Hmm.
I suppose calling someone a 'son of a bitch' right from our first meeting is a bit much.
Of course, it wasn't an insult meant to just put him down; it was a pure exclamation born of curiosity and shock. Since I didn't say it out loud, I won't bother saying an apology out loud either.
But honestly, he deserved to be called that. I mean it.
I could understand if his hands were shaking from being deeply moved or something, but seeing him trembling like he'd taken the wrong kind of medication made it impossible for me to be polite.
I knew he wasn't just some random guy since he was hanging around the Soul King, but anyone would ask 'what kind of bastard is this' if a stranger suddenly showed up and started having a fit.
"So, why are you here again today?"
"I have come to see the signpost etched into the far reaches of time."
What the hell is he talking about now...?
Wait, a signpost...
"Are you here to check the time?"
"You are correct."
Oh, for Christ's sake.
"Your problem is that you twist your words for no reason. Just say it plainly. Is it really that hard to speak so people can understand?"
"...."
The Soul King didn't answer.
It wasn't because he was offended; it was more like he just didn't have anything to say, so he kept his mouth shut.
...Sigh. Fine. He's from the old school, so I should be the one to understand.
And come to think of it, maybe it's better that he speaks in that convoluted way. It‘s not so vague that I can‘t understand it, and well, he is the Soul King.
I don't mean that being the Soul King gives him a pass to be difficult, but everyone has their own 'vibe.' Speaking in riddles just happens to suit him.
Imagine if the Soul King suddenly said, "Yo, time is lagging so hard, I'm gonna grow old and die at this rate, no cap."
'Ugh, I'd hate to see that.'
Using schoolyard slang with that expressionless face?
Just thinking about it gives me the creeps.
I rubbed the goosebumps on my arms and turned back to the white-haired man, who was now literally shedding tears. I turned back to the Soul King.
"So, what's that thing?"
"That is a human."
I blinked and wiped my face with my hand.
I wasn't asking for his species classification. Fine... I'll change the question.
"That white-haired guy over there—what's his name?"
"Do you not know?"
'You don't know this? Really? You?'
That was the emotion I read on the Soul King‘s blank face.
I stared at him with a sour expression and let out a long sigh.
"Sometimes it seems like you think I know everything. I don't know what I don't know."
"I see."
"So? What's the white-haired guy's name?"
"He is Jomon Tsunayashiro."
Tsunayashiro...? Tsunayashiro. Hold on.
Tsunayashiro? Wait, weren't they supposed to have black hair with a hint of green?
Or was it? Uh...
"Mmm..."
Let's try to remember. The Tsunayashiro clan was the top of the Four or Five Great Noble Families. Hair color... I wasn't too sure about that.
...The only thing I vaguely remembered was that the villain from the Tsunayashiro family had black hair with green streaks. The details were fuzzy.
Well... sure, unless they were doing the whole Habsburg inbreeding thing for a million years, hair color would obviously change over that much time. Bloodlines get mixed.
I scratched my head, looking at the First Tsunayashiro, and then shook it.
Right then, the Soul King beside me spoke.
"Do you understand?"
Another vague comment.
"Understand what?"
"Do you understand who that person is?"
At least he's asking a question I can answer clearly this time.
It really is true that if someone doesn't listen, a little nagging is the best cure.
I crossed my arms with that thought.
"More or less."
"I see."
The Soul King fell silent with that short reply. Seriously, he‘s a hard guy to talk to.
Not that we were ever the type to have small talk anyway, so whatever.
I stepped back a bit and looked at the unusually noisy forest from a distance.
Tsunayashiro having a meltdown, Hyosube watching him from behind, and the Soul King quietly looking at the sculpture.
Thinking about it, all this noise was because of that one guy.
What a feat.
"Sigh. Back to carving."
I exhaled and picked up my sharpening stone to finish the carving I was working on.
It wasn't anything special—just a stone carved into the shape of a clenched fist modeled after my own hand. Why a hand?
'I want to make figures later.'
By practicing part by part like this, I planned to carve an entire figure once I was done training.
Or I could just make the parts separately and assemble them.
'Wait, wouldn't that make it more of a plastic model than a figure?'
Hmm... if I just make four parts—head, torso, arms, and legs—and assemble them, it's still a figure.
I wasn't planning on getting crazy with it, like 'Shoulder Joint 1' and 'Shoulder Joint 1-1.'
As I whittled away with those thoughts, the area suddenly went quiet.
They leave as silently as they arrive. Should I build some walls and a sliding door here later?
After about an hour of serious concentration, the left-hand carving was finished.
Of course, given the tools and my skill level, it looked more like a Buddhist statue carving than a modern figure, but I had done my best, so it was quite satisfying.
"Not bad."
It was my first time carving something human-like. I nodded in approval and looked up, only to lock eyes with a man whose eyes were sparkling with an overwhelming amount of intensity.
It was Jomon Tsunayashiro, the white-haired man who had been freaking out an hour ago.
"Whoa... damn, you scared me."
"Ah! I apologize for frightening you! If it isn't too much trouble, could you spare a moment of your time for me?"
"I don't have time to chat with a random dude."
The Soul King wouldn't leave if I didn't answer him, so I put up with it.
But this guy...
"Ah! Then since my hair is white, it should be fine!"
Looking at him now, this lunatic is completely detached from reality.
Maybe his hair is white because there‘s nothing but blank space inside his head.
"I said a dude..."
Hey, Baldy Monk, why are you touching your head too? Don't pull on it, man. You're going to lose it all anyway, so just leave it alone.
I had a lot to say, but I knew it would just make me more tired, so I just sighed.
...Looking at him, this guy is cut from the same cloth as the Soul King.
"Sigh... fine. Whatever. What do you want to talk about?"
"No! I am not seeking conversation! I wish to learn the techniques you possess!"
"Hah?"
Seriously, what is with this guy?
I mean it.
I looked at the Soul King in surprise. He glanced at me for a moment and then turned his head away as if he couldn't care less.
So I'm supposed to handle this myself? I glared at the back of the Soul King‘s head, but realizing that wouldn't change anything, I let out another deep breath.
"Sigh... fine. Do whatever you want. But I've never taught anyone before, so you're on your own. Got it?"
"Haha! Yes! I may not look like much, but I am very confident when it comes to learning new things!"
I scratched my head and turned to say something to the Soul King, but he was already gone.
"Where'd he go?"
"If you mean the Soul King, he vanished with Manako a moment ago! My, he truly is a man whose ways are 'unknown'! Hahaha!"
That bastard just dumped his trash on me and dipped.
Dammit. Next time he comes, I'm definitely hitting him.
"Eugh. Well, since I said I'd do it, I'll do it right. Follow me. Let's find some stones for carving first."
"Yes, sir!"
Well...
It's not like I'm short on time. Teaching someone might not be so bad.
"Hahaha! Just the thought of acquiring new knowledge is making my skin tingle!"
Seriously, I've met some weirdos, but this guy takes the cake.