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Kakuriyo no Yadomeshi Vol 1, Chapter 5 - Kakuriyo’s Capitol, Youto**

T/N: I mostly didn’t translate a lot of the names of the ayakashi/youkai, as well as the proper nouns because uhm… They’re basically nouns. It’s like how some translated manga are done. Plus it irks me sometimes when everything just gets transliterated, it kills off the vibe. But that’s just me. Links to references at the end of the post.

Also if you like this translation, you can share the link, reblog, but for pete’s sake DO NOT REPOST ELSEWHERE. I worked hard to finish this thing, it’s not like I just Google-translated this whole sh**..

If you need refreshers on what happened, @kakuriyo-translations already had the previous translations. I’m just contributing to this fandom.

OK, here’s the stuff now.

P143 I really don’t like taking naps in Utsushiyo**. I always change my sleep time, yet I keep dreaming about a memory that I hate. For me, the memory I hated the most was being inside a dark room, all alone with an empty stomach waiting earnestly for my mother everyday. I never saw my father. Mother was always out and about, leaving me at home. It’s what’s so-called NEGLECT. I was rolling around on the cold flooring while thinking how hungry I was, while staring up at the ceiling. The very dark ceiling was my only joy and entertainment, because I couldn’t find any hope, and I didn’t even have enough energy to cry. Come to think of it, there was that day when my mother didn’t come home for a week. That time, a mysterious Ayakashi’s voice came, and my life was saved. An Ayakashi instantaneously appeared near me, its figure came up from behind, and in the darkness only a vague form of a white Noh mask”” floated above, which I watched closely. Talking with that Ayakashi relieved me of the loneliness that I felt.

T/N: Youto, literally “Fairy Capital” or “Enchanted Capitol”.

Noh mask, what most Ayakashi wear in Kakuriyo. Noh Drama is a traditional play where characters wear masks, contrasting with Kabuki where the characters paint their faces. Think Jiyaira from Naruto. Utsushiyo, literally “The world above/surface world”. Kakuriyo is literally “Hidden world.” Aoi obviously came from the world above.

P144 Not only did that Ayakashi talked to me, but also shared food with me every day. I cannot remember what I sensed because it was fuzzy, nor what the conversations were about, even what food was given to me. It’s no surprise that because the Ayakashi was wearing a mask, I couldn’t figure out what its shape is. The only thing I can remember until now was that the food it gave me was delicious. More than a week after my mother has not returned, a group of adults that I’ve never met before came and took me away from my house without letting me take anything else. My mother never came out to greet these people from social services, so when they came back to the house, they went inside immediately to check if she was there. Upon entering the house though, the social services people did not run into the Ayakashi who used to give me food. I thought at first that I really, really wanted to meet the Ayakashi, but eventually I forgot about the whole incident. Whenever I talked about the Ayakashi, people in the orphanage I was in got spooked, and I get teased and made fun at. It seemed that the teachers and everyone else did not understand why I strongly insist that Ayakashi do exist. It came to a point that because of the Ayakashi thing, I was harmed and bullied by the children around me. Which is why I eventually kept a distance from others. This lead me to feel lonely again, in the orphanage. That is why it feels even worse when I’m alone in a crowd. It was around this time that Grandpa came for me at the orphanage and took me home with him. If my memory serves me correct, it was around the second grade. P145 I woke up in a cold sweat, and I soon realized that the surroundings were already getting dark and night was starting to fall. The memories of that time I was rocking myself on the floor without any food all came back to me. “Are you awake?” A voice suddenly spoke. Somehow, I thought it was a voice that brought back memories I yearned for, but it was just Odanna-sama’s voice. Amidst the dim and dark, he was sitting on the counters and smoking a pipe. He was holding the camellia kanzashi** and twirling it around his fingers.It seemed that his red eyes and the camellia bud’s scarlet color where somewhat sparkling. “Have I been sleeping?

T/N: Kanzashi, imagine a single chopstick with some flowers or something in the end, which you can stick into your hairdo. If you’ve watched that episode in Kimetsu no Yaiba where Tanjirou fought the monster that can split itself and eats young girls and swims inside solids, that one collects kanzashi and stuff. P146 Oh, it’s already evening.” I woke up and stood without thinking. I felt so weak. It’s horrid dream’s fault. Seeing the outside through the window, the sun has already set and I could see the lavender color of the sky. “It seems that you were having a nightmare.” “What, really?” “Did you have a bad dream?” “No, I didn’t.” I felt like this because I saw a place that I hated. Odanna-sama, who was huffing and puffing on his pipe looked at me, immediately stood up and hid the camellia kanzashi, and went beside me, pulling my arm rather fast. Morover, I felt a sudden pain in my arm and pulled away. “Wait, let go. Odanna-sama, your long nails hurt my arm when you grabbed it.” “Is that so?” I was absolutely unaware of that, Odanna-sama was really very suspicious. When he let go of my hand, I saw the nails on his hand. “I’m an Oni**, an ogre, that is the reason why they are long.” Yet he still opened his hand. “Oh, so that’s why. But still, what hurts hurt. Look, this part of my inner arm is delicate, that’s why it still has your nail marks.”

