63 CHAPTER 62: Shuten Doji

We entered the building. Nothing had changed since the last time I had been here. The walls were still thick and uncomfortable, crystals, some with a soft, others with a bright glow were scattered all throughout the rooms.

Some changed colour while others seemed to be filled with unknown liquids.

We walked past the room where I had bad memories of. The room where I had come to learn more about my current condition. Therefore I was glad that the dwarf had decided not to talk to us there, but in the room I had waited in last time instead.

"Well then. I guess that you all want to know with what you could help me."

The dwarf looked at each of us, while Raiko and Yorimitsu could only pay attention to the brightly coloured crystals that were so casually used in the interior of the room that it was almost as if they were nothing special.

The dwarf cleared his throat.

"As you may know, there is extreme tension between this world and the demon realm. Various attacks have already happened and it will not take long before we, even in the stone city have to fight for our lives. Many scouts have therefore travelled to villages and cities, in order to prepare them as much as possible for the upcoming conflict. So that when the time comes, they can warn us and buy as much time for us as possible. While we create a safe place for them to flee to when all hope is lost."

He paused for a moment. I had no idea why, but some how it felt like he was reflecting back at things that had already happened once before. He shook I off and continued to speak.

"Especially in these times, we need clarity and can't be distracted by a possible third party. On the mount Oe lives an oni called Shuten Doji. He has gathered many more of his species and often attacks nearby villages. At first we let it slip, hoping that the attacks would stop without us wasting our valuable time and resources on it, but the attacks are growing more frequent and may cause mayor problems for us in the future."

"Wow wait! What exactly is an oni?" Raiko uncaringly interrupted the dwarf. Much to the displeasure of Oiwa who really tried to pay attention to the dwarf.

"Are you stupid?" She exclaimed. "An oni is just another demon."

But the dwarf shook his head. "No. while oni and demons are similar in many ways, oni are more related to ogres and yokai. While demons are supernatural beings who, much like angels, are something in between humans and gods. The oni always starts out as a human. when the human is evil to such an extend and is incapable of any kind of redemption they will eventually transform into an oni."

Raiko frowned upon hearing the explanation of the dwarf. "Are you saying that only humans can turn into yokai? And that they are just that evil that they can turn into an creature that even has a few similarities with demons? Really easy to say for someone who isn't a human."

I growled at Raiko, but he just ignored me. what only made me angrier. When I wanted to say something in defence of the dwarf, he stopped me.

"Gustave, please don't."

Raiko snored and spat on the ground when he heard the dwarf. "What surprises me more is that the dwarf who abandoned his name in order to be the opposite of demons who often posses more that one name, lets one into his own house."

The dwarf took a deep breath and was clearly trying his best not to kick Raiko out then and there.

"I was not saying that humans are bad, I was only explaining how oni were made. Everything could eventually turn into a yokai. Take cats for example. When they grow old enough, they eventually turn into a bakeneko that either kills everything in sight or protects its former owner from any and all harm depending on its living situations before it turned. Even things that aren't alive at all can eventually turn into a yokai.

And now about my name. yes, I did abandon it, but not for the reason you previously stated. It simply is safer not to have a name when you work around demons as much as I do. They can use our names as good if not better as that we can use theirs. They can use your name to always know exactly where you are or use it to manipulate you into doing their bidding.

Now last but not least. Demons are often prideful, aggressive, cunning, and truly worthy of the way people have come to see them. but, especially in ancient times, demons were not always purely associated with evil. They could bring knowledge, inspiration and taught people magic. I know Gustave wont harm us in any way unless he has a good reason, and since he isn't pure evil that reason probably won't be mere entertainment. On the contrary, he wants to help. Therefore, I let him in.

Now will you please just shut up and listen to whatever I have to say without interrupting me!"

Raiko rolled his eyes. "fine."

"Thank you!

As I was saying before we had this short interruption. We are afraid that the oni Shuten Doji will cause a major distraction and therefore problem in the future. That is why we need to deal with him as soon as possible. Right now, we can't afford to focus our main forces on him so an assassination would be best. It will take about a week before everything is ready for your journey. You can do whatever you want until then… just try to not rip each other apart."

With his arms folded behind his head Raiko stared at the sealing. "One last question. Why us?"

The dwarf rubbed his forehead. I could tell at a glance that he was getting tired of Raiko's shit.

"You see. The people in charge decided that you and your brother were such great warriors that you would be the best to get the job done or something along that line. Oiwa was willing to do anything to get put of the stone city for some time and Gustave doesn't have much else to do. Now can you please stop bugging me!"

After that, the tree humans left, and I stayed a little longer to discus certain things with the dwarf. When that was done, we each went our own ways.