Itō City, Higurashi Shrine.
The sun had fully set, and the shrine's flanking street lamps cast a white, fluorescent glow.
In the main courtyard beyond the torii gate at the top of the stone steps,
Rows of suited, masked personnel carrying automatic rifles surrounded the sacred tree, maintaining relaxed yet vigilant surveillance of the area.
On the platform not far from the sacred tree, blue tents had already been pitched. Researchers in white coats were adjusting various observation instruments, studying the sacred tree's condition.
At that very moment, an ink-black mist abruptly appeared beside the towering sacred tree.
This scene was quickly noticed by the staff present.
"Zero-One to Zero-One, Class 1 situation at the sacred tree, repeat, Class 1 situation at the sacred tree."
With a beep, the response came almost immediately after the report was transmitted.
"Proceed with Protocol Three for on-site handling, repeat, proceed with Protocol Three."
Soon, this unusual situation was relayed to higher authorities via communication devices.
Just then, the ink-black mist suddenly dispersed, forming a gate-like shadow in mid-air.
As the shadow flickered, three figures emerged from the portal.
Surveying the unfamiliar shrine scenery before him, Luo Shu narrowed his eyes slightly to adjust to the light before speaking:
"It seems we've returned to the present world."
As he spoke, Takina Inoue beside him shook her head and noticed the armed security personnel nearby. She promptly retrieved a prepared chip card from her pocket and called out:
"Identification code: 1c3023. This is my ID card."
With that, Takina flicked her wrist, sending the card flying towards the staff opposite.
A staff member caught the airborne ID card, glanced at Takina, then walked to the research area to operate a machine.
After verifying the identity without issue, the staff member visibly relaxed and waved his hand:
"Stand down from Level One alert. Maintain Level Three vigilance."
Instantly, the armed personnel surrounding Luo Shu and the others lowered their weapons and stepped aside.
Witnessing this, Maya Natsume, who had been fantasising about presenting her identity to receive respectful gazes from all staff, blinked in surprise:
"Huh? They're not even verifying my identity?"
"I thought there was always an identity verification after every Abyss exploration?"
Takina glanced at her and replied:
"I input your information into the card in advance."
"Besides, even if they were verifying identities, you don't have your Bujin-shū ID card on you, do you?"
"After all, you're not official personnel."
"Is that so..."
The phrase "not official personnel" somewhat shattered Maya's composure, making her overlook why Luo Shu didn't need verification either.
Meanwhile, Takina turned to Luo Shu, who had remained silent since their arrival.
Noticing Luo Shu examining the three swords at his waist, Takina asked:
"Did something happen?"
"Well, just a minor mishap."
Although he'd heard that when items from the Abyss entered the present world, they would exhibit various side effects, he hadn't expected it to happen instantaneously.
At this thought, Luo Shu's expression grew somewhat grave.
Had Kurumi Tokisaki not warned him, he wouldn't have noticed the changes to the three swords at his waist.
However, looking at it from another perspective, perhaps it wasn't that Luo Shu had slow reactions, but that he simply couldn't perceive it?
Could it be that only those at the Demigod Rank or above could detect the changes in the props?
Considering this question, Su Jin couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
At that moment, seeing Luo Shu's grave expression, Takina Inoue, who had just received her ID card, grew somewhat nervous:
"Did the check reveal anything unusual?"
Hearing this, Luo Shu glanced around before replying:
"This isn't the place to discuss it. We'll talk back at base."
"Understood." Takina nodded, then turned to a nearby staff member. "Please arrange a car to take us to the airport."
"No need for such trouble. You can ride in my car."
The sudden female voice startled both Luo Shu and Takina, causing them to turn immediately towards its source.
It was at this moment that a woman, her golden hair tied up in a bun, dressed in a deep purple office suit and sheer black stockings that faintly revealed her skin, ascended the final step. Her attire left one uncertain whether it was standard office wear or deliberate allure.
She waved at Luo Shu and said:
"You seem to be in good health!"
Kirika Tachibana approached Luo Shu with a smile, giving his shoulder a couple of hearty pats as she chuckled:
"Seems like you're still sturdy. So, how was this Abyss exploration?"
Hearing this, Luo Shu's lips curled slightly as he replied with amusement:
"A walk in the park."
"Didn't encounter any trouble from start to finish."
"Cut the act."
Kirika couldn't help but laugh at his words:
"With the lineup you had, it'd be strange if anything went wrong."
Add to that the elite forces dispatched by Japan's major factions, equipped with Emergency Escape Devices—if there had been casualties, Kirika would have suspected internal conflict.
Luo Shu deliberately teased:
"If you already knew, why bother asking?"
Kirika clicked her tongue in exasperation:
"Tch, is this how you treat a colleague who rushed here by helicopter overnight?"
"Apologies, but it's only 6:30 PM—hardly 'late night' levels."
After retorting, Luo Shu immediately asked:
"The helicopter's parked nearby?"
"Yep." Kirika nodded, then added: "Mika flew it here."
Luo Shu acknowledged this before gesturing towards Maya Natsume:
"This is Maya Natsume. She'll probably be reporting to the Hidden Management Department soon."
"The Natsume family's girl?"
