Chapter 119. The Boy Named Watanabe no Tsuna

Chapter 119. The Boy Named Watanabe no Tsuna

This was an incredibly gruesome sight.

A boy, his entire body drenched in blood, staggered down the streets of Heian-kyo.

Anyone who saw him and felt fear—it was only natural.

Yet, no one dared to step forward and stop him.

The reason was simple—

The boy before them exuded an overwhelming killing intent.

Walking down the streets of Heian-kyo, he was no different from a lifeless corpse.

But the coldness in his eyes was not something someone of his age should possess.

Some people were terrified.

Some managed to stay rational.

"Hurry! Go inform Abe-sama, he has experience with this!"

"That's right! I'll go immediately!"

[You quickly learn about the boy.]

[Minamoto no Raikou is still handling official matters at the moment.]

[You decide to go alone to see what exactly is going on.]

[After all, the words 'demon slaying' have always made you sensitive.]

Ian headed to the street alone.

Finding the boy wasn't difficult—when many people were fixated on someone, the rest would quickly take notice as well.

But there was no denying—

The boy's appearance was truly terrifying.

Beneath the blood covering his body was a tattered outfit.

The skin exposed beneath was almost entirely torn apart in large patches.

It was a miracle that he was still standing in such a condition.

Ian could feel it—this boy carried an extraordinarily strong will.

Amidst the crowd's gazes, he stepped forward to face him.

"What happened to you?" Ian asked.

"..."

The boy slowly lifted his head, his blood-red eyes glaring at the much taller man before him.

His entire body trembled, his muscles twitching as he struggled to force out a few words.

"Teach me to kill demons. If you won't, then don't stop me."

"..."

Ian didn't move aside.

"Didn't you hear what I said?"

The boy raised the broken sword in his hand and pointed it directly at Ian.

"Teach me to kill demons, or get out of my way!"

Despite being shouted at so directly, Ian showed no sign of anger.

Because the sight of the boy standing there with his sword pointed at him reminded him of Minamoto no Raikou back then.

Ian couldn't help but laugh.

"You want to kill demons in that state?"

"I'd say you'd collapse before you even lay eyes on one."

Hearing those words, the boy's pupils trembled.

His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but the moment he tried to speak, his body suddenly shook before collapsing.

Ian knew he had reached his limit—or rather, the moment he shouted those words, he had already used up the last of his strength.

Well then, might as well lend a hand.

He was the first person to remind Ian of Minamoto no Raikou's younger self.

[Amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, you carry the boy back to the residence you share with Minamoto no Raikou.]

[This residence was arranged by Minamoto no Mitsunaka—he was actually quite pleased with your performance.]

[The servants were utterly shocked.]

[After all, in their impression, you were not the type to help someone for no reason.]

[Let alone a blood-soaked boy.]

[But you paid no mind to their preconceived notions.]

[You ordered them to provide the best possible treatment for the boy.]

[Once everything was settled, Minamoto no Raikou happened to return.]

"My lady, you've finished your work."

"Umu."

Minamoto no Raikou glanced at the slightly chaotic scene in the residence, a hint of doubt flashing in her violet eyes.

"My lord, what happened here?"

Between husband and wife, there was nothing to hide.

Ian answered directly:

"I brought back an injured person."

"..."

Minamoto no Raikou's eyes first showed surprise, then gradually returned to calmness, and finally softened with understanding.

"My lady, do you wish to say something?"

"No." Minamoto no Raikou gently shook her head.

"If my husband has chosen to do this, then he must have his reasons."

"A wife should not point fingers at her husband, should she?"

"However—"

"Even though I do not doubt you, I still want to know why you brought someone like that into our home."

"..."

Ian smiled faintly.

"It's because of you, my lady."

"Me?"

Minamoto no Raikou pointed at herself, looking utterly surprised.

[You recount to Minamoto no Raikou how the boy had pointed his broken sword at you.]

[She is quite taken aback but also somewhat nostalgic.]

[You realize that, like you, she is recalling the events that happened in that village.]

"I never expected there to be another like that…"

Minamoto no Raikou gazed at Ian, a hint of sentiment in her eyes.

"My lord, may I go see him?"

