Volume 1
Chapter 1 Part
2
Enjoying Life
in Karen 2
Translator : PolterGlast
Afternoon at Ozuno
Daisan Junior High School.
"Excuse me.
Kuwabe-sensei, here are this month's tuition fees."
After the closing
assembly, Akira went to the teacher's office to pay this month's tuition.
The tuition paid to
the junior high school was free of charge for children residing in the capital,
but for Akira, who came from outside the capital, he had to pay a monthly
tuition that was not even close to what a child's monthly income would be.
Kuwabe Naoko, Akira's
teacher, gave Akira a complicated look when she saw the monthly tuition bag
handed to her in the teacher's office.
Although there is an
open door accepting all children who are willing to learn, to be honest, it is
the first time for a child to go this far to enroll in a junior high school.
Moreover, Akira is now
13 years old.
Normally, he would
have advanced to the second grade, but because he was expelled from the
elementary school he attended in his hometown, he was unable to request an
inquiry into his grades, so he had to repeat one year of school in order to
obtain the credits necessary for graduation.
Nevertheless, a job is
a job. Kuwabe Naoko had no intention of cutting corners on her work as long as
the other party had fully fulfilled their obligations.
"...... Yes. I
accept it. But, Akira-kun, may I ask you a few questions?"
"I'll be on guard
duty tonight, so if it doesn't take too long, I have no problem."
"A-a, you need to
take a nap, huh? Don't worry, it'll only take a minute. ...... It's already
been six months since Akira-kun transferred to our junior high school. I
honestly thought you would get stuck and stop paying soon, but you've made it
this far."
"......It was my
grandmother's will that I should at
least graduate from junior high school, even if I had to push myself a little
bit."
Naoko was genuinely
surprised at the mention of someone other than a teacher since
it was the first
time that Akira mentioned his grandmother, and she was surprised not only because of that,
but also because of the terribly gentle and painful smile on his face when he spoke.
Boys who migrated from outside of the
capital tended to mature precociously in order to survive, but as far as Naoko
knew, Akira was even exceptional among
them.
Even in the classroom,
Akira always had a tense atmosphere, but now
she realized
that there was still a part of him that could smile appropriately for his age.
"I see, what a
wonderful grandmother you had. ...... Although you're a year behind in terms of
age, you should be fine graduating, except for the tuition. And, Akira-kun, your grades are good enough, but what are
your plans for the future?"
That was the main
question. Akira had stated his intention to graduate from junior high school,
but he had not clearly stated his intention to go on to higher education or to
find a job.
Akira's grades were
very good, and he had no problem continuing on to high school.
Naoko knew that he
belonged to the garrison, but since it was difficult to make ends meet in the
garrison with its low monthly salary, it was only natural that he would leave
the garrison once he had achieved his goal of acquiring citizenship.
If there was any
uncertainty, it would be regarding his income, but he could be eligible for
scholarships when he attended high school.
This would be an
attractive proposition for Akira, whose income was unstable.
"......If
Akira-kun wishes, I can write a letter of recommendation including special
advancement for you."
From Naoko's point of
view, this was more of a stepping stone to solidify her own achievements rather
than to help Akira.
However, even if her
words were based on selfishness, they should be beneficial enough for Akira.
Still having a
troubled expression on his face, Akira shook his head and vaguely muddled his
decision.
"I'm sorry. ...I
can't answer right away. How long is the deadline I have before I can answer
it?"
"...... Let's
see. Applications for special advancements are due at the end of October, and
considering all the preparations I have to do, I think that will be the limit
of my waiting time."
That's three months
from now. He'll take his time to think about it.
It would be no good
for him to decide hastily.
It would not be too
late to consider the pros and cons of going on to higher education after having
identified the advantages and disadvantages.
"I understand. I
will give my answer after careful consideration."
"Alright. I'm
looking forward to it."
Naoko may have noticed
Akira's hesitation, but she did not make a careless move to mention it.
That's all for now.
After nodding, Akira left the teacher's office after bowing.
