Chapter 486 – This Girl's Been Hiding a Lot
Ding-ling—
The soft chime of a wind bell greeted Kaiser the moment he pushed open the door to Tadenshiya, the Japanese-style sweet shop.
"Welcome!"
A sweet voice followed right after—one he instantly recognized.
Before he could place it, the speaker gasped in surprise.
"Wait… Kaiser-oniisan!?"
It was his cousin, Koharu Kurama.
"Koharu?" Kaiser blinked. "What are you doing here?"
It wasn't that she'd just dropped by to see Roka Maníwa, or that she was here as a customer. She was working—serving tea, tending to tables like a staff member.
She wore a long skirt, black tights, a striped orange-yellow blouse, and a white apron—clearly a uniform.
"It really is you!" Koharu hurried over, tray in hand, running with the same energy she had as a child, like a little animal responding to its master's call. The nostalgic sight tugged at Kaiser's chest.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, eyes wide with surprise, joy, and worry. "Did you already resolve everything with the Divine Blade? Does that mean you can leave Mitake Shrine now?"
Of course. The uproar from him drawing Murasame-maru yesterday was still fresh in her memory, and she'd been worried sick.
"I can come and go as I please. It's not like I'm a criminal under house arrest," Kaiser chuckled. "As for Murasame-maru… let's just say things are temporarily settled."
At least, that's how it looked on the surface. In truth, thanks to Yoshino Tomotake's attitude, Kaiser was still only half in the loop. But that wasn't something Koharu needed to be burdened with.
"I see… that's a relief." She pressed a hand to her chest, visibly easing, the gesture adorably earnest. "I thought something might've happened to you. Grandpa wouldn't tell us anything—just said you'd be living at Mitake Shrine instead of helping at Shinato-sou."
"Eh, Grandpa probably didn't know how to explain it either." Kaiser scratched his head. "Even I didn't expect things to turn out like this. Honestly, the fact he handled it calmly is impressive enough."
"Anyway, don't worry about me. I'm doing great. No more holiday part-time work, I get free room and board—living the dream." He tilted his head. "But you still haven't said what you're doing here."
"I'm working part-time at Roka's shop." Koharu fidgeted under his gaze, cheeks pink. "W-why are you staring? Do I look weird dressed like this?"
The little cousin who used to cling to his back was now anxiously awaiting his opinion, hopeful and uneasy all at once.
"Not weird at all." Kaiser smiled. "Actually, it suits you. Makes me feel like you've really grown up."
And he meant it.
Once upon a time, Koharu had been a tiny thing who followed him around everywhere, glued to his side. To see her now, looking fresh and lively, felt surreal.
Her figure was still petite, though Murasame had once teased him that she was "better endowed than she let on." Curious, Kaiser's eyes flicked briefly to her chest… but he couldn't see a thing.
If what Murasame claimed was true, then yeah—this girl really knew how to hide it.
"R-really?" Koharu giggled, oblivious to his thoughts. "Of course I've grown. I'm not as amazing as you, though."
She tilted her head back to meet his eyes—he'd gotten tall, and she had to crane her neck just to look up at him. The sight stirred something inside her.
Since she was little, Koharu had always admired this cousin who was nothing like her own silly brother. Mature, serious, able to endure their grandfather's harsh training—he was praised time and again, and she adored him for it.
Back when her brother was only concerned with playing around, Kaiser never forgot about her tagging along. She loved grabbing the hem of his shirt, following behind him while he glanced back every so often to make sure she was keeping up.
"If only you were my real brother…"
That had been her catchphrase growing up.
Now, years later, her favorite "brother" had grown taller, more mature, stronger—so different from the playful boy she remembered. She felt both puzzled and secretly delighted, even a little in awe.
Boys were unfair—shooting up like weeds before she knew it. Even her idiotic brother Rentaro had shot past her in height. But unlike Rentaro and other guys, Kaiser wasn't just tall; he carried himself with a weight, a presence, that made him seem far more dependable.
"You'll keep growing too, don't worry." Kaiser had no idea how complicated her thoughts were. He just ruffled her hair naturally, the same way he always had. "By the way, where's Rentaro?"
"Stupid Rentaro's not here." Koharu's eyes half-lidded in bliss under his hand, but she puffed her cheeks when her brother's name came up. "He's probably out hitting on foreign tourists again."
"…Seriously? That's… a hell of a change." Kaiser's mouth twitched. "He wasn't like that as a kid. When did he get so obsessed with chasing girls?"
"Who knows? He's just an idiot. Maybe he thinks it makes him look manly." Koharu huffed. "But you can't copy him, okay? It'll just make you dumb!"
For her to get that annoyed, Rentaro must've been out of control lately.
"What about Roka?" Kaiser asked, changing the subject. "Is she here?"
"She's in the kitchen!" Koharu's mood bounced back immediately, smiling as she turned. "I'll call her!"
Tray in hand, she dashed off.
"Roka! Kaiser-oniisan's here to see you!"
