Kevin the Bored
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34 Chain-Quest Activates!
🕑 Added 2025-03-07 16:20:16 +0000 UTCSitting inside of a large open room with only a single long table taking up the floorspace, and a number of decorative cloths on the walls, I accept the cup of ice cold water offered to me with a grateful smile.
"Again, I must apologise," I say, speaking to Setsura and Shirokoaka, who are both sitting opposite me, with an array of guards around the room. "I do not know what came over me."
And I really, truly don't. It's just that when I heard that name, Murasaki...
I don't even know. I just couldn't control my tears. It's filled me with questions that I don't even know to ask. The only question I am sure of is, who is Murasaki?
Who is she to me, specifically? Why is hearing her name spoken alone enough to make me feel so sad?
"While I will admit to some curiosity over your reaction," Setsura responds, taking a sip from her own cup, causing me to mirror her. "We remain with greater matters to discuss."
I'd have loved to nod my head in agreement to that, but I'm too busy scrunching my face up at the taste of my drink. This is saltwater. Why am I drinking ice cold salt water right now?
"Oh, do humans not drink water?" Setsura asks, sounding honestly confused. "I had thought your kind did?"
"Fresh water," I choke out, putting the cup down and lightly coughing into a fist. "We drink fresh water. Salt water dehydrates us. It's not really comparable to a poison, but we would certainly die if we only drank salt water."
Setsura tenses slightly, so I wave her off. "It is no matter, an honest mistake," I say, and she relaxes, reassured that I'm not going to flip out because of a simple mistake.
"I see. My apologies. I am only aware of humans drinking water, tea and sake. We Yuki-onna do not drink tea or sake. We prefer cold water, however salt water is our equivalent to sake, as it adds a certain spice to the drink. I had assumed that that meant it was drinkable for humans."
That is a very interesting bit of knowledge. I hadn't really thought too much about the diets of Yōkai beyond feeling generally dismissive of the idea that they exclusively eat humans. But it would make sense for them to have specialised diets.
I wonder what they eat? I'll ask later. I bet they'd love milkshakes and slushies and stuff though.
"It is truly not a bother," I reassure again. "Were our places reversed, I likely would have offered you either tea or sake, not knowing your own preferences."
"I thank you for your understanding," Setsura says, and I do notice that she seems to have started treating me more respectfully ever since she made that possible connection between Murasaki and I.
"Now, onto the matter at hand," Setsura continues. "I am starting to accept that your presence here may have been purely coincidental, so I would like to ask you what you know of our Shiroiwa clan and the nearby Suwa clan of Kappa."
"Uhhh, nothing?" I scratch my chin as I try to think of what I know that I haven't already said, but I can't think of anything. As I am thinking, another Yuki-onna comes and replaces my water with another cup of water, presumably without salt. "Thank you," I mutter before turning my attention back to the two opposite me. "I did not even know you existed until today."
Setsura looks deeply at me in silence for a moment before the old hag, I should probably stop thinking of her like that, before Shirokoaka scoffs.
"Do not tell me that you are considering this human to speak true, Setsura? Do not forget what little Reiti-chan said."
The old hag continues to glare at me as she speaks, but honestly the idea of old people just being mean and glaring all the time is kind of just accepted to me, so I don't flinch.
My father in this life is obviously not the same, but in my last life I knew plenty of old people that were all just judgemental assholes. Yomi, I even remember having a friend who was a care worker that considered telling one of the old dudes he was caring for that he was gay.
The idea being that the old dude would call him a faggot and then he could use that as an excuse to convince his boss not to send him to care for the guy anymore.
Point is, Shirokoaka's angry old hag look doesn't seem anything special to me.
"I have not forgotten," Setsura responds, her tone lightly chiding, and it is an interesting bit of contrast in our social structure that Shirokoaka actually seems to defer to her. If they were humans, then the old hag would never be able to accept that a youngster knew better than her. But with Yōkai, it seems that personal power takes a similar mantle as age does with humans.
It's interesting. We're so similar, but also so different if you just care to look.
"But neither have I forgotten that this human still has an open wound in his shoulder that he has not used to display any displeasure nor has such a wound caused any hostility. Humans are not known to forgive those they would wish to harm."
Her words once again remind me that I do have a hole in my shoulder right now, and I look over to see that there isn't a tonne of blood on my kimono as I was expecting.
