Phew, I thought I was going to die.
The heat these days is certainly abnormal.
But this garden is a kami realm, so it's always nice.
Aye, as it should be.
Why don't I renovate the garden to make it more comfortable?
What?
Maybe you shouldn't.
If you overuse your power again, you will...
Have no fear.
Wow!
A stream?
The water is actually flowing.
It really changes the feeling of the garden.
No, I think it needs something else.
Really? I think it's perfect.
We need a bridge.
Not the best spot.
Let me move it over here.
Yamagami, if you use your power recklessly...
No, over here is better.
Yamagami, stop, stop!
Something is still missing.
I see! The sound of the water.
Sound of the water? That's what's missing?!
W-Wow, a waterfall!
The sound of the waterfall sure is soothing.
It feels nice and cool in an instant, Yamagami.
Wait, you've turned chihuahua-sized again?!
Chihuahua? I'm a mountain god.
Yes, I'm aware, but...
Now even your roar is adorable.
Kusunoki's Garden of Gods
Ancient Connection with the Neighboring Mountain
Yamagami. I've asked you many times not to overuse your power.
You end up in that pathetic state because you get carried away.
That's right!
You've gotten even smaller than us.
This is not a big deal.
Even small, I am me.
And I think it's actually rather elegant.
Yamagami, why are you so obsessed with renovating this garden?
It's my hobby.
I just wanted to adjust it for the season.
Even though you neglect your own mountain, leaving it totally unkempt?
The beauty of nature is in letting it be as is.
I understand that.
But it must be inconvenient to be so small.
We have to turn you back to normal...
There's no need to rush.
Oh, you like that spot, Dragon?
He seems really at home there.
The god we rescued from the kami realm hasn't woken up at all.
You needn't worry.
Right. Just a little fatigued is all.
They should wake up soon enough.
And Birdy seems tired as well.
Wow!
Minato, come check this out!
Koi?! How did they grace us with their presence?
They seem to have gotten lost here.
It's a dead end down there.
The koi are ascending the waterfall.
Ascending the waterfall?
More like they're flying!
Bye-bye!
Don't get lost here again.
What a surprise.
By the way,
wasn't there a legend that said if koi successfully ascended a waterfall,
it would become a dragon?
They're also the minions of a god.
It seems they're from the next town over.
Wow, the next town, huh?
Tsumugi from the neighboring mountain.
I haven't seen them since then, but I hope they're doing okay.
Who knows.
The peach that minion brought...
It was bitter.
How dare they make me eat low-quality food!
Like master, like minion.
Yamagami. If I may ask, are you not on good terms with the neighboring god?
No.
I wonder what kind of god it is?
Dragon?
Wait, did the koi who ascended the waterfall really turn into dragons?!
It's coming down!
So huge!
Do not panic.
How can you be so calm?!
That's a friend of Ouryu's.
What?!
Minato, close your eyes!
It shrunk?
He wants to know if he can come in.
Please, do come in.
What a pleasure to have you here.
Hm?
Um...
He says it's a token of friendship.
Take it.
Thank you kindly.
Huh? More?
W-Wait!
I'm grateful, but this is more than enough.
He says he should get going.
Okay. I'm sorry I couldn't offer you more.
Please come again!
By the way, what is that?
Open it.
Wow, they look delicious!
These are mooncakes.
Filled with sweet bean paste.
I know! Eating this might get you back to your normal size, Yamagami.
Right. Then I shall eat it without hesitation.
What do you think?
Hm. Not bad.
But you don't seem to be growing back.
This is a rare snack.
This is Chinese tea!
Okay!
Yamagami, have a feast!
This is the last one.
That should do it!
Let's see!
It is extremely delectable.
Why aren't you growing back?
He must eat more to regain his power.
I wish I could taste at least one of them.
We bought all the premium Japanese sweets money could buy.
Indeed. I can't wait to taste them.
I'd like for you to grow back to your normal size.
Isn't this the mountain where Tsumugi is?
Correct.
It's a cute little mountain.
I thought gods only reside on big mountains.
The size doesn't matter.
We're everywhere, but this one...
Whoa?!
Wh-What is this?! Another abandoned kami realm?
Whoa!
How dare you behave so selfishly!
To show up in front of me in the flesh?
This is rather rare.
What?
A fox?
Nine tails.
A yokai?
No, that is a god.
Wait, the god of this mountain?
Tenko
This is Tenko.
Tsumugi is her minion.
Yamagami... So you are not on good terms with Tenko, are you?
It's neither good nor bad.
Hey, wait up, Yamagami!
She invited you here.
But why?
I've never walked by here until today, and I certainly have never met her.
She knows you.
Since she sees everything her minion does.
I see.
I don't know if it's to see you in person or to get a hold of your inarizushi.
A rather aggressive invitation.
If she could invite me normally, I wouldn't mind visiting her.
There's no guarantee that you can come back.
Inari Shrine
Sorry, I guess I'll pass.
What? The exorcist in the neighboring town?
When we eliminated the evil spirit at the abandoned hospital before,
I saw a man named Ansho.
He's an exorcist from the neighboring town, right?
Why was he in our jurisdiction?
Who knows?
Mr. Saiga, I looked into it because something about it bothered me.
Good work. And?
The man called Ansho has often been seen in Hojo
with someone who appears to be his subordinate.
I don't know what he's doing yet.
Hmm. That's concerning.
Okay, let me look into it as well.
Thank you.
What?! Granny, your back's hurting?
Oh, I bet that's because of an evil spirit.
My gosh, an evil spirit?
We're exorcists, so we can see stuff like that.
Really? What can be done?
Don't you worry!
This talisman will eliminate the evil spirit for you!
It works like magic!
Right now, you can have eleven talismans for the price of ten!