"Of course."

Ian smiled gently.

"I brought him here precisely so that you could see him."

[You and Minamoto no Raikou step into the room where the boy is resting.]

[Under the care of the servants, he has been changed into clean clothes.]

[However, his injuries seem severe—he likely won't wake up anytime soon.]

[This gives you and Minamoto no Raikou the chance to examine him carefully.]

Minamoto no Raikou glanced at the broken sword beside the boy and remarked,

"The forging technique of this blade… does not resemble those from the regions near Heian-kyo."

"That's right." Ian nodded. "You're not mistaken."

"That's why I was so curious about why he came here."

"After all—"

Ian looked toward the unconscious boy.

"A normal person with wounds this severe would have died on the spot, yet he still managed to appear on the streets of Heian-kyo."

"Umu, that's true."

Minamoto no Raikou's gaze lingered on the broken sword.

"Come to think of it, this boy used that broken blade to point at you, didn't he?"

"Yes."

Ian slightly mimicked the stance he had seen.

"My lady, his posture at that moment was identical to yours."

"Then my lord must have found him quite rude, no?" Minamoto no Raikou said, slightly embarrassed.

Ian shook his head.

"No."

"I did not find it rude."

"I was simply curious about the cause behind his actions."

"For example—"

Ian turned to Minamoto no Raikou beside him.

"My lady, back then, you sought me out with the desire to restore the Minamoto clan."

"In that case—"

"He must have a similar reason, don't you think?"

"That does make sense."

Minamoto no Raikou nodded slightly.

"But my lord, his injuries are this severe… could it be…"

[You understand what Minamoto no Raikou is implying.]

[Wounds as grave as those on the boy's body could not have been caused by ordinary means.]

[And considering his desperate desire to learn the art of demon slaying, the answer is all too clear.]

[It was demons who caused all of this.]

[Perhaps they are still lurking somewhere outside Heian-kyo.]

"My lady, I think you are absolutely right."

Ian affirmed Minamoto no Raikou's deduction.

"Though we can't be a hundred percent certain, there's an eighty to ninety percent chance that this is the case."

"Only demons could inflict wounds like these."

"But that leads us to a new problem."

Before Ian could finish, Minamoto no Raikou had already continued his thought.

"Why did the demons attack him, right?"

"Exactly." Ian nodded. "You're absolutely right."

"Although demons commit evil without needing a reason…"

"A situation like this is still quite unusual."

"After all, the fact that he managed to drag himself all the way to Heian-kyo in a near-death state at least proves that they didn't kill him immediately, doesn't it?"

"That is true."

Minamoto no Raikou fully agreed with Ian's reasoning.

"If only we could find out what happened to him."

Perhaps it was a coincidence, or perhaps the timing was just right.

Just as Minamoto no Raikou finished speaking, the boy's hoarse cough echoed through the room.

This might be an opportunity to talk.

[You and Minamoto no Raikou exchange glances.]

[Both of you realize that your thoughts are in complete agreement.]

[After confirming that the boy's condition is stable, you instruct the others to leave the room.]

[On the pale green tatami mat, only the three of you remain.]

Ian did not speak.

Minamoto no Raikou did not speak.

Both were waiting for the right moment to break the silence.

It did not take long.

That moment arrived.

The boy slowly opened his eyes.

"Where is this…?"

He stared at the ceiling, his face clouded with confusion.

"This is the residence of the Minamoto clan," Ian responded.

Hearing someone reply, the boy immediately changed.

He forced himself to sit up and immediately clutched the broken sword beside him, his entire body radiating wariness.

But—

After recognizing Ian, his expression softened just a little.

"You're the one from before…"

"So you still remember me." Ian smiled.

"That's right."

"I'm the one who brought you here."

"..."

Hearing Ian's words, the boy finally noticed the bandages wrapped around his body.

He realized that the man before him had saved his life.

However—

Even after confirming this, his demeanor did not change.

He clung tightly to the broken sword and cast a complicated gaze at the two before him.

Those crimson eyes seemed to be silently questioning: Are you trying to deceive me?

To be fair, Ian found this personality a bit difficult to communicate with.

