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fantranslatorbychoice · 1 year

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Kakuriyo no Yadomeshi Volume 6 Chapter 10 - A New Uproar Begins + Author's Afterword

Yep, enjoy the double-upload guys.

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Alright here you all go....

P300 "Well then, hang in there, Kasuga!" "Bye-bye Kasuga, be well!" "Improve yourself! Don't break your body!" The Ayakashi in Tenjin-ya all called out to Kasuga who was already in an airship and has collected all of her things.

I gave Kasuga a present, "Tummy-captivating Recipes" cookbook, food that are both easy to make and delicious.

"Kasuga, with this, slowly but surely you can capture the heart of your childhood friend whom you're getting married to."

"Waaah, thanks Aoi-chan. This is so helpful, because I just suck at cooking."**

Kasuga with her smiling face. That face that lights up the sky like the blinding sun, thinking about the fact that I won't be seeing that smile anymore made me feel so lonely. Without realizing it, my tears started flowing.

While at it, I pushed the box filled with assortments of "Hell-juu" and Black Sugar Manjuu to her.

"Here, take this with you. Its flavors will bring you nostalgia."

"Hey, Aoi-chan, stop crying."

Kasuga being Kasuga, she made Chiaki-san hold her belongings and went over to me, wiping my tears away with her sleeves.**

T/N: I found my opportunity to plug this in lol *sings* You suck at cooking yeah you totally suck. *end of song* I'm sorry guys, that's my jam sometimes, I'm not calling you bad cooks, the song just rolls off the tongue. Plus the videos are really good too, kewl effects lol not sponsored btw

Also, kimonos have long-@@$ sleeves so Kasuga can do that lol

P301

"Home's not that far away, we'll meet again for sure."

"What's that?"

"Both of us will soon get married to a Hachiyo. Somehow, that's the threads of fate that binds us together."

The threads of fate, that binds us together.

Wait just a minute. I'm not there yet...

We both looked down on our hands, they were shaking.

"Bye-bye! Bye-bye, Tenjin-ya! Goodbye, everyone! My Tenjin-ya!"

This bright young girl's voice echoed everywhere, and the airship starts lifting up high, high into the bright blue sky.

Up until the end I was sobbing, but O-ryo, standing beside me, wasn't even crying at all.

She just looked indifferent all throughout the whole thing. And then a victorious smile popped in her face.

And after that she looked more at ease.

It seemed that somehow, she seemed more determined about something, and wore that in her demeanor.

That's strange. That bottle opener made out of ice that she always has with her, could it have gotten lost?

--Ring.

P302

That sleeping water from the farthest north, it's crystal-clear sound, Kasuga was scattering it from above the airship that she's in.

And when I just realized it, Kasuga's image has disappeared into the sky above, and I can't see it anymore.

Far, far away, where the clear, blue sky has taken them in, way up high.

And, as if looking over everyone in Kakuriyo, the seasons have changed.

Goodbye, Kasuga.

I'm looking forward to seeing that again, the day when I see that shining and vibrant smile again.

x-x-x-x

Afterwards, about a month has passed.

Just as Ginji-san have planned, shortly after the Autumn Festival, "Hell-juu" was marketed commercially.

Tenjiya's as well as Gintengai's souvenir shops have started selling this steamed manjuu, and thanks to being autumn as well as the increasing number of tourists to Kimon, it got record-breaking sales all throughout.

Whether or not it's going to be a long-time best selling product, what matters right now is that it's a huge success.

More than anything, hats off to everyone at the Tenjinya basement workshop, on how quickly the planning and manufacturing of this souvenir product was made.

Everyday the iron mice at Tenjin-ya's basement are working hard to catch up with the huge production volume, without getting fluttered or disorganized while doing their job.

Even more surprising, is that the manjuu with cream cheese spread and no bean paste sells better than the "egg variant" one which has bean paste in it and was labelled as "proper manjuu". I wonder if it's because little by little, in Kakuriyo

P303

the demand for cheese has been increasing, as well as the fact that it's just gaining popularity, and that is its appeal, a report worthy of being sent to the emperor.

It might be first of its kind, and difficult, but it was a huge success.

Its sales was a hit, and Byakuya-san said that pretty soon huge confection companies as well as local ones and even ordinary folk would start putting in "cheese" flavored souvenir products and other similar items in their own shelves.

It delights me to think that while it was borne out of me, the fruits of my labors are finally showing up.

Along with a huge sense of accomplishment, it also feels very exciting.

But not by any means was I able to do this on my own, as I relied on many others too.

Kasuga's christening it with "Hell-juu" was surprisingly simple and easy to understand, and the fact that it permeated easily into the people's psyche was also an important factor to its success. And marking the manjuu's outer crust with the deformed version of the hellish flower, "red spider-lily"** helped make it even cuter and more adorable.

Aside from that, there were many wise sages in Tenjin-ya who gave such good advice, feedback, experiences, and other help that greatly helped in Hell-juu's product development, properly executing its mass production and moving onto sales.

But there was one thing though, a mishap that Ginji-san and I made. I'm going to tell you that right now.

We tried making other limited edition variants of "Hell-juu" for Autumn, and some of them didn't sell so well or sales were very slow.

Those were the "sweet potato" and the "apple" flavors. Diced sweet potato were kneaded into the dough to make it into that flavor, just like how we normally do it, and we wrapped the dough all around the apple jam for the "apple" flavor, but I just couldn't understand why, at a level being so perplexing, that from the very first day these two didn't sell so well, and likely the only thing would be due to them being very unfamiliar.

T/N: You've probably have seen this flower a lot, in graveyards in anime. It's very prominent in Hell Girl. The plant is actually planted in graves so animals won't dig up corpses, like a deterrent.

P304

But why did the "cheese" sell so well?

As handmade sweets from stores, the other flavors were well-received...

When these came out in the shop's show window, despite the packaging that was supposed to make or break a confection's sale, the product itself looks different from what it was supposed to be.

It was for that reason that the "apple" flavor was to be pulled off from the shelves only after a week, and when that day was finally decided on, after work hours Ginji-san brought some mountain apple liquor to drink.

It was an awful time, and the thing about drinking mountain apple wine was that it helped in forgetting things...

Even though this was an exceptional failure, this information is going to be very important for our next success. Those are the words that Ginji-san shared to me.

Why did this failure came to be I have no idea, and overnight I got so depressed that I needed someone to ponder this with, along with some gentle consoling.

x-x-x

There is also one more thing I just realized.

Odanna-sama, as of now, hasn't returned from his business trip to Youto, and he has been absent from Tenjin-ya.

Also, beforehand, Odanna-sama and I had a quick chat.

We got our hands on some rumors, that apparently there will be a meeting of all the Hachiyos at the end of the year holidays, it was going to be the very first "overnight meeting", and the Ayakashi King has summoned me to attend.

P305

"Say, Ginji-san? Odanna-sama hasn't come back yet? It's already been a week, is he alright? I heard from Ritsuko-san before that the Imperial Court is a scary place."

"Yes, it seems that he hasn't returned as of late... But no need to worry, the O-niwaban's Saizou-san is with him. Also I am receiving messages from Odanna-sama everyday."

"I wonder.. is Odanna-sama alright?"

"Yes, for sure."

I see. Since the beginning he was always out on a business trip, I think...

One week goes by, then two weeks, Odanna-sama's absence in Tenjin-ya is still going on... as the days go on, I have stopped getting any updates or messages.

The upper brass of Tenjin-ya started to get flustered.

A messenger was dispatched to Youto, and despite having hopeful news, it turns out that the Ayakashi King ordered Odanna-sama that he cannot go back to Tenjin-ya, and to only wait for further information to be announced by a messenger from the Imperial Court.

"What does that mean?"

"For sure, while he was doing major work in the Imperial Court, Odanna-sama ran into an accident."

The management grew even more worried and started panicking. Of course, that includes me.

I don't get how this happened...

The Odanna-sama that I talked to in Yugao back then, I wonder... there's no way that wasn't a premonition.

P306

There were also other matters concerning the Imperial Court, there were things and plans happening behind the scenes that nobody knows about, things that we were not cautious of and can't do anything about, here in Tenjin-ya. Byakuya-san mentioned something about an unforeseen threat that is about to arrive.

During the first ten days of December, there came a huge shake-up.

That envoy from the Imperial Court paid a visit to Tenjin-ya.

And that envoy, somehow, as far as I'm concerned and made aware of... Is that.. Raijuu.

x-x-x

"Tenjin-ya, isn't this frightening, confusing, utterly incomprehensible and non-sensical?"

"..."

We caught wind of a disturbance, and a bit before opening hours, Ginji-san and I saw something over by the front desk lobby, Raijuu with his hateful and horrible smile was being surrounded by the management, all the while speaking while bearing a calm demeanor.

"In the end, with your Odanna gone, you're all just lowly businesspeople. I hold strong political powers over the Imperial Court, and you all cannot do anything about it.

"Ehhh shut up. If you have some use for Tenjin-ya, first of all, if that's the case, stop pushing us around like you always do!"

Akatsuki's earnest yet fierce-looking face wasn't complying, and yet, while laughing so loudly, Raijuu started climbed up Tenjin-ya's grand staircase.

P307

Clink,clank.

The golden decorations attached all throughout his body, these made striking, echoing sounds as he climbed up the stairs.

In that moment, when he took a glimpse of me briefly, with that disgusting tongue of his, Raijuu started licking his lips.

As I unfortunately started recalling all sorts of traumatic memories, Ginji-san stood in front of me in silence.

"Haven't you comprehended it yet? The Ayakashi King himself sent me to go here, under his command."

"Excuse me?"

"That's what I said, That is what the Ayakashi King said. That is what the important announcement to all of you is about."

Abruptly, coming from the upper stairs where he just walked up to, he turned around and faced everyone, leisurely looking down on all of us as he smugly smiled a wide-toothed smile.

"From now on, by any means, I am now Tenjin-ya's "Odanna-sama"** and not that ogre god anymore!"

Anybody could've been astonished by those words, we couldn't believe our ears.

Odanna-sama... That guy cannot become Tenjin-ya's Odanna-sama...

It can't be, what the heck is this Raijuu talking about... I don't understand what it means.

"S--stop saying such nonsense! Who the hell gave you the right to say such things?"

"But. That's. Why. I already told you, MY words ARE as good as the Ayakashi King's, Ginji-kun. Well, whatever,

T/N: Odanna-sama is not Odanna-sama's actual name, it's a position, like how he is the big boss of Tenjin-ya. So the term "Odanna-sama" can be used by anybody. It's just that Odanna-sama, here and in the anime, his name isn't revealed yet. (I know what his name is, but that's gonna be revealed in a future volume lololol)

P308

at any rate, to us, we have formally conveyed it to you. That ogre god, Kakuriyo was so shocked to know that he has been holding onto some very important secret. Better than that, I conclude that I have no choice but to take care of that Hachiyo's position now."

"An important....secret?"

All of us grew even more and more disturbed.

In this place where Odanna-sama isn't around, something important is decidedly and conveniently being exposed.

This strange circumstance being told about, just about everything is getting chaotic.

"Those speechless-looking faces are the most amusing, don't they? It's such an elevated sight worth seeing, now I wanted to eat some liquor with some side dishes. Say... You over there, why are you trying to scurry and hide away from me, Skilled Cook Aoi-chan?"

My name was called out, and it made me tremble.

I clenched my fists and pulled them closer to my chest, as I glared angrily at Raijuu.

"Hee-hee. Do I.. scare you?"

"What you're calling scary.. it is rather creepy."

"Bwahahaha! Well, that's fine, I don't mind that kind of reaction. Buuuu~t I think THIS thing here will scare you even more. No.. More likely that, as far as YOU'RE concerned, what this means for you is deliverance, possibly."

Raijuu's face looks somewhat amused, and gleefully takes out something from his breastpocket, he pulled out a box.

"Ta-dah~! What is this~?"

P309

I remember that box. That... That is...

"Hee-hee, a while ago I snooped around Odanna's room, and I found a rea~lly awesome item. It's connects Tsubaki Shirou and Odanna, it's the debt contract~"

"Oh...."

I see. When I first came to Tenjin-ya, that was shown to me, I fell in despair...

In grampa's own handwriting, a debt contract, in which he gave away his granddaughter for payment!

"Hee-hee. Since that Odanna is no longer here, this doesn't mean anything anymore, does it?"

Raijuu pulled it out of the box, and brandished it up high.

Without realizing it, I yelled "Stop!" and tried to reach it with my hand.

But, after that bastard heard my voice, he tore the piece of paper in half, and his loud laugh drowned out the sounds of the paper being ripped apart.

"Bwahahahaha! Yep, there you go. Aoi-chan, now you're no longer Odanna's fiancee, it's now nothing. Now that I have set you free, it's fine if you express your gratitude to me~"

After that he scattered all the tiny pieces.

The tiny pieces of paper fluttered down, down, down the staircase. Even though to me, that thing was something that forcibly tied me down, in that moment I felt attacked and I had a sense of loss, and even I couldn't believe it myself, it was a very important thing.

"A...Aoi-san..!"

P310

I was light-headed and unable to think, and without a moment's delay, Ginji-san came to help me stay upright.

But with the status quo, nobody dared to nor even had the gall to say anything. It was everyone's at everyone's pace. While wearing his smug, victorious smile, I was shocked as I looked at Raijuu who tore up, shredded into pieces and threw away the debt contract.

But...

"Go die, you moron."

We thought we heard this lethargic noise from behind Raijuu...

"Ahhhhh!"

Raijuu suddenly fell off the stairs and rolled down indignantly.

From where Raijuu's body used to stand, there he was, with a hard, cold stare, Byakuya-san.

Somehow, this guy seemed to have violently kicked Raijuu off the stairs. Underneath the stairs, Raijuu has suffered a minor injury and was licking his own blood off.

Tenjin-ya's hot water chimney has finally erupted with so much killing intent.

"Gaaah. Well, sure enough, Byakuya the white demon has came out. You're intending to kill me!"

"What are you talking about, I really do wanted to kill you, so much."

Byakuya suddenly closed his fan that was usually spread across his mouth, and started making a stabbing motion with it.

Along with that smooth, slicing sound, that reflexively makes every Tenjin-ya employee straighten their backs,

P311

Byakuya looked over, and with increasingly cold eyes stared down at Raijuu.

"You bastard, how dare you stand in front of my face here in our Tenjin-ya? Why, I never recalled ever inviting you in. Go to the ravine outside and keep hurling yourself in there for a million times until you die!"

"But I already fell down just now, didn't I?"

Lightly scathed by Raijuu's words, Byakuya-san took one step down the stairs, and picked up all the scattered pieces of the debt contract. While laughing scornfully, he held these tightly.

"Regarding the circumstances of our Odanna-sama here at Tenjin-ya, it is rather unexpected, and even if whatever happened over at the Imperial Court was indeed true, knowing you, you have once again completely showed how utterly stupid you really are. So stop laughing."

"Wha...t?"

"This debt contract is fake. The real thing is hidden somewhere, where you'll never be able to find it."

"Huh?"

Nobody reacted more strongly, than I did.

When Byakuya-san saw my reaction, he responded with a "Oh?", looked into my eyes slightly surprised at my face, and started giggling.

"Oh, Aoi, I feel assured by your courageousness."

"Wait, wait, wait that's not it, it's not like that!"

Finally, my usual reactions have come out at last.

Ginji-san too, at some point smoothed down his own chest with a sigh of relief.

P312

But over here, Raijuu's face instantly became disagreeable.

"Huh? Byakuya, I always thought that I was superior, was I wrong? From now on, you'll be my underling. That's because I have now become the master of Tenjin-ya."

"You dumbass. I don't care how many times the Ayakashi King keeps putting out decrees, whatever the hell you're saying, know that it is worthless."

Byakuya-san pulled out something from inside his sleeves.

What the heck... That looks like an impressive silk pouch. He opened it confidently, and pulled out a shining, golden yellow cube.

"Wait.. is that... The Golden Badge!"

"Golden Badge?"

"Indeed. It is the Hachiyo's verification badge used here in Tenjin-ya. Whenever there is a very important decision to make, this is an indispensable item. Within Tenjin-ya, Odanna-sama and Byakuya-san are the only ones who handle it."

Ginji-san, who was nearby, explained about it.

It was unexpected that something like that actually exists, but I could understand by everyone's reactions that there was nothing to worry about.

"When it comes to a Hachiyo's appointment as well as their resignation, other than the Ayakashi King's decree, twice a year it is required to attend the so-called "Hachiyo Overnight Conference", and along with the recognition of all the Hachiyos, that is to say, all of the Golden Badges need to be gathered. The next overnight conference would be at the end of the year, otherwise it would be at the beginning of the next year, Up until that point, whatever you do, Odanna-sama is still Tenjin-ya's Odanna-sama."

"Hee-hee. Eventually, that's gonna be a problem.. is it not? The Hachiyos cannot go against the decree of the Imperial Capitol."

Immediately after that, Raijuu stood up, sucked up the blood on the side of his lips, and while behaving calmly and relieved,

P313

shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't mind. Right now, all of you here in Tenjin-ya are not put under my custody, yet. So eventually, in the next Overnight Conference, you have no other choice, I own all of you. So I don't mind if you all go against me. Nobody else will be interested in taking charge and managing the inn, and after that everything will get filled with chaos, isn't that an amusing story that you just wanted to see?"

"..."

"But, there is still one more I am certain of. That Odanna... is now forbidden to come back here."

Furthermore, if that guy even tries something like flapping the bedsheets and putting them on, he'll get taken out like fireworks running off and fizzling out. Instantly, he'll be grabbed quickly like a flash of lightning.

What the.. What on earth, why did that even happen?

The whole place got still, like a graveyard, everyone was confused, it was quite a huge shock.

"What are you whispering about? Upper management's aid is required for business operations. Everyone in the top management, assemble at the Great Conference Hall."

In that place, Byakuya-san was the only one who was able to keep his head together. With a deep resolve, he was the only one who tried summoning all of the executives together.

"Aoi-san, are you alright? You look pale."

"Ginji-san..."

"No, this isn't unjustifiable, ok? It has turned into something outrageous. But first of all, Odanna-sama's safety must be quickly confirmed, and all of us here at Tenjin-ya, we have no choice but to make sure that we take care of everything by all means necessary..."

P314

I felt like something got stuck in my throat, I couldn't breathe with all the anxiety, and everyone else was feeling it too. But Ginji-san was already having a stern gaze as he stood up. And amidst the silence he ordered the employees, and in a strong voice alerted Akatsuki and Chiaki-san who got flustered, and before anyone else did, he went to Byakuya-san to confirm what happened.

Time in Tenjin-ya stopped, before everyone started to move about hurriedly.

"..."

But, only my uneasiness, it never stopped. Odanna-sama's behavior that wasn't ogre-like, and his smile.

He was usually reasonable and calm everyday, but the haziness of that person has not vanished, and I had a really unnerving hunch.

In my bosom, the pendant's chain where the key is hidden, I held it closer in my kimono.

Tenjin-ya's master, Odanna-sama.

Odanna-sama's whereabouts...

Odanna-sama's... secret.

Where is the thing, that I must protect?

x-x-x-x-x

Afterword P315 Thank you very much for your support. This is Yuuma Midori. I am grateful that Kakuriyo no Yadomeshi series has reached volume 6. To tell you the truth, since Yuuma's** debut all of the five volumes had been the longest, and now Yuuma has reached the sixth! The season is autumn. For this volume, it picks up everyone in Tenjin-ya's everyday affairs, and the next volume is going to be about the new strife and issues. Kasuga has quit Tenjin-ya, the male army's pointless bath scene, you can easily find Odanna-sama on the cover**. There are so many things and spoilers I wanna tell, but this time, the afterword is just one page, and I can only say one thing about the lively momiji-gathering illustration.. Oh my, on the cover Aoi and Odanna-sama has drawn in closer together.. could it be that something has already started....? On the cover these two bit by bit has gotten a bit more closer**, and somehow Yuuma is filled with so much heavy emotions.

I hope that we can all meet again in volume 7.

Yuuma Midori

End of Afterword, Volume 6.

x-x-x-x-x-x

T/N: Yeah I know it's the afterword but wth this is an additional lesson OK? So.. rather than saying "I" or "me", it's even humbler to refer to one's self by the given name, or surname. Yuuma-sensei does this for all of her afterwords so yeah.. Maybe it's a thing IDK rly but yeah, politeness is deemed important in Japanese culture so it's a thing. Yeah here's the cover and I'mma gonna point stuff out lol

So yeah if you look at the covers of the first 5 volumes and the 6th, this is by far the closest that Aoi and Odanna-sama got illustrated, and that shows somehow a progress of their whatever it is.

Also, holy crap the previous chapter guysssss..... T__T I mean can you believe that, I mean, I had to read and reread that part before I started translating it because it made me cry so much, like holy sh** I wasn't expecting that T_T anyways... We did it guys, we finished volume 6. I hope you all enjoyed.

Hopefully, if I still have enough strength to finish it all (let's just say that I have other stuff to worry in the real life and doing the whole 7-10 volumes may take a while) I could improve more so I could deliver the next 4 volumes as soon as I could, like seriously I could only see juicy things from here on end. Once I feel like I can (if my strength allows) see you all in volume 7...?

End of Volume 6. Previous - Chapter 9

References:

Wonderful site for the youkai references

Other stuff I used to do this: Kodansha Kanji Learner’s Dictionary (you can buy here, I’m not sponsored btw). I was about to buy the older edition but then the newer one came out 2013 so I bought that instead. Worth buying since I was able to find nearly all of the words I needed just by stroke pattern alone.

Merriam-Webster's Japanese-English Dictionary (the red-covered 1996 version is apparently out of print right now). This is what I have been using for a very long time, I bought it when I was still a fetus (yes I am old so what lol), and after so many years, when compared to newer editions, I still prefer this one since its entirety is Japanese-English, the English to Japanese gloss are just 16 pages tops, so you get more Japanese words for your buck. But that’s just my opinion, maybe other people prefer the Jap-En x En-Jap IDEK.

Basic online dictionary, Jisho. Knowledge of verb conjugations and other words are necessary since not all have entries.

If you can read Japanese, you can buy the whole set in Amazon Japan, they’re shipping worldwide now, I think.

#kakuriyo no yadomeshi #kakuriyo no yadomeshi light novel #kakuriyo no yadomeshi english translation #kakuriyo no yadomeshi english fan translation #kakuriyo no yadomeshi light novel english #kakuriyo no yadomeshi volume 6 chapter 10 #kakuriyo no yadomeshi volume 6 author's afterword

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fantranslatorbychoice · 1 year

Text

Kakuriyo no Yadomeshi Volume 6 Chapter 9 - Tenjin-ya's Autumn Festival

T/N: I hope you like this chapter, it's my "Britney's back, bicth" reappearance, my Nihongo got a bit wonked-out but I hope you all still enjoy this. Also it's a double-upload so please do take a seat, it's gonna be a roller-coaster ride y'all.

This is my contribution to the scant English content of this fandom, and I worked really hard to finish this thing, it’s not like I just copy-pasted everything on some AI-translating site. I even had to build the kanji in Jisho one by one if I need to. Try it here and you’ll see what I mean.

Honestly if this light novel was officially-published in English, I wouldn’t even be doing this right now... And if it did, especially if it was sanctioned, I’d take this down to support the publishers and Yuuma-sensei. Creators support creators, is what I believe in.

If I still have enough energy to do it, I’ll prolly do 1-5 once 6-10 has been done, or however long I can manage to translate the raw texts, sometimes my soul gets absorbed by some entity and I have to get it back piece by piece lol.

As previously-mentioned in earlier chapters, if you stumbled upon this one, the two seasons of the anime covered volumes 1-5, so other than the extra details, you didn’t miss much stuff. Believe me, I sped-run them with 50% comprehension then rewatched the anime, and they're more or less the same.

OK here it goes, enjoy~

P267 It's the end of October. In Utsushiyo, there is an event called "Halloween" which is associated with wearing costumes, I wonder if it's festive and lively and huge right now?

But then again, this is Kakuriyo. For countless days now, Tenjin-ya has been celebrating the bountiful harvests in the Autumn Festival. Because this is the biggest autumn event in here, this time around it was gossiped about that Tenjin-ya will be celebrating it differently than before.

As per Ginji-san's suggestion, Tenjin-ya's interior as well as the gardens were decorated with Japanese-style pumpkin lanterns lighted up by ogre-fire.

Maps were given to guests at the front desk, which guide them in finding the flashy lanterns placed at the service station and resting areas where the employees are gathered as they give away sweets and snacks.**

Pumpkin lanterns are considered rare in Kakuriyo, and with an event that seems like treasure-hunting in the underworld, it was a very popular event enjoyed by both adults and children.

Only one other place was also decorated with the pumpkin lanterns as a rest stop, and that is Yugao.

Here, aside from the usual sweets given out to everyone, Kasuga and I also give out the newly-developed product "Hell-juu".

This is because this product is being promoted and advertised as a "revolutionary" and "pioneering" product.

T/N: In Japan, anything labeled as お菓子 (o-kashi) are considered as tiny snacks, not limited to sweets but also small amounts of salty and savory stuff like 煎餅 (senbei - rice crackers)

P268 Since this year's opening for the Autumn Festival hasn't started yet, along with the tea time business operations, I was just sitting outside Yugao where tea is usually prepapred, as I was making a list of fun Autumn sweets that Yugao can offer to customers.

Right now, this is the food and snack lineup for sale in Yugao: -> Sweet potato and purple yam ice cream -> Buttercream-filled bread rolls with raisin and walnut -> Melt-in-your-mouth persimmon pudding (with persimmon leaf tea)

Since in Utsushiyo sweets are a big hit during Halloween, I also took a great liberty to do them too. And surprisingly, the bread rolls filled with buttercream and with raisins and walnuts were especially well-received by so many.

The grapes that we picked from the fruit orchard were hung behind Yugao, in order to make raisins. These raisins, along with the roasted walnuts were mixed with homemade buttercream**, and then turning them into an easily-consumable hand-held cream bread roll.

When I made the buttercream by hand, it felt nostalgic, I missed how the sweetness and how it feels in my mouth was to my liking. The full cream feels very different from the raisins and the walnuts, it wasn't a distasteful mix at all, and it makes them even prominent from the sidelines.

Since it tastes better when fresh from the oven, we had a label up that says "we bake them as you order them".

"Oh my, Kasuga-chan, since when did you switch to working at Yugao?" "I thought you already quit being a Tenjin-ya employee?"

T/N: Please never make homemade buttercream with your bare hands, unless your hands and arms are buff AF. Use a mixer ALWAYS. A message of concern from someone who HAD TO DO IT BY HAND and now has PTSD. The pain wasn't worth it. T_T

P269

Yugao's regular customers who came by during tea time were shocked to see that Kasuga was at work. Nobody knows though, that today was inevitably Kasuga's last day working at Tenjin-ya.

"Ahaha, but it's not bad working as a sales lady in a sweets' shop, you know?"

She doesn't show it in her innocent smile, but Kasuga does everything that she can to keep on serving each and every one of the customers, ceaselessly ushering them in and giving them what they need.

With that going on, I was able to concentrate on making the dishes, and the rounds in the shop went on smoothly.

More than anything else that I was grateful for, was Kasuga's know-how when it comes to serving guests. She even taught Ai-chan how to politely interact with the customers. Even though Ai-chan now regularly appears at the shop, she's still a beginner and likely will make mistakes. To Ai-chan that is more of a support, every now and then we give her some advice.

To be honest, the more that she moves the more she gets the hang of it, and the more she gets the hang of it, the more that she gets motivated to work.

So far it seems that whatever she sees, she does it in a similar manner. That is something that employees at Tenjin-ya learn from their superiors - cultivated by the toiling and grinding for so many years, this is by any means not a very easy thing to do nor learn by anyone's standards.**

Doing so much work, running so much errands... is this day ever gonna end...? Aaaarggh..

Kasuga keeps saying "this is too much" as she keeps running to and from here in the kitchen, urgently taking orders, relaying the information to me, and getting exhausted doing so.

T/N: Double negatives are really a pain in the arse I tell you. Arrrrggh lol

P270 "Aoi-shaaaa~n, please give me pumpkin sheeee~ds"

Before opening up for the evening's business hours, it was crunch time for prepping the ingredients. Kasuga and I arranged the chairs outside, while Chibi, who turned the pumpkin lanterns into a playground, was begging for pumpkin seeds.

"Why are you asking for pumpkin seeds?"

"They're delicioussssh~"

Because we used up so many pumpkins today, we have a lot of pumpkin seeds.

Giving him some pumpkin seeds from the kitchen, Chibi holds one and starts gnawing it with his beak, skillfully picking out the contents to eat.

Somehow, he looks like a hamster eating a sunflower seed...

But, just as Chibi was about to take the last bite, for some reason it seemed, he was starting to behave like he had an intense dilemma, and he stopped eating the seed.

"What? What's the matter? Is that a nasty-tasting seed?"

"This pumpkin sheeeed, If I plant thissss under the willow tree, I'm going to help it grow. Then when it bearssssh fruits, Aoi-shan will make me a dish from it. And the sheeeds... I will eat them."

Wait, wait, what's going on?

After immediately running towards the willow tree, Chibi using his webbed fingers started digging and tearing up the ground, and with some skills he has planted the seed into the ground. Well, for sure he can grow it like that, but...

"Wh-?"

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And in that exact moment, on the other side of the willow tree...

Within the inner garden some mysterious movement was happening, which was a young couple, and when I noticed them I called over saying

"Is something the matter?", to which they immediately came towards me.

"Uhm... have you seen an item that has been dropped around here?"

"A missing item? What is it that you have lost?"

"Uhm, that is... A silver bracelet..."

After asking them about it, it seemed like the young couple was newly wedded, and had their honeymoon here in Tenjin-ya.

They were a very typical young couple. According to the young bride, it was a silver bracelet that her own mother had bequeathed her before she got married.

It seemed that it got lost somewhere around pumpkin lanterns, and they have been going around and around the pumpkin lanterns in order to find it.

Even though it was supposed to be a very special occasion, the young bride looked so pitiful, with her face full of so much worry and anxiety. Could it possibly be that Yugao may have caught sight of that bracelet...?

"There, there! Tenjin-ya has a Lost and Found, maybe they have it in there? They probably have it there already, they always find all of the guests' lost items, for sure. I'll lead the way over there, ok?"

Hearing our conversation, Kasuga immediately popped over and courteously lead the young couple while saying "this way please".

I saw that the young bride smiled to her husband with a sigh of relief.

P272

As expected of Kasuga, isn't she is a clever, competent employee?

"I have so much concerns, but by leaving everything else to Kasuga, I don't have to worry so much. Then I only have to give it my all with my cooking." I'll need to add more items to Yugao's regular menu, and I am not limiting it to this year's Autumn Festival specials.

-> Crunchy salad made with lightly-pickled pumpkin topped with the Southern Lands' tuna -> Assorted Tempura Platter (Pumpkin, Chicken), garnished with Kimon's famous product, pumpkin -> White fish and autumn vegetables simmered in a thick sauce - A rare set meal, featuring Odanna-sama's homegrown autumn eggplant

But, the most special menu item, which is also served to guests as appetizers, is the Pumpkin and Soy Milk Potage. Foremost, because it has shredded onions and homemade bacon, which was stir-fried with care.

This brings out the umami taste of the shredded onions and homemade bacon, and the bite-sized pumpkin slices' flavor explodes into the whole soup as it boils and simmers down.

"Aoi-san, thank you for your hard work." "Oh, Ginji-san, thanks for the hard work."

Ginji-san was making his rounds in Yugao, he was in the middle of executing his plans and arranging the setups, when the potage was just about ready.

For the sake of drawing up the plans while still doing his management duties, Ginji-san seems so busy even for today.

But, as expected, you can't even see tiredness in the fresh and lively smiles of Ginji-san.

"Ginji-san, it seems that your well-though plan was a huge success. Everyone seems to be enjoying it."

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"Oh, it's not like that. It's just that it happened to be dark when we set things up for the guests. It would have been easier to hold the entire event during daylight hours but... The lanterns' lights won't show up. But if it was held during the evening, then it slowly becomes more and more Halloween-y. The pumpkin lanterns' lights are seen even from above Tenjin-ya's skies."

"Ahhh, then that's wonderful. Even I myself think that it already has the best Halloween vibes. But then again, the Ayakashi world already seems Halloween-y, so I don't know if that translates well..."

Originally meant to be held as a talisman against evil spirits during Halloween, it has changed, and the pumpkin lantern is now used as a fun decoration for Halloween by common folk and travelers alike.

Increasingly, due to the avoidance and ignorance of magic among humans, the ayakashi have slowly warmed up to the idea of pumpkin lanterns and see them as something fun.

Even Jack-O-Lanterns can surely make anyone in the underworld cry.

“By the way, Aoi-san, the pumpkin smells good, doesn't it?"

"Yes, and it's also because of the pumpkin potage I made. I'm going to put a lot of soy milk when I make it, so it easily goes down the throat, and it's healthy too."

"Ohhh, that sounds delicious."

I placed all of the sauteed onions, bacon, and boiled pumpkin in a see-through mixing bowl** and mixed it all in. Once it has turned into a paste, I was helped by Ginji-san as I strained all of the contents.

Once it got a smooth consistency, I placed it back again in a pot to boil while adding a lot of soy milk.

By using soy milk instead of cow's milk, it stands out by tasting as refreshing and as mellow as a stickleback.

T/N: The transliteration was "goldfish bowl mixing bowl" but that sounds so unsanitary so I made it boring lol

P274

The bacon's umami has already dissolved, and I was putting a small amount of salt and pepper for seasoning.

"Ginji-san, have some of these first before you go back to work. After all, you probably won't have much time eating tonight, don't you?"

"Yay, it's a good thing I waited."

I poured some of the pumpkin potage into a bowl, and handed it to Ginji-san.

"Ah, after this please have some of the bread rolls. There's still a bit left of the canned tuna, so I could make you some tuna salad sandwich."

"Wow, really? Then I'm gonna eat a lot! It's because canned tuna is my all-time favorite!"

"Ohhh is that so? Alright, please have some potage while I go fix you one."

There was still a bit left of the prepared shredded onions, so I quickly stir-fried them, divided some into a bowl and added some canned tuna to mix. I added a bit of pepper to the homemade mayo, then some soy sauce to make simple flavoring .

The canned tuna from the Southern Lands, was very much different from the canned tuna sold in Utsushiyo, the flesh feels more sturdy and I could feel it as I mix, mix, mix the ingredients altogether...

"Hm.. I think this is ready and good to go."

After cutting the bread roll in half, I took a bit of the flavored mayo and added that to the bread roll, after which I added the tuna with stir-fried onions. That's it. Simple is best. That.. is the only thing needed to make a really good tuna sandwich.

T/N: Just a reminder that this is not a cookbook but yeah you can try the recipes out. I am not liable for any mishaps lol

P275

Even as he was sitting on the counter where I handed his sandwich, Ginji-san didn't seem to be holding back. He just sank his teeth into the tuna-filled bread roll. After chewing it noisily, he took a gulp of the potage.

"Hmmm, this is so delicious! The crunch of the stir-fried onions are still there! The saltiness of the tuna goes so well with the spiciness of the onions. This unsophisticated bread roll, along with the sweetness of the potage, they work exceptionally well together, don't they?"

"It seems like it. Nobody can hold back from a simple tuna sandwich, it will be the death of working people."

Unlike other dishes that are a hassle to make, this one is delicious yet really simple. These days I just enjoy eating a lot of sandwiches like that, but because I have been eating that since I was a child, it has been my long time cherished food.

So this is how it is, using a bread roll. Somehow, this gives of the feeling of elementary school food back in the day.

And yet, Ginji-san seems to have enjoyed eating it so much...

"Wahhh, this light snack has filled and warmed up my entire body, it was really delicious. Now I can go back to working at my best!"

Wow, it seemed that Ginji-san was really hungry back there. I'm gonna tell him that he can come again to eat when he has some free time later.

"Oh, right, I just remembered. The pumpkins that you used for the potage, aren't those the ones grown by Odanna-sama himself? It's truly mysterious, he even started growing that pumpkin that he hates so much."

"But.. surely, I think that even Odanna-sama will eventually come to like this potage."

And just like that, even though Ginij-san was still smiling, his gaze quickly dropped down.

P276

It was a quick reaction. I wonder if he's worried about something...

"Kyaaaaaa! Please stop it Kasuga, please stoooop!"

That came as a surprise. Out of nowhere, shrieks can be heard from outside.

"That voice... It's the Ookami-sama!"

What on earth is happening? Ginji-san and I went out to take a look.

It seems that there's some commotion at the main building, and at the west tower a multitude of waiters and waitresses were gathered around the one-eyed Ookami-sama. It was so noisy that the guests have also started to notice it.

"What is going on here, may I ask?" "Oh, Wakadanna-dono, that girl Kasuga, please make her stop!" In a very shrill voice the Ookami-sama begged and clung onto Ginji-san.

What the, Kasuga is on the roof of the western tower. Both Ginji-san and I were shocked.

"Wh-what's the matter Kasuga? What on earth are you doing over there?!"

"K-kasuga-san! It's dangerous up there, please go down in a safer place!"

Hearing our voices down below, Kasuga glanced toward us and took all of her voice out

"Uhm..."

"It was a crow. It was a crow that took our guests' silver bracelet. Please wait, I'll

P277

go down as soon as I can."

"Oh... that crow! That crow that took my kanzashi a while back!"

For sure, at the top of that western building, that one, shameless, impudent crow, whose looks we all despise. On its beak there was something glittery, could that be the guests' silver bracelet?

It seems that when Kasuga found out about it, she climbed all the way up the tower in order to get it back.

But whenever Kasuga was about to move, it seems like she's about to slip her feet and fall down, and it does not bode her well.

"Aaaahhhh! Kasuga please stop it right now! If something happens to you I will not be responsible!!!"

Ookami-sama is now starting to lose her wits.

As if it was normal though, Kasuga just said "Shhh, be quiet" and started focusing her attention to what she was doing. But the crow being a crow, it started darting back and forth towards Kasuga as if she was an idiot. It seems to be relishing the whole commotion.

"AAAAAH!"

"K-kasuga!"

That crow swatted at Kasuga's head and this caused her balance to break, slipping over the roof tiles and sending her down.

P278

Everyone started shrieking out loud. The Ookami-sama somehow lost her spirits, while being supported by the waitresses as they sat in that place and dealt with the whole incidence.

But Kasuga's fingertips were able to stay in place, and while keeping her body in balance, she was able to climb up on the roof again.

Eventually, Ginji-san said "I'm coming to help you" and just when it seemed that he was changing into his giant fox form while saying "Please hang on-"

"Aaaaah!"

From behind, on the other side someone tightly grabbed Ginji-san's third tail from the right, which was hanging down. Because of that, he didn't transform completely, and he ended up with his baby fox form.

When he looked back, he saw that O-ryo's face was looking at him relentlessly.

"Wakadanna-sama, this is none of your business. This is something that Kasuga must follow through on her own."

"But.. But O-ryo!"

"Aoi, just shut up and watch."

O-ryo, what the heck are you even thinking right now?

On the other hand, poor Ginji-san seems to be dejected. Humiliated as he is, he casually hid behind me as he trembled and shook. So it was true that the third tail from the right was really weak...

P279

"Kasuga!"

From yonder, O-ryo's voice reached Kasuga who was still on the roof.

"It's our guests' important missing item you know. Don't let that crow get away with it!"

"O-ryo sama..."

Everyone in there had no idea why O-ryo would say such things.

Kasuga was being made to retrieve the guests' silver bracelet.

Ookami-sama shrieked out "What on earth are you even saying!!", but O-ryo just flat out ignored her screams, and when Kasuga looked at O-ryo, she immediately understood, she looked like she braced herself tightly as she started climbing back onto the roof again.

"Ouch!"

The crow, while still holding the bracelet in its beak, started attacking Kasuga furiously.

As Kasuga kept crying "Ouch! Ouch!" in hushed tones while the crow was relentlessly attacking her outstretched hand, she pulled out something from inside her kimono.

"Look here, This is the "Hell-juu" that Aoi-chan made~ It's delicious~"

"..."

"What in the.. Kasuga was carrying a concealed "Hell-juu"?

Kasuga realized it in an instant, when the crow's eyes started twinkling, and she didn't miss the opportunity to use the "Hell-juu" as bait, and flung the manjuu.

P280

The crow opened its beak wide, and perfectly caught it.

On its beak it replaced the silver bracelet, which dropped and rolled down, down down from the roof.

"No, wait!"

The bracelet has dangerously rolled off the roof, someone needs to chase after and grab hold of it but...

Good thing she was surrounded by the west tower's walls, Kasuga already leapt off the roof and and shot off into the sky.

This was a scary feat, and as Kasuga was clutching the bracelet in her bosom, her true form was revealed, and in an instant, on the chimney, there stood a tiny tanuki.

"Ohhh, Kasuga!"

Nobody dared close their eyes.

Even though she wasn't swayed, O-ryo kept watching over Kasuga.

"Nice job, Kasuga!"

O-ryo swung her sleeves, and rolled up a really powerful snowstorm.

The snowstorm wrapped up and cradled tiny tanuki Kasuga, the air gently softened the impact and she fell onto the ground with a plop.

Kasuga got covered by the snow and was shivering, and she fell on her ribboned backside. We had no idea if she got any major injuries.

"Kasuga.. Are you cold?"

P281

She was asked by O-ryo, who had a daunting stance in front of her.

Kasuga, while still shivering, slowly opened her cute, round eyes.

It was because O-ryo was looking at her without much concern.

"When you had no choice but to bear that cold, before you looked like a tiny tanuki that was being pelted on by the harsh cold winds of the northern lands, if that happens you'll instantly get frozen up. A frozen tanuki..., When you look like that, little by little... You'd look like a pudgy, stumpy, cute little tanuki!"

Upon saying those words, O-ryo looked up in the sky as her face became distorted.

With her hands on her waist, she remarkably looked very elated.

"Even though back home I hated being a snow lady, the snow folk families are very tight-knit and clannish. You'll think that we're cold, lonely, and harsh but... Please don't imagine us like that. Even though you're a shivering tanuki, you won't get looked at without getting any pity."

"O-ryo..."

In the end, no one else was more worried about Kasuga than O-ryo.

Because she knew about so much stuff on the northern lands and the snow folk, she had always been so worried about Kasuga going to live there...

That's why when she said that she was quitting work and getting married off to live there, O-ryo had a very strong stance against it.

"Wahhh, O-ryo sama!!!"

P282

With a pop, Kasuga returned to her human girl form, and hugged O-ryo's waist.

For sure, it helped that O-ryo expressed her thoughts, and once again it was reassuring.

It must have been so awkward for the revered O-ryo, but it seemed that Kasuga was someone she was deeply concerned about.

O-ryo hasn't said anything yet, but only kept patting Kasuga's head.

The crimson twilight has appeared, and it was a memorable sight, the two's silhouettes hugging each other.

That O-ryo has always been selfish and gets her way, but not right now, for she is supporting her kouhai and sending her off, and now she appears as the wonderful sempai attendant.

"Well, now hurry off to return the guests' bracelet. What a pity, they couldn't find it so for sure they're in the lobby all depressed."

"Oh, right!"

"And after you're done here, go to the banquet hall that I'm in charge of, up until the end I will make you word hard."

"Heeeeyy, even though right now, Kasuga is helping at Yugao?!"

"Hee hee hee. Too bad, Aoi. Give us Kasuga. From the very start she has always been my subordinate."

Even though Kasuga was bewildered, I gave up and put up a bitter-sweet smile at her saying "Well, we can't do anything about that", and even as she wore a burdened smile at me, she hurried back to the lobby quickly.

And without missing a beat, that woman O-ryo called out to all the onlooking attendants and said "Alright everybody, back to work!" and directed and

P283

guided everyone on what to do as they went back to the main hall. Even that Ookami-sama went back while she was shaking and trembling...

After seeing what happened, no matter what anyone says, I believe that O-ryo is still skilled at being a Wakaookami.

Every since the beginning, that has always been what Kasuga knows.

And even until now, she still believes it.

"Aoi-san, it seems that even for today, it's busy hasn't it?"

Ginji-san, who was still in his tiny fox form, at my heels, spoke out cheerfully.

I picked up Ginji-san and held him in my arms.

"Heheh, well, it is. But.. Ai-chan learned so many things from Kasuga, Yugao will just continue business as usual."

"Well, if my abilities weren't so limited, I would be going there to help out too. I know that I have no business saying this, but during the time that Kasuga was in Yugao, I felt a bit lonely."

"Aww, really now? But I think that if Ginji-san's workload decreased, you'd be very happy, won't you? But if you're there, you'd still be worried."

While petting his fluffy tails, we looked at each other and stifled a laugh. Well, nightfall is drawing near.

All around Tenjin-ya, the pumpkin lanterns' lights grew even brighter.

P284

And in a few moments, Yugao's evening business hours will be starting.

A few guests will appear here and there and would start lining up in front of Yugao, so we need to get back quickly.

x-x-x

That day's business hours was booming.

There were no unexpected increase in customers, it was an announced event and everything went successfully just as planned, all of the ingredients were properly allotted and there was no shortage. It was very busy, but Ai-chan and Chibi were there, and thankfully Ginji-san occasionally pops right in to help, and up until closing hours the rounds in the shop went well without a hitch.

The huge number of guests were also due to the advertisements in the souvenir shops, and it was something worth celebrating for.

"Whew, finally it has ended. Ai-chan and Chibi you're both tired too, let's go to sleep!"

After business hours, Yugao was empty and we were done cleaning up after the day.

With her head facing up, Ai-chan was out like a light and was fast asleep in the corner of the tatami seating room. I brought a blanket from the kitchen and covered her up with it. Even though she easily falls asleep these days, now she easily doesn't go back into the pendant, and I call that progress.

Beside her was Chibi sleeping soundly again with a swelling snot bubble.

Ginji-san has left Yugao afterwards, surely after the events it will still be busy,

P285

and it always has been the case.

There were still huge celebrations outside. A huge pumpkin lantern with ogre lights is flying on top of Tenjin-ya, it looks like there's still a show going on.

I'm sure that it looks very pretty. It's very much visible but, I can't see it from here so....

"Aoi, thank you for your hard work."

"Oh..."

The sliding door to Yugao opened, and it was Odanna-sama.

I did promise to do something, he probably came in to remind me.

"Why do you look so surprised?"

"Not really... Aren't you busy? I feel bad, I didn't know that you'll be coming here..."

"Oh, well an invitation from Aoi is very generous. At this time of the night it already has been empty and closed. Even my stomach is already empty."

"Aww.. Well, I apologize for that."

However, I was glad that he came.

Because I was on a quest to help Odanna-sama overcome his difficulty with pumpkins, and I did my best in researching pumpkin recipes for him.

P286

"Sit over at the counter. Oh.. Now that we're looking at it, it feels weird that Odanna-sama has come to Yugao to eat."

"You're saying that now that I've finally come here?"

"..."

"While I was going here, I didn't hear anybody saying any complaints about it."

Probably, but...

If Odanna-sama has been going here to Yugao from the very beginning, it would seem that, with his position, in the eyes of the other employees, he is showing some favoritism, I think.

During those times, even if that guy didn't say anything, even if I didn't know about it, we were just following protocol.

"Oh, uhm... I want Odanna-sama to try eating some deep-fried meat patty with pumpkin.

"Deep-fried meat patty with pumpkin? Hm... I haven't heard of that kind of food before."

Some food he never had before, and pumpkin, these made Odanna-sama in some way, very nervous.

While holding his pose he went over to the side counter, and I could only gaze at him from the side.

"It's image is similar to a croquette made out of pumpkin. I didn't sell any in the shop today, this is a dish I made exclusively for Odanna-sama behind the scenes. There's a lot of meat, and the meat patty has some spicy peppers."

P287

"Being an exclusive recipe.. That's so much like a wife, I'm so glad."

"What? Which part?"

"But a meat patty with spicy peppers... Uhm.... I don't know how that would taste like."

Odanna-sama's face says it all... Pumpkins that are supposedly sweet mixed with meat and chilli peppers.. I dunno how that goes.

"You wait right there. I'll make you something. Oh, also have some of the potage I made."

I heated up the potage I made, and placed it in a small bowl. I made Ginji-san some bread rolls to add to his, but for Odanna-sama I made some garlic croutons out of the bread crusts and added it on top.

Holding his spoon, while looking confused, Odanna-sama took a spoonful of the potage in his mouth.

"Mmm.. I didn't imagine that it's easy to drink. I imagined it would be thick, but it's goes down smoothly."

"I strained it many times. After adding a lot of soymilk, I added simple seasonings to it."

"What are these things that seem to be afloat?"

"Those are croutons. Is this your first time eating them? I added some garlic and salt to some cold bread crusts, cut them into tiny pieces, and toasted them on the stove. It adds a nice salty taste, and I think it keeps the soup's sweetness more interesting."

"Oh.. You're right. This is good. I could readily drink all of this!"

The garlic's flavor was effective, and the croutons were crunchy. The aroma and the texture, it seemed that Odanna-sama

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enjoyed the potage.

It seems that he has already drank all of the potage up, I should make him the deep-fried patty now.

While I was about to start cooking, Chibi, who was sleeping beside Ai-chan, woke up, and went towards Odanna-sama.

"Saaaay Ogre-shaaaan, how do you grow a huuuuge pumpkin?"

"Hmm?"

Chibi started climbing onto Odanna-sama's sleeve, and started asking him on how to grow pumpkins.

That little one, he got passionate for growing pumpkins.

Odanna-sama being an Odanna-sama, happily started talking about and teaching Chibi about how to plant pumpkins. It seemed that he suddenly bonded with Chibi as an older brother, like a commander of vegetable farmers and holding secrets...

Well, Odanna-sama can take care of Chibi on the side, and I will be making the deep-fried meat patty with pumpkin.

While the pumpkin gets soft and mushy as it's being boiled, I'll make some other dishes, and I already prepared the ingredients.

I finely chopped some onions and stir-fried them, and mixed these with both pork and beef in a bowl, and added the pumpkin and an egg yolk after that, then splashed some soymilk in, and kept mixing everything until it has gotten very sticky.

Then I made some sauces for flavoring, some salt and pepper, seven-spice and chili peppers, and a spoonful each of secret ingredients: mayonnaise and ketchup.

Now it's just like frying your usual fried food. The meat was shaped into a round patty, and dipped these in flour, beaten egg and panko crumbs,

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and fried them in oil.

The sauce is also conventional. Homemade ketchup and Worcestershire sauce, with roasted sesame seeds were mixed together.

The deep-fried meat patty is now well-done. I made Chibi's tiny meat patty while I was at it.

I piled a huge amount of shredded cabbage on a plate, and arranged two large pieces of fried patty.

I placed a lot of the sauces in another container, so that anyone can add whatever they like.

In another bowl, I added the pumpkin soup and croutons plentifully.

To make it really into the delicious flavors of autumn, I stir-fried some mustard spinach greens and some eggplant with some soy sauce. I added some eggplants harvested from Odanna-sama's vegetable patch.

Since the soup has already been drank up, I made the meal a lot more deluxe by adding some broth made out of matsutake mushrooms.

"Odanna-sama, now I'm thinking of choosing, between plain white rice or rice and barley, which one would you prefer?"

"Oh, really? It has been a while since I ate rice and barley."

"As expected, rice and barley are a better match with fried food."

I mixed the barley and rice then boiled it. Even though newly-harvested plain rice tastes better, as the barley is being cooked and mixed, its added texture makes it stand out and the rice even more fun to eat.

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While the rice and barley are cooking, more pumpkin dishes. I added some lightly-pickled pumpkin for garnishing.

"Thank you for waiting, Odanna-sama, here is our specially-made premium meal, deep-fried minced meat patty with pumpkin. I added a lot of pumpkin in the meat, please have a taste."

"...It looks delicious, what Aoi made..."

"You're saying that while you're sweating profusely..."

Even though a while ago he was drinking some soup.

I thought so, him having to deal with something difficult hasn't been brushed off.

"Aoi-shaaaan~, I wanna, I wanna eat some minced meat too~"

Chibi hopped onto the counter and started demanding by jumping up and down over and over again, I cut a piece of the minced meat small enough for a baby, placed it on a plate and put it in front of him.

"Okay you two, that is fresh off the fryer and very hot, the juices of the meat might ooze out, so be careful when you eat it."

At first, Odanna-sama took a sip of his matsutake soup, took a bit of the turnip garnish on the side, and well, with all his might gently took some of pumpkin minced meat.

"Ohhh!"

I knew it, the juicy meat was heart-pounding. As hot steam piped out, the pumpkin's pretty yellow color was intertwined with the coarsely-ground meat.

And despite that...

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"Mmmm... it tastes sweet, but also spicy? Is that.. seven-spice?"

While chewing, Odanna-sama had a surprised look on his face.

The crumbly pumpkin's sweetness, the meat and its juiciness filled with onions, and adding the seven-spice to make it spicy, it was made perfectly.

"The pumpkin tastes sweet, but the addition of the seven-spice gave it heat, it ties up all of the flavors. And because of the meat's juiciness, that alone makes the pumpkin's presence unnoticeable, doesn't it? No matter how you taste it, it just melts in your mouth."

"Oh... The meat's flavor rather than the pumpkin brings everything together. It's good, like after eating edamame. It's a perfect accent. It feels like eating pumpkin that I had difficulties with, I won't have any left-overs."

"Well, rather than forcing someone who finds it difficult to eat pumpkin, by adding other ingredients and lending their flavors, I think it becomes easier to eat. As for removing your difficulty in eating it, if you keep eating a lot of the food made to taste better and easier to eat, as you keep eating them you'll get used to it, right?"

"Woah, Aoi, you're a scheming person."

Odanna-sama started stifling off his amused laugh.

And once more, asking for another plate of the rice and barley, he filled his mouth with some pumpkin minced meat. Odanna-sama eats his food neatly, but when he takes a huge bite, at the end of the day he still eats like a man.

P292

"Oh, it was like what you were saying, Aoi. By adding light sauce to the minced meat, it's an added improvement to the rice and barley."

"Right? Oh, just looking at it makes me go hungry too."

"Is it alright if you eat beside me? You haven't eaten dinner, right?"

"Yup, but for today I thought I want to devote myself to serving Odanna-sama food and drinks.."

I tried averting my gaze, but then my stomach made a loud noise.

He tried to hold it in, but Odanna-sama couldn't hide the laughter in his face.

Ahhh, whatever! Stop reading how hungry I am!

"It's alright. You don't have to steel yourself in front of me."

"Normally I keep my composure, but what are you implying, Odanna-sama?"

Fiiine. I don't care, I'm gonna eat.

In my desperation, I arranged all my deluxe food in a plate, and sat beside Odanna-sama.

"I'm gonna eat now."

And with gusto, I partook of my food.

Mmm. it truly shows that autumn is the best season of good appetite. Just about everything in this season is really delicious.

Especially when I work a lot, whenever I eat food on an empty stomach, everything just tastes so good.

"Aoi, don't worry about how you're eating."

"Mmm?"

P293

My mouth was full of minced meat, so I replied with my mouth closed.

I saw that Odanna-sama's meal was half-finished in front of him.

"That is no different from everyone else. Food is something absolutely necessary for anybody to stay alive. Even if occasionally you can't eat something high-class and delightful, you need it to stay alive each day, and when you're eating a familial warm home-cooked meal, it just gives you that sensation of being alive."

"What are you talking about, Odanna-sama. You're exaggerating."

"Hmm. The meals that you call food, even if it's that one thing where you feel like you belong. It can be beside anybody, but it makes you feel like you can be vulnerable in that place, doesn't it?"

"Where you belong..."

I have heard that from Odanna-sama so many times...

After eating his meal with a gulp and drinking his fill, Odanna-sama showed the side of his face.

Working out those features, no matter how it looks like he smiles like a young boy.

And yet, despite that, it seems like he has another side to him...

"Hmph. Ginji describes your cooking as something that "makes ayakashi hearts go wild", and it seems like it. It looks like your cooking is no match to those whose hearts are obstinately closed."

"Is there anything that you want to tell me?"

I unabashedly asked.

P294

"Can we talk about something right now, just for a bit? But, this is something that is beyond what I normally would talk about. This is a secret belief among most ayakashi. And I feel very strongly about it."

"..But Odanna-sama, I don't get what this situation is all about..."

"Might you become angry at me?"

"I don't understand why I would be angry at Odanna-sama but, yes I would like to know more about what you're about to say."

When I thought that I was getting to understand this person bit by bit, it has become clear that everything about him seems so hazy that I can't see anymore.

Even though it feels like he wants to intensely keep me in suspense, I was just holding the fried minced meat patty with my chopsticks, empathically chewing it in my cheeks very slowly.

Even though these are the times when it seems like it's the most crucial moment, "It's fine, just keep eating", Odanna-sama says as it seems that he is still relaxed over the matter.

"Aoi..."

"What now? If you want dessert, it's in the fridge..."

"It's not that."

After drinking his after-meal tea**, Odanna-sama, with formalilty, placed an object in front of me.

What is this... a key?

It was a beautiful obsidian glass key.

It looked like a key that came out of a fairy-tale from a foreign land. And in those stories, it's a secret key.

"I want Aoi to keep this safe, for me."

"Me? Why...?"

T/N: As far as I am aware of, this might be an Asian thing, wherein after having meals it is custom to drink something like tea or hot water (Hi Steven’s Dad lolol) to aid in digestion. Some say it helps stave off calories, I say this just helps with the bloat.

P295

"I still have some stuff left to do, and I need to go to Youto as well. It seems that I'm still going to Youto to go out and do things. Well, think that I'm like in a business trip, dealing with so many part-time jobs here and there, as well as managing the matter regarding Kasuga. While I'm gone, if there's anything that you are concerned about, I won't know about it."

My eyes blinked back in surprise. If that's the case, why the key, and why me?

"This... What is this key for?"**

"That I cannot tell you. But, the thing is, if you really want to GET-TO-KNOW-MORE about me, and you have no other choices, then you have to find the place which that key unlocks.

"Uhm...?"

I wanna know. I don't wanna know.

I could see them in his eyes, those extreme mixed feelings, it seemed like these were fighting inside Odanna-sama.

Having those feelings while wearing a bitter-sweet smile, he pushed his hair behind his ears.

In an instant, the color of his eyes changed.

It wasn't warm, but it wasn't a cold gaze either, it seemed so captivating like a clear, empty sky.

"Aoi, you always say that you wanted to get to know more about me. But if you do get to know who I really am, I wonder, will you grow to hate me even more? That.. is what I am worried about. That is because, ultimately, I am still an ogre."

"Odanna-sama?"

T/N: LOL how about the key to your heart lololol do I look like I care lol ofc I do fam. Don't we all lol

P296

A while ago, I asked those words. I was wondering what good things to say, and Odanna-sama went "I have to leave in a bit." as he stood up. Oh no, the dessert... I missed my chance to give some for him to eat.

"I have been pleased with the food, Aoi. Thanks to you, my impression on the pumpkin that I had difficulty eating has been changed. Aoi's home-cooked meals, somehow you have made me eat some. As expected from my housewife."

And from a new wife it suddenly became a housewife. "Ahahaha" While finally laughing, Odanna-sama petted my head while saying "There, there, there". In a moment, he saw my kanzashi, but he didn't say anything in particular, and in a bit he pulled away his hand. "Well then, Aoi" While my head was tousled, I sent off Odanna-sama as he left Yugao. In front of Yugao's shop curtain, the black haori fluttering from that height, dissolving into the darkness and disappearing... That height was really tall. In all of Tenjin-ya, the multitudes of Ayakashi couldn't reach that height.** And yet, why this time, his back seems secluded and a little solitary... W... Wait, Odanna-sama!" "..."

T/N: Supposedly, ogres or Oni were very tall, like super-tall, they're not exactly giants but they're tall-ish Youkai, like the tallest, hence in both the anime and the covers of the light novels, Odanna-sama is illustrated as the tallest dude in the bunch. Unless he's on covert ninja mode. Still tall though.

P297 Weirdly I felt impatient, and I ran out, and grabbed Odanna-sama's kimono. Odanna-sama turned his head. I abruptly raised my face, and I stared at him with assertion. "I... I like, Odanna-sama." ".. .what? Aoi?" "I trust, Odanna-sama"

Odanna-sama slowly opened his eyes and stared. Shocked, his mouth slacked open and was about to say something, but it seemed that he couldn't say anything. What "like" means, it's like "love" but I don't know it yet. My emotions kept getting intense.

"Odanna-sama, a while ago didn't you tell me? When everyone in Tenjin-ya was judging me... confidently, you said that I was a person who can give my all and win. When I made a small mistake, you didn't put me down..." How much can one be happy, hearing those words? How much relief can it give?

"It's also the same with Odanna-sama. Now I can trust Odanna-sama, and continuously, from the sidelines give support. In the most crucial moments I'll come to your side. I'll help you. No matter how many times..." Almost certainly, even my young self would. But, even though it's different, Odanna-sama has already saved me countless times. . P298 My trust in that person, is enough.

"That is why, whatever I'll find out, I will not hate Odanna-sama!"

That was all, I thought I have conveyed what I needed to say. Odanna-sama's red eyes, it only got wrapped in a surprised expression, and little by little it started flickering. With my question, his mouth opened again. But... Not one word came out.

Odanna-sama pulled my waist closer, and that mouth that spun words, blocked mine.

"..."

The passion was so deep and vast, the extent of feeling and not feeling, everywhere felt so light, it was so unexpected, and in an instant my mind went blank.

When our lips pulled away, the feeling of a warm and moist breath, other than understanding what just happened, the corners of my eyes became hot. I couldn't blink because of that.

"Na.... O, Oda... what?" My pulse suddenly became fast. Normally I would've been angry, but I was

P299 more surprised than angry, and my words became incoherent.

In spite of not feeling anything easily, I couldn't say anything. I burned and blushed, I was embarrassed to have my red-as-an-apple face seen. I instantly covered my face with my palms. Me being like that, Odanna-sama hugged me tightly, and whispered in my ear.

"..." "Aoi. Undoubtedly, you'll become my wife."

"..." "From the bottom of my heart, I revere you."

I don't get it. Why those words? In that moment, those came out of Odanna-sama's mouth.

It's easier to say "I like you", but right now, after so long a time, it deeply pierced and cut through me. Although, it did touch my heart a little bit.

Beyond Odanna-sama's wide shoulders, I realized that I could see him amidst the darkness.

And with that, the lightly-floating moon hid itself in the navy blue sky, and somehow it got dimmer.

End of Chapter 9, Volume 6. Previous - Intermission 3 Next - Chapter 10.

References:

Wonderful site for the youkai references

Basic online dictionary, Jisho. Knowledge of verb conjugations and other words are necessary since not all have entries.

If you can read Japanese, you can buy the whole set in Amazon Japan, they’re shipping worldwide now, I think.

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