――――――――――――――――
As he exited the front
of the still-new wooden school building, the sunlight rising into the mid-sky
seared Akira mercilessly.
The bustle of the
pre-summer vacation activities had been replaced by an eerie quietness in the
empty school building.
Looking up at the sky,
he could see a clear, cloudless sky.
He was expecting an
evening shower, but he made a change in direction in his mind, thinking that it
would be better if it didn't rain, considering the hardship of walking through
the muddy mountains.
He turned on his heel
and walked to the side of the school building.
The Ozuno Shrine, from
which the school gets its name, is located next to the school grounds.
Surrounded by dense
bushes, the small shrine is the perfect place to hide from the surrounding
area.
He went further behind
the shrine just to be safe.
He pulled out the rags
that had been hidden under the shrine and covered his head with a double head
covering, as if covering his entire body.
Then, to cover his
voice, he took a small piece of cotton and put it in his mouth.
Finally, he covered
his mouth with a beard made from gray hair he had bought from an old man, and
there he was, a short, dwarfed old man who looked as if he could be found under
a bridge.
In this scorching
heat, wearing a rag over his head might cause heat stroke, but he was determined to overcome it with water in a bamboo
canister and his willpower.
――From here on out,
Akira's age could not be made public wherever he went to.
Akira basically does
not trust adults.
Naturally, this is not only due to the mentally
draining life he led as a child, but it is also because he knows that there are
adults who will try to catch him off guard at every opportunity.
After passing through
the bushes and avoiding the eyes of others, he turned onto the main street.
The large building
made of bricks at the end of the street is Akira's destination.
The building belonged
to the Talisman Association. It is an association that originally stemmed from
the Onmyo Bureau.
Originally, it was an
association that supervised local Onmyoji, but since it is now possible for
non-Onmyoji to create talismans, it has changed its name to manage the
distribution of talismans.
However, the internal
situation is that the past glory has been forgotten, and the long history has
led to stagnation and corruption, but the demand for talismans remains
unchanged, so the association has continued to exist without being
restructured.
The red-brick
building, strongly influenced by Western style, was newly constructed a few
years ago.
The modern building,
originating from a foreign country of Rondaria that is said to be three oceans
away, was built on the wave of civilization and development, and if one were
not told of its history, one would not
expect it belonged to the association with such a long history.
As soon as one stepped
inside the building, the impression of the building became stronger rather than
fading.
The shiny counter was
carefully coated with temporary varnish and the sight of the spacious lobby
where fashionable people dressed in Western clothes were chatting with each
other was far removed from the image of an Onmyoji as generally imagined.
While avoiding their
eyes, Akira stood in front of the counter and continued to play the role of an
old man.
He has been
impersonating an old man for three years now. To be honest, he is used to it, and the others did not suspect a thing.
"It has been a while, Gensei-sama. Are you here to do business as usual
today?"
The receptionist, who
was always in charge, bowed her head cutely.
Without saying
anything, Akira simply nodded his head to indicate his intention.
He did not want his
true age to be known by making a bad move.
He put a set of ten
recovery talismans on the counter.
These recovery
talismans were his main source of income.
In addition to the
recovery talismans he sold to the garrison, Akira earned his own money by
selling regeneration talismans to the Talisman Association.
Because of the high
level of skill required to create these regeneration talismans, the number of
people who can create them is quite small, and the number in circulation is
quite low. On the other hand, the demand from the garrisons and guardians was
always high, and they always suffered from a shortage of supply.
Naturally, an amount
of money corresponding to the inclination of the supply balance is therefore
demanded. The talismans made by Akira, using the pseudonym Gensei, were also
traded at a high price within the association.
"――Sorry to keep
you waiting, here is the payment. Would you like to check the amount?"
A bundle of bills was
placed on the counter, a hefty sum of 5 yen. The ten regeneration talismans
Akira made were worth that much money.
While being very
careful not to expose his bare skin, Akira slipped the money into his pocket
and counted them without looking at them by flicking them with his thumbs.
