Chapter 20: The Price of Reincarnation is Terrifying
Watching the receding back of Hattori Heiji as he sprinted away while carrying Conan like he was flying, Hikigaya felt a surge of emotion in his heart, as if seeing his own departed youth.
Once upon a time, back when he was still a disciple in Yomi, he was young, arrogant, and hot-tempered. Every time he sparred, he would beat the other person into a state of disability. He didn't know how many times his master had scolded him for this, but he just couldn't fix that bad habit.
Later, he finally matured. He learned to compare his heart to others, to think from different perspectives, and his hostility greatly diminished. He gained much more tolerance when sparring with others, deeply realizing that every opponent who fought him with all their strength—regardless of whether they were strong or weak—deserved respect. From then on, every time he fought, he seriously and conscientiously beat people to death. He was no longer that little disciple who only knew how to practice martial arts but lacked martial virtue. He received unanimous praise from his master and fellow disciples, yet he had also bid farewell to his raw honesty and moved toward being smooth and worldly.
That vibrant, enthusiastic spirit of youth could henceforth only be found in his memories. Thinking back on it truly brought a tinge of sadness.
Hattori Heiji's back soon disappeared into the mountain forest, and Hikigaya ended his uncle-style reminiscence to start on official business.
This official business was, of course, not the masked man. Because from start to finish, it took only one second; Kiichirou flipped him over with the back of his blade. This was only because Kiichirou's attitude had changed drastically after learning the fellow's background; otherwise, it would have been a decapitation.
Unsurprisingly, the masked man would become Kiichirou's disciple, which was quite a win for him. After all, this Kiichirou was not only the contemporary successor of the Yoshitsune-ryu he dreamed of but was also a master who had mastered "Qi." A martial artist who reached this level was called a "Master" (Tatsujin).
He just wondered if Hattori Heiji would have similar luck and be scouted by that Ryozanpaku martial artist who had also just left. It was a girl with an explosive figure; Hikigaya remembered her as the weapons master from Ryozanpaku.
Hikigaya had long since discovered her, but since she sat honestly in the distance without moving, he didn't bother with her. Presumably, Yomi's massive mobilization in Japan had pricked the nerves of the Ryozanpaku group, leading them to follow him to Kyoto.
But there was no need for conflict with Ryozanpaku now. He had summoned the people of Yomi to fight yokai, not to exchange martial arts philosophies. The weakest members of Ryozanpaku were senior masters; if yokai caused trouble, it just meant more people working for free. From Hikigaya's perspective, this wasn't a bad thing.
Now that the Ryozanpaku person had left, these Yomi warriors could also disperse.
"Everyone, disperse for now," he said.
After the crowd of Yomi warriors bowed to him, they withdrew one after another. Kiichirou also took the masked man with him when he left.
Once everyone had gone, Hikigaya looked at the Great Tengu still perched on the branch and asked, "Are you Sojobo?"
"It is I," the Great Tengu on the branch replied, then asked cautiously, "You aren't here for me, are you?"
"Of course not, but upon meeting a historical celebrity, one must say hello." Hikigaya smiled broadly. "Are you interested in coming down to see the world? Something very exciting is going to happen recently."
Sojobo visibly curled his lip upon hearing this, then he jumped down and landed in front of Hikigaya.
"How is it exciting? These juniors are incredibly weak." Sojobo first expressed disdain for this current generation of the Oni army, then looked at Hikigaya with some confusion. "That fox actually managed to dodge you?"
"We've met," Hikigaya said. "But I didn't mess with her; I just made a few requests."
"Is it because she looks relatively good in this life that you didn't beat her to death?" Sojobo realized suddenly. "But let me tell you, that girl is specialized in reincarnation. Don't be fooled."
He counted on his fingers: "This is the ninth time. She has as many tails as that Tamamo-no-Mae now."
"One more tail for every reincarnation? Won't she eventually be unable to walk?" Hikigaya was amused. He was thinking: if Hagoromo Gitsune reincarnated a hundred times, would she be wrapped into a ball the moment she showed her tails, and her underwear would be instantly pulverized?
The end point of reincarnation is actually a bare butt—how tragic a price! No wonder Hagoromo Gitsune is so well-behaved. Wait, maybe she has to "go commando" right now; otherwise, when nine tails stretch out, what kind of underwear could possibly stay intact? Hulk-brand?
"How would I know..." Sojobo was also lost. "I've never seen a fox with that many tails either. Isn't nine enough to use?"
Hikigaya found this Great Tengu quite interesting; he wasn't like the records in the History Compilation Committee. The recorder for those records clearly had a biased emotional
leaning, likely because of Minamoto no Yoshitsune; Yoshitsune must have offended quite a few people back then.
