──I encountered the Leader.
Thinking preparing for death in that instant was unavoidable. Because that person is my cause of death from previous life.
No no no not at all like large debt! No no no that feeling alone is enough! Waving hands trying to flee but… that, isn't that the Leader? Conversation skills amazing, right? With APP stat correction added, negotiation power tremendous too, right? Coming to senses, had been dragged into room, what the.
The Leader's skill still hadn't rusted. Yukiji era, how many times independence was prevented swept up by that eloquence! No, absolutely not because I'm simple. Really.
Customer who went out to watch commotion brought doctor back, so prostitute in room made very troubled expression, felt sorry.
But this prostitute… Tayu? Wow, complete beauty. Vocabulary evaporates. Oh my~ Kamuro-chan cute too~ Same age as our Ume~ Give candy~
…The only comfort to me who faced cause of death from previous life was this beautiful Tayu-san and cute Kamuro-chan.
More than that, the Leader at pleasure quarters. Playing with courtesans. Where did you learn such things, Leader. Who taught you, Leader. Beyond surprise at fact Leader who showed no such signs in Yukiji era is at pleasure quarters, anger surged.
Climbing adult stairs without me knowing, Leader you traitor!! And with such beauty! With such chest-looking wonderful Tayu-san!!
"By the way, Shabana-kun is truly amazing. Helping people without expecting any reward isn't something anyone can do."
"No, it's nothing."
"Amazing, that medicine too. Recovering immediately after feeding."
"Just nutritional supplements."
"Huhu, Sensei is humble too. Every one of Sensei's medicines is miraculous wonder drug, now reached realm of elixir masterpiece. Master owner also saved life several times."
Tayu-san smiling million ryō smile beside Leader with smile 0 yen, what so enjoyable. Ugh… too beautiful dizziness. Fortunately wearing hood. Otherwise would be making dumbfounded pathetic expression by now.
"But truly amazing. Complexion improved instantly. Haven't seen medicine that works so well in long time."
"Is there another physician who makes medicine as well as Shabana-sensei?"
"No, not physician. But knows various medicines, like Shabana-kun earlier, often grinds medicine personally with mortar to make."
Me?
"A bit arrogant but followed me well."
Not me.
"Rabbit-like child called Yukiji."
It was me….
Conversation of cause of death from previous life & me with Tayu-san continued for while after that.
During that, when topic "Why wearing hood?" came out, truly what to do. Considering Leader's personality, clearly type who digs until end what face looks like, if tried to hide clumsily would obviously try to remove hood for fun.
So with all strength evaded "Face that can't be shown to others even once!"
For reference, expression 'can't show even once' was intentional. If said 'can't show ever again', then means can see once, right? Leader famous for forcing such illogical reasoning. Please stop, don't play petty tricks. Are you Ikkyū monk?
Fortunately that concern ended as false alarm. Leader soon lost interest, instantly moved to other topic.
But damn, if knew this would happen, should have thrown compassion like this into sewer from start. That malnutrition man bastard, had to collapse within my sight.
At Leader's appearance persistently pushing at me met first time this life, bitterness pointlessly surged. Closeness to extent wondering if noticed I'm Yukiji.
Trying to hold on to senses not to be swept up by that pace, but because this person still speaks gently, if let guard down caution quickly loosens.
From start, I didn't dislike or hate Leader. Absolutely cannot forgive eating me, but clearly there was also grace of raising before that.
In short, state unable to conclude how to treat. Only thought wanting to avoid involvement as much as possible since behavior psychology not readable at all, making dealing impossible.
"Then I'll excuse myself…."
"Oh my, could stay slowly longer."
"If not return quickly, family will worry."
"Hmm, then can't be helped. Shabana-kun, do you come here often?"
"Yes, come often."
In broad daylight when demons can't come!!
"Then can meet again."
Seeing Leader looking excited saying that, not that heart didn't ache, but most important is my life. Shabana family motto is 'Life is precious'.
To Leader waving hand saying see you again, I answered with bow. And moment escaping pleasure quarters, raised fist high to sky full-hearted Colombia. Ignore surrounding gazes! Uryaa! Yess!! Alive! I'm alive!!
"I!!! Sur・vived!!!"
"Hey Tsukuru, why suddenly like that…"
"Did pick up something strange…?"
I'm home, our peaceful house. I'm home, lovely two people.
Hugged Kyūtarō and Ume who ran worried at me shouting returning home both at once. Both were warm. Ah, being alive is truly wonderful.
"Kyūtarō, Ume, tomorrow let's make red bean rice."
"Huh? Was there something celebratory?"
