In the bright evening sun, the wooden machiya house stood in solemn silence, it's dark corridors and paper-paneled walls holding echoes of a past that no longer existed. As Hikari stepped onto the polished wooden floor, she called out, “I’m home.”

Only silence greeted her.

She slipped off her shoes, stepping further inside, her movements careful but unhurried. The house was vast—too vast for just one person. It hadn't always been like this.

There was once laughter, warmth, and scent of home-cooked meals. But ever since her mother passed, her father had buried himself in work, chasing prosperity and prestige for the Kanzaki family, leaving his only daughter behind in the dim halls of their ancestral home.

She sighed. She was used to being left alone like this.

She clasped her hands together and then performed a mudra, a specific hand gesture used to perform ritual.

As she hummed a quiet chant under her breath. The paper lanterns hanging in each room flickered to life, but instead of a normal flame, each wick bloomed with soft blue fire, casting a tranquil glow along the wooden hallways.

She went into one of the rooms and kneel in front of a spirit tablet with a picture of someone there. With her hands together, she closed her eyes, paying respect to the figure in the picture.

“I'm home, mother.”

After paying respect to her deceased mother, she walks along the dark long hallway towards her room.

The moment she slid open the door, the atmosphere changed. Unlike the rest of the house, which was dark and gloomy, her room was bursting with color—pink silk cushions, a floral-patterned futon, a small couch with neatly arranged animal dolls, each one had a different color and shape. Some were gifts from her mother, some collected over the years.

This was the one space in the house that still felt alive. The only place in her house that she can be herself.

This room is the room she has been using for the past twelve years. She often trains here too, like creating charms, refining her brushwork for talisman creation, memorizing chants, and practicing her control over spiritual energy.

It was the bare minimum expected from the heir of the Kanzaki Family, one of the prestigious lineages of the Onmyōji.

But today in particular, she couldn’t focus.

Every time she tries to focus on practice, her mind keeps returning to what happened at school.

She bit her lip, annoyed by her short attention span.

"Usui…"

Something about him had changed. His movements, his presence—something feels different, but she can't exactly tell what’s the difference about him. It left a chill in her chest.

She shook her head, pushing the thought away. ‘No, it doesn’t matter right now… I have to focus.’

But a few minutes of trying reminded her again, and then she lost focus once again…

Instead of trying hard to focus during this time, she decided to end her practice early. She strode to her desk and took out a piece of yellow washi paper, the kind used for crafting ofuda charms.

With fluid strokes, she painted a ritual circle upon it, the language she used to write was the combination of Kanji, Kana and Esoteric symbols, writed in harmony within that ritual circle.

As carefully inscribing the necessary symbols. Once done, she clasped her hands together and whispered a chant, her voice steady yet filled with longing.

"From ink to spirit, from name to form, by my call and my bond—Shikigami, awaken."

The circle on the paper glowed, the ink writhing as if alive. A soft breeze stirred through the room, despite the windows being shut. Then, from the paper itself, a small plump rabbit materialized, landing with a soft thud on her futon.

Hikari broke into a bright smile.

"Yay! You came!" She scooped up the chubby, round rabbit, hugging it tightly against her chest. Its white fur was warm, and its little nose twitched.

That rabbit's name is Mochiko, her Shikigami companion. Unlike combat-oriented spirits, Mochiko was small, soft, and mostly useless in battle. But it was hers. A reflection of her heart, a presence she could confide in.

The name Mochiko came from a food that is similar to it, its white round appearance is similar to that of a Mochi, a round squishy rice cake.

Flopping onto her bed, Hikari rolled onto her back, cradling the rabbit against her face.

“Hear me Mochiko, Ryohei has been a little weird lately. Even though I managed to brighten his mood the other day, he returned to being that gloomy the next day…”

Her Shikigami just stared blankly at the room wall, and didn't understand what she was just blabbering about.

“But the other day was fun, I got to hang out with Ryohei at a Cafe! We even pretend to be a couple, Kyaaa!”

She buried her face in her Shikigami’s fur and rolled around in bed, drowning her embarrassed feelings.

Mochiko doesn't understand what is happening and just accepts its fate as a tool to vent her feelings.

"Mochiko, you won’t believe what I did today… I actually asked Usui out on a date!"

She let out a squeal, muffling it into Mochiko's fur as she kicked her legs on her bed, overwhelmed by the embarrassment of her own boldness. Her face turned completely red.

"What if he thinks I’m weird? What if he thinks it’s a joke?!”

