The Unfinished Demon Slaying

At noon, Asano Mori was in his own yard, carefully feeding warm water to the worker whose life force had been drained by the faceless ghost.

The worker's name was Fujikichi. Like Asano Shigeru, he was once a worker at the Sendai Dyeing and Weaving Company, but was ruthlessly abandoned due to a work injury.

Although his "shadow disease" had disappeared, his sunken eye sockets and ashen complexion made it uncertain how much longer he could hold on.

"Mori...Mori-nii..." Fujiyoshi's voice was weak as he strained to open his eyes wide and look at Asano Mori. "I never imagined that Shigeru-nii...was because of this monster..."

"Stop talking... Fujiyoshi, get some rest..."

Suppressing his grief, Asano Mori wiped the cold sweat from Fujiyoshi's forehead with his sleeve. "Don't worry, get well soon. My brother didn't die in vain. We will definitely get justice for everyone!"

As he spoke, he turned his gaze to the silent figure sitting by the door, Asuka.

Since returning to the Asano family home last night, Asuka has not slept a wink, quickly and meticulously investigating the ghostly aura both inside and outside the town.

The lifeless and fearful atmosphere of yesterday seems to have been largely dispelled by the wind.

"The shadow... seems to have really recovered?"

"Yes, I felt much more relaxed when I woke up this morning..."

"Did you hear the commotion last night? It sounded like that Asano kid hired some people to patrol the village overnight..."

On his way back, he also saw several children gathered together, scratching at the muddy ground with twigs—

"Look! My shadow is so dark!" The children's smiles were innocent, completely unaware of the danger lurking within.

Just as he expected, after the ghost disappeared, everyone's shadow sickness was cured.

Right now, he was taking a nap in the midday sun, resting and replenishing his energy.

"Hey... buddy, what's next?"

Asano Mori's voice sounded from behind, but Asuka didn't open her eyes, only saying calmly:

"There's nothing 'we' about. I'll go find the source of the ghost and resolve this."

"But you're all alone...don't you need any help?"

"A helper?" Asuka slightly raised one eyelid to examine Asano Mori, who had regained some energy and was no longer just a simple drunkard. "You should have seen what happened last night. You can't be of much help."

He gestured with his chin toward Fujikichi, who was lying in the dilapidated house. "Your greatest role is to take good care of him."

Although Asuka's words were very impolite, Asano Moriya understood that while the other party's words were rough, the reasoning behind them was sound.

Last night's opponent... was clearly not human! And this guy handled it with ease; I really felt like I was useless, but...

"No, I can help!" he insisted. "If those monsters are targeting my brother and his fellow workers who want to band together and cause trouble for the dyeing and weaving company, I know where they'll go next!"

The bird listened quietly, wanting to see what brilliant ideas this drunkard had to offer.

"Tadaichi Harada! They'll go find this person!"

"...Who is this person? Why are you so sure?"

Asano Mori stroked his stubble-covered chin, recalling earnestly, "I remember my older brother saying that Harada used to be a worker in a dyeing factory, but because he couldn't stand the workers' treatment, he was starting some kind of union? Basically, he wanted to stand up for my older brother and the others!"

"These monsters' ultimate target must be Harada-nii! He's in Sendai, I can take you to him!"

Sendai City...Faceless Demon...Dye Factory...

Asuka opened her eyes slightly, taking Asano Mori's words to heart, and began to ponder her next plan...

Pfft!

Just as he was thinking, Asano Mori suddenly knelt down and slammed his head heavily onto the cold mud with a standard dogeza (a deep bow).

"Please! Take me with you to Sendai!"

"I know I can't handle those monsters, but I know the roads in Sendai, and at least I know a few places where I can find shelter!"

"My brother's revenge cannot go unavenged! I must see those damned things eliminated with my own eyes! I beg you! I... I'll do anything for you, even be your slave!"

Turning her head to look at the man who kept bowing and whose voice trembled, Asuka didn't know what to say.

Suddenly he remembered what his teacher had said:

【Asuka, try cooperating with your teammates! In this world, it's always easier to have companions to walk hand in hand with...】

"A partner...?"

He murmured to himself, then stood up lightly, without looking at Asano Morina's pleading gaze.

"Keep up."

The bird's voice still lacked any warmth, but to Asano Mori at this moment, it sounded like heavenly music.

He abruptly raised his head and thanked him excitedly, but Asuka didn't understand what was so special about it. He might be killed by the demon any minute now; she really didn't get it...

Without much farewell, Asano Mori entrusted the injured Fujiyoshi to a familiar aunt next door, changed into a decent set of clothes, packed some dry food and water, and hurriedly followed Asuka northward.

After a day and a half's journey, the two Asuka, traveling north along the Oshu official road, could see a huge city slowly rising on the horizon in the distance.

Factories on the outskirts of the city have chimneys that pierce the sky, billowing thick black smoke.

Along the industrial area, the rooftops of the castle town spread out like dark waves, interspersed with avant-garde and uniquely designed Western-style buildings—banks, tailor shops, or tea restaurants run by the wealthy.

"Samurai, that's Sendai!" Asano Mori's voice rang out, carrying a sense of suppressed familiarity.

He pointed to the northwest of the city, where a majestic complex of buildings stood atop a small hill, shimmering with a dark gold luster in the afterglow of the setting sun, dazzlingly beautiful:

"That's Osaki Hachiman Shrine, the guardian shrine of our Sendai region! If you have time, you can go and ask for blessings; it's very effective!"

"Just call me Asuka." Asuka moved forward, she used her spiritual pressure to constantly probe her surroundings, trying to find any signs that something was wrong.

The sky here is dark and oppressive, and the air is filled with the smell of chemicals, making it feel very depressing.

The closer you get to the city center, the more pronounced the urban hustle and bustle becomes.

The wide main road begins to branch out, crisscrossing each other, and clothes drying in the sun hang in the air above the alley like flags of all nations.

Loud drinking games echoed from the tavern, while housewives chatted about the neighborhood gossip while washing clothes and vegetables at the public water taps, though the conversation always revolved around the soaring price of rice.

The birds had never seen anything like it before. The square-headed, iron monster kept blaring its horn, usually aimed at the long lines of rickshaw pullers who were competing with them for customers.

A gentleman in a suit and tie, a businessman in a kimono carrying a leather suitcase, a country woman carrying a huge bundle, and a young woman in modern Western-style clothing but still behaving reservedly...

People of all kinds converged and diverged here, collectively composing a portrait of life in the largest city in the Tohoku region during the Taisho era.

"Which way do we go now?"

To be honest, this was Asuka's first time operating in a bustling metropolis.

Even in his previous life, he had never been to the central area of ​​Seireitei, so this scene was indeed somewhat unfamiliar to him.

"Let's go to the Sanmonji-ya in Higashi 6th District first! It's a used bookstore where construction workers often gather. The owner is a nice guy; he used to... he helped me a lot. We can contact Harada-nii through him!"

Asuka nodded slightly, indicating that Asano Mori should lead the way.

At the same time, his gaze shifted slightly towards the Osaki Hachiman Shrine on the high ground...

The air pressure there always feels a bit strange...