"Tsukuru, really what's wrong? Lay out futon? Sing lullaby?"
I, succeeded in survival!!
Goodbye Leader, won't meet ever again!!
…After three months from heart swelling with achievement feeling succeeding in fleeing like that, I come to realize.
Ah, this was tremendous flag, and.
"Hello. Moon is beautiful tonight."
"Nice to meet you! This humble one is Yamamoto Gonzaemon!!"
"Oh my, lying is start of theft, right, Shabana-kun?"
Nice to see you again Leader! I still don't want to die!!
On way back after finishing night emergency treatment, incident that occurred right before absolutely safe zone bamboo grove. Tried to pass off as Yamamoto Gonzaemon (single) Satsuma man from Kyushu, but also knew Leader wouldn't be fooled that easily.
Hey Leader, why here? Why sitting waiting at bamboo grove leading to home?
"Truly Shabana-kun is liar. Said come to pleasure quarters often, but after that not showing appearance at all."
Leader puffing cheeks as if angry. Not cute, adult man. Count your actual age. Should be at least twenty plus my age.
"Went during daytime, daytime."
"If not come at night, can't meet, right?"
"No, not to meet you but to work."
"Too mean. I counted days waiting to meet you."
"But, how did you know this house and come?"
"Asked brothel owner, said lives here."
"Where's Personal Information Protection Act."
Come even if time travel! That damn owner bastard, next medicine will add lots herbicide turn hair pure white! Make into barren land not a single fluff grows!
"Went to house first, but said out for house call, so waited here."
"…House…?"
When leaving Kyūtarō and Ume at home, always burn wisteria scent. Scent containing poison demons hate. Ordinary demons can't even approach.
Right, if ordinary demons.
That is, this person isn't ordinary.
Chest, stomach, head chillingly cooled. Demon enduring scent came to house. That house leaving only Kyūtarō and Ume.
Cold sweat soaked skin. Throat dried. Heartbeat noisy. Heart seemed to have risen to throat.
"Your disciple had scary face. Girl was very cute though."
Couldn't take eyes off lips cheerfully, happily, beaming smiling. Check color of sharply protruding fangs. Whether red seeped into evenly embedded white teeth. Whether soaked with child's blood.
Fear seeped to toes. Tremor spread to fingertips. Worst possible cases blackened my head.
This person is demon. My cause of death from previous life.
The one who ate Yukiji not swept by madness like mother, maintaining reason gently. Therefore this person's gentleness gives no reassurance. Only fuels unease, exudes ominousness.
Are those children safe.
"Both were kind children."
Rainbow-colored eyes gradually thinning as if recalling something. What words would flow from deepening smile lips, too frightening even imagining.
Not caring about such my feelings, Leader continued words.
"Gave sweets as gift, seemed very happy."
"Huh?"
"Huh?"
Gift meaning.
"That, like afterlife journey gift…?"
"No, high-class sweets from Kyoto. Disciple-kun seemed to really like it, gave tea as return gift. That child, face scary but kind child. And Ume-chan? That girl came outside house to see me off. Cute."
"…Didn't eat?"
Question popped out unknowingly. Hastily closed mouth but already late. Leader momentarily opened eyes round, dazedly, soon cheerfully laughed off.
"No way! However high-class sweets from Kyoto, couldn't eat gift given to others. Did I look that greedy?"
"No, um, …yes, quite."
Leader making expression as if saying Too mean! Ah, that face seems truly thinking so.
Anyway sigh of relief flowed out. While relieved fact feared tragedy didn't occur.
"My apologies. Committed great rudeness."
"Now won't mind so okay."
"…Came to meet me, right. What exactly for?"
"Hmm, rather than for…"
Already taking out fan putting to chin, Leader lowered long eyelashes, immersed in thought briefly. Then soon fan swayed softly.
Golden feather fringe slips smoothly, lotus pattern dazzlingly unfolds. Paradise Pure Land drawn on fan floating in moonlight.
"Just, became interested. Wanted to talk a bit?"
Night dyed by moonlight. Rainbow-colored gaze rests on me.
Covering mouth corner with Paradise fan, Leader smiled like bodhisattva.
・
・
・
Talked about nothing special. About an hour. After exchanging ambiguous conversation leaving nothing, Leader left with satisfied expression.
Waved hand big saying 'Will come again' but honestly want to decline. Don't know what about me finds so interesting.
Returning home, Kyūtarō and Ume were safe without a single wound. Especially Ume with flushed face presented gift. High-class yōkan from Kyoto long-established store.
Seeing that excessively high-class item to consider as simple visit gift, bitter smile brushed mouth corner thinking that person still somewhat off somewhere.