Mochiko made a tiny, nonchalant sneeze.

Hikari gasped, holding the rabbit at arm’s length. "You think so too?!"

Mochiko just twitched its nose.

"Ughhhh, what am I even doing…?"

Hikari rolled on her back and groaned. She raised Mochiko with both hands, its figure illuminated by the lamp. Hikari eyes narrowed.

“You've gotten fatter Mochiko, I should feed you less…”

Suddenly the quiet Mochiko squirmed panicky, as if understanding what she meant.

For a moment, all thoughts of Onmyōji training, responsibilities, and family duties melted away. In this moment, she was just a girl in love, rambling to her fluffy companion, safe in her own little world.

And for tonight, that was enough.

In the middle of the night, she was suddenly awake and headed to the kitchen for a drink. Her father was in the kitchen too, just returned from his work as one of the higher ups of the Onmyouji main branch.

“Welcome back father.” Hikari greets him, but he just brushes it off.

“Yeah yeah, go back to sleep.”

Hikari turned around, as she was about to head back to her room. Her father called her out.

“Oh yeah, Hikari. I have a task for you. The council has found out about the potential candidate to contract the last Divine beast. We have already contacted the person, and she agreed to it. You will go to Tokyo first thing in the morning and pick her up. She will stay in our house for a few days, during that time you will mentor her on the basics of Exorcising.

Hikari froze, and she turned around. “But… tomorrow…”

“I have already assigned you to this task, I will take no for an answer. I've been trying so hard to assign this to you, this is the best chance we have to build a connection with the person who will be contracted to one of the Divine Beasts. Too bad the last contractor is a female, if it was a male, I'd have you captivate him into joining our family.”

She wanted to protest and refuse but was afraid to do so. She has already defied her father yesterday, if she keeps doing that, she might lose the little world she takes precious in.

Feeling bitter inside, she bit her lips and cuffed her hands. She had no choice but to agree. “Yes father… I will go…”

Later on, she messages Ryohei and apologizes for the sudden notice, saying the plan for tomorrow was cancelled, due to urgent duty she had to finish.

----------------------------------------

Ryohei was trapped in a dream—no, a nightmare.

He stood in their living room, the warm glow of a ceiling light illuminating the small figure before him. His little sister, Ruri, giggled as she ran around the house, then she stopped and looked up at him, her bright, innocent eyes full of admiration. Without thinking, he reached out, placing a hand on her head like he always did.

Then—Snap!

A sickening, unnatural sound shattered the peace.

Ryohei's breath hitched as he watched in horror. His sister's body went limp, collapsing into his arms like a broken doll. He tried to scream, but no sound came out. His hands trembled as he held her—hands that had just killed his own sister.

The scene shifted.

He was in his mother's arms now, the familiar warmth surrounding him, soothing him. He wanted to stay like this forever. But something felt wrong. His mother's body felt frail, too frail.

Before he could pull away—crack.

Her ribs collapsed under his grip.

Her breath hitched, her body stiffened, then fell still.

Ryohei screamed.

He jolted awake from his nightmare, his heart hammering against his chest. His breath came in uneven gasps, his body drenched in cold sweat. He clenched his eyes shut and covered them with his hand, trying to ground himself, to remind himself that it wasn't real. It wasn’t real.

His pulse slowed, but the unease remained, lurking beneath his skin like an unseen specter.

With a shaky breath, he reached for his phone. The dim glow of the screen illuminated his face, revealing a new message from Hikari.

His grip on the phone tightened. But after his cell phone screen began flickering like crazy, he instinctively dropped it. He almost crushed his cellphone with that.

The message was short. Their plan had changed. The date was off.

He should have expected it.

Still, he couldn't deny the disappointment that crept into his chest. Yesterday, when she asked him, he felt—excited. A rare, unfamiliar feeling. But maybe this was for the best. Right now, he is dangerous.

He couldn’t even trust himself.

The nightmare replayed in his mind. His mother’s broken ribs. His sister’s lifeless body.

Yesterday, he had been too afraid to return his sick mother’s hug. Too scared to place a reassuring hand on his sister’s head. What if—what if it wasn’t just a dream?

A shudder ran down his spine.

Feeling restless, he left his bed and wandered through the house. The familiar wooden floors creaked softly under his weight as he made his way toward the front hall.

He stopped when he saw his mother, already dressed and ready to leave. Ruri stood beside her, clutching a small bag with eager anticipation. Seeing both of them intact and fine, a gush of relief washed over him.

