Akari still liked to think of herself as a young woman, so while she could accept being called old-fashioned, lowbrow was a step too far. Dried squid might be an “old fart’s” snack, but it was one of her firm favorites.
Kansuke watched the two of them with an interested expression before pulling out the chair opposite Akari and pouring himself another cup. From the folds of his kimono he pulled out the rest of Akari’s personal dried squid snack stash.
Akari twitched as Kansuke scrunched up his face and smacked his lips in appreciation. Yes, dried squid was delicious.
It was after dinner, but there was always room for snacks. Kansuke grinned and raised his sake cup temptingly.
“Join me for a drink, girly?”
“No. I have work to do tomorrow.”
“Ah, I’d almost forgotten.”
Kansuke displayed not one scrap of respect for Akari’s position as mistress of the household. Yet Akari found it impossible to dislike him, especially seeing the earnest enjoyment he took in the alcohol she provided.
As she watched him idly, Kansuke tipped back his cupful of sake and turned to her.
“Girly, no one’s going to pay you for studying that stuff. Just head on up to bed.”
“How dare you belittle Akari’s scholarly pursuits?!”
Tomohito wasn’t about to let that slide, and he snarled at Kansuke. Mayoi, too, shot him a nasty glare. Despite the tension in the air, Kansuke seemed supremely unbothered.
Kansuke merely rolled his sake cup between his fingers, gazing at Akari. She stared back.
“…You’re right. I’ll retire upstairs in a moment. You’ll be accompanying me for sure tomorrow, yes?”
“Well, you’ve certainly provided some decent booze. So, yes. I’ll work for you. At least until I’ve earned what I’ve already drunk.”
“Kansuke.”
Kansuke ignored Tomohito’s growl and got to his feet, patting the other man casually on the shoulder on his way out of the room.
Tomohito watched him go, trembling with rage. Then he turned back to Akari and bowed his head low.
“Mistress Akari, I am so sorry I recommended such a man to you. It was entirely my mistake. I think that perhaps I had better accompany you alone after all.”
“You know, I’ve been wondering: why did you suggest him in the first place?”
Tomohito paused for a moment, as if unprepared for such a question.
“Simply because, well…he’s strong.”
Tomohito chose his words carefully, as if reluctant to explain but finding himself unable to lie to her.
“There are many Kotogatari in the DemonSlayer category, but few have actually slain a real demon. The tales written in our records are enough to give us much power, but the more truth there is to the tales, the stronger we are. And Kansuke Mishima is one of the few whose slaying of demons is an actual historical fact.”
“Yes, I know the tales. They called him the DemonChaser. Apparently, his feudal lord once tasked him with hunting down a Nue and retrieving the women it stole. The sword he wielded was even known as Narugami’s Fury because he also used it to cut down not only a thundergod—or Narugami demon—who was demanding the sacrifice of children to end a drought, but also the very thunderbolts it conjured.”
Demons had power enough to rival even those of the gods, and they delighted in destruction. They were cruel and inhuman, taking delight in entering the homes of innocents and laying waste to everything they saw.
The Narugami demon Akari referenced had destroyed ten villages and one entire city and was said to feast upon the livers of human babies.
But the warrior Kansuke Mishima had pursued the demon without hesitation and cut it down with his sword.
“Yes. He is a splendid warrior. So much so that he doesn’t even need a Narrator, you might say. There isn’t a demon, spirit, or yokai he can’t handle. So I can think of no better bodyguard for you on this mission.”
“Okay, but what about the more…unsavory stuff he was supposed to have done? If all that’s written down in his Kotogatari too, then who’s to say he won’t end up going rogue on me?”
Tomohito hesitated, but Akari plowed on.
“Kansuke Mishima is famous for being a DemonSlayer, yes, but he’s infamous for something else. You know what I’m referring to. And yet despite that, you recommended him to me?”
“I recommended him precisely because you refuse to read any Kotogatari. He’s strong enough, even without being read aloud. In fact, a reading might even hinder his abilities.”
“He has a powerful ability to make alcohol disappear, I’ll give him that.”
“Indeed, that is, ah, a weakness. But the last time he and I came face-to-face, he was very different…”
Tomohito chewed his lip for a few seconds before rallying and continuing.
“Sometimes a Kotogami’s dark past is included in the Kotogatari records on purpose so humans can use those powers to their advantage. But more often, the problematic parts are intentionally omitted from the text for reasons of safety. So I foresee no problem, whether you narrate for him or not. Ah, perhaps I should have mentioned that sooner…”
Tomohito visibly held his breath, scanning her face to gauge her reaction.
But Akari just shrugged, blowing air through her nose.
“It’s fine. I didn’t ask. I have zero plans to narrate his Kotogatari anyway, so the contents of it are of no interest to me. Anyway, it’s good to know that I don’t need to worry about him going on a wild rampage. Like you said, no problem, right?”
“I see. That’s good, then.”
Tomohito sighed with relief, then blinked rapidly as he realized Akari was packing up her study materials.
“You’re really finishing up for the night?”
“Mm-hm. I’ve had too many late nights recently. I want to be fresh for tomorrow.”
“Indeed, I have noticed you’ve been shut up in your room working on something. And that you have borrowed documents from somewhere.”
Tomohito spoke casually, but Akari paused after getting up from her chair and shot him a cold glare.
“How do you know about that?”
“No…no real reason! I simply noticed the lights coming from your bedroom window…”
“Then let’s just leave it at that.”
Tomohito nodded, eyes shining as he continued to gaze at Akari.
“Then tomorrow I shall—”
“Mayoi. Wake me up tomorrow if it looks like I might oversleep, will you?”
“Certainly, Mistress. I shall wake you up.”
“So cruel…”
They both ignored Tomohito’s whining, Mayoi patting her chest as if to say “Leave it to me!” as Akari left the room to head upstairs for the night.