A head popped out from the kitchen.
"Well, well—if it isn't Kai."
Roka Maníwa stepped out, her reaction half surprise, half joy—no worry at all.
Two or three years older than Kaiser, his childhood friend looked completely different from yesterday in her casual clothes. Today she wore a traditional-style work uniform: a dark red striped top, a long navy skirt with black tights, leather shoes, and a white apron tied at the waist. The outfit made her look less like staff and more like… well, a housewife.
"You had time to drop by?" She gave his arm a playful smack, smirking. "What, already tired of the shrine? Didn't want to spend more time with the Lady Miko and build up some romance?"
Kaiser's eye twitched.
Everyone knew about him drawing Murasame-maru—that had been too public to hide. But the engagement with Yoshino Tomotake? Yasuharu hadn't announced that yet. Only a handful of insiders knew.
So how did Roka know?
"…My mom called you again, didn't she?"
He didn't even need her answer.
"Yup." Roka grinned like she'd just stolen treasure. "Genjuro-san talked it over with your mom, and she told me. I never thought my little brother would get engaged to the Lady Miko. I'm so proud."
Kaiser deadpanned.
"You sure you're not my aunt instead of my sister? You and my mom sure get along well enough."
Before he finished, Roka's fingers pinched his cheek hard.
"Was it this mouth? This one that said something so rude?"
Her smile was strained now, her forehead veined, her grip merciless. Kaiser winced in pain.
"…Wrong." He surrendered quickly. Better to fold before she switched from cheek-pinching to waist-pinching.
"Hmph. You've gotten mean, teasing girls about their age." Roka released him with a grumble. "I only just graduated high school. Out in town, I'd be considered a fresh-faced college student. Calling me an auntie is way out of line."
"…Nobody says 'fresh-faced' anymore. That's an old-lady phrase," Kaiser muttered.
No surprise—his cheek got pinched again.
"Was it this mouth? This one spouting nonsense?"
"Wrong, wrong!" he yelped, instantly conceding, while Koharu giggled behind her tray.
Their bickering drew fond smiles from nearby customers.
Eventually, Roka and Koharu ushered Kaiser to a seat.
"So, what'll it be, sir?" Roka teased, playing the waitress. She handed him a menu with a wink.
"Ah…" Koharu puffed her cheeks, muttering under her breath. "I wanted to serve Kaiser-oniisan too…"
Kaiser didn't catch it. He flipped open the menu, brows lifting.
"Looks like the selection's expanded."
It wasn't his first time here, but the last had been years ago. Back then, Tadenshiya mostly sold old-fashioned sweets—senbei, traditional rice crackers, that kind of thing. Now the menu boasted parfaits, puddings, chocolate cakes—modern desserts popular with younger crowds.
"That's all thanks to Roka," Koharu explained.
"Yeah, Hoori's different now. Our main customers aren't locals anymore, but tourists." Roka's smile turned wry, self-deprecating. "Stick to the old ways, and the shop would've died with the times."
From her tone, Kaiser caught a glimpse of the hardships she'd faced as the shop's manager. Running a family business hadn't been easy.
"Anyway, order whatever you like. My treat today." She waved it off, recovering her cheerful tone. "It's been years since you came—let me spoil you a little."
"Then I won't hold back." Kaiser nodded without hesitation. "I'll take a fruit parfait and a cola."
Between childhood friends, formality was just distance.
"Oh, and pack one of each of the new items for me." He handed the menu back. "I'll take them to the shrine. Put it on my tab."
"Thank you for your patronage!" Roka grinned. "Tell me what you think after you try them. I'm still testing recipes."
"Got it." Kaiser gave a short nod.
Roka slipped back into the kitchen, while Koharu bustled about with trays.
Kaiser leaned back in his seat, watching them work, his thoughts wandering.
Chapter 487 – Time for Me to Act
Tadenshiya wasn't exactly crowded, so Kaiser only had to wait a short while before his order arrived.
Once they'd set the food on the table, Roka Maníwa and Koharu Kurama didn't linger. Both slipped off to handle other tasks, leaving Kaiser without the chance to ask the questions he'd been saving up.
He'd spent a decent amount of time in Hoori Town before, but no matter what, he wasn't a local. His knowledge of the town's legends couldn't compare to that of Roka and Koharu, who had grown up here. He had originally planned to dig into some of the myths with them, but seeing how busy they were, he couldn't bring himself to get in the way of their work.
"Forget it. I've got at least some leads anyway. Good enough for now."
Kaiser let it go and started enjoying his dessert and soda.
"Mhm… not bad at all."
That verdict came after a few bites. And getting even a simple "not bad" from Kaiser wasn't easy.
After all, there was a time when his knife skills had caught the eye of a world-famous chef, who had insisted on taking him in as a disciple.
At first, Kaiser hadn't planned to agree, but he'd been too young to make that decision for himself. The chef somehow got hold of his parents' phone number and negotiated directly with them. In the end, they'd been convinced, and Kaiser had no choice but to train under the man.