Kirika looked startled, then gave Maya a peculiar glance. While she understood Luo Shu was signalling the girl was an ally, she couldn't resist teasing:
"What's a core member of the Bujin-shū doing joining our little group?"
"Don't ask me—I'd like to know too." Maya sighed in frustration.
She'd assumed that after high school, she'd work alongside her brother Shin Natsume in the Metropolitan Police Department's Bujin-shū. Yet due to unforeseen circumstances, she'd ended up at the SDS—and worse, with no choice in the matter. This future was nothing like she'd imagined!
If she'd known, she wouldn't have gotten involved in this Abyss trip.
Noticing Maya's tone, Kirika shot Luo Shu a look:
"Snatched her?"
Luo Shu shook his head with a sigh:
"No, delivered by her brother. If I'd refused, he might've stripped her naked and dumped her at my side."
"What nonsense are you spouting?!" Maya's face flushed with anger. "Shin would never do such a thing!!"
"Wait—" Maya suddenly realised her slip and exclaimed: "Who said anything about sleeping naked beside you?! I was fully clothed!!"
"Uh..." Takina Inoue blinked in bewilderment.
'Wasn't that... an accidental confession?'
Even Kirika was momentarily stunned by Maya's outburst.
"Ho, sleeping together with clothes on? You've already reached that stage?"
At this point, Kirika Tachibana couldn't help but laugh, teasing Luo Shu:
"Going to the Abyss once and bringing back a member of Bujin-shū. If we let you go a few more times, could we open an SDS branch there?"
"You'd better seize the opportunity then, since chances to poach people like this don't come often."
Luo Shu shrugged, joked back, then gave Kirika a meaningful look:
"Shall we leave now?"
"Fine by me. I've already said my goodbyes to that Ogiwara Chikichi anyway."
Kirika seemed indifferent, though she glanced at the three swords at Luo Shu's waist and smirked:
"Besides, some things aren't appropriate to discuss here."
With that, she turned to the other three:
"Follow me."
The group left the shrine directly, boarding a temporary vehicle that took them to a clearing where a helicopter was waiting.
After boarding, Luo Shu saw Mika in uniform with headphones turn around:
"Looks like you've brought back quite the haul this time!"
"Well, it was somewhat unexpected."
As he spoke, Luo Shu took a seat inside, laying the three swords across his lap.
Takina Inoue sat beside him and, noticing his hands were occupied, fastened his seatbelt for him.
Just then, Kirika, who had just boarded, watched as Maya Natsume closed the cabin door and asked:
"Have the side effects been confirmed?"
Hearing this, Maya turned her head in confusion: "What nonsense are you talking? Shouldn't lab technicians or those divination sorcerers be handling artefact side effect assessments?"
But before Maya finished speaking, Luo Shu's voice interjected.
"The side effects are confirmed."
Luo Shu drew Tenseiga, examining its pristine blade as he explained calmly:
"The three swords' abilities are similar to their counterparts in the Abyss, but with significant changes."
"This one's called Tenseiga. Originally, it could revive someone once and open a path to the Underworld, using the Underworld's properties to attack enemies."
"Technically, it can still revive the dead, but only those who've just stopped breathing without brain death - not completely deceased individuals."
"The ability to open Underworld gates has changed to randomly opening spatial rifts instead, losing its designated Underworld function."
"As for side effects..." Luo Shu paused and sighed. "Using this blade for over 20 minutes triggers an automatic Meidō Zangetsuha - randomly opening a spatial rift that transports the wielder away."
"A sword with limited revival and healing capabilities?" Kirika noted while jotting down details, frowning. "Random spatial teleportation as a side effect? That's troublesome."
Luo Shu shook her head: "No, not stable teleportation. It throws people into spatial turbulence - that's an important distinction."
"I see... That is problematic." Kirika bit her pen, brows furrowed.
Meanwhile, Mika, piloting the ascending helicopter, asked:... "In that case, the usage time for this sword probably can't exceed twenty minutes."
"By the way, what about the other two swords besides this one?"
"Not much better." Luo Shu shook his head as he raised Tessaiga, sighing helplessly. "This one's called Tessaiga. It's currently the weakest of the three but has the highest potential. The side effect specifies it can only be used by half-yokai of the Dog Tribe."
"As for this So'unga..."
When Luo Shu picked up So'unga, his expression turned extremely peculiar. He stared at Maya Natsume with an odd look, seemingly hesitant to speak.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Maya instinctively crossed her arms protectively. "We're on a helicopter right now—you can't do anything reckless!"
"Who said anything about being reckless?"
Luo Shu rolled his eyes before retorting irritably:
"I'm looking at you because the sword's side effect is related to you."
"The side effect is related to me? How...?" Maya was dumbfounded, blinking in confusion. "How does this involve me?"
At that moment, Kirika Tachibana asked, "What exactly is the side effect?"
Hearing this, Luo Shu replied with a strange expression:
"So'unga's side effect is... it can't be used by women. Especially silver-haired women—absolutely forbidden. If a designated woman touches it, So'unga will unleash evil energy to annihilate all enemies nearby."
"Hmm... seems like So'unga really hates you, Maya."
Maya was utterly baffled.
What kind of grudge did this sword have against her?
Did her silver hair steal its rice or something?
Since when did swords learn to discriminate against women?
This is downright ridiculous!