Earless Hoichi [Episode 4] Night Cherry Blossom Hundred Demon Parade ④

Tonight, gathered beneath the cherry blossoms are a hundred demons—

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Chapter 5: Fukuchiyama, the Mystery of the Drum

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In the grounds of Seikan-ji Temple.
A woman sat beneath a weeping cherry tree in full bloom.


In the light woven by the moon and the cherry blossoms, the woman's figure appeared in red.
In a crimson robe with thick black hair, her lips held a smile, and her gaze looked somewhere far away.

At her feet—
demons were swarming.

The wandering vengeful spirits crossed the mountains of Sasayama, crawled through the town, and now, people turning into demons began to gather under this cherry tree.
Those without names, those without faces, those like shadows.
They gathered as if melting into the veil of night, one after another, as if crawling.

The woman made no move to stop them.
She simply wore a smile and opened her mouth once.

“—The hundred demons are not yet enough.
If you are coming to dance, I need more demons.
Therefore, let me tell you a story.”

Her voice was moist and lustrous, thinner than the wind, slipping into the ears.
As if a stage curtain were rising quietly, the night became taut.

◇

The woman stood up, holding a biwa.

Flutter.

She reached out as if brushing off her sleeve and spoke to the void.

—Do you wish to hear?
Demons, do you wish to hear?
Then, I shall tell you.
Of Fukuchiyama... the sorrowful mystery of the drum—

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Long, long ago, even before that.
Deep in Fukuchiyama, by the banks of the Yura River.
On that shore lined with willow trees, there was a young man.

His name was Taichi.
He lived with his mother, a humble man who earned his living by river fishing.
Taichi was a hard worker.
He was loved by the villagers and was a fine young man who was dutiful to his mother—

or so it was, but,

one day, from the river,
bobbing along,
bobbing along,

what came drifting down was—
a drum.

Yes, a small, lacquer-coated drum.
A black-shining body with gold rims.
It was a magnificent piece to behold.

However, there was no boat anywhere on the river that could have dropped such a thing,
and the villagers tilted their heads in confusion.

“This might be a treasure left behind by a fallen Heike warrior.”
“Don't touch it, it's cursed.”

Ignoring the villagers who spoke one after another, Taichi picked up the drum—

and brought it home.

That was the beginning.

◇

Ever since the drum arrived, Taichi began to play it every night.
Though, it was not a lively sound.
Late at night, when the lights had gone out—

pon...

pon...

The sound echoing by the riverside
was as if it were grabbing the depths of one's heart,
as if it were squeezing out sorrow...

pon...
...pon...

The villagers were creeped out.
His mother also told him to stop.
However, Taichi, as if possessed by something, would not stop playing the drum.

And—on the seventh night.

◇

pon...
...pon...

The wind rustled, the river bubbled,
and in time with the sound of the drum, something—

slithered

appeared from the water's surface.

It was a face festering with red.
With disheveled black hair,
clad in armor, eyes glowing intensely—

a fallen warrior.

thud
thud

He approached like mud,
and stood behind Taichi.

...However, Taichi continued to play the drum as if he hadn't noticed.

pon...
pon...

Suddenly, the fallen warrior opened his mouth.

“That drum... is mine.”

Taichi finally stopped his hands and turned around.

And smiled brightly.

“No. This is my drum.”

...At that moment—

BANG!!

The drum split, and from inside,
black water like blood sprayed out.

GYAAAAAA

Along with a scream, Taichi's body danced into the air—
splash
and sank into the water.

◇

That is how it has been since then.

Night after night by the riverside,
what can be heard... is the sound of a drum.

pon...
...pon...

Some are lured by that sound and enter the river—
and never return.

Some hear the sound of the drum in their dreams—
and the next morning, it is said their eardrums were burst.

And tonight as well—

pon...

pon...

◇◇◇◇◇

The woman finished her tale and plucked a cherry blossom petal with her fingertip.

“...The drum is still beating, you see.”

whoosh...

The wind blows.

swish...

The cherry blossoms dance.

Lured by that sound, the demons laughed.

gahaha
gyaaa
hehehehe...

The curtain of the Hundred Demon Parade rises—

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