Chapter 10: Mountain Child? Goblin!

He actually didn’t know what to do next. If the male lead didn’t appear in the story, how was the main plot’s first chapter to be resolved?

“All right... Taizo, I’m just venting to you here, so don’t go spreading these words around. Speaking recklessly within the clan can really get someone killed,” muttered the gossip-loving crow. After a few more grumbles, seemingly unsatisfied, it finally flew off from Taizo’s shoulder, circling briefly in the air before heading into the distance.

“Hmph... Honestly, I don’t like this kind of talk at all. That woman really enjoys chatting about these things...” Taizo said with a wry smile as he sat astride a black horse. He glanced over at Hyakusuke, who was carrying a rifle and leading the horse. “The road’s all muddy; it’s tiring for the horses and for us walking, too... but we’re nearly there. Inamori Village is just up ahead.”

The scruffy old man—no, today Taizo wore clean clothes and had carefully combed his usually wild hair. Uncharacteristically mounted on horseback rather than on foot, he called back to the group of lower-ranked ninja trailing behind, “Everyone, hold on just a bit longer. We’ll take a mountain path next, and then reach the village. We can rest once we get there.”

“All right.” The lower-ranked ninja responded, enduring the muddy mountain road. It had rained the previous day, making the path rugged and slippery. After a long and arduous trek, the group had truly suffered on this road.

“Taizo-dono,” Hyakusuke asked quietly, “you seem very familiar with this village.”

“Yes, I’ve been here a few times before,” Taizo nodded slowly. “I’ve known the village chief for a long time. Besides, since they came to us asking for help, and as members of the Black Princess Mountain ninja clan, it’s difficult to refuse.”

‘Inamori Village?’ Hyakusuke furrowed his brow, recalling that this was a side quest from the game.

‘The difficulty shouldn’t be too high... hopefully, we can complete it smoothly.’

...

Inamori Village.

This small settlement was located in the Sendō region of southern Mutsu Province.

It lay within a narrow strip of land squeezed between the Ōu Mountain Range and the Abukuma Highlands.

Mutsu and Dewa regions had long been part of the Tōsandō, the eastern mountain road, beyond the reach of the imperial court’s direct control. The distance from the central government and the presence of many powerful local lords had made governance difficult.

Since ancient times, the administrators were rarely appointed by the court. Instead, local leaders—often exorcists—and their followers ruled these lands on behalf of the clan.

Besides this, numerous small to medium-sized settlements dotted the area, including pioneer villages and lands held by local lords, country samurai, and landlords.

However, these northern lands also harbored many demons and spirits. Without regular purging of these creatures by exorcists or the maintenance of protective barriers by residents, ordinary villagers would struggle to survive.

On the other hand, exorcists—or those born with spiritual power—were a rare minority across the island nation.

For demons, those born with spiritual power were the most delectable “feast.”

By consuming spiritually gifted individuals, demons could increase their own strength.

In ancient times, before exorcists could form “noble houses” or “powerful clans,” they still lived among human villages. Back then, children born with spiritual power were often cast out or even killed by their parents.

Because spiritual power naturally attracted demons, over many centuries, those blessed with such power learned to harness it. They formed families and alliances to protect one another.

Gradually, they realized the benefits of this power and became actively involved in military and political affairs, giving rise to the numerous exorcist clans spread throughout the island today.

...

The Black Princess Mountain exorcist clan had, over several centuries, grown from weak to strong, honing their inherited spiritual powers to perfection, becoming the most powerful clan in the northern territories.

Though their methods were often rough, sometimes even vicious, brutal, and ruthless, to ordinary people they were a protective force ensuring local safety.

“Taizo-dono,” greeted a portly old man dressed in luxurious clothes, with flesh piled about his frame, as he came out to meet Taizo, the middle-ranked ninja leader sent by the Black Princess Mountain clan.

“After so many years apart, I never expected to welcome such an esteemed guest again,” said the man.

He was the village chief of Inamori Village, named Kichijo.

“Hahaha! Chief Kichijo, you are too kind,” Taizo laughed.

“I am but a humble servant, hardly a distinguished guest... I received word yesterday and came at once with my team... So, what has happened in the village?”

“Yes,” the old man nodded gravely.

“My granddaughter has gone missing... She is still very young, but somehow was abducted by the mountain sprites from the other side of the mountain. I hope the Black Princess Mountain clan can help us find her.”