But Minamoto no Raikou beside him didn't seem to think so.

Upon seeing his reaction, she was not discouraged. On the contrary, she took the initiative to approach the boy.

She waved her hand a few times and then smiled warmly.

"Hello there~"

"..."

The boy said nothing, only stared at Minamoto no Raikou with a piercing gaze.

The meaning in his furrowed brows was crystal clear.

Who are you?

Of course, Minamoto no Raikou understood that as well.

She quickly responded,

"I am Minamoto no Raikou, the mistress of this residence."

"And you? What is your name?"

"..."

The boy remained silent for a moment before softly replying,

"My name… is Watanabe no Tsuna."

"So, Watanabe no Tsuna…" Minamoto no Raikou nodded as if deep in thought. "That's quite a rare name."

"Where are you from?"

"Mita Village."

"That far?" Minamoto no Raikou looked slightly surprised.

But she quickly turned that surprise into a compliment for Watanabe no Tsuna.

"That means you're quite remarkable."

"To travel such a great distance to Heian-kyo… there must be a reason why you had to come, right?"

[You can't help but admire Minamoto no Raikou's ability to communicate with juniors.]

[If it were you, you probably wouldn't have been able to ask this much.]

[She seems to have a natural affinity for this.]

"I want to learn how to kill demons," the boy who called himself Watanabe no Tsuna said.

"I heard that there's a great Grand Onmyoji in Heian-kyo… so I came here."

The moment she heard the title Grand Onmyoji, Minamoto no Raikou instinctively glanced at Ian.

In all of Heian-kyo.

There was only one person worthy of that title.

"Then you must have a reason for wanting to kill demons, right?"

Minamoto no Raikou continued patiently conversing with Watanabe no Tsuna.

"It's not as if you just suddenly decided you wanted to learn to kill demons, is it?"

Ian suddenly felt that this question sounded familiar.

That's right.

Hadn't he asked her the same thing years ago?

So many years had passed.

And she still remembered…

"The reason I want to kill demons—"

Upon hearing Minamoto no Raikou's words, Watanabe no Tsuna lowered his gaze to the broken sword in his hands.

Then, all of a sudden, his pupils dilated, and the next moment, he let out a piercing scream, completely different from the cautious and battle-ready demeanor he had just moments ago.

No matter how patient Minamoto no Raikou was in trying to communicate with him, it was of no use.

There was no other choice.

Ian had to call all the servants of the residence to temporarily restrain Watanabe no Tsuna.

Afterward, he and Minamoto no Raikou stepped out into the hallway.

"My lady, what do you make of this?"

"Hmm… if my lord asks me that…"

Minamoto no Raikou glanced into the room—inside, a few strong servants were holding Watanabe no Tsuna down, trying to restrain him without hurting him.

"I think the boy must have gone through something truly terrible."

"Moreover, if his reaction isn't just an act, then the reason behind it must be something extremely serious."

"Yes… I think so too."

Ian also looked into the room.

"He had just woken up, and his first reaction was to cling to that broken sword."

"This is clearly not a simple matter."

"Indeed…" Minamoto no Raikou's voice trailed off.

Sensing that she still had something on her mind, Ian asked,

"My lady, is something wrong?"

"It's nothing…" Minamoto no Raikou's expression was somewhat complicated.

"I was just thinking… even if his wounds heal, with his current condition, there will surely be many other issues left behind."

"That's true."

Ian looked at Minamoto no Raikou.

"So, my lady intends to keep the boy here?"

"Eh? How did my lord know I wanted to say that?"

"Because my lady is a kind-hearted person."

Ian gently caressed Minamoto no Raikou's face.

"How could you bear to turn him away?"

"Then… does that mean…" Minamoto no Raikou cautiously asked.

"You once said—"

"If my husband chooses to do something, there must be a reason."

"So—"

"If my lady chooses to do something, there must also be a reason."

[You have temporarily taken Watanabe no Tsuna into your residence—an act born of kindness.]

[But neither of you realize.]

[This very kindness will become the beginning of a new cycle in the tale of demon slaying.]

(note: hmm... I think I'll change the chant from "my lady, my lord" to "oku-san/sama, danna-sama" in the next chapter)