IT'S FINALLY OVER.
WHY ARE THERE SO MANY OF THESE DAMN TREE YOKAI...?
ENTIRE APPLE TREE SCHEDULED FOR SEAL
HAS IT GOTTEN THIS LATE ALREADY-
IT WAS SO QUIET, I THOUGHT HE HAD ALREADY GONE INSIDE, BUT...
HE IS TRULY A BEAUTIFUL MAN.
TO THINK HE WAS LEFT ALL ALONE WITHOUT A SINGLE PERSON TO LEAN ON...
ITS ALMOST UNBELIEVABLE...
THIS IS...
A YOKAI'S ENERGY?
THERE HASN'T BEEN MUCH OF A PRESENCE FOR DAYS SINCE I PUT UP THE TALISMAN...
HAS THE EFFECT WORN OFF ALREADY?!
SIR.
IT IS TIME TO RETIRE TO YOUR BEDCHAMBER...
...?
CH-CHILD...
NNGH...
MASTER...?
UGH...
ARE YOU ALRIGHT-
!!
AH,
NO...
THE DEMONIC ENERGY..
I CAN'T OPEN MY MOUTH...!!
W-WAIT,
STO-
L-LAND-
LANDOWNER!
HURRY RUN AWAY!
MOVE.
...I CANNOT.
WHY?
IT'S NOT LIKE I'M HITTING YOU.
AH...
DOES HE STILL HAVE ENOUGH REASON...
...TO TELL OTHERS APART FROM HIMSELF?
TRAPPED BY THE YOKAI'S INFLUENCE,
I THOUGHT HE HAD LOST EVEN THE SLIGHTEST BIT OF CONSCIENCE.
PLEASE SIT DOWN.
WHAT?
I SAID, SIT DOWN.
I TRULY DON’T WANT TO,
BUT IF YOU KEEP THIS UP, I’LL HAVE TO BEAT THE HELL OUT OF YOU.
YOU’D HIT ME?
IF I HAVE TO.
TRY IT.
LANDOWNER.
OTHERWISE, I’LL GO AFTER THAT CHILD.
EVERY TIME THIS HAPPENS, I CAN'T BE SURE.
IS THIS, TOO,
THE YOKAI'S MANIPULATION?
OR SIMPLY THE LANDOWNER TOYING WITH ME OF HIS OWN ACCORD?
BORING.
OR IF IT ISN'T THAT...
IS IT A DES- PERATE PLEA
TO STOP HIM, EVEN IF IT TAKES BEATING HIM...?
HE'S ACTING A BIT LIKE A CHILD...
I DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND IT MYSELF, BUT...
IF BEING BEATEN
IS TRULY WHAT YOU WANT...!
I SHOULD'VE JUST CHASED AFTER THE CHILD.
THAT WOULD'VE BEEN MORE FUN-
CHILD, OH CHILD-
GO NOT PICKING FLOWERS AT THE DEW-BLOOMING DAWN,
CROUCH NOT DEEP IN THE MOUNT- AINS WHERE WATER DEER CRY.
SITTING UPON THE WAVE-WASHED, ROUNDED ROCK,
I GREET YOU WITH SORROWFUL TEARS.
HOW TERRIBLY...
IS THAT YOU, MIDNIGHT...?
ARE YOU AWAKE NOW?
YES.
STRANGELY, I COULD NOT OPEN MY EYES.
STILL...
WHAT WERE YOU DOING WHILE I WAS ASLEEP?
LOOKING CLOSELY,
WHATEVER IS IN THERE
IS NO ORDINARY EVIL.
A FOUL, UTTERLY WRETCH- ED YOKAI
HAS LATCHED ONTO ME.
After a long sealing job involving tree yokai, the hunter returns home late at night and is moved to see the beautiful man alone. However, the talisman's effect has worn off, and a demonic energy fills the air. Under the influence of the Landlord yokai, he threatens the child, and the hunter, unable to speak, even risks the tattoo to stop him.
