Dara-san of Reiwa (令和のダラさん)

Yamatagi-Madara's body had run amok, fueled by rage,

but in the face of the elder priestess's careful planning

and her younger sister's efforts, the great yokai ultimately fell.

Are you all right, Lady Priestess?

The snake god has been calmed for now.

Ordinarily, we would seek to return it to its sealing chamber,

but the hour is late,

and with how... depleted I am,

there is a risk the ritual could fail.

I know this is scant comfort, but it will have to be re-sealed at dawn

with the help of my sister.

But, my sister, how could the seal break in the first place?

As if you don't know.

I do wonder that myself.

We must examine the sealing chamber carefully when we return the body.

Or perhaps...

this was all your doing.

Have some shame!

How could you plot to unleash the beast on us after all we've already suffered?

Well, then. I leave her in your hands.

Bring a hatchet! No, a hoe!

Goaded down the path of bloodshed and madness by the elder priestess,

they lopped off the younger priestess's arms to prevent her from spellcasting

and took her legs so that she could not struggle or escape.

You must never approach those grounds.

A glimpse will sicken you; a touch will curse you.

Its name, passed down since ancient times, is Yamatagi-Madara.

Yamatagi-Madara

Yamatagi-Madara

Dara-san of the Reiwa Era

Dara-san of the Reiwa Era

Dara-san of the Reiwa Era

Dara-san of the Reiwa Era

Tomorrow's my sister's birthday party!

Invitation to My Sister's Birthday

Oh?

The rest of the family will be out during the day, so I want you to drop by!

Does this child understand what he's asking?

No, no, 'twere it any other location this would be simple, but indoors?

You, sit there.

Already am!

Today's lecture is on the unique nature of homes!

Homes

Infiltrating Dwellings

Parks, department stores, and other large-scale businesses and public spaces are accessible even without an invitation.

In an apartment block, it'd be possible to go as far as the pathway that leads to an individual front door.

With detached homes, assuming there is a gate but no door, the backyard should be accessible.

For larger apartment buildings, usually the lobby is the limit.

Parks, department stores, and other large-scale businesses and public spaces are accessible even without an invitation.

In an apartment block, it'd be possible to go as far as the pathway that leads to an individual front door.

With detached homes, assuming there is a gate but no door, the back yard should be accessible.

For larger apartment buildings, usually the lobby is the limit.

A home is clearly its residents' domain,

making it more or less a distinct spiritual bounded field.

There are a few ways for denizens of the spirit world to enter someone's home.

There's possession—essentially clinging to someone and semi-assimilating them.

Or one can shroud themselves in miasma and force their way past the boundary.

These approaches are hazardous to any living beings present

but, in turn, allow access without restriction.

Collateral damage is clearly out of the question here, though,

so we'll need to keep this above board.

Legitimate Route

That means you'll have to grant me permission and welcome me in.

So what's the problem?

Humans can't normally see me because I dwell in the spirit world!

For me to enter your house, it must become a spirit world of sorts,

which means I'll have nowhere to hide!

That goes for my lower body, as well.

If anyone happens upon me, it'll cause a huge commotion!

Mom and Dad should be at work until...

We'll be good until 6PM!

It's in one ear and out the other with this one.

The next day...

The Next

Day

Misogiya

Coming.

Dara-san?

Let me get the door—

No! Dara-san... Dara-san would...

have a way sexier silhouette!

I can't get in. I can't get in. I can't get in.

Let me in!

I can't get in! I can't get in! I can't get in! I can't get in!

Let me in!

'Tis I.

Was there... some sorta...?

It wasn't a local specter.

It likely latched onto Hinata while she was away...

and followed her home.

May I enter?

Oh, right, you need someone to let you in!

'Course you can! Welcome!

That single step I took was enough to bring this place

temporarily into the interstice between the living and spirit worlds.

'Tis impressive he was able to sense that something had occurred.

Sis! Here's Dara-san!

Yay!

Uh, Dara-san, what happened to your lower body?

Oh, this?

I couldn't exactly come indoors with it in its original serpent form.

So you turned it into this?!

A visitor?

Miwa-san!

Hello there! I heard it was your birthday today.

Here's your present.

Awesome!

I appreciate how you're always looking out for Kaoru.

Come on in and join us!

Sis?!

Dara-san, your arms! The arms!

It's no good! I won't be able to weave my spell in time!

I let her in without thinking...

But Dara-san's here, too!

Welcome.

It's nice to meet you.

My name is Miwa Irako.

Miwa-san, this is, uh...

Yama... Yamada-san?

R-Right. I'm Yamada.

I appreciate everything you do for Kaoru-kun.

Oh, no, I should say the same to you.

I'm wearing her underwear, after all.

How did you get to know the kids, Yamada-san?

Uh...

We met in an online game.

And after we realized we lived relatively close to each other,

they were kind enough to ask me over.

She's fibbing like it's second nature!

You know, I happen to be a designer!

Kaoru-kun helps me out from time to time!

We go way back, you know! And we've always gotten along super well!

Come to think of it, when's your birthday, Yamada-san?

We didn't actually celebrate the date of one's birth in my time,

so how should I know?

Mweheheh

This one seems awful interested, too.

A birthday is... the day you came into this world?

I'm no longer the woman whose name I cannot even remember,

but nor am I the mindless Yamatagi-Madara.

Who I am now... started with...

When I met the two of them. That was when "Dara-san" was born.

'Twas actually the same day as the storm that brought us together.

Huh...

So how old're you?

And here I thought I'd just said something inspiring.

I'm... t-twenty-six, actually.

Her age at death.

Age at

Death

That works!

We're the same age...

Oh, this is getting good!

In hindsight, maybe "I'm not saying" would've been better.

Seeya next time!

That reminds me...

Your gift.

'Tis nothing fancy, given that I dwell in the mountains.

A charm and...

A letter?

m 0 0 l 100 0 100 100 0 100

Instructions This bag contains a piece of flesh cut from my tongue. If blood or saliva is added to it, it creates the effect of my having swallowed it as an offering. This is a method of summoning me, so use it in the event of any danger.

This bag contains a piece of flesh cut from my tongue.

If blood or saliva is added to it,

it creates the effect of my having swallowed it as an offering.

This is a method of summoning me, so use it in the event of any danger.

Hell yeah!

As much as I appreciate it...

those are some damn serious ingredients she made it from.

It would come in handy the very next day.

Sister, please help! Sister!

Even in the face of the horror they'd wrought, the blood-frenzied villagers

still sought to sate their lust.

The younger priestess, at the nadir of her despair,

resolved to end her own life before she could be defiled.

That was when...

You could have just died like a forgotten beast, deep in the mountain wilds.