I loaded the geek game

Chapter 916 Epilogue: I Loaded the Ghost Story Game (Part 2) (The End)

Leaving the "United Literacy School" in the present world, Hoshimi and her two companions headed straight for the Ainu Root Land in the mortal world.

As planned, they used the sacred box here to go to a very special place.

As the divine vessel was activated, yellow-green fluorescent light scattered and danced, enveloping the three figures.

Everything in sight, both objects and colors, began to distort and recombine violently. Once the distortion and buzzing subsided completely, the colors and forms stabilized again.

Looking up, the sky was as dark as if it had been splashed with thick ink, with no sun, moon, or stars in sight, only heavy, low-hanging clouds.

All around them was a vast expanse of withered and twisted alder forest, its branches reaching towards the sky like tormented arms, appearing even more grotesque and eerie under the yellow-green fluorescent light surrounding Hoshimi and her companions. A biting wind howled through the dead forest, carrying with it a strong, salty smell of the sea.

Upon entering this place, several lines of information clearly appeared in the field of vision of Hoshimi and the other two:

[Map unlocked: Ainu Lands - Giant Salmon Islands.]

[Regional Quest 1: Defeat Ivaye Sangguru.]

[Ivaye Sanguru is a bear spirit deity born from the ancient Ainu bear worship culture and the "Iyomante" ritual. Its power and status are comparable to or higher than that of an Aragami (wild gods).]

[Note: This bear spirit is violent and has been corrupted by the projection of its nest for over a thousand years, making it highly defiled and similar in nature to the Yin God of the Underworld.]

[Regional Mission 2: Explore the Giant Salmon Islands.]

[In Ainu mythology, the ocean and numerous islands of this region are believed to be carried by an enormous salmon. Whenever this giant salmon moves, it causes violent earthquakes and unusual tides. When storms rage, the salmon devours passing ships, then dies, its carcass transforming into new islands… and the cycle continues.]

[Note: Several islands in the area have been found to exhibit unusual "activity"; please exercise extreme caution when exploring.]

The three were unprepared for the stream of information that was clearly presented in their field of vision, but they quickly realized that it seemed to be appearing through the special "invisible contact lens"-like psionic terminals they had just put on that day.

Immediately afterwards, a familiar voice came through the miniature earpieces they were wearing—

"Hello? Um... Communication is normal, signal is clear."

It is the sound of enlightenment.

“Aunt Wu, what were those messages just now…” Xingjian spoke first.

"Hmph!" Satoru's voice immediately rose a few decibels, filled with obvious pride and boasting. "This is the 'Tales of Ghosts' system, derived from the power of the Omoikane! Your old man used this when he was adventuring! But—"

Her tone was full of pride: "I have given this system a complete upgrade, adding the latest consciousness interaction module, environmental psionic analysis and map generation unit, cross-divine communication relay, as well as a 'mythological knowledge base' and 'threat assessment algorithm' jointly compiled by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs!"

"Simply put, you can easily control the system interface through your consciousness, view the real-time updated exploration map, your own status, environmental data, and even conduct simple tactical simulations."

"This system will be incredibly useful for team communication, real-time intelligence sharing and analysis, and recording exploration logs! It's far more advanced than your father's reliance on a few scattered pieces of information and intuition!"

After explaining this "newbie gift pack"-like auxiliary system, Wu's voice returned to a slightly more serious tone:

"You three kids should already know what we're here to do at the Giant Salmon Islands, right? However, as the 'rear technical support and overall coordinator' for this operation, I still want to reiterate the background and importance."

"Back-end technical support and overall coordination"—this is probably a self-proclaimed title that Wu casually gave himself.

Her voice, transmitted through the earphones, still echoed clearly in the ears of Hoshimi and the other two, amidst the howling wind and eerie environment:

"This archipelago is essentially a fragmented remnant of the Ainu realm of gods. The Ainu realm itself was a relatively small realm of gods, which disintegrated after it was unfortunately eroded and ultimately destroyed by the power of the nest."

"The Root Land that we know is a fragment that crashed into the Izumo Realm when the Ainubosa God Realm collapsed."

"And the Giant Salmon Islands where you are now are also a relatively complete 'fragment of the Ainu God Realm'. After the collapse of its original God Realm, it has been drifting around the outer perimeter of the Izumo Realm, becoming an isolated special area."

