9-After Episode 8: The Strongest Onmyoji, Helping the Demon





 I've come to the edge of the grounds of the mansion, with Yifa leading me.

 Yifa, the one in charge, stopped and looked around as if she were looking for something.

'Ah!'

 With a short voice, Yifa ran up to the base of one of the large trees.

''Seika-kun, here........''
This is...

 Lying there was a small animal with jade-colored fur.

 It was the size of a kitten, with a thick tail. Its forehead was fitted with a jewel of the same color as its fur, and one could feel a faint current of power.

 It was just covered in scars, and more than half of its fur was stained with dirt and blood.

''Is this Aya.......not a monster?''
Yeah. Maybe it's the Carbuncle kid.

 Come to think of it, I think I saw an illustration of this animal in a book in the mansion.

'I think it must have been killed by an owl or a crow.
Are monsters being attacked by normal animals?
Yeah, yeah. They're weak when they're little, and it seems to happen to them.

 I thought it was something like a demon (ayakashi), but maybe it's more like a normal creature than that.

'Seika-kun.......can't you help this boy?

 Yifa looks up at me and says.
 "So that's what you think. But, hmm...

Well....

 I've cured humans, cats and dogs, and livestock in my past life, but I'm not sure I've ever seen such a creature before, and I don't have much confidence in my ability to cure such a monster.
 But I'm not so sure I can cure such a creature I've never seen before, and I'm not so sure I can cure a monster.

 However, there is a technique that works for almost anything.

'I understand. I don't know if it will work, but I'll give it a try. But it's hard to concentrate when you're watching me, so look away.
'What? Uh-huh.

 I pull out a hair from the carbuncle's body, which is wet with blood, and stick it on a sheet of human flesh that I had.
 Then I affix it to a sheet of Hitogata that I had.

 I use my curse power to add letters from above.
 He forms the mark and chants the mantra in a whisper.

'----Lo_913म् ह्रीः स्थानानान्तरण त्राः न्यूनम् दशा स्वाहा.

 The magic works, and changes begin to occur in Carbuncle and Hitogata.
 And then...

It's done.

 He called out to Yifa while shoving a torn and blackened human gadget here and there into his garment bag (pocket).

 Yifa's eyes widened as she returned to her face.
 Carbuncle sat up and licked the blood off his body with his tongue.
 Although he was still weak, he was much more energetic than before. He's still covered in blood all over his body, but the wounds should be mostly closed up.

''Wha, why? Wow! ........oh.

 Eefa reaches out her hand and the carbuncle runs into the forest like a bounced animal, moving in an animal-like motion.
 He looks back one last time, stares at me for a moment, and then disappears behind the trees.

 It seems to be okay.

"Was that.........was that......was that........a cure for you, Seika-kun?
Yeah. I'm glad it worked out better than I thought it would.
Seika-kun, does that mean you can do healing magic?

 Huh?

Oh, my God! I thought only a light-attribute sorcerer in a big city could do that!
'Uh... haha.'

 I laugh and cheat.

 Oh, that? Didn't you mean that you wanted me to be cured by magic?

 I mean.........
 Treating wounds and illnesses is the foremost thing you look for in witchcraft, and the only sorcerers who can do that are in the big cities? We even have an educational institution?
 I'm not sure about the magic in this world. I'm sure you have better things to do before you put out fire or wind.

Seika, you're amazing.

 Yifa said quietly.

I thought you were strong.

 Disgusting...?
 Did I ever do that? I've been dumbfounded by my second brother many times.

 In fact, the past eight years have been much easier.
 I hadn't been in an environment where I didn't have to worry about starving or getting killed, or having any weird responsibilities for a long time.
 I'm not sure I want to stay there forever.

''Uh ... well maybe I do. But I think it's the same for Yifa, too.
What?
When I was being bullied by my brother Glei, Yifa used to find hidden clothes and shoes. That's why I was able to find them, even after Glai had spotted them. That was a huge help to me.

 This was rather honest.
 Like today's carbuncle, this kid has a surprisingly strong core.

''I guess that's what being really strong is all about.
Oh, I don't know anything about that. I just didn't notice it too much. I'm dull. I've been told that I'm not paying attention, and when someone was hiding things from me, Seika often found them before I even knew they were there...

 That's because I did fortune-telling when I looked for myself. It was a pain in the ass.

I'm not born in a good family, and I have no privileges...I'm not the same at all. I'm not special like you, Seika.
Yeah, I'm not so good at this, either. And Yifa is special.
What...?

 Ah, finally, the first part of the story.

"Are you seeing things that most people don't see?