The gatekeeper, who had gone to deliver the word, returned accompanied by none other than the Head of the Tsunayashiro Clan.
The man had dark-green hair that reached his shoulder blades, braided and draped over his right shoulder—a hairstyle commonly joked about as the 'Dead Mom Hair' in certain circles.
It was our first time meeting, but the power of atavism must be terrifying, because the moment I saw his face, that bastard Jomon immediately came to mind.
"Whoa, for a second, I thought you were Jomon."
If I had a hint of dementia, I would have mistaken him for Jomon entirely. That's how much he resembled him.
Even the hair color was the same dark green; if his hair had been shorter, I really would have thought it was Jomon himself.
"I have been told many times that I resemble our progenitor."
It's funny that he's aware of it himself.
I heard he was holed up in the Soul King Palace and never came out, so did he visit the clan house often?
"I came to know it because the elders of the clan were so startled when they saw me."
Every time they looked at him, they would gasp and claim the progenitor had returned. The man let out a cynical chuckle, but his face soon returned to an expressionless mask.
"My apologies for the late introduction. I am the 4th Head of the Tsunayashiro Clan, Tsunayashiro Reiwa. My name is written with the characters for 'Example' and 'Transformation,' carrying the meaning of 'Be an Example.' Please, feel at ease and call me Reiwa."
My first impression of Reiwa was that he was a 'talkative fellow'—though in a different sense than Shiryu.
Unlike Shiryu, whose chatter was just aimless rambling, this guy was 'talkative' in the sense that he was meticulously detailed in his speech.
Asking me to drop the family name and call him by his given name the moment we met probably meant, 'I'm lowering my head to you for now.'
Was the fact that he went out of his way to explain his name means 'Be an Example' a sign that his entire family would follow my lead?
I'm no expert at reading between the lines, but the way he embeds meaning into every single word really reminds me of Jomon.
I guess blood is blood after all.
I smacked my lips and scratched my head.
"You seem to know who I am. Well, I don't know how much you know, but for now, I'm Shimon Meio. Call me whatever you want, I don't care."
"Then I shall address you as Lord Shimon."
Hearing it like that reminds me of a certain space pirate who lives by drilling into the ground.
It feels a bit weird, but since I was the one who said I wouldn't argue about it...
"Suit yourself."
"There are many things I wish to ask. First, I shall escort you inside, so please follow me."
I followed Reiwa as he bowed politely and began to walk.
Even when I had checked from the outside with my eyes closed, it felt empty, but seeing it in person made it feel even more hollow.
Yes, it felt like a temporary movie set built for a drama.
As I walked along, looking around the hallway that was so empty it felt alien, Reiwa, who was leading the way, spoke up.
"Do you find the manor to be empty?"
"Seeing as you're bringing it up first, does that mean you knew and left it empty on purpose?"
"Yes. Our progenitor, Lord Jomon, said, 'Keep nothing near you except that which is necessary.' You feel the manor is empty because we have followed that teaching; we do not bring anything into the main house except for daily necessities."
"So it wasn't just a concept of being frugal. Isn't it uncomfortable?"
"'If a man can habitually chew on vegetable roots, he will be able to accomplish any task.' I was taught that if one has a roof to keep out the rain, walls to block the wind, and food to fill a hungry stomach, what is there to be uncomfortable about?"
Kagaya was like this, and now this guy too.
Why does everyone sound like some enlightened monk?
"Heh. I really wonder how Jomon, of all people, produced a son like this. That bastard had amazing luck with children."
I don't know if he raised them strictly to fit his taste or if he was genuinely good at education.
Considering that bastard's personality, either way is impressive.
"Thank you for the compliment."
After our brief conversation, we arrived at a room with tatami mats and an *irori* (hearth) in the center.
I didn't know if it was green tea or something else, but it smelled quite nice.
"This is the place I normally use as a tea room. Since the manor does not have a separate reception room, I have inevitably guided you here."
"Don't worry about it. As long as there's a place to sit, it doesn't matter where it is."
"Thank you for your understanding. Please, sit here."
Reiwa spoke as he guided me to what appeared to be the seat of honor.
Right behind the seat hung a scroll with the calligraphy: 'Retribution is Certain.'
"Isn't this the seat where the Head of the Clan usually sits?"
"What does a 'Head of the Clan' signify in the presence of the Progenitor? Please do not mind it and sit comfortably."
I've never met someone this polite, so it's a bit burdensome.
As I sat down with a slightly reluctant expression, Reiwa bowed his head and began to busily prepare something.
"This is the Tsunayashiro Clan's secret White Tea, known as 'Hakureika' (White Spirit Bloom). It takes a little time to brew. Would it be alright if we talked while I prepare it?"
"Whatever you want."
"Yes. Then, first... I shall light the fire in the hearth."
Reiwa brought over some silver-hued charcoal, placed it in the hearth, and pointed his index finger toward it.
"Hado #3: Byakuren (White Flame)."