P147 As if looking at something weird, Odanna-sama started massaging the part of my inner arm that I showed to him, with his fingers. He spoke: “Humans have weak and frail bodies, with such soft flesh and skin.” “Uhm, because humans aren’t Ayakashi?” They probably aren’t used to such things. “Aoi, what you did today deserves a reward.” “What? That’s… so unexpected.” “About the whole affair with Matsuba-sama, the Tengu. Surely, I did not think Matsuba-sama could have liked your cooking. Come, let us go.” He’s telling me to go with him. My hair was still disheveled, and so is my one-piece dress from Utsushiyo, but Odanna-sama didn’t mind and still invited me anyway. I wonder where we’re going? It’s complicated to think about it, so I thought we might be going somewhere sophisticated. “I think that it is a good idea to bring the Tengu’s uchiwa fan.” “Why?” “Why, she says. That uchiwa’s power will protect you, would it not?” “It seems like I have no choice but to protect myself, don’t I?” P148 It was disappointing. Odanna-sama started laughing and snickering, the meaning was deep within his narrowed eyes. “Because the kind Matsuba-sama gave it to you, I think it is a good habit to always bring it with you whenever you are out. For that is a special uchiwa, if you must know.” “Hmph.” “To tell you the truth, it is an item that can pay the entirety of Shiro’s huge debt, if you sell it.” “Well then…. Let’s go to a pawnshop!” “Wait, wait..” Odanna-sama hurriedly followed me, and grabbed my collar. “Did you not declare that will pay for Shiro’s debts all on your own? You even turned down Matsuba-sama’s help. How I think of you.. has actually changed.” “This uchiwa’s mine, and however much I sell this to pay that debt, I still used my own power for that.” I majestically cut him off with such words. I was thinking that I couldn’t bear to sell the gift I received, but I will if I need to. I think if Grandpa was in the same place, he would do the same. Odanna-sama sensed it and got flustered. “Hey, wait, wait, wait, calm down for a moment.” “I will definitely calm down after this.” P149 “This is the Ayakashi’s realm. Once you step out of Tenjin-ya, if you wander alone with no regard because you are a human girl, you will get kidnapped and eaten before you even get to the pawnshop. Please go behind me.” I wondered how his attitude changed from yesterday, I was suspicious but I still looked at him. “What’s that? Yesterday, in spite you saying that you’re going to eat me, you extended your help with the Tengu matter. Yes, I may have a weak and fragile human body, but I couldn’t just stay out of the quarrels between Ayakashi. Even though my arm can easily get wounded and just letting it be could kill me.” Odanna-sama gently brushed off my bangs. After saying that, he placed his hand on my forehead. Yesterday, one of the Daruma’s poocelain figurines hit my forehead and had me injured. I had some bandages attached, but that was a while ago. Embarrasingly, some of them were already starting to peel off. “Have your wounds not healed yet?” “I’m fine, the bleeding’s stopped.” “Ah, I see. That is good.” His very different behavior from yesterday just bewildered me. And yet, I still meekly followed him from behind, holding my uchiwa. P150 We passed in front of a very large cauldron, and a splashing sound made me think of paranoid ideas, like “I’m going to get eaten”. Just when I thought I wasn’t going to snap out of it, ominously, we stopped. We were going to ride a ship. A flying airship. Its sails sails bear the crest of Tenjin-ya, and was decorated with paper lanterns. I could see that this magnificent ship sails a lot. I stared at the ship from its top to its lighted underside. We’re going to ride this thing later? “Wow! It’s high!” “We use airships as a means to travel in Kakuriyo. In Tenjin-ya, we use cruise ships and houseboats to hold banquets. This small model is called "Kaikakumaru. The small types are our latest cruise ships.” “That’s marvelous. I love high places, you know.” “You are being childish.” Odanna-sama butted in while I was staring at something unusual, in high spirits. The night wind feels wonderful, it would be fun to look down from a high place and see how vast the ground is. But what surprised me the most was that it was the first time that I saw Tenjin-ya as a whole. “Wow, Tenjin-ya is a really large inn, isn’t it?” The inn was enclosed by a deep valley, thus the surroundings seem so dark wherever you look, but the facade and the main street were all lively and prosperous, and the hanging bridge over the shoreline seems passable. P151 Tenjin-ya’s property was vast, and the main building’s height and width are both tall and wide. Outside the main building, Tenjin-ya’s land is dotted with countless buildings of various shapes and materials. From a distance, I could see that I was in the most central part. The intricate red tiles of the roofs were lighted up by the ogre fire. “Usually, the ogre fire is very flashy. But today, the inn is currently on a holiday break, so business is not as brisk.” “That.. is not brisk?” Despite the inn currently on a break, there are so many Ayakashi piling up on the facade’s hanging bridge towards the inn. There were those inside who were inquiring and receiving explanations. There were also a lot of Happi coat-wearing Tenjin-ya staff** as well. From above, it seems that Tenjin-ya was business as usual. The hustle and bustle makes the inn spectacularly dazzling and lovely. As Tenjin-ya goes further away from the distance, just as I was thinking of wandering around the ship’s interior, the voices of three people suddenly popped up from inside. “Your bath has been prepared, Aoi-sama.” “What the.. Nopperabou**?” It seems that the three faceless sisters also boarded the ship. It seems that they have happily taken me in their care.

T/N: Happi-coat - usually worn by staff of restaurants, shops, inns, dancers in festivals, etc. and has the company crest or team logo.

Nopperabou - faceless woman youkai. P152 Just as before, the sisters carried me and took me away. “Let’s have you take a hot water bath.” “Let’s also put on some makeup.” ‘Let’s fix up your hair.“ While the sisters chattered unanimously, they then stripped me of all of my clothes and took me to the farthest regions of the ship, after which they washed me up. Well, it did feel rather luxurious. I then noticed a lovely camellia-patterned kimono, and they helped me put it on. Amidst the indigo-colored background, the deep red camellias stood out. The red obi’s designs were also very intricate and elaborate, and wearing what seems to be a very expensive kimono has me into a panic. "Wait, why, why this kimono? Is it OK to wear this?” O-matsu-san explained to me as she tightened my obi: “It’s nothing, that kimono is Odanna-sama’s gift to Aoi-sama.” I blinked my eyes in surprise. Why would that Oni give me such an expensive kimono? I was thinking of asking, but wearing a very beautiful kimono and seeing the pattern in front of a large mirror, I was so entranced. The three sisters were so moved. “Ah, that looks good on you, Aoi-sama!” “O-danna-sama will be so pleased.” “That pretentiously innocent Young Mistress will groan at how beautiful and different you look.” P153 “Hey, Ume, don’t spoil our true intentions!” O-ume-san got scolded by O-take-san again. That Young Mistress, the Yuki-onna, the snow lady, I wonder if her presence annoys the three Nopperabou sisters. My hair was done elegantly to the side, and my lips were redder than usual. I was casually looking at myself in front of the large mirror, I was thinking that I am satisfied with everything. Of course, I was wearing a cute kimono with a lovely design. I was happy. “Do you love wearing it?” “Oh, uhm, yeah, I guess.” My glowing figure and my giddy self wearing a kimono reflected in the mirror made it how obvious it was, and the three sisters kept giggling and laughing. I loved it, it was clear as day. No. But, could this kimono also add up to the debt or something? “Oh, my choice was not wrong. I thought a deep red camellia suits you.” “What.. Wai.. Wait, since when did you get here?” Odanna-sama came when I wasn’t aware of it, and he was looking at me over my shoulder, in front of the large mirror. I wonder if he saw my obviously eager face wearing this kimono. “I am glad that you loved it, Aoi.” P154 I broadly looked at the other side of the entrance. My face was flushed and I was biting my lower lip. Somehow, I felt remorse. He came closer to my side, and from his sleeves he pulled out the camellia kanzashi. “Well then, use this for the adornment as well. Despite looking so charming, you look a bit dreary without anything in your hair.” That being said, he placed the kanzashi on the left side of my hairdo. All of a sudden his large and wide-spanning hands near my face made me feel very nervous, but I didn’t want to give in to this nervousness, so after a while the strength went back to my cheeks. “Here, why don’t we take a look in the mirror and see?” He held my shoulders tight and turned me around, and as I tried fighting it I saw my side reflected, and saw myself in the mirror again. “See?” Unexpectedly, I realized that with any hair adorned with a hairpin, it felt as if it was a different look. Somehow, did the flower bud seem to have grown bigger? In the beginning, it looked just like a normal camellia bud kanzashi. But now it looks like it has grown a bit, and the petals have opened up. “The petals seems to move a bit. It will grow into a large, round bloom.” “Oh, Kakuriyo has such magical things?” “When it reaches the end, the petals will get scattered.” His face peeked from behind me as he said those words, full of deep meaning. In spite of myself, I looked at him. P155 “No kidding. This kanzashi has a countdown timer? I might lose it…” In Utsushiyo, I would have gotten a bit shocked. My whole face was lighting up, and his back was turned while giggling. I wanted to ask “What’s funny?” “It seems that you love it, and that is what is more important. But once the hairpin’s petals fall off and scatter, your debt must be settled too. Well, best of luck.” Well that was so sudden, bringing up the debt repayment. “What the.. Isn’t this like Beauty and the Beast?” “What’s that? What are you saying?” “That story from France called 'Beauty and the Beast’. It’s about two very different people who got married.” Odanna-sama looked bewildered. Well, I didn’t think that the Ayakashi in Kakuriyo would know the story of Beauty and the Beast, but even I’m not that shameless to think of myself like I’m Beauty, to that extent. But really, under these circumstances, it just feels like 'Beauty and the Beast’, right? For instance, a bumbling non-human guardian who somewhat gets married, considerably. “It is good to tuck in your uchiwa in your obi**. Always handle it with care.” I was groaning as Odanna-sama, in his own terms tucked the uchiwa fan into the back part of my obi, the paperplant uchiwa fan that I received from Matsuba-sama. It was styled like I was going to a summer festival.

T/N: Obi- the belt or sash wrapped around a kimono.

