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Ibaraki-douji has never believed in himself as a strong demon. Challenging other demons in battles was the only way he could prove how powerful he was.
From tiny spirits, which he could win with only a single flick of a hand, to strong leaders of demon clans. Sometimes, the battles dragged on for days. Ibaraki-douji has been through all of that. All the victories were like prizes and proof of his achievements. Ibaraki-douji has been feeling like he was a great demon for a long time, until he heard rumors of other powerful demons. It made him feel like he’d lost his strength and power he gained over the battles.
And for that…, he kept challenging, fighting, seeking for stronger opponents. But it’s not enough, it’d never be. He needed more, craving for even stronger enemies, more and more.
He thought of an interesting choice, challenging humans. He heard that there’s a group of humans called onmyojis. They could use spells to take down demons and spirits. That sounded great to him. He’s about to try, but a rumor of one famous demon caught his attention first.
‘Demon King of Mt. Oe’, he’s the greatest and the most powerful demon, even among all clan leaders. He had over a thousand demons and spirits under his command. He could destroy a whole mountain to pieces with a flick of his fingers. Even the greatest onmyoji didn’t dare to challenge him. Those Tengus were all afraid of him. Ibaraki-douji was more than excited with the imaginary thrill he felt. And he made a decision, he must challenge and beat that demon.
And that’s why he’s here today, at the bottom of Mt. Oe. He then shouts at the top of his lungs.
“The King of Mt. Oe!!! Where are you?! Come out now and show me what you’ve got!!” The discourteous challenge is loud enough to be heard all over the mountains. The local demons and spirits are all staring at the challenger from the shadow, no one want to get in trouble with a foreign demon. Some are rushing to the resting place of their king to report the situation.
Shuten-douji is casually drinking and watching the clouds floating in the sky. It’s such a peaceful day. Suddenly, an arrogant voice called out for a challenge burst from the bottom of the mountain. He clicks his tongue in frustration, while wondering who the hell dare to ruin his peaceful and wonderful moments. As he rises from his seat, about to go down to the source of that voice, a small spirit appears before him. Needless to ask, the Demon King nods in acknowledgement.
A mere moment later, he stands before the challenger. An unfamiliar demon, whom he’s never seen before. Just from the demon aura leaking from his body, Shuten-douji can tell that this demon is powerful. But before the Demon King can further examine the would-be enemy in front of him, the demon takes a chance and charges at him with intention to kill. The king of the mountain dodges the attack easily.
“How discourteous you are.” is the first sentence from the Demon King to Ibaraki-douji. It’s such an unexpected response he’s never heard from any of his opponents.
“I haven’t accepted your challenge. I just came here to see the face of who dares challenge me.” Upon seeing confusion on the challenger’s face, he once again examines the demon. He seems young, but sane enough to talk with. Shuten-douji decides to talk him down. But if the demon insists on fighting, then he’ll have no choice beside forcing him to leave.
“So, will you accept my challenge?”
“I’m afraid not.” The answer upsets Ibaraki-douji, because it makes him feel like he’s being ignored.
“Are you afraid of defeating?” The insulting tone tells the king of Mt. Oe that this demon is not going to back away peacefully. Shuten-douji stares at him for a moment before giving a sigh. Seems like violences are in need now.
Shuten-douji doesn't reply to that, he just shifts into a fighting stance and wags a finger signaling to the challenger to come closer. Instantly, Ibaraki-douji pounces on the demon king with lightning speed, intending to defeat him in one hit, just like he always does to other opponents.
Ibaraki-douji grins widely when he sees the king of Mt. Oe has no way to evade the attack.
...an easy victory, as always...
First thing Ibaraki-douji sees after opening his eyes is the bright blue of the daytime sky painted with white clouds. He takes a few minutes replaying what happened earlier in his head. The last thing he remembers is one moment, he’s attempting to take down the king of Mt. Oe, then another moment, he’s lying here, on the ground, facing the sky.
‘What the hell happened?!’
“Now that you’re defeated, go away. I don’t have a whole day to play host to a guest like yourself.” Ibaraki-douji takes time to digest what Shuten-douji said. Then it comes to a conclusion.
