Chapter 96

A Trap Called Ichigo Hitofuri

The blue-haired spirit, with a gentle smile on its face, was dressed in a neat battle outfit.

He bent down and approached Dongshu, his tone even gentle as he spoke, as if afraid of frightening the young child before him.

Fuyuki's eyes darkened; the katana before her was none other than Ichigo Hitofuri, whom she knew very well.

Just like the tsukumogami in his own citadel, he is equally gentle and possesses a powerful affinity, yet he also lures those with soft hearts into his trap, which is known for its gentleness.

She felt that strange sensation hidden beneath the beautiful skin, just like with Tsurumaru Kuninaga before, and like with Kashuu Kiyomitsu before, but even stronger.

Is this what it means to be corrupted?

She pondered this with curiosity, but didn't show it on her face.

Fuyuki looked timid, as if startled by a stranger: "Y-hello, is there anything I can help you with?"

The young Saniwa peeked out from beneath her soft black hair, her clear eyes cautiously observing the tall Tsukumogami before her, like a frightened little rabbit, posing no threat whatsoever.

That's how it is.

Such powerful yet easily controlled Saniwa are their targets.

Moreover—

Ichigo Hitofuri glanced discreetly at the blue bracelet on Fuyuki's wrist. He recognized it; it was clearly a translator from the current government, meaning that the Saniwa before him didn't even speak the language.

Ichigo Hitofuri: "I see you're sitting here alone without any tsukumogami around you. Did you accidentally get separated from your companions?"

Of course not.

Dongshu gripped the small fork tightly, her eyes darting away somewhat embarrassedly: "...No."

There's a situation, there's an opportunity.

Ichigo Hitofuri sat down naturally: "Is there anything you want to say to me?"

He seemed like a warm-hearted older brother who could see the child's stubbornness but didn't expose it.

No one would have imagined that such a tiny creature would be used as bait.

Fuyuki paused for two seconds at this sudden display of familiarity: "I don't think I need to..."

"No!" a voice in my head warned.

Fuyuki quickly composed herself, hesitating, "I should, um..."

Ichigo Hitofuri asked patiently, "If there's anything I can help with, please tell me, Master Saniwa."

Fuyuki said shyly, "Can you play with me?"

Taking the first step, all the barriers between them disappeared.

She puffed out her cheeks, looking quite disgruntled: "Everyone always says 'no' or 'can't,' so I can never get what I want... So, can you play with me?"

The young Saniwa's lowered eyes gleamed with anticipation; clearly, this carefree child had no worries and was not wary of the handsome and gentle Tsukumogami before him.

She is a human child who was over-educated by a spirit because she was too young.

A hint of red flashed subtly in Ichigo Hitofuri's beautiful eyes from the shadows.

Ichigo Hitofuri replied, "Of course, what would you like to play?"

He always appeared incredibly patient.

"Wait a moment."

Dongshu suddenly stood up excitedly, ran to the counter and chatted with the clerk for a few words, and then she came over with a small box.

The wooden box was small and exquisite, but there was nothing particularly surprising about it.

Fuyuki and Ichigo Hitofuri sat down facing each other. She moved her small dessert to the edge and then opened the box in her hand, slowly and neatly arranging the contents on the table.

On a sturdy piece of paper, fifteen equally spaced, perpendicularly intersecting parallel lines make the entire chessboard appear on the table.

The lines intersect to form multiple intersection points, which serve as the points where black and white pieces are placed during the game.

“I’ve wanted to play for a while, but no one wanted to play with me.”

Fuyuki excitedly explained the game to the kind-hearted tsukumogami older brother in front of him, who was unusually willing to play such a silly game with him.

A moment later, Ichigo Hitofuri nodded with a knowing look: "Okay, I understand."

Fuyuki cheered, "Yay! Let's begin!"

Fuyuki chose to move Kuroko first, her eyes shining with innocent light as she smiled and said, "It's your turn."

Ichigo Hitofuri nodded, and the white piece was placed down.

Dongshu followed closely behind, his mind racing, his eyes perfectly imprinting every movement on the board into his mind for analysis.

Gomoku is a very easy board game to learn.

It has a deep appeal; at least Fuyuki genuinely likes it.

But to say I like it a lot, it's not to a very deep degree; it's just that playing it doesn't feel very painful.

Soon, the five black pieces were in a row. Looking at the five black pieces that were connected in a line, Fuyuki cheered, "Yay, I won!"

She enthusiastically separated the black and white chess pieces, her beautiful, clear, dark eyes sparkling with excitement, as if even this little bit of freedom was precious.

She pleaded, "Just one more game, please?"

Children are greedy.

