Bruce

[Illustrated Guide Achievement: First Time Using a Shikigami]

[Achievement Details: This is your first time using a shikigami as your ally; the excellent shikigami helped you defeat a powerful enemy.]

[Achievement Reward: Jade Dog Amulet (Superior)]

[Jade Dog Amulet (Superior): A superior vessel for shikigami. When a shikigami resides within it, it will continuously and automatically absorb spiritual energy to strengthen itself.]

[Item Evaluation: Ask your master to protect you with a jade dog charm!]

After reading the details, Izumi Takumi found himself holding a crystal-clear jade puppy amulet.

This is exactly what Izumi Takumi needs.

"You can let my brother live inside. This is a top-grade shikigami vessel. I hope my brother won't mind this time?"

Finding a thin red string, Izumi Takumi hung the jade dog amulet around his waist.

We'll talk about inviting Dog Bro to stay after he's seen the rest of the rewards.

[Illustrated Achievement: Overcoming the Strong with the Weak]

[Achievement Details: You defeated a high-ranking Onmyoji with your meager strength. Luck is also a part of strength; you are the ultimate winner.]

[Achievement Reward: One-Hit Charm (100 Years) *1]

【One-Hit Talisman (Hundred Years): Releases a hundred years' worth of pure spiritual energy stored within the user, dealing massive damage to the enemy】

[Item Rating: This attack of mine is the culmination of a century's worth of internal energy!]

A silver talisman appeared in Izumi Takumi's hand.

Just by holding this silver talisman, Izumi Takumi could feel the immense spiritual power contained within it.

Compared to ordinary yellow talismans, this silver talisman is not only different in color, but also feels very different to the touch.

The yellow talisman was made of paper, while the silver talisman seemed to be made of some unknown material.

Perhaps some people know about this material, but this is Izumi Takumi's trump card, and he won't let anyone else know it.

"Looks like the Yokai Encyclopedia doesn't want me to die either. Is luck also a part of strength?"

Smiling, Izumi Takumi placed the silver talisman close to his body, then straightened his expression and looked at the last page.

[Growth Mission: Never underestimate a young person's potential!]

[Mission Details: Others bully your weakness, mock your incompetence, and ridicule your stance; they want to take everything away from you!]

[Task Requirement: Advance to the mid-rank Onmyoji within three months.]

[Task Rewards: Yin-Yang Eyes Upgrade Attempt +1, Exclusive Magic Item *1, Incomplete Shikigami Blueprint *1, Pure Spirit Stone *1]

[Mission prompt: You have been spotted.]

The monster encyclopedia closed automatically and merged into Izumi Takumi's body.

Izumi Takumi's expression was serious; the rewards for this mission were very generous and tempting.

But obtaining these things will certainly be extremely difficult.

The difficulty and rewards of the monster encyclopedia tasks are directly proportional.

The more difficult the task, the better the reward.

It seems I'll have to go through quite a few troubles if I want to become a mid-level Onmyoji.

Shaking his head slightly, Izumi Takumi pulled out a small pile of scraps of paper.

This is a damaged paper dog, which he painstakingly found by searching the ground.

After glancing at his left index finger, Izumi Takumi took a fruit knife and made a light cut.

Squeezing blood onto the ground, Izumi Takumi began to draw runes to summon shikigami.

Fortunately, he didn't have to draw it too big, otherwise he was really afraid he would become anemic.

"Rise, my shikigami!"

With a casual remark, Izumi Takumi began chanting an incantation.

Just a second after the incantation was recited, a red light flew out from the scrap of paper and instantly entered the jade dog amulet.

At the same time, an unfamiliar voice echoed in his mind.

"My master, I will sign a shikigami contract with you."

"Given that you are currently too weak, I will take charge of the contract on your behalf, while protecting your soul."

"I swear, I will be loyal to your will, follow in your footsteps, and obey your commands."

A drop of red blood flew out from the jade dog amulet, paused in the air for a second, and then suddenly flew towards Izumi Takumi, disappearing into his forehead.

With a sharp pain in his head, Izumi Takumi could clearly sense the little mongrel residing inside the jade pendant.

With just a thought, Izumi Takumi could take the life of this powerful spirit.

Upon closer inspection, the contract led by the little earth dog was exactly the same as the shikigami contract that Izumi Takumi learned in the Inheritance Scroll.

Although the contract was successfully completed, Izumi Takumi was still very puzzled.

The little mongrel was clearly a powerful being, but in front of him, it was like a sycophant.

Is it because of the monster encyclopedia?

While Izumi Takumi was still in a daze, that fawning voice echoed in his mind again.

"My Lord, please give me a name."

After a three-second pause, Izumi Takumi smiled.

From now on, your name will be Bruce.

……

"Sister, what are you planning to do with this guy?"

In a dark, damp, and smelly basement.

Yukimura Mashiro moved away from Kato Tajuru with disdain, while asking Yukimura Yuri, who had already revealed her true form, a question.

Three fluffy tails swayed behind them, and the cat ears on their heads twitched from time to time.

Yukimura Yuri subconsciously licked the back of her hand, and after realizing something was wrong, she stiffened and silently lowered her arm.

"This is a crucial fighting force for the Onmyoji Bureau; it feels a bit wasteful to just exchange them for resources."

Glancing sideways at Yukimura Mashiro, Yukimura Yuuri asked, "So, what are your thoughts?"

"Hey, are you asking me?"

Yukimura Mashiro, who had originally come out of curiosity to join in the fun, also started to think about it after seeing this.

"Kill them, to intimidate the Onmyōryō?"

"..."

Okay, Yukimura Yuri admits that she shouldn't have had any intellectual expectations of her younger sister.

However, it's impossible to keep Kato Itsuki imprisoned indefinitely.

It's a waste to leave food and drink here; the Yukimura family's money isn't meant to support humans who hate monsters.

Yukimura Yuri calmly spoke, turning her gaze to Kato Tajuu, who was wearing a collar and had his hands bound by ropes.

"I can contact the Onmyoji Bureau to come and take you back, but you have to bring that thing out."

"……Can."

"Oh? So agreeable?" Yukimura Yuri was somewhat surprised.

Kato Taju chuckled self-deprecatingly, "I'm already a prisoner, what's the point of being stubborn?"

"Besides, I was defeated by a low-ranking Onmyoji. What right do I have to make demands?"

Yukimura Mashiro really wanted to say that as a high-ranking Onmyoji, you have plenty of conditions you can set.

But seeing that her sister didn't say anything, Yukimura Mashiro also stood aside expressionlessly.

Yukimura Yuri nodded gently.

"People who know how to behave are more valuable."

"You asked for it for that kid?" Kato Taju raised his head, which had been hanging down. "I suppose so. It's useless for you monsters to ask for things."

"Enough with the small talk. Are you going to take it out obediently yourself, or should I break open your storage bag and take it out?"

Yukimura Yuri stepped forward: "The talisman paper produced by the Kato family, a lineage of Onmyoji, must be of very high quality, right?"

"Heh, I don't know about the others, but all I have are the talismans I made myself."

"That's enough."

After untying the ropes binding Kato Taju, the latter clapped his hands and took out a small bag from his pocket.

Kato Taju reached into the small bag and said calmly.

"I hope that you, as a yokai, will keep your promise."

……