Wandering Ronin's Chronicle of Travels (4) The Yokai Temple of Amaba Village: Actor Prints and the Love of Oil and Water [Volume 1] | Rewrite Edition
Volume 1: Reunion with the Ghost Cat
I am Watari, a wandering ronin. I arrived at Shirasagi Forest about two months ago. Now, I have traded my sword for a brush, and I manage to make a living as a writer while traveling.
I have traveled through various forests so far. Starting from Yafuku Forest, then Ino Forest, and even Karasu Forest—I suppose this wandering journey has lasted about ten years now.
Things have been going well since I came to Shirasagi Forest. Even the sun seems to be in a good mood today, doesn't it? I was in high spirits, visiting the shrine before eating breakfast. The shrine in the early morning is quiet, and the air is exceptionally clear.
I tossed in an offering and pressed my hands together in prayer toward the shrine.
"I'm doing well. My writing work is going reasonably well, and I've been asked to write another article about yokai."
The mirror in the shrine, which offered no reply, only reflected my own image.
Walking along the moss-covered stone pavement of the shrine grounds, I was wondering whether or not to accept the job.
"Man, another yokai article? What should I do?"
A smile escaped me before I knew it.
I had published the sequel to the Zashiki-warashi article—the one about the yokai who unfollowed—titled 'The Gimme-Gimme Yokai of Karasu Forest' in the kawaraban, and it was another huge success. The publisher had sent word asking me to write the next installment as well.
"—What do you mean, what should you do? Just write it."
Suddenly, a girl's voice spoke up. When I turned around, a young girl in a light yellow kimono was standing there. What a cute girl, I couldn't help but think.
"Who are you?"
Just as I was hurriedly trying to wrap a hand towel around my mouth, the girl smiled and passed through the red torii gate. Then, the young girl transformed into a white cat.
"You, are you that cat from back then? The one I met at the exit of Karasu Forest?"
"That wasn't the first time. Have you forgotten? About me."
"I don't have any cat acquaintances."
When I brushed her off, the white cat continued.
"It was at the Hydrangea Temple where the temple school was. The hydrangeas were blooming beautifully in the grounds at the time. You were with your partner back then, weren't you?"
I searched my memory. —The cat that was kept by that teacher?
The one at the Hydrangea Temple school, where I learned about the foreign-made craft box powered by electricity.
"Your partner used to secretly give me dried sardines. He was a good person."
That sounds like him. I couldn't help but soften my expression. The cat noticed this and rubbed up against me firmly.
"Write about what happened back then. I'm sure it would be interesting."
"Well, I mean, but..."
I crossed my arms with a look that suggested I wasn't entirely against it.
"Otherwise... I'll bite you!"
She raised both hands, baring sharp claws as if to bite me. She was easily taller than me. The white cat had transformed into a ghost cat.
"Whoa. Wait a minute. I helped you out, didn't I..."
After bracing myself, I put my hands on my elbows and let out a big sigh.
"—Fine. I'll write it, then."
Resigned, I left the shrine. Behind me, the ghost cat, having returned to its cat form, followed with its tail held high.
"Don't cats ever return the favor...?"
I muttered in a small voice.
The Yokai Temple of Amaba Village: Actor Prints and the Love of Oil and Water [Volume 2] continues to
I am presenting a rewritten version of a work I submitted to the Creative Grand Prize Entertainment Original Work category last year. It is a work written with the intention of being an original story for shonen or shojo manga.
It was on a different account, but I decided to move it here to organize things. This is the first novel I've written since becoming an adult, and I would be happy if you read it.