Chapter 67: The Curse Mark of Inari
Kaito Shirogane looked up, but the old priest—likely a member of Japan's greatest priestly clan, the [Ōgami]—showed no unusual reaction. In that moment, Kaito sensed that something was wrong.
He checked the exchange list again and saw that a new item had appeared below the [Magatama of Secret Prayers] set, which should have been the last item. More accurately, it wasn't an item, but a symbol—a simple, red, brushstroke-like image of a fox.
[Secret Rite - Strike of Inari - Requires 100 Reputation Points (Revered) to exchange]
[Quality: Purple (Exceedingly Rare)]
[Description: A blessing, a sign of trust, a mockery, or a curse, bestowed upon the faithless by the god Inari.]
[Effect 1: Use the power of wishes to call upon a powerful strike from Inari.]
[Effect 2: Cannot be used after the wish power is depleted. Must be replenished to be used again.]
[Effect 3: Non-believers of Inari who inscribe this curse mark will suffer greater malice from the world.]
It was an incredibly powerful item. It had no usage requirements and didn't even need to be learned. It was like an extremely convenient "firearm."
But Kaito frowned. He looked at the priest and asked, "Where is that shikigami of yours?"
The old priest didn't understand why this terrifying man was suddenly concerned with his little tricks. But within the shrine, using the accumulated power of centuries of incense and prayer, he could still perform some of his arts. He immediately tried to summon his shikigami, forming a seal with his hands and letting out a sharp kiai.
But under the bright sky, nothing happened.
The old priest didn't look embarrassed, just confused. He tried another ritual, and a mysterious power swirled around him, causing a light breeze to blow through the shrine. Ōgami Masaya now realized what had happened. He looked at Kaito, his face pale, an expression of indescribable panic on his features. Without another word, he quickly turned and prostrated himself before the goshintai—the physical object housing the spirit of Lord Inari—muttering prayers under his breath.
Kaito could hear his heart pounding, his breathing ragged. It was the sign of absolute panic. He looked back at the new item on the exchange list and understood. The fox shikigami's true form was likely the divine messenger of Inari. But as the god's power had waned, it had left its messenger in the care of the old priest in the form of a shikigami. The old priest himself had never realized this and had simply used the "shikigami" to act in Inari's name.
Kaito looked at this special "reward," the [Secret Rite - Strike of Inari]. After a moment of thought, his lips curled into a grin. Japanese Shintoism was a polytheistic religion, with a so-called "eight million gods." But in the eyes of many, most of what they worshipped were ghosts and demons. Although Inari was the god of agriculture, and normally considered a benevolent deity, its intentions here were difficult to discern.
But Kaito glanced at the direction the priest was bowing. The god, in the end, couldn't directly punish him, just as it hadn't punished this old priest for his years of blasphemous fraud. This curse mark likely held a deeper purpose.
"Are you trying to force me to believe in you, or are you trying to get me killed by this so-called 'greater malice'?" he mused. "Interesting."
[You have exchanged for the special item: Secret Rite - Strike of Inari.]
What appeared in his hand was a small, glowing red fox emblem. With a thought, he placed it on the back of his left hand.
Tsssss…
With a sound like a branding iron on skin, a curse mark shaped like three foxes biting each other's tails was instantly seared onto his hand. He wasn't sure if it was because his right arm was broken, or because his right hand was already occupied by the Reincarnator's mark, preventing Inari's curse from taking hold there.
[Secret Rite - Strike of Inari (1/1)]
The special curse mark had no ability level or quality grade. It simply indicated that the current amount of wish power was sufficient for one use. Kaito's reputation immediately plummeted to [Respected (15/100)].
He quickly scanned the remaining items and, after a brief consideration, made his selections.
[Katori Pills]
[Quality: White]
[Description: Special pills made by Shinto priests, possessing healing effects.]
[Effect: When consumed, accelerates recovery from current injuries.]
This yellow pill was the most basic item in the reputation store. It could be exchanged for at the [Friendly] rank for 10 reputation points each. Kaito exchanged for three, planning to use them in conjunction with [Hamon] to speed up his body's recovery during training.
[Emblem of Shinto]
[Quality: Blue]
[Description: A mark used by the Shinto faith to recognize special contributions.]
[Effect 1: Spirit +1, Energy +1]
[Effect 2: While wearing this emblem, all Shinto reputation gains will be increased.]
This item, available at the [Respected] rank, increased his much-needed Energy stat. And since Kaito knew he was likely to encounter other Japan-themed derivative worlds in the future, the reputation boost would be useful. This item cost him 45 reputation points.
[Barrier Talisman: Curtain (Simple)]
[Quality: Blue]
[Description: A talisman consecrated at a shrine, possessing the power to disperse ordinary people from a certain area.]
[Requirements: Spirit > 10, or possess a relevant Onmyōdō/Curse Technique proficiency.]
[Effect: When crushed, ordinary people within a 50-meter radius will be mentally suggested to leave the area.]
This extremely convenient talisman cost him his last 40 reputation points, leaving him with zero. As his reputation was depleted, the talisman Ōgami Masaya had given him burned away into nothing.
Kaito looked at the old priest, who was still kowtowing and confessing his sins, then turned and walked down from the shrine.
At that moment, the sharp pain in his abdomen finally, slowly began to fade.
[Talent re-anchoring complete.]
[Talent: Primal Gene Lock - Stage Two (Similarity 75%) (A+) - An evolutionary shackle unlocked through death and despair, power that transcends the limits of life.]
[Talent: Absolute Territory - Ultimate Power (Similarity 72%) (A) - The ultimate power that transcends humanity.]
[Reincarnator Ex051, talent anchor is anomalous, suspected new talent. You may visit your sector's Goddess for a full analysis.]
Kaito read the notifications. He realized that the abnormal muscle swelling and terrifying explosive power he had experienced during the battle did indeed bear a resemblance to both of these power systems. But the reason the Infinite Space was infinite was that the number of power systems was simply too vast. The Nexus could only "anchor" his talent based on similarity. This "anchoring" was more like a categorization, slotting his talent into an existing system. The Nexus didn't grant him talent; it only "observed" it. Just as the digital panel only displayed his attributes; his body was not digitized and still had the limitations and vulnerabilities of the flesh.
"Gene Lock… Ultimate Power…" Kaito shook his head, not dwelling on a question he couldn't yet answer.
He still had one last plan in this world. Once it was complete, he was confident that even if his main quest completion wasn't the highest, his overall harvest would surpass that of almost every other Reincarnator who had come to this world.
The [Blue Spider Lily] appeared once more in Kaito's scarred left hand.
"Muzan… you're probably being pushed to your breaking point by the Professor and those noble families by now…" Kaito walked down the path of torii gates, a smile on his face that was impossible to read as good or evil.
"Come and find me. Bring me everything you have. And then… beg me."
BANG!
A gunshot rang out. Kaito's body froze. He looked down at the bullet hole in the ground at his feet. In the distance, a man's voice, a mixture of fear and excitement, shouted.
"There's a man at the shrine! He's covered in blood! I think I hit him!"
Kaito broke into a silent, mirthless laugh. The smile on his face was impossibly cold.
So this is the "greater malice"…?!
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Guys We cross the 1300 power stone goal and as promise here the bonus chapter
Next goal 1400 power stone,come on guys you'll can do it, good luck.
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