ANSEI YEAR 2 (1855)
I don't know when I learned to live with this.
Although I have no qualms about hunting demons at this point,
it feels like my blade is getting more clouded with blood each time I slay one.
Or... perhaps it's my heart that's clouded.
Thanks for your help. Sorry that I can't pay you more.
Beautiful snow. Like the moon in fall and the flowers in spring...
My lord was the type to enjoy such slices of nature's elegance while he indulged in a drink.
I plan to honor his memory by making him a grave and pouring out a bottle of his favorite sake.
I'll be going now. You have my gratitude.
Dad, you're supposed to go easy on the booze!
Oh, lighten up!
I rarely get a day off like this. Here, join me.
No thank you. It's the middle of the day!
So, all the servants in the mansion and even the samurai charged with protecting it just up and vanished?
Yep. And then a dozen or so demons made a lair out of it.
Sounds like it was a busy night for you...
Here, let me carry that! You must be tired.
Don't worry about it. Today's a day for celebration, remember?
Yes, of course.
Step right up, folks!
KUNOYA SPIRITS
I know you've been waiting for this! A fresh shipment of Yuki-no-Nagori has arrived!
YUKI-NO-NAGORI
One sip and it will steal your heart.
One cup and it will send you to Heaven. One bottle and you'll never be the same again.
YUKI-NO-NAGORI
But don't take my word for it. Yuki-no-Nagori is now in stock, so please try some for yourself!
YUKI-NO-NAGORI
Gimme three! Three bottles!
Same here!
Sake, eh?
I want five of them!
Everyone's going crazy for it.
Should we buy some?
No. Dealing with a crowd like that is the last thing I want to do.
Good point. We still have prep work to do, so let's keep moving.
Take it easy, folks! Don't trample me!
Brrr! It's freezing!
Hello, how's it going, everybody?
Welcome!
You're late, mister!
Sorry, milady. The shop was just busy as all heck today.
Well, this party is for you, anyways. So I guess it doesn't matter.
Now we're just waiting on Miura-sama.
Hey, Naotsugu.
Ah! My apologies for being late.
I appreciate you making it out here.
That's everybody. Shall we get started?
KIHEI SOBA
Shucks! I can't believe you're all here for lil' old me!
Looking back, it's been 15 years since I first started at Sugaya...
You can skip the speech.
Cold as ice, aren't you?
Okay, I'll keep it simple.
I'm happy to announce that your boy Zenji has been promoted to the job of head clerk at Sugaya!
It's a real pleasure to have you all here to celebrate with me. My thanks to everyone for coming.
Congratulations on the promotion, Zenji-san.
Gosh! Thank you, Ofuu-san!
Congrats. Make sure you help Jyuuzou-dono as best you can.
O-of course, you know I will!
I'm gonna make Sugaya the biggest shop in town!
I'm sure you'll do great, Zenji-dono.
Just wait and see! I'll be the greatest head clerk of all time!
Already inflating his ego.
Please, milady. Can't you let me have fun tonight?
I'm just stating the facts.
Okay, that's enough bickerin'.
It's time for food! Dig in!
Whoa, chicken hot pot!
A special day like this calls for more than just plain ol' soba.
Congratulations on the promotion.
Aw, pops! You're the best.
We didn't forget about drinks, either. Here.
Thank you kindly.
Holy cow! This is primo kudari-zake!
How'd you get your hands on this?!
Jinya-kun procured some especially for you.
Huh?!
Well, it's a special occasion.
Jeez, you're gonna turn me into a blubbering mess.
Thanks for the awesome gift!
Alrighty! Everybody chow down before it gets cold!
KIHEI SOBA
Oh, hey! I almost forgot.
YUKI-NO-NAGORI
What's that?
YUKI-NO-NAGORI
It's a trendy new sake.
The boss has been drinking it every night and raving about how good it is.
My father, really?
Yep. I figured today was good day to share a bottle with everybody.
Yuki-no-Nagori, huh?
Oh, you know about it, Jinya?
YUKI-NO-NAGORI
They say this stuff is best served chilled, so...
Please feel free to use these.
Thanks a bunch.
Now, let's see what all the fuss is about.
YUKI-NO-NAGORI
Uh, milady?
You're the star of the party. Let me do the honors.
I never thought the day would come I'd be drinking booze from a cup poured by Lady Natsu.
Living to old age was worth it!
You're not even that old.
I mean spiritually, ya know?
