Those who ceaselessly hone their killing arts are known as "Masters."
After many generations, they have gained lethal abilities
called "Modified Bloodlines."
This is the story of one such Master, the Poison Master, Hikaru Gero,
and his attempts to get married.
It's the moment you've all been waiting for: the test of courage.
Your destination is that shrine over there!
Or so I'd like to say.
But it's dangerous for non-supernatural reasons,
so we put a photo stand-in partway.
We'll be handing out selfie sticks, so take pictures there in pairs.
Don't forget the flash.
Okay, everybody! Let's all make memories we'll treasure for a lifetime!
Gero, this is your big chance.
Heard of the "suspension bridge effect"? It's when you cross one
and mistake your heart racing in fear for liking the person you're with.
Ghosts work the same way.
Uh, okay.
The mood is key. Got that?
You've gotta seize this kind of opportunity,
or you'll never get a girlfriend.
Why does Kinosaki seem so into this?
I know I asked for help getting married, but still...
Thanks very much.
Thank you for sticking with me for this.
This is honestly a total pain, right?
If I'd just stayed put at home,
it would've made your job a lot easier.
It doesn't matter.
Actually, a place like this does more to limit the means of attack.
If I were to ask you to do one thing for me,
it would be to forget all your worries and just enjoy the trip.
You only get so many opportunities like this in your life.
There's no need to waste this one just because someone wants you dead.
That's why I'm here.
Mr. Gero.
Must be the photo stand-in.
Is this the "selfie stick"? How does it work?
Oh, I'll take the picture.
Ready? Okay. Abomasum!
Mr. Gero?
I need to find Mr. Gero.
I need to find him.
Mr. Gero!
Thank good—
Shiori.
D-Dad? But how?
You're hovering between life and death as an offering to Lord Chladni.
I never imagined I'd get a chance to drink with you like this.
D-Dad, why...
Why did you name me your successor?
I shouldn't have!
I gave you too much credit because you're my daughter.
That was a mistake!
Deep down, you realize that, don't you?
Trying to do something that's beyond you will only make you suffer, Shiori.
You can never become strong.
Just let go.
Living up to my expectations and everyone else's must be hard on you.
Hard on you
I want to take it easy.
Hard on you
I really...
Yes.
But more than that...
I was glad that I made everyone happy!
Maybe no amount of pushing myself will make me strong,
but I still want to improve myself.
I won't run away!
I'm so high up. I'm gonna die.
What should I do? How can I save myself? The river's too shallow.
What's in my backpack? The selfie stick. Photo stand-in. Bran snacks. Throat lozenges.
Umbrella.
My collapsible umbrella!
So much for that!
I'll be letting down everyone who's protected me if I die here.
I've got to do something.
Something like...
This is that stuff from the party.
Water-absorbent polymer.
They need to make it look like suicide or an accident,
or your relatives will become suspects and risk more than just the inheritance.
That's why they planned it so thoroughly, including the "legend" of Lord Chladni.
You made it up, right...
Sound Master Naruko?
It was a clever trick, Sound Master.
The moment she took that picture in the photo stand-in...
Mr. Gero? Mr. Gero?
Then, you hit me with a shock wave,
scrambled my sense of direction,
and separated me from Ureshino.
You're in better shape than I thought.
I'll super enjoy this.
Don't worry.
Suicide or accident. I'll super dance to the tune we call the rules.
Ureshino, it's too risky to hang around here. We're going to break through!
I c-can't stand.
My knees gave out.
Oh, fine.
Hop on.
I should be used to this, thanks to Kinosaki.
I showed him the ropes
Mei Kinosaki
I showed him the ropes.
Is this right?
Forget it.
Hang on tight!
Right!
Modified Bloodline++: Mind Whisper.
Modified Bloodline++ Mind Whisper
Oh, you're here? What do you mean? Sorry, I didn't notice you.
What did you come for? You feeling okay? You never say anything.
Wanna go home? I can't hear you.
Do you even have friends?
What's happening?
Let-down. Wimp. Not worth your fee.
That the best you can do? Some Master you are. You wouldn't last in a real fight.
You're worse than an amateur. Third-rate for sure. Is that it?
He's better than you. And here I got my hopes up.
All you know is foul play. Startups will eat you alive.
Does this scare you? I guess you do have a cute side.
If I had to guess...
he's messing with our minds.
Upper
Back
Lower
Physical condition: fortissimo.
So this is the secret Modified Bloodline of the Poison Masters.
I'm super honored to feel your poison increment vibes.
But my Mind Whispers can reach you anywhere on this mountain.
Escape is super impossible.
Ureshino, take these earplugs.
M-Mr. Gero, I've got just the thing.
Noise-cancelling headsets. We can pair them and talk to each other.
Meow!
It looks great on you.
Meow!
Blocking your ears is a bad move.
When my Mind Whispers build up, their blades of sound...
shred flesh.
You look stupid in cat ears.
Don't listen.
Dodge with your skin.
Seriously, you look awful in those.
Whoa! Those ears!
You look hilarious!
Are you sure you're cut out for this?
You've lost your edge. Is this all you've got?
I'll up my strength and sharpen my skin sensitivity to the max.
Toxin: Lunar Peak.
No big deal.
You're not my target.
Ureshino?
No way. Attacking me wasn't his real goal?
He vibrated the headphones themselves?
