eternal cowardly weakling

"When you introduce yourself, you usually only do it once," Umeboshi said in a slightly teasing tone, letting out a sigh as he clutched his chest in pain.

Anna blushed faintly, quickly placing a hand behind her head in embarrassment. "Is that so? I didn't know… Sorry!" she replied with a nervous laugh.

Umeboshi looked at the strange girl for a moment, curiosity flickering in his tired eyes. He shifted his gaze to the ground and said softly, "It's fine, but… you said you're the last of your family. Does that mean they're…"

Before he could finish, Anna interrupted him in a neutral tone, her voice calm yet carrying an undercurrent of something heavier. "They're not dead… at least, I don't think so. Some of them might be, but… I never verified it." She paused for a moment, her tone faltering slightly. "But one thing's for sure—they're not here anymore."

When she finished speaking, Umeboshi noticed the faint tremble in her voice. It struck a chord with him, and he decided not to push the conversation any further. Still, he couldn't help but find her words strange. If only some of her family were gone, why would they abandon such a young girl? She didn't seem much older than Viora.

The sound of the rain intensified as lightning streaked across the heavens, illuminating the mortal realm for a fleeting moment. Umeboshi gazed out at the stormy world beyond the cave and broke the silence.

"You said the tree you saved me from was a Jubokko. What exactly is that?"

Anna gripped the red scarf tied around her head, her pale lips curling into a gentle smile. "Jubokko means 'tree child.' It's a yokai, a tree that feeds on human blood to stay eternally fresh. They're said to appear in former battlefields where many lives were lost. But the Jubokko doesn't only feed on the blood of the dead—it preys on the living, too. It's a predator, through and through."

She paused, her golden hair catching the dim light of the cave as the rain continued to pour outside. "Except for you and me, there aren't any humans in this mountain, so it feeds on the blood of spirits instead. A Jubokko usually resembles a mundane tree to lure its victims, but… I suppose the spirits of this mountain are different from their counterparts in the human realm."

Umeboshi looked at her, his tone even but laced with curiosity.

"You seem to know a lot about that damned tree."

Anna giggled softly, a hint of amusement in her expression.

"Well, I make a habit of noting every spirit I come across in the mountain. It's something I started doing to pass the time." She paused, her smile faltering slightly. "Also… I almost died the first time I encountered that tree, so I had to be prepared in case I ran into another one like it in the future."

Anna sighed, a tired smile gracing her lips.

"Forgive me, I'm getting a little worn out, so I'll head to sleep. I'm sorry, I only have one blanket, but I—"

Before she could finish, Umeboshi interrupted, his voice gentle.

"Don't worry about me. I'm tougher than I look. I won't catch a cold that easily. Sleep well."

She paused, looking at him with an unreadable expression—at least, as much as could be seen with the black silk covering her eyes. Finally, she spoke softly.

"All right… goodnight, then."

With that, she walked deeper into the cave and wrapped herself in the blanket. The sound of rain continued to echo from outside, steady and unrelenting.

Umeboshi sat near the entrance, his eyes fixed on the storm. As he watched the rain pour down, he noticed a tiny rock being split apart by the relentless drops, the force of nature quietly unraveling even the smallest things.

***

"Huh? How could you heal so fast?"

It was morning—or at least, Umeboshi assumed so. The dense canopy of the mountain trees made it impossible to tell. Anna, however, was visibly shocked. His body, which had suffered injuries that should have taken weeks to heal, was now completely restored. It seemed that his life-and-death encounter with the Jubokko had made him tougher and stronger, as had happened countless times before.

Anna studied him intently, her golden hair falling over her face as she murmured in disbelief,

"You're completely healed!"

Umeboshi, adjusting his afro with a smirk, replied casually,

"Didn't I tell you I was tougher than I look?"

He stepped toward the cave's entrance, but Anna called out in a loud voice,

"Where are you going? Don't you want to eat breakfast?"

He stopped and turned back to face her, a gentle smile tugging at his lips.

"You sure like to ask dumb questions," he teased. "I'm going to find six spirits, pass their trials, and collect six Mon so I can cross the river."

Pointing up toward the mountain, he added with a grin,

"And my instincts are telling me to head to the peak. I'll get a better view of the whole place from there."

As he turned to leave, he noticed Anna lowering her head, gripping her kimono tightly. He realized the weight of her emotions—she had likely lived in solitude for years, and now her only connection to another person was about to leave.

Sighing softly, he stepped back and patted her head. Surprised, Anna looked up and asked,

"What are you…?"

He smiled gently and replied,

"Why are you looking so sad? Don't worry—it's not goodbye. I'll visit you again. When I get the six Mon, and even after I've finished my journey across the river, I'll come back."

As he walked outside into the dense forest, Anna called out after him in a somber tone,

"It's a promise?"

He turned, gave her a thumbs-up, and said,

"You saved my afterlife—I owe you that much."

With that, he waved his hand and walked into the trees, leaving Anna behind with a gentle smile on her face as she watched him disappear into the wilderness.

***

He had been walking for about thirty minutes now—at least, he thought so—toward the peak of the mountain. His thoughts were clouded with doubt.

Still, if spirits as dangerous as the Jubokko exist on this mountain, I could be killed in an instant if I encounter something just as powerful, or worse.