The training lasted only about two years, but by the end, he'd graduated successfully.
"Your cooking still has rough edges, but your knife work is extraordinary. As long as the flavor isn't a disaster, your technique alone will win people over. From today on, you're ready to stand on your own."
That was what his teacher had told him, before gifting him an heirloom recipe book and a custom-made set of kitchen tools as a parting gift.
Only that day did Kaiser finally call him "Master" with genuine respect.
And Kaiser had learned a lot. From appetizers to entrees, from main courses to desserts, even dishes reserved for state banquets. The recipe book included techniques from palace chefs dating back to the Ming dynasty—a priceless treasure.
If Kaiser had kept going down that path, even if he couldn't reach his master's fame, becoming a top chef would've been no problem. But his real interest wasn't in cooking. He'd only wanted to polish his blade skills. Culinary arts were never meant to be his future. These days, he just occasionally flipped through that recipe book, nothing more.
Even so, his cooking skills were solid. Years of tasting fine cuisine had given him a picky palate. If it wasn't truly delicious, it would never earn a "not bad" from him.
"Strange. The sweets here are good, but Tadenshiya doesn't seem to have many customers."
Kaiser ate while observing the shop, thoughtful.
"Could it be a management problem?"
He recalled the wry, self-mocking smile Roka had worn when talking about business. He decided he'd ask her directly when he had the chance. If Tadenshiya really was struggling, he was willing to lend a hand.
"Wait… could Mom have known about this? Is that why she forced me to come back this time—to find some way to help Roka out?"
The suspicion struck him hard.
If that were true, he'd have to call his mother out for pawning off her son like that. Still, even she couldn't have possibly guessed that this trip home would turn into such a mess.
Pulling the Divine Blade out of the stone at Mitake Shrine, becoming Lady Miko's fiancé… he could already imagine his mother's face when she learned the full story.
She was born and raised in Hoori, after all. To her, both the Divine Blade and the shrine maiden weren't just folklore—they were things etched into her heart since childhood. Unlike outsiders who dismissed them as tourist bait, she knew their weight.
Especially Yoshino Tomotake. To the people of this land, she was practically a princess. Even the older generations addressed her as Lady Miko. For such a person to suddenly become her son's fiancée—how could his mother not be shocked?
Thankfully, the engagement was only temporary, not set in stone. Neither Kaiser nor Yoshino actually believed they'd end up married. Otherwise, his mom might already be booking a ticket here.
"No telling how things will turn out."
Draining the last of his soda, Kaiser gathered up the box of sweets Roka had packed for him, waved a quick goodbye to Koharu, and left Tadenshiya.
The sun wasn't yet at its peak, so instead of wandering aimlessly, Kaiser headed straight back to Mitake Shrine.
As the saying goes, better lucky than early. When he arrived, everyone just happened to be free.
"Welcome back, Master."
Murasame floated down from the ceiling of the living room, spotting him first.
"Ah, welcome back, Kaiser-kun." Yasuharu Tomotake, sipping tea at ease, greeted him warmly.
"Welcome back, Kaiser-sama." Mako Hitachi was preparing tea for the group; her smile was as sweet as ever.
"…Welcome back." Yoshino barely looked up from her book and notes, her face tightening as soon as she saw him. Her voice was cool, almost indifferent.
"Yeah, I'm back." Kaiser nodded, stepping in. "I brought some sweets for everyone. Have them before lunch."
He unpacked the boxes and laid them out on the table.
Everyone froze for a moment, then their eyes lit up.
"So many sweets!" Mako gasped, full of surprise.
"This is too much… wasn't it expensive?" Yasuharu sounded genuinely taken aback.
"Pudding… parfaits… a—and even dango!" Yoshino's composed facade crumbled, stars sparkling in her eyes at the sight of the spread.
"No wonder it felt like Master was lingering outside for so long. So it was a sweets shop." Murasame floated closer with an amused note.
As she often explained, since Kaiser was the wielder of Murasame-maru and she was its Administrator, she could sense his general location at any time. That bond meant she never worried about losing him, giving her the freedom to wander as she pleased.
"Roka's family runs a sweets shop. I dropped by, said hi, and supported the business a little." Kaiser smiled. "Besides, Yasuharu-san is already letting me stay here for free. This is the least I can do."
"No, there's no need to be so formal," Yasuharu shook his head. "It's our selfishness that forced you to remain in Hoori and at the shrine. Naturally, we should take care of your living needs. You don't owe us anything in return."
"It's just a small gesture. Call it a greeting gift for my first day staying here." Kaiser shrugged. "Tadenshiya's sweets aren't that pricey. Buying enough for everyone once in a while is nothing major for me."
He wasn't from a rich family, but his father's business was solid enough to afford international trips, and his mother could enjoy life as a full-time homemaker planning vacations with her husband.
