Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-6192846-20160323181002/@comment-6192846-20160414141255

Chapter 1: Act 5: Scene 10


 * Once upon a time, there was an old man and an old woman.


 * It was said the old man was called Kurookina and the old woman was called Kinouna.


 * One day, Kurookina went to prune up in the mountains and found an indescribly lovely ebony tree.
 * Further more, part of the trunk had been tinged with a faint light.
 * Loving black things and things with monetary value (also Edo-Period unit of gold coins), Kurookina decided to cut out part of the trunk and take it home.
 * Kinouna: "My o my, this is rare."
 * Kinouna said when she looked at it.
 * Kurookina: "That's right. Something in this trunk might make us some money."
 * Kinouna: "You're always like that, old man. [lists a bunch of ridiculous potential consequences taking that trunk could have]. Take it back to where it originally was."
 * Kinouna said that while picking up the trunk.
 * ???: "Waaaah, waaaaah!"
 * The trunk broke and a baby boy popped out from inside it.
 * Kurookina: "What's this? A baby came out of the ebony wood/tree. How creepy."
 * Kurookina was scared and told Kinouna to throw the baby out.
 * Kinouna: "You're always like that, old man. Whenever something slightly unexpected happens, you immediately want to do away with it. Look at this child. Isn't he very pretty with his golden hair?"
 * Loving gold things and things with monetary value, Kinouna objected and the two ended up raising the child as their own.
 * Since he was born from the ebony tree, he was called "Kokutan-douji".
 * [Space]
 * Kokutan-douji grew up quickly.
 * But, his golden hair and blue eyes made the villagers uncomfortable.
 * His only playmate was Inukichi, the only one who got along with Kokutan-douji without looking at him with suspicious eyes.
 * Before long, the two became close friends.
 * [Space]
 * As he grew up, Kokutan-douji often brooded.
 * Kokutan: "I feel like there's something I could be doing."
 * That's how he apparently felt.
 * Thinking about this at the beach near the village became the boy's daily routine before he knew it.
 * Suddenly, while doing this again one day, a mermaid appeared.
 * Kokutan: "Woah!"
 * The boy, in his surprise, was unable to stand.
 * Mermaid: "I apologize for scaring you. But I came here because I wanted to tell you something."
 * What the mermaid would say was a revelation to the boy.
 * Mermaid: "You're troubled by what your purpose in life is, correct?"
 * Kokutan: "Yes. Since the time I was born, I've felt that there should be some reason."
 * Mermaid: "You must meet your mother."
 * Kokutan: "If it's my mother, there's Kinouna. Even though it was just on account of monetary value, she somehow raised and cherished me."
 * Mermaid: "But, she is not your real mother. Your real mother is in a place called Onigashima. She has pink hair and works as a tailor."
 * Kokutan: "If that's true, then why hasn't my mother come pick me up?"
 * Mermaid: "Because she does not know that you are here. That's why she hasn't come this way to see you. And tell the woman your name. That way, she'll recognize you as her son."
 * Kokutan: "My name? Shouldn't I call myself "Kokutan-douji"?"
 * Mermaid: "No...... your true...... name is...... Ren...... heh, being on land so long tires me...... I should return home soon...... [thanks for the meal]."
 * Saying that, the mermaid returned to the sea.
 * Kokutan-douji returned to the village and told Inukichi about what happened.
 * Inukichi believed the boy's story and the two decided to depart for Onigashima together.
 * [Space]
 * They immediately left the village. The two were stopped by a lone woman.
 * "You two're headin' for Onigashima, yeah? Then you should take me along too......"
 * The strange woman in a monkey mask introduced herself as the "Sixteenth Saruteito".
 * She knew legendary blades the founder of her clan had made were in Onigashima and wanted to acquire them.
 * [Space]
 * With Saruteito joining the others, the three headed for Onigashima.
 * Along the way, they became involved in various incidents.
 * They turned the tables on a thief who attacked them, punished a wicked magistrate using his position to line his own pockets, met a retired crepe (silk) wholesaler who brought/led a companion with unnatural physical strength, got rid of a villain as well as a playboy with excessive tattoos on [his?] back and arm(s), while continuing their journey.
 * [Space]
 * Finally the three crossed the sea and reached Onigashima.
 * [Space]
 * From the Eastern Magic Record