Ikemen Genjiden (Prologue translation)

Chapter 7

Steal power?

Benkei said what I was thinking. "Huh? I've never heard of a demon having an ability like that."

Tamamo nodded. "That's true. Us demons have the ability to steal a human's life force. However, what if that power was in the hands of a human?"

"It would work the other way around," said Yoritomo.

"I see." Yoichi nodded. "Rather than taking a human's life force, they would take an Ayakashi's power."

"Correct," said Tamamo. "Isn't that interesting? This is the privilege of a human who's made a pact with a demon."

"Unbelievable..." I said, staring down at my hands. "I have that kind of power?"

Tamamo looked to Yosihtsune. "Now then, what will you do? If you use your power, she will absorb it."

Yoshitsune was silent.

"There are many things I'd like to ask right now, but for now, it seems the situation has turned in our favor," acknowledged Kagetoki.

Morinaga raised his sword. "Even if we can't use any mystical powers, we can fight too."

Benkei glared. "I will crush you. Lord Yoshitsune, please give me your orders."

"Wait." As I looked up, a shadow descended from the sky. Someone landed next to Yoshitsune. "I was just going to stay quiet and watch, but something interesting is happening, right?"

"Kurama," said Yoshitsune.

Black wings! Is he also an Ayakashi then?

"As I thought, it's you. The ability to control the wind is a Crow Tengu's speciality, after all. Kurama," said Tamamo, sparing him a glance.

"It's been a while, Tamamo," said Kurama with a mad smile. "I thought I'd be able to see you die if I stayed silent for a while longer, but you've survived. As expected of a cunning nine-tailed fox."

"Tamamo, is he your acquaintance?" I asked, looking between the two of them.

"The Crow Tengu, Kurama," said Tamamo, introducing him. "As far as I know, he's the most troublesome Ayakashi around."

"Troublesome?" asked Kurama. "What do you mean by that, Tamamo? How rude."

"It's as I said," said Tamamo, not backing down. "What's wrong with calling someone who picks a fight with everyone troublesome? Yoshitsune must have bad taste, having formed a pact with you."

"I see," said Shigehira, who had been observing silently. "So Yoshitsune's power comes from making a pact."

Which means one of his eyes are red due to the pact!

Tamamo nodded. "I don't believe there's another way for humans to use the power of an Ayakashi. Kurama," he said, turning his attention to him. "What prompted you to give the power of the wind to a human?"

Kurama considered that. "Humans are all toys to relieve boredom, but Yoshitsune is different. This man has been strange since he was a child."

Yoritomo stepped forward. "Three years ago, I had given the order that Yoshitsune was to die. Are you the one who saved him, Crow Tengu?"

Kurama nodded. "I tried to take his soul when he was on the brink of death, but he kept saying that he couldn't die yet. So we formed a pact instead." He smiled, and a shiver went up my spine. "The next time he was to die, I would eat his soul."

"Eat... souls..." I repeated.

Lord Yoshitune would go this far to take revenge on Lord Yoritomo?

Kurama looked at Tamamo. "But enough of that. Tamamo. You're supporting a normal person."

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