蜘蛛の糸: The Spider's Thread

Over 830 years ago, a young lord by the name of Minamoto no Yorimitsu became very ill from a disease that spread by the tiny needle of a mosquito. Bedridden, Yorimitsu became weaker and weaker as each day passed. But one day, a traveling priest came to Yorimitsu offering medicine to help heal his illness.

"My lord, it is an honor to be in your presence. I am Kagefumi, a wandering priest here to aid you."

"You seem rather young to be a disciplined priest. Tell me, why have you truly come here?"

"As I said before: I only wish to aid you in your time of need. Many of the people in the village have grown worried about you and so I assured them of your recovery."

As perceptive as he was, Yorimitsu grabbed his blade and waited for Kagefumi to get closer to him.

"Well then, I thank you for your generosity. If you don't mind, I would like to begin the healing process now so that I don't waste more time being ill."

"Of course, my lord."

Kagefumi came closer and closer towards Yorimitsu, getting further and further into his striking range. Once he was close enough for Yorimitsu to hit, he swung at Kagefumi which sent him to the ground bleeding.

"RRRAAAAAHHHHHHHHGGGGGGGG!!! YOU DAMNED BASTARD!!!"

Kagefumi quickly got up and leaped onto the ceiling and began to crawl away from the room to escape the area. While he made his getaway, he transformed back into his true form: the monstrous spider demon, Tsuchigumo.

Tsuchigumo were said to be as big as three men and as clever as three scholars, which made them forces to be reckoned with.

A group of soldiers entered the Yorimitsu's quarters with their spears in hand frantically searching the area.

"Lord Yorimitsu, are you all right?"

"I'm fine, I want you all to find that priest and bring him here! I want his head!"

"Understood!"

Just then, Yorimitsu realized that the spider left behind a trail of its own blood leading. He ordered the group of soldiers to follow it and report back to him about the trail's direction.

"My lord, the trail leads out into the mountains. Shall I send a battalion to search for the yokai?"

"That is not necessary, go fetch my retainers."

"Yes, my lord."

The soldiers went out and brought Yorimitsu's most trusted retainers, Usui Sadamitsu, Sakata no Kintoki, Watanabe no Tsuna, and Urabe no Suetake, to him so that he can explain his plight.

"Men, I have been attacked by a yokai and am unwilling to let this crime against my life go."

"We understand, where is the perpetrator now?"

"Out in the mountains, we will follow the trail of blood, find the beast, and slay it."

"We?"

Though still extremely weak, Yorimitsu got out of his bed and ordered his servants to help him into his armor and bring his helmet. Once fully geared up, Yorimitsu led his retainers to the lair of Tsuchigumo with the intend to end him.

After some time, the men found a cave with the blood trail leading into it. Seeing no other option, Yorimitsu and his retainers went in to continue their search. However, as soon as all the men had entered the cave, a spray webbing shot out and covered the entrance, trapping everyone inside. The men gathered around each other in anticipation for the beast's attack, but they weren't prepared for Kagefumi falling from the ceiling into the middle of all five men and dividing them.

Kagefumi let out an ear piercing hiss at Yorimitsu and pounced at him. Usui, with barely any time to react, jumped in front Kagefumi and slashed at him with his sword. The men regroup around Yorimitsu to act as a shield for him while Kagefumi armed himself with the weapons of warriors he has devoured. Yorimitsu let out a war cry and Kagefumi hissed at the men again before they engaged in a deathmatch where the prize was leaving the cave with your life.

For three days and three nights without food or sleep, the men and the monster battled with no sign of either one giving into exhaustion. But during the final moments of the battle, Urabe managed to slash at one of the Kagefumi's legs and pinned him down with his body weight. Sakata, Usui, and Watanabe soon followed and Yorimitsu took this opportunity to drive his sword into the neck of the beast and decapitate it.

"RRRAAAAAHHHHHHHHGGGGGGGG!!! RRRAAAAAHHHHHHHHGGGGGGGG!!! RRRAAAAAHHHHHHHHGGGGGGGG!!! RRRAAAAAHHHHHHHHGGGGGGGG!!!"

The cries of pain filled the cave as Yorimitsu continued push his swords down and outwards. Once the head was removed, it began to move for a good five minutes until it finally stopped and burst into a bright blue flame that engulfed not just the head, but the body too. The men used these flames by cutting off one of the legs and throwing it at the cave entrance, burning away the webbing which allowed them to escape. They watched as the Kagefumi's carcass burned to cinders.

"Sakata, Watanabe, throw the salt into the cave. I don't want anything in there to come back."

The two retainers did as instructed and threw salt into the cave to ensure that the beast wouldn't come back to life. And that is when an important discovery was made.

"My lord, now that we've killed the yokai, we should prepare for our return home."

"Very well, I shall-"

"My lord? Is something the matter?"

"My illness, it's gone!?"

After Kagefumi's death, Yorimitsu had regained all his strength back and was no longer ill.

"That yokai must have made me sick so that it could easily kill and eat me."

"Well, it won't be doing anything like that anymore. I think it'd be best to return to Settsu so that we can rest."

"That would be for the best."

Now with his health restored, Yorimitsu left with his retainers back to his castle to tell his family and servants of their battle with the Kagefumi.