Kaiser himself had always saved his New Year's money, and though his allowance wasn't large, it added up. On top of that, he'd been paid during his time cooking under his master, and the prize money from two kendo tournament wins had padded his account further. As long as he didn't blow it on anything shady, his parents never interfered.
Among his peers, Kaiser was fairly well-off. If not for his mother's request—needing an extra hand at the family inn—he wouldn't be working during vacation at all. He wasn't strapped for cash.
So treating everyone at the shrine to sweets was hardly a burden.
"Enjoy. If you can't finish, or want to save some for later, put them in the fridge."
With that, Kaiser left the living room and headed back to his room.
"Wait! Master!" Murasame hurried after him.
The others—Yoshino, Yasuharu, and Mako—exchanged glances, then looked back at the table piled with sweets, each showing different expressions.
"What a good kid." Yasuharu chuckled warmly, half-joking, half-serious. "Maybe you should really consider it, Yoshino."
What he meant was clear enough.
"…Don't be ridiculous, Father." Yoshino sighed, her cold mask slipping, her expression conflicted. "This isn't fair to Kaiser-san."
At least, that was how she saw it.
They'd only just met yesterday, and now, because of circumstances beyond their control, they were being pushed into an engagement. Dragging him into her family's curse wasn't fair.
That was why she forced herself to keep distant—to shut down communication, empathy, and understanding, anything that might pull him deeper in.
And yet…
"I think it's already too late, Yoshino-sama," Mako said gently but firmly. "From the moment Kaiser-sama drew Murasame-maru, he stopped being an outsider."
Yoshino stayed silent. Of course she knew that. But she still wanted to protect him from the mess that was her life.
If not for the Divine Blade's importance to the Tomotake family and Mitake Shrine—and the fact that Kaiser was its chosen wielder—she never would've let him stay here, let alone bind him with a contract of engagement.
It was all terribly unfair to him.
Seeing her wordless struggle, Yasuharu sighed.
"Pudding. Want some?" he asked lightly.
"…Yes."
After a long pause, Yoshino finally answered in a tiny voice.
Unsurprised, Mako slid a pudding toward her. "Please enjoy, Yoshino-sama."
Yoshino's cheeks reddened slightly with embarrassment, but in the end, she couldn't resist the lure of sweets. She picked up a spoon, scooped a bite, and tasted it.
Her judgment was barely above a whisper.
"So sweet…"
Night fell quickly.
After dinner, Kaiser once again went for a few laps around Hoori Town, just like he had that morning. When he returned to the shrine, he retreated to his room.
He showered off the sweat but didn't change into pajamas, instead slipping into comfortable clothes meant for movement.
"Murasame-maru…"
His gaze fell on the Divine Blade resting on his desk since last night. Finally, he reached out and lifted it from its stand.
Shing—
The blade slid from its sheath with a clear metallic note, the polished edge gleaming as he held it toward himself and the window behind.
Moonlight spilled through, dancing along the steel in a bright arc.
Kaiser studied the blade for a long moment, then slid it back into its sheath and rose to his feet.
"Master?"
Murasame, who had been watching closely, couldn't help but speak up.
"What are you planning? Master?"
For some reason, a bad feeling stirred in her chest.
And her instincts were right.
"I've been idle all day. It's about time I started moving." Kaiser's voice was calm, eyes steady on the blade in his hands. "I'm going to uncover this town's secrets."
Her eyes widened. "Don't do anything reckless! Master! Didn't Yoshino tell you not to dig into it?"
"She told me. But does that mean I have to obey?" He shot her a sideways glance. "If she can disregard my opinion and shut me out, then I can disregard hers and act on my own."
"But what are you going to do?" Murasame pressed. "Even if you want to search for the town's secrets, you don't know where to start, do you?"
Wrong. Kaiser did know.
He only had to go there.
"I'm heading into the mountains."
Chapter 488 – I Have My Reasons
Not far from Mitake Shrine stretched a range of rolling mountains. They weren't vast, nor particularly tall—just the kind of place where the kids of Hoori Town could wander up and play without much trouble.
The paths into the mountains weren't hard to find. A short walk led to a trail climbing upward, with streams, springs, wild herbs, rabbits, and pheasants. Deeper in, there were even boars. As long as you didn't stray too far, even the adults never stopped children from going there.
When he was little, Kaiser had often climbed those mountains with Roka Maníwa, Rentaro Kurama, Koharu Kurama, and the others. They'd picked wild fruits and vegetables, chased after rabbits and pheasants, splashed in the river, fished, dug up bamboo shoots and mushrooms. The mountain was one of their childhood playgrounds.
The only real danger Kaiser had ever run into was years ago, when he'd gone deeper than he should have just to test his strength—and came face-to-face with a raging boar. Normally, though, those animals never came down near people. For the locals, "going up the mountain" wasn't something to get worked up over.
And yet, the moment Kaiser mentioned climbing the mountain at night, Murasame reacted as if struck by lightning.
"No! Master, you can't go up the mountain now!"
Her panic was unlike anything Kaiser had ever seen.