His mother turned, startled to see him. “Ryohei?”

“You’re going out?” His voice came out rougher than he intended.

His mother gave him a concerned look after yesterday's incident. “Are you okay? Did you rest well?”

“I’m fine.” The lie came easily, but her eyes lingered on him, doubtful.

She hesitated before sighing. “We’re visiting relatives in Tokyo. Your father had to return for work, so we’re going together. Ruri wanted to come too—there’s a swimming pool she’s been wanting to visit.”

She smiled and added, “Do you want to come with us?”

Ryohei stiffened.

Tokyo.

He could tolerate his father’s absence. But being around him?

He forced a small, indifferent shrug. “Nah, I’ll just stay home.”

His mother studied him for a moment before nodding. “Alright. But before I go—there was a call from a usual customer. They’re asking for three kilos of fresh truffles. Can you do it?”

Ryohei exhaled, relieved at the change of subject.

“I’ll see what I can get,” he said.

His mother gave him a small, lingering smile before stepping out with Ruri. The door closed, and silence filled the house once more. “Bye-bye big brother.” Ruri waved her little hand, saying goodbye.

After gathering his things, Ryohei headed toward the back of the house, where the mountain stretched beyond their land. Their family owned the private territory, meaning he needs no permits when it comes to hunting for truffles there. It was something they did often—selling to the city for extra income.

As he moved through the familiar forest, the earthy scent of damp soil and fallen leaves filled his lungs. The rhythmic sound of his footsteps against the ground helped calm his nerves. Here, away from people, he felt at ease.

By the time he returned, the sun had begun its descent, casting long shadows against the house. He wiped the sweat from his brow and stepped toward the front door—

And stopped…a pair of unfamiliar sandals sat neatly by the entrance.

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

Ryohei’s chest tightened.

Someone was here.

----------------------------------------

As I entered the house, I saw a pair of unfamiliar sandals, did mom come back with a guest? Did she forget something? After taking off my shoes, I called for her.

“I’m home! Did you forget something Mom?”

But the silence remained, as if no one was home. Maybe I’m just a little paranoid, so I took off my shoes and examined the wooden sandals beside me, ‘whose sandal is this?’

A clatter sound coming from the kitchen, I jumped in shock and took my stances, standing by for any sudden movement.

‘Father, Mother and Ruri went to Tokyo just now. Who was it? Was it a burglar?’

“Raisen! or perhaps Hikage! Is that you? Answer if it's you!”

But it remains silent, if it's those two, they will definitely answer. Which it can only be one thing.

To be honest I don't know what I should do, this is the first time I'm facing a regular human. Normally I'm against a Yokai that is much stronger than me, going all out is easy, as it doesn't have any consequences.

But what about now? I can barely control my power… what If one swing of my hand smashes him into a splatter of blood? Do I have what it takes to kill someone?

My heart raced as I took step by step towards the kitchen, my focus was heightened as I scanned the kitchen counters for any sign of movement.

Slowly and steadily, I grabbed a nearby broom as a weapon. I know it won’t be much of a help, but at least I can avoid hitting him directly.

I entered the kitchen area but found no one. Just to be sure, I double checked every corner of the kitchen to make sure.

A sigh of relief escaped my body, after having a heightened sense as a half yokai, I began to notice every little thing that happened. Maybe I became a little paranoid.

“Hey there. You’re finally here.”

As I turned around, I saw a person casually sitting on the dining table while sipping on his tea.

‘!’

I jumped in surprise as I raised the broom and pointed it forward, “W..Who are you!? Since when are you there!”

“Relax there, kid. I’m just drinking tea.” As he blows his tea, sending hot air towards my direction.

“In someone else's dining room!?”

He glances around the dining room as if not noticing something obvious, “This is a dining room? It's quite small…”

He was there the whole time? I barely noticed him! His presence is like air… and nothingness.

I scanned him from head to toe. After looking at it carefully, I recognized this person. “Wait… aren’t you.”

“Anyway, sorry for the intrusion kid, I can’t help it. It’s in my nature to sneak into someone’s house. Can’t go against that. Hahaha!” As he laughed, his long oval head arched backwards.

There’s no mistaking it, he’s Nurarihyon! The one who leads the Hyakki Yagyo that day, what’s his purpose for coming here I wondered?

I instinctively lowered the broom and relaxed my tensed-up body. He noticed it and grinned.

“You’re awfully relaxed for someone who finds out a random old man barges into your house uninvited and drinks your tea.”

