Description.
After Kotetsu finishes the East vs. West duel in the revenge industry, while resting, she receives a letter from her mother urging her to return home, and rushes back to Fukuoka, with Ryuuya along for the ride, who has ulterior motives for wanting to make progress in his relationship with Kotetsu.
But is it Kotetsu’s fiancé or the mysterious group that wants to take over the secret treasure of the legendary Suzuki family that awaits them both?
Characters.
Rin Suzuki (Kotetsu) 16 years old
At the age of 5, he traveled to Kyoto to practice Kyohachiru under Azami’s tutelage, using the demon sword Tsukiyama. At the age of 14, he left Azami and lived in Tokyo at the Kuwabara Detective Agency.
Fei Mei 14 (+1095) years old
Plum Tree Elves at Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine
Ryuya Mikado is 28 years old.
Ostensibly a well-known potter. Puppeteer is his line of work. Ending East vs. West and only recently assumed command of the Vengeance Syndicate.
Tomoaki Hosokawa is 20 years old.
Chelsan’s boxing apprentice and Kotetsu’s childhood friend.
Addo Place (neighborhood in Hong Kong)
‘Rigong’ monk.
Lian Miao Bhikkhuni is 25 years old.
A nun belonging to one of the schools of Tantric Buddhism, the ‘Rigon’, with a high level of incantation strength, who has earned the title of ‘Present Empty Sea’.
(dialect) numerous
‘Rigong’ monk.
Suzuki Pregnant 37 years old
Kotetsu’s mother. Also an apprentice of Kotetsu’s master, Azami, who is an expert swordsman.
Tetsuyama Suzuki is 45 years old.
Kotetsu’s father. A master of boxing and Youming’s master.
Preface to “Spring Heart…”
This is the Kuwabara Detective Agency on Nakasugi Road in Suginami Ward, Tokyo.
Rin Suzuki, also known as Kotetsu, is practicing inside the firm wielding Tsukiyama.
I can’t remember who gave her the nickname Kotetsu.
I only remember that my older brother, Tetsujin Suzuki, used to work here too, so I guess it’s a nickname that has stuck!
(Ah… so boring…)
She sheathed Lunar Mountain in her scabbard and sat down on her ass on the sofa used for entertaining guests.
Always feel dizzy and want to sleep.
Even though it was my older brother… I had no idea what my older brother looked like since we were separated at the age of five.
The only impression I can make is the souvenir photo on the desk of Miho Kuwabara, the head of the office and protector… A photo taken of five or six people, in which a boy with strange hair and sunglasses, who looked like a sea urchin prick, stood breathlessly.
Is this my brother…?
（”Oh…)
Kotetsu sighed.
Then Kotetsu gazed carefully and deeply at Tsukiyama.
Kotetsu was fostered in Rikkyo when he was five years old, and that was also in relation to learning swordsmanship… “To say it’s cultivation is more apt to say it’s forced training.”
Kotetsu nags a lot.
Because I hated that kind of painful practice, I came here at the age of fourteen on the news of my older brother who had escaped from Kyoto, and two years have passed since then.
Her master’s name is “Azami”, a master swordsman who is more than a thousand years old. She came to live in Tokyo with her master’s permission and was taught the demon sword Tsukiyama.
It is said that this Tsukiyama is the sword used by Gen Yoshitsune, the founding tenant of the ancient martial art of Kuruma-ryu, to which Azami belongs, and that it is a sword with a hidden secret.
“Ha… don’t mention it.”
Kotetsu lay down on the sofa with Tsukiyama in his arms and fell asleep without realizing it.
The spring sunlight was reflected in the firm. In the clear and warm sunshine, Kotetsu was greedily sleeping when suddenly there was a knock on the door.
‘KNOCK, KNOCK…’
“Good afternoon, is anyone there…?”
No one answered.
”Gah!”
After the iron door opened, a man in a kimono walked in.
“Strange… no one’s here…?”
The man who sneaked into the office was Ryuya Mikado, who is twenty-eight years old.
Ostensibly known to the public as a talented potter, he is actually the leader of a group that specializes in avenging people’s deaths.
(It’s not just an assassination group, yo!)
The dragon often told Kotetsu so as well.
Dragon also calls his organization the Vengeance Group.
There are two sides to everything, and even if the essence of existence is evil, it is a necessary element for the formation of a society. To help those who have been wronged and humiliated to avenge their wrongdoings. It is Ryuuya’s job to eliminate the evils that cannot be punished by the law.
“Xiao Tie… Huh? Sleeping?” Ryuuya looked at Kotetsu’s sleeping face.
“Heh… What a lovely sleeping image…”
Kotetsu and the dragon were also involved in a magnificent battle only a short time ago.
The battle between the eastern forces centered on Ryuuya and the western forces led by Xuanmiao. In plain and simple terms, it was the battle between Kanto and Kansai. The battle between these two organizations had been going on for over a year, and it was this fat, unassuming looking man who finally put an end to this fierce battle.
Kotetsu helps Ryuuya, and Ryuuya protects Kotetsu, and the two of them can be considered to be friends in need beyond the line of death.
（”Give yourself to me, Tie!)
Dragons daydream a lot too.
“Uh… uh…” Kotetsu was still sleeping soundly.
(Wouldn’t a kiss… be a big deal?)
The dragon also thought back to the one and only good sexual experience he had with Kotetsu once upon a time.
(A year ago… no, a year and a half ago, the one and only time…)
I don’t think I’ll get retribution for kissing her once or twice here and now, Dragonland thought.
“It’s better to take this dangerous thing off her hands anyway.”
Ryuuya reached out to remove Tsukiyama, who was held tightly in Kotetsu’s hand.
(In case she suddenly woke up and slashed at me with her sword, no number of lives would be enough…) Ryuuya’s hands shook with fear.
It’s as if you’re dealing with a ticking time bomb.
“It’s a very tight hug…”
The dragon also carefully, quietly, and slowly drew out Tsukiyama.
(Got it!) Ryuuya tightened his grip on Tsukiyama.
“Uh… uh…” Kotetsu murmured a few times.