"Why not?" His gaze was calm, as if he'd already figured something out. "I used to climb all the time as a kid—with Rentaro and the others."
The message was clear: this wasn't worth her panic.
But Murasame grew even more anxious. "During the day it's fine, but at night it's too dangerous! Absolutely not!"
That much was true. Even the adults of Hoori had always forbidden nighttime trips into the mountains. As kids, Kaiser and his friends had been warned countless times—never, under any circumstances, after dark.
Which only confirmed his suspicion.
"At night… something shows up in the mountains, doesn't it?" Kaiser said evenly. "That's the secret you've all been hiding, isn't it?"
"…How can you be so sure?" Murasame faltered, torn between denial and confession. "We never told you there was anything in the mountains, so why would you believe it? Why insist on going?"
The answer was simple.
"You haven't spelled it out, but from everything you've said so far, it's obvious Hoori's secret is tied to something dangerous. That's why you—or rather, Tomotake-san—don't want me involved."
Kaiser laid his reasoning out flat.
"I don't know what that danger is. But if drawing Murasame-maru has already dragged me into it, then it must be something that needs the blade's power to cut down."
"And what kind of threat needs to be cut down by a sword, if not an enemy?"
He glanced at her, smiling faintly.
"Maybe it's the Curse. Maybe it's the grudge of some monster Murasame once slew."
"Either way, if there's something in Hoori that only Murasame-maru can cut, then all that's left is finding it. That's why I spent today running loops around the town—morning and night—checking place after place, drawing on my childhood memories, narrowing down where such a thing could be hiding."
Murasame stared at him, stunned.
"So Master's walk around town today… wasn't just training or killing time?"
She'd never expected him to be thinking this deeply.
"I haven't been back in years. Hoori's changed a lot. Tourists everywhere. I needed to get a sense of the town again before deciding where to look." Kaiser's tone was cool, matter-of-fact. "But after today, I'm sure of one thing: the danger isn't inside Hoori. At least, not in the town itself."
Hoori had become a popular tourist spot. If something truly dangerous lurked inside, people wouldn't be allowed anywhere near it. But Kaiser hadn't found a single area that was off-limits.
"That left only one possibility—the mountain." His eyes met hers squarely. "People may come and go during the day, but every household warns against going at night. That makes the nighttime mountain a forbidden zone."
The realization had clicked into place. That was why he'd decided to start there.
"And now, judging by your reaction, I know for sure—whatever you've been hiding, it's in the mountains."
His smile turned sharp, half amused, half grim.
"So no matter what, I'm going tonight."
With that, Kaiser stepped past her toward the door.
"Wait! Master! You really can't!" Murasame panicked, clutching at his clothes.
But she was only a spirit—weightless, powerless. Even clinging to him, she was no heavier than a backpack. She couldn't stop him.
Kaiser ignored her and kept walking.
That was when he ran into Yoshino Tomotake. She had just stepped out of her room, clothes in her arms, clearly on her way to bathe.
"Kaiser-san? Murasame-sama? What are you—"
She froze at the sight of Murasame desperately pulling at him while Kaiser, sword in hand, strode toward the exit.
"Stop him, Yoshino!" Murasame cried. "Master's going up the mountain!"
Yoshino's face instantly paled.
"Please wait, Kaiser-san!" She dropped her bundle without hesitation and ran forward, spreading her arms wide to block him. "The mountain at night is far too dangerous! You can't!"
The way he stood there, blade at his side, filled her with dread she couldn't explain.
Kaiser halted.
"Step aside," he said quietly. "The Tomotake family can't possibly restrict the freedom of someone they invited in."
"That's not restricting your freedom!" Yoshino's voice was urgent. "I'm stopping you from doing something reckless!"
"Why do you even want to up there now?" Her eyes sharpened. "If you really have a reason, can't it wait until morning?"
Her tone was firm, every bit the Lady Miko of Mitake Shrine. To most townsfolk, that alone would have been enough to make them bow their heads and obey.
Unfortunately for her, Kaiser wasn't most people.
"I have my reasons. Now, would you please move?"
"No!" Yoshino shot back immediately, still blocking his way. "That's just selfish! I can't accept it!"
Kaiser couldn't help but laugh.
"Selfish? Isn't that what you've been doing all along?" His gaze bore into hers. "You've been shutting me out, refusing to tell me anything about Hoori or Murasame-maru, all on your own terms. Isn't that selfish?"
"I—" Yoshino faltered, words catching in her throat.
"I'm not blaming you," Kaiser went on evenly. "They're your secrets. You have the right to keep them from whoever you want. But if I choose to act on my own, you have no right to stop me either."
"You can't claim the right to act on your reasons while denying mine. That's called double standards."
His words left her speechless.
"Please step aside."
This time, it wasn't an argument. It was a declaration.
"…No!"
She still couldn't let him go.
Kaiser sidestepped, slipping past her with ease, heading for the door.
"Wait! Kaiser-san! You really can't—!"