‘I...lost!!’
Ibaraki-douji lies still, even after the king of Mt. Oe walks away, he’s still lying on the ground.
Small spirits who were watching from nearby are starting to disperse, leaving Ibaraki-douji to lie there alone in the silence of the woods. It’s the first time he feels this indignant...he’s never defeated to someone, up until he met this Demon King. He doesn’t even know how or when did he fall down. Image of the back of the Demon King walking away from him nonchalantly and the red hair blowing in the wind still lingers in his mind.
Young demon clenches his fists, swears to himself he’ll never lose to anyone ever again.
Shuten-douji lives his peaceful life in the mountains as usual, having small talks with those spirits under his command, drinking, enjoying the fascinating atmosphere of the mountain. Occasionally beats the crap out of those who dare challenge him and think of dominating his clan and territory.
Today, once again, the peacefulness is destroyed by a voice shouting something. At first, he doesn’t recognize whose voice it is. But when he comes down to face the challenger, he remembers...that foreign young demon with thick fluffy white hair. Shuten-douji is quite surprised. No one’s ever come back after getting beaten up by him, but this demon is here now, being ready with his fighting stance. The demon king decides to end both the fight and the annoyance quickly.
And sure enough, Shuten-douji has the victory again. He thinks this will stop the demon from coming back, but it doesn’t. The demon keeps coming back and challenging him day after day. Such a...weird demon he is.
“What’s your name?” Shuten-douji finally asks the challenger’s name for the first time, which surprises the intruder. Seeing the surprised and confused face, the Demon King decides to introduce himself first.
“My name is Shuten-douji, you might already know, I’m the king of the Mt. Oe and the demon clan here.” The challenger mutters the answer with a hint of resentment.
“...Ibaraki-douji.” Shuten-douji takes that as a successful attempt at making a conversation.
“What should I do with you? ...defeat after defeat, and you still keep coming back. Do you want my land that bad?” Shuten-douji decides to ask directly. The challenger, who’s lying face-down, lifts his head a little to look at him, then he answers.
“I definitely don’t want your mountain. I just want to defeat you. If I can defeat you, I’ll finally become the strongest demon.”
Shuten-douji scoffs and replies.
“You’re...such a weird demon...Ibaraki-douji.”
Shuten-douji walks back to his resting place at the peak of the mountain, leaving Ibaraki-douji lying on the ground. From the day on, the king of Mt. Oe has a new hobby, coming down from the mountain and accepting Ibaraki-douji’s challenge.
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Time passes by, demons and spirits now know that this intruder is anything but harmful. The fright they once felt fades, while familiarity gradually increases. The scene of Ibaraki-douji lying on the ground with all possible postures after defeats to the Demon King also becomes familiar to every demon and spirit living in Mt. Oe. Though, they’re all curious why Shuten-douji doesn’t deal with him in a more decisive way, or even eliminates him. But the smile on the Demon King’s face when he hears the footsteps of Ibaraki-douji approaching is enough to answer their curiosity. Soon, all the demons and spirits in the mountains see the intruder as a drinking buddy of their master. Though they can sense a tiny dissatisfaction from Ibaraki-douji, but no one really pays attention to it. Having one more strong ally in the clan is an advantage after all.
Ibaraki-douji holds a tumbler in one hand while grimaces as usual. Lately, Shuten-douji always asks him to be a drinking buddy after he manages to beat him. And ever since he said yes once out of curiosity for how luscious the sake here could be, he became a regular drinking buddy of the demon king. But Ibaraki-douji doesn’t think of this in a bad way, at least Shuten-douji is a decent person to talk with. Moreover, getting closer to him might lead to a discovery of his weaknesses and the source of his strength.
“What's wrong, Ibaraki-douji? You don’t like the sake I have today? Why do you keep holding it like that?” Shuten-douji asks when he notices Ibaraki-douji keeps staring at the tumbler with a grimace.
“Why do you ask me to join your drink every time I lose? ...I can’t help but think you’re trying to comfort me after the defeat. Will you be drinking with me, if I defeat you some day?”
