The Youth Named Watanabe no Tsuna

It was a truly alarming sight.

A youth, covered in blood, staggered through the streets of Kyoto.

Anyone who saw him would understandably be frightened.

Yet, no one dared to stop him.

The reason was simple—

The youth exuded an aura of murderous intent.

As he walked through the streets of Kyoto, he resembled a walking corpse.

However, the coldness in his eyes was something no one his age should possess.

Some panicked.

Others remained calm.

"Quick! Go tell Lord Abe! He has experience with this kind of thing!"

"Right! I'll go now!"

[You quickly learned about the youth.]

[Minamoto no Yorimitsu was still handling official duties.]

[You decided to investigate alone.]

[After all, the words "kill oni" were quite sensitive to you.]

Ian arrived on the street alone.

The youth was not hard to find—after all, when many people were watching someone, others would quickly notice him too.

But it had to be said.

His appearance was quite frightening.

Beneath the bloodstains was a tattered garment.

The exposed skin was covered in deep claw marks.

It was almost a miracle that he could still stand.

Ian could feel a powerful obsession clinging to the youth.

He walked up to the youth, facing the crowd's gaze.

"What happened to you?" Ian asked.

"..."

The youth slowly raised his head, glaring at the taller man with bloodshot eyes.

His muscles trembled as he forced out a few words.

"Teach me to kill oni. If you can't, don't stop me."

"..."

Ian didn't move.

"Can't you hear me?"

The youth raised the broken blade in his hand, pointing it at Ian.

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

Despite being yelled at, Ian wasn't angry.

The youth's stance reminded him of Minamoto no Yorimitsu in her youth.

Ian couldn't help but smile.

"You think you can kill oni like that?"

"You'd probably collapse before even seeing one."

The youth's eyes flickered.

His lips trembled as he tried to speak, but he suddenly collapsed.

Ian knew he had reached his limit—or rather, he had used up all his remaining strength to shout.

*Might as well lend a hand.*

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

[Amidst the onlookers' surprise, you took him back to your and Minamoto no Yorimitsu's residence.]

[It was a residence arranged by Minamoto no Mitsunaka—he was quite satisfied with your performance.]

[The servants were very surprised.]

[In their minds, you weren't the type to offer help for no reason.]

[Especially to a blood-soaked youth.]

[But you didn't care about their prejudice.]

[You ordered them to give the youth the best possible care.]

[After everything was settled, Minamoto no Yorimitsu returned.]

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

"Yes."

Minamoto no Yorimitsu looked at the chaotic scene in the residence, her purple eyes filled with questions.

"My lord, what happened?"

There was no need for secrets between husband and wife.

Ian answered directly.

"I brought back an injured person."

"..."

Minamoto no Yorimitsu's eyes widened in surprise, then returned to calm, and finally to understanding and gentleness.

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

"No." Minamoto no Yorimitsu shook her head.

"If my lord chose to do this, you must have your reasons."

"What right do I have to question my husband's actions?"

"However—"

"Though I don't doubt my lord, I'd still like to know why you brought such a person home."

"..."

Ian smiled slightly.

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

"Me?"

Minamoto no Yorimitsu pointed at herself, looking surprised.

[You told Minamoto no Yorimitsu how the youth pointed his blade at you.]

[She was surprised, but also nostalgic.]

[You realized she, like you, was reminded of what happened in that village.]

"I didn't expect there to be someone like that..."

Minamoto no Yorimitsu looked at Ian, her expression filled with emotion.

"My lord, can I see him?"

"Of course."

Ian smiled.

"I brought him back for you to see."

[You and Minamoto no Yorimitsu went to the youth's room.]

[He had been changed into clean clothes by the servants.]

[But his injuries seemed severe, and he might not wake up soon.]

[This gave you and Minamoto no Yorimitsu a chance to observe him closely.]

Minamoto no Yorimitsu glanced at the broken blade beside the youth.

"The forging technique of this blade doesn't seem to be from the Kyoto area."

"Yes." Ian nodded. "You're right, my lady."

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

"After all—"

Ian looked at the unconscious youth.

"An ordinary person would probably die from injuries like that, yet he appeared on the streets of Kyoto."

"Yes, that's true."

Minamoto no Yorimitsu's gaze remained fixed on the broken blade.

"Speaking of which, he pointed this blade at you, my lord?"

"Yes."

Ian gestured to show what he had seen.

"My lady, his stance was exactly like yours."

"Then my lord must have thought it was very rude?" Minamoto no Yorimitsu asked, slightly embarrassed.

Ian shook his head.

"No."

"I didn't think it was rude."

"I'm just curious about the cause behind such behavior."

"For example—"

Ian looked at Minamoto no Yorimitsu.

"You came to me with the ambition to revive the Minamoto clan."

"Then—"

"He must have a similar reason, right?"

"That's true."

Minamoto no Yorimitsu nodded.

"But my lord, with such severe injuries, could it be because..."

[You knew what Minamoto no Yorimitsu meant.]

[Injuries like the youth's could not have been caused by ordinary means.]

[Combined with his desire to learn how to kill oni, the answer was clear.]

[Oni caused this.]

[They might be roaming outside Kyoto.]

"My lady, I think you're right."