Yoshino broke character entirely, chasing after him. In desperation, she grabbed his arm.
The sudden softness pressing against him left no doubt in Kaiser's mind—Lady Miko was hiding some serious firepower under that shrine maiden uniform. Enough that, for just a second, he was tempted not to shake her off.
But he wasn't the type to waver once he'd made up his mind.
"Yasuharu-san."
He suddenly called toward the hall.
"Father?!" Yoshino gasped, and even Murasame glanced that way instinctively.
Of course, no one was there.
Kaiser seized the chance, slipping free of both Yoshino and Murasame. In a flash, he was gone, like the wind.
"Master!" Murasame darted out after him.
"No! Kaiser-san!" Yoshino stumbled forward, but by the time she reached the door, he was already out of sight. Only Murasame's glow lingered as it vanished into the dark.
"What do I do… what do I do…" Yoshino's composure shattered completely. Her face showed nothing but panic, worry, and a gnawing edge of guilt.
"This is my fault… If I hadn't resisted him so hard, Kaiser-san wouldn't have done something so reckless…"
Regret twisted in her chest. She should have told him something—anything. At least enough for him to understand the danger waiting on the mountain.
If something happened to him because of this…
"No…!"
Biting her lip hard, Yoshino spun back inside. She tore into her room, changed into her miko robes, grabbed the ritual implements she used for sacred dances, and ran straight toward the mountain.
"Yoshino?!"
Yasuharu Tomotake had just returned in time to see her sprinting out, eyes wide with alarm.
And so, one after another, Kaiser, Murasame, and Yoshino all entered the mountain.
That night was destined to be anything but peaceful.
Hoori Town – The mountain.
For the first time in years, Kaiser set foot on the familiar trail, plunging into the darkness.
It wasn't his first time climbing these slopes, but it was his first time doing it at night. And the difference was stark.
"It's rougher than I thought…"
Not the path itself, but the suffocating lack of light.
No lanterns, no torches—only faint moonlight spilling through the trees, barely enough to outline the trail. It kept him from straying off course, but only just. Beyond a few meters, everything was swallowed by shadow, almost as black as ink.
"So this is what the mountain's like at night. Even without any monsters, one wrong step could cost you your life."
He slowed his pace, walking carefully, following the faint glow upward.
Shh…
The wind swept through the forest, stirring the leaves in a sound like whispers. A chill crept across his skin. Anyone with a weaker heart would have already turned back.
The further he went, the narrower the trail became. Past a certain point, it was no longer a road at all, just the faint tracks of beasts that had come this way.
He'd only once gone beyond this point before, chasing down a boar in broad daylight. This time, it was night. And the enemy wasn't some animal—it was something unknown.
"Kind of exciting, when you think about it."
Kaiser grinned, and in the next step, he committed fully.
He stepped into the danger.
Chapter 489 – "Tatari-gami"
Shh—shh—
The deeper Kaiser went into the mountain, the thicker the forest grew. Trees pressed closer together, the underbrush rose higher, and even the moonlight could barely break through. His visibility dropped with every step.
"This could be a problem…"
He frowned as he made his way into a part of the mountain no ordinary person would wander. He wasn't afraid of enemies—what bothered him was the idea of fighting under these conditions.
"Vision's limited. Trees and brush everywhere. Swinging the sword freely here is impossible. One slip, and I'll be cutting bark instead of an enemy."
His grip on Murasame-maru tightened as he thought through strategies. How to fight effectively here, how to minimize the environment's interference. But his feet never stopped moving.
He'd only gone a short way further when a familiar, frantic voice rang out.
"Master! How could you already be this deep?!"
A small figure dropped from above, phasing through trees and branches like they weren't even there.
Of course, it was Murasame.
"Took you long enough," Kaiser said calmly. He wasn't surprised in the least. She could sense his location, fly through the air, and pass through obstacles without slowing down. Catching up to him should've been trivial. If anything, she was late.
His composure left her half-angry, half-worried.
"Do you have any idea how worried I've been? And you're still this calm!"
Her frustration was written all over her face.
"I climbed this mountain knowing full well what I might face. If I panic now, that'd only prove I came here to throw my life away." His tone was steady. "So spare me the scolding. Let's keep moving."
He brushed past her and pressed deeper into the slope, where the path grew steeper and more treacherous.
"Don't go any further, Master!" She clung to his shoulder desperately, pleading. "It's not too late. Let's turn back now! Yoshino must be worried sick already. If something happens to you, she'll never forgive herself."
Kaiser didn't answer that thought aloud, though it did pass through his mind. Yoshino wasn't cold because she didn't care—she cared too much. That was exactly why she tried to push him away.
Anyone could see it. Yasuharu Tomotake and the others clearly wished he'd help Yoshino bear the burden of Hoori's secrets. For Yoshino, having the one who drew Murasame-maru at her side would've been invaluable.
But instead of pulling him in, she deliberately shouldered it all alone, rejecting him outright—trying to drive him off for his own safety.