There were indeed five
yen bills. Although counting high denomination bills were easy, paying in yen
bills was a bit of a headache, as it would be a bit of a challenge for everyday
use. He gritted his teeth a little, wishing he were a little older so he could
have opened a bank account.
But that was not
something to think about at this moment. Having obtained the money, he turned
on his heel, thinking that there was no need to stay too long.
"Ah, please wait,
Gensei-sama. We'd like to talk to
you about the signature products..."
The receptionist's
insistence made him feel uncomfortable.
――I don't like to come
by here because of this.
He had no idea what
she was up to, but recently she had been making a lot of moves to raise the
price of Akira's talismans.
Well, it might not be
this receptionist, but rather this association, and it turned rather
troublesome. Akira, who had a lot to hide, was blatantly avoiding this kind of
negotiation.
"It seems that
our staff got ahead of themselves, and we sincerely apologize for any
inconvenience this may have caused you, Gensei-sama."
Akira tilted his head
inwardly, noticing there was no hint of the aggressive attitude of the previous
attempts to persuade him to accept the offer. It was a rare occurrence for the
association to express its genuine apology.
Naturally, there must
be some hidden scheme, but not being able to see the end of the scheme, Akira
decided to take a further step back and face the other party in order not to
play into their hands.
I don't mind. He shook
his head with that intention. It seemed that the other party had read his
intention correctly, and he breathed a sigh of relief.
In other words, the
words from this point on were the main subject of the conversation. Akira
pulled himself together. The fact that the other party had conceded to the
previous offer was merely a prelude to further challenges.
"――We would like
to ask Gensei-sama, why you don't want to make any signature products? Our
association strongly hopes that Gensei-sama will have his own signature
products. It is true that we have been a bit aggressive in our negotiations
with Gensei-sama, because it would give us a good reputation as an association
if we had a signature product maker, but it is by no means disadvantageous to
Gensei-sama."
The reason why Akira
disliked the offer is very simple and clear.
If he were to become a
signature product maker, he would be a member of the Talisman Association.
Indeed, there are
distinct advantages to joining the association. Talismans are expensive,
especially when they are made of carefully selected materials such as Akamizu
and Sacred Threads, which contain spiritual power, as well as
high-quality paper and ink, which are used to make the talismans.
That said, after
deducting these so-called necessary expenses, Akira would be left with only
about enough money to cover his school fees and daily living expenses, although
the amount is not necessarily low.
However, if he were to
join the association, they would cover a portion of the expenses for the
materials used.
Compared to other
children in the same situation, Akira has relatively more money to spare, but
this is a comparative view, which does not mean that he has enough to spare.
The advantage of being able to keep necessary expenses low seemed irresistible
to Akira.
However, joining the
association also means taking on an obligation.
It would mean that it
would be harder to refuse requests from the association, and it would also mean
accepting the risk that Akira's true age and true identity would be revealed.
――This could lead to
trouble. Therefore, that must be avoided.
No, that was just an
excuse. It was nothing more than a series of facade words to convince oneself.
The true intention
deep down inside of him is just a single sentence.
A young beast in the
heart of a child who has been trampled by adults.
Since that day, it has
bared its fangs and bellowed.
――I will not allow any
more adults in my life to take advantage of me.
With the intention to
reject the offer, he shook his head.
The receptionist knew
that Akira's intention was firm, but she did not expect such a clear rejection,
and her face was stained with confusion.
Still, with slight
hope, the proposal was made several times in different forms, but in the end,
it was not able to change Akira's rejection.
――――――――――――――――
A short while after
the ragged, short, dwarf-like old man disappeared out of the association
building, Matsugasa Yuuko, the receptionist in charge of Gensei, sank into her
chair and let out a deep exhale.
She had expected this
and was not discouraged, but the thought of being confronted later by the head
of the third district association about her failure to persuade Gensei made her
feel somewhat heavy.
