Chapter 66: Soul Return

In an instant, the shadows behind the two men lengthened, slowly writhing and growing larger until they shifted onto the wall. Next, a sludge-like black shadow expanded across the wall, and a hand slowly stretched out from within it.

Fair fingertips stirred.

The shadow also transitioned from a flat plane to three-dimensional movement, swelling vertically and gradually transforming into a slender, dark human figure.

"This one~~ has come to lend you a helping hand, My Lord."

Emerging from the shadow was a young girl dressed as a female ninja. She knelt halfway in a bow.

"The Hachifuku Association might not be of any use to you, but if it were me~~ it is not entirely impossible to help you achieve your long-cherished wish, is it?"

"W-Who are you?!"

Akamatsu Mitsusuke's vigilance spiked.

"This humble girl is someone who can help you become the next lord of the castle."

The kunoichi smiled, her rosy lips curving upward slightly as she spoke in a tone reminiscent of someone talking to a child: "However, explaining it with words is far too troublesome~~ Why don't I demonstrate it with actual results instead?"

Her slender fingers pinched two spell tags.

The paper charms traced an arc through the air and landed upon the corpses of Jinno and the ayakashi Kugi. Immediately, blue flames engulfed both bodies.

Following that, the two corpses also began to stir, struggling like manipulated puppets.

"R-Reanimation jutsu?"

Akamatsu Mitsusuke's eyes widened as he watched with his own eyes as two long-dead corpses "returned from the dead" right before him—both bodies expelled breaths and then slowly groaned.

"Indeed."

As the kunoichi said this, she let out a low, rattling chuckle from deep within her throat.

"This is a spell charm secretly left behind at Mount Koya by the Priest Saigyo after he completed the reanimation ritual, along with an elixir called Earth Breath Pills. By utilizing the charms and the elixir, a far more perfect reanimation can be achieved, unlike the sloppy incantations cast by that amateur named Jinno."

"I-Is that so?"

Akamatsu Mitsusuke had heard of reanimation arts.

However, the technique the kunoichi performed was entirely different from the reanimation spells he knew.

According to the records concerning reanimation arts in the *Enjakusho*, it was said that before taking monastic vows, Priest Saigyo was a noble samurai who served the Emperor. Of noble birth, he grew to lament the impermanence of the world upon the death of a friend, and thus became a monk at Mount Koya. Yearning for his friend and consumed by the desire to bring the dead back to life, he gathered the deceased's skeletal remains.

Then, he smeared the bones with arsenic, mixed them with strawberry leaves and chickweed leaves, bound newly grown wisteria branches to the skeleton, washed it clean with fresh water, and used ashes burned from gleditsia and linden leaves to groom the head and stimulate hair growth.

By placing the remains on a straw mat in unventilated soil, burning incense after fourteen days, and continuously chanting mantras, the reanimation art could be completed.

However, those revived through this method of "reanimation" possessed a heart yet could hear no heartbeat, and lacked any sense of self-awareness; bluntly put, they were merely walking corpses.

In later generations, this technique underwent continuous improvements, transforming into arts used by Central Asian necromancers to create zombies or Western spellcasters to control the dead.

*To put it bluntly, it merely recreates a false corpse. Reanimation cannot truly bring back the dead in a meaningful sense; reanimated corpses lack reason, cannot speak, and are merely bodies capable of movement. But—*

What kind of sorcery was this woman employing?

Akamatsu Mitsusuke felt a bone-chilling coldness.

The situation unfolding right before his eyes clearly proved one thing:

The technique mastered by the kunoichi was visibly far more "mature," because less than the blink of an eye after the spell tags fused into the two corpses, Jinno—who had already been dead—stretched lazily and climbed to his feet.

"I never expected it would be my turn to be revived by a reanimation spell this time; such an experience is certainly rare..."

He spoke in human language.

"Damn it! To think I actually died!!!"

The bird-demon Kugi was also brought back to life by the reanimation technique.

"Though you have been resurrected, it is only temporary. Unless you regularly take the Earth Breath Pills, you will eventually return to death once more."

The kunoichi tossed a medicine bottle to Akamatsu Mitsusuke.

"Lord Akamatsu... from now on, these two fellows will be under your command. With the aid of their power, seizing this city is by no means an impossible feat."