‘So, he does realize what he’s doing.’

“I’m just getting used to this, one thing I know for sure is that… even if you had bad intentions, I can’t stop you either. So, why should I bother getting worked up for?”

Nurarihyon let out a small chuckle, “Relax kid, I mean no harm. Unlike Oni, I’m one of those yokai who likes living alongside humans.”

“So, what’s with today's visit… uh, Lord? Sir?” I don’t know how I should address someone like him, his position was similar to Daitengu, but unlike Daitengu who has more youth and bold vibes to it. He has that old and wise atmosphere that makes me can’t be casual around him.

“Ey, what’s with the formality, just relax. Isn’t this your house? Just address me as you see fit.”

“Alright, gramps, since you’ve already helped yourself with tea, I won’t make you drink.” I walked towards the kitchen and took some Senbei (Rice Crackers) from the cabinet. Serve some on a plate and put it in front of him.

He grinned and continued to sip his tea. “Nothing much, I just wanted to visit you. I heard about what happened…”

My face was full of questions, ‘What happened? What is he talking about?’

“Daitengu gave me the full story, and to be honest… as the one who led the parade... It is undeniably my fault for not being able to prevent the parade in dragging in someone unrelated to our world. I offer my humble apologies.”

He closed his eyes and lowered his head down towards me, bowing down with respect and guilt. Seeing him apologize that well makes me feel bad for him. It wasn’t completely his fault, but he still apologized, a big figure like him, bowing down to a human?

I raised his shoulder, “It’s fine, this is not your fault. And even if it is, I forgive you.”

Nurarihyon raised his head and looked me in the eyes and said, “Thank you.”

“I came here today just for this; I won’t take more of your time then…”

As he was about to leave, I stopped him, asking him for help. If it's him… he might know.

“Excuse me! Uh… could you please listen to me for a bit?”

Nurarihyon froze and was confused. Then I started explaining my sudden power that came, and I can't seem to control it. I asked him if there's a way to solve this.

“Oh, I see why you're in such distress now. Don't worry, that's a normal occurrence considering what you went through, as long as you keep the faucet open, it will be gone by itself.”

As the conversation unfolded, the air in the room felt heavier. The dimly lit interior of the old house barely softened the intensity of Nurarihyon’s words. The scent of fresh tea lingered in the air, mingling with the distant aroma of damp earth from the open window.

I scratch my head in confusion, trying to understand his words. “Uh… sorry but I don't understand what you meant, can you explain it in a simpler way?”

“Hmmm, how do I explain this in human terms…” Nurarihyon scratched his bald head as he took a bite on the rice crackers on the table, then came out with a way to explain it to me.

“Ah! Here's the thing… Do you know yourself? Do you know how weak you are?”

My eyebrows twitched, feeling a little irritated by his words. Although what he said was indeed the truth. I can't deny it.

“Very weak, Daitengu had already told me about it. On top of being a Halfling, I was considered one-third of a single yokai, and a tailless too. He called me the Weakest Yokai he ever knew…”

“Hohoho, that's a little exaggerated but you get the point. And don't you find it weird that you managed to beat Okuri Inu? A hundred years old one at that?”

“Yes, but I was told that it was because he underestimated me and let his guard down a lot during our fight, he hasn't been transforming either.”

Nurarihyon laughed, “Well, what you just said is true… but despite being a cocky Lion. Lions are still lions. It can't just be taken down by a freshly born wolf cub. Do you get it now?”

My eyes widened, “So there's still another reason I managed to win back then?” I have always thought it was just a fluke… but even as a fluke, it sounds too unrealistic? Was there really another factor that helped me win?

“Of course! Now, imagine this… see yourself as a ship, you are a new model that was recently released, you don't need that much fuel to move. Your fuel capacity is 5 liters, and let's just say you spend one liter for a mile.”

Nurarihyon folds a paper and shapes a paper boat, as if saying it was me, then he continues.

“And suddenly! You got forced to participate in a race that needs AT LEAST 20 liters of fuel. The question is… how did you manage to survive up till the third round?”

His teasing tone made me furrow my brows. I could tell he already knew the answer, yet he was dragging this out on purpose.

“The answer is you got additional fuel during the race.”

I blinked, feeling the pieces fall into place. “Additional fuel? What kind?”

Amid the cluelessness, realization struck me.

“Daitengu’s blood…” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. I had assumed it was just something to help me awaken, but clearly, it was far more than I had expected.