One moment.
The dragon had also flashed to the far end of the room.
“Ha, ha, ha…”
(It’s a thousand times more stressful than going to war)
Wake up? Ryuuya guessed that Kotetsu was probably just rolling over.
“Heart weakness…” As his heart was poofing badly due to too much nervousness, Ryuuya pressed his heart in shock.
(I don’t think I can do anything directly…)
Ryuuya looked like he was about to give up, when ~
“Right! This is the time to send out the puppets!”
The dragon also immediately regained its vigor.
Tsukiyama was placed in a corner of the room, and Ryuuya took a charm out of his arms.
“Namo this honored world of the Mārishikti heaven comes to the advent of the shadow…”
The dragon also recited an incantation and blew towards the talisman in his hand, which immediately disappeared, followed by the appearance of five or six puppets about five centimeters tall.
The little puppets looked at Ryuuya.
（What are you doing?)
“Listen everyone, first, lift up Kotetsu’s t-shirt…”
Ryuya ordered in a whisper.
The little puppets ran over to Kotetsu and all of them started pulling Kotetsu’s t-shirt upwards from the waist.
“Great, that’s it, isn’t that the greatest desire of being a puppeteer?”
The dragon was also moved to tears.
“Keep taking it off up there!” Ryuuya still didn’t dare to speak up.
But his eyes had filled with blood and his veins had barely popped.
“Pfft!”
Blood spurted from Ryuuya’s nose, excited nosebleeds were his quirk.
After the T-shirt was lifted up, Kotetsu’s belly button and bra were all visible.
(It’s clearer if you look at it from a different angle…)
The dragon slipped to Kotetsu’s feet as well.
“Bra! Take off your bra!”
The dragon also continued to order the golem.
The little puppets looked at each other with hurt feelings, but there was no way that this was their master’s order, so they had to… and then they proceeded to take off Kotetsu’s bra.
The front clasp of Kotetsu’s bra was easily undone, revealing her lovely breasts.
“Uh… uh…”
Kotetsu rolled over again.
Ryu also carefully ducked under the couch.
After Kotetsu turned around, one foot slid off the couch just as his feet opened up, and good grief this angle was just right for the dragon to see Kotetsu’s chaps as well.
“LUCK…!”
Ryuuya clenched his hands together, fistfuls of sweat dripping from his forehead.
“Good! Next, take off your inner, inner, underwear!”
Ryuuya’s voice trembled.
Hearing this order, the little puppets jumped together to Ryuuya’s feet.
And then~
People shook their heads from side to side.
It seemed to indicate that it could not be done any further, even by the master’s command.
But how could Ryuuya stop so easily!
“Hey! What are you doing? I’m your master! How dare you disobey me!”
The dragon also scolded them in a whisper.
The little puppets consulted with each other and still ended up shaking their heads from side to side.
(How come there’s the sound of someone talking…?)
Kotetsu opened his eyes in a daze and looked towards his feet, only to see Ryuuya screaming and cursing something unknown towards the golem.
Kotetsu touched his chest.
(Ah… The bra’s clasp is loose… Why is Ryuuya here…)
Kotetsu knew immediately what was going on.
She carefully and slowly stood up.
“What the fuck! You assholes are itching! Don’t underestimate my puppeteer, Ryuya Mikado…”
The dragon also glared angrily at the little golem with a green face.
Xiao Tie asked as if nothing had happened, “What happened to the Puppeteer?”
“Wow, nothing, it’s just that these guys don’t follow my orders.”
“So, then what’s the big deal you want them to do, and why won’t they listen?”
“But it’s just to ask them to go and take off and remove… Kottey’s chaps… you…”
“You’re really good at utilizing puppets, Ryuuya!”
Kotetsu stood in front of Ryuuya glaring at him.
The little puppets ran off with a whimper, all turning into piles of sand in a flash.
“That’s why Ryuuya has been kneeling there since just now Lo!”
Kuwabara Hiromi laughed harshly.
She is the Sotatsu of this Kuwabara Detective Agency and Kotetsu’s protector.
“Really, taking people by surprise while they’re sleeping and doing nasty things.”
“Yes… I’m sorry…”
“What kind of potter is that? He’s just a big pervert!”
Kotetsu was deliberately sarcastic.
Long also knew that he was at a disadvantage and didn’t dare to refute a word, so he could only sigh helplessly.
After the Great War between the East and the West, the Dragon was also elected as the Commander.
The character who had once called the shots on the battlefield had seemed so overwhelmed in front of Kotetsu.
(Who told me to be more unlucky…) The dragon also bent his head.
Suddenly, Miho seemed to remember something and she looked at Kotetsu.
“Kotetsu.”
“What…?”
“There’s a letter signed for you.”
“For me… how?”
“Yeah, look!”
“Who could have written it?”
Kotetsu took the letter from Miho and glanced at the sender’s address, Kotetsu couldn’t help but stare.
“Huh? It’s from my mom. How come? We haven’t seen each other for two years…”
Ryuya stood up and looked at the letter in Kotetsu’s hand.
“Fukuoka Prefecture… Spine Jin-san… Huh…”
Longlands was also puzzled.
“Don’t look so incredulous! What’s so strange about seeing your parents once or twice a year!”
“Yes?”
(Things are still suspicious…)
The dragon also looked at Kotetsu.
“What exactly do you write…?”
Kotetsu anxiously tore open the envelope and took out the letterhead.
“Boss… how did this happen…”
Looking at the only sheet of letters written with a quill pen, Kotetsu pondered with a sideways glance.
And then~
“Miho-san… what should I do…?”
Kotetsu looked at Miho suspiciously.
“What’s going on, Iron?”
“My mom’s letter said she wanted me to come back.”
“Understood, anyway, the firm is not doing anything right now, so go ahead and take a trip back!”
Chapter 1: “Going to the mountains…”
“Wow… Shinkansen, it’s really fast…”
Kotetsu looked out of the window and couldn’t help but marvel at the scenery.
The only luggage she had brought with her, aside from the demon sword Tsukiyama, was a small hanging shoulder purse.
Feeling God-light and so at ease.
