The bookkeeper's eyes narrowed, his gaze sharp enough to cut through bone.
"What business do you have on Mount Kamui?" he asked, his voice low… but heavy with something that made Toji uneasy.
Toji frowned. It was just a question about a map… so why did it feel like an interrogation?
"I just need a map," Toji said.
The bookkeeper leaned forward slightly, his expression darkening.
"Answer me, boy. I asked you a question."
Toji's grip tightened slightly.
"I'm looking for someone."
"Who?"
Toji met his eyes, his expression turning cold.
"I don't think that's any of your business."
Silence.
A long… heavy silence.
"Hmmm…"
The bookkeeper sighed, rubbing his forehead.
"What's your name, boy?"
"Toji."
The man studied him carefully, as if trying to read something buried deep inside him.
"Haven't you heard the rumors?" he said slowly. "The ones about people who go to Mount Kamui… and never return?"
Toji said nothing.
"And now you're chasing something you barely understand. How old are you… fifteen?" The man shook his head. "You're being reckless. Go home. Forget this foolish idea."
That was it.
Something inside Toji snapped.
"Why won't you people just mind your own business?!" he snapped, his voice rising. "Can't you just act like you didn't see anything and move on with your lives?!"
The shop fell silent.
"You look at my goal like it's some childish nonsense… but you don't know anything about me!" His voice trembled—not with fear, but with anger. "You don't know what I've seen…"
His fists clenched.
"You didn't watch your parents get killed right in front of you… and end up the only one left."
The air changed.
The bookkeeper froze.
For a moment… he felt it.
A dark, suffocating presence leaking from the boy.
Bloodlust.
Heavy. Raw. Uncontrolled.
The man's expression softened slightly.
"…I see."
He exhaled quietly.
"Alright… I'm sorry."
Toji blinked, caught off guard.
"I shouldn't have said that." The bookkeeper paused. "But tell me… is there really someone on that mountain you're looking for?"
"Yes."
"…Who?"
Toji didn't hesitate.
"Azui."
The name dropped like a stone into still water.
The bookkeeper's eyes widened.
Around them, a few people in the shop stiffened, their whispers dying instantly.
"…You've got guts," the man muttered.
Toji frowned. "What do you mean?"
"You don't even know who Azui is… do you?"
"…No."
The bookkeeper let out a slow breath.
"He's one of the greatest spirit hunters in the world. A man said to have taken part in the extinction of the Nine-Tailed Beasts."
For a split second—
Toji's vision flickered.
A flash.
A fox.
That twisted smile.
His parents…
Gone.
"…He lives alone now," the bookkeeper continued, "at the peak of Mount Kamui."
Toji swallowed.
"But listen carefully, boy. Your problem isn't meeting Azui…" The man leaned closer. "It's surviving long enough to get there."
Toji's eyes sharpened.
"There are trials on that mountain. Things that will test you… break you." His gaze dropped to the dagger in Toji's hand.
"Tell me… how good are you with that?"
Toji looked down at it.
The blade felt heavier than before.
"…Do you have the guts to kill a man?"
Silence.
"…Yeah," Toji said.
But his voice faltered.
Just slightly.
The bookkeeper laughed.
"You seek revenge… yet you can't even hold your weapon with conviction."
That was it.
Toji lunged.
But before he could reach him—
THUD!
A book slammed into his face.
Everything went black.
"…Ahh…"
Toji groaned as his eyes slowly opened.
His head throbbed.
"…What… happened?"
"You're awake."
Toji turned.
The bookkeeper sat beside him calmly, flipping through a book like nothing had happened.
Toji shot up.
"What did you do to me?!"
"Nothing," the man replied casually. "I was simply defending myself."
"…Oh."
Toji looked away, slightly embarrassed.
"…Sorry."
The bookkeeper closed the book.
"So," he said, turning to him. "Do you really want to do this?"
Toji didn't hesitate this time.
"I wouldn't be here if I hadn't decided already."
The man studied him again.
Then nodded.
"…You're terrible with that weapon."
Toji frowned.
"So I'll train you," the bookkeeper continued. "Just enough to keep you alive on your journey."
Toji blinked.
"Why… would you help me? I thought you were looking down on me."
The man looked away for a moment.
"…Not really."
A small pause.
"You just remind me
of someone I used to know."
Silence.
Then—
For the first time since his parents died…
Toji smiled.
"…What's your name, sir?" he asked.
The man stood up, stretching slightly.
"Yeng."
He glanced back at him.
"Get some rest. Tomorrow's going to be a long day."
Toji nodded.
"…Yes, sir."