The fact that the
other party, who did not know the ins and outs of negotiation, was yelling at
her without knowing the hardships she was going through, made her feel even
more displeased.
......Or rather, it
was the boss who caused the problem in the first place, so I should just let
him handle it.
You have to clean up
your own mess! She stifled the urge to yell at him in a manner unbecoming of a
lady, and plopped down at the counter.
――However, what I don't
quite understand is why Gensei won't give his approval for the proposal.
The details of today's
proposal may differ, but the conclusion is the same: to join the association
and approve of the signature products plan. While the association's agenda is
obviously a major factor, it is also true that Gensei's own benefits are also
significant.
Yuuko was prepared to throw away this negotiation and
intended to gauge Gensei's non-negotiable line.
As an adult, she would
weigh some pros and cons and make a decision. She presented a variety of
options and gauged Gensei's reaction, but with each option she mentioned, she
felt firsthand that his refusal was becoming firmer and firmer.
It was obvious that it
would become a stalemate if she went on like that, so she ended the
conversation just a few minutes ago before it could cause any more displeasure
to the other party.
"――Matsukasa-kun.
Has Gensei-dono gone already?"
"Association
President.... Yes, he just left."
The cause of all this
trouble called out to her from behind her back, so she made an expression of
utter disgust, then turned around and gave him an impish smile.
The man, who was
gossiped about as someone with a little mustache even among the staff, came up
behind Yuuko with a flirtatious smile on his face.
Judging from the fact
that he made contact with her after Gensei had left, he must have been aware of
the fact that he might be upsetting Gensei's mood significantly if he were to show up earlier.
"So? What did
Gensei-dono say?"
"He refused all
of the proposals that we presented to him. ...... As expected, it's not going
to be easy."
"Tch, that old
man. I can't believe he would kick all of those major compromises we've given
him. How much more does he want us to raise the price for him?"
The boss's expression
was distorted by the failure of the negotiations.
Even though they had
concluded that they wanted to maintain their relationship, he was the one who
had issued the signature product registration without the other party's
approval.
This is a rat who
planned to commit a blatant crime in order to pocket a small sum of money apart
from the brokerage fee.
By the way, Gensei's
information was leaked to the garrison because this man moved without thinking
and was caught by the informant, and Gensei was not at fault at all.
In addition, the
informant passed the information on to the association's headquarters, which
revealed the existence of a potential asset, Gensei, who could create a highly
effective regeneration talisman, something Gensei had been desperately trying
to conceal from them.
It was certainly not
Yuuko's fault that she was being pushed around by HQ demanding results.
And it was even more
infuriating that, even though he had made the grievous mistake of forcing
Gensei to join the association, even if it was a little reckless, he was not
held accountable simply because he is related to a member
of the royal family.
"...President. As
I told you the other day, this negotiation was to be thrown out. It is just a move to find out why Gensei-sama would not
agree to join."
"Hmph. So, did
you find out anything?"
"No. I have tried
to propose various options, but nothing seemed to please Gensei-sama.
Therefore, we need to rework our proposal and renegotiate."
"It's probably
just about money anyway, right? Stack 'em up."
"No, I don't
think so. He had the skill to create such a highly effective talisman, but he
wasn't complaining about that amount of revenue. I think there is another line
that Gensei-sama cannot compromise on."
"Tch, listen
here, give me the results as soon as possible. Otherwise, the inspectors from
headquarters will come. If that were to happen, my reputation would be damaged.
You won't get away scot-free, either."
The words were so
compelling that Yuuko couldn't help but look him in the eye.
As far as Yuuko knows,
the association president's pocket money is so far limited from Gensei's case
alone. Even if an inspection were to come, it would not be that much of a
problem.
"President. Are
you perhaps doing something other than this?"
When she implicitly
demanded that if there was, he should tell her immediately, the president's
behavior became blatantly suspicious.
――Seriously? This guy is
involved in something.
"D-don't you dare
make any assumptions! You're being rude!"