Just as I thought.
It's not just with her father. This girl is a treasure trove of trauma.
I can break her will again and again and again.
Ureshino!
Uncle Mitsuhiko?
You must have realized...
that I see you as a burden.
All that work, plus convincing shareholders left me exhausted.
That's why your uncle let you take this trip.
He got on board with the plan to kill you.
No one is on your side—
That's a load of bull!
Your uncle interviewed a ton of bodyguards before he hired me.
He kept hiring scumbags with no clue what they were doing.
He got burned and had to pay a fortune to cancel every time.
He only reached out to me...
Username: Kitami
Hime
Truly, he is a savior
Sent from heaven to aid us in our time of need!!!!
He's the greatest, frfrfrfrfr!!
I thought we'd have to sell our organs at first,
but he was friendly and chill. He gets five stars from me!!!
because he read a long-ass 10,000 character review,
and figured you'd be safe with me.
Would a guy who sees you as a burden go that far?
You're right.
Sorry, Ureshino. I need you to take a nap.
I should've known a Poison Master would outdo me on hallucinations.
I know you're listening, Naruko.
Trauma Trauma
Your illusions and brainwashing reach into people's psyches
draw out traumatic memories and feelings, and amplify them.
Trauma Trauma
It's true that Ureshino has a boatload of mental scars,
and that her uncle okayed this trip,
but that's just one little part of them.
Her uncle only felt tempted for a moment. You amped it up.
Ureshino knows her own weaknesses,
and she's fighting to overcome them.
So...
Stop giving her a hard time.
Lord Chladni
That's weird.
Gero and Ureshino should be around here.
Gero! Ureshino!
What the heck is—
Why the ears?! Why carry her like that?!
So that's why you were running late.
I'm glad I put a GPS tracker on her.
Courtesy of me
Kitami
Courtesy of me.
Are you okay, Gero?
I pushed myself a bit.
GPS?
Forget that. Kinosaki, take Ureshino and get away from this village.
Okay.
Wait, what?
Given the nature of his mission,
he should try to eliminate me first.
I've spoiled his plans twice now.
I'll go take out Naruko.
I want you to keep Ureshino safe while I do.
Hang on. I'm just your marriage advisor.
Just this once, okay?
You're gonna treat me to some pricey as hell sushi after this.
Counter seats. Two straight nights of tuna. Oma tuna.
Market price. Sea urchin. Then high-end yakiniku.
Thanks.
Okay. Let's go.
Wait, Ureshino.
I knew it.
He risked getting close so he could plant this
and send her stronger hallucinations and brainwashing.
What do Naruko's techniques need? I don't have a complete handle on them yet.
This will be fun.
If you're going to fight while staying hidden,
I'll drag you out into the open.
Super bad news.
If I chase the target now, he might get me from behind instead.
Super bad news.
I'll take out the Poison Master first, then take my time with Ureshino.
That's the logical approach.
I'm in peak condition.
Let the climax begin.
Weak.
Loser.
Unfit.
He just got a whole lot more serious.
Gas doesn't pack as much punch outside.
Poison needles are useless unless you get close.
What's your move?
Your moves won't work if I cut your wires.
It bounced off?
My strings vibrate at super high speeds.
There's no way for liquid to get to them.
The time is finally ripe.
Modified Bloodline++: Grand Actor.
Modified Bloodline++ Grand Actor
It's not moving? Not even its legs?
Why not?
What did you do, Poison Master?
Did you cut the trees instead of the wires?
No. I didn't sense anything like that.
And you didn't wither them with poison.
In fact, they're in perfect shape.
Wait. Don't tell me...
It looks like...
Bulk Up Your Garden
your friends like my medicine.
Your technique's weak point is how hard it is to tune.
You can't play precise notes if the trees keep growing.
Time for the finish.
Fear lies dormant in the depths of people's psyches.
I've already sown the seeds.
Now I only need...
to make them grow.
Hey, you two!
We've got an emergency!
No way.
That's the only way out of here.
Someone started feeling sick during the test of courage,
so we tried to drive them to a hospital, but, well...
Amateurs shouldn't trek through mountains.
Let's wait for rescue.
H-Hey! Look there!
Oh, good.
It's the wrath of Lord Chladni!
The curse was real!
Disaster will strike us!
Help!
I don't wanna die!
An offering.
We need to follow the legend,
and offer a child to Lord Chladni.
The youngest person here will be the child.
We'll sacrifice whoever has the latest birthday to Lord Chladni.
New students, get out your IDs.
September 27th.
February 4th.
October 10th.
May 5th.
March 20th.
M-March 31st.
At this point, nipping the panic in the bud is super impossible.
Grab her!
She's getting away!
Get back here, offering!
Giving you to Lord Chladni is our only way out of this!
It's only a matter of time until my target dies.
They'll never calm down unless you stop me.
FWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP
Super complete.
A violin?
Is he gonna hit me...
with the Sound Masters' Modified Bloodline Increment?
Translator: William Varteresian Timer: Andy Ellis Editor: SMR Quality Control: Salem Alabanza Final Quality Control: Michelle Tymon
This world of ours isn't as grimy as I thought.
I super win!
Flame Devil! Burst!
Don't hold back. Nice going, Gero.
Super bliss.
Please. Just one more time.
Next time: "Together With Me."
Together With Me