P156 O-matsu-san made me wear a pair of red-strapped geta sandals, and my kimono-wearing Kakuriyo style was complete. “Ah, we’re almost here.” “Where?” “If you come up the deck you;ll see.” When Odanna-sama went to the deck, Kaikakumaru was starting to descend, and the bustling land below, studded with warm-colored lights came to view. Compared to Tenjin-ya’s busy pace, this place has it on a whole new level. The central part of the area was a lot bigger compared to Tenjin-ya, and the sky is cut by a very high building, which when viewed from above is surrounded by a row of smaller buildings. The metropolis’ four corners had gigantic red Torii gates, and the crossroads was cut by the main road that seemed to shine like it has encrusted jewels, and I realized that the paper lanterns hanging from the buildings below made it look as such. “Wow, this place place is amazing! Where are we?” “This is the Capitol of Kakuriyo, Youto. The building at the center is where the Ayakashi King resides.” “Kakuriyo is like a country or something, so there is also a king?” “Of course. The Ayakashi King is called You-ou. In Kakuriyo, the entire country is made up of eight lands guarded by those called the Hachiyo, and it is said that those Hachiyo are connected to and governed by the You-ou. At any rate, we’re already at the center of the capitol. P157 Odanna-sama had the ship stop at the capitol’s harbor. It seems like a harbor because of the dark valleys and cliffs that surrounds Youto’s edge, and that is where the ship was docked. The southern part of Youto’s harbor have numerous ships anchored and tied up. and the sky is filled with sailing airships everywhere. "It’s Tenjin-ya’s Master.” “This is bad, this is bad. Those from the evening news are also here.” Tenjin-ya’s Kaikakumaru is not a large ship, but the large, round crest “Ten” drawn on the sails were sighted by the Ayakashi near the cliffs. When I saw the gathering of a large crowd of Ayakashi, my opinion on Tenjin-ya’s Odanna-sama changed: I came to realize that this Ogre god was very famous indeed. I absent-mindedly looked at him. “It seems that Odanna-sama is very famous, isn’t he?” “And as my soon-to-be-wife, you dislike it?” “You casually had to push that, I see.” “Well then, Aoi. If you do not wear this mask, they will find out that you are a human.” Odanna-sama pulled out an Oni mask from his kimono’s breast pocket. He was also wearing an Oni mask when we first met in Utsushiyo. He placed the mask on my face. Apparently, being found out to be a human can bring up a lot of trouble. Kaikanmaru then descended to the Southern Torii gate, and entering the capital through here seemed inconspicuous. P158 I followed Odanna-sama from behind in quick steps, and all around I kept hearing murmurs of “Who’s that? Who’s that?” Wearing this kimono and having an Oni mask on, it’s impossible to be found out that I’m a human. The night was busy, with so many Ayakashi walking on the main road, and we started walking here towards the large place in the heart of Youto. The main road was lined up with magnificent stores, geta sandal shops, drapery and curtains, but the theater was especially packed with so many people coming in and going out. A particular shop that seems to be rather famous was a large shop that had “Glass Shop” written on the shop curtains, and peeking inside the store seemed to have so many beautiful glasswares being sold. The many clients inside seem to be searching for dinnerware or whatnot. The outside of the glasswares had carvings that resemble ink scroll paintings, and the carvings had so many shapes. I’ve seen a lot of glasswares in Utsushiyo, in Japan, but these ones in Kakuriyo were somewhat different, they were all lined up, polished and state of the art. “Ah, this store Youto’s cut glass store.” “Cut glass… in Youto?” “Technology and techniques from Utsushiyo are transferred to Kakuriyo, as well as products. Recently, what you call 'glasswares’ were started to be made here in Youto, and as such, dinnerware became fashionable.” “Really…” Somehow, this capitol that is so Japanese had a store that gives off a Western feel, and the glasses were sparkly as well as giving off a sense of transparency, which made me feel nostalgic. P159 “I was thinking of cozying up our inn’s meals with these glasswares, but the rowdy kitchen gang dreadfully detest anything new. But I spruced each room by decorating each one with a little bit of glass. I also had the long windows of the windbreakers made with glass.” “Ah, if that’s what you’re saying, rooms such as the 'Big Camellia’ do had round and large glass windows. Flying airships can be seen a lot passing by the windows. If I remember, they’re changing those right now.” Within the store premises, there weren’t many customers and you can only see the lined up products on the storefront, but the craftsmanship of the glasswares are very noticeable.There was a fancy dish made with peach-colored glass that gives off a springtime vibe, covered with sakura patterns, which I picked up. From above the patterns resembled an intricate kaleidoscope, and the red lights of the paper lanterns made the transparent bowl shine so brightly. There were also delicately stacked green sake cups, decorated with hemp leaf designs. I took a long, hard look, I imagined that if I was going to use these glasswares, what meals would I make. Even with just that, I was already a bit pleased. If I could have my way, I would love the transparent, kaleidoscope-ish bowl. “Is there anything you like?” Odanna-sama peeped from behind me and patted my shoulder, seeing me looking eagerly at the glass bowl. My heart skipped a beat and I turned around. “I just think that they’re lovely.” P160 “Which one is nice? Would you like me to buy it for you?” “Wha– Why would you do that?” This time I got startled, and I unconsciously looked at Odanna-sama and shrank a step back. I can’t forget the stern Odanna-sama from yesterday, and I thought that with his dubious smile, it’s now all outrageous and very suspicious. “Do not think of weird ideas. I owe you from helping Tenjin-ya yesterday, and I am only doing this as my way of saying thank you.” “It’s nothing, I’m good, it’s not a big deal…” “You do not have to hesitate. You are guarding your heart too much.” “It’s because what you’re saying is scary.” I roughly turned away and headed for the store’s entrance, and Odanna-sama was laughing behind my back. but what on earth’s funny? “Wait, wait, please do not go ahead of me. Please stay by my side.” As if his eyes were looking for me, Odanna-sama came up near me and I looked up at him. Despite being detached, I thought that calmly wandering aimlessly in a crowd made me stand out. P161 With his geta sandals echoing on the main road filled with bustling Ayakashi, Odanna-sama followed suit. Just as expected, everywhere I looked there were Ayakashi all over the place.I wonder what I’ll do if I was found out to be a human? At the time I was thinking about it, I unexpectedly had a feeling. Everywhere I turned my head to look, the Ayakashi crossing the street seem to not care about me, and my true nature is not known. My feet stopped, and I got worried and flustered seeing Odanna-sama about to enter a dodgy shop. I wasn’t used to wearing the geta, and I quickly fumbled over there. “Waii… Wait up.” “Didn’t I tell you a while ago that you must not leave my side? If you absent-mindedly do that, you; eventually get lost. If you’re not with me by daybreak, they’ll find out you’re a human, and that’s going to cause a huge ruckus. At worst, you will probably get eaten.” As he was snickering, Odanna-sama beckoned me to come in. With its black, laquered and plastered walls, the storefront looks like a sophisticated warehouse”“. “Offal cuisine**… 'Iron Club for Oni**?’”

T/N: Warehouse - old Japanese warehouses ( 蔵 ) have mud walls to prevent fires from spreading, like a firewall, but the facades look stylish with white paint. Some of them are now remade into restaurants and shops or whatnot.

Offal is basically organ meats, like liver, kidneys, tripe, etc. It’s not specified in the book what part was used so I just used the generic version. But personally, I think it’s tripe.

