There were many clans in this land and just as many had fallen.
Ishihara was the princess of one such clan: the once-proud Asano clan, now reduced to history.
The Asano clan had crumbled with the outbreak of a yokai wave.
In the chaotic aftermath, entangled in webs of politics, Ishihara Asano was married off at a young age to him.
Takashi was very happy to get a companion to play with: kind, gentle, sweet, she was the best of the best as a friend to play with, and as they grew up, they grew even closer.
However, her future was not pretty in the game. Takashi had grown more and more incompetent in the future, and by the time that he realised his mistake, his status in the clan was next to null.
And in some unforeseen event, the seal bearer of the Ashikaga Clan died, so they quickly needed another bearer.
With intense evaluation among the clan, Ishihara was chosen as the seal bearer because she was discovered to have possessed a perfect spiritual body.
Born on the night of the red moon, her body doesn't leak spiritual Qi, this was one of the most vital reasons that they chose her.
Takashi could only helplessly watch all of this, his words, his cries, his pleas, going to deaf ears.
Then, with some unfortunate scenario, she was killed and another vessel for the seal of the Yokai Emperor was chosen. Then that character became one which was free to play for the players.
The player could choose any gender they want, and they would be born that way.
He didn't know what would happen, whether the main character born would be a boy or a girl. However, he was 100% sure of the fact that he would absolutely do everything to protect his dear wife.
Takashi extended his hands up as he clenched his fist, a glint flashed in his eyes as he rested on his bed.
It was the middle of the night, and he had been remembering and revising everything that he had heard and seen in this game.
Every moment, every play, was firmly etched in his mind, constantly replaying in his mind.
He had to make sure to remember everything if he wanted to protect his wife at all costs.
Then, after some time, he called out:
"Status."
The blue panel appeared in front of him.
Pretty much nothing had changed; his increased status was the same, except for one thing. He had spiritual Qi now:
[Spiritual Qi: 10 htz]
When Takashi upgraded the [Dance of the Radiant Ring] to the first stage, this not only directly allowed him to gain spiritual energy but also 10 htz of it, which was sizeable.
That is also likely why his realm upgraded from [Failure] directly to [Steel Edge], skipping the [Ordinary] realm that defined ordinary samurai.
Spiritual Qi was the only way for one to attack a yokai.
Without spiritual Qi, the yokai could not be killed by a physical weapon.
This spiritual Qi was also the core functionality when using any technique that you desire, which lets you go even beyond the limits that the human body is capable of.
For example, when Takashi was fighting that man, he also used around 2 htz of spiritual Qi that allowed him to perform strength beyond his own limits.
This was the core power of the game, just like Mana.
"I think there are like seven realms, if you don't consider the [Failure] and [Ordinary] realm. But I don't remember any one of them."
He groaned in frustration.
His memory was still hazy, and it would take some time for him to remember all the stuff from the game.
Takashi felt his eyelids gradually become heavy, so he quickly slept through the night.
In the morning, he slowly woke up while stretching his body in satisfaction.
Every stat of his had been upgraded, and his body felt more energetic than ever.
Then he stood up from his bed. It was still early morning, and there was a lot of time in his hands.
Takashi walked with measured steps toward the weapon stand in his room, where a sheathed katana rested. With deliberate grace, he reached for it, and as he drew the blade, a faint rattle echoed, dust drifting from the scabbard.
Revealed beneath the sheath was a masterpiece: a sleek, obsidian-black katana with a mirror-sharp edge, its surface gleaming faintly under the yellow light.
Takashi ran a finger lightly along the edge of the blade:
"This is the privilege of being a prince, I get to wield one of the finest blades in the entire family."
Honestly, he would have never expected that he'd raise a real weapon in his lifetime, but here he was, raising his weapon to protect someone.
If it was Norman of his previous life, this would have been an impossible dream. He was too cowardly for that.
He has lived in this world for eighteen years already and was accustomed to many things but for the most part, he wouldn't like to shed bloodshed.
However, when he thought of his wife, that gentle soul, how could he let her go through her tragic fate?
He didn't have a purpose in his previous life, but here in this world, Takashi had already found his purpose, and he would see it through.
This was his promise, man to man.
Takashi sheathed it and strapped it to his waist, slid the door open, and walked out casually, then immediately froze on the spot.
"Oh, dear, you're already awake?" Ishihara's voice was soft and warm, like a gentle breeze weaving through the morning light.
She knelt among the blooming flowers, her delicate hands carefully brushing petals as birds sang around her, their cheerful chirps and soft rustling was soothing to the heart.
For a moment, Takashi almost went into a trance, just staring at her intently.
"Dear?" Ishihara tilted her head.
"Y-yeah," Takashi stuttered, thumping his chest with a smile, "I have decided to wake up early from today on."