"After we successfully found and opened a stable passage connecting the Sagara realm to the world of the gods in Takamagahara, the passage to this 'isolated island' that already existed on the edge of the Izumo realm was also quickly located. However, because this place was contaminated by the 'nest projection,' we have not rashly further excavated the passage here, but instead isolated and monitored it."

“Until recently…” Wu’s voice was filled with obvious excitement, “the major joint research project on ‘Nest Projection Purification’ carried out by the Izumo Realm and the Shenzhou Realm has finally made a breakthrough! Theoretically, we now have the ability to systematically purify certain independent fragment areas that are relatively lightly contaminated by ‘Nest Projection’ and whose structures have not completely collapsed!”

"In order to verify the actual effect of this technology and to accumulate experience for subsequent large-scale purification operations, both the Shenzhou Realm and our Chuyun Realm have selected an experimental area. The one we chose is this Giant Salmon Islands! It is relatively isolated, the impact is controllable, and the scope is moderate, making it an excellent testing ground."

"Although we invested enormous resources and top-notch technical expertise in this purification experiment, based on the current monitoring data, it was extremely worthwhile! The nesting projection pollution index in the Giant Salmon Islands region has decreased significantly, environmental stability has been significantly enhanced, and the purification results are very satisfactory!"

"So, the next stage of the experiment is the second phase, which is also the crucial application verification stage—"

Wu's voice became serious and full of expectation: "We need to thoroughly exorcise the remaining evil gods in this area, which has been initially purified and completely corrupted by pollution, while also completing a detailed exploration and mapping of the entire archipelago. This is not only to further control this area, but the data and experience gained in the process will be crucial for the subsequent development of the 'Nest Projection Purification Project'!"

"Perhaps, together with the Divine Continent and even the Olympus Realm, we will find a method for purifying nest projections in larger and more complex environments. In that case, it's not impossible to purify the two sealed areas within the clouds and launch a full-scale attack on the Yellow Springs! All of this will be the first step in our joint counterattack against the extraterrestrial nests!"

"As for this dangerous yet glorious mission of vanquishing evil gods and exploring the unknown—" Wu paused deliberately, "it's up to you three brats! This is your first real combat experience, so don't—lose—yourselves!"

"Okay, okay. Aunt Wu, you've become so long-winded lately..."

Che shook his head helplessly and chuckled softly.

He, Hoshimi, and Rin already knew these things by heart before they set off.

Aunt Wu's emphasis at this moment... has a bit of the meaning of "sewing clothes carefully before departure, fearing a long and delayed return".

Just as Che was "complaining" like this, a hunched figure, no bigger than the palm of his hand, silently appeared beside him—

The little old man's body outside his body.

The scout sat steadily on the young master Che's shoulder, his black monk's robes fluttering slightly in the cold wind, his cloudy yet sharp eyes scanning the surrounding environment.

Even though the Tales of Ghosts system has been upgraded and is now more powerful, certain traditional and reliable "human" methods, especially the on-site investigations and experience-based judgments from the little old man, are still valuable aids that no advanced system can completely replace.

"I'm long-winded?" Through the earpiece, Wu's voice carried a mix of displeasure at being "offended" and a desire for retaliation. "Hmph! Xiao Che, haven't you changed lately? You've become—heartbroken, haven't you?"

"what?"

Che's helpless smile froze instantly, and a crack appeared in his gentle and refined expression.

"Weren't you the little female demon from the last Shenzhou delegation—the one with the cinnabar mark between her eyebrows, who looks like a jade rabbit or a moon-repairing spirit? The day before their delegation left, you were holding hands with that pretty little demon as you strolled through the Paradise Market. Don't think I don't know!"

Wu's voice was smug, as if he had grasped some major leverage.

"When did you see it!?"

Che completely lost his composure, his voice carrying a rare hint of panic and embarrassment.

He, Hoshimi, and Rin, having grown up with their parents who were asleep in Takamagahara, were raised by their "little parents," including Shika, Himawari, Zashiki, and Satoru.

Wu and others are the closest family members who accompanied the three older children in the family throughout their childhood.

Only in front of these "parents," like Satoru, does Toru Kamiya not deliberately maintain the flawless, refined gentlemanly demeanor he displays in public, and even in front of his younger siblings. Occasionally, he reveals a more authentic, even slightly impetuous, side that is typical of a boy his age.