Iron Club for Oni - the Untranslated version is 鬼に金棒 (Oni ni Kanabou), kanabou is an iron rod that night watchmen use, but I like puns so I decided to transliterate this lol

P162 “Ah, when Oni who love offal get their food served, those that do, know that this place is high-class.” “Offal cuisine…” A real Oni’s words made a heavy impression on me. The large cauldron with blood inside, seemingly filled with fresh, boiling and burbling human viscera filled my head with so much horrifying images. Could it be that I, unfortunately will be cooked in there, deliciously? “Why did you bring me to this place? Don’t tell me, when you told me that you were taking me to a place that serves offal, giblets and whatnot, you were going to have me cut up by the cooking staff? Don’t tell me, that you’ll be having me get cooked for dinner?” After hearing me say those words, Odanna-sama started laughing. “You’re saying such funny things.” “I’m warning you.” I got embarassed after being laughed at and I felt my cheeks burn red. “I did say I was going to treat you to some delicious food. Well, if you’re that worried, come here.” We went inside the restaurant, and as we waited for a bit, all of the high-end restaurant’s staff started lining up. They bowed their heads politely, and the ogre’s horns started to grow. P163 So this is what a high-class Oni’s place looks like. The inside was a bit dark, even the atmosphere, but I could see why it was indeed an expensive place. We were taken to the second floor’s most secluded room. When the window panes were opened, sitting by the window, the capitol’s hustle and bustle can be seen. It was a very special room. “You can take off your mask, it’s fine. This is a place that I have strong connections with. I have ensured that things will go well in here.” “Really? Well, the Ayakashi haven’t discovered that I’m a human, but it feels weird that I’m actually like one.” Even so, as Odanna-sama said, I took off my Oni mask. I looked at it for a while, and for a little bit I understand why I looked rather scary while I had it on. “That suited you fine. You started to look like a typical ogre’s wife.” “Saying that this suits a girl may make her happy, but no human would think otherwise.” I started to go to my seat uneasily as I let Odanna-sama’s suprising praise sink in. He did say that he was treating me to an offal-ful meal, and I wonder what kind of meal that would be. “What the… Isn’t that offal hotpot?” In the middle of the table was a pot, simmering gently, with garlic chives and cabbages, some ox offal and other ingredients, all looking delicious, that in Utsushiyo would be what would be famously called offal hotpot. P164 “Even the giblets in here look the same.” Odanna-sama’s face suddenly popped up. “Well, there’s no way to tell that it’s offal. That, may be perhaps, but I was thinking that I was surely disgusted seeing so much blood in that food, and I couldn’t help but imagine all of the stuff I hate. Ah, but it’s offal hotpot. And it’s been a long time…” “You like it?” “Whaaa- Grandpa took me to a lot of trips in Hakata, in Fukuoka, because I loved it. Those times, there were food like pork bone ramen, but we also ate offal hotpot.” Back then, Grandpa took me to so many places across Japan. Particularly, we went a lot to Kyushu**, and Fukuoka Prefecture’s Hakata was my favorite place. It’s because Hakata was famous for their pork bone ramen and offal hotpot. “Hakata, you say? Hm…. When Shirou was a lot younger, we both went to Nakasu to visit.” “Hmph. Well, I could see you and Grandpa definitely be going there, you two won’t seem out of place.” Nakasu is known for having so many fun spots. The riverside has so many outdoor stalls and I could remember that time during winter break, Grandpa took me there and we ate pork bone ramen on the stall’s outdoor veranda. Well but…. In front of me is offal hotpot. The fragrance of the shoyu soup base just wafts in the air, and it made me decide to get the serving spoon. “So, I guess I’ll serve myself. I’d stop hesitating. Because I’ll eat. It’s OK to eat, right?”

