The landlady quickly approached, her body heavily scented with perfume.
She swiftly pulled over Nana Hana, drawing her young daughter closer to herself, then said with a flirtatious smile, "Guest, would you like to stay for the night?"
Her eyes conveyed a hint of seduction, as if suggesting something.
However, her husband behind her seemed oblivious to any discomfort.
He smiled warmly at Jonghyuk and continuously rubbed his hands together in a greedy manner, which Jonghyuk found somewhat more normal.
But Jonghyuk, ever mindful of the dangers of the [Game of Destiny], did not overlook the frightened expression on the little girl's face just moments ago. He glanced subtly at the girl in the kimono, noticing that she was now looking down, not making eye contact.
While setting down his elegantly long wooden box, Jonghyuk pulled out a pouch of money and said, "Let me have something to eat first."
The sallow-faced innkeeper immediately took the money pouch, weighed it in his hand, and couldn't help but break into a grin, showing several decayed teeth.
"Alright, sir, just a moment."
The innkeeper happily headed towards the kitchen, while the landlady, seeing Jonghyuk seated at the table, gave a meaningful smile and then led her daughter Nana Hana, who still wanted to play with Jonghyuk, away.
At that moment, the little girl in the blue kimono raised her head, her eyes met Jonghyuk's, and her mouth opened slightly but made no sound. It seemed like she was trying to mouth something to Jonghyuk, but he couldn't understand it right away.
Amidst Jonghyuk's confusion, it wasn't long before several dishes were ready, and Nana Hana and her sister came out carrying the plates.
The girl in the blue kimono glanced cautiously at her parents behind her. She gently nudged her younger sister with her elbow. Nana Hana first looked bewilderedly at her sister, then as if remembering something, she suddenly lunged forward and fell to the ground, bursting into loud tears.
Both the flirtatious landlady and her mercenary husband, seeing their little daughter fall, turned pale with fright. They quickly set down the dishes they were holding and rushed over to Nana Hana's side, carefully lifting her up and incessantly asking if she was alright.
Their concern was indeed profound.
Meanwhile, their older daughter placed a cup of sake next to Jonghyuk, her mouth moving slightly, her voice barely audible.
"...Hurry, get away! They're going to harm you!"
Jonghyuk's expression remained unchanged, his eyes subtly lifted to meet the girl's gaze, detecting the urgency in her eyes.
"Ssss..."
Jonghyuk's right hand quietly rested on the box of his Nichirin Blade, his breathing grew deeper, sensing the movements within a few hundred meters around him. There were no more people hiding; it was just this family of four.
"They aren't your parents?"
Jonghyuk poured himself a drink, his voice equally soft.
The girl in the blue kimono couldn't understand why this tall man was so obtuse. Despite her repeated hints, he was still asking nonsensical questions.
As night was about to fall, the little girl thought of the things that lurked in the darkness, her face paling further.
"Hurry up and run, big guy, it's getting dark!"
The little girl's urgent voice caught her mother's attention. After thoroughly checking Nana Hana for any injuries and finding none, the mother finally relaxed. However, Mina, the older daughter, seemed to be constantly standing next to the man.
"Mina, aren't you going to take your sister downstairs to rest?"
The woman's voice, scolding her elder daughter, carried not a trace of warmth, in stark contrast to her careful handling of the younger daughter.
Mina, known as the older girl, cast one last anxious look at Jonghyuk, then bowed her head and led her giggling, skirt-slapping younger sister downstairs.
Nana Hana, oblivious to the change in atmosphere, happily waved at Jonghyuk.
Jonghyuk set down his drink, having decided not to consume anything from this establishment. He gently pushed the wooden box aside, appearing not to notice the change in the innkeeper and his wife's expressions, and seemingly offhandedly asked,
"Are there also demons in this town?"
As soon as he spoke, the expressions of the innkeeper and his wife dramatically changed. The landlady, who had been coquettish moments before, now had a flushed face, and her already narrow eyes were stretched wide open, exuding a fierce demeanor.
"Are you one of those ignorant swordsmen?" the landlady asked in a dark, angry tone.
Behind her, the innkeeper seemed frightened that Jonghyuk's words might have provoked some unseen beings, as he was muttering under his breath in fear.
"What demons? Those are the messengers of the gods!"
The landlady's shrill voice carried far in the otherwise peaceful town, making it noticeably jarring. Jonghyuk, with one hand on the box, could sense people beginning to gather around.
As the evening grew darker, the maple trees by the river, which should have been a beautiful sight, now appeared somewhat sinister.
Not wanting to cause trouble with these seemingly abnormal humans, Jonghyuk decided to leave, picking up his long box and smiling.
"I see. Next time, I must meet your divine messenger. For today, I better continue on my journey."
As Jonghyuk moved to leave, a figure had already stepped ahead of him, blocking the doorway.
"You ordered so much food and didn't eat a bite. Are you criticizing my cooking skills?"
The innkeeper was slim, and his figure at the doorway seemed somewhat timid, but the kitchen knife in his hand gleamed coldly, which Jonghyuk found even more troubling. Outside the shop, several people had appeared; all of them were expressionless as they watched Jonghyuk.
A sudden guess about the truth of this place formed in Jonghyuk's mind.
Divine messengers, demons, strange townspeople, indulgence in pleasures...
If his guess was right, then this place was extremely dangerous!
Jonghyuk reached for the box, no longer caring about the trouble that might follow.
To survive, Jonghyuk didn't mind killing a group of people who were no different from madmen.
"Something's wrong, Nana Hana has fainted!"
The young girl, Mina, suddenly rushed out from the back room, shouting loudly.
Hearing this, both of the Shinakawa couple turned pale. Mrs. Shinakawa no longer cared about the profitable customer in the shop and ran like the wind towards the back room, while Mr. Shinakawa clutched his head, his face filled with panic.
What surprised Jonghyuk even more was that the group of townspeople who had gathered outside also began to panic at the news. Several women immediately rushed into the shop, creating instant chaos.
Amid the chaos, Mina grabbed Jonghyuk's hand and pulled with all her might, but it felt like she was trying to move the big water buffalo from the next village—Jonghyuk wouldn't budge.
Jonghyuk glanced at the girl, picked up his sword, and followed her out of the house.
Once outside, the little girl saw that it had completely darkened, with stars already twinkling on the far horizon. She turned around anxiously on the spot.
"What do we do, it's too late, those things are going to come over…"
"Don't worr—" Just as Jonghyuk was about to speak and reassure her that he wasn't afraid of ordinary demons, Mina, quite irately, slapped his thigh and scolded, "Big guy, even stupidity should have its limits. I'm trying to save you, please don't interrupt me!"
Despite being much shorter than Jonghyuk's chest, the little girl's presence was formidable. She had made up her mind not to let these swordsmen who roamed about saving people be killed by the crazies in the town. It seemed as if she remembered something, her eyes turning red.
Jonghyuk followed Mina as she led him in circles to the base of the mountain on the west side of the town. There, a massive maple tree thick enough to be hugged by several people stood, its branches dense, obscuring the view inside.
The girl neatly tucked up her skirt and climbed up swiftly. She poked her head out from among the maple leaves, signaling Jonghyuk to follow.
Jonghyuk climbed the tree with strong, swift movements. Atop the vast canopy, there was a sizable nest crafted from vines and wooden planks, which contained a familiar scent to Jonghyuk.
Wisteria flowers.
______
Demons are divine messengers...
I wonder who this village might belong to...?
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