Hayashi realized that not giving the gourd stopper to Zen'nan was the right decision, otherwise, the consequences might have been severe.
He asked directly, "According to legend, you're an evil spirit who harms women and children, doing all sorts of wicked things. Is that true? Are you a complete demon?"
"How dare you!" Zen'nyo scolded immediately. "Our master has always cared deeply for women and children. He is not the vile creature you describe. Those are lies fabricated by the world, malicious rumors created out of resentment. What you've heard and seen is far from the truth!"
"We were all saved by our master and have followed him ever since. Our master was sealed inside the gourd because of the lies spread by the world. The stories about him have become more and more distorted, filled with falsehoods!" Zen'nan said angrily.
Hayashi was stunned. This didn't match what he knew at all!
According to historical records, Shuten-dōji was a monstrous demon who murdered women and children, ate their flesh, drank their blood, and committed all kinds of atrocities.
But now, things seemed different.
According to Zen'nan and Zen'nyo, it was a completely different story. Was history wrong? Was this a different timeline? Could the legends be false? Hayashi couldn't figure it out.
He thought for a moment and then asked, "Even if what you're saying is sincere, he's still a curse spirit. How do you explain that? Can curses be good?"
Shuten-dōji stood still, a faint smile on his face, as if nothing could disturb his mood.
Zen'nan and Zen'nyo, however, became visibly saddened by Hayashi's question. After a long pause, Zen'nyo began to explain, "Long ago, our master was extraordinarily powerful. But the bureaucrats and merchants hated him because he always opposed their corrupt actions. He helped lost women and children, preventing those disgusting people from satisfying their desires. They conspired to poison him, using an evil object they had smuggled into his gourd before he drank."
"These corrupt people spread false rumors, claiming our master harmed women and children, spreading hatred and resentment against him. The poison and the people's curses fed into each other, amplifying the effects."
"When our master realized something was wrong after drinking the cursed sake, it was too late. His beloved gourd started to change, and so did he. Eventually, on a stormy night, he transformed into a cursed demon."
"The authorities had been waiting for this moment. They sent soldiers to kill him, but since our master was already powerful, and now a curse, he became even stronger. The soldiers and jujutsu sorcerers who tried to take him down were all killed."
"From that moment on, the world labeled him with even worse names, associating him with curses and spreading lies about his deeds."
"Afterward, hundreds of jujutsu sorcerers were mobilized to surround him. In the ensuing battle, our master was severely wounded and sealed inside the gourd, becoming an indestructible curse that the royal family kept hidden. All the sorcerers who participated in that battle died, and it became one of the most terrifying legends of that time, passed down through the ages."
(Note: This story is entirely fictional for this book and should be seen as part of a parallel world. Don't take it too seriously!)
Hayashi stood there, dumbfounded. If what Zen'nyo said was true, it completely overturned the historical narrative. Could Shuten-dōji actually have been a benevolent figure?
Had he been wronged by corrupt individuals, with false stories perpetuating his evil image, leaving the truth buried in darkness?
If all this were true, it was a good thing for Hayashi. At least the curse he had helped revive wasn't truly a monster. But even if Shuten-dōji wasn't the demon from the legends, he was still a curse. Hayashi knew he had to remain cautious.
Who could guarantee that after being sealed for so long, Shuten-dōji hadn't changed for the worse? What if he was no longer the same being?
At that moment, Hayashi pointed to Zen'nan and said, "But earlier, you killed two humans the moment you arrived. If you're so murderous, how can your master be any better?"
"Hmph!" Zen'nan snorted coldly. "We are called Zen'nan and Zen'nyo because we possess a unique ability to discern good from evil. Those two had blood on their hands—they were murderers. Their deaths were justified."
"Is that so?" Hayashi was impressed. They could actually tell who was good and who was bad? It made sense now, considering the two men had immediately shot at him without hesitation, indicating they likely had a history of violence.
By now, Hayashi felt he understood the situation better, though there were still many things he needed to ask Shuten-dōji. "Shuten-senpai, may I speak with you inside?"
He wasn't worried about being harmed. If Shuten-dōji did anything to him, it would confirm Zen'nan and Zen'nyo were lying, and he'd get the truth.
"Please, come in," Shuten-dōji said calmly.
One hour later.
Hayashi exited the pavilion, leaving Shuten-dōji, Zen'nan, and Zen'nyo standing outside to see him off.
Hayashi felt completely reassured. Shuten-dōji indeed bore no malice. Perhaps because of his long period of being sealed, much of the evil curse aura had faded.
According to Zen'nan, Shuten-dōji had only been revived because he couldn't accept the way history had defamed him. Though the people who wronged him were long dead, their stories had persisted. Shuten-dōji sought to clear his name, even if only after centuries.
However, this wasn't something Hayashi could help with. Legends, once deeply rooted, were impossible to change—unless one could go back in time and alter history.
While that wasn't possible, Hayashi thought about something. Perhaps in the future, with the most advanced versions of his powers, time reversal could become a reality.
Maybe one day, he could go back and change history. Who knew?
But for now, it was just a thought. The future was uncertain, and he had more immediate crises to deal with.
At least Hayashi now had Shuten-dōji's support. Even though this was the mirror world, it mirrored the real world. What Shuten-dōji was like here would be the same in reality.
The only difference was that in the mirror world, Hayashi had met them, whereas in the real world, he hadn't yet. But that didn't matter. What mattered was that Hayashi now understood the truth and didn't have to worry.
He would visit Shuten-dōji again when he had the chance.