Ian confirmed Minamoto no Yorimitsu's thoughts.

"Though we can't be sure, it's likely."

"Only oni could cause such wounds."

"But that raises a new question."

Ian had just started his sentence when Minamoto no Yorimitsu finished it.

"Why did the oni harm him, right?"

"Yes." Ian nodded. "You're right, my lady."

"Though oni don't need reasons to do evil."

"This situation is quite unusual."

"After all, to let him reach Kyoto alive, they must not have killed him outright, right?"

"Indeed."

Minamoto no Yorimitsu agreed with Ian.

"If only we knew what he was thinking."

As if by coincidence, or perhaps the time had come.

After Minamoto no Yorimitsu finished speaking, the youth coughed.

This might be a chance for a conversation.

[You and Minamoto no Yorimitsu exchanged glances.]

[You realized you were both thinking the same thing.]

[After ensuring the youth was safe, you dismissed the others from the room.]

[Only the three of you remained on the light green tatami.]

Ian didn't speak.

Neither did Minamoto no Yorimitsu.

Both waited for the moment to speak.

Soon.

That moment arrived.

The youth slowly opened his eyes.

"Where is this..."

He looked at the ceiling, confused.

"This is the Minamoto residence," Ian replied.

Hearing someone answer, the youth's demeanor changed.

He struggled to sit up, clutching the broken blade beside him, looking wary.

But when he saw Ian, his expression softened slightly.

"You're the one from before..."

"Looks like you remember me." Ian replied with a smile.

"Yes."

"I brought you here."

"..."

Ian's words made the youth notice the bandages on his body.

He realized the man had saved his life.

However—

Despite this, the youth didn't change his attitude.

He hugged the broken blade, looking at them with suspicion.

His red eyes seemed to say, "You're not trying to trick me, are you?"

To be honest.

Ian found his personality a bit difficult to deal with.

But Minamoto no Yorimitsu didn't seem to think so.

Seeing his attitude, she didn't give up, but tried to approach him.

She waved and smiled.

"Hello~"

"..."

The youth didn't speak, just glared at Minamoto no Yorimitsu.

His expression was clear.

"Who are you?"

Minamoto no Yorimitsu understood.

She replied.

"I'm Minamoto no Yorimitsu, the owner of this residence."

"And you? What's your name?"

"..."

The youth paused, then whispered.

"I... am Watanabe no Tsuna."

"Watanabe no Tsuna..." Minamoto no Yorimitsu nodded thoughtfully. "An unusual name."

"Where are you from?"

"Minoda Village."

"That's far." Minamoto no Yorimitsu was surprised.

But she quickly turned her surprise into praise.

"You're quite something."

"To come all the way from there to Heian-kyo... was there a compelling reason?"

[You admired Minamoto no Yorimitsu's ability to communicate with younger people.]

[You wouldn't have gotten this far.]

[She seemed to have a natural affinity.]

"I want to learn to kill oni," the youth, Watanabe no Tsuna, said.

"I heard there's a powerful onmyoji in Kyoto... so I came."

Hearing "onmyoji," Minamoto no Yorimitsu looked at Ian.

He was the only one in Heian-kyo who fit the description.

"But there must be a reason to kill oni, right?"

Minamoto no Yorimitsu continued patiently.

"You don't just want to learn the art of killing oni for no reason, do you?"

Ian found the question familiar.

'That's the question I asked her back then, isn't it?'

'She still remembers...'

"The reason to learn to kill oni—"

Hearing Minamoto no Yorimitsu, Watanabe no Tsuna looked at his broken sword.

Suddenly, his eyes widened, and he shouted, completely different from his earlier demeanor.

Even Minamoto no Yorimitsu's patient attempts were futile.

Ian had to call the servants to restrain Watanabe no Tsuna.

He and Minamoto no Yorimitsu went to the veranda.

"My lady, what do you think?"

"Well... if you ask me," Minamoto no Yorimitsu said, glancing at the commotion inside—several strong servants holding Watanabe no Tsuna down, trying to calm him without hurting him.

"I think he's been through something terrible."

"And if he's not faking this, it must be something very extreme."

"Yes... I think so too."

Ian looked inside.

"He just woke up, and his first instinct was to grab that broken sword."

"It's more than just a simple problem."

"Indeed..." Minamoto no Yorimitsu's voice was soft.

Seeing she wanted to say more, Ian asked.

"My lady, what is it?"

"Nothing..." Minamoto no Yorimitsu's expression was complex.

"I was just thinking, if he's in this state, even if his wounds heal, he'll still have many problems, won't he?"

"That's true."

Ian looked at Minamoto no Yorimitsu.

"So, my lady, are you planning to keep him here?"

"Eh? How did you know?"

"Because my lady is a kind person."

Ian stroked Minamoto no Yorimitsu's cheek.

"How could you bear to turn him away?"

"Then, my lord, you mean..." Minamoto no Yorimitsu asked cautiously.

"Whatever my lady does, I will do." Ian replied.

"You said—"

"If my lord chose to do this, you must have your reasons."

"Then—"

"If my lady chose to do this, you must have your reasons."

[You decided to keep Watanabe no Tsuna at the residence—an act of kindness.]

[But you didn't know.]

[This kindness would be the beginning of a new oni-slaying tale.]