"I see." Said Oni.

Ichi was lost. But, his eyes mowed around the garden. Renya would handle it, won't you, Renya? Ichi thought to himself.

"So, the time has come to explain everything." Grandpa said.

He looked down at the table, before Renya leaned in front of Ichi.

"I already explained it." Renya said.

Ichi didn't know what she explained about 'Danzaburo's experiment' or when she did. Ichi could smell the stink of a lie coming from her as his eyes bored a hole into the cat ears and blonde hair in front of him.

This was a clear intent to decieve. Either Ichi, Oni and Grandpa, or both. Ichi bet on both. Grandpa met his eyes, as if asking him:

"Oh, so I don't need to explain anything about Danzaburo's experiment and how it relates to you?"

And Ichi answered with a nod, as if saying:

"Yes, please, spare me."

For someone who could sniff a lie Ichi wasn't interested in the truth at the moment. Anything that involved his father might as well be astrophysics. Then again, Ichi couldn't ignore that Renya lied to them about it. He sliently filed this moment away in his memory. Hispriority was freedom. And recovering the rest of his inheirtance from Grandpa's basement. Which lead to more freedom. At least, he assumed that.

Ichi thought it was probably more of an excuse to say goodbye to the stern old man who he lived with for six months. Ichi said nothing as the conversation continued.

Grandpa got up and lead them to the slime door, Oni following close behind them. Renya's eyes were shining and she asked if she could keep it. Ichi stepped in at that point.

"She's good with construction. By the time we're done down there, she'll have the slime door replaced. Probably with something better too."

Grandpa looked bothered as his eyes traveled between the enthusiastic girl and his grandson. He said yes mostly because Renya wouldn't be downstairs. He couldn't help but feel a connection between the slime door and the girl, which he thought was strange. The only sort of person who should be able to understand a contraption like this was an alchemist. Grandpa had no clue about Renya's existence as a homunculous and alchemist.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Ichi's second time descending into the cave felt less exciting. Back then when he got the stick of balance, he felt like he was bringing a gun to a streetfight. Now, he felt like he was walking into a bank to withdraw his account.

They walked up to a door with a white half and a black half. In Ichi's sight, it felt like the black half was shining. Before they entered the door, the black half flew open by itself.

Grandpa looked back to Ichi.

"In case I died or something, I suppose Danzaburo wanted to give you a way to access this place on your own. It's too bad you lost the white stick, at this rate, you're only half complete."

So if Ichi absorbed the white stick, both doors would have opened? For now, Ichi nodded like it was no big deal. Besides, the last time he saw the white stick he threw it on Scipio's back. Wherever Scipio took it, Ichi didn't feel like meeting him again. A sense that he had made a horrible mistake welled up in him.

Grandpa opened a cabinet, pulling out a string of wooden beads, a drinking gourd, a shiny steel revolver, and a tanuki plush. Ichi sneered at the Tanuki plush. He had a bad feeling about it, even though it felt horribly out of place. Grandpa sighed as he handed the items to Ichi in a bag. He pulled out the string of wooden beads briefly.

"These were your mother's. Please, take care of them."

Ichi's eyes glanced over the wooden beads. Strange marking and flecks of dried blood covered them. A chill went down his body. This is the first time he saw evidence of what his mother did for a living. Rikya said she caged Tamamo as well. He thought he'd be happy to see something of hers. Grandpa stored it into the bag after pausing with his mouth open, as if he wanted to say something.

"Ichi, as a druid, these items will be extremely powerful in your care. Please, use them wisely. As wise as anyone who freed Tamamo could."

'As a druid'? Ichi kept his face straight with effort. Renya did say something about druids hunting him, that it would only be a matter of time. Satou said something about a Druid-killer when Ichi touched Scipio's sword. Ichi felt like asking would make things worse, so he said nothing.

Oni, who stayed silent stepped to Ichi side and recieved the bag in his place. The little girl hoisted the dark blue bag over her shoulder.

"Alright, let's go." She said.

Ichi looked down at Oni.

"That stuff is mine, right?"

Grandpa shook his head.

"Oni here will be going with you. I trust him to act as a limiter on your actions in the Spirit World. There's beings that you cannot upset, and I fully expect you to upset them with your latent ability."

Oni nodded from below Ichi.

"I will serve Rikya loyally. It was long her wish to free of our family. I will support such a powerful being like yourself in your efforts, as long as you defend her wishes."

Oni turned to Grandpa.

"Farewell, old man." She smiled.

"Take care, idiot." Grandpa smiled at him.

Grandpa walked over to Ichi. He stopped and held his arms out awkwardly before pulling him in for a hug. Ichi didn't feel want to hug back, but given the situation he did it anyways.

Grandpa stepped back, giving Ichi a toothy smile.

"Enjoy your trip. Try not to destroy the world, alright?"

The pat on the shoulder that hit Ichi made him shift his stance. What was he?