T/N: Spoiler alert: Yuuma-sensei is from Fukuoka, in Kyushu Island. Be prepared to read more about food lol P165 “I will make you eat, even though I told you I was going to take you to eat here.” Odanna-sama’s face looked dumbfounded, but I don’t care. I served his portion, I got mine, I placed my hands together and said “Let’s eat”, with much excitement. After taking the first bite, I chewed the offal with gusto. It was beyond what I expected, and I was surprised by the taste and fragrance. “Wow, it’s really good. The offal, was it roasted once?” It has already been roasted once, I could see it on the surface of the innards. It’s slowly being cooked even more, in front of my eyes. “Yes, it has been scorched. It is cooked first that way, then the excess oils seem to have been added to the hotpot.“ "Reaally? Then let’s start eating!” While reveling in the chewy texture, the melted fat in the soup dissolves in the mouth, and the mellow flavors come out. Also, the undertones of the red peppers had a very irresistable taste. “Does it taste delicious?” “Oh, yes! I was surprised. It is rather spicy, but the mild taste of the soy sauce soup base is something that Ayakashi fancy, don’t they?” “Ah, yes, that is why, among Oni, and other Ayakashi, this kind of cooking is indeed a favorite.” “So, as expected, ogres prefer food that have offal?” “Of course.” “Then.. Is Odanna-sama’s favorite food.. Offal hotpot?” P166 “Favorite?” I tried to casually ask. Before, I asked Ginji-san if he knows what Odanna-sama’s favorite food was, but he said that he didn’t know, and so I have no idea what Odanna-sama’s food preferences were. He seemed to think for a bit. “Offal hotpot? I’m afraid to tell you… No. Concerning such things, I would strongly say that I prefer the fresh blood and viscera of young human girls.” “Having to hear that from you, do you take me as a fool?” Did he said that in all honesty, or was that a whole-hearted and morbid joke? Even without laughing, he seemed to look pleased. “As for me, up to now I can only say that my most favorite thing is a lady, nothing else.” “Is that.. Your lover?” “Are you interested?” “No, not really.” Either I was dreaming or it’s because of the hotpot. The offal with garlic and cabbages all boiling down was enjoyable. The garlic flavor was just appetizing, how much could I just eat? “Oh, so if I tell you what my most favorite is, will you make it for me?” “I have no intention to do that.” “But was thinking of looking forward to that.” P167 Odanna-sama seemed to have said those words with a pout. I wonder if he’s saying those things in earnest. i just can’t make out whatever he’s saying, but I can speak harshly too. “Anyhow, for Odanna-sama, such a thing as my cooking isn’t even somewhat of a great deal.” “Well, isn’t that harsh. But you’ve cooked so many kinds of food for Ginji, have you not? He kept praising your cooking.” “What, really?” Him praising my cooking didn’t felt like he had ill will. Moreover, hearing that Ginji-san saying that my cooking tasted good, I felt honored. Somehow, somewhat, Odanna-sama didn’t seem pleased, and raised an eyebrow. “Because Ginji-san is a kind-hearted and gentle person, isn’t he? Thanks to a certain someone during my wretched time in the past, someone kindly brought me food.” “Food…?” “Oh, that’s a secret I remembered.” Hearing me inadvertently blurting out, Odanna-sama closed his mouth and seemed to have detached. He didn’t ask for anything in particular. “Oh that, when I said that, what Ginji-san said about me, I already knew that about a while ago. Although, I wonder why.” P168 “Have you forgotten?” “What?” “No, never mind.” Odanna-sama seemed to dodge the whole thing, and just turned towards the sights of the windows, to the bustling crowds that passed by before his eyes. Might it have to do something with what I said about Ginji-san that I’ve already forgotten? “You haven’t moved your chopsticks. It’s fine to eat at your own pace, steadily.” “Oh, OK.” I wasn’t thinking at all, I was just moving my food around. Aside from the offal hot pot, there were also other food such as sliced raw liver and some vinegared offal. The raw liver slices were very fresh, and it didn’t smell that raw. I especially loved the vinegared offal, its sourness may be too strong in my mouth, but I appreciate how refreshing it tasted. I felt full from the offal. Because it was indeed delicious, I suppose that the ogre thinks that I’ll do an awful job of cooking something like it. Way before Odanna-sama’s time, Japanese people during the Heian Period alreay know of offal hotpot, and during this same time many prominent Oni traveled to Utsushiyo and probably brought it with them back to Kakuriyo. Whether it’s true or not, I could now understand why Oni have a love for innards. “I apologize for disturbing you.” While still inside that daze of eating offals, a voice came from outside the sliding doors. Odanna-sama replied “Come in” and a person came inside. In that case, it was a lovely lady wearing a beautifully styled sakura-patterned kimono. P169 The area around her eyes were colored with a red tinge, and the entire length of her eyes gave off a very strong impression. Even more so is that her wafty, scarlet hair was arranged into two buns on both sides of her head, along with some accessories. Who is this, I wonder? She is like a colorful little flower that blooms in the spring, which gives off a lovely vibe. “It has been a long time, Tenjin-ya’s Master, Odanna-sama.” “Ah, how are you doing, Suzuran?” “I am doing well, thank you. Suzuran has been working hard to improve her talents, althought not there yet, I am still doing my best to grow and be a better geisha.” “You’ve grown even more lovelier. I heard that you’re now famous here in the capitol.” “That… I heard that Odanna-sama was visiting so I came all the way here, to see you. ” “Well, I am glad to have you here.” I just looked at the two, earnestly while eating some hotpot. Surely not, but could it be that Odanna-sama secretly has another lover, and that because he thinks I’m already aware of that, he’s going to introduce her now? “Ah, this here is Youto’s very famous geisha Suzuran. She is our head clerk, Akatsuki’s younger sister.” “What? So.. You’re an earth spider, a tsuchigumo? No way.” P170 “It is not a lie. What you said is true.” I stopped eating, stared at the smiling Suzuran, and I blinked my eyes countless times. Her brother’s eyes with small irises lack warmth, but here in front of me is the younger sister, all nice and lovely. “Suzuran, this is Tsubaki Aoi. He is Tsubaki Shirou’s granddaughter,” “Ah, Shirou-sama’s…” As soon as Odanna-sama mentioned Grandpa’s name, Suzuran’s facial expression instantly brightened up, and her cheeks started blushing. She seemed so joyous, and yearning, yet her face seems to be in pain. “So, Shirou-sama is also here, in Kakuriyo? I.. I have to see him no matter what.” “Uhm, Grandpa is…” “Shirou did not come here to Kakuriyo. It’s just Aoi.” Odanna-sama interrupted me talking, and Suzuran just oh-ed. My mouth just slacked. Somehow, it seemed better not to say anything about Granda passing away. “Oh, I see.. Though when I saw your face, even though he’s not here, it’s as if I already met him.” Suzuran turned around, and fixed herself on the tatami mat, her lovely eyebrows beckoning. At that point, in my eyes, I could surmise that Suzuran is not Odanna-sama’s lover. “So, in this case, Shiro-sama’s daughter is, I should say, Odanna-sama’s bride?” “Yes, she is.” P171 “No, it isn’t like that.” Odanna-sama’s laughing face confirmed Suzuran’s question, while my grim face denied it. Suzuran titled her head on one side and looked as if in agreement. “Aoi here is a really stubborn girl. She said that she is not considering marrying me until she has paid Shirou’s debt fully. Right now, she is currently unemployed.” “Please saying that I’m unemployed. Also, somehow don’t change the story. It isn’t that I won’t marry you until I paid the debt, it’s because I don’t want to marry that’s why I am paying it on my own, that’s the real reason.” “What kind of condition is that? If I was offered to get married, in all honesty, I won’t have to go through all that toiling and labor…” After refuting entirely the conditions I said, albeit in a childish tone, Odanna-sama sighed, and drank some wine poured for him by Suzuran. “A lady going to all that trouble under Odanna-sama, that seems to be a very unusual condition, isn’t it?” “As expected of Shirou’s granddaughter, she’s like that.” “Yes. Aoi-sama resembles Shirou somehow. This brings back memories.” I stared at Suzuran who seemed to be longing for the days gone past. When our eyes met, she broke into a smile then a laugh, and I kept my laugh as much as I could. The Ayakashi who knew my grandfather all told me “You’re just like Shirou.” The Ayakashi that easily forgot him did, to some extent recalled him and would even attest that they knew him. P172 “Say, Suzuran, it has been a long time since you have played your Shamisen for me. Do you have the time right now?” “Yes, it is for that reason that I came here.” Suzuran, with her Shamisen on her back went to a corner of the room. And then I was startled by the numerous, fluttery reflections of her obi’s feathery decorations, which resembled and reminded me of spider legs. But it wasn’t a frightful feeling. As the shamisen was being played, the atmosphere of a lady singing beautifully washes over us. Eating delicious food while hearing this girl play is just luxurious, and I think that at that time, the mood was uplifted. “Wah, that tasted really good. As expected, delicious food is the best, right?” “I had you accompany me here because you will finish up the delicious food prepared for you.” We left the restaurant afterwards, and I was in really high spirits. So was Odanna-sama as he leisurely inhaled from his pipe just like before. I was in a situation that had me smiling. I was so glad to have been treated to delicious food. But his cold attitude yesterday reminded me to reconsider the calculations I had of him. “By the way, isn’t Suzuran quite lovely? Cuold she possibly be your lover?” P173 After I asked him that question, Odanna-sama raised his eyebrows. “Lover? That’s impossible. Suzuran is Akatsuki’s younger sister. Besides, to me, there is a particular granddaughter’s existence…” “What. You’re saying that again..” “Actually, I have no other lovers.” “You’re lying. Wait, the young mistress, the Yuki-onna, there’s a rumor that she’s your lover.” “Yuki-onna? O-ryo? That can’t be.” After saying that, Odanna-sama’s facial expression delicately changed, pretending as if he was laughing at something. As expected, his attitude became suspicious, but I couldn’t fathom his true intentions. “Would you like to go get some dessert?” “OK, let’s go eat some.” To an abrupt suggesting of eating some dessert, I whole-heartedly agreed. To avoid having to converse, I just agreed without a doubt, but inside I really didn’t have any other ideas. I put on my mask and the geta that I’m still not used to, and followed Odanna-sama without any other choice. “Oh!” Again, beyond my line of sight, I had a strong feeling. I was walking a bit along the main road, and within a large crowd of Ayakashi crossing, P174 I got mixed into it. At any rate, my vision was sensitive to the Ayakashi in front of me. That sensitivity is thanks to the fact that they are alive, which is a good thing. I unconsciously stopped and looked back. At that moment, a giant fish-headed Ayakashi bumped into me, which made my Kanzashi fall into the ground. “Owww.. My hairpin…” As I crouched in a panic to pick up my hairpain, an Ayakashi child bumped forcefully on my back. Like an absolutely sudden gust of wind, the crowd parted to make way for a bunch of Ayakashi children running about. Their pretty pinwheels were whirling around making screeching noises, but I can’t look at that for very long. “Oww.. They’re gone now.” I pushed on my hips and stood up. My Kanzashi was safe, but I was an inconvenience to have been crouching in a crowd. I looked around me carefully and started to go pale. It’s because I had no idea where Odanna-sama headed to. Probably, that’s exactly it, I suppose. No matter how dubious I think that guy is, when I’m alone with no other person that I know around, in an instant I feel hopeless. P175 Let alone this is Kakuriyo.This is the Ayakashi’s realm. Right now I’m wearing a mask, and I could hide being a human, but other than that, in this world, I am still an outsider. “Hey, stop dilly-dallyin’!” I stood still, it was a loud yell from a red-faced bearded three-eyed man. He was holding a bottle of liquor while wavering, and was probably drunk. I fled the scene in a panic, going along the main road from side to side, until I ended in a smaller pathway with very few people. and walked on the side of the road. Within this wispy and dodgy atmosphere was a back alley. There were paper lanterns that slowly lighted the surroundings, and it was likely that because there aren’t that many Ayakashi here, I won’t be running into one. “This isn’t good… This isn’t good…” Murmuring and grumbling, with sweat dripping on my face, I was desperately breaking loose in this labyrinth-like back alley. Unfortunately, the more I walked and moved forward, the more I got lost. I was surrounded by houses that seem to have a dull, dense air around them. I stared nervously at the surroundings. Whenever a small sound pops up, it was as if there were a lot of nasty Ayakashi running around. Whether they were large or small, they were hidden by the darkness. It’s good that I still had my mask on. However, along the way, I stumbled across an unexpected place. I slipped and fell on my backside, and it felt chilly. P176 “Ice?” Falling on the ground were spherical ice that seem to pile up and spread like water. I just noticed it because of that. It was a good thing that I still have the uchiwa fan still tucked on my back, so I pulled it out in a hurry. As it continued, a mysterious apparition appeared. Even though it was a spring evening, multitudes of snowballs started piling up in front of me, and I fell backwards. It was at that moment that the mask I was wearing slipped off. “It’s a human…” “A human girl.. Looks delicious…” Once the mask has come off, it felt like the breaths of the Ayakashi drew nearer and nearer. Holy crap, I thought, and I stood up and started to run and flee, but because I was unaccustomed to the geta sandals I couldn’t escape fast enough. Anyone who had an afterthought could have moved fast with their limbs, and I knew that I shouldn’t have worn these clogs but I still did.This is bad. This is AWFUL.** “Gaaaah let go of me! You HOOLIGAN Youkai!” Spitting out those words, as if coming out of a daze, I swiped and swung the paperplant uchiwa fan thoughtlessly. Instantly after that, something unexpected happened. A strong whirlwind sprung up, and all of the Ayakashi surrounding me got blown upward. They were all yelling as they rose upwards, eventually looking like stars.

