"No way."
Miko shook her head very firmly.
"It's not that I don't want to take you, it's that I can't even protect myself."
"I only have the confidence to fight those monsters because I'm relying on Lord Akuto."
"It's too dangerous for you, as an ordinary person."
"As long as I can find you when I'm tired, I think that's good enough."
Hana felt a bit lonely after hearing this.
Miko, however, thought of the Exorcism Society's app; many things could be purchased with money there.
There were quite a few spiritual tools, and surely there was one that could allow ordinary people to see cursed spirits.
But Miko didn't want to pull Hana into this world.
It was too dangerous.
If it weren't for Akuto, Miko probably would have died during her first fight with a cursed spirit.
The best outcome would have been disability.
And what kind of spirit was it back then?
Merely a 4th Grade, wasn't it?
Even though it was almost at the edge of the 3rd Grade, it was still far too dangerous for an ordinary person.
"Let's go back to the dojo; I need to become stronger."
Miko looked back at the pillar-like black aura, her heart feeling quite heavy.
After returning to the dojo...
Godmother felt a sigh of relief when she saw that the two were not in danger.
At the same time, she felt an inexplicable sense of guilt... Returning home that night, Miko opened the Exorcism Society's app and began browsing the store.
The store was divided according to the level of the spiritualist.
Akuto's account was at the top level, so Miko could view all items.
[ Evil-suppressing Hairpin: S-grade. Appearance: A short silver hairpin, the head carved with hollowed-out Sanskrit, the end inlaid with a pale purple gemstone.]
[ Ability: After piercing the target or its vicinity, it releases a Spirit-Suppressing Incantation', forcibly sealing the core of a cursed spirit or spiritual tool. It only serves a 'sensing' function for humans, allowing ordinary people to see nearby hidden cursed spirits. ]
[Price: 8 billion yen.]
As expected.
Miko's pupils shrank; the very first spiritual tool could let ordinary people see cursed spirits.
This hairpin was terrifyingly strong.
[ Spirit-Binding Rope: S-grade. Appearance: Gray-white hemp rope, its surface wrapped with blood-colored hair.]
[ Ability: The Spirit-Binding Rope is itself a Harmless Grade cursed spirit; this spirit's ability is to seal spiritual energy. It has a minor effect on cursed spirits but a powerful effect on spiritualists. After binding a target spiritualist, it nullifies their spiritual energy; its length can freely extend between 1 and 10 meters. ]
[ Please note: When not in use, please seal it in a specialized container to prevent being harmed by it. ]
[Price: 7.5 billion yen.]
Miko's head ached when she saw the price, so she simply scrolled down.
There weren't many S-grade spiritual tools, only about a dozen.
Next was an A-grade; Miko didn't look closely and flipped directly to the B-grade section.
[ White Jade Fan: B-grade. Appearance: A fan made of white jade, with three white foxes painted on the surface. ]
[ Ability: Injecting spiritual energy can activate three white fox shikigami. The shikigami's combat power is equivalent to a 2nd Grade cursed spirit; they can also be used for gathering intelligence and as mounts. Power is significantly increased when used by a female. ]
[ Please note: Spiritualists below B-grade must not use this; using a white jade fan requires paying a price to the shikigami, and the price varies. ]
[ To date, 15 people have died from white jade fan. The price for a white jade fan is mostly physical organs; if payment is refused, one will be attacked by the white foxes. Powerful individuals also need to pay a price, which can be a single strand of hair. ]
[Price: 2.2 billion.]
Miko discovered that these spiritual tools were not much better than cursed spirits in terms of how eerie they were.
This white jade fan was also a double-edged sword.
The benefit was having three helpers; the downside was that after every fight, the helpers might want the user's kidney or eyeball.
And you couldn't refuse; if you didn't give it, you'd be beaten up.
Even if you were lucky enough to beat the three fox shikigami, you couldn't use it again unless the price was paid.
Perhaps someone found they could bargain with the foxes, which is why the tip 'can pay a single strand of hair' was written.
She wondered if that user had plucked themselves bald.
However, this also proved that this thing was most likely a one-time use item.
Unless one was truly a ruthless person, the type who would cut their own flesh without blinking.