“You seem to have the dots connected. That's right, Daitengu's blood isn't just a clump of Spiritual energy. It is nothing but a PURE concentration of spiritual energy. Normally, if a yokai takes in something like that, they will either explode from trying to absorb spiritual energy beyond their capabilities or turn into Mōju.”

My fingers instinctively curled against the wooden table. “I'm sorry, but I keep hearing this thing a lot… What exactly is this ‘Mōju’ you're talking about?”

Nurarihyon set down his cup and made a few hand gestures to help illustrate his point. His movements were fluid, almost theatrical.

“Mōju is an old term that we used to call a beast. Yokai are separated into two categories, those who have consciousness and those who don't.”

He took a small pause, running a finger along the rim of his teacup before continuing.

“Those who have a mind of their own created a clan and live in harmony with humans… Well, some do, but not all of them. And then those who don't have the ability to think, all they can do is just rely on their instincts.”

“So, is that Mōju?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.

“No, that's just a regular Yokai. We just treat them similar to how humans treat animals, they're just like wild animals. Mōju is when those Yokai who have consciousness fall into the state of losing themselves and return to being a mindless beast that only relies on instinct. I heard you also went rabid for a moment back then.”

A shiver ran down my spine as I recalled the moment I lost control—the moment I had attacked Shun. My mind had been hazy, and my body had moved on its own. It had been like being submerged in thick fog, barely aware, but still undeniably me.

“So how did one become a Mōju?”

“There are several ways, but most of them were because of overconsumption or taking more spiritual energy, you can't absorb. That excess spiritual energy will take root in your heart and enveloped your mind. Once you realize it, you won't be the same person anymore. Mōju are feared by both Yokai and Onmyouji alike. No one wants them around.”

I swallowed hard, realization dawning upon me. “So, consuming his blood is what made me start turning into a Mōju, right? But that means there must be a way to reverse it.”

Nurarihyon snorted, the corner of his lips twitching in amusement. “There's no such thing.”

I was stoned in silence, “Excuse me? But didn't I…”

Before I managed to finish my word, he cut off my words and continued.

“Your case is different. You were originally a human, which likely prevented the full corruption of your mind. But that doesn’t mean you’re immune to it. The only way a Mōju can return to normal is if the excess spiritual energy is released from their body. But tell me, how would you release something rooted in your heart?”

I froze, understanding the implication.

Nurarihyon smirked. “Exactly. The only way to purge it is death. Once a Yokai heart is stabbed beyond its healing point, it will crystallize and turn into Magatama.”

Silence filled the room, heavy and oppressive. The faint creaking of the wooden floor beneath Nurarihyon’s chair was the only sound that followed.

I'm somewhat lost in the topic of this conversation.

“You seem to fail to understand what I was saying. Once you try to absorb spiritual energy beyond your capabilities, your body either explodes or becomes a Mōju. The ones turning into Mōju are those who barely manage to contain the energy but still can't fully absorb it. In your case, you should’ve exploded back then, not turning into Mōju.”

“T.. Then, how did I survive?”

“It’s likely because of the Daitengu himself,” Nurarihyon mused, tapping his fingers against the table rhythmically. “He solidified his blood, ensuring only the outer layers melted at a controlled rate. This way, you absorbed small amounts of spiritual energy at a time instead of being overwhelmed all at once. It was a calculated process, keeping you from exploding.”

I exhaled slowly, feeling a strange mix of gratitude and unease.

“Right now, your body is akin to a ship with 50 liters of additional fuel. And that's the very reason why you managed to survive till the third round. Unfortunately, you spend a lot of spiritual energy during your second round.”

“Fighting against Yoruka, playing cat and mouse inside the Korropokkuru's domain which drains your spiritual energy, and then recovering after breaking your body with your Okuri Inu's power. By the start of the third round, your reserve has been emptied.”

“I see… He's been taking care of me throughout the whole fight.”

Nurarihyon snickered at me, “Huhuhu, didn't you hear me just now? You either blew up or became a Mōju!” as he taps his teacups then points his finger at me. “It's good that you felt gratitude towards him, but it's not wise to trust a Yokai. From my perspective, you're nothing more than an experimental toy to him. And perhaps that's why he felt bad and decided to save you after you lost the match.”

“...Okay, so? What does this have to do with the weird occurrence of my body?”

“After you lost to the Oni kid, your spiritual energy reserve was almost emptied, and some wounds didn't heal.”

