Inosuke was a very easy child to coax.
I said I'd treat him to a meal. As proof, gave him the two rice balls from my chest.
After he wolfed them down, he generously told me his name.
His name was Hashibira Inosuke. No father, no mother. Wild boars in the mountains raised him.
This name was written on a loincloth. Left tucked in his swaddling clothes.
Wild beasts rarely raised human infants. But it wasn't nonexistent.
Just that children raised by beasts usually couldn't speak. Their movements were more like animals.
Though Inosuke spoke crudely, didn't understand much common sense or rules, he spoke very fluently. Wouldn't habitually walk on all fours like a beast.
"An old man with three hairs and a big-eared idiot taught me to talk." Inosuke said proudly. "I'm no dummy!"
From these words I analyzed—at the foot of the mountain where he grew up lived a household. A grandfather and grandson depending on each other...
Not only taught him to speak, but also taught him basic social conduct. Let him interact normally with people.
Even these clothes were made for him by that family.
Inosuke originally spoke with animated gestures. But suddenly dropped his hands. Said woodenly: "Three-hairs old man died. Big-ears went elsewhere to make a living. I didn't want to go with him. So I came out on my own."
He only said this much. Didn't need others' comfort and rallied himself. Then pointed at me.
"What about you! Didn't that pitch-black guy say monsters that come out at night are all demons? Why would there be a big monster like you? Too weird!"
"Too complex to explain." I said. "If you can keep my secret, I'll give you a sword."
Inosuke thought for a while. Held up two fingers. Snorted roughly: "Two swords!"
I laughed. Felt he was sometimes naive, sometimes so shrewd. Also quite adorable.
Returned down the mountain to see that anxious, helpless Corps member. I returned his sword. Instructed him to be more careful in the future.
Then also stopped Inosuke, who was baring fangs and claws wanting to intimidate him. Brought him to the city to eat sukiyaki hot pot.
Though the hour was a bit late, as long as you had money, you could eat what you wanted anytime.
Inosuke lived in the mountains year-round. Seemed he'd never entered a city.
Seeing the brightly lit streets, he reactively whooshed behind me. Gripped my hem. Then peeked out from behind me.
After adapting for a while, he gradually relaxed. Didn't find the people on the street strange anymore. But still clutched my clothes.
"So many people here."
I heard him sigh once. Then curiously looked everywhere. Stared at someone he found interesting. Kept staring until the person looked over with a strange expression. Then quickly left.
Not only did he find the streets strange—pedestrians seeing him shirtless, wearing a wild boar hood, also appraised him with considerable surprise.
Fortunately, they were just purely curious. Inosuke didn't feel uneasy either. Just midway touched his belly and asked: "You said you'd take me to eat good food. Is that true?"
"Of course it's true."
I'd already brought him outside a shop open all night. Pushed the door and walked in. An attendant came up.
They truly lived up to being well-trained professionals. Seeing Inosuke's appearance, their expressions didn't change. Smiling broadly, led us into a private room.
While waiting for dishes, Inosuke couldn't sit comfortably. Jumped down from his chair. Looked around the room. Touched here. Then touched there.
He suddenly turned and asked me: "Is that sukiyaki hot pot you mentioned really that good? Better than the rice balls you gave me?"
I thought a moment. "If it's not good, I'll compensate you with ten rice balls."
Inosuke got my promise. Sat back down contentedly.
After the hot pot and dishes were brought to the table, he first expressed wonder at the steaming copper pot. Then with a strange expression, picked up chopsticks. Held one in each hand to observe.
I prepared a bowl of dipping sauce and placed it by his hand. Also put a spoon in his bowl.
Picked up cooked beef and vegetables. After piling a full bowl, placed it before him.
"If you can't use chopsticks, use this."
Inosuke immediately put down those two things that to him were no different from tree branches. Used the spoon to scoop a mouthful of food. Boldly stuffed it in his mouth.
I saw the scalding beef dancing on his tongue. His eyes went round. Made an exaggerated grimace. But didn't spit out the food.
After swallowing hastily twice, he quickly scooped a second spoonful.
While he ate, I kept serving him food.
Watching him eat was very appetite-inducing. Like eating with Kyojuro and Mitsuri—they could always make any food taste delicious.
But feeding Inosuke gave me the feeling of feeding a stray animal. Inexplicably felt gratified and satisfied. Just kept serving him food.
In the end, this whole pot went to him. Plus two large bowls of rice.
He ate until his belly was round. Slouched in his chair burping. Still seriously told me: "You were right. Sukiyaki hot pot is better than rice balls. I don't want you to compensate me with ten rice balls!"
I couldn't help laughing.
Rested a night in this small city. I brought Inosuke back to my residence.
Seeing me bring a child back from outside, Ume was already used to it. Her expression didn't even change.
But she still snorted sarcastically.
Yet Inosuke pointed his finger at her. "Oh oh! You're a little monster under the big monster! I'm the wild boar monster Inosuke!"
Ume didn't understand. Only understood the word "monster." So angry her face distorted.
"Who are you calling a monster!" She shrieked furiously. Her sash waved menacingly around her.
Inosuke immediately assumed a fighting stance. "Want to fight me? Sash monster!"
"Shut up!"
I ignored their roughhousing. Dove into my storeroom to search for a while.
Too many things accumulated over so many years. One room couldn't even hold my collection.
Fortunately, Gyutaro helped me handle household matters. Categorized all my treasures properly. From time to time had people send them for maintenance. Only then could I rest assured piling them here.
The place storing blades was very spacious. The shelves displayed most old swords I'd used.
Some were too rusted to use. But some remained sharp as ever.
I picked two swords forged in recent years. Brought them out.
Outside, Ume had already battled Inosuke for three hundred rounds.
Ultimately relying on home advantage, used her Blood Demon Art to tie Inosuke up.
Ume used both hands with painted nails. Forcefully pinched Inosuke's cheeks. Snorted coldly twice: "Brat, you give up?"
"Mmph—give up!" Inosuke still kept twisting.
Don't know how he did it. Just in the blink of an eye, he suddenly shrank down from the sash's restraints. Smoothly slid down.
Then while Ume was dazed, stuck out his leg and tripped her. Made her fall flat.
This really stirred up a hornet's nest.
Ume flew into a rage. Waving her sash, chased him the entire night.
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