T/N: I was doing my best not to translate this part into ‘It was at this moment, I knew I was f****d.’ But that’s the feeling lol P177 In an instant, there was a strong whirlwind. Indeed, I just realized what had just happened, and I stared slowly at the leaf-looking uchiwa fan in my hand. I couldn’t speak. OK, however I swing and move this fan, it seems that it creates a really strong gust of wind. “Thanks to this uchiwa, I was saved. I couldn’t think of eating this now.” I smiled a bit painfully as I wiped the sweat on my forehead. But, I sensed something again in my peripheral vision. It seems that no matter where I go, uneasiness follows me. I quickly turned my head when I saw a face, and hurriedly followed it through the dark back alleys, around every corner. Just as I was about to turn around a corner, I would stop and see if I’m about to head into walls. As soon as I could see who I was, I just cannot stop running and chasing. “Wah, Ahhh!” I peeked at the corner, and as soon as my face became visible, the person jumped backward. It seemed like I couldn’t lose sight of that person anymore, and that person removed their straw hat. “Are you.. The Yuki-onna?” That person was Tenjin-ya’s Young Mistress, the Snow lady O-ryo. Her white kimono was a bit disheveled as she collapsed into the ground. P178 “Whaa.. What’re you doing? You may be a human, but you’re so uncivilized!” “Hey, that’s my line. You were the one who made the ice spread on where I was standing a while ago, wasn’t it? But the snowballs flew off. When my mask tore off, the dangerous Ayakashi came to eat me there.” “Miss. Humans here in Kakuriyo are just hoodlums, and it’s a good thing that they’d get eaten. You and Odanna-sama may have gone out, but you’re a thousand years too early.” “So that’s it…” I suddenly saw O-ryo’s eyes in front of me. She was showing here true feelings in her face. She was probably jealous of me when Odanna-sama and I went out, and followed us here. “Could it possibly be that, you rode in the Kaikakumaru? By your own accord?” “How I got here is none of your business.” “Don’t feign ignorance. Could it be that you abandoned your post? Isn’t a Young Mistress expected to be prim and proper?” My reply seemed to have shocked O-ryo. “But.. It’s not like you’re not doing anything!” “But I’m nothing like the inn’s staff.” “Don’t pretend like you have no connections like that! This is why I hate human girls!” “Alright then, but I hate Ayakashi too, you know.” P179 In that time, that place got filled with sounds of squawking. In the innermost part of the back alley that we were in, we started hearing hoarse yells of “Wait!” “Don’t you dare run away!” O-ryo and I stopped our verbal fight. The dark alley only has one street, and on the other side, the sounds of someone wearing geta sandals can be heard in the darkness, and it seems like a geisha was running towards us. She was wrapped in a flowing sakura-patterned kimono, and I recognized her. “Suzuran-san?!” It was Suzuran-san, the geisha. She also noticed O-ryo and I. “O.. Odanna-sama.. Is he not here?” Looking pale, Suzuran went towards us and clang onto me. She seemed to have been chased, and her body was trembling. From the farthest part of the back alley, I saw Ayakashi pointing their fingers and yelling “She’s here!” I had no idea what the situation was about, but I thought that we must escape, in a bit I pulled Suzuran’s hand and as if in a daze we ran towards the other side of the road. We turned toward several corners, and we hid within the shady parts in-between the buildings, and for a while we concealed our breaths. The footsteps of Suzuran’s pursuers eventually sounded as if they’re already far away, and already dispersed. “Are you OK?” “Yes.” Suzuran replied as she nodded her head. P180 “I’m sorry, Odanna-sama isn’t here. I lost sight of him.” “Oh… I see…” The geisha’s kimono was beautiful, but probably very heavy, and yet no matter how heavy it was, the decorations attached on the feathery obi were still intact. Suzuran running fast wearing such garb must have been a very extra-ordinary sight. “What on earth Suzuran, who were you running away from?” She was just simply perplexed, and didn’t say anything. “Wait up, I’m going there too.” The Yuki-onna O-ryo was following us from behind. It seemed like she came down from the sky, and with her white kimono swinging in front of me, she looked like she was fluttering as she flew down with a thud. “The Ayakashi chasing Suzuran were the Ittan-momen from the large drapery seller, Yahata-ya. They say that Yahata-ya is from the Southwest Hachiyo, they have money and power, aren’t they an influential and long-established store? Suzuran, I wonder, could you have angered Yahata-ya’s master?” “O-ryo san…” It seems that O-ryo and Suzuran knew each other. Nevertheless, Suzuran was still shaking. In any case, I was thinking that it was inevitable that I send the girl home safely, but she just couldn’t move. P181 “I was sold.” “Really?!” With a grim expression, Suzuran began talking about her circumstances. “Lately, Yahata-ya’s young master whom I receive patronage from, insistently keeps dropping by, and a while ago when I went back to the geisha house, the boss that I trust so much commanded me to marry into Yahata-ya. 'That is for your own happiness.’ he said. I detested it, and they know it, but they can surely get paid a very large sum of money, so they sold me off.” She braced her face, and clutched her fists to her chest. “What is that, it’s not the worst. The Yahata-ya’s young master who spoils and pampers, is a young man from a rich family. He is famously known to go crazy over any girl he fancies. Even in Tenjin-ya, there is someone who does whatever they please.” O-ryo reminded me of something I hate, and I frowned. Suzuran just kept her head hung. “The geisha house is just in front of Yahata-ya’s property. I pretended to pack up my belongings, and I jumped down from my room’s window. I fled as if death was surrounding me.” The girl’s expression was grave. Somehow, I could relate to Suzuran’s situation after hearing her circumstances with regards to being stalked by a rich guy. No, it’s a more complicated story than that. It’s because Suzuran could lose her livelihood because of this. P182 “Oh, I see…” Our shoulders shuddered when we heard a voice other than ours, from somewhere. I thought they found us, but I saw that black kimono and the black haori, it was no other than Odanna-sama. Suzuran called out “Odanna-sama!!” considerably, and felt very much relieved to be safe. As for me, I could only say a few words. “You, where have you been until now? You left me behind!” “You disappeared! These back alleys were dizzying, and you were sitting and hiding in the dark spaces in between these buildings. Anyone who tries to find you won’t find you. Rather than they finding you, I found you instead. I want you to compliment me, at the least,” Odanna-sama uninterestedly retorted. I wonder if he’s angry. But for sure, I got here in this place despite myself. Could it be that, he was relentlessly searching for me? Oh well, whatever it was I don’t care anymore. “Oh my.. uhmm.. Alright, I’m here.” No, it’s not alright, there’s someone else here. It’s the Yuki-onna, O-ryo. She was hiding her face behind her sleeve and was about to run away in haste. But Odanna-sama has sharp eyes and found her. P183 “O-ryo, why are you here?” “Oh, that, uhm…” “I was sure that you said you were attending your duties in Tenjin-ya.” O-ryou lightly and furtively watched Odanna-sama’s facial expressions, and shut her mouth completely. “I hope it’s not what I am thinking, but could you have abandoned your duties and came here?” As soon as Odanna-sama spoke those words, the entire surroundings suddenly got cold. The Yuki-onna’s eyebrows twitched, but while seemingly agreeing, her facial expressions became unreadable. Moreover, I realized that our hair and our clothes were starting to get covered in snow. This snow lady, who threw countless snowballs at me, in an instant, why am I just shaking things off. “Well, whatever. Suzuran is here. Suzuran, since you have already escaped from Yahata-ya’s gang, for the time being, it is a good idea to go to Tenjin-ya. It is safer there, and you can tell me everything that happened.” As soon as Odanna-sama spoke to Suzuran, she felt relieved. That was the extent of her dreadful thoughts. “Odanna-sama, I apologize deeply.” Odanna-sama spoke again, to Suzuran in a gentle voice. P184 “What are you apologizing for? You are our head clerk’s younger sister. To me, you two are like two adorable grandchildren. Even though you were forced into a marriage proposal, we cannot be silent about it. Come now, let us go back to Kaikakumaru.” After that, I patted Suzuran’s shoulders and hugged her, and we just exchanged looks. As I nodded in approval, a low voice from the Yuki-onna came from behind. “Alright then, I guess I’m going home too.” O-ryo seemed exhausted.Odanna-sama’s eyes may have darkened, but I think she needs to pay for her mistakes. I was exasperated. “Yuki-onna, before we were found by Odanna-sama, were you thinking of going back to Tenjin-ya?” “You.. You shut up! You have nothing to do with this!” “Well, that was expected of you.” It was like a time when a parent goes out of a room and leaves the child unattended, and when the kid quietly leaves to play hooky and wander about gets caught in the act. A while ago, the Yuki-onna was up on her high horse, as if invincible, but now she’s disheartened, and her shoulders dropped. I think she looked like melting ice cream. P185 As wispy clouds drifted past, daybreak has begun. The Ayakashi’s activities have ended, and in a little while the shops started closing for the day. We, on the other hand will be returning over to the Southern Torii gate, to ride Tenjin-ya’s ship. “Ah, she’s there! She’s boarding Tenjin-ya’s Kaikakumaru!” In that moment, we were definitely found out by the Yahata-ya’s henchmen. Those guys seemed to have searched the entire harbor relentlessly for Suzuran, and for a very long time. Everyone had white hair, and all of Yahata-ya’s guys had a human form. Each of their faces were covered with a white cloth with “Han”** written on it, making their expressions unreadable, but their impatience can be easily seen through their movements. Odanna-sama left Suzuran in the care of the three Nopperabou sisters, who came out to take her inside the ship, as instructed. Odanna-sama and I stood leisurely in front of the ship while we casually looked at the Ittan-momen. “The Ittan-momen have a strong image of being a long, single piece of cloth, but these ones have a human form, don’t they?” “Ayakashi usually change their forms. Whatever Ayakashi they are, they have a human shape.” “So when you say that, the earth spiders, even Ginji-san, you all have a human form?”