On the other hand, Long also carried two big bags in his hands, except for a few of his own clothes, the others were all Xiao Tie’s change of clothes.
(I’m my little brother and Panna…)
Looking at Kotetsu’s bright, innocent smile, Ryuuya sighed again.
There’s no way around it, these are yesterday’s penalties.
“Hey! Ryuuya, is this dress cute?”
Dragon also bought a pure white Chanel seasonal spring outfit for Kotetsu.
(If you want the dress, just tell me, why do you have to stand there in front of the dress?) Usually when Kotetsu likes something, she will stand there without moving and force Ryuuya to buy it for her, that’s her rogue tactic. Even though she had this bad habit in the past, this was the first time she had ever bought something so expensive, and it was a small punishment for Ryuuya for yesterday’s incident.
“Alas… three hundred and fifty thousand…”
The sudden expense still left Ryuu feeling a bit overwhelmed as well.
That said, how did Ryuuya get home with Kotetsu?
“If you don’t have enough money for the trip home, it wouldn’t be better to get Ryuuya to go back with you.”
Miho’s suggestion was immediately adopted.
“As a matter of fact it is, and the dragon is a well known potter with more money than he can spend, let alone this little travel expense!”
How could the finicky little iron let go of this great opportunity!
But Kotetsu’s mind was calculating…
(What am I going to tell mom and dad about this crappy guavas?)
Kotetsu is having a field day with this.
It’s a long journey in between from Tokyo to Hakata in Kyushu.
Without realizing it, Kotetsu began to detail the history of their family.
“There are four of us in the family, Brother Ironman, Mom, Dad, and me.”
“So what kind of business is Uncle in?”
“My father was an alcoholic, my brother, as you know, came back as a foundling, and my mother was a cook…”
“Is, is, is that right?”
“Is our family freaky?”
“It’s not like that. Well…”
“Hey, hey, hey, hey, speaking of me, I’m the tea-making girl in the family.”
“What did you say! The tea girl?”
“Yes, and I’m a first-class tea maker… the finest Jade Dew green tea…”
“Oh… that’s right!”
Ryuuya’s answer was ambiguous as he picked up his canned coffee and took a sip.
“If we are to be more serious, our family’s job for generations has been to protect Master Hiroshi’s handwritten letter lo.
”
“Pfft!”
Ryuuya suddenly spewed out his coffee.
As soon as he heard the name of Master Hiromitsu, Ryuuya immediately sat up straight, mentioning the figure of Master Hiromitsu, who was the founding father of the True Word Tantric Sect in Japan, and had some relevance to Ryuuya, who used the art of incantation.
“Sh, what, is there such a job?”
“Ryuuya, people are hungry.”
“Ah, sorry I didn’t notice.”
“That’s okay, just buy me another cup of tea.”
Kotetsu spat out her tongue and went back to the story of their family.
Kobo Daishi, the name of Kukai), was a Japanese monk of the early Heian period. He was born in 774 A.D. and died in 835 A.D. In 804, he traveled to China to study Buddhism. Especially for Tantric Buddhism, he was the one who spread the True Word Tantra to Japan and made it famous.
In 806 Kōkai returned from China to northern Kyūshū, near what is now Fukuoka Prefecture. He then stayed in Chikushi for about a year before returning to his hometown. What Kōkai did during this period is almost unknown, a blank can be said, and even in modern times it is still not understood.
“Wow! This kombucha roll is delicious!”
“So then, some of the ink treasures written by Kōkai at that time are now in your old house, 쑗쑗쑗쑗쑗쑗쑗”
The dragon also looked at Kotetsu with his mouth wide open.
Kotetsu grinned mischievously.
“Hey Ryuuya, you have rice on your face.”
Ryuya hastily touched his face.
“Oh, you’re so old…”
Kotetsu used his hand to remove the rice particles stuck to Ryuuya’s face before bringing them directly to his own mouth.
“Dragons are also like children…”
When Kotetsu did that, it caused the dragon to blush in embarrassment as well.
“Wow. We’re like lovers now…”
A fantasy scene appeared in Ryuuya’s head, but it didn’t take long for him to immediately shake his head and regain his senses as he continued to ask Kotetsu questions.
“What is written in the ink left behind by the empty sea?”
Kotetsu seemed to reply with a difficult face.
“Ink treasure, I am not too clear, what is written on it I do not know, as for my parents have seen those ink treasure, I am not slaughter sheep!”
“But maybe they’re all very impressive treasures…”
(At least for Kōkai scholars and for Japanese Tantric Buddhism, it is very important…) Ryū thought so too.
“What’s next, what’s for dinner?”
Kotetsu took a bite of the small ball on the left side of the bento and stuffed it into his mouth as if it was nothing.
“Wow… what an amazing family!” Ryuuya sighed deeply.
“Shin-Osaka is here. Shin-Osaka is here.”
An announcement on the train informs passengers that Shin-Osaka has arrived at the station.
“Alas, the Master is not far from here…”
Kotetsu glared at the distant mountains through the station platform.
It seemed to recall the days when I was practicing in Rikkyo…
At that very moment, located somewhere within Kyoto, someone was highly concerned about the journey of these two men.
“Clang! Clang!”
A bhikkhuni-a female monk-is tapping the floor hard with her tin staff.
At the top of the staff were several pewters, and the sound of the pewters echoed in the quiet hall.
In the darkened lobby…
This is the main hall of one of the Tantric sects, Rigon, which is their meeting place.
The so-called Satyagarbha, roughly speaking, is a group that started with Kukai as its founder and utilized spiritual practice to pursue stability in the present world. However, at one time, it became a sect known for its attacks.
Hundreds of candles illuminated the dark hall, and in the faint light, upon closer inspection, no less than a hundred monks had gathered to sit in silence.
The standing bhikkhuni confronted an old man with white hair directly across from her.
“Lian Miao! The two of us did use a lot of means to obtain the relics of the founding ancestor, Master Hongfa.”
The bhikkhuni who called out to Lian Miao with a tin staff in her hand was the old monk who had been confronting him since just now.