Probably secretly diverted offerings devotees presented. Not hard to imagine brought best among numerous offerings.
Since demon probably no interest in human food, but truly that person doesn't know to spare things.
Kyūtarō also calm with no sign noticing man visiting home is demon. Said gave Shabana tea as return gift, so demons can drink tea too.
Right, Leader is demon. Monster eating people. Then must prepare before being attacked.
Not time for warm conversation. Know. During conversation, stroked bamboo canteen in bosom over clothes several times.
But beaming smiling Leader's attitude revealed no harm or hostility, that fact disturbed my senses so ultimately weapon kept in bosom couldn't be taken out.
Know. Know. Remember. That person once killed me with affectionate attitude. Seemingly harmless attitude is no indicator at all. Too late regretting after being killed like then.
If damage ends with just me fortunate, but what if sparks fly to Kyūtarō and Ume too.
Have no choice but kill before being attacked.
I still don't want to die. And don't want to involve two people.
Leader will come here again. Must kill then. At least with poison not too painful. So can sleep gently without suffering.
Having resolved like that──
"That customer, you see, comes to deliver letters to Yukicho."
When went to deliver medicine, brothel owner said that.
That customer needless to say, that person with white oak-colored hair and rainbow-colored pupils.
Yukicho is this pleasure quarter's prostitute─ that night beautiful Tayu with Leader, her name.
The one sending letters to Yukicho Tayu is said to be biological mother who sold her off to reduce mouths in past. Realizing ill with not much life left, wanting to apologize to daughter finally wrote letter, with feeling grabbing at straws knocked Eternal Paradise Cult's door.
Those in distress, suffering asking for help being saved is Eternal Paradise Cult's policy. But asking to deliver letter to Tayu, unreasonable request had degree.
Nevertheless Leader accepted that, tried to come here personally to deliver.
Opponent Tayu highest among prostitutes. Flower on cliff cannot meet, talk, play without following set procedures.
So Leader followed procedures one by one, they say. Shōkai, ura, najimi relations─ filled three times fully, finally delivered letter.
Serious in strange places, that person.
"Since then continues coming to deliver letters. Not getting tired, not taking woman. Yukicho too at first said things like mother's letter who sold her off none of her business, disliked, but now completely counts on fingers waiting."
Owner smoking pipe calmly said. I was speechless. Even felt regret close to anger. Why telling such story.
"Moreover that man, speaking skills listening skills amazingly good. Asked, is some religion's Leader. Thought suspicious but what, that customer is real. Probably quite many devotees."
Please stop. Trying not to think but. Don't show people behind Leader.
I know too. That there are those who would be sad losing that person.
Past or present, that person probably respected by numerous devotees. Among devotees probably those whose lives saved by that person like me who collapsed in snow. Grandmother guarding kitchen too. Said saved elderly abandoned in mountains.
Resolution dulls.
Determination blurs.
Can I really kill that person.
If demon should act like demon. Despite eating people to live. Why does that person go around beaming smiling like that, damn.
"Morning after that customer leaves, Yukicho always has saved-looking face. Holding letter preciously in both hands, smiles like paradise heavenly maiden."
I had no right to steal that happiness Yukicho Tayu holds in hands,
To carry through unpossessed right to end, my determination already became too dull.
Ah, what to do.
Can't kill.
"Well, so judged not evil person though suspicious guy, told your house."
"Finished excuses? Understood. Then this way."
"Wait, what's this medicine? Last time didn't have."
"Accelerator made with all sincerity thinking of old man."
"Accelerator?"
"Hair loss accelerator."
Hair loss medicine (drinking type).
Was payback. Payback for breaking determination trying to kill Leader.
・
・
・
Days later, as declared Leader visited.
Rather than visited, correct to say encountered. On way back after finishing night house call, same as last time at bamboo grove front "Hello, good night" appeared smiling.
Without any contact suddenly visiting, what if I was out for house call.
"Here, gift" received seemingly luxurious sweets this time too. But this time seems didn't go to house. Wisteria scent not unbearable level, but seems reluctant to go smell without special business.
After that Leader visited suddenly irregularly. Always night when I went for house call.
Speak.
Exchange conversation.
Raise mood in story.
Part after about an hour.
Such nights repeated. Without firming resolve to reach for bamboo canteen hidden in bosom.
If there were human casualties nearby, thoughts would have changed, but fortunately or unfortunately, never heard rumors of people being eaten.
Will get tired of coming here someday. Dealt thinking like that.
Tonight last? Will tire tomorrow?
Wishing quickly becomes so, this strange relationship sent forward would continue for three years, I at this time had no way to know.
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