Chapter 8: The Previous Shuten-dōji

The two of them took their seats, a study in contrast.
The oni kept shooting Misaki sharp glances, but Misaki was looking at nothing but the sake in front of her.

Aiha took over as the host and began explaining things to the audience.
“For this match, we have prepared ‘Reihō Takaosan’ — Sacred Peak, Mount Takao.”

At those words, the Tengu in the audience let out a murmur of surprise.

“The rules are as follows. You’ll drink one cup at a time, at the same time.
Only the cups you finish will be counted. Understood?”

Aiha poured the sake into each of their glasses.

“And one more thing. Even if your opponent loses consciousness or withdraws,
if there isn’t a difference of at least one cup, it will be a draw.
Now then—
First cup, begin!”

At Aiha’s call, the two of them finished their drinks.

The oni planted both hands on the table.
If he hadn’t been putting strength into his arms, he might have collapsed forward, face first.
It wasn’t visible to the audience, but his expression was completely serious.
What is this… this sake…
His vision wavered, and the emptied glass he had drained looked like two—no, three.
The cheers of the crowd rang in his head, loud enough to hurt.

Misaki, who had drunk at the same time, reacted at once—
“Kwaah! It hits hard! Feels like I got smacked in the head! This is insane!”
She pressed a hand to her head—the one not holding the glass—and trembled with delight.

“Now then, the second cup.”

Aiha poured the sake into their glasses again, just as before.
The oni’s eyes met Aiha’s.
From the oni’s point of view, Aiha looked perfectly calm—
but there was no mistaking the smile at the corner of her mouth.

“Second cup, begin!”

The moment after the call, Misaki had already finished drinking.
“Hehehe… this is nice… really nice…”
With her now-empty glass, she tapped the table in a steady rhythm—and then said,
“Is the next one ready yet?”

Glancing sideways at Misaki, the oni saw that even after emptying her second cup, she was already asking for another.
What is she saying about? This woman…

Even so, he steeled himself and downed it in one go.
He desperately fought to keep his consciousness from slipping away.
He reached out toward the table to support his body as it threatened to collapse—yet his massive frame was standing upright.

In his wavering vision, the festival-loving crowd was shouting over one another, raising their fists and cheering—
but none of the sound reached him.

And then the massive body fell backward with a thunderous crash.

Abusive shouts flew from the oni in the audience, while the Tengu offered words of praise and applause for the valiant effort.

Casting a sideways glance at the former Shuten-dōji as he was carried away, Aiha smiled in satisfaction.
Then she poured more sake into Misaki’s glass.

“Misaki, if you don’t finish this one, it will be a draw. You understand, yes?”

“Haa… that means I can only drink one more…”
Even though defeat was no longer possible, Misaki’s expression clouded over.

The third cup was poured.
“Third cup, begin!”

Misaki downed it in one go.
Watching that through—

“Winner! Misaki!”

Aiha declared the victory.

The venue was engulfed in cheers so loud it felt like it might burst.
She gave a small wave, responding to the applause.

But inside her, a faint sense of dissatisfaction lingered.
So that’s it… I wanted to drink more…

The next moment—Misaki covered her mouth with one hand and stretched out the other, as if trying to stop something.
“Wait… this might be… bad…”

Sensing what was about to happen, Suzuran handed over the bucket she had prepared.
Misaki took it, but managed to hold herself back at the very last moment.

Watching the scene, Yuka muttered quietly,
“That’s the kind of thing that would kill a normal human if they drank it… seriously scary…”