Judging from the robe she wore, which was woven from gold and silver threads, it was clear that she was a senior monk.
The old monk continued.
“Not only us, but all the various sects related to Tantra, no matter whether they were groveling, or offering money, or even threatening to use force… no matter what form it took, they all tried to take Master Hongdharma’s relics for themselves, and they wouldn’t stop just because of a momentary failure.”
The bhikkhuni, wrapped in a white turban, smiled faintly.
“Aari, the person I am now, even if the devil Azami shows up, I won’t lose to him!”
“Azami the Devil…”
Iri is a devilishly powerful swordswoman who lives in the mountains not far from here.
Her skills to get the big knife are out of this world.
Lien Miu boasted that he wasn’t afraid of failure even when confronted by the devil.
She is now filled with such confidence.
“The commander of the Kanto region, Mikado Ryuuya, will most likely enter the Zanzan Suzuki family, and he is also the best candidate for the commander of the Kansai region. In that case, it can be said that it will be difficult for us, the Rigon, to attack the Suzuki family.”
“If the eastern and western armies merge, we are no match for them at all…”
Iri whimpered.
“We need to strike before it’s too late, before Ryuya Mikado becomes commander of the Western Army, and if we’re going to attack, the best time to do it is only now!”
Pear, quietly close your eyes.
“There won’t be any regrets if I can eliminate all of Tetsuyama Suzuki and his wife, Pregnant, and their heir, Rin Suzuki!”
There was a commotion in the hall.
“Lian Mia…”
(You don’t have to fight in this war…)
In that case, Ichi could only swallow it.
Lian Miao replied quietly as she relaxed the strength in her shoulders.
“If it were me, if it were me now, I am confident that I… can destroy them!”
Asari seemed to sense her determination as well and said with a grave expression on her face.
“Lian Miao, my granddaughter. Listen! This matter is only for success!”
“Yes!”
After Lian Miao’s categorical reply, he immediately turned around and walked towards the exit.
“Lian Miao!”
“Bhikkhuni!”
“Lian Miao!”
The monks shouted Lian Miao’s name out of their mouths and stood up one after another.
About a third or so of the monks chased after Lian Miao.
Iri closed her eyes and sighed.
“Lian Miao! My grandson, I should never have let you embark on this path of no return…”
Unable to see her clearly because of the white hood wrapped around her head, Lian Miao, a young twenty-five year old nun, has been taught all the secret arts by Ari herself since she was a child.
That’s why, despite his young age, Lian Miao’s strength has already earned him the nickname “Imakumi”. I am afraid that no one among the Rigongs here can be better than him.
Lian Miao, who knows nothing about the outside world except for Rigon, has a serious nature, and even Iri is surprised by her desperate behavior.
And her toughness and straightforwardness are all from Iri.
Aari looked at her beloved granddaughter and couldn’t help but worry about her safety as she stared at the exit of the Great Hall.
Having gone through countless heated arguments, her expression has changed from serious to soft. At this time, she is no longer the A-li of Rigon, but an old woman in her twilight years.
In any case, it’s a done deal…
Outside the hall, Lian Miao bhikkhuni shouted to the crowd, “Down the mountain!”
“What? Join the family?”
The dragon also asked Kotetsu once more with rounded eyes.
“That’s right! Our Suzuki family has been recruiting son-in-laws into the family for generations!”
As the Shinkansen traveled, the two of them, Kotetsu and Ryuuya, kept on going over the topic of Kotetsu’s old home.
To the dragon also to join the family this matter really let him startled, along the way Xiao Tie shocked the insides of the surprised him, this journey is not boring at all!
“How did this happen?”
“What’s all the fuss about!”
(It’s true that you hear about this all the time)
Ryuuya thought so while collecting his breath and continued to ask.
“That’s true, but that’s usually only recruited if there are no boys in the family isn’t it?”
“Listening to you I can’t figure out what’s going on in our family… I guess it’s because Iron Man’s brother was expelled from the family and that’s why he had to recruit a family…!”
“Well… it’s possible…”
“Whenever there’s a war going on in the world, it’s the men who die and it ends with the women left behind to guard the family, so it’s never been better to have strong women guarding the family.”
(Is this… is this the Suzuki family?)
The dragon sighed empathetically as well.
Because no matter what, if he and Kotetsu got married in the future, he would have to join the Suzuki family anyway.
“So, Auntie is a master of her craft!”
“Hmm… Come to think of it, I’m much inferior to my mom.”
Kotetsu lowered his head and sighed deeply.
“As if it’s awesome, yo!”
“Mom and I were taught by the same master.”
“Huh─how come?”
It all started a long time ago…
Before Kotetsu and Ryuuya became close friends, Azami, Kotetsu’s master in Kyoto, had fought Ryuuya in Tokyo. There had been times when Ryuya had nearly lost his life at his hands, and his out-of-this-world kung fu, which Ryuya would never want to fight again if he could, was quite a formidable opponent.
“Both Kotetsu and Auntie had learned martial arts from this Azami…”
“What study, I was forced to!”
“And then what?”
“Master once said that he had lived for more than a hundred years and had countless disciples under his mat, while my mother was the most powerful of all his disciples!”
“Wow, even that old monster recognized Auntie’s strength, so it must be quite terrifying…”
“That’s right, and I’ve often been compared to my mother in my practice by my master, ‘Your mother did all this and that…’ and so on, and it drives me crazy!”
“Wow… Kotetsu is working so hard!”
Ryuya’s mouth dropped open as he imagined Kotetsu’s mom, whom he was about to meet.
Right then and there.
“Gah-ee-ee-ee.”
“So, what’s the hey a hey?”
“What happened?” The traveling Shinkansen suddenly braked.
“Ah-“
The car was filled with screams.
The moment the train was nearing the end of the Kanmon Tunnel, which connects Honshu and Kyushu, the car came to a complete stop.
“Urgent report… Urgent report…”
“Wow… coffee spilled all over my body!”
The coffee in Kotetsu’s hand spilled everywhere from the emergency brake.
