The Sword Deity in Tokyo

Chapter 188: The Seven Emotions Tracking Spell

Translator: Larbre Studio Editor: Larbre Studio

All living creatures have seven emotions and six desires. This was an absolute fact passed on since ancient times.

The Tsukumogami, known as Little Cart, was a Tsukumogami enshrined by the Natsume family. However, it was imprecise to say that it was worshipped, as Little Cart can be considered as adhered to the Natsume family, and have equal status with the other members of the Natsume family.

Little Cart was passed down by Mitsue Natsume’s grandfather to Tsuyoshi Natsume, Mitsue’s father before it was again passed down into Mitsue’s possession. Counting from the time that passed after Little Cart became a Tsukumogami, it had been almost 50 to 60 years.

Although the art of kendo was also practiced by the Natsume family, they did not belong to the Ancient Kendo Community. The Natsume family was more inclined to the Deity Rising Palace. They did not have a well-known reputation in the Ancient Kendo Community, most kendo families were unaware of the existence of the Natsume family.

Ito’s family knew about them from their good relationship with the Deity Rising Palace.

When Ikioi Ito was a kid, he used to enrich himself with a wide pool of knowledge in addition to practicing kendo. As he did not have much free time to himself, it was only natural that he would start to feel bored and frustrated. At one point, he really despised learning and had even fallen into depression briefly.

When Yasutake Ito, Ikioi Ito’s dad, saw his condition, it was only natural that he became anxious. He first sought help from a psychiatrist, but it was to no avail. Thus, he had no choice but to seek help from the Deity Rising Palace. Then, an Onmyoji had introduced Mitsue Natsume to him.

Right after eating a bowl of oden in Natsume’s house, all of Ikioi Ito’s negative emotions were swept away, and his mental health was restored. Moreover, Mitsue Natsume had achieved a higher realm compared to Yasutake Ito, which further enhanced Yasutake Ito’s respect for him. As a result, Ikioi Ito was also privy to a lot of the Natsume family’s matters.

For example... He knew that Kumoko Natsume was not human, but a ghost. This was also the reason why the Natsume family set up their stall at night, because Kumoko Natsume may appear similar to ordinary people, but she was actually afraid of sunlight. Therefore, she could only move around freely at night.

Mitsue Natsume usually starts selling from nine o’clock at night till twelve midnight. After packing up their stall, Mitsue Natsume would spend time bringing Kumoko around for a walk. This invoked Ikioi Ito’s sympathy for her, as it was pitiful for a girl to only be able to walk freely along the streets at night.

Everyone had to line up if they wished to purchase from the stall. If anyone tried to cut the queue, then they would be blacklisted. Of course, thanks to Kimura Kazuki, Ikioi Ito could also enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime privilege of skipping the line.

Right at this moment, Ikioi Ito was sitting next to Kimura Kazuki as he concentrated fully on what Mitsue Natsume had to say. Then, he patted his pocket carefully to ensure that his debit card was still there, to assure his worrisome heart.

“The tracking spell that I developed is named the Seven Emotions Tracking Spell.”

“In this world, every living being has emotions, be it positive or negative. Throughout a person’s entire lifetime, they will feel many emotions, and there will be a reason behind each emotion. The attention of one’s parents might make someone feel either happy, blessed, annoyed, or even impatient, where both positive and negative emotions are possible.” Mitsue Natsume paused for a while, allowing Kimura Kazuki to sort out his thoughts. Then, he continued, “The Seven Emotions Tracking Spell does not track the producer of the emotions, but rather the cause for those emotions.”

Ah, so that’s how it works.

It was apparent that Ikioi Ito was aware of this, which was why he brought Kimura Kazuki here.

As for Kotone Mikami, it was apparent that fear would overpower any other emotions right before her death. Then, using that fear as a beacon, they could follow that trail and locate the demon’s hiding spot.