"I know even more than that~" Wu's voice became even more smug, one could almost picture her smugly swinging her white twin ponytails on the other end of the call, "You two even wrote letters to each other. Hehe... What era are we living in? Still using such an old-fashioned method! Or do you think handwritten letters are warmer?"

"It's immoral to peek at other people's letters! You...you little old hag!"

Che was hit where it hurt, feeling both ashamed and angry, and blurted out something he shouldn't have.

"Huh?! You, you, you...who are you calling an old woman?!" Satoru's voice suddenly rose, so angry at the retort that he could barely speak. "Rin—! Beat him up!"

"it is good."

The moment her aunt finished speaking, Rin gave a concise response.

Almost simultaneously, the elaborate and exquisite dark dress swayed up like a ghost, creating a faint sound in the wind.

Rin's figure appeared behind Tetsu in an instant.

She closed the pretty red parasol in her hand and, without hesitation but with just the right amount of force, smashed it down on the back of her brother's head with a loud "bang!"

Her movements are crisp and efficient, without any hesitation or fuss, which is her consistent direct style.

"Hey! Are you really going to fight...?"

Che staggered from the blow, taking two steps forward before regaining his balance. He clutched the back of his head, turned around, and stared incredulously at Rin, who remained expressionless as she reopened her umbrella.

“Alright…” Hoshimi stood helplessly between her younger brother and sister, ending the little farce, and said into the earpiece, “Let Che go, Aunt Wu.”

Che and Aunt Wu really do love to bicker as always.

Especially after the three of them appeared to be "older" than Aunt Wu.

But in a way, this is also a manifestation of closeness...

"Hmph~" Wu's cheerful and slightly satisfied voice came through the earphones again, clearly indicating that the little incident had put her in a good mood. "Anyway, putting aside all the grand principles, this expedition to the Giant Salmon Islands is also very important for you three kids—"

"Put aside grand future goals like counterattacking and encircling the Yellow Springs. Only through countless real-world battles against real threats can you truly acquire... the qualifications to guard the throne of Takamagahara."

"We need to replace Sister Lu and Sister Kui."

This time, the first to give a brief but firm response was surprisingly Rin, who is usually the least talkative.

Her voice remained cool and detached, but her determination was clearly evident.

“However, there are only two positions to guard, and we have three people…” Che rubbed the back of his head where Rin had just tapped him, his tone returning to its usual refined manner, but with a hint of serious consideration in it, “Let’s make this clear first, if it really comes to that, I have to go up first.”

Is sitting on the throne of a god a good thing?

Wu didn't mince words in her criticism over the earpiece, but she certainly understood what Xiao Che meant—

I want to take on more responsibility for my older and younger sisters.

"The throne is cold and hard, and the responsibility is incredibly heavy... However, if you really want to be the guardians, you can take turns sitting on it in the future."

Then, probably that parental urge of watching their child grow up and being unable to resist giving advice on everything surged up again, and Wu began a new round of "nagging":

"Your parents are both very busy right now, so you'll have to complete this training entirely on your own. Don't try to be brave, discuss things with each other if you encounter problems, and run away if you can't win. Be careful in everything you do. I don't want to see any of you come back missing an arm or a leg, because then Grandma will have to go through the trouble of selling her legs to fix you up!"

My parents are both very busy...

The three children did know that their father, Kamiyagawa, seemed to be frequently active in the mortal world lately, often accompanied by the masked, menacing Aunt Kuchisake, seemingly searching for traces of some "old friend"...

"And then—" Wu seemed to want to continue giving instructions, but a sudden burst of noise came from the other end of the earpiece, "Hey! Don't push me...! Anyway, you three brats, let's begin!"

The signal was abruptly cut off.

……

High above the eternally dark sky of the Giant Salmon Islands, above thick, inky clouds.

Five figures stood steadily in mid-air, their robes fluttering in the strong wind.

Since they were all gods, the passage of time left no trace on their appearance, and they looked almost exactly the same as they had been years ago.

Standing in the middle of the five was Wu, a petite woman with white hair and red eyes. She was completely focused, surrounded by several illusory screens made of psionic energy and data streams, which flickered with complex runes, data, and real-time monitoring images.

On the three most prominent screens, Hoshimi, Toru, and Rin can be clearly seen.

Satoru's "base camp" for coordinating support for the three children's operation was not set up somewhere in Takamagahara as originally "agreed," but directly above the sky above this group of giant salmon islands.

As for the "culprit" that had just "squeezed" Wu into the communication, forcing her to interrupt the signal, it was standing to her left at that moment.

