Island of the Corpse-Eating Butterfly: Osaki-sama 1

Once he finished painting the Nine Phases of Decay, Sojun would have to return to Eko-ji Temple on the offshore island.

Once I had let my feelings grow, I realized that parting would be painful and sad. Even so, I knew that as the temple's resident Buddhist painter, he could not spend forever working on the Nine Phases, and that a day of parting would eventually come.

“Lady Cho, your hand.”

Sojun reached out to me, took my hand, and pulled me up the steep mountain path.

He had invited me out, saying there was a place with a good view, since I had no desire to leave the hut.

Hikoza and Saburo had gone to the sea to catch fish. Their fishing skills had improved significantly compared to when they first started. They had only eaten shellfish until they got used to it, but recently they had finally started bringing back plenty of small fish.

Since there was a mountain right behind us, Hikoza would go to gather mushrooms, nuts, and wild vegetables.

To be honest, I had nothing to do.

Life here was different from living in the capital. It was not like the days when I only had to learn songs and admire flowers. I was useless, unable to weave straw or vines, let alone cook like Hikoza and Saburo. I felt nothing but daily gratitude for how much they took care of me.

And Sojun would take me out of the hut to comfort me when I felt depressed.

“Please watch your step.”

His strong hand gripped mine. It had been a long time since I had climbed a mountain path like this. I could hardly believe I was the same person who used to be carried on someone's back or in a palanquin to cross mountains. It was ironic that my body had become so much stronger.

“Phew.”

Finally, the path ahead opened up. I wiped the dripping sweat with the back of my hand.

The sunlight shone on Sojun's back, casting his face into shadow so I could not see it.

I squinted, imagining he was surely smiling with his teeth showing. His face felt more dazzling than the sun. I found myself smiling back.

A little while ago, Sojun had taken me to a mountain cave filled with stones of strange shapes. When we entered the dark cave, we were instantly enveloped in darkness.

Being together made me feel strangely embarrassed, and I pulled my hand away from his. Sojun told me that this was a limestone cave.

I had long since grown fond of Sojun, but I kept silent, thinking it was improper. I truly believed the time would come for us to leave this island, so I thought it would not be wise to express my special feelings.

But...

"Tehu-sama"

Guided by what I was told, I stepped on the rocks beneath my feet and climbed slowly.

"Please, look."

When I lifted my face from my feet, I found myself on a cliff, and in the distance, at the edge of the sea, I saw the shadow of an island. It was a sea as far as the eye could see, and it made me feel faint.

"That is Ugurushima Island."

"Ugurushima?"

"Far beyond Ugurushima lies the land of Hyuga."

"Is that the place we were aiming for?"

Initially, Hikoza and I had set out to sea from Hata, aiming for the land of Hyuga. We wanted to escape from a land where we still had allies, and before the war could catch up to us, we wanted to reach Kyushu while hiding our identities. My father told me that if we did that, we would not have to die.

If we hadn't been struck by the storm, what would I be doing now? I probably wouldn't have met Sojun either.

"What a fine view..."

At first, I thought the painter of Buddhist images was a monk. Since Raigen called himself a painter of Buddhist images who held the title of Hogen, I had just assumed that on my own.

Even though we had finished climbing the cliff, Sojun's hand was still holding mine firmly.

Perhaps Sojun can see right through me, even without me saying a word.

A seabird brushed past us, crying out as it flew toward the village.

The village glimpsed from here is truly small. Including the children, only about twenty people live in the village of Wadatsu. The village of Oura, on the other side of the island, seems to be somewhat larger, and I heard it has more islanders than Wadatsu.

Here, everyone uses the surname Wadatsu, and I was told that they are all of the Wadatsu clan. I do not want to think much about the Wadatsu. On my way to Jogan-ji Temple for the kusozu, I hated those eyes that peered at me from the shadows of the houses. In particular, the looks in the eyes of the Wadatsu head, Tsuneyo, and his son, Himaro, felt unbearably filthy.

If Sojun did not come to pick me up, I would never want to leave the hut. That is the reason I am cooped up in the hut.

"Tell me, Sojun-dono."

"Yes."

"Are you nearly finished drawing the Nine Phases of Decay?"

"Almost, but there is still something missing, so I cannot say I am finished yet."

Turning to face Sojun, I peered into his face.

"What is missing?"

"I do not know."

Holding hands, touching skin, and simply gazing out at the vast sea and sky—hours would pass by just like that. It was hard to part, but we could not be together forever.

"Let's head back."

When I said this, Sojun obediently turned back the way we came, still holding my hand.

"I want to go to that limestone cave again."

"As you wish."

Sojun replied in a soft voice. I smiled shyly. Tomorrow, Sojun would likely take me to that quiet place again. That secret place where only our voices and breathing could be heard.

"Lady Tehu, the village seems to be in an uproar."

It was Saburo who said this as he entered the hut.

"What is it?"

Driven by curiosity, Saburo and I went to the edge of the village. From behind the trees, we looked toward the rocky shore by the sea. Something was floating near a small boat moored to a log scaffold.

"What is that?"

Saburo held a hand over his brow and stared at it intently.

"It is a corpse, I believe. They must have drowned."

The next moment, Saburo let out a small cry of "Ah."

What is it?

Something is emerging from the corpse.

I also held my hand up and stared at the corpse floating beside the small boat.

Something like red blood was swarming over the corpse. Seeing that, I understood why the people of Wadatsu were so elated.

What could they be so happy about...?

Saburo kept his eyes on the corpse and replied with a troubled look.

They are red butterflies, I believe... They must be happy because the butterflies are swarming the corpse.

The red butterflies fluttered about, repeatedly landing on the corpse. Before long, the corpse sank into the sea.

I had seen something truly mysterious. I had never seen such butterflies in the mountains.

From then on, I would see those red butterflies several more times.

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