It only takes me a moment to realise why. The ice spear that made the hole seems to have frozen the wound shut, or at least the veins and stuff, so it's not bleeding. It's also numb, now that I'm actually paying attention, which explains why I kept forgetting it.
It's not like I'm a masochist after all.
"Oh, do not worry about that," I say before coating my opposite hand in Positive Energy and pressing it against the wound. A second later, I pull the hand away and clear pale skin can be seen through the hole in my clothes.
Luckily, I know how to sew, so I can fix that if I need to. I have plenty of spares anyway.
"See? All good." I rotate my shoulder a bit and send a smile to the two Yuki-onna who are now looking at me with an even greater focus.
"I hear that Positive Energy is something that the vast majority of human Sorcerers struggle to practice," Setsura states, making me shrug.
"It is. I am pretty good at healing though. I even healed Reiti-chan after those Nakiri guys hurt her."
"Impossible," the old hag scoffs again, causing one of my brows to rise. "The Positive Energy that heals you humans is a poison to us Yōkai, and despite the similarities, your Cursed Energy is not Youki. Humans cannot heal Yōkai."
"I can."
The hag glares at me for a moment, but I just return the stare with a bland look of my own.
It's funny, but even just that short meeting I had with Tengen has completely changed my outlook on certain things. It's left me with this feeling that miserable old people are just choosing to be miserable.
Or perhaps it is their decaying bodies that makes them miserable? Either way, after having such a casual and enjoyable conversation with Tengen, I can no longer rationalise in my mind that one's age can excuse one's words.
Obviously that isn't a hard, catch-all rule, but still. Tengen is wise. She would be willing to accept that something she once thought was impossible turns out to be true.
What's that saying? A wise man knows he knows nothing? A lot of people attribute that to mean that being wise is knowing that there's a bunch of crap you don't know, but I feel like that line of thought detracts from the main lesson to be learnt.
Being wise is being ready to accept that something you truly believed was true, was in fact false. Being wise, is being able to admit when you were wrong, no matter what, and accept new facts that turn your world upside-down.
Well, so long as there is sufficient evidence to change your thoughts of course. You should have a little back-bone.
"On the subject of little Reiti." None of them call Setsura out on blatantly steering the conversation away from the hag's stubbornness. "You called her Yukihime. Why?"
Oh shit was that a faux pas after all? "Oh well, you know," I trail off somewhat, scratching the back of my neck and smiling sheepishly. "Little girls like getting called Princess right? Well, she was just in a tough spot, so I thought doing so might take her mind off of things. Y'know, make her smile. I apologise if doing so is culturally insensitive to you?"
Setsura lets out an amused breath and sends Shirokoaka a look I would almost call smug.
"What was it you used to tell me as a child?" Setsura asks, and Shirokoaka quickly scoffs, though she does at least seem to relax some of the tenseness of her shoulders.
"Yes yes, I see your point, though I will continue to hold to caution." Shirokoaka rolls her eyes, continuing with a quiet mutter, "Someone has to."
"Moving forward," Setsura says, turning her attention back to me with a small smile. I don't fail to notice the still present caution in how she regards me, but at least she doesn't seem so suspicious anymore. "I would like to offer an explanation for the impolite reception you have received upon your arrival with little Reiti."
"By all means," I respond, happy that it's finally my turn to learn.
"To begin, some history," Setsura starts, getting a sharp look from Shirokoaka that is ignored. "Our Shiroiwa clan and the nearby Suwa clan of Kappa have been in conflict since long before I was born, back when we originally connected to the Human Realm, over the ownership of the nearby lake-"
"Wait wait wait," I interrupt, waving my hands in front of myself. "What do you mean, 'when you connected to the Human Realm?' And isn't that lake called Lake Suwa?"
Both of the Yuki-onna raise a brow at me.
"How old are you, Boy?" The hag asks, and she actually seems genuinely curious, rather than reproachful.
"Fifteen." I shrug. It's probably difficult to tell one's age for Yōkai who live for so long without seeming to change much.
"Truly?" Setsura asks this time, and I don't see what the big deal is.
"Is it surprising?"
"A little," Setsura admits. "Though it does explain your ignorance. It is just rare for a human so young to be strong."
"I suppose it is," I respond, nodding in agreement. "Not me though, I'm The Strongest."
I get the feeling she doesn't believe me. That's pretty funny.
