Kemono Jihen (怪物事変)

Woah, is it true he's coming from Tokyo?

He'll be stayin' over at Yat's place.

Wonder what he's like.

Ya never know. Maybe he's comin' to recruit ya!

For what?

I mean, think about it.

You're smart and you can run really fast,

and on top of that, you're rich.

"You belong in Tokyo, not in some backwoods town.

Won't you come with me? Oh, you must."

Hey, can we come by later

to see the guy from Tokyo?

Like, real quick?

So long as you're not disturbing our guest, then sure.

Heck, yeah!

Hm? Dorotabo! You can't come!

Don't want the guy from Tokyo gettin' a whiff o' ya!

Right. I'll be careful.

Gimme a break, man.

'Course, I get a flat tire way out here.

You the guy from Tokyo?

You my client?

I'm the hostess of Kanoko Villa.

I'll send someone to fix this up.

If you wanna ride with me, we can talk on the drive.

The bodies're all... rotting.

Livestock that was just fine yesterday, gone overnight.

Is that even somethin' humans can do?

It's got everybody feeling so spooked.

Mm-hm...

I still haven't told the children

anything about this whole mess.

I don't want them to get scared and stop goin' to school.

And if the kids are affected by this somehow...

Well, I don't need any rumors startin', neither.

I hope we can keep this between us.

Of course.

It just so happens that discretion is our specialty.

Cause I mean, I am a detective, after all.

Well...

You stick out like a sore thumb in that outfit.

Thanks for the ride.

Sorry to leave changing my tire up to you.

Bill me for whatever you need later.

Sure, that sounds fine.

-- Boo! -- Yikes!

I like it way out here.

It's nice and relaxed.

I even saw a bunch of wild deer on the way in.

Our village is kind of known for them.

We even keep a head count to make sure

there's no harm done to 'em.

You don't say.

Hey, kiddo! You doing okay?

Wow, quite the hard worker.

Or maybe he's just shy around strangers.

It doesn't look like he randomly skipped school.

Does he always stay home to work or is this a weird day?

I'll fill you in later, all right?

A client with a hot spring is the way to go!

Pardon the intrusion!

May I wash your back, sir?

Yeah! Just gimme a second.

Oh.

You're one of those kids from earlier, aren't ya?

My name is Yataro. I'm the hostess's son.

I'll be personally seeing to your needs

during your stay with us.

I understand you're from Tokyo, sir.

That must be nice!

The city has everything, doesn't it?

Also, your car is seriously cool!

Everybody's been saying so.

You know,

I think I'd really like to move to the city when I grow up.

Yeah? Is that right?

Oh! Please don't try to tell my mother that, though.

She insists that I take over the inn.

Sure, kid.

Speaking of which, I was asking your mother.

You folks have another boy living here, don't ya?

Ah. I take it you mean Dorotabo.

Like, "mud boy."

It's a nickname.

He gets covered with dirt and manure working outside,

so it seemed like a good fit.

It's the name of the yokai that live in the fields.

Also, his body odor has always been awful,

so we can't have him doing work

where he's around other people, you know?

Hm...

Well, now I'm interested.

Hey! That was a great soak.

I'm glad to hear it.

I was wondering, ma'am.

Hm?

Yataro, was it?

The boy who was attending to me?

Yes.

Here comes the praise!

"You've got a very capable boy."

Could I possibly request Dorotabo instead?

Huh?

You want me to wait on him?

He actually insisted.

I've never done that.

You just need to use your head

and do your best.

Excuse me.

Oh, you made it. Been waiting for ya.

Remember me? We met yesterday.

Yes.

Your breakfast... Pardon me.

Woah there! Not so fast, kiddo.

Easy...

Here, it's my card.

It's got all my info on it.

Basically, I'm a detective that specializes in the occult,

and I'm in town for an investigation.

I'd like to hear what everyone's got to say.

This looks great!

You're out in the fields every day, huh?

So, you ever see anything strange?

You can tell me while I eat.

How about after breakfast?

Hm?

I don't want to spoil your meal.

Aw, don't worry about me.

I've got a pretty high tolerance.

I can still eat, even if it's gory.

No, that isn't it.

It's just that.

None of the others at the inn ever take their meals with me.

They all say I smell.

Oh yeah?

Us guys shouldn't mind how we smell, right?

The place where I work is entirely stag and it stinks!

Like, pee-yew!

Girls walk by and they all make faces like this

until they're out of range.

Is that right?

Well, if you're okay with it.

Yeah. Go right ahead.

Your investigation deals with our rotting

livestock carcasses, right?

How did you find out about that?

The hostess said she hadn't told anybody yet.

It's my job to dispose of the bodies.

Hm...

Up to now, there have been six that have died.

Many of them have been chickens.

And every last one of them has had all their organs

completely chewed up.

If there were monsters in this world,

it looks like something they would do.

Also, you may have already heard this,

but I always have to dispose of the bodies the morning after

the new moon.

It's possible that something will happen

during the next new moon, too.

Good job, kiddo!

Now that I know this much,

the rest is gonna be a piece o' cake!

They always say it's the quiet ones who can really see

what's going on around them, and it's true!

Let's see, the next new moon will be...

...in five days.

Hm?

Sir, what the heck are you doin' down there?

Oh! Hello, ma'am. I'm good.

I had some free time today, so I had an idea.

Why don't I help out Dorotabo?

As part of the investigation, y'know?

Isn't that right, bud?

Yeah.

Why's that guy from Tokyo

out there with Dorotabo?

What's his deal?

They got everything in Tokyo,

but I guess know-nothin' idiots must be kinda rare.

It feels so good out here,

working the fields, but it's hard on the back.

That's because your posture is all wrong.

You lean over too much.

Look who's speaking his mind!

By the way, I've been wondering about something.

That thing hanging around your neck.

What is it? A stone?

This thing?

They found it on me.

When I was a baby.

It probably belonged to my parents.

I was abandoned, so...

May I take a look?

Sure.

Hm...

Yeah, I thought as much.

Hm?

This right here is called a "lifestone".

Only formed under special circumstances.