(ah-)
The Chanel all-white suit that he had hard to argue with Ryuuya was splattered with coffee from chest to knee, and Kotetsu was furious, because the incident was so sudden Kotetsu didn’t say anything, and continued to eat her bento with a big mouthful of food.
“This train has just made an emergency stop due to a faulty power line, and it will take five minutes for it to be repaired, so please wait a moment.”
(What caused the stop?)
Ryuuya’s head was wondering why when he inadvertently glanced at Kotetsu.
“ah… ah…”
“Three hundred and fifty thousand dollars for the dress!”
The dragon was dumbfounded as well, not because of the clothes but the way Kotetsu was reacting right now, I was afraid something would happen later.
“Enough, what do you want?”
As Ryuuya predicted, Kotetsu lashed out as if he was going to swallow the conductor.
“Do you realize how much this dress cost me?”
The conductor apologized…
“Hey, say something to me too!” Kotetsu poked Ryuuya.
“Well…” Ryuuya stammered and couldn’t make out any words
“Why are you stammering? Speak up, louder…”
Kotetsu impatiently urged Ryuuya.
（”What should we do now?)
Ryuuya sighed, suddenly skimming the window.
“！”
You can actually see Marnie Bean on that side of the mountain.
And Manidou looked from side to side incredulously.
（Oh! That’s what stopped the train…)
An afternoon with a clear sky was dark with clouds and lightning above Mani Bean.
“Iron, I think it’s better for you to sit down!”
“You don’t have to say it again, people’s clothes…”
The dragon didn’t wait for her to finish either, and pointed in Manidou’s direction.
“Ah! That’s not…”
Kotetsu immediately understood what was going on.
She sat down on all fours.
(So it was all because of me…)
Manidou was still confused and looking around.
Changing back into his shorts and short t-shirt, Kotetsu said nothing with a stern face.
“Why did Marnie Bean show up?”
Kotetsu asked for the dragon as well.
Mani Bean is another incarnation of Kotetsu, that is one of the largest forms of existence in the world, and this incarnation appears to be ready for battle when Kotetsu is in an unusual situation.
But, there isn’t any dangerous situation now ah!
I’m afraid it’s because we’ve stepped into Lord Michizane Sugawara’s boundary!
The dragon wasn’t terribly sure, but couldn’t really think of any other reason at the moment.
“Sugawara… Dojin…?”
Kotetsu looked at Ryuuya in disbelief.
In the early Heian period, Michizane Kanehara was ranked as high as the right minister, but he was later demoted by Dazai Gonji and exiled to Dazaifu-shi in what is now Fukuoka Prefecture as a local governor, where he remained until his death.
Michizane was one of the three Sages of the Book, the so-called Three Sages, who were Kukai, Sugawara Michizane, and Ono Michikaze. Because he was such an extraordinary person, it is not surprising that his boundary still exists today.
“The Sugawara you speak of is…”
“Even though he’s been dead for over a thousand years, his junction is still alive and well to this day, and I think Mani-dou appeared because he sensed Sugawara Michizane’s junction, right?”
The so-called boundaries are more appropriately thought of toward the realm of the soul at this point, I suppose!
“Huh─there’s such a thing?”
“Xiao Tie… haven’t you heard of it?”
The dragon also looked at Kotetsu with open eyes.
Kotetsu continued to mutter and read.
“It’s all because of Manidou la, messing up her clothes!”
“It’s the first time we’ve all come to Kyushu, we just didn’t realize that Dao Zhen Gong’s boundary power is still so powerful, it’s really surprising!”
Ryuya crossed his arms and sighed.
The sky, which had been overcast when Manidou appeared, suddenly cleared up again in a flash.
The spring sun shines all over the land.
Shinkansen is off again.
Chapter 2: “When the east wind blows…”
“Uh… uh… after the plum blossom season is over it’s the turn of the cherry blossoms, and after the cherry blossom season is over it’s the irises…”
Under the plum tree sat a young girl of about fourteen years of age holding a notebook in her hand and wearing a sailor uniform made from the fabric of a kimono.
This is Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine in Dazaifu-shi, Fukuoka.
Sugawara Michizane was originally sent into exile in 901 A.D. He died two years later and was buried here, and Anrakuji Temple was built and remains as the Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine.
Legend has it that the Flying Plum is a plum tree that flew overnight from Sugawara’s old residence in Kyoto after Sugawara was demoted.
This girl was sitting under that legendary plum tree.
Her long, beautiful hair fell over her shoulders, swaying in the wind, and there seemed to be something unusual about the flow of air in the space that surrounded the girl.
Incredible is not the only thing.
Pedestrians came and went on the road, but no one noticed the young girl.
Rather than noticing it, it would be more correct to say that it was invisible.
This petite, delightful-looking young girl is one that even fellow females can’t help but look at more than once.
And she is the spirit of that thousand-year-old plum tree.
“So much to do lately, ugh, I’d love to take a nice vacation!”
Fei Mei closed her notes and with a click the notebook automatically flew into the backpack behind her.
That’s when the sky suddenly clouded over.
“Huh? What’s going on? I’ve been having a good day today!”
“Ryu! Ryu!”
There was a clap of thunder from the sky.
“Huh? What’s that thing?”
The thunder that rumbled on and on, was this a good or bad omen from God?
Fei Mei took an age-old book out of her backpack, with signs of insect infestation visible everywhere.
“Uh-huh.”
She turned several pages in a row and started reading very carefully.
“Ah! There, so that’s what it’s called a knot!”
The dark clouds in the sky continued to spread and the thunder boomed.
But those who passed by Fei Mei not only didn’t see her, let alone hear the thunder.
The flying plums that those around her could not see, the sky that only she could see.
Fei Mei looked at the sky.
“From the direction of the wind, it should be in the northeast, so it’s hard to believe that someone has intruded into the boundary left behind by the True Lord of the Dao?”
She read with an iso-machine in her mouth as she continued down the page.
“Oooh wow… it’s horrible… how could something so horrible suddenly come here?”
Fei Mei clutched her trembling knees.
But…
(Lord Suga told me to keep an eye on the Daejeon office)
Fei Mei thought about it and stood up.
“All right! Go see what’s going on!”