“Wound?” I frowned. “But I feel fine. There’s no wound on me.”

“That’s just an illusion from the Tanuki clan.” Nurarihyon snapped his fingers, and a sudden chill swept over me. My skin prickled, and when I pulled down my collar to check my shoulder, my breath hitched.

A wide, jagged wound stretched across my shoulder—one I had no recollection of. “What the hell!?”

Nurarihyon shrugged. “It’s the last injury you sustained against the Oni. Your body prioritized healing internal damage over external ones. But when your spiritual energy ran dry, this one remained.”

I stared at the wound. These are the missing fragments of my memory after being knocked out by that Oni. It slowly pieced together. “So what happened after that?”

“In order to keep you alive, Daitengu gave you another drop of his blood. During your stay in the hospital, the energy from his blood hastening your recovery… though after you have recovered, his excess spiritual energy still remains in your body, unused. Tell me, have you used your spiritual power after you recovered? Rarely, right?”

“Uh... I did once or twice but only for traveling.”

Nurarihyon emptied his hot tea in a single gulp.

“Now, back to the start… you're wondering why your power is going out of control. Well, the reason is because of that unused excess energy overflowing from your body. Since you barely use your spiritual energy, the energy from the blood keeps giving you spiritual energy and it is piling up in your body. If left like that, your body will either explode or you will lose your mind and turn into Mōju.

I clenched my fists. “Then, how do I fix it?”

Nurarihyon smirked. “Simple, just use it as usual. Like I said, leave the faucet open. Go out and use your spiritual energy until you're exhausted. That way you can release all the piled-up energy inside you until all the energy from his blood is gone.”

I was stoned in silence, ’Use my spiritual energy more often? But that's…’

“Also, be careful. Currently this spiritual energy has been leaking like crazy, and this is the reason why no yokai has bothered you so far, since you have this monstrous amount of spiritual energy reserve. This excess energy acts as both shield and poison to you, once you’ve lost it, hungry yokai might come after you.”

Another yokai came after me? My heart skipped a beat after that line. I didn't say another word and remained silent.

“Well, I have said everything I need, so I'll take my leave now… oh yeah, one more thing. You forgot this.” he took out an umbrella, it was somewhat familiar…

“This was my gift to you back then, and you left it in Daitengu's hand, since I'm visiting you anyway, he asked me to deliver this too.”

Aaah, this is the Low-Grade spiritual treasure back then, Night Shade Umbrella. No wonder it looked familiar.

“Thanks…”

Nurarihyon walked to the front door, glanced around the kitchen and opened some shelves.

He really did have no manners, racking around like he owned the place.

“But you really didn't have anything fancy, didn't you?”

“I'm sorry, although my family is considered pretty wealthy, it specifically means the land we owned, and not necessarily our lifestyle.”

“Still, I have gone all the way here, do you have something fancy I can take as a souvenir?”

His words somewhat irritate me, but since he helped me explain the anomaly in my body, I suppose I have to give him thanks… ‘But what do I have? Nurarihyon are those who sneak into someone’s house and like expensive things right? In this house in the middle of nowhere, what items can be classified as expensive?’

Then a spark of ideas lit, even though I’m not sure he will like it, at least it's better than nothing.

Without a moment to spare I ran outside, into the storage house and then took out two glass jars full of black things. “Excuse me, gramps… will this do?”

“This is?”

“This is a Japanese Truffle mushroom; it grew on the land my family owned. Usually harvested and sold to hotels and restaurants, although it doesn’t compare to overseas truffles, it is still pretty tasty and pricy.”

“Oooh no wonder I haven’t seen it, so this is the trend of rich people overseas are consuming right? I never saw one, since back then all the households I have sneaked into never had one of these.”

“Yes, Japanese people back then didn't consume Truffles mushroom as often as Shiitake, Matsutake or Enoki mushroom. This is a more overseas trend. You can use it on soup, make a tea out of it or as a garnish and food enhancer to other fancy food.”

I hand him two jars, one of them is still fresh, while on the other jar is the sliced and air-dried truffles. “If you want, I have the powdered ones too.”

“Haha! no, it's fine, this is enough. Thank you. Well then, I will take my leave, take care, young weasel.

After he left, I exhaled hard, all my nervousness left my body.

I slumped down, thinking about what will happen next.

“... Even after going through all that crap… I finally managed to return to my normal life... I even swore to never return into that kind of life again. I can't believe I had to… in order to ensure my calm normal life

I sighed, “Talk about Irony…”