"Well, to answer your question," Setsura continues, ignoring my claim. "Firstly, a lake is a lake, it does not need a name. Secondly, we Yōkai do not originate from your Realm. Well, most of us do not. Instead, we have our own Realms, such as this one. In the long forgotten past, Yōkai would live in isolation, each in our own separate Realms, only occasionally connecting together for whatever reason, such as when the Kitsune and Oni went to war in the ancient times."
Random lore drop. I'm definitely going to mention that to Tamamo at some point. She will be all like 'Woah, how do you know that?' and I'll strike a cool, mysterious pose and be all, 'Wouldn't you like to know?'
"However," Setsura's voice pulls me back out of my daydream, "Everything changed when Izanagi-Ōkami created the Realm of Humans, after which, our Realms became collectively known as the Reverse World. Additionally, it is a lot easier to connect our own Realms to the Human Realm than to each other, meaning that it became a lot easier for us Yōkai to come into conflict."
The lore suddenly became a lot more significant. Is this world really so different to my last that science can just go fuck itself, or was my last world also created by a god and just no one knew about it?
Well, I guess some people probably got it right, right? Now I'm just wondering if Izanagi created the entire Earth here or just Japan?
"What is relevant right now," Setsura continues, "Is that owning territory in the Human Realm has become something of a status symbol. We have thus been in conflict with the Suwa clan for ownership of the lake that they have gone so far as to name after themselves, as if everything must be named."
The way Setsura rolls her eyes at the idea of naming a lake is another bit of interesting cultural differences that I take note of.
"Is there any reason other than status that either of you would want the lake in the first place?" I ask, and Setsura nods her head.
"I admit, I am unsure if I can really explain it in a way you can understand as a human," she admits, pausing to ponder for a moment. "I suppose it is like... Like when a human eats a new food and finds that they enjoy it? I do not know if the feeling truly translates properly, but in essence, we both just want it. We Yuki-onna want to have a large body of frozen water outside of our home, while the Suwa want the same, sans the ice. Thus the conflict of interest."
Well, I've always held the belief that simply wanting to do something is enough reason to do it. Same as how the thought of 'It just doesn't sit right with me' is a perfectly valid reason not to do something.
"Can you not simply freeze half of the lake and leave the Kappa with the other half?" I ask, but apparently that was the wrong thing to say, as both of them, as well as the guards around the room, all briefly scowl as if on reflex at the question.
The reaction oddly reminds me to how guys react to the idea of intense violence being vested upon out genitalia. That kind of sympathetic, unconscious flinch.
"No." Setsura firmly denies. "A half frozen lake..." She pauses as if searching for the words. "It just is not the same. I am sorry, but I truly cannot explain why in a way you would understand. It is simply... Upsetting."
Man, it is so interesting talking to a literal different species. Is this what it would be like to talk to an alien? I mean, it's basically the same thing. They're not even from Earth apparently.
"Alright, fair enough. But what does this all have to do with me? Not that I do not find it interesting, because I really do, but I am not seeing the relevance?"
"The relevance is that little Reiti was running from the new Lord Kappa when you encountered her, coincidentally at the same time that I was absent from the village. The circumstance was suspicious, and that suspicion was handed down to you."
I kind of get it. Two groups at war, and as the main fighting force of one group happens to be absent, the main fighting force of the other group just so happens to make a play. I can see where the suspicion would come from.
That doesn't necessarily mean I agree with the conclusion though. Also, I do kind of feel like there's something more to the reasoning that she's not telling me.
"I see what you are saying, however, from what I saw of Kazuro, or the new Lord Kappa or whatever, he didn't seem like the type to hurt a kid. In fact, I think he was going to protect her from the Nakiri men. I think this whole thing is just being blown out of proportion, making a needle into a stick, as it were."
The old man looked at me weird when I said 'making a mountain out of a molehill.' Apparently this is the local version. I don't feel like it has the same gravitas though. Mountains are bigger than sticks. Makes for better imagery.
"Perhaps what you say is true," the old hag Shirokoaka chimes in, "But it does not change the simple fact that a Suwa Kappa attempted to bring harm to one of us. Such an action cannot merely be resolved out of faith. If we do not retaliate then they will simply try again, this time without any humans around to intervene."
Well, I guess if it was that easy, there would never be any wars. It also still feels like there's some extra reasoning that she's not telling me, but I doubt pressing the issue will do any good.
"I see your point, but I do not believe escalation is the right choice to make."