That was Mary and Onizuka Kiri Hotaru.

Mary's red and black dress fluttered violently in the gale, and she gripped the huge, heavy, blood-stained cleaver tightly in her hand, its blade humming incessantly.

"I'm going down to help Rin."

Mary's gaze was fixed on the screen, and judging from her posture, it seemed as if she was about to tear through space and descend directly to her daughter's side at any moment.

"No, Mary!" Onizuka held Mary's wrist tightly, trying to reassure her. "Didn't we all agree to let the children explore this place on their own? They're all good kids, they'll be fine."

As he spoke, Onizuka involuntarily looked at the illusory projection screen, his gaze especially falling on Hoshimi.

Watching his daughter meticulously plan the operation, Onizuka felt a complex mix of pride and trust.

Yes, Hoshimi... she'll definitely be fine.

To Satoru's right stood Kamiya River and Hannya.

Prajna's gaze was also fixed on the screen, especially on the section displaying Che. Her elegant and charming face was now filled with an almost excited, maternal pride and love.

“Honey, look at him, isn’t Chetsu so adorable?” Hannya’s voice trembled with delight as she turned to Kamiyagawa and said, “Even after Rin hit him, the way he stumbles is still incredibly cute!”

Prajna didn't mind Wuzhi's "discipline" at all, nor did she mind the harmless interactions between the children.

After all, while she herself was still asleep in Takamagahara and unable to accompany her child through the early years of growth, Tetsuya grew up under the genuine care of Satoru and the like, as well as with the mutual support of Hoshimi and Rin.

But seeing her son's gentle yet occasionally embarrassed expression on the screen, Prajna couldn't help but feel overjoyed.

As expected of my child! No matter how I look at him, he brings me immense joy!

Upon hearing this, Kamiya Kawa merely glanced at Hannya beside him, whose excitement was palpable, and remained silent for a moment.

I knew it... there's a reason why Che is a little afraid of Prajna.

It wasn't just because when they first left the throne, Prajna had made the eight-year-old Tetsuya, who was trying to maintain a mature demeanor, scream and crawl all over the place...

In a way, the fact that Xiao Che wasn't directly raised by Banruo might be considered a kind of "luck" for the child...

Otherwise, Xiao Che's childhood might leave some unspeakable "shadows" about his "family of origin"...

Afterwards, Kamiya's attention finally returned to the children.

He didn't look at the screen; his gaze went straight through the clouds at his feet and landed on the Giant Salmon Islands, where—

Rin gently flipped the ornate red parasol in her hand, a subtle clicking sound emanating from the ribs and canopy. Immediately afterward, an eerily cold light shot out from the handle, and a chilling metallic scent filled the air.

The blade is long and slender with a beautiful curve. The blade pattern resembles the burning flames of hell, exuding a strong aura of killing intent.

【Demon Sword Muramasa】

Rin held the Muramasa in one hand, and faint crimson waves of energy emanated from the hem of her dark dress, surging and churning like living things, staining the dim environment with a faint blood-red hue.

Che raised his hand and gently covered his face with the fanged, ferocious-looking mask of Mud-Eyed Hannya that had been hanging at his waist.

The moment the mask fit against the face, a faint, dark gleam flashed by.

At the same time, a strange and complex fragrance, belonging to the art of incense, silently wafted from the wide sleeves of his haori. This fragrance carried a calming, focused, and even slightly unsettling and intimidating power, perfectly blending with his elegant yet enigmatic aura even with his mask on.

Xingjian picked up a talisman intricately drawn runes, the paper trembling slightly between her fingers, radiating a pure yet powerful spiritual light. At the same time, she lowered her eyes slightly and, in an almost murmured yet crystal-clear tone, softly called out:

"Hanako-san."

"Yes~ I'm here~"

A distorted and strange child's voice responded to her.

Behind Hoshimi, on the dim ground interwoven with yellow-green fluorescence and the shadows of withered trees, a small figure of a little girl, exuding a strong aura of ominousness and resentment, slowly crawled out of the shadows, using both hands and feet.

Hanako, Hoshimi's first shikigami.

Yellow-green fluorescent lights swayed among the dead alder forest, and the salty sea breeze carried the echoes of exotic myths.

Now that the "Tales of Ghosts" that belonged to the older generation has been completed, the younger generation will embark on a brand new journey that belongs to them!

(The End) (End of Chapter)