Umeboshi's mind drifted back to the truth he had been avoiding: he was never truly strong. The universe seemed intent on reminding him of that fact, over and over again. He had always been stronger than those around him in his life, but now, he was just another tiny ant in the grand scheme of things.

It's kind of funny, really... he mused. I've spent all this time thinking I was stronger than everyone, but it's clear now that I'm not. That's exactly why I decided to take this journey, isn't it? Not just to become stronger... but to find out who I really am.

As Umeboshi continued his trek up the mountain, the scenery remained unchanged: trees, vegetation, the occasional small animal—nothing out of the ordinary for a forest. He sighed, rubbing his forehead in frustration.

At this rate, it'll take months to reach the peak…

But before he could continue, a sudden crack from behind him caught his attention. Acting on instinct, Umeboshi hurled his wooden staff at the source of the noise with a speed that no human should have been capable of. The impact was followed by a terrified scream.

Turning around, he saw a tiny kappa clutching its head on the ground, its eyes wide with fear. His wooden staff had pierced the tree behind the creature, stopping just inches from its body. Steam rose from where the staff had struck the bark.

The kappa, looking like a miniature human child, trembled and cried out in fear:

"Please... don't eat me!"

Umeboshi let out an annoyed sigh as he walked toward the kappa, his eyes narrowing. Grabbing his staff from the tree, he muttered under his breath:

"Didn't your mother tell you not to sneak up on people, brat? ...Wait, you're a yokai. It doesn't matter—basic respect is universal, yokai or not."

The irony of his words wasn't lost on him. After all, this was the same Umeboshi who was infamous for sending people to the hospital, never respecting his elders, and being the most notorious delinquent in his city. It seemed that respect was a concept he'd only wield in the most unexpected situations.

As Umeboshi effortlessly retrieved his staff from the tree and rested it on his shoulder, he didn't even glance at the kappa. Without a second thought, he continued his trek toward the mountain peak. But then, he felt something grip his leg. He looked down to find the kappa desperately holding onto him, wide-eyed.

"Wait! Please, wait! I have something to say!" The kappa's voice was filled with urgency.

Umeboshi's expression soured further, his patience running thin. He stopped and, with a slight scowl, looked down at the little creature.

"Look, kid," he said evenly, his tone cold. "I really don't have time to play around. I've got somewhere I need to be."

"Please, kill the Jubokko! The tree with the crimson leaves... Kill it! That's my only request!"

Umeboshi's eyes widened in realization. Wait, isn't this a quest? he thought. This kappa is a spirit of the mountain. He's giving me a task—killing that tree... It's a trial. If I do this, he might give me one or two Mon... I need to verify that.

Umeboshi's gaze turned cold as he looked down at the young kappa.

"Brat, do you have a Mon?" he asked sharply. "Even one will be enough. If you've got at least one, I'll cut that tree down."

The kappa tilted his head in confusion, still desperate. "What is a Mon?"

With a frustrated sigh, Umeboshi kicked his leg violently, sending the little kappa flying into a nearby bush. "No Mon, no service. Sorry, brat!" He waved his hand dismissively as he continued his journey, muttering under his breath.

The kappa scrambled out of the bushes, tears streaming down his face. His voice shook as he screamed, "Please, you have to kill it! That damn tree..."

His fists clenched so tightly that blood dripped from his palms. "That damn tree... it killed Papa and Mama... I can't even bury them. Their bodies are stuck in the tree's hunting ground. I don't have anything to give you in return, but I promise—I'll return the favor one day. Kappa never breaks their promises!"

Umeboshi stopped walking, standing still amidst the trees, his eyes cold and distant. He stared at the leaves rustling above before speaking in a voice stripped of warmth.

"If you want revenge so badly... if you want your parents' bodies back, why don't you do it yourself? Why ask a stranger to do it for you?"

The kappa lowered his head, his entire body pressing against the ground in front of Umeboshi as if he were praying to Buddha himself. Tears streamed down his face, his voice trembling with desperation.

"I... I can't..." he stammered, his words breaking apart. "I'm too weak..."

Umeboshi's eyes widened, the raw pain in the kappa's voice catching him off guard. But the kappa continued, his words spilling out, more frantic now.

"I know I'm a coward... but I'm too weak! I have no chance to beat it... I know I'm a weakling, but... I still want to avenge my parents!" His voice cracked as he swung his head violently to the ground, cracking the earth beneath him. "I don't know what to do! You're my only hope!"

As Umeboshi watched the kappa, something within him stirred—he saw a reflection of his past self, the child he used to be, a version of himself he wished to forget. With a sigh, he walked toward the kappa, grabbing his arm and forcing him to his feet.

"Don't humiliate yourself for a weak moron like me," Umeboshi said, his voice steady but filled with an unspoken heaviness. His wooden staff rested easily on his shoulder as he began walking down the mountain.

"Follow me," he ordered, his tone cold, but there was something else in it—an unspoken understanding.

The kappa, still with tears in his eyes, hesitated. "What...?"

Umeboshi stopped, turning slightly to face the kappa. His gaze was sharp, and his words were colder than before. "Let's cut down that tree. It's the perfect time... also, I... the eternal cowardly weakling... have some unfinished business with that tree. So, I promised you I'd cut it down."

chapter sixty-eight end