Ah, yes, there was indeed such a story.

Kichijo’s words stirred related memories in Hyakusuke’s mind.

‘Side quest—Find the abducted child.’

Upon hearing this, Hyakusuke gradually recalled the entire plot of this side quest.

—Oh, it was that well-known, emotionally wrenching side quest from the game.

Since it was an early mission, for new players unfamiliar with the game’s true nature, it was like pouring ice-cold water over their heads—a harsh, soul-crushing quest.

“But the difficulty of this rather ‘depressing’ mission isn’t high. I’d rate it a D-rank... As long as we’re careful, it should be no problem to get through.”

As he thought this, he reached for the small pouch at his waist containing various items “borrowed” from the second young lady: high-level stealth talismans, antidotes, painkillers, and special pills that enhanced physical strength and senses.

The pouch also held various small items useful in battle.

“Last time, the ‘Spider’s Lair’ mission was rushed with almost no preparation. We won’t make that mistake again this time.”

...

Inamori Village was a rather pleasant settlement, surrounded by mountains with a river flowing nearby.

However, to defend against the demons lurking in the surrounding mountains, the villagers had built simple wooden fences and tall walls on their own initiative.

The village relied on the power of the local Earth Deity, born from the spiritual veins beneath the land, to establish a pentagram-shaped barrier.

At the five corners of Inamori Village—east, west, south, north, and center—stood five immovable guardian statues. This was the “Five-Colored Immovable Wisdom King Barrier,” a combination of esoteric Buddhist and Onmyōdō symbols, fused together with the bellflower seal to stabilize various mystical techniques.

This barrier had been set up by the former ruling family of the region, the Shizuki clan.

It was worth noting that the Shizuki family had gradually declined and been erased from power due to their conflicts with the Black Princess Mountain clan.

...

“My granddaughter’s name is Yome,” said the short, stout, and round-faced Kichijo as he sat in the main seat of his residence. In the spacious living room, he explained the situation to the middle-ranked ninja Taizo and Hyakusuke, who served as the captain of the lower-ranked ninja.

“She’s a lively and very intelligent child,” the old man continued.

Although plump in appearance with tight skin, his eyes were surrounded by deep wrinkles, and his brow was furrowed deeply.

“Or maybe too intelligent—sensitive to the point of being easily affected... How she was abducted by the mountain sprites, honestly, I don’t know.”

“We have also inspected the young lady’s room,” interjected Kichijo’s loyal servant, Kōzaburō. “There were no signs of mountain sprites or demons breaking in. What’s more puzzling is that the village’s barrier shows no signs of disturbance...”

“Kōzaburō possesses some spiritual power; his right eye has the ‘Demon Sight’ ability to see residual demonic energy,” Kichijo quickly introduced the old servant.

“He is very capable and clever, and has been a great help to our family.”

“Is that so?” Taizo finally noticed the faint green glow flickering in Kōzaburō’s right eye.

Hyakusuke, however, was already well aware of the matter. He knew the story behind Kōzaburō the steward, and even how the village chief’s granddaughter had disappeared—

“Is it possible...” Hyakusuke suddenly spoke up, “that Miss Yome was not abducted by the mountain sprites, but left her room on her own?”

Immediately, Kichijo and Kōzaburō exchanged looks that said, “What on earth are you talking about?”

“Hyakusuke, why do you say that?” Taizo asked seriously.

“If the barrier is intact, then no demons broke in.”

Hyakusuke knew that according to the game’s original storyline and progression, it would be a complicated process to collect evidence and then deduce the truth.

Only by reaching the correct conclusion could the subsequent side quest unfold.

Well! But since he already knew the answer, why bother playing a deduction game!?

“Of course, it’s possible that powerful demons have found a way to breach the barrier, but a mere group of mountain sprites certainly could not.”

—Mountain sprites were relatively weak demons, mostly classified as minor demons. Yet, they should never be underestimated.

Hyakusuke knew that in this world, mountain sprites were equivalent to goblins in RPG games—weak but troublesome demons.

Moreover, these mountain sprites were essentially mountain spirits. Their origins traced back to the ancient Chinese demon “Ya Guo,” also known as the Ma Hua or Nanshan Da Jue. They resembled monkeys and were known to abduct women actively.