Stating that Harlot loved Arai, it was natural for her to make him the hero in the end. She mentioned there were many good parts, like the scene of Harlot marrying Miura, where she sat with Ginta’s daughter watching the two spar—highlighting that even when Harlot realized Ginta was a demon, she pretended she didn’t know. The man felt that Harlot had deceived them, and these aspects didn’t come out openly. Mazaka felt sad for having slept through the play and was curious to know everything, but Karu told her that the story was available in a paperback book as part of a collection of stories. The man told them he would look for it, even though he wanted to read the original version of Harlot’s memoirs. Mazaka noticed that he was very interested in this story, but for him, the most important character was Ginta. Karu thought he held a grudge against Harlot, which led to their smiles at her words.
Ginta continued to kill demons and noticed that his sword was getting more stained with blood each time, but he realized it was actually his heart that was truly stained. Then Ginta went to the client who had asked him to kill the demon and received his reward. The client thanked Ginta for his efforts and told him that the snow was as beautiful as the moon in autumn and the flowers in spring. He added that his boss had enjoyed slices of nature’s elegance while indulging in drink and that he planned to honor his memory by building a tomb and pouring a bottle of his favorite wine. Then he bid Ginta farewell.
After that, Ginta went home to rest. The next day, he went shopping with Ofuu, who told him that all the palace servants and the samurai who guarded it had suddenly disappeared. Ginta confirmed this and told her that afterward, a dozen or so demons had taken it as their lair. Ofuu thought it had been a busy night for Ginta and asked him to carry the bags for her so he wouldn’t feel tired, but Ginta refused, telling her that today was a celebration. Then they were drawn to a man selling sake who was marketing it wonderfully, attracting a crowd. They considered buying from him, but Ginta refused because he couldn’t handle the crowd, and they left.
Then we move on to Sedana‘s store. Zenji arrived, and Natsu and Ginta were waiting for him, but he was late because the store was crowded. Natsu told him that this party was for him, so he shouldn’t be late, and that they were now waiting for Miura. Miura arrived and apologized for being late, and Ofuu told them they would begin now. