"D*mn it all!"
I shouted as I sprinted forward. While shouting, I thrust my spear toward the grinning face of a flat-faced creature that leaped out in front of me. I tore through flesh, crushing its bones.
"Tch!"
Without hesitation, I swung my spear, striking down the monster and leaving its lifeless body behind without a second glance. I kept sprinting through the seemingly endless corridor.
"Huff... huff... D*mmit! There's no end!"
Gasping for breath, sweat dripping down my forehead, but still, I didn't stop running. I couldn't stop. If I stopped even for a moment, certain death awaited me.
...Behind me, countless voices echoed, closing in.
"...!"
Immediately, the sliding screen next to me was forcefully pulled open. Something white flew out. I slid my body to avoid the clutches of that sinister hand at the last moment. Then, instinctively, I turned around.
It was a cat's paw. A gigantic cat's paw. It growled unhappily, scratching its claws everywhere along the corridor, searching for the prey it had missed.
"Tch, they're coming from the front too...!?"
If I turned to face the noise, I could see countless shadows approaching from the other side of the seemingly endless corridor.
There was a man wearing a Noh mask. A kappa in a tuxedo with a wide smile. A Kazukiarai wearing a kimono, sobbing uncontrollably. A Kejoro wielding a kitchen knife, screaming wildly. A Soroban-Bōzu running while playing the abacus. An ittan-momen and Jinmenken (Human-faced dog). Abura-sumashi and various other incomprehensible creatures, all filling the corridor and advancing toward me.
"What's going on here...!!"
'Meowww!!'
Smirking at the chaotic figures approaching from the front, I turned to the growling sound behind me.
A Maneki-neko had bitten and seized the neck of a baboon that had persistently been chasing after me. It stared at me intently while still holding onto the struggling baboon. As soon as the baboon was slammed onto the floor, its neck snapped, and it ceased to breathe.
'Meow~'
With a single cry, the Maneki-neko that had caught a fish instead of a dorayaki stared at me with emotionless, large eyes. Our gazes met, and there was a brief moment of silence.
And then... immediately, the cat revealed a grotesque smile, tossing away the lifeless baboon and even the large cloth it had been carrying. It charged toward me.
"You b*stard...!!"
I was dumbfounded, but quickly understood the situation and spat out the words. There were no more choices.
"It's a risky gamble...!!"
In an instant, I made up my mind and reached for one of the countless sliding screens. I swallowed my saliva. Now, will a demon (oni) or a snake appear...!!
"Sh*tty luck! How did it come to this...!!?"
I shouted as I jumped into the pitch-black darkness beyond the pulled-back screen. I vomited in the midst of the monster's guts.
And I wondered. How did things end up in this worst-case scenario where I had no choice but to reset my save data in this damn game?
I recalled the series of events that led me to this point...
* * *
"Iruka, don't touch the old offerings, or you'll get sick."
"What the hell do you think I am!?"
In the backyard of the Onitsuki family's residence, on top of a small hill, I was cleaning and replacing offerings and flowers at an unmarked grave. I warned Iruka, who was next to me. Naturally, she responded with insults, but I didn't mind. It was just a reflection of her problematic behavior.
It was the 14th year of Emperor Seiri's reign, and we were in the middle of the month of Mutsuki (1st lunar month). In terms of the 24 solar terms, it was around the time of Risshun (the beginning of spring), but the winter in the Northern region was still deep. It had been snowing heavily just yesterday. Thanks to that, many graves were buried under the snow, including this unmarked grave on the small hill.
Since I regularly cleaned and maintained this place, I came here a little earlier than usual. But now, why was Iruka here?
"I messed up. It's frustrating. I followed you because you were carrying something that smelled delicious, and this is what I get. I'm disappointed."
"Don't be disappointed on your own. It's your own fault."
And I still knew the reason why this girl was by my side. She came here hoping for some leftovers.
"Tch, don't snatch this from me and eat it on your own, okay?"
I threw one of the steamed buns I had prepared as an offering. I couldn't tolerate her eating what I've prepared without my permission from the side.
"What's with that disgusted look... There's no sin in taking food, so take it."
"No, are you going to eat it?"
Without any intention of helping with the work here, Iruka stuffed the steamed bun into her mouth and I couldn't help but make a comment. Who the hell do you think you are, you dog?
"Seriously, I'm losing the energy to make sarcastic remarks... huh?"
Sighing, I was about to return to cleaning when I sensed someone's presence and instinctively prepared myself. Iruka did the same, holding her weapon. However, I immediately told Iruka to lower her weapon.
"Monk Hayashi Gen, it's dangerous to be out in this treacherous path. The stairs are frozen."
"Hahaha. Isn't that a foolish question? If that's the case, isn't it strange for Tomobe-dono to be staying here?"
Climbing up the stairs, the jovial monk with a wrinkled face, but a gentle and kind demeanor, appeared. He was Hayashi Gen, the head monk of Oniwari Temple, the only temple in the Onitsuki Valley. He was also the caretaker of this unmarked grave and sometimes collaborated with me on burial and memorial work, so we had a deep relationship.
"These are the graves of our comrades. It's self-indulgent, but... normally, I entrust the management to you, Hayashi Gen -dono. It must be hard to come here at your age, isn't it?"
"Well, as a matter of fact, I can't lose to the young ones. Besides, as a monk seeking the path of Buddha, I am still inexperienced. Managing this place is also a spiritual and physical practice for me. Your concern is unnecessary."
The monk laughed cheerfully and denied my words. Practice, huh...
"W-well... if it's about muscles, you seem to be fine for a while longer."
Looking at the monk's body peeking through the gaps in his robes, it did seem disrespectful to treat him as an old man.
Literally, the monk's body was made of steel. He had numerous wrinkles, and his bones were clearly visible, but his physique had an artistic muscularity to it.
(As expected, he embodies the image of an ancient and respectable Buddhist monk...)
Whether it was fact or legend, it was said that the founder of a certain world religion, upon his birth, was prophesied by an elderly seer to become a world-conquering warlord or a wise religious leader.
As it is known, the founder in my previous world chose the latter path, but in this world, they pursued both paths. In the teachings of Buddhism originating from Tenjiku (resembling ancient India), monks are required to train their bodies to such an extent that they can utilize them as weapons.
The founders of the Buddhist path, or rather the major founders of religions in this world, are generally martial artists. Not in the sense of being skilled in interpersonal combat, but in the sense of being skilled in combating youkai.
Isn't there a famous scene in the Buddhist scriptures where a disciple says, "There is no distinction of noble or low in life. So, it's only youkais that can be vanquished, right?" Also, what's the significance of the main hall of the temple featuring a statue of Buddha with a severed demon's head, standing triumphantly on the head of an evil dragon? And why do all the bodhisattvas have benevolent smiles while being covered in blood and possessing muscular, partially exposed bodies? Additionally, what about them emitting proton beams from their eyes and launching Kamehameha waves from both arms, obliterating groups of youkai (according to the official setting)?
Of course, it has been thousands of years since people who have attained enlightenment passed away in various senses. The Buddhist path has also split into numerous sects, and when the teachings flowed into Fusō-kuni, they underwent significant changes, which further intensified after their introduction. There are quite a few corrupt temples like the one entrusted to Shirowakamaru.
In that sense, the Buddhist monk Hayashi Gen can be considered a highly dedicated Buddhist monk. He has been hailed as a prodigy since his youth in the great temples of the capital. He is faithful to the teachings, filled with boundless benevolence and virtue, and his steel-like body can tear apart small youkai with his bare hands. He handles various ceremonies such as memorial services and funerals at an extremely reasonable price and is highly respected by the residents living in the Onitsuki Valley, where he resides, as a teacher who disciplines young monks.
"Oh, no, I'm not that conceited. Few of the young monks listen attentively to my lectures. During study time, all they do is scribble... and at the Puja, it was filled with elderly people; the young ones these days seem to have grown tired of it. I can only keenly feel my own immaturity in conveying the Buddhist path."
The self-deprecating old monk, however, didn't seem as pessimistic as his tone suggested. It appeared that he had some understanding regarding the lack of interest shown by the younger generation in the Buddhist path. Well, it's not a good situation when too many people become overly obsessed with religion. From the old monk's perspective, it might be enough for them to pray on behalf of those who can't.
By the way, in the original game, this old man only appeared in dialogues. But in the novel version, he becomes a true hero, taking on a desperate battle against youkai with his bare hands to protect the villagers who took refuge in the Onitsuki Valley. The scene of his fight is one that can't be read without shedding tears.
...Well, even though he went to such lengths to protect the villagers, they end up being destroyed in the ugly conflict of the yandere. The harsh reality of impermanence is truly unforgiving.
"That's... By the way, how are the people I'm taking care of? If they're not causing any trouble for Hayashi Gen-dono, then it's all good."
As I recalled that concern in the old monk's conversation, I asked. The subject is the lecture for the servants that I have been asking the old monk to give periodically.
Until now, it was primarily handled through education within the servant group, but lately, there have been occasional minor youkai disturbances in various places due to the shortage of manpower. Additionally, with the reinforcement of village security, the combat unit has been further strained.
Unable to come up with any solutions, starting this year, I asked Monk Hayashi Gen to handle part of the education for the younger group, including reading and writing, knowledge of medicine, and basic training in unarmed martial arts for self-defense. Of course, it wasn't a complete handover; I scheduled approximately two sessions per week, lasting about one or two hours each time. Even with just that, it noticeably lightened the workload for my subordinates. However, the issue is that it causes inconvenience for the elderly monk standing right in front of me.
"Don't worry, they're all clever. Some are older, some are younger, but they all listen to the lectures earnestly."
"But... I feel guilty that you have to do this for my selfishness, and moreover, it's unpaid."
"Oh no, youkai are an evil that should be defeated even on the Buddhist path. If it helps protect the common people, then it becomes a part of a training and merits. And on top of that, to expect even more rewards would be the desire of a greedy monk. Please don't worry about it."
The old monk declared this with reverence and bowed politely. It seemed to be a genuine statement, not just a form of false modesty or restraint.
"I'm the one who should be sorry. ...You mentioned that the attendance of the young ones is poor, right? I will attend the next preaching. Though it may not sit well with others to see a servant showing up with a face like mine."
If I may add, sitting in the seiza position makes my legs go numb, and to be honest, I can't understand more than half of the conversation.
"That's a kind offer. ...Well, let's end the long conversation here. Your companion also seems bored."
"Huh?"
When the old monk said that, I turned around, hiding my displeasure behind my expression. There, sitting by the gravestone, was Iruka, who seemed genuinely bored as she rested her chin on her hand. Caught off guard by the old monk's remark and my gaze, the half-youkai Ezo girl awkwardly averted her face, looking flustered.
"...I apologize for the rudeness of my household members."
"Oh no, it's not a problem. I came up here precisely for the purpose of cleaning and replacing the offerings."
"But still..."
"No need to worry. It was my original intention to do so. Besides, it wouldn't be appropriate for young men and women to loiter around the Unmarked Grave forever. If you want to meet, there are more elegant places for that. In fact, staying here may bring you two misfortune."
Hayashi Gen's words made my expression tense. It was meant to be a joke, but it was not a very amusing one. Iruka and I having a rendezvous? It was not something to laugh about.
Iruka seemed to think the same thing. She responded with an obvious expression of annoyance to the monk's words.