Wow! I'll buy them.
Thank you for your business!
Thank you.
Kusunoki's Garden of Gods
Hm, such a noble and refined taste.
It makes the most of the flavor of chestnuts.
You're not growing back after all this food.
I told you that you do not need to rush.
Good grief.
Hm?
Lots of branches have fallen off.
Aye. It's proof that this kusunoki is growing.
I have an idea!
I-Is that...?
What are you so scared of?
That's a weapon of deadly force!
Have you any idea how many creatures humans have killed and wounded
since the dawn of history?
Does the master plan to slaughter his kind with that chisel?!
Pipe down. I'm trying to nap here.
What are you making?
This? It's a key chain for the room keys for the customers
at my parents' hot spring inn.
Oh, what an interesting idea.
I thought I'd give it a try making some with the branches of the kusunoki.
I see.
Good. I sealed in the elimination power.
Now it's finished.
This is perfect for a charm against evil spirits.
And this is for you, Yamagami.
For me?
As an amulet.
I'm not sure if it'll be any help to you, though.
Not bad.
I hope you grow back soon.
Aye.
This one wants a piece of wood you carved.
Oh yeah?
But the one I gave you was the last one.
It says it'd be happy with a failure.
Okay.
Here, if this is fine with you.
It's ready!
Looks good, right?
Eat quickly, or a certain fox might find their way here again.
You mean Tsumugi?
I doubt they'll show up so often.
Okay, let's dig in!
Excuse me!
Speaking of "you know who"...
Did the aroma of inarizushi lure you in?
Oh? I have no idea what you're talking about.
May I come in?
Please do.
These are a simple kind with just white sesame mixed in.
Would you like some?
How wonderful!
I also have ones with soba noodles.
Oh?
Instead of vinegar rice, these are filled with soba noodles.
So they're called soba inari.
I've never seen or had something like it.
I would love to try!
Help yourself.
Thank you for the food!
Oh! Actually, I came here today to apologize.
For what?
The other day, my master god, Tenko, was rather aggressive with her invitation.
I'm very sorry.
It didn't bother me, so don't worry.
I'm glad to hear that.
I think it was lucky that I got to see a fox god with many tails.
The number of tails is proportional to the strength of their power.
Is that so?
My master Tenko is strong, because the mountain shrine
where she resides receives the most worshippers in this region.
We're grateful for their visits, but the drawback is that it gets a bit noisy...
Even if the outside may be noisy, my kami realm is nice and quiet.
Why don't you come and visit me?
You should bring those inarizushi, of course.
I'm interested in that soba inari of yours.
Could it be you, Fox?
It's Tenko, you silly.
What a glutton you are.
Truly a greedy vixen.
Look who's calling me a glutton.
Coming from someone who'd stop an eruption because of some stupid sweets.
Shut up.
Unlike you, I'm not low enough to sneak into someone else's kami realm for food.
I have not given you permission to step in here.
Begone!
You allowed my minion to come in.
That means I am allowed to come in too.
Oh, please.
Stop interpreting things in a way that's convenient for you!
And I shouldn't need your permission to enter here.
If he approves, anyone can have access to this garden.
Right?
Y-Yes...?
How unpleasant to be looked down upon by you like so.
So weak. This is pathetic.
Right now, your power is less than that of a mosquito, not even a fly.
How dare you!
In your state, the body of my Tsumugi is more than enough to deal with you.
I'm bound to prevail over you.
How impudent!
I'll show you what I'm made of!
You puny fox!
That's rich coming from you, looking like that!
What a pathetic state!
Take a good look at yourself in the mirror!
Shut it!
Yamagami!
Stop, stop!
So slow!
Look how sluggish you are.
This is absolutely pitiful.
I want you to entertain me more.
As if!
I cannot believe how weak you've gotten.
Even worse than 500 years ago.
Then let me show you my true power!
Too late!
Yamagami?!
Now then, I think this makes our 33,332nd battle.
And it's my 22,222nd victory.
Who's keeping tally of something so silly?!
Crying sour grapes?
Maybe you've gotten weak because you're hanging out with that human there?
And who's seducing the priests of her own shrine?
Clean up your act before you stick your nose in my business!
Seduce?! Humans fall for me without me doing anything, that's all.
Oh yeah?
I've been in contact with countless humans before.
So I can tell.
If you get yourself involved in humans too much, it will eventually destroy you.
Yamagami, are you okay?
Nothing to worry about.
'Tis nothing but a jest.
But you overused your power again.
I'm sorry about the amulet you gave me.
Oh, please don't worry about it.
I can always make another.
I shall get some rest.
About what Tenko said earlier.
Hm?
She said if you got yourself involved in humans too much,
it would eventually destroy you.
What does that mean?
Nothing you should concern yourself with.
Don't let her confuse you.
Can I...
Can I continue to stay with you?
Of course.
And I am here of my own volition.
Nothing more.
Can't stop smiling. Right, Bro?
Getting tricked with just a piece of paper.
Stupid old people.
Wh-What the?!
What do we have here?
Exorcists, you seem to be cashing in in our town.
Crap!
Let's skedaddle!
We know all of your evil deeds.
Begone from this town!
Jeez. Don't you dare set foot in this town again!
That should teach them a lesson.
I hope so.
Damn it, those onmyoji bastards!
That's why I told you, Bro, that it was a bad idea to meddle with this town.
Shut up!
Too late to be a chicken now!
Hm?
What is it, Bro?
Translation: Tomoko Takedani Sater Timing: Andy Ellis
Editing and Typesetting: Ashley Barboza Quality Control: Salem Alabanza
Episode 9, "Uninvited Guests While Walking Around Town."
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Uninvited Guests While Walking Around Town