"You... exactly who are you?"

Akamatsu Mitsusuke's heart wavered.

Every word and phrase uttered from the lips of this kunoichi, wrapped as she was in an enchanting aura, exuded an atmosphere of evil and conspiracy.

"Who this humble girl might be? Is that truly important?"

The kunoichi giggled. Her laughter sounded like mockery, causing the chief retainer Akamatsu Mitsusuke to frown uncomfortably.

"The crucial point is... Lord Akamatsu Mitsusuke, do you truly desire to become the master of Haze Castle? If so, I shall spare no effort in providing my assistance."

Akamatsu Mitsusuke swallowed hard. This young girl might very well be a hellish demon of the sort spoken of by the Kirishitan sect, one who seduced humans to steal their souls.

Yet, for the sake of his own ambitions, for the sake of becoming the lord of Haze Castle—Akamatsu Mitsusuke was prepared to forge a pact with the devil if it meant achieving his goals.

...

After receiving the "hospitality" of Renjo Sentaro, Hyakusuke was summoned once more before the Second Young Miss, Kuzunoha.

"You lowly servant, you actually refused that old geezer Renjo's reward?"

In the modified space of the ox-drawn carriage, various alchemical utensils were arranged across the table, creating the distinct impression of stepping into a chemical laboratory—crucibles, alembics, glass flasks, beakers, test tubes, and all sorts of other jars. On the adjacent shelving units sat a chalice engraved with a pentagram, a ritual dagger, and numerous items associated with Western alchemy.

"How rare~~ This young lady actually thought you would agree to his request."

While stirring a metal crucible and conducting a chemical experiment, Kuzunoha spoke in a teasing tone: "Servant, do you truly not intend to accept the old man's request, become a guard for the trading company, or perhaps marry that little girl and become a village head somewhere out in the countryside..."

"Please, I beg you not to speak of such things. I have already declined Lord Renjo's proposal. This humble servant is utterly loyal to the clan and would never commit an act of betrayal."

"Consider yourself wise."

Kuzunoha let out a soft huff through her nose.

"That old geezer Renjo harbors no good intentions; it's nothing more than lingering suspicion toward your identity as his 'benefactor.' A shrewd merchant like him will secretly plot against you even if you bare your heart to him. Don't expect him to genuinely consider your well-being. In short, do not believe a single word of his promises."

"This humble servant understands."

Hyakusuke kept his head lowered.

"Servant, there is one more task for you to handle."

Kuzunoha suddenly dropped another statement.

"Earlier, that little girl Tsuyume handled her affairs quite well. Because she contributed significantly to this matter, you are to be responsible for accompanying her for a day."

Eh?

What did my ears just hear?

Hyakusuke wore a blank expression, doubting whether he had misheard.

"Me, accompany her for a day?"

"That's right."

Kuzunoha smiled indifferently.

"Tsuyume will become this young lady's spy within the Renjo Trading Company from now on. You must cultivate a good relationship with her~~ According to my intelligence, that old geezer Renjo values her quite a bit, and furthermore, having made a great contribution this time, her status within the trading company will rise."

"Understood."

Hyakusuke sighed.

"Also, although it is only for a day, you must not let yourself be charmed by a little girl of that sort."

Kuzunoha warned coldly.

"That brat is shrewd and sharp-witted... Since her position in the trading company is unstable, she will likely want to find an outside supporter. She might even try to seduce you."

Seduce?

Just how old was Tsuyume?

Could the Second Young Miss, Kuzunoha, have spent far too long residing in the snake pit of the Himegami Mountain family? Did she genuinely believe every single person in the world harbored ulterior motives?

Hyakusuke could not help but offer a bitter smile inwardly.

"Servant, as expected, you lack an eye for people. That little girl..."

At this point, Kuzunoha paused and let out a nasal huff.

"Never mind. In any event, should you commit some foolish transgression in the future, I, as your master, will not easily forgive it—"

Her gaze held a trace of cruelty, serving as a warning to Hyakusuke.

"This humble servant understands."

Hyakusuke dutifully lowered his head once more; he had no intention of arguing with Kuzunoha over such a matter.

"Very well, you may withdraw!"

Kuzunoha waved her hand dismissively, signaling that Hyakusuke was free to leave.