“However, this Seven Emotions Tracking Spell requires an anchor.”

“I have it.” Without waiting for Kimura Kazuki to speak, Ikioi Ito produced a small pouch from his pocket. He coughed lightly and explained, “A strand of Kotone Mikami’s hair is inside.”

After ending his explanation, he seemed to feel a little embarrassed as he lowered his voice and said, “I’m not a pervert! At first, I saw that she seemed to be in a bad mood constantly, so I swiped this to make her happy. Initially, I had wanted to come over to meet Natsume after the Kendo competition, but that was before I knew what happened.”

Mitsue Natsume, who was sitting opposite him, nodded slightly after hearing his explanation. “Apart from the Seven Emotions Tracking Spell, I have also developed something I call the ‘Blessing of Seven Emotions’. As long as there is an anchor, the negative emotions of the owner of the anchor can be eliminated.”

Kimura Kazuki inclined his head. Mitsue Natsume’s ability to manipulate a living subject’s emotions over a long distance was reminiscent of a type of witchcraft common in Southeast Asia. He suspected that Mitsue Natsume may have experimented with an offensive and weaponized form of that emotions spell. Still, he had never been one to poke his nose into other people’s secrets.

Mitsue Natsume accepted the pouch and took the hair strand out from it. He looked up at Kimura Kazuki and Ikioi Ito and asked, “What emotion would you like to use as a beacon for tracking? Of course, my Seven Emotions Tracking Spell can track all seven emotions simultaneously, but the results might be more accurate if a definite emotion can be identified.”

Ikioi Ito did not speak this time. He had not entered Kotone Mikami’s room back then, and he had not seen any photos of her that were taken before her death.

“Fear.” Kimura Kazuki said after thinking about it.

He could not forget the sight of Kotone Mikami’s fearful eyes, even in death. Only that demon would have the ability to instill such fear in a person.

Fear. Mitsue Natsume frowned slightly. Five seconds later, he answered, “Alright.”

Kimura Kazuki noticed Mitsue Natsume’s expression, but he did not ask any further about it.

After that, Mitsue Natsume went upstairs. He did not use the Essence of Emotions in Little Cart’s bowl to initiate the tracking spell immediately. Instead, he made the pair wait.

Kimura Kazuki sat there wordlessly while Ikioi Ito teased Kumoko and Little Cart, the Tsukumogami that had piqued his curiosity. Two minutes later, Mitsue Natsume came downstairs again. He was holding a small porcelain bottle. The bottle was entirely white, narrow at the top, but wide at the bottom.

When he went back into position, Kumoko had already prepared a plate for him.

After patting her head fondly, Mitsue Natsume accepted the plate that placed it on the table. He dropped the strand of hair on the plate. Then, he picked up the porcelain bottle and carefully poured out a drop of clear liquid on the plate.

The droplet dripped from the mouth of the bottle, landing on the plate with a splattering sound. Strangely, it did not splash everywhere. In the blink of an eye, the strand of hair on the plate was dissolved. The water droplet started to expand, and the entire plate was filled with clear water in less than two seconds.

Ikioi Ito could not believe this astonishing scene in front of his eyes. Although he was in the first level of foundation state, ultimately, he had never been exposed to actual supernatural abilities before.

In contrast, Kimura Kazuki was observing the situation with razor-sharp focus. He discovered that as the water droplet dissolved, Mitsue Natsume’s lips were moving as if he was chanting, but almost no sound could be heard.

In just a moment, the water on the plate started to emit eerie rays of light. Then, the clear water on the plate started to dissolve into an image.

Itoshi’s eyes were stretched wide open in wonder. It was his first time looking at such a bizarre ritual, he was shocked to his core. The scene on the plate was a sea of white, its environment distorted yet deathly silent. A dark silhouette was moving at high speed through the image, and as the silhouette moved, its surrounding environment flitted past very quickly.

“This is...”

“This is the world inside the internet.”