Sword of the Demon Hunter: Kijin Gentosho (鬼人幻燈抄)

TENPO YEAR 1 (1830)

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!

Shut up!

Annoying brat.

You're a goddamn mistake.

C'mere!

No, please!

Help me, Jinta!

Wait, Dad!

I'm sorry!

I'm s-sorry...

Suzune! Suzune!

Suzune!

Suzune?

Jinta...

Suzune!

I'm sorry. I should have done something.

Don't say that, Jinta. You're gonna get in trouble!

Just forget about me and go back home.

Okay?

We're leaving.

Huh?

Are you getting cold, Suzune?

Not with you here. I'll be fine.

No place to go? Then come stay with me.

Jinta? Jinta!

Ah, good morning.

Well, no more riding piggyback for you.

Time to walk on your own.

What a weird place...

This village was built to house blacksmiths who use large bellows to forge katana.

Well, come on in.

Daddy! Welcome home!

Thank you. Have you been a good girl?

Mm-hm!

Who are they?

Kids who need a home.

So they're going to live with us from now on.

You mean, in our house?

Yes. I'm making them part of our family.

Is that okay?

Yeah!

My name is Shirayuki! What's your name?

J-Jinta...

Hello there! Will you tell me your name, too?

I'm Suzune.

Thank you!

Let's be friends, okay?

All right. Shirayuki-chan...

You don't need to call me that.

Because from now on, we're all going to be family!

Can't sleep?

Are you a samurai, Motoharu-san?

No. I'm a sentinel.

I keep important things and people safe.

You always eat too many dango, Shirayuki-chan. We should go vegetable picking instead next time!

I can't help it, Chitose-chan. Your mom just makes the best dango.

I know, right?

Chitose!

My mom's calling me.

Bye for now!

See you later!

Bye to you, too, Jinta-nii!

I'm back, Mommy!

Guess what? My friends and I went to the river today to play in the water and we had so much fun...

So, about your mom...

Her name is Yokaze, right?

I know she was the one who helped us get the permission we needed to live here in Kadono village.

She never leaves that shrine, huh?

Yeah. It's because she's the Itsukihime.

What's that?

Well, it's another name for the Miko of the Fire God.

The only people allowed to see the Itsukihime are the village chieftain and our dad, her sentinel.

The rules say the Itsukihime can't interact with regular people, because it might taint her holy powers.

It's been years since I last saw her myself...

Come on. Let's go home.

TENPO YEAR 3 (1833)

Still not good enough.

Well, only practice makes perfect.

Yeah, yeah!

But y'know, it feels like I haven't made any progress at all...

Listen, Jinta.

Nothing is forever.

Although you may feel like you're still the same,

the reality is that you've been changing little by little.

So buck up. You'll get tougher in time.

I guarantee it.

Okay.

Well, it's time for me to go fulfill my duties.

Motoharu-san!

Thanks for training me.

Sure.

Daddy! Don't forget this!

Why thank you.

Be safe!

Will do.

Too bad that you lost.

Does it still hurt?

Cut it out.

Aw, don't be like that. I'm trying to be a good big sister and cheer you up.

How are you my big sister? You're younger than me.

Because I've got my act together! That makes me the mature one!

Wah! S-Suzune!

Good morning, Jinta...

What's the matter?

Uh, it's nothing!

Okay. It's time for breakfast.

Yay!

Right.

Once again, your demon-slaying skills prove impeccable.

Jinta. You never falter in the face of those flesh-eating monsters.

Your stalwart dedication is to be admired.

Not at all. I am merely fulfilling my duties as the village sentinel.

What sort of demon was it this time?

It used a human disguise to try and sneak into Kadono unnoticed.

Then it must have been after our princess.

Demons naturally have a lifespan that lasts over a thousand years.

But legend has it that eating the fresh liver of a Miko can make them immortal.

Oh please, we don't even know if that folktale is true or not.

Does it matter? The previous Itsukihime, Yokaze, was in fact eaten by a demon.

And we only managed to put an end to the monster after Motoharu gave his life.

It's possible they seek to obtain Yarai.

The sacred sword passed down to the Itsukihime for generations.

I imagine it holds great value to the demons, as well.

Perhaps.

The story goes that Yarai was created by using the best smithing techniques in Kadono.

It is a mystical katana that has remained in pristine shape for well over a century.

Now the demons seek to wield its power. Is that what you suggest?

However...

Yes, I know what you wish to say.

Don't get your loincloth in such a twist, Father.

You realize the Itsukihime now has two sentinels protecting her, don't you?

Kiyomasa.

Although one of them is an oddball with no talent for anything except swinging a sword around.

Right?

You got a problem with me?

You know this sacred shrine is no place for such petty quarrels.

Yes. Please accept my apologies.

That applies to you as well, Kiyomasa.

Seriously?

Of course. You are a sentinel, are you not?

I mean, sure. But the only thing I really do is hang around as your bodyguard.

Kiyomasa.

Yeah, yeah. I hear you.

Very well. This brings our meeting to a close.

Are you the only one who has stayed behind?

Yes.

Then we can drop the formalities.

Princess!

C'mon, Jinta. How many times do I gotta tell you? Quit all the fancy talk.

But you're in a role that's due respect.

I get it may be difficult for you, but I really wish you'd just use my name when we're alone.

Since at this point, you're the only one left who can call me that.

Yes, but...

Shirayuki.

Sorry to be so self-centered.

I gotta shape up!

I can't just rely on you forever.

Why is that a problem?

The whole reason the Itsukihime is assigned a sentinel is for her to depend on them.

Thank you.

By the way, Suzu-chan is here today.

Huh?

Shirayuki?

If she ever gets caught sneaking in here,

she better not come crying to me when they put her to death for blasphemy against the Itsukihime.

Don't be like that.

Suzu-chan only came here to see you.

Me?

You haven't been home in days because you were out hunting demons.

I think she couldn't wait any longer.

But that's no reason to break the rules.

Suzune! Wake up!

Good morning, Jinta.

Welcome home!

Thanks. Good to be back.

Suzune. I've told you over and over again that this shrine is off-limits.

You're not allowed to come here.

Boo! Why do you get to come but I don't?

Those are the rules and you need to follow them.

Okay!

Ah, the struggles of being an older brother.

Someone's coming. Keep quiet, Suzune.

It's okay, I know a secret way out!

Wait!

Bye-bye!

You handled that well.

Suzune-chan is such a sweet girl.

Although she can be a real handful sometimes...

May I have a moment of your time, Princess?

I was hoping to get your answer to my proposal from the other day.

Ah, I see...

Pardon me.

Jinta. Would you mind stepping outside for a few minutes?

But, sir, it's my duty to stay by her sid-

Jinta.

You are excused.

As you wish.

Jinta.

The safety of Kadono is in your hands. Please remain its staunch defender.