“You see anything?”
“Mmmm… Nope! Not yet.” The Sarugami scribbled her sightings in a book—no easy feat, considering she was upside down. Her tail slithered along the branch of a tree, keeping her from falling.
“…How can you even write like that?” The otter wondered whether the monkey was a moron or a genius for pulling it off. The spirit sighed, floating lazily around Biten. “Whatever. Let’s keep searching so we can head back faster.”
The crescent moon hung high in the night sky as the two continued their hunt. It was nearing midnight, and twelve hours of slogging through murky vegetation had begun to wear down the otter’s patience. Honestly, this kind of job didn’t suit him at all. A researcher like him should’ve been in a lab, free from any exhausting tasks such as traversing a dense fucking forest. His job was to process the data, not collect it directly. It had shocked him when the head of the Kiketsu Family asked him to accompany the new member, Son Biten, on a hunt for a powerful treasure: a mysterious chest hidden somewhere in the Forest of Sanctuaries.
He really should’ve complained back then, but, well, it’s not like he could decline the offer either. Many spirits had tried betraying her before, and every last one of them ultimately succumbed to her power. He knew better than to challenge her authority. Still, he couldn’t help but question the decision.
A rustling in the trees snapped him out of his thoughts. He turned toward Biten (who was still upside down), now deep in conversation with a local primate.
“Anything from your monkeys?” the otter asked.
“Wait a sec.” She held up her palm as the monkey (the literal one) chittered out a string of “ooh!”s and “aah!”s at her. Biten paid close attention to the animal, cupping her chin like a philosopher deep in thought (STILL upside down, by the way). She even nodded at its ramblings, as if the monkey were giving her classified intel. “I see, I see.”
Biten lifted herself from the branch, giving the monkey a banana as a reward.
“Right.” She faced the otter spirit. “They found it.”
The cold night wind blew through the trees as the two hid in the underbrush. The monkey had led them to a spot near the forest’s center. Towering trees surrounded them, offering ample cover. The Sarugami leapt from one trunk to another, stealthy in her approach. The otter spirit followed by phasing through the trees.
“There it is.” The monkey girl pointed with her index finger. “That has to be the treasure, right?”
The otter looked in the indicated direction and spotted a wooden chest resting peacefully between two nearly identical trees. “Careful. Our intel said it’s guarded by a powerful creature. Be wary of our surroun—” His words came to a halt as he realized that Biten was no longer with him. “W-Where did you-”
“WOOHOO WE FOUND IT!!!” The Sarugami triumphantly hoisted the chest into the air.
The otter stared blankly at the monkey, too dumbfounded to say anything.
“Ah!” She dropped it with a loud thud. “It’s kinda weighty, actually.” The Sarugami stooped her back, learning over the chest as she tried to get a better grip on its corner. “Hey otter, could get some help bringing this over.” Suddenly, her back felt heavy.
“Bring it to where?”
That was not the otter’s voice.
Her pupils shrank, a stream of sweat forming on her face. Her thoughts were occupied by the sudden realization. Where did that voice come from? She looked up, only to find the sky above her. It sounded like it came from above, but that couldn’t be the case. Where was she-
Biten soon realized that she was pinned against the chest, someone was weighing her down.
Someone was standing on her back.
“How bold of you to come here,” the voice boomed, clear and commanding, “invading my territory… stealing my treasure, no less.”
In a rush, the Sarugami grabbed her pole from the side and swung it without hesitation. The weight vanished from her back—but she was sure she didn’t hit anything.
“I’ll let you know one thing.” Biten tried to look around, but her head was locked in place. “Us Yamanba don’t like it when someone intervenes,” the attacker announced, crouching on top of the Sarugami’s head. The monkey froze under her presence.
“Who… Who are you?”
Silence fell. For a moment, the forest held its breath. The otter spirit, hidden in the distance, could only watch—too helpless to act. Nobody could break the silence but her. “My name is Chirizuka Ubame,” she said, “the king of this forest.”
The Sarugami blinked a few times, trying to process what had just happened. She looked up again, but only the stars met her gaze.
“I’ll let you go this time since you’re from around here.” Biten turned, finally getting a good look at her attacker. Her top consisted of white and brown colors, the cloth going around her neck with black frills on its edges. A long, purple fabric circled her brown skirt. A royal crown adorned her head as it shimmered above her dark grey hair with pride.
“H-Hey, wait!” That hag was walking off with her treasure! Biten couldn’t let that happen!
[] Let’s ask her kindly!
[] Ask for a fair duel!
[] Plan for a surprise attack!
