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

KAEI YEAR 3 (1850)

Good morning, Zenji-san.

Top of the morning.

Wow, you look even more beautiful today.

Are you off somewhere special?

Oh, you flatterer!

Howdy, Zenji! I see yer full of beans this morning.

Right back at you, sir!

Come pay us a visit again after work, will you?

I'll consider it.

Welp, back to work.

SUGAYA

GENERAL STORE

Pardon me, boss. Sorry I took so long.

Is this the guy?

Mm-hmm.

You handle the rest.

Fill him in on all the details.

The name's Zenji! And I'm a clerk here at Sugaya.

I am known as Jinya.

Okay, nice to meet you.

Let's cut to the chase. How much did the boss tell you?

Jyuuzou-dono told me about his foster daughter that he loves very much.

And that he fears her life is being threatened by a demon, which needs to be slayed.

That's about it.

He didn't tell you anything more specific?

Well, here's the deal. You're going to be the bodyguard for his daughter Natsu who's turning 13 this year.

The boss constantly dotes on her because she's the apple of his eye.

But about three days ago,

she claims to have seen a demon standing outside her window that repeatedly said, "return my daughter to me."

"Return my daughter to me"?

Yep. So, basically, the demon wants to kidnap Lady Natsu because it thinks of her as its daughter.

Zenji!

You better quit slacking!

Or I'm going to tell Daddy!

Apologies, milady!

Are you this "bodyguard" my dad hired?

Pretty young, aren't you?

I am known as Jinya.

Skip the introduction!

You can just leave.

Hold on, let's not be hasty!

This guy is obviously just a scam artist who leapt at the chance to make some easy money!

Well, your father picked him out personally. I doubt he's a scam artist.

Be quiet, you!

I hate the idea of a ronin for a bodyguard.

So we're not going to pay you anything, got it?

Now hurry and kick him out.

Huh?!

Shucks, what an awkward family! They're not the most sociable!

I'm sorry.

Pardon, milady.

Zenji?

What are you doing? It's the middle of the night!

Well, seeing as how you chased your own bodyguard away...

I thought that I might be a surprisingly good repellent. You know, to keep the demons away.

Zenji...

Yeah, whatever. I bet you think that I just lied about the whole thing anyways!

Shucks...

I knew it.

Not even my dad believes me.

Why else would he hire some shady ronin? It's obvious.

I think you've got the wrong idea.

The boss cares for you wholeheartedly and always has your best interests in mind.

I can guarantee that much.

But you know I'm not really his daughter...

Return her.

What's wrong, milady?

It's here! Help me!

What do you mean?!

Return my daughter to me!

No way...

This can't be real!

Zenji!

Stay in your room, milady!

Return my daughter to me!

Return my daughter to me!

Return my daughter to me!

Return my daughter to me!

D-don't worry about a thing, milady!

Return my daughter to me!

What is your name?

Return my daughter to me!

Return my daughter! Return her!

H-holy crap!

It's gone.

Milady! Are you okay?

Aren't you that ronin from earlier?

Now then. How much will you pay for my expertise?

Is it dead?

When demons perish, they vanish in a white mist.

That's the only way I've ever seen them truly die.

Are you saying what I think you're saying?

It will be back.

I wonder about that demon...

Thanks for saving my butt yesterday!

You said the demon would be back, right?

I hate to ask, but you could stick around again tonight?

Of course.

Zenji-dono. If you don't mind, will you tell me a little more about Natsu-dono?

Why her?

"Return my daughter to me." That demon's words have me curious.

Oh, I see.

Well, Lady Natsu's actual parents are part of the boss's extended family.

They passed away, though.

I get why you're worried, but rest easy.

She's no demonspawn.

Because there's no way in hell the boss would have adopted her if she was.

Hm?

His wife was killed by a demon, ya see.

Then his son ran away and was never seen again.

The boss blames it all on the demons.

He loathes them for stealing his family and ruining his life.

So I know he'd never bother raising Lady Natsu

if there was even the slimmest chance that she was a demonspawn.

Fair enough.

Natsu.

Is everything all right with the bodyguard that I hired?

Yeah.

I heard he was a ronin, but he doesn't seem like a bad apple.

Besides, I trust your judgement.

Thanks for looking after me.

No thanks necessary. Any good parent would do the same in my shoes.

Say, Father?

What made you hire that man?

Lately, there have been rumors of demons prowling around Edo.

But at the same time, word has spread of a man who can slay them with a single sword.

And is he that ronin?

Yes.

He'll slay any demon, as long as he gets paid.

His reputation proceeds him.

And I know him to be trustworthy.

So there was no better choice for your bodyguard.

Then you believed me about the demon, huh?

Scary stories come in many forms, from firsthand accounts to folktales and beyond.

Like the chimimoryo, the ghost of the willows,

the dish mansion, the ogres, and the cow head legend.

But those made-up horror stories don't scare me at all.

I can't help but feel bad for the boss.

His wife gets killed by a demon, and then his son is kidnapped by a she-devil.

Yeah, but he clearly thinks his son will come back.

That's why he adopted a girl instead of a boy.

The most terrifying thing in life is always the truth with no exaggerations.

Hey, you need to stay inside, milady.

What are you doing here, Zenji?

Well, I'm waiting for my chance to shine and make up for yesterday!

Just kidding.

Whatever, it's not like I care.

Ouch...

Can't you see it in your heart to forgive me?

Maybe, but only if you take me somewhere fun.

Then I'll forgive you.

All right! I can deliver on that, easy peasy!

Hey, do you have a name?

It's Jinya.

Jinya, huh? Then I'll start calling you that.

My dad seems to have a high opinion of you.

So I guess I'll put my faith in you, too.

You seem very fond of your father, Natsu-dono.

Obviously!

He took me in and gave me a home!

Why wouldn't I be thankful?

I see. A happy little family.