(But how can I recognize them once I know who they are…)
Fei Mei hesitated.
She looked up at the sky, her knees still shaking.
“Before you go, you have to account for it.”
Fei Mei knocked herself on her knees and mustered up the energy to take a big step.
“First, I’ll go check on Jae Oni Hime…”
Fei Mei walked towards the red colored bridge by the pool…
There were three red bridges by the pool, and the person she was looking for seemed to be at the third one.
“Ms. Fei Mei… Ms. Fei Mei…”
“How are you? At the Onii-hime…”
As Feimei approached, a woman wearing a purple kimono pants skirt and a black top appeared. The outfit was supposed to be Heian era clothing, and her dress seemed to be transparent as if she could almost see through to the inside.
Wearing crimson lipstick in Ghostbusters.
“I’ve had enough!”
All that could be heard was her yelling in good old fashioned displeasure.
“Onii-chan, what’s wrong, bored?”
Fei Mei asked her with a frown, as if her old problem was back.
“Come on, I want to go out once in a while, what’s the point of locking me in here all the time…”
Anger bubbled in the oni’s eyes as she glared at Fei Mei.
(I’m tired of having to be coaxed and pacified all the time, it’s such a nag…) Even though Fei Mei was thinking this in her mind, she put her hands together and saluted Jae Gye Hye.
“Oniichan… I’m sorry! It’s my fault I couldn’t undo your spell…”
“Forget it. It’s no use complaining to you…”
Her eyes turned softer as Ghostbuster gave a rare smile.
The so-called ghosts and sprites seem to have no concept of time and space in their existence.
So, in the case of Onii-chan, she would only pander to her when she saw Fei Mei.
“Ms. Feimei, where are you going?”
“Well─not sure yet, but anyway, let’s go explore first.”
“I felt it too, it was the thunder just now wasn’t it?”
“Uh-huh.”
“I think the other guy must be a big shot, so be careful!”
“I see, thank you. By the way, how did the game you were playing a while ago go?”
“Oh, you mean that! The one that breaks up couples who pass through here?”
“Ouch, that’s really going to make me laugh my ass off, it’s so funny!”
(What? You’re too mean…)
Watching in the onii-hime’s joyful manner, Fei Mei’s heart couldn’t help but worry.
“It’s probably been almost thirty years, and I’ve heard it’s become legendary!”
“What, does everyone know?”
“That’s right, and it’s time for you to stop…”
“I’m not doing it!”
“What a way to take you!”
“It’s already a legend, so doesn’t that make it more interesting?”
It disappeared after a burst of maniacal laughter from the ghost girl.
(Fine… as long as she doesn’t hurt any more innocents…)
Michizane Sugawara has imparted superpowers to Feimei to keep a good eye on the ghostly spirits in the neighborhood, and of course Feimei knows what to do to undo the spell. But because in the oni hime once had a bad and evil behavior of cannibalism, it was impossible to undo the spell on her.
Fei Mei’s job was to guard the ghosts and spirits that were sealed in the vicinity of the Tenman Palace, so sometimes she had to listen to their complaints, and even think of something fun to do for them… About thirty years ago, she jokingly told Jae Gye Hye that how about casting a spell to make couples passing over this bridge break up? It was just a joke and Fei Mei didn’t take it seriously, but who knew that from that time on, Jai Gek Gi had fun with it, and has continued to toy with others ever since.
At the third bridge by the pond, no matter how good the relationship is, no matter how good the couple is, as soon as they pass through here, they will be unhappy, and this rumor has been circulating among people for a long time.
“Never let anyone disbelieve and come running to try it.”
Feimei continued to make her rounds around Tenmangu, looking at the pairs of lovers.
“Ugh..! This is bad…”
After circling around, Feimei entered the store next to Tenmangu Palace.
“Obasan, give me the plum twig cake!”
Of course that’s when Flying Plum would show up for others to see her.
“How many does it take?”
“Um, three… no, four please!”
“Okay, it’s all fresh out of the oven!”
Obasan pulled out four round white cookies.
“Would you like some sweet wine?”
Obasan kindly poured a glass of sweet wine and handed it to Fei Mei.
“Thanks!”
Fei Mei Iori grunted and ate her plum twig cake while thinking about the unknown enemy.
“Well, you don’t have to go into a tiger’s den to get a tiger’s son!”
Flying Plum quickly finished the sweet wine and plum twig cake.
“Obasan, I’ll put the money here!”
Fei Mei took a few coins from her small purse and placed them on the table, and in no time at all she ran outside.
“Good! Let’s go!”
Flying plums in the air, as if riding on the wind, turn and turn the petals in the air.
(Lord Kan. Please bless Fei Mei…)
Flying Plum flew in the direction of the enemy.
Chapter 3: “Someday…”
“Wow… finally!”
“This is Kotetsu’s hometown?”
“Well, I was born here, but I grew up in Kyoto…”
Xiao Tie stretched her waist, from the hometown that she left when she was five years old, every blade of grass and every tree here made her nostalgic, Xiao Tie breathed the air of her hometown hard.
“Wow-she misses it!”
The mountain is located in the southwestern part of Fukuoka Prefecture in Kyushu, just on the border with Saga Prefecture.
Kotetsu’s home is nestled in the middle of this lush forest.
(It’s even better than expected yay!)
The dragon thought as much.
Wooden bungalows, spacious courtyards, and tree-lined plantations at waist level surrounded the property.
On one side of the house was a large tea plantation, and as Kotetsu said, that tea plantation was the work on which their family depended for their livelihood.
Before the foyer was a door made of bamboo without any lock on it.
(As a family that guards the secrets of the Air Sea, it’s not too inattentive, is it!) Ryuuya felt strange in his heart.
Kotetsu’s whole body was quickened.
Though so.
(Once we get back to Edo, I’ll have to buy her clothes again…)
Facing the capricious Kotetsu, Ryuuya was completely at a loss, and now he had no choice but to worry about his purse.
On the other hand, a stylishly dressed man walked quickly…
“Hey-hey-hey.”