"Fortunate then," the hag smirks, "That your opinion is irrelevant here, Human."
"Bleh, rude," I say, sticking my tongue out at her like the mature adul- Wait a minute, I am a teenager. Hah!
The hag blinks at the childish response, but I pretend it didn't happen and continue before she can question it. "I do understand the concept of intergroup conflict, the self perpetuating nature of cultural prejudice and how it is difficult to be the one to offer the hand of peace while trusting that doing so will not simply earn a knife to the back. But I believe that a little stab risk is worth it for a chance at peace."
"I have had a similar thought," Setsura quickly states before Shirokoaka can get a word out, and she once more ignores the hags glare by staring right at me. "Which is in part why I have bothered to have this talk with you in the first place. I will not risk any of my clan by sending them to meet with the Suwa, however, you are a third party, and it would matter little if you should perish. So, how about it? Would you be willing to speak to the Suwa for us? I am not certain a peace can even be achieved, but at the very least, we lose nothing by making the attempt."
Should I be upset about being blatantly called a disposable asset? I don't know, I kind of think it's nicer to be up front about it instead of refusing to say it.
Still, this kind of feels like a video game side-quest.
Oh! You've encountered a person in trouble! Save them!
Congratulations on saving the person in trouble! Now escort them home! Now go carry messages between the two factions!
Next thing you know there's going to be some evil mind controlling squid guy that is actually secretly behind the interspecies tensions. That way it doesn't matter which faction you choose, both can be whitewashed into good guys that got dealt a bad hand.
I really shouldn't think like that. This isn't a game, I'll end up making some stupid presumptions if I keep comparing everything like that.
Doesn't mean I'm not going to accept though. Side-quests are great.
"Sure," I say. "Kazuro already invited me to visit anyway, and I'm awfully curious what his village is like."
It's true. I haven't even been here long, but just from the short walk through this village, I've already seen and learnt a bunch, from the small but interesting differences in culture to the flower that I picked up.
Oh, that reminds me.
"By the way," I quickly follow up, lifting the flower from my lap to show it off, "What is this thing even called?"
Shirokoaka scoffs again and rolls her eyes, while Setsura gives a more reserved response of merely raising a brow. In the end, it is Shirokoaka that answers.
"Not everything must be named," she sneers. "It is a flower. Just as the lake is just a lake. Everything need not be named."
I can't even pretend to be insulted by her tone, far too interested in yet another bit of cultural difference. The idea of not naming things beyond their general categoric standing is kind of baffling to me. I can't even imagine the kind of thought process that could accept simply calling every flower a flower and not differentiating between them.
Though, I wonder if this little difference is a result of their nature, or a result of the fact that they have lived relatively isolated lives without much in the way of travelling. That kind of life would result in interacting with significantly less unique objects, thus leaving less of a necessity to separating them all.
After all, they seem to act like Lake Suwa is the only real nearby Lake in the Human Realm. Conversely, humanity has spread across the entire island, and have mapped at least most of it, thus creating a need to differentiate all of the varying lakes and mountains.
I wonder if they would give the lake their own name should they ever expand enough to be regularly interacting with multiple lakes in some fashion, or if they would keep to simply calling them lakes. Perhaps differentiating through direction? East Lake, or the Lake South of some other notable landmass?
It's a curious thing, and I am a curious person.
"Well then," I smile at the hag and lift the flower between us. "In that case, I shall henceforth name this flower, Hibana."
It means ice flower. Creative, I know. I was tempted to go with Yukihana or something equally uncreative, but this is a name that the flower will be stuck with forever. It would be cruel to use its name as the butt of a joke.
Hibana might not be creative, but at least it's a more proper name.
The two Yuki-onna shake their head at my antic, seeming to truly not understand, on a fundamental level, why I would bother with naming a flower.
It's such an alien perspective that I can't help but be fascinated. Then again, I guess they are technically aliens, so that shouldn't be a surprise. They did just say that they aren't from the same Realm as humans.
Wow that's weird to think about.
I want to see Tamamo's home Realm. I also want to talk to Kamo-Sensei about the nature of the world. And I want to travel different dimensions with Sukuna and fight freaky Lovecraftian horrors beyond our imagining.
There's probably some fucked up shit out there. I'll be disappointed if there isn't anything that will make my brain hurt just looking at it.
From there, the conversation winds down pretty quick. They offered to house me so that I can talk to the Kappa in the morning, but I figure it's better not to delay when I'm kind of on a schedule, so I decide to head out right away.
