Kakuriyo -Bed & Breakfast for Spirits- (かくりよの宿飯)

Eat me if you want to.

If that's what you're going to do,

then get it over with.

I'm gonna be dead soon, anyway,

so it doesn't even matter.

But, if you don't eat me,

just stay with me, please.

Don't leave me alone.

Promise me!

When I was a very young girl,

an ayakashi saved my life.

I'll never forget that.

I was shocked by its kindness,

so the memory keeps coming back to me.

Ever since I can remember,

I've been able to see supernatural monsters

that are called, " ayakashi. "

Some of these are dangerous

if you make eye contact with them.

But, some of them?

They're harmless,

and I'd even deign to call some cute.

You sly little thing!

Oh, Aoi! Thank you for the yummy food!

He really is clever.

Uh...

I'm really quite hungry.

I said that I'm hungry.

How 'bout this?

You said you're hungry, right?

I wouldn't want you to attack humans because you're starving.

'Kay, bye.

This is delicious, Aoi.

How does he know my name?

Uh...

Because I've always been able to see them,

even when I was tiny,

my mother couldn't love me.

And she abandoned me.

But, somebody else came to the orphanage

to save me from that terrible life.

My grandfather.

Listen, Aoi.

You'll need to learn to cook. I'll teach you.

Nothing is permanent, though.

And a few days ago, he passed.

But, honestly,

I'm accustomed to being alone.

He left me enough money to make sure

I could get by day-to-day, at least.

I don't really need much.

As long as I don't go hungry, I'm all right.

I'm satisfied.

What?

A reward? How considerate!

So pretty!

Maybe he was a rare, nice ayakashi,

and what's wrapped in this cloth?

U-Uh...

Those who can see them

are more vulnerable to attack.

So, be careful, Aoi.

Grandpa. I'm sorry.

I let my guard down.

Welcome to the hidden realm,

my lovely.

You are now my bride.

-- Aoi... --

Ayakashi .

An ogre?

But, I feel like... I've seen him before.

How are you feeling,

my lovely bride?

Huh, wha... Huh?

Yes, Aoi, I mean you.

You are going to be my wife.

Huh?

I'm gonna be what?

Huh?!

Hmph.

Wait, hold on! I didn't--

Master, think this through!

With all due respect, maybe she's not the right choice.

He's got a good point.

A lowly human girl like this one?

She's ugly, and far too skinny.

That's mean, I can hear you.

She's nowhere near suited to you, Master.

Huh?

Where the heck am I?

What is this place?

You're in the hidden realm.

I'm in the "hidden realm"?

Yes, indeed. The hidden realm of ayakashi.

Our domain.

And this building where you find yourself

is known as Tenjin-ya.

Tenjin-ya.

Uh! Tenjin-ya?

I've seen it before!

In a picture I found in Grandpa's things!

But, who are you?

I'm the keeper of Tenjin-ya.

They call me, "Ogre-god," sometimes "Master Innkeeper."

I saw you in that picture.

So, did you know my grandfather, then?

He could also see ayakashi.

Did he come here, too?

He did. I am a very old friend of his, actually.

And so,

I am the ogre who will become your husband.

That again?

Stop with that nonsense!

You're making all of this up, and I'm not having any of it!

Hey! You will show him respect!

I'm not making it up.

Your grandfather,

or Shiro, as I called him,

promised you to me a long time ago.

That's a lie.

He did whatever he wanted, but there's no way.

He'd never have made that promise without asking!

Shiro had a rare gift,

the ability to travel between worlds.

The apparent realm, where humans dwell,

and this, the hidden realm.

One day, he went on an extravagant spree

here at Tenjin-ya,

which sent him deep into debt.

So, we struck a deal.

If he couldn't pay me back,

he'd give me his granddaughter in marriage in place of payment.

Thus, to put it indelicately, you are his collateral.

I'm what? How could he?

Grandpa...

So that means you are required to marry me.

You have no choice.

No way!

Uh.

You just kidnapped me-- how could I agree to this?

And besides, I do not want to marry an ogre!

I refuse, that's final!

You won't, no matter what, then?

I see.

I had better make sure that my bride

knows her place around here.

Huh?

Give my bride the "Torture in Hell" treatment.

Huh? "Torture in Hell"?

Uh, no thanks.

This is the hot water torture.

Huh?

This is the skinning torture.

What?

This is the binding torture.

Uh...

That's what they call torture?

Ayakashi are weird.

So, how are you liking Tenjin-ya?

My, you look breathtakingly beautiful

in our inn's signature yukata, my lovely wife-to-be.

I'm not your wife-to-be.

So, you still refuse to accept my proposal?

Ugh, my grandpa's gone now,

can't you just forgive the debt and find someone else?

When we eat human girls

who possess strong spiritual powers,

they taste the most delicious. So...

Eat me?

You'd taste like a delicacy, so you're special.

You're dear to me, so I cannot eat you.

Thus, you're forbidden and tempting,

which makes me want to eat you even more.

But, I cannot do it.

It's said that this dilemma

can be the most exhilarating pleasure of them all.

What are you talking about?

On top of all that,

you just happen to be Shiro's granddaughter.

He's a very famous human among the ayakashi, you know.

That fact alone makes you valuable,

even without your beauty and power.

Why is he famous?

You'll find out soon.

Now...

...why not give in and agree to be my bride?

How much is it?

Hmm?

The debt that Grandpa owed.

Well, let's see. All told,

it's about 1,000,000 yen.

Huh?

Let me pay it back.

I can just work it off.

Hmm...

I'll stay and work till it's paid.