The man saw Kotetsu and immediately leaned over at a small jog, stopping just in front of Kotetsu.
“Hey, little, little iron!”
The man was about forty-five years old, and seemed quite young by the way he was dressed.
Medium build, good tempered look.
“Father, it’s been a long time…”
Kotetsu swung her hands behind her back in a coy curtsy to her father.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you, you’ve grown so big already!”
“Heh heh heh…”
“Huh? Who is this man, Kotetsu?”
“I, my name is Mikado Ryuya. I wish uncle good fortune and longevity as the East Sea and the South Mountain… the South Mountain falling down…”
The dragon also had absolutely no idea what he was talking about.
Looking at the incoherent Ryuuya.
“You’re here with Kotetsu, aren’t you! I’m Kotetsu’s father, my name is Suzuki Tetsuyama.”
As soon as he was done, Kotetsu’s dad took Kotetsu’s hand and headed inside.
“I… I… that… that…”
Ryuya stood there alone.
Normally, meeting with dignitaries, representatives of consortiums and other bigwigs at work was a routine for Ryuuya, but facing Kotetsu’s father, who was so out of sorts with his own intentions, Ryuuya was really very surprised.
(I’m just not good enough!)
The dragon also looked sad.
“Come on, Iron, mommy is waiting for you!”
“Mom her?”
“Yeah, it’s in there, go!”
The father-daughter duo walked forward at a brisk pace.
“Wait, wait, wait for me!”
The dragon, who had been left behind, hurriedly followed…
(What a strange pair of father and daughter!)
The dragon muttered back.
“This is my room? Wow… I miss it!”
Tetsuya leads Kotetsu to the room she lived in as a child.
As far as the eye could see, picture books and dolls were neatly arranged on the shelves.
The lacquered wooden desk held an ink stone and brush.
As if the owner of this house was just out for a bit.
“It’s been in the same state since you left.”
Father smiled softly.
Kotetsu carefully picked up a rabbit doll from the shelf and hugged it to his chest.
“You remember this rabbit…”
Tears welled up in the corners of Kotetsu’s eyes.
“Has it stayed that way since I left?”
(Huh? Leaving home at such a young age?)
Kotetsu hugged the doll and gently opened the papier-mâché door.
Once the door is open, there is a garden outside with a view of the Chikuno Plain on the hillside of Mt.
“Wow… this is it… a sight I often see in my dreams…”
Ryuuya, who was following the duo, looked at Kotetsu’s figure.
(There’s a side to Tie here that I don’t know…)
It’s like I’ve peeked into Kotetsu’s secret, and the dragon is so happy about it.
“Huh? Dad, what’s this?”
Kotetsu found a small knife at the foot of the house.
It was said to be a protective blade, yet it was slightly shorter, a short blade of less than thirty centimeters.
“Oh-that, that was your favorite toy when you were a kid!”
“My favorite?”
“Yeah, when your mom and I were worried about where to send you to practice, we decided to send you to practice swordsmanship because you were particularly fond of this blade, hence why we entrusted you to Azami in Kyoto.”
“What? There is such a thing…”
Kotetsu is a little sullen.
(The person who decided to follow the Master was, after all, myself.)
At that moment, there was an uncontrollable anger burning up from the pit of his stomach.
“Before, you were always careful with this knife.”
“Honey, is that Tie back?”
Mom’s voice came from the kitchen inside.
“Mommy, Mommy!”
Kotetsu put the toys away and darted to the kitchen.
“Uh-where are we now?”
Feimei rides a broomstick over the Chikuno Plains.
It was only known that the unknown monster was probably in the vicinity of the Closed Strait, but the details of where to look for it were clueless.
And the monster was only known to Kotetsu and Ryuuya, it was the elf Mani Bean who was close to a god.
“I’m so hungry! It’s dark again, what should I do?”
Anyway, let’s find a place to land first and buy some food to fill up! Fei Mei took out her small wallet from her purse.
“Ah!”
The wallet fell.
“Wait a minute, that’s all I have!”
The money I earned from working in the shopping mall of Tenmangu Shrine from the end of last year to this year is all in my wallet.
“Ughhhh! Not good!”
Flyme made an emergency landing to go after the wallet.
(I’m only making $450 an hour!)
But, normally used to flying through the air, she wasn’t good at rapid descents.
“Wait, wait for me!”
Fei Mei chased after her purse so desperately that she forgot that she was almost at ground level.
“Rustle, rustle, rustle.”
Flying Plum fell into the tall cedar forest at once.
“Ah-“
Flying Plum, who hit the ground, fainted.
“Come on, come on, have some more today!”
Kotetsu’s mom, pregnant, serves up a plate of food.
All kinds of delicious dishes, piled as high as a mountain.
The dragon was also a bit dumbfounded to see so many dishes.
“Mr. Mikado, don’t be polite, have some more!”
“Thank you, thank you!”
“Ryuuya, please drink.”
Kotetsu stepped aside with a bottle of wine to help Ryuuya pour.
“Ah-“
Ryuya finished his drink in one gulp.
(Great! I’m so happy!)
Returning to his hometown, Xiaotie changed his usual doings and became so gentle and virtuous, which made Long also surprised and happy.
(Then again! There’s something different here from what Kotetsu told me──) Looking at the busy pregnant woman, Ryu also wondered.
“Tie, Auntie doesn’t seem to be saying the same thing as you!”
“Yes? Mom, she’s always cooking, that’s why she’s called the Cooking Lady!”
Indeed, it was hard to imagine that Pregnant, who had been working in the kitchen all day, was the master swordsman Azami had praised her for.
The clothes worn by Kotetsu’s father were quite tasteful, but probably because of his slightly chubby figure, he didn’t feel like a smart and capable person.
It didn’t feel like a martial arts student at all.
“Ryuuya, what are you gawking at?”
At being called so by Kotetsu’s father, the dragon also came back to his senses and hurriedly sat upright.
“Ah─! Yes, uncle!”
“Life’s too short to have fun, come on, cheers, hoo hoo la!”
Tetsuyama grabbed the one-liter bottle as soon as he could and poured it full into Ryuuya’s bowl.