T/N: Ittan-momen - they’re long pieces of cloth youkai, that strangle humans. The “Han” ( 反 ) on their faces also form the words for drapery, as ittan ( 一反 ) is a unit of measurement, mostly for cloths. P186 While we were casually chatting, a powerful voice boomed out. “Tenjin-ya’s Master. Please hand over the geisha, Suzuran to us. We legally and formally received her!” In the middle of the Ittan-momen stands a young man, surely from a rich family. A young man wearing a very gaudy haori. With his long, white hair flapping like a flag, his face was strongly expressing a smile. Beside him was a terrible-looking red-faced man-servant, who seems to be surrounded by a lot of underlings. The other Ayakashi in the main road, and those who were returning to the harbor to board their boats who seem to be so elegant were all going “What’s that? What’s going on?” and started to look at the scene. On the roofs were some guys’ camera shutters going off. Odanna-sama on the other hand faced the nervous Ittan-momen, and did his usual smile. “Hey there, aren’t you the young master of Yahata-ya, whom we were always under the care of? What happened to you, your facial expression has changed? Suzuran is our head clerk’s younger sister, and they always have been by themselves, so I’m bringing her back to Tenjin-ya so they could be together.” “How shameless! Even though you say that you’re always under our care, the truth is that Tenjin-ya has never used our fabrics!” Odanna-sama’s retort insulted the short-statured man-servant. P187 From the side, Odanna-sama was stealthily asked. “Doesn’t Tenjin-ya use Yahata-ya’s products?” “Our yukata were provided to us by the owner of Shikiidou. Yahata-ya may be old and established, but aren’t their products fairly expensive?” “Ah, about that…” This was different from that time with the Tengu. Especially when it comes to a point that there is no customer-client relationship, the rivalry just gets worse. Once again, with his usual smile Odanna-sama spoke to the young master. “Moreover, young lord, Suzuran awfully seems to not like you. A marriage obtained unreasonably, isn’t that selfish on your part? Hmm… My opinion is there’s nothing more useless than a loveless marriage, isn’t it?” “Wha… What did you just say to me?!” The young master’s face showed his anger, and went to his man-servant. Selfishly, he retorted, “You have insulted me. I am declaring a war! By any means!” But to me, seeing as there is no other choice, with a smug grin** Odanna-sama replied “Well, if you say so.” That is no joke. With a nonchalant face, Odanna-sama commanded Kaikakumaru’s crew to get up and sail.