Best to talk to the Kappa quickly to avoid the off chance that they might pull something based on false assumptions.
They seemed pretty happy to foist the diplomacy onto me, and I'm not blind to the fact that it is in large part because they simply don't like the Kappa.
Centuries of conflict will generally breed and reinforce at least some racism. But hey, every little matters, and I feel pretty good being the one to take the first step in potentially resolving this amnesty. Even if it is a process that will likely take even more centuries before there is a true, amicable peace.
But honestly, my focus is barely even on this little side-quest anymore. It just doesn't seem all that significant right now. Not anymore.
After all, from that one conversation alone, the world has gotten so much bigger.
And all I can feel is relief.
We'll find some opponents eventually, Sukuna.
///
Nurarihyon
///
Meanwhile, as Narauko is making his way to the Suwa Kappas, Nurarihyon is frowning slightly from where he is sitting by the edge of some small lake.
By his side is Jorōgumo, as usual, and in his hand is a bamboo rod that he is using to fish with.
The reason for his frown is rather simple.
See, he was only fishing here because he was waiting for his guests of the Shiroiwa clan of Yuki-onna to arrive for a quick chat.
However, when they did arrive, there was only two, instead of the three he was expecting. More importantly, the two were only a pair of relatively weak Yuki-onna, rather than the only one he was actually interested in seeing.
He is not a greatly impatient man, so that alone didn't truly bother him. What did bother him, was the level of thinly veiled suspicion both of the women levied upon him ass soon as their eyes met.
He would understand caution. He is not blind to what his power represents, but he is not like the Oni or Tsuchigumo who all have very little in the way of patience.
But suspicion? What would they have to be suspicious of?
He just heard that there was a powerful Yuki-onna in their clan called Setsura that he wanted to invite into his Hyakki Yagyō. So why does he feel like his name is being besmirched?
He truly just wanted to extend the invitation to Setsura. He wouldn't have even pushed the matter if she had refused. After all, his Hyakki Yagyō is his family. He wouldn't want to keep any of them who didn't want to stay.
That's why he didn't fight it when Kuzenbo decided that he was done with that life and wanted to settle down in the South.
That reminds him, he should check in on Kuzenbo soon. Because as much as Nurarihyon wants his Hyakki Yagyō to be as if a family, he can't deny the situation.
He is in the process of gathering his forces, and if Kuzenbo would be willing to join him one last time, then he would be rather pleased. Setsura would be a boon too, especially if she could bring the support of more Yuki-onna with her.
This Era has already been one of the most chaotic and unpredictable in a long time, but he knows deep in his bones that the true chaos has not even truly begun yet.
There is a storm coming, and he will do whatever it takes to ensure that his Yōkai come out on top at the end.
///
A/N: He~llo! Dear readers!
Didn't like this chapter :(
Normally I write a chap in one sitting, y'know, really just let it flow. But this chap was written in like 400 word bursts, so it's probably not great.
I have a problem where I think too much about where what I'm writing is going and end up paralyzing myself, and then I realise and am like 'stop overthinking this crap and just write' and then like a month later I'm overthinking again.
It sucks ass. I just wanna write man. :[
Also, poor Nurarihyon. Bro's just getting flak for no reason lmao.
Comments
Virdan
Your chapters always make by day just a bit brighter, this chapter is a bit more meh because honestly not much happened, but it does set some really interesting things for later. So don’t worry too much about it. By the way Murasaki’s name was mentioned in a previous chapter.
cocobum
Thanks for the chapter.
Mehdude
Good chapter, I like how alien Yuki-ona think. Little differences that add up to bigger changes in culture are so fun. Implications of yokai realms are really cool. Was kinda hoping for Narauko to say that he killed six-eye dissader just for their reactions. Or telleport back to rabit for the same reasons.
The_Heist
Yea kinda a meh chap but I get what it's supposed to set up just hope for more action in the next chapters and maybe more sukuna povs
Zerak
Nurarihyon Is an Assasin type, they get bad rep by default. Even though he is likely the most likely to stick to a deal out of the top dogs. At least if he thinks the other party isn’t trying to shaft him (a genuine agreement). Btw this isn’t the first time Murasaki‘s name was mentioned. It was mentioned when we was talking two other students after the last spar.
sinclair
lol, sometimes even in a world with gods coincidences can happen, a big universal 'whoops'.