Gosh! I'm so touched! She used to be such a cheeky little brat, but now...
I'll just pretend I didn't hear that.
My bad.
Hey, what's the big idea?!
What the hell? It's salty, smelly, and stings like a bitch. Literally undrinkable!
Pardon, let me try.
Are you okay?
Should I bring you some water?
YUKI-NO-NAGORI
Urk! It certainly is strong. Not something I would call "good"...
What a shame. That really threw a damper on the party.
Damn, how was I supposed to know?
Oh, hey! Why don't you try some?
Here.
It's not bad. But pretty weak.
"Weak" is not the word I'd use...
Is this really the sake people are raging about?
This is what the boss was drinking, I'm sure of it!
Well, look, we've got plenty of other good stuff to drink!
Right. Let's start this over.
Would you care for some sashimi?
Sounds great!
Lucky for you that everybody's so kind and generous.
But that's normal, milady. You're the overly strict one here.
My point is that you should be grateful!
Whoa!
Heads up!
YUKI-NO-NAGORI
You're drinking again?
Yeah. What's it matter to you?
C'mon, dad. You really need to cut back.
Oh, shadddup! Don't snap at me for indulging a little!
Why hello, ronin. Cold out, isn't it?
I'm looking for work.
Oh yeah? And you're so desperate that you can't even make small talk with me first?
Just teasing!
I'm not sure if they'll lead you to work, but a lot of bizarre stories have been making the rounds lately.
Like a bedridden son getting swapped out with a demon, or a pack of demons seen lurking under a bridge,
or a restless woman wandering the streets at night.
Seems like too many, doesn't it?
Indeed.
Well, we live in turbulent times. This all might just be people's anxiety getting the better of them.
"It only takes four cups of black tea to keep us up at night," as they say.
You mean the foreign ships in Uraga.
Especially now, with the Emperor acting like a lapdog for the Merikens.
Evil runs rampant whenever society falls into chaos...
That seems to be what's happening.
There's a sake called Yuki-no-Nagori selling like wildfire,
probably because everybody wants to drink their problems away.
My customers often brag about getting it.
Have they said anything about the flavor?
"A taste so sublime it'll send you to Heaven." Or something like that.
Harlot. Will you do some digging into that sake for me?
What for? Is it bad news?
I'm not sure yet. Hopefully, it's just nothing.
Hmmm. Fine, I'll do it.
Thanks.
But watch your back. Naotsugu would come for my head if anything happened to you.
Didn't know you could tell jokes!
Ah, no wonder it's so cold out.
Oh! There you are!
Natsu?
Good morning! Though, I guess it's already afternoon.
I'm surprised you knew where to find me.
Ofuu-san pointed me in the right direction.
Go figure you'd be living in a place like this. It's just a stone's throw away from Kihei.
You could've told me, it's not like we're strangers or anythi-
Enough is enough!
Shut it! Just go and buy me more booze, dammit!
Wh-what was that?
The family next door. It seems the father is on another midday sake binge.
Sake, huh...?
So, what brings you here?
Well, I need your help with something.
So cool!
Whoa, look at it go!
Really, Zenji did?
He's been skipping out on work to get plastered at some bar down in Nihonbashi.
Even though we just celebrated his promotion to head clerk?
He's been like this since the day after that. Nothing but drinking all around the clock.
My father is ready to call it the last straw.
And what do want me to do about it?
Honestly, I'm too scared to barge into a bar by myself.
So I want you to come as my bodyguard.
Please? I'll even pay you if you want.
No payment necessary.
You said Nihonbashi, right?
Ugh, it reeks!
Ohhh, hey milady! Welshome in! Diddya need somtin'?
Don't give me that! You're skipping work and coming here to get drunk off your ass!
Wuts so bad about that? Couldja stop barking like a dog and leave me in peash?
This is the reason you're still single, ya know.
But I doubt there's a guy alive who want to get hitched to a harpy like you, anyways!
Zenji... Why you little...!
Huh? Don't you know how to take a hint? Such an annoying brat.
Get lost, already.
That's more than enough.
Mind your own damn business.
Being drunk is no excuse for that kind of attitude.
I don't take lectures from loser ronin.
Listen here! You've rubbed me the wrong way since day one.
Cut it out, Zenji!
You're drunk out of your gourd.
Screw you, asshole!
Sake is a gift from the heavens.
Denying its joys to anyone is beyond the pale, but turning to violence is just plain crass.