"...... It's
nothing rude to delve into precedents. The ones who will be inconvenienced are
the employees who didn't know anything about it!"
"No. There is
none!"
The situation was
getting worse, and the conversation was forcefully cut short with a wave of the
hand.
Yuuko was determined
to find a way to protect herself as she stared at the man who left the place
forcefully.
――――――――――――――――
Akira took off his
rags and started on his way home.
On the way home, he
looked at the big clock standing next to the bank and saw that it pointed to 3
p.m.
Even if he went to bed
now, he would get only one and a half hours of sleep.
A tram departed from
its stop with a chiming bell, and behind it, a crowd of people and bicycles
were moving forward. Mixed in with the crowd, Akira hurried back to his home.
After passing through the residential area from the bustling main street where
the association is located, Akira finally arrived at an area where fields are
more conspicuous than houses.
One corner of a
secluded tenement house there has been Akira's safe haven for the past three
years since he arrived here.
At the entrance of the
tenement, he saw an old woman, the owner of the tenement, fanning a charcoal
stove.
On the top of the
charcoal stove, the crackers that had begun to bake were releasing a fragrant
aroma and crackling sound.
The blind old woman is
making extra income by baking crackers every day at this time.
"Grandma, I'm
home."
"Oya, Akira-boy.
You're home even later than usual today. Weren't you on night duty?"
"Yes, I'd
appreciate it if you could wake me up in an hour."
"Sure, as long as
you buy some of my crackers."
"Yeah, three
crackers please."
"It's 10 rin
then."
He placed a 10 rin
coin in the palm of her hand.
She flicked the coin
with her thumb to check the size of the coin, a routine exchange that they were
both accustomed to.
With a grin on her
face, she swiped a brush full of sugar and soy sauce onto the rice crackers.
The soy sauce and
sugar that fell on the coals made a loud noise and spread an appetizing smell
to the surroundings.
"Let's cook it
fresh, shall we?"
Akira's cheeks broke
into a smile as he heard those words.
The old woman had
provided Akira with all the common sense he needed to survive here.
The old woman told
Akira that she had also come from another province, and therefore, she could
not stand to see a child who knew neither right nor left. She brought him to
this tenement and taught him how to survive.
That knowledge, given
so selflessly, is the very premise of life for Akira.
That is why the old
woman in front of him is one of the few people, other than his grandmother,
that Akira can truly trust.
Three rice crackers
wrapped in newspaper. Akira then bit into one of them.
The sweetness of
moromi soy sauce and coarse sugar spread into his mouth along with the
fragrance of charcoal.
Absorbed in the aroma,
he chomped down on the rice cracker with a crunching sound.
After finishing one
piece, he wondered what to do with the rest.
――Should I leave it or
eat it while it is still freshly baked and delicious?
"...Hmm? You
smell like sweat. Akira-boy, you should at least wipe your body before going to
bed."
Hearing the old
woman's advice, Akira decided to put the rice crackers aside for later.
After reminding her to
wake him up later, Akira went back to his room.
After carefully wiping
himself with a hand towel soaked in well water, he went to bed.
The daily routine he
had become accustomed to. Drowsiness came right away.
――Akira never wants to
dream. Because Akira's dreams tend to be overwhelming nightmares.
Even so, reality flew
by. No matter how slowly and restlessly it went on.
This time, which
passed peacefully indefinitely, was the daily life that Akira swore to protect
as he lived his life in Karen.
――――――――――――――――
TIPS: About the
Talisman Association.
The association
originates from the Onmyo Bureau. It is an independent organization, separate
from the central Onmyo Bureau.
The main objective of
the association is to promote the use of talismans, which are originally the
field of Onmyoji, by allowing those who possess a medium-ranked spirit to
create them.
However, the original
price per unit, including the cost, is high, and those who possess
medium-ranked spirits are basically the nobility, so the original purpose
cannot be achieved as expected.
As for the actual
situation, it is often used for the pathetic purpose of a heaven-like lucrative
job for the retiring officials of the Onmyo Bureau.
