KAEI YEAR 6 (1853)
SUGAYA
Feel free to take a drink and wet your whistle.
All right.
Now then, I'll get straight to the point. I have a job for you.
The owner of a fine arts store in Tenmacho came to me with some concerns
about a peculiar piece that he procured recently.
A demonic painting, apparently.
It's known by the name: "The Ukiyo-e of Kudanzaka."
With a reputation like that, I'm guessing there are strange rumors attached to it?
Well, more than just rumors.
From my understanding, the artist who painted it has become bedridden with an illness.
And he claims it's the demons getting their vengeance on him for selling this painting.
What do you think?
It seems like a regular paining, as far as I can tell.
However, real paranormal objects only show their true colors under the right conditions.
Yes, of course.
If we're lucky, it's harmless.
But if it turns out that it could bring trouble, then I want you to take care of it.
Consider it done.
Of course, I don't expect you to do it for free.
I'll make sure you're fairly paid.
I appreciate that.
Once this is settled, why don't we share a good drink or two?
Why hello, Jinya-kun. Welcome in!
Take a seat.
You must've been cold out there.
Want some kake-soba?
Yes.
Is Jinya here?!
Oh, thank goodness.
Please, I need your help! There's this Ukiyo-e of Kudanzaka, ya see...
The Ukiyo-e of Kudanzaka?
That's right. It's some kinda demonic painting.
Everybody's saying that it's cursed because the guy who owned it died in a bizarre way.
Looks like it's been ripped.
Yeah. Cuz I accidentally dropped it.
A bewitched painting that got ripped?!
You're gonna jinx my shop by bringing that in here!
Oh, I'm sorry, sir.
Take a look at this.
Whoa. What the hell?
The owner of a fine arts store in Tenmacho acquired this painting,
it's apparently known as the Ukiyo-e of Kudanzaka.
This was also described to me as a "demonic painting."
It looks exactly like the one that I brought.
Let me get this straight. There are multiple copies of a supposedly "bewitched" painting on the market?
Something doesn't add up here.
Indeed.
It's quite a beautiful painting.
Can you gleam anything from it, Zenji-san?
Well, let's see...
The color has hardly faded and the paper doesn't show any deterioration.
So I doubt even a year has passed since it was made.
You know, I'm familiar with the folks who run that fine arts shop in Tenmacho.
If I call in a favor, they'll trace it back to the artist for me.
I would appreciate that.
No biggie! I already owe you for helping Lady Natsu all the time.
This is the least I can do to return the favor!
Just wait here. I'll go ask.
Ah, if it isn't Zenji-san!
Good timing. We got a new stock of smut in.
Sorry! I'll have to save that for next time!
Say, pops, do you have the Ukiyo-e of Kudanzaka here?
No, I actually took that piece down.
People are saying it's demonic, so I didn't feel good about displaying it inside the store.
Isn't that just some baloney the artist made up?
No.
I know for a fact the artist is bedridden from illness.
And worse yet, word on the street is that someone who bought the painting got killed.
I don't want any ugly rumors being associated with my shop.
Well, that's understandable.
By the way, does that painter live anywhere around here?
Thanks for waiting!
What do you have there?
Ah, j-just a little something!
More importantly, I got the details.
They told me the painter lives in Sakaicho.
Thank you. I'll handle the rest myself.
Be careful!
Right.
Pardon! Is Doshu Saga-dono available?
Yeah! Come on in.
Been a long time since I've had any visitors.
Who might you be?
Greetings. I am known as Jinya.
I have made my way here to seek your knowledge, good sir.
You can drop the formalities. I ain't important enough for 'em.
Have a seat.
I was told that you had fallen quite ill, Saga-dono.
Nothing as serious as that. Just old age catching up with me.
My body can't handle the strain of making art anymore.
So, it's not the curse of a demonic painting?
Hah. What gave you that idea, sourpuss? You work at Sengendo or something?
Not at all.
But I did hear that you were the one who painted this.
Kudanzaka...
Now that takes me back!
I've been investigating the rumors behind the Ukiyo-e of Kudanzaka to find out if they're true.
Would you please tell me what you know about it?
Sure, I can do that.
But where to start?
Firstly, the name "Kudanzaka." It has no relation to the Kudanzaka locale in Edo.
It actually refers to the woman.
Do you mean to say it's the name of this lady in the picture?
Not quite.
Way back when, a fella who carried a katana forged in Kadono came up with that moniker.
Kudanzaka or "nine hills."
His name was Motoharu and he used to visit here often.
Couldn't even protect the woman I love.