Shuten-douji smiles gently before chuckling softly.
“Of course I will. Actually I’ll throw a feast for your victory celebration. ...But I might get so old and die before that day comes.”
“I won’t let it be that long!! I will beat you hard and defeat you completely!!” Ibaraki-douji shouts, while the Demon King bursts out a laugh like he just hears the funniest thing in the world.
“We will see, friend.”
“Who’s your friend?!”
Ibaraki-douji reluctantly takes a swig, trying to wash his frustration down with the liquor. He has to admit that this sake tastes the best he’s ever tried, snacks paired with the sake are also mouthwatering. He can’t imagine he would find the better place to drink elsewhere...at least, losing to Shuten-douji isn’t all that bad.
“Oh, by the way...” Shuten-douji says, all of a sudden, before throwing something Ibaraki-douji’s way. Which he catches instinctively. He looks down to see a round, tiny bell in his palm.
“A bell…?”
“Keep it close. Whenever you come for the duel, I’ll know from the ringing of the bell.”
Ibaraki-douji can’t help but frowns.
“This looks like a dog bell. I’m not your dog.”
“Uh...elder demons want me to give you that. They said your voice is too loud and it scares them.”
The reason makes Ibaraki-douji goes quiet for a moment. Though, he isn’t really close to anyone here, but he still knows some of them. Imagination of the elderly being scared by his voice makes him feels ashamed. Thus, all he can do is mumbling inaudibly and keeping the bell from Shuten-douji.
“Good boy.” Shuten-douji says, a hand reaching to his hair. Ibaraki-douji tries to lean away from the Demon King’s hand, but it’s too late. Shuten-douji gleefully holds him still with one hand and ruffles his hair with another.
“Let go of me!! I’m not your dog!!”
A shouting from Ibaraki-douji along with a laughter from the Demon King echo through the air of the mountain.
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Today is another day Ibaraki-douji ends up with defeat, he’s getting used to it by now. But he still can’t figure out why he’s always the one who loses the battle. He tries to find his mistakes in the duel, goes to practice and comes back to challenge again. But no matter how many times he repeats that process, the result is still the same.
During their drinking party, Ibaraki-douji’s still thinking about his opponent...he always secretly inspects the Demon King. But he can never think of any reason making Shuten-douji being so strong and powerful. Countless duels has passed, he’s still far from victory. He even feels the distances between them grows larger. Eventually, Ibaraki-douji gives up his pride and asks the question that keep aching in his head directly.
“Shuten-douji, what makes you so strong?”
At first, Shuten-douji tends to answer jokingly, but when he sees the serious face of Ibaraki-douji, he really gives it a thought. He lifts a hand to his neck.
“Um...I think we have different responsibilities, perhaps.”
Ibaraki-douji cocks his head in confusion.
“You’re living by yourself all this time, aren’t you? Everything you gain, everything you do is for your own sake. Even this attempt to grow stronger is for yourself. You try to be better, try to overcome yourself. You have nothing to lose when you’re defeated, besides a little bit of your pride.”
Shuten-douji pauses to take a swig.
“But I am a king of demons, I have countless lives to protect in this mountain. I have to be strong, for them, for this mountain. This place is their home, and also mine. If I’m defeated, it’s not only pride I’ll lose...”
Ibaraki-douji drinks in every single word, digesting them thoughtfully. The vision of the Demon King captures something far, far away..
“What I want to say is...you know how to do something for yourself, why don’t you try to do something for others? If you have something or someone important that you want to be better for...perhaps, you might be stronger than I am.”
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Ibaraki-douji considers the suggestion thoroughly...but as someone who lives all alone, whom he should devote himself to? He doesn’t have a clan, friends or even relatives. The only person he really knows is himself. He never values or even pays attention to anything or anyone. Never has no actual goal to fight for, aside from dueling with stronger opponents.
But today, for the first time, Ibaraki has an unwavering goal in mind.
He will defeat the King of Mt. Oe, named Shuten-douji”
He will prove that he is stronger than Shuten-douji.
And he is strong enough to protect him.
Fin.