That was what made her a good person. Too good, really.
And now, here he was, in the mountains precisely because of that rejection. If anything happened to him, she would blame herself endlessly.
But Kaiser was just as stubborn. Once he decided to act, there was no turning back.
"Keep nagging, and I'll just find a way to ditch you." His voice was calm, but the warning was sharp.
"Don't!" Murasame's face fell in horror. "That's dirty, Master—using threats like that against me!"
"Then stop getting in my way." A grin tugged at his lips. "You call me 'Master.' That means, no matter your status in Hoori, you're supposed to stand with me and follow my lead. If you can't… then I don't need you tagging along. I'll handle this myself."
Her little face scrunched into misery.
Anyone else daring to talk down to her like that would've been disciplined on the spot. She wasn't just any spirit—she was the Administrator of Murasame-maru, the vessel of Divine Power, guardian of Hoori for centuries. To those who knew of her, she was no different from a god.
Even elders like Yasuharu Tomotake or Genjuro Kurama bowed their heads before her and addressed her as Murasame-sama. Even the Lady Miko herself treated her with reverence.
But Kaiser… Kaiser alone spoke to her like this.
And the worst part was—he had the right. He was her Master.
That was why, despite her pride, she truly feared he might cast her off and go alone. With her by his side, he at least had a fighting chance. Without her, facing "that thing" would almost certainly mean death.
She had no choice but to relent.
"…Fine. I'll go with you." Her voice was sulky, her expression bitter.
"That's better—"
Kaiser cut himself off, freezing mid-step.
Murasame, caught off guard, bumped right into his back.
"Wh-what is it, Master?" she whispered, panic rising again.
"Shh…" Kaiser raised a hand for silence. "Something's coming."
His eyes narrowed, sharp as blades.
"What?" Her voice shook. "Is it… is it a Tatari-gami? Or—or a ghost?"
He almost laughed. You're a ghost yourself. How can you be afraid of one?
But before he could say anything, the underbrush rustled unnaturally.
Rustle… rustle…
Like an animal creeping through, disturbing leaves and grass as it passed.
Kaiser turned his gaze toward the sound, every sense on edge.
Rustle… rustle…
The noise grew louder, nearer, until something pushed aside the brush and crawled into view.
A shape darker than the mountain night itself. A beast's outline, but its body looked like shifting lumps of mud—filthy, formless, dripping sludge with every step.
It had no real eyes, no features to speak of. And yet, when it turned its head, Kaiser felt its gaze pierce him.
"…Don't tell me that's just a mutant boar." His lips twisted in grim humor.
Murasame, however, had no doubt.
"Tatari-gami!"
Her shout rang clear—not in panic this time, but in recognition and alarm. "A Tatari-gami's appeared! Be careful, Master!"
Whether or not the creature understood her words, it reacted instantly, surging forward.
It moved like a bullet.
"—Tch!"
Kaiser slammed a foot into the ground, kicking up dust as he vaulted sideways. He dodged by a hair's breadth.
The sludge-beast slammed into a tree where he'd just been, hitting it so hard the trunk shuddered and nearly snapped.
He hadn't even steadied himself before a new attack came.
Whoosh!
A long, thin shadow lashed out, slicing the air like a whip.
"—!"
Kaiser ducked, the strike grazing his scalp before ripping bark and leaves from another tree. The whip-like appendage recoiled, then snapped toward him again.
He rolled clear, dirt spraying up as the strike whistled past.
Only then did he see it clearly.
A tendril—no, a tentacle, long and whip-like—sprouting from the sludge creature's body. Each swing split the air with a shriek, tearing up dirt and bark in its wake.
"Well, that's just great. It's got ranged attacks too?"
He slipped and dodged through a flurry of strikes, his footing awkward on the sloped, uneven terrain. Trees and underbrush hemmed him in, making agile movement nearly impossible.
Anyone else would've been shredded by now. Only his reflexes and training kept him alive.
Whoosh!
The tendril lashed again, relentless.
Kaiser's eyes went cold. His hand slid to the hilt at his side.
He was done dodging.
Chapter 490 – Flowing Like Water, Effortless and Free
——
Just like that time back in the Tomotake household's bath, the moment Kaiser gripped his weapon, his presence completely changed.
The long, whip-like tendril tore through the air toward him—only to be intercepted an instant before it could strike.
Clang!
A blade's cry split the silence. The flash of steel was cold and sharp, like thunder and lightning, like something divine.
Moonlight caught on the edge, bright and pure. The sword-light fell in a single dazzling arc, like a waterfall crashing down or a blinding spark—and it cleaved straight into the oncoming tendril.
Slash!
The shadowy whip was severed cleanly, scattering with a wet tearing sound.
"—!"
The sludge-beast—what Murasame had named a Tatari-gami—stilled for the briefest moment, as if stunned by such a breathtaking counterattack.
But Kaiser didn't stop moving.
Thud!