Dammit. It doesn't get more pathetic than that.
Hey, Jinta.
To be honest, I actually hated Yokaze when we first met.
I felt lucky to become a sentinel, but she drove me nuts because I couldn't make sense of her.
Still, that hatred didn't stop me from wanting to keep her safe.
But now look at us...
Everything in life changes with the passage of time.
Even my indelible oath to protect her couldn't last forever.
Don't end up like me, all right?
Jinta. Become a man who can cherish his hatred.
You're in charge now!
Take care of Shirayuki. And stay close with Suzune.
Okay?
I'm sorry, but that man...
Could you please tell me a little more about him?
Hm?
I hail from Kadono. Motoharu was my foster father.
Oh, you don't say? So, you're his foster son!
I'll gladly tell you more.
I can't really explain about Kudanzaka without going into more detail about Motoharu, anyways.
Back when I was still a young whippersnapper...
Hey, lady. Do you live here?
Yes, I do.
Well, I'm moving in today. The name's Doshu Saga.
And you are?
I cannot share my name, but I never lie.
You may just call me "Nameless."
Nameless...?
Wow. You're really buckling down today.
Finishing another masterpiece?
You bet! I'm gonna be the best artist in Edo, ya know.
Now that's rich.
It's no joke. I'm serious!
If you say so.
I'm Motoharu, the sentinel.
I have come under orders from the Itsukihime to deliver a letter.
Oh, it's just you again.
Dammit.
Why am I running around like a messenger when I'm supposed to be a sentinel?!
It's bullshit!
That woman is seriously obnoxious!
More bitching? You never have anything good to say about this Itsukihime lady.
Well, yeah, obviously!
I thought I'd finally earned some respect with this job, but I just get sent off to Edo like a servant.
I swear, that woman is more demonic than actual demons!
Your father was a hoot. He'd come down to Edo once a year just to blow off steam with his complaining.
Did he really?
Let me guess. He always watched his mouth and acted like a proper gentleman around you?
Sorry to say, but he was actually pretty hotheaded.
Anyways, back to the topic of Kudanzaka...
It was originally a beni-e that I painted by hand when Nameless still lived around here.
But much later, the folks from Sengendo told me they were interested in selling it.
The pieces on the market now are woodblock prints carved from a new sketch of it that I made for them.
So, then, it's a painting of the woman you knew as Nameless?
You could say that, but it's not entirely accurate.
You've described Kudanzaka to people as a "demonic painting." Why is that?
Believe it or not, that's exactly what it is.
At its core, that painting has been "bewitched" for sure.
However, before we get into the nitty-gritty, there's something I have to ask you first.
What did you think when you saw Kudanzaka for the first time?
Seeing the Miko wearing a jade necklace next to a river made me think
of the legend of Princess Nunakawa from Shinano.
Except the katana that she's holding
also gave me the impression it may be connected to Kadono and the Itsukihime.
Ah, very good. You're spot on.
Then let me explain why its demonic.
But just so you know, I'm betting that you'll regret hearing this.
You may end up feeling you were better off not knowing.
Over the course of many years, Motoharu would travel to Edo as part of his duties,
and stop by here to complain for a little while before going back.
However, I noticed that his attitude towards the Miko that he served began to change.
Until, one day...
I want you to paint something for me.
Oh yeah?
Let me guess, your beloved Miko?
That's right.
I remember the days when all you did was bitch about her.
Now you've skipped right to being head over damn heels in love!
Don't make fun of me.
Besides... she's had her own struggles.
All right, but how am I supposed to paint a lady I ain't ever seen, huh?
That won't be a problem.
Because we have Nameless here.
Nameless? What's she got to do with it?
Well, you see...
Nameless was originally born in Shinano,
but it seems she faced some hardships that forced her to flee to Kadono.
Oh?
Then she eventually left Kadono and came to settle here in Edo.
Hold on. I'll admit that comes as a surprise, but what's it got to do with the painting of your Miko?
Because those two are connected.
Huh?
The truth is that...
Yokaze and Nameless are identical.
You're telling me the Ukiyo-e of Kudanzaka is a painting of Yokaze-san?
The Miko of Kadono village?
You got that right!
It was painted based on her lookalike, Nameless, combined with Motoharu's advice and my imagination.
That's how Kudanzaka was born.
Although it evokes the legend of Princess Nunakawa, it actually depicts the Itsukihime and Yarai, huh?
But what makes it demonic?
Back in the early days, Motoharu once described that woman as being "more demonic than actual demons."
And that's where it comes from.