H-hey, you hit him too hard!
Not if you ask me.
He needs to regurgitate this stuff.
YUKI-NO-NAGORI
Hey, jackass. Who died and made you king?!
You can't pull that shit here!
Yeah, mess him up!
Wh-what is wrong with these people?!
Jinya...
Close your eyes for a bit. This won't last long.
Shut your damn mouth!
Eat this!
Zenji! Are you okay, Zenji?!
Zenji!
He's just unconscious. Don't worry.
Thank you.
But jeez... you went and made an absolute mess of the place.
Well, I had a little help.
Huh?
Although I really doubt ya needed any.
It saved me some trouble. Thank you.
Still the same as ever, I see. How's life treating you?
It's been some time, Somegoro Akitsu.
The Third, remember?
Huh? What am I doing here...?
Milady...
Oh, Zenji. You're back with us?
M-Milady, I... ugh!
Don't force yourself to get up.
Listen, milady...
I'm sorry! Like seriously, incredibly sorry!
Does it still hurt?
Yeah, a little bit...
Good grief. He really should have gone easier on you.
Well, too late now.
I'm sorry.
I don't need any apologies. Okay?
Yeah, but, I said such awful things to you...
I suppose. But have you forgotten your own advice?
"That's not what matters most."
I mean, sure, all those insults did hurt.
But I know better.
Because even if you meant what you said, you still treasure me as a person. And that's what matters.
Milady...
So don't let it bother you too much, okay?
I'm not naive enough to take what people say when they're drunk at face value.
Even so, I want to apologize. There was something wrong with me...
That's for sure. You even started swinging punches.
I can't deny I was totally drunk at the time.
The buzz had me riding high, but for some reason it wasn't satisfying at all.
And then when you showed up, I got oddly irritated.
More so when it came to Jinya. I totally hated his guts.
Except I have no idea why!
Just let it go, Zenji. You need to rest.
But, I...
H-hello, boss!
So, I hear you made a complete ass of yourself.
My sincerest apologies...
Consider this your last chance.
Aw, man. What am I gonna do?
The only thing you can do is make it up by working hard.
Shut up! Quit crying!
Just bring me the damn booze!
Yeesh.
They're really going at it.
I've heard lots of talk about the heroic "demon hunter."
Quite the celebrity, aint'cha?
To an extent, yes.
What were you hanging around that bar for?
Well, something funny's been happening in Kyoto.
I heard about a fella who stabbed his little brother to death.
Now, normally, that's not enough to catch my attention.
But then a string of violent incidents started happening right after that one.
It gave me bad vibes, so I went digging.
Turns out, the victim in that first case bought an unusual sake for his brother,
who then got drunk enough to commit the murder.
Ditto for the other incidents, everybody was drinking booze.
And it's all the same kind, some expensive brand that comes from Edo.
Smells fishy, don't it?
Yuki-no-Nagori.
I've been trying to trace where it's coming from.
Did you find any other clues in Kyoto?
Let me think. There's not much else, aside from a strange woman
who people kept seeing around the time of each incident.
A woman?
Yep. Doesn't really fit the image of a booze hawker, so it's possible she's not even involved.
Say, buddy. How're you planning to learn more about the sake?
A simple threat should loosen some lips.
Jeez, you're a real brute, ya know that?
KUNOYA SPIRITS
Blood.
Yikes. What a mess.
I've seen this man before. He's the owner of this shop.
Well, ain't that a real pisser.
Can't exactly put the screws to a fella that's already dead, can ya?
It's gone.
What is?
Yuki-no-Nagori. There's not a single bottle.
Just sold out? Or something more sinister?
Take a look-see. This is the only area untouched.
And there's no dust on these shelves, which means they were constantly stocked up.
The thugs who broke in must have been throwing a hissy fit over the fact
they couldn't get their hands on something.
Until they finally found some here and carefully hauled it off...
It must've been Yuki-no-Nagori.
But is a few bottles of expensive sake really worth killing over?
We're talkin' about thugs who stole booze that makes people go off their rocker when they drink it.
You know they ain't thinkin' straight.
You have a point.
Go, my paper swallow!
That's quite the weapon.
Well, you can't have it!
What's your take?
The demons smelled all the booze and wanted to join the party, perhaps?
Hard to say if that's a joke or not.
Hm? More snow?
It's been coming down every night lately.
Yeah.
It gives me a bad feeling.