Ichigo Hitofuri suppressed his thoughts and patiently replied, "Okay."

But Fuyuki's keen perception still caught the subtle impatience in his eyes.

Her black hair was tied up at the back of her head, revealing her soft little face.

How weak they are.

After yet another match ended, she continued to plead sweetly, "One more time, just one last game, okay?"

Looking at the expectant eyes of the young Saniwa before him, whom he was targeting, Ichigo Hitofuri's lips twitched, but he still replied, "Of course."

Fuyuki kept placing chess pieces in her hand, and asked curiously, "Don't you need to go back to the citadel soon? Most of the tsukumogami who come here alone are shopping for the citadel, and everyone goes back soon after."

Children are very curious.

Unbeknownst to him, Ichigo Hitofuri, who was also a target, presented a pre-prepared excuse. Ichigo's face paled instantly. He remained silent for a moment before saying softly, "The citadel? There is no Saniwa in the citadel, so naturally there is no need to return as soon as possible."

As he had expected, Fuyuki showed an embarrassed and guilty expression.

The young Saniwa bit her lower lip, her smooth movements with the black chess piece in her hand halting: "I see... I'm sorry."

"It's okay, everyone's used to it."

In the ensuing game, Fuyuki didn't utter another word except for requesting a final round.

With their naivety and inability to discern human nature, the innocent children seem to fall into the shallowest trap called "happiness" in an instant.

Ichigo Hitofuri dispelled this doubt, asking as if out of curiosity, "Master, judging from your recent appointment, you probably don't have many companions in the citadel, do you?"

However, the excited children are unaware of the trap hidden in these words.

Fuyuki obediently replied, "Yes, I have only just managed to forge swords that can satisfy both sortie and domestic duties."

She sighed with a heavy heart, "Being a Saniwa is really not easy. Not only do you have to deal with so many things, but you also have to be managed."

Fuyuki complained, "Mom said that once we came here, we could do whatever we wanted, but those guys are even stricter than Mom."

Dissatisfied, she retrieved all the black flags to her side, but still wasn't satisfied: "Again..."

Before she could finish speaking, a familiar figure walked in from the doorway and went straight to her.

Their game was interrupted.

The gray-haired tsukumogami knelt down, looking directly at Fuyuki, but spoke with utmost respect.

He said, “Lord, we should go back.”

Before he said this, he glanced at the blue-haired youth sitting next to him. His eyes held a hint of unfamiliarity, clearly indicating that Ichigo Hitofuri was not a sword in this citadel.

Ichigo Hitofuri pondered to himself, all the clues laid out before him, indeed a target that seemed perfect.

He put aside his thoughts, slowly stood up and smiled, "In that case, I'll be going now. I look forward to seeing you again, Master Saniwa."

He uttered the last title meaningfully.

"Okay, goodbye." Unaware of what was happening, Fuyuki looked longingly at his retreating figure.

Only when Ichigo Hitofuri was out of sight did she let out a defiant snort, then turn and run out of the dessert shop, not even glancing at the expression on the gray-haired tsukumogami beside her.

A capricious master.

Meanwhile, Hasebe followed behind the Saniwa as if it were a habit, acting as her protector.

A loyal sword.

They left Wanwu.

Having observed the situation from the shadows, Ichigo Hitofuri felt much relieved.

He closed his eyes, imprinting the image of Fuyuki deeper into his mind, and then his once gentle eyes filled with a beautiful yet bloody red.

want to.

The next second, the red color vanished completely, as if it had never existed.

Soon, Ichigo Hitofuri's figure also disappeared.

Only a blank space remains.

Soon after, a Saniwa (a spirit master) passed by, and the tsukumogami (spirits) beside him suddenly became alert and gripped the sword at his waist.

The Saniwa asked in surprise, "What's wrong? Is the barrier around the manga about to break again?"

The spirit shook its head and said, "It's the aura of corruption, and deep corruption at that."

Corruption itself is not scary; what is scary is deep corruption.

After all, such a tsukumogami should probably no longer be called a tsukumogami.

Unless a powerful being with immense spiritual energy exerts all its strength to purify them, they will eventually dissipate from this world without the supply of spiritual energy.

After all, that's something that only appears when its master is killed by his own hands.

—

This pill.

Fuyuki stretched and grabbed the tsukumogami who had arrived at the same time, winking at him: "Hasebe, well done."

Praise the puppy appropriately.

Hasebe's eyes lit up, and he lowered his head: "It is my honor to fulfill my master's command."

His voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement: "Please continue to command me like this."

...My Lord.

[Author's Note]

Fuyuki: Playing himself [sunglasses]