T/N: Shit-eating grin is a better translation but Odanna-sama’s too pretty for that lol. P188 What, we haven’t gotten in, are they going to leave the harbor? “Hey, stop! Tenjin-ya’s ship!” As Kaikakumaru slowly and steadily rose, from everywhere a flood of Ittan-momen started lining up, preparing their bows and arrows, and assumed their shooting stance. The tips of their arrows were covered with an oil-soaked cloth, with pyres filled with blazing yellow enchanted fire in front of them, and the dangerous army faced Kaikakumaru and started to shoot. I was dumbfounded. With a sudden and loud gasp, Odanna-started to defend us. Standing with an expressionless and unchanging face, the arrows flying towards me were received by him with one hand, and fiercely blew out the enchanted flames like trash that gets thrown away. I think it’s a flawless defense. However, several arrows hit Kaikakumaru , and the sails started to catch fire. Not just Kaikakumaru, but the other surrounding boats were reached by the flaming arrows, and everwhere the flames started rising up. The screaming and panicking voices of the Ayakashi were audible. It was terrible. It was merciless. It was inhumane! That was what I was thinking, but those guys were Ayakashi. As for Odanna-sama, he was still blowing on his pipe with a composed face. Seeing that again, the Man-servant got excited and the Yahata-ya’s Ittan-momen squad once again started to aim, towards us and prepared for shooting their flaming arrows. P189 This time they were aiming towards Odanna-sama. If this continues, I’ll be in danger. “Oww!” A small burning piece fell down and grazed my arm. Instantly, I remembered in that moment the Tengu’s uchiwa fan. “Fire!” The Ittan-momen squad pulled back their bows and released their flaming arrows toward us again. Without any hesitation, I leaned forward in front of Odanna-sama and deliberately fanned the uchiwa fan upwards, and I put a lot of power in fanning it. A strong gust of wind blew wildly. The flaming arrows flying towards me were all extinguished, and flew towards and beyond the Southern Torii gate. After that, the numerous human-bodied Ittan-momen of Yahata-ya were halted and then like paper were blown away. Even the ox-cart that they were using also got turned over. Only the young lord and his man-servant were left, desperately clinging onto a pillar. “Ohhh.. You defended me, Aoi!” “No, I did that to save myself.” Odanna-sama may have spoken in joy, but I was just stating the obvious. I was changed, and I understood the power of the uchiwa fan. I stared at it begrudgingly. P190 “Looking at this leaf, it’s an awesome uchiwa fan! I was only going to use this for serving seafood dishes, but definitely not anymore.” “Yes indeed, it’s good that you don’t. There’s nothing as precious as that treasured fan.” Odanna-sama’s retort definitely hit. The Yahata-ya’s Ittan-momen started to pull back. “Isn’t that the Tengu’s treasured uchiwa fan?” “What on earth is that little girl?” I heard so many whispered voices. So many Ayakashi were gawking. At least, the wind brought the Ittan-momen down. Their young master, with his long hair disheveled by the blowing wind, and his body equally in distress, pointed at me and yelled with anger, “What did you just do, little girl? Who are you? Are you a Tengu?” “No, I can’t say who I am..” Right now I am a human girl. Incidentally, unemployed. I am not a Tengu. But Odanna-sama relaxed his lips. He pulled my waist and magnanimously started to proclaim, “This is Tsubaki Shirou’s granddaughter, Tsubaki Aoi. I am Tenjin-ya’s master, and she is my bride!” “Whaaaat?” My face spelled “What is this man talking about?” After his proclamation, he pulled me close and from where we were standing leaped up, and with a strong force flew up towards Kaikakumaru’s wooden deck. P191 It was like riding a jet coaster, I was mentally unprepared for it as we landed. At the back of my mind, the harbor was adrift with an eerie silence. But that silence was broken by a high-pitched scream, as I was looking down my voice just exploded. “Move to port side, steer to port side…” As my consciousness fled that place, there were other Ayakashi in their cruise ships. “Oh, hell, no, Kakuriyo is doomed!” Why were they expecting Kakuriyo’s demise, my head couldn’t wrap around it, that some Ayakashi were so serious. “That Tsubaki Shirou’s granddaughter, she is the wife of Tenjin-ya’s ogre-god?” “Isn’t that a tragedy?” It seems that the sudden interest can’t be suppresed, it was the topic of discussion among the lowly Ayakashi while having their booze and appetizers. “Go back! Go back! The news’ evening edition must be replaced!” “There’s no time! We’ll just hurry it up for the afternoon edition tomorrow!” The news item about a celebrity scandal seems to be catching on, and from beyong the large Torii gate, Youto’s crowd was broken up by Ayakashi that look like news reporters. Odanna-sama’s proclamation was a shocking target, it seems. To the Ayakashi, Tenjin-ya’s Master and Shirou Tsubaki’s granddaughter “getting married” was obviously horrible, scary and revolting, and it created a huge ruckus. P192 “Say, Odanna-sama, why were those Ayakashi shocked? Are you a celebrity?” “I’m not a celebrity, I am Tenjin-ya’s Master. But, well, I do hold the title of a Hachiyo. Being one gives fame and power. Each of Kakuriyo’s remarkable Ayakashi, there are a lot of stories when it comes to sudden marriage proposals, whether with a daughter or a granddaughter.” “Hmmmph. So up until today, you were single?” Even though it was a dodgy question, Odanna-sama confidently agreed. “Well, that’s it. Which is why in Kakuriyo, it’s common gossip to ask who shall be my bride. Those are what people talk about me. A powerful person, particularly an Ayakashi who holds the position of Hachiyo, news about their marriage are always a subject of public interest by the populace in Kakuriyo.” “Interest.. But, I don’t think anyone would be happy about that.” “Haha, it’s not really a pleasant matter. Surely, it is a public announcement, and because Shirou’s granddaughter was involved, everyone was absolutely caught off-guard. It’s probably the worst.“ Odanna-sama’s way of speaking sounded dubious. I titled my head. "That’s.. because Aoi is Shirou’s granddaughter.” P193 Looking at my face, with a sneering smile, Odanna-sama’s remarks about Grandpa seem to have a strong impact. To Kakuriyo, Grandpa is a very influential person. Even amongst Ayakashi, he is the scariest. From the soles of my feet, a cold chill crept up, and I looked below. Yahata-ya’s Ittan-momen were creating a noisy argument. They stopped, and other than being unable to wave their hands to us in the boat, they could only stare at the slowing rising Kaikakumaru in vexation. Even as Kaikakumaru’s sails were ablaze, it was still rising up. Despite that grave 10 minutes, the ship’s deck still standing, the commotion that happened below, no matter how much I think about it, I still can’t understand it. Odanna-sama seems to have lost interest in what happened before, and started instructing the ship’s crew, who were desperately extinguishing the fires on the sails here and there, and the blazing flames of Kaikakumaru’s sails were eventually extinguished. The beautiful sunrise from the east has come. Normally, this would be a silent time in Kakuriyo. But today, Kakuriyo’s capitol had an early-morning disturbance. While thinking about the myriad of things that happened today, the day started brightly as before, and I rubbed my eyes. P194 A while later, I realized what happened, and the next day, Kakuriyo’s Metropolitan Newspaper reads “Bride from Hell went Haywire”, among other things, I was decorated with a very typical and one-sided title. From then on, without me knowing it, I was known as the rumored “Tenjin-ya’s Wife from Hell.”

End of Chapter 5, Volume 1.

Volume 1 Translations by Kakuriyo-translations

Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4

References:

Wonderful site for the youkai references

Other stuff I used to do this: Kodansha Kanji Learner’s Dictionary (you can buy here, I’m not sponsored btw). I was about to buy the older edition but then the newer one came out 2013 so I bought that instead. Worth buying since I was able to find nearly all of the words I needed just by stroke pattern alone.

Merriam-Webster’s Japanese-English Dictionary (the red-covered 1996 version is apparently out of print right now). This is what I have been using for a very long time, I bought it when I was still a fetus (yes I am old so what lol), and after so many years, when compared to newer editions, I still prefer this one since its entirety is Japanese-English, the English to Japanese gloss are just 16 pages tops, so you get more Japanese words for your buck. But that’s just my opinion, maybe other people prefer the Jap-En x En-Jap IDEK.

Basic online dictionary, Jisho. Knowledge of verb conjugations and other words are necessary since not all have entries.

If you can read Japanese, you can buy the whole set in Amazon Japan, they’re shipping worldwide now, I think.

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