A pure white flame shot from the tip of his finger, and with a *whoosh*, the charcoal caught fire.
It's always fascinating to see Bakudo or Hado that didn't appear in the original series.
"When did that bastard Jomon make the Hado?"
"Did the Progenitor create the Hado? According to the legends passed down, I heard it was a gift bestowed by the Soul King..."
"...Well, technically, it was bestowed by the Soul King."
If not for the Soul King, neither Bakudo nor Hado would exist. So, back when they were sealing the Soul King, did they create not only the Bakudo but all the Hado as well?
If so, they could have poured Hado on me back then; did they use only Bakudo on purpose?
...No, he probably did a quick mental calculation and thought, 'Using Hado will only piss him off, so let's forget it.'
Or maybe he just forgot.
"However... there is one thing I wish to ask."
"What are you curious about?"
"I wish to ask what your purpose is for visiting our clan."
What? I thought he brought me here knowing everything, but he didn't know anything at all?
How is it that even the way they're airheads in the most important moments is the same? I wish he hadn't inherited that trait.
"Well... it's nothing major. Actually, it is a big deal. I came to tell you about your ancestor."
"About... Lord Jomon?"
"It's bad news if it's bad news. Should I tell you right now?"
"Hmm..."
Reiwa, who was whisking the tea with an object that looked like a chasen, put it down and asked.
"How bad is this news?"
"Very bad."
"I see. In that case, please speak without reservation."
Reiwa bowed his head and requested, beginning to whisk the tea again to create foam.
To be honest, it was unexpected. Since he asked 'How bad,' I thought he'd say, 'Let's skip the scary talk and just drink tea.'
Well, if he were that faint-hearted, he wouldn't be sitting in the seat of the Clan Head.
Then, since I've been given the okay, I should tell him immediately.
"Tsunayashiro Jomon... that bastard went to Hell."
*Clatter.*
"...I see."
I thought he would demand to know why his ancestor fell to Hell, or what crime he committed for a living man to be cast into Hell, but he was far more calm than I expected, which actually surprised me more.
Was Jomon's standing within the family actually horribly low?
It was enough to make me think that instinctively.
"You're surprisingly composed."
"As written on the scroll hanging in the tokonoma, I simply believe that 'Retribution is Certain.' If the Progenitor fell into Hell, there 'must' have been a sufficient reason for it."
Reiwa spoke while staring intently at me.
His expression was practically asking: *So, why did he fall into Hell?*
Now that I look closer, even though the water in the pot was boiling over, he didn't care at all and just kept looking at me. It seems he's extremely flustered internally, even if he doesn't show it on the surface.
He's probably suppressing it because he thinks he shouldn't waver here since he's the Clan Head.
"I came to tell you that. Why he fell into Hell."
"...Please."
To the bowing Reiwa, I explained everything that happened a thousand years ago and what Tsunayashiro Jomon had done.
Even though I summarized as much as possible, there was so much to explain that the story naturally grew long. I finished only after emptying two cups of the tea Reiwa had brewed.
"And so, I cast Tsunayashiro Jomon into Hell."
After finishing the story, I set down the empty teacup.
On the other hand, Reiwa was staring down at his now cold tea, unable to drink.
He must have a lot on his mind already, so there was no need for me to keep talking and complicate things further.
As I waited for a moment, Reiwa put down his cup and toyed with the hair draped over his shoulder, a bitter smile on his lips.
"So that was the reason why the hair color of the Tsunayashiro Clan, which was once white, changed to this in an instant."
It's true that the hair that grew back after completing the Ouken was that color.
To those who don't know, it looks like a mere change in hair color, but to those who do, it was no different from a brand of shame.
"I'm sorry, but I'm absolutely useless with that kind of thing, so there's nothing I can do for you."
"How could I have the face to make such a request? It is an original sin that we must carry."
"The one who committed the crime is someone else; why should you carry it? Don't worry about things like guilt by association. Just remember that it happened."
"You mean that every time I see this hair, I should remember the original sin of my ancestor, using it as a negative example to stay vigilant. I understand."
...Ugh, chills. The way he speaks is so identical that I almost punched him instinctively.
I lightly clenched and unclenched my itchy fists and stood up from my seat.
"Anyway, that's all I have to relay. Don't bother asking if you're curious about anything else. I don't know either."
"Yes. You have already told me enough."
"Right. The tea was good. I'm leaving. No need for a send-off, so don't come out."
"Safe travels."
Leaving Reiwa behind as he bowed, I stepped out of the Tsunayashiro manor.
Since there weren't any other places I needed to show my face, I should head back.
*Crack!*
Just as when I arrived, I struck the air to shatter the boundary and returned to Hell.
And when I returned to Hell, which now felt as comfortable as my own home...
"What the fuck?"
—I survived...! I'm alive...!
—I hate the heat, I hate the heat, I hate the heat....
—Sniff, sob, thank you...! Thank you...!
The 320 people I had definitely thrown into the magma had somehow come back to life.
What the hell is this?