"Mom, I found a man."
The words from my daughter, Misago, on the other end of the phone made me spit out my tea.
"He seems to have nowhere to go, so I'm bringing him home to stay with us for a while."
Before I could even react, she dropped another bombshell. She's supposed to be an adult, but she's still so impulsive.
"Wait a minute, what are you talking about?"
I had to stop her before she ended the call on her own terms.
"I went to collect jade, like I always do."
"Right, okay."
That part was routine for her, nothing surprising there.
"I found him near Oyashirazu Beach."
"...What?"
"You know that area always floods, right?"
"Yes, that's true."
She was right about that.
"He was unconscious, so I carried him to safety. He just regained consciousness and doesn't remember anything—not even his name. So, I'm bringing him to our place!"
She rushed through the explanation, trying to gloss over any stumbles.
Her usual antics made the situation seem less sinister, and I almost laughed but managed to hold it in.
"...Shouldn't you take him to the police or a hospital first?"
For a moment, I almost praised her but caught myself and offered the sensible suggestion instead.
"He doesn't seem too keen on that, so he's trusting me. Can he stay with us for just one night?"
Internally, I wanted to say he could stay as long as he needed. We had plenty of rooms available, but as the proprietor, I had to be cautious.
"Alright, I'll get everything ready..."
I sighed deeply, bowed my head for a moment, and then responded.
I knew I should ask more questions, but some things are better seen than heard. I decided to notify the police, hospital, and local authorities that we were sheltering a man. Rumors would spread quickly, but I chose to trust my daughter for now.
"He doesn't have any money, but please give him the best room!"
"Fine, fine... Just be careful and don't get into any trouble, okay?"
"Okay!"
The phone clicked off.
I could tell she was excited, even over the phone, which made me feel calmer in contrast.
"...Could he be a 'marebito'?"
"marebito" refers to a concept from Japanese folklore, often translated as "rare visitor" or "stranger." It is a term used to describe a mysterious or divine visitor who brings blessings, knowledge, or change to a community. The concept is rooted in ancient Japanese beliefs and is often associated with deities or supernatural beings who visit the mortal world in disguise.
I muttered one possibility to myself. My grandfather claimed to be one, but it was more of a self-proclaimed title, impossible to verify.
"No, no way..."
I shook my head, dismissing the thought.
He was probably just an ordinary missing person. Usually, men have guardians or escorts with them, like a mother bear with her cubs. It's rare to find a man alone.
In neighboring countries to the west, cases of abduction victims, defectors, or illegal immigrants with unknown nationalities are more common. Fortunately, our region's geography makes such incidents rare. But with the sea too cold for swimming this time of year, an accident seemed unlikely.
Yet, there were no reports of accidents or missing persons. If a man under protection went missing, it would be a scandal they'd want to keep quiet.
There were too many questions and not enough answers.
"Haah..."
I sighed again.
"First things first, I need to make some calls."
I began contacting the necessary parties.
---
"Phew..."
"Sounds like you're having fun."
Just as I took a breath, a voice like a monster's echoed from behind me.
I turned slowly, like a creaky machine, to see the true ruler of this area, Grandma, grinning at me.
"So, little Misago is old enough to bring a man home, huh? Makes me feel old."
She cackled, her eyes gleaming with a predatory gleam.
This old woman, Yata Umino, was retired but still held sway over the hot spring district. Her influence was too great to ignore.
"We don't know the details yet, so please don't interfere too much, okay?"
In this matriarchal society, men held special privileges, making them legally untouchable. Crossing them could be dangerous.
"Very well, let's see how Misago handles this."
Grandma smiled slyly and wandered off, her laughter echoing behind her. She would likely make her own arrangements, more effectively than I could.
.....
Author note :
Yata Umino, the first wife of the famous grandfather, holds significant influence due to her extensive network of "sisters."
In this world, men are communal property.
_____
This novel has been lovingly translated by https://www.patreon.com/Jenuinez_translation