（”It’s not like daytime. It’s like a different person.)
The dragon was also a bit surprised.
Red-faced and already royally drunk, Chelsan.
“Please! Dad, stop drinking, you’re yelling so loud, people who don’t know will think you’re arguing with someone!”
Tie looked at Chelsan with bulging cheeks…
“Tie, girls don’t talk too much!”
Not dumping her at all.
(Hardly. Is that why Kotetsu said her father was an alcoholic?)
It’s a far cry from the dashing self-possession of the daytime.
To put it bluntly, it’s just bad wine!
“Forget it, Dad’s already drunk and disorganized, so it’s a waste of effort to talk to him.”
Kotetsu stood up and walked into the kitchen.
“Mom, is there anything I can do for you?”
“No, go and keep the guests company.” Even though mom said that, Xiao Tie still stood there.
“Ryuuya, what is your relationship with my family Kotetsu?”
Tetsuyama brought his face close and put a hand on Ryuuya’s shoulder.
“Ah, ah? Me and Kotetsu?”
“Honestly!”
“I… we’re best friends who fight side by side together-“
The dragon is also stuttering again.
Tetsuyama looked at him cross-eyed and pinched the thumb and forefinger of his left hand, then poked and jabbed with the fingers of his right hand.
“What about this?”
“Ah! What’s that one?”
“Ever done that?”
“Pfft! What?” Ryuya sat up straight nervously.
“Don’t lie to an old man if you dare to do it!”
“Well, I, we, we-“
The dragon also nodded or shook his head.
“-It’s just as I expected.”
Tetsuyama murmured alone.
“┅” Ryuji was speechless.
“Isn’t the so-called sexual partnership popular in Tokyo nowadays, so is it possible that you’re in that kind of relationship?”
Tetsuyama helped Ryuuya pour more wine.
“Gul…” the dragon also took a sip, and the spiciness of the wine immediately burned up from his stomach.
“Uncle, what kind of wine is this, so strong?”
“It’s good, isn’t it? It’s my own private brew, yo!”
Remove the mountain and raise the bottle high.
The dragon had also felt a wave of dizziness.
“Come on, have another drink!” Persuaded by Tetsuyama, Ryuuya gulped down another drink.
At first I found it very choking, but after getting used to it, it’s quite tasty.
“Mom, look at both of them and tell them to stop drinking-“
Kotetsu frowned and stood in the kitchen doorway.
“Xiao Tie as you can see, your father is usually full of loneliness, it’s rare for someone to have a drink with him, so let him have a happy drink!”
Pregnant said in disbelief as she washed the dishes.
These two guys, discussing whether they’ve done it or not while drinking, are kinda like a couple of old friends.
Darkness once again enveloped the land.
“Ah, that hurts! My butt─” Flyme rubbed her butt, walking helplessly.
It was already the middle of the night, and there wasn’t even a streetlight in the mountains.
Luckily there was some moonlight to help light up the darkness for Fei Mei.
“Oooh-so scary!”
Hungry, tired, and rubbing her sore butt from the fall, Fei Mei no longer had the strength to take to the skies in search of her little purse.
Fei Mei looked around.
(Is there somewhere I can take a break?)
Just then, faintly, from the distance came the sound of human laughter.
(It’s great that someone lives here…)
Fei Mei ran towards the direction where the sound was coming from with delight.
It didn’t take long for a house to appear in front of them.
“Suzuki family…”
(How come there’s only this family on this mountain?)
Fei Mei looked sideways, feeling puzzled in her heart.
“Will they take me in?”
Fei Mei hovered outside the door, hesitant.
(What to do if there’s a bad guy in there?)
Indeed, in such a deep mountain, this house was the only one that was brightly lit, so what if it was filled with a man-eating demon or a trap set by a naughty elf!
“Ha… Ha… Ha… Good wine, good wine!”
“Hey, hey, each other! Each other!”
“Ryuuya you guy is really good, I’m willing to bow to you, it’s really the later generation, the later generation!”
“Hey, hey, there! There!”
Looking in from the outside of the house, I wonder who is dancing as if they are having a good time.
Fei Mei was watching from outside with some anxiety.
(Let’s go a little further…)
Flying Plum crossed the trees into the courtyard.
As he walked, without realizing it, he had reached the center of the courtyard.
“Touch!”
Just then, Ryuuya, whose upper body was bare-chested, accidentally fell and rolled into the courtyard.
“Ah!” Fei Mei couldn’t help but scream.
The dragon also rolled and rolled and rolled to Fei Mei’s feet.
“Huh…? Why is there a skirt in this place…”
Ryuuya looked incredulously at Fei Mei’s skirt, then lifted it up to take a look.
For a moment Fei Mei couldn’t figure out what was happening.
(Who is this guy? How dare he lift my skirt?)
When Fei Mei came back to her senses…
“Ah-“
“Fuck you!” Fei Mei immediately kicked down at Ryuuya’s head without saying a word.
The dragon also fainted before he could react.
“Woo… Naru…” Fei Mei cried out on the spot in a blur of color.
Kotetsu and his family to the yard to see what happened, only to see a girl wearing a sailor uniform, sitting on the ground, crying.
“Why do you see me?”
Fei Mei asked Kotetsu as she gulped down her dinner.
“Why do you ask… Are you a demon?”
“I’m not a demon! I’m a plum tree sprite.”
“Huh?”
Xiao Tie, Che Shan, and Pregnant, all three of them spoke out at the same time.
At this point the dragon also collapsed in the corner of the room, with a pair of eyes and a large mouth painted on its stomach.
“I’m Rin Suzuki, this is my mom, that one is my dad, and the guy who fell asleep there is Ryuya Mikado, a big pervert.”
Kotetsu looked at Ryuuya with great disdain.
“I’m sorry, I was startled before I kicked…”
Fei Mei lowered her head rather too much.
“None of your business, who told him to lift a girl’s skirt, he deserved it!”
Kotetsu had a disdainful look on his face.
“Xiao Tie, Fei Mei, take a bath after dinner and go to bed early yo!”
Pregnant smiled and began to organize the dishes.