the tram, running around in the restaurant, or even riding on your shoulders and smearing ice cream on your suit, you still have to keep smiling and speaking softly, don't you?

In Japan, children are considered supreme "treasures," while adults are merely "bases" to be used and discarded.

Even if your lumbar spine is screaming in agony, even if your spirit is broken, you must stand tall. After all... this is a "blessing" that others would kill for.

[Special Effect: Childcare (Summons hundreds of unseen ghostly hands to tightly grip the target's limbs, inflicting a burden called "Sweet Burden." The target's movement speed is reduced, and any limb movement will consume twice the normal stamina.)]