Chapter 3 : Accusation

In the centre of the village of Usui a crowd of people surrounded the house of the chief of the village, who was standing surrounded by the elders of the village.

And in the centre of the crowd was a young boy covered in blood sitting on the ground who was looked down on with contempt and anger by all the villagers.

"He dared to kill his father..."

"They say he's possessed by Yokai..."

"I knew this child was strange, since birth he has never cried and he never plays with children his age, he always prefers to practice kendo on the mountain."

"A murderer at this young age, we must get rid of him before he gets a taste for blood."

The whisperings of the crowd were heard by the boy but he ignored them voluntarily, his calm gaze looked at the village chief and the elders.

"Shut up now!"

Hearing the words of the village chief, all the villagers fell silent and all eyes turned to Ibuki.

"Today we mourn the loss of our dear friend Tatsugoro who died last night, but before we bury him we must punish the culprit for our friend's death."

The old village headman looked at Ibuki with a cold, piercing look.

"Ibuki, son of Tatsugoro, do you admit that you murdered your father? And do you agree to atone for your sins by admitting your crime before being handed over to the authorities."

Ibuki then looked at the village chief with a calm look before answering.

"Yare Yare, I already told you that we were attacked by a demon, my father died trying to protect me from the demon."

"Oh, can you then tell us where the demon is and why the demon spared you?"

"He didn't spare me I fought them until sunrise, he finally burned to death in the sunlight."

"Stop making fun of us!" Shouted a villager as he threw a pebble that hit Ibuki's face.

"How can a child stand up to a demon! Aren't you ashamed of killing your father! Try to at least have the courage to admit what you did!"

"It's true, let's hang him before the officials arrive."

""Stone that monster!"

"That's enough!"

The village chief suddenly interrupted the villagers who were collecting stones, then looked at Ibuki again.

"I taught you to read and write, I've known you since you were a child and I know you wouldn't be able to commit such a foul act."

"But Chief!..." Shouted the person who had thrown the stone.

"Shut up Asushi!"

The man lowered his head and remained silent, then the chief pointed to the bald boy from the previous day who was in the crowd.

"Son, comes into my room and brings the katana which is stored in my chest."

"Yes father!" said the boy before he glanced at Ibuki, then entered the house for a moment before leaving the house with an old Katana in his hands and handing it over to his father.

The Katana had a standard size, sheathed in a white sheath with two red cords attached to the wrist.

"Did the chief decapitate him??!"

"Maybe he will ask him to Arakiri..."

Then the chief leaned over to Ibuki and whispered in his ears:

"Pretend to take me hostage, I'll help you leave the village."

Ibuki, surprised by this, got up quickly and took the Katana instantly from the hand of the village chief, before immobilizing it in his arms.

"Nobody move or I'll kill the old man."

"Shit! What an odious child he has captured the chief!"

"Release the Chief before you commit further crimes!"

This action angered the villagers even more, and among them the little girl of the previous day came forward and looked at Ibuki in tears.

"Ibuki you're evil, free my dad!"

"Nana-Chan come back!" Shouts the bald boy holding his sister in his arms while looking at Ibuki with an angry look.

"Clear the way, once I'm out of the village, I'll free the old man."

"Do as he says..." murmured the chief, pretending to be choked.

The villagers protested at first, but when they saw the face of the village chief who had turned blue because of the lack of air, they then cleared the passageway and let Ibuki pass as far as the exit of the village and seeing that no one followed them, he freed the village chief.

"Nice grip, kid, you really wanted to kill the poor old man that I am."

"Thank you." Said Ibuki, bending his back slightly in gratitude.

"It's all right, Ibuki, I believe you because I fought the demons in my youth, but the others don't believe you, take this sword, it's made of a special alloy capable of killing demons, it served me well in the past, I'm sorry for what happened to you my boy, but be strong."

"Don't worry about your father, I'll give him a decent burial, I hope you can live a happy life, kid, even though you've witnessed the darkness of this world." Says the village chief, turning his back on Ibuki.

Ibuki bowed to the chief again, before turning around and running away.