[ Spirit-Devouring Jade: B-grade. Appearance: A black, rounded jade stone with a smooth surface and no patterns. ]
[ Ability: When worn, it can automatically absorb spiritual energy from the air to form a shield that can defend against physical attacks. The total defensive power is equivalent to being hit once by a car going 80 mph. It can be reused, with a 12-hour cooldown each time the shield breaks. ]
[Price: 3.8 billion.]
Although this tool was very expensive, Miko was a bit tempted.
"It would be great if I could buy this and give it to Mom."
But these things were still too far out of reach for Miko.
Miko wanted to see if there was anything she could use now.
Thinking of this, Miko scrolled straight to the bottom.
[ Spirit-Averting Talisman: C-grade. Worn on the body, it can keep cursed spirits 5 meters away from the user. Ineffective against 3rd Grade spirits and above. 100,000 yen per sheet. ]
"What a useless tool."
Miko was somewhat speechless.
Ineffective against 3rd Grade? So it can only drive away 4th Grade spirits?
Why is a 4th Grade called Harmless?
Hmm?
Answer me!
Look into my eyes!
[ Spirit-Detecting Doll: C-grade. When a cursed spirit appears within a 10-meter radius of the user, it will sound a wind chime as a warning. 500,000 yen each. ]
"This is also so useless."
"They're already within 10 meters; what spiritualist wouldn't see them? Is the bell ringing to remind the cursed spirit that it's time to eat?"
Miko looked at the seller of these two items with some exasperation.
It was a merchant named 'Saionji'.
[ Pure Water: C-grade. Holy water purified by a shrine has a devastating effect on cursed spirits, no different from poison. Ineffective against Special Grade Cursed Spirits. 2 million yen per bottle. Note: 1 bottle is 500ml.]
[ Sealing talisman: C-grade. Can briefly seal a cursed spirit; once the burning ends, the spirit will break the seal. The stronger the spirit, the faster it burns. Can seal a Special Grade cursed Spirit for 1 minute. 1 million yen per sheet.]
These two items were quite useful.
Miko was a bit tempted.
Miko had seen sealing talismans before; back then, Granny Saegusa had used a sealing talisman to briefly block Akuto.
But Miko remembered that back then, it seemed like one sheet burned up in 10 seconds...
[Inspiration Earrings: C-grade. Small silver earrings (available in stud and clip-on styles), inlaid with tiny sapphires. They will heat up when a cursed spirit approaches. No protective capability; can be worn by those who love beauty. 700,000 yen per pair.]
Miko was quite tempted by this.
This would be very suitable to give to Hana.
"Lord Akuto..."
Miko was a bit bashful; after all, she was going to borrow money again, and she hadn't even paid back the previous money.
Akuto opened one eye a crack and waved his hand impatiently:
"Decide for yourself. I have no use for money; don't bother me."
Instead of being angry after hearing this, Miko's cheeks turned an eerie shade of red.
"Is this... giving me the right to manage the household... wouldn't that be a bit too early..."
Akuto felt Miko's heart rate accelerating wildly and frowned.
"Has this stupid woman never seen money before?"
Miko bashfully placed an order and bought a pair of stud earrings.
Other things weren't very useful to Miko.
For example, the Spirit-Expelling Mallet was just a toy hammer that could knock a cursed spirit out of a body. But it was ineffective against 2nd Grade and above, only useful against 3rd Grade.
For example, the Cursed Bookmark; as long as you held one bookmark, you could find the other no matter how far away it was. Basically a tracking item.
There were also prayer beads blessed by high monks, running shoes that made you run incredibly fast once put on, the heads of cursed spirits that could freeze other spirits in place...
There were also some A-grade items, such as a cursed Spirit Doll that could predict fortune and misfortune.
This tool was specifically noted as being unable to determine the causal relationship—whether the doll predicted the future fortune or if the doll decided it. Thus, it was categorized as an A-grade because it was quite dangerous.
As well as a Cursed Camera; taking a picture of a cursed spirit could pull it into the photograph, but taking the photo required 15 seconds.
There were also various weapons that could harm cursed spirits, all of which were weapons handed down from the Sengoku period that had tasted blood.
She did see modern firearms; the guns were very cheap, but a single bullet cost 500,000 yen, half the price of a B-grade mission.
Miko lost interest after looking for a while.
Just then, the doorbell rang.
"Ding-dong."