Chapter 9 Master, We Are Afraid

"Master, please don't be like this; we are terrified."

No one who has reached such high positions is a fool. If the previous three-tailed skeletal cat and the power displayed by Chiriku could still be explained away as human experimentation or biological weaponry, the scene before them now had ripped them right out of their own reality.

What kind of experiment could cause a spider to grow to that size and possess the ability to speak? Even the earlier speculation that Chiriku was the product of human experimentation felt forced. Japan, after all, is a world-leading economic power, and its various experiments naturally keep pace with global standards. If even they hadn't managed to research much, what kind of organization could produce someone like Chiriku—a being so "over-modeled" and seemingly from a completely different artistic style?

Now, the appearance of the Tsuchigumo had slapped them across the face. This solid blow had shaken them out of their previous conjectures: Yokai exist, and so do dharma-monks.

Right now, a legendary great yokai from myth was advancing toward Yamazoe Village, home to over three thousand people. Its purpose was self-evident.

Hearing the gravity in Chiriku's words, Superintendent Hakuba asked with anxious urgency, "Master Chiriku, could I implore you to take action? Those are over three thousand human lives, not livestock!"

Chiriku sighed, his expression filled with compassion. He pressed his palms together and shook his head slightly. "This monk wishes to go, but... I truly cannot leave. If you could lure it to Tokyo, perhaps I might be able to try."

The people present felt their faces twitch, a thousand emotions galloping through their minds.

Where were they? Tokyo!

Chiriku’s current location, Senso-ji Temple, was situated right in the heart of Tokyo. With the speed that monster had displayed, it would only take a few leaps to reach the center of Japan—the Imperial Palace.

Setting aside the Imperial Palace, the very idea of bringing such a creature to Tokyo, given its special status in Japan, was a nightmare they dared not even dream of. If anything went wrong, those with minor involvement would be forced to resign via *dogeza*, and those directly responsible would need a second to assist in their *seppuku*!

Wait!

Superintendent Hakuba’s pupils contracted. A terrifying thought occurred to him. Looking at Chiriku’s mournful expression, he tentatively asked, "Master Chiriku, you cannot leave—is it because Senso-ji Temple is also..."

Under the Superintendent’s reluctant gaze, Chiriku nodded slightly. "Indeed. As a site of Bodhisattva Dharma, Senso-ji Temple is, of course, suppressing a great demon."

*Ami-ami!* (Oh my god!)

The high-ranking officials present had all visited Senso-ji to pay their respects. Hearing Chiriku’s words and connecting them to that ferocious Tsuchigumo, their hearts began to pound wildly.

Chiriku did not dwell on this topic but instead said, "Gentlemen, the Tsuchigumo was once slain by the Commander Gen. Now that it has been sealed for a millennium, it is at its most vulnerable. If we are to kill it, we must seize this opportunity; if we miss this chance, rooting it out later will be troublesome."

"Commander Gen" referred to Minamoto no Raiko, who had served as the commander of the Imperial Guard.

Chiriku added, "The 'Spider-Cutter' sword used by Commander Gen to slay it holds a power that restrains the Tsuchigumo. If you can obtain it to assist you, you will surely be able to overcome the enemy!"

***

When these words were spoken, the room fell silent again. Superintendent Hakuba opened his mouth, then closed it, truly not knowing what to say. It was Toshiro Odagiri who bit the bullet and stood up. "Master Chiriku, the Spider-Cutter... I mean, the sword suspected to be the real Spider-Cutter was... swallowed by the Tsuchigumo after it appeared."

"...Amitabha." Chiriku was silent for a moment before chanting a Buddhist invocation.

"Bang!" Toshiro Moroboshi slammed the table and stood up in a fit of rage.

"It’s just a giant spider monster! If bullets don't work, I refuse to believe it can survive cannon fire! The Self-Defense Forces have already mobilized. With modern technology, I don't believe we can't kill a single spider!"

The Metropolitan Police Department’s equipment might not be sufficient, but the Self-Defense Forces were a different story. They had previously blocked the news because they wanted to monopolize this sudden mystery, but now that they were going full-force, how could a yokai that could be killed by an ancient sword possibly withstand modern artillery?

Once the matter was settled, they would let the various factions divide up this spider meat!

Chiriku gave a stern warning: "The Tsuchigumo is a vicious, great yokai. You must deliver a thunderous blow while it has not yet recovered, otherwise, you will regret it too late. Superintendent Hakuba, please pass this on to the various parties."

Superintendent Hakuba nodded slightly, indicating he would.

Besides, this was the Self-Defense Force, not the police with their anti-personnel gear. They had missiles, artillery, and attack helicopters.

If the ancients a thousand years ago could kill it with swords, they could surely blast it to pieces with cannons today!

***

"That's not necessarily true."

In an apartment in Bunkyo Ward, Haku Mizunashi held a book of "Yokai Encyclopedia" while actually monitoring the internal meeting of the Metropolitan Police Department. Hearing their confident remarks, he couldn't help but chuckle.

"If it were intercontinental ballistic missiles, nuclear weapons, or a saturated, all-out bombardment, perhaps they could manage it. But just the Self-Defense Forces? And not even the entire force at that..."

Then he could only say: prepare to dance.

Although this was a one-time-use great yokai, its configuration hadn't been skimped on. At most, resource limitations prevented him from making it even more powerful, but it was more than enough to handle the current situation.

He closed the book and walked to the window. The bright sunlight streamed along the wall, illuminating half of the window frame and casting Haku Mizunashi, along with the window, into a diagonal split—half in sunlight, half in shadow.

Looking down, the vast Bunkyo Ward was incredibly prosperous. As a part of Tokyo that the Minato Ward elite considered truly "Tokyo," Bunkyo gathered many prestigious schools.

Elementary schools, junior high schools, high schools, universities.

In a sense, those who could complete their education here were destined for a bright future.

But under his manipulations, that was no longer an absolute truth. This world was about to welcome its rebirth.

***

"A brand new world."

The sun shifted slowly until it bathed Haku Mizunashi completely in light. Gazing at the scorching sun, Haku Mizunashi smiled confidently.

My dear friends in the government, are you ready to receive the gift I have prepared for you?

***

Yamazoe Village was a village primarily focused on agriculture and tourism. It was equipped with shopping centers and hotels, with well-developed infrastructure and convenient living conditions.

But like most villages in Japan, Yamazoe was now facing severe aging. Young people, yearning for the bright lights and glamour of the big cities, packed their bags and left their hometowns, swearing to carve out their own paths. And the result, well...

A middle-aged forest ranger, wearing a baseball cap and a black coat, shook his head helplessly at the thought. "The young people nowadays are just too restless."

The ranger's job was simple. Because of Japan's heavy greenery, many wild animals had spread out, and ensuring that these animals did not hurt people was one of his duties.

"Hmm? What are these?" Noticing white marks on a tree, he curiously leaned in and reached out to touch them.

The texture was strange—sticky, not like tree sap or anything similar. Was this here before?

Just as he was puzzled, he gave it a firm tug, but it wouldn't budge. A second later, a massive force struck him. Before he could react, it forcefully dragged him deep into the woods.

He crashed through the brush, finally colliding with something that felt like a bungee-jumping mat.

*Crunch, crunch.*

The sound of eating.

The ranger tried to get up, only to find himself stuck to the surface, unable to move. He could only strain his eyes to look toward the source of the sound.

Not far away, a giant spider with a demonic face was eating. It looked like...

A human?