Dust rose as he drove off the ground, his body a blur rushing straight toward the monster. The rough terrain seemed to vanish under his feet. All his senses locked onto that filthy, writhing mass.
The blade flared again, slicing through the dark.
Slash!
He passed by in a flash, sword cutting deep. In the same motion, the Tatari-gami was split cleanly in two.
So fast, so precise, so beautiful.
The feel of it in his hands told him everything—he had landed the decisive blow. In a fight, it was a finishing strike. In competition, a match-winner. No doubt about it.
But before he could let that sink in—
"It's not over, Master!" Murasame cried.
Kaiser didn't even think. He threw himself sideways.
Thud!
A tendril slammed down exactly where he had been a heartbeat ago, gouging the earth with brutal force.
He collided with a tree, twisted around—and his face hardened.
Glrrrk… glrrrk…
The two halves of the sludge creature writhed, then began to fuse back together, reforming its body.
"…It can regenerate?"
Shock flickered across his face.
"Are you all right, Master?!" Murasame's voice rushed to him as she finally floated to his side. "Tatari-gami aren't living things! No matter the damage, they recover instantly! They're formed from filth, with no blood or flesh—no weak point to cut down! Normal attacks can't kill them!"
"The only way is for me to merge with Murasame-maru and unleash its Divine Power! That's the only way you can exorcise it!"
Kaiser rolled his eyes.
"Then why were you watching from the sidelines? You're killing me here!"
His rebuke made her pout in frustration.
"You charged in too fast! I didn't have time to merge with the blade!"
Another tendril lashed out, slicing through the tree Kaiser was leaning against. Chips and bark exploded around him as he barely dodged aside, saved only by the warning hiss of air.
Don't mistake his evasions as proof the tendrils were easy to read. Here in near-total darkness, those whips blended into the night. Without the telltale rush of wind, they would've been invisible.
The fact he'd managed to avoid them this long only proved his skill. Anyone else would've been finished already.
Whoosh!
Another tendril came.
Slash!
Kaiser swung Murasame-maru casually, slicing it apart mid-strike.
But the beast simply sprouted more.
"This is getting old." His eyes narrowed. "Murasame, quit stalling!"
"Coming!" she yelped, and in the next moment, her form began to shine, scattering like motes of light.
By the time she reached him, her body had turned translucent—then merged into the sword itself.
Clang…
The blade in his hand shone, its steel alive with a mysterious, radiant light.
Thump, thump—
His heartbeat echoed, just like when he'd stepped into Mitake Shrine's divine realm.
He felt it clearly—the sword in his hand wasn't the same. A profound power flowed through it. It was alive. Sacred. Brilliant.
Whoosh!
The Tatari-gami seemed to sense the danger. It lashed a tendril straight at him.
Slash!
Steel cut. The tendril fell. And this time, instead of regrowing, it disintegrated—collapsing into dust, vanishing as if purified.
"—!"
The creature hesitated, its body trembling.
Kaiser, holding the glowing blade, felt only certainty.
I can do this.
This time, his strike would end it.
"Die."
He burst forward, wind whipping past, rushing headlong.
The Tatari-gami lunged too, driven by some instinct of survival—or hunger. Neither side flinched.
They closed in within a heartbeat.
Slash!
Kaiser's blade cut faster, sharper. It sheared through the beast's claw, sending it spinning into the air.
He passed it by, pivoted on his heel—
Slash!
The sword carved a half-moon arc of light, like a crescent rising in the mountains. It cleaved through the creature's midsection, smooth and perfect.
One half toppled forward, the other collapsed to the ground.
Crrrk—
Kaiser stopped behind it, sliding the blade back into its sheath with a ringing whisper.
The movement was fluid, effortless. Flowing like water, free as air.
This time, it was truly a finishing strike.
The Tatari-gami, purified by the Divine Power coursing through Murasame-maru, could not reform. Its body dissolved into ash, fading into nothing.
"…Hah." Kaiser let out a breath, lowering his stance.
"That was amazing, Master!" Murasame's voice rang bright inside his mind, trembling with excitement. "To defeat a Tatari-gami so quickly on your very first encounter—almost an instant kill! Even I've never seen that before! Incredible!"
Her enthusiasm echoed so loudly in his head that he winced.
"If you'd synced with me earlier, I would've ended it in the first exchange. You nearly got me killed, Murasame." His tone was dry.
"That—that wasn't my fault!" she stammered. "You're just too strict, Master! Can't you at least give me some warning before you charge in?"
"Try saying that to a monster mid-attack."
Their bickering lasted a few moments before silence fell again.
"Now," Kaiser said evenly, "you can tell me. What the hell was that thing?"
Murasame went quiet. He waited, patient.
"…Fine." Her reluctant voice finally answered. "I'll tell you."
But before she could continue, a sudden scream tore through the night.
"Kyaa—!"
The sound froze them both.
"No! That's Yoshino!" Murasame cried in his head.
And without hesitation, Kaiser sprinted toward the source of the voice.
(End of Chapter)