"By the way, did those yokai come by already?" Hikigaya finally remembered his business, having almost drifted off-topic again.
"They came, but I drove them away." Sojobo's expression was just short of spitting to show his contempt. "So weak. The wild yokai these days are really disappointing."
"So, as long as you're here, there won't be a problem?"
"Not exactly. If that fox comes, I'll be out of options. That fox is truly powerful; she's as strong as Tamamo-no-Mae now. How could I win against her?"
"Hagoromo Gitsune won't come," Hikigaya said; he was quite confident about this. The Demon Gate line was already ruined; even if the Divine Gate line was intact, it wouldn't have much impact on Hagoromo Gitsune having her baby. It was impossible for her to personally handle the Divine Gate line; at most, she'd send a cadre, which would be useless as they couldn't beat the Great Tengu, and Tengu are social yokai.
Hikigaya had an impression of the Nura manga; after all, it left a deep impression back then. He remembered that the seals Hagoromo Gitsune targeted were all within the city, with the final destination being Nijo Castle. Therefore, no more yokai should be coming to the Divine Gate line.
After chatting with Sojobo for a bit longer, Hikigaya returned to Fushimi Inari-taisha.
-
-
-
At the foot of Mount Kurama, Hattori Heiji and Conan were looking speechlessly at a girl who had suddenly appeared before them with an expressionless face.
If not for the long sword on her back, Hattori and Conan would probably have taken a few extra glances because she was very beautiful—even if she was "poker-faced"—and her bust was truly astonishing. But now, having just escaped from a group of psychos, they didn't want to look even once. They were people who had seen the world now; no matter how big the chest, it couldn't make them abandon their principles.
"Big sister, is there anything you need help with?" Conan had been carried the whole way, but he had to continue acting like a child.
'My neck hurts so much, Hattori, you're practically not human.'
"Yes." The girl's brevity reminded them of Hikigaya Hachiman. This tone was incredibly similar to how Hikigaya spoke to the masked man earlier, making their experience feel quite poor.
Conan wanted to curse even more. He was just being polite, but she actually took him up on it. Is she really a "big sister"? He's such a cute child! How could she have the heart to actually ask him for help!?
"My name is Shigure Kosaka," the girl said flatly. Her eyes were fixed on Hattori Heiji. "I was nearby just now. You are quite good."
'I see, is it because she saw my noble quality of upholding justice even when facing psychopathic villains?' Hattori Heiji thought. He felt a bit of pride, but unfortunately, he couldn't respond to that. He felt that if he had been born in ancient times, he would surely have become a role model for Japanese samurai.
Then he heard Shigure Kosaka say, "Come back with me. You have been noticed by the people of Yomi; it will be very dangerous."
Conan, who was rubbing his neck, was stunned and instinctively looked at the long sword Shigure wore behind her back.
'Big sister, why do you feel like you look safe? I, Kudo Shinichi, have seen big scenes; don't try to fool me, that's a real weapon behind you too!'
He became even more convinced that one really shouldn't run into Hikigaya Hachiman; nothing good happens when you do.
"I'm sorry, big sister, I have to take my little brother home. We played too late today, and the family is calling urgently," Hattori Heiji said with a straight face.
"He is not your brother," Shigure Kosaka frowned. "You are much darker than him."
Hattori Heiji: "...That's because I like sports!"
Shigure Kosaka's gaze remained indifferent. Yomi had taken her father when she was small, and her brother had also joined Yomi, dying at the hands of Hikigaya Hachiman not long ago. In her mind, the people of Yomi were lost in slaughter and could no longer be judged by common sense; there was no telling if someone would stop by and "finish off" this decent young man.
After all, Hikigaya Hachiman was the living god of Yomi. He held this status not just because of power, but because of the combination of power and ideology. Even Shigure Kosaka would admit that the people of Yomi were honorable martial artists; although they advocated violence, they would not succumb to it.
As a master of the weapons style, Shigure Kosaka also judged that this young man's basics were very solid. It would be a great pity if such a person lost his life just because he encountered the people of Yomi.
'Kenichi is so pitiful; wouldn't it be nice to have a junior fellow disciple?' The disciples of Ryozanpaku were truly too few; usually, there weren't enough to go around...
Quickly making a decision in her heart, Shigure Kosaka walked up to Hattori Heiji, picked him up with one hand, and said, "Let's go."
Hattori Heiji: "??"
Seeing Hattori's bewildered expression, Shigure thought for a moment and felt she knew the reason. She looked down at Conan, who was nearly blocked from view by her chest: "I know. I'll take you too."
Conan: "..."
A few breaths later, Shigure Kosaka left in high spirits, carrying one in each hand.
Read ahead (60 chapters) by supporting me on buymeacoffee com/varietl or ko-fi edwriting