I just called it that to poke fun at his old bitching.
But after I made that new sketch of it at Sengendo for nostalgia's sake, I really started feeling my old age.
Even now, I think it was a mistake.
That "demonic" painting was based on real human love and now karma is punishing me for making money off it.
So, the staff of Sengendo took your words at face value and believed the bewitched painting caused you to fall ill.
Yeah, that's really all it boils down to. Just a poorly timed coincidence.
There's nothing spooky or cursed about it. It's a perfectly respectable painting.
Why did you think I would regret learning this?
That painting of Kudanzaka. She's a real beaut, eh?
Okay! Whaddya think of this, Motoharu?
Nope. It's awful.
Have you even been listening to me?
That's not what Yokaze looks like.
You're still not happy with it? Jeez, what am I supposed to do?
Make her even more beautiful.
To sum it up, Kudanzaka is Motoharu's heavily embellished version of his beloved Miko.
Now, here's the real kicker.
You said when you first saw Kudanzaka that she made you think of Princess Nunakawa,
but Motoharu had a different idea.
He thought she looked a lot like the Goddess Yasakatome.
YASAKATOME-NO-KAMI
Are you familiar with her?
When I was younger, Motoharu-san did teach me a little about local mythology.
She's a goddess worshipped at the Suwa shrine in Shinano, yes?
Exactly. He probably made that connection because Nameless was born in Shinano,
but go figure his adoptive son would also compare her to a Shinano goddess.
You seem pretty damn happy.
So, you wanna do the honors and give her a name?
A name?
Good question...
Maybe Yasakatome?
No.
My wife's beauty surpasses even that of the gods.
If Yasaka means "eight hills," then I need to bump it up another notch.
So, her name will be...
Kudanzaka!
See? I bet you wish I never told you now!
The Ukiyo-e of Kudanzaka is the result of your dad being a lovesick puppy. He just wanted to glorify his wife.
And that's what makes it "bewitching."
BEWITCHING:
CURSED
ATTRACTIVE
I get it now. His fawning led to Kudanzaka being called "bewitching" for her beauty and not a curse.
Speaking of, buddy, I notice you keep calling her "Kudanzaka" without batting an eye,
but I hope you realize that's basically like saying "my mom's more beautiful than the gods."
Oh, give me a break.
You finally got that sourpuss look off your face!
Thanks for the good laugh.
Well, I suppose if you didn't know about Kudanzaka until just now,
that means Motoharu never shared her with his kids.
Here.
What's this?
A test painting that I made back then.
I hope you'll overlook the fact it's gotten a bit dirty.
I know that I harped on him a lot, but please don't hold a grudge against Motoharu.
Despite being a dumbass, he truly cared for his family.
He made fewer and fewer trips to Edo after his daughter was born.
Then, on his last visit, he told me about his new adoptive son and daughter, and never came back.
That's the kind of guy he was.
Yeah, I know.
My father was always teaching me important life lessons.
That's good.
Here's your order of kake-soba.
What seems to be the problem, pal? You're staring at me.
Nothing. Just admiring how good of a dad you are.
Huh?
What's gotten into you, Jinya-kun?
Did something happen with that unusual ukiyo-e painting?
No, it wasn't a big deal.
But...
I ended up learning about a side of my foster father that I never knew before.
It was kind of startling.
That's just how dads are.
Mine is the same. Not everything about him is sunshine and rainbows.
He has a loud mouth. Plus, he freaks out at the drop of a hat.
And he can be a total blockhead at times.
Hey! You're talking about me, aren'tcha?
Perish the thought.
Uh-huh.
But that's all part of who my dad is.
I guess you're right.
There were no problems with that ukiyo-e painting.
Its "demonic" reputation was merely the result of the artist voicing some regrets that he had.
No harm will come from it, whether it's kept or sold.
What about the death it supposedly caused?
Forgive my blunt choice of words, but mere happenstance.
It's true that an individual who owned the painting passed away, but I obtained that copy for myself
and found nothing suspect about it.
All right. Doesn't sound like anything to make a fuss about.
Just strokes of good and bad luck, eh?
Thanks for solving it. I'll fetch your pay before you leave.
For now, let's wet the ol' whistle.
Here, you first.
Now it's your turn.
Is sake something that you partake in often?
Drinking used to only be an escape for me.
But at some point, it became more of a pastime.
Especially since recent brews have good flavor.
And you? Do you have a taste for it?
Yes.
Enough to enjoy a cup or two at night, at least.
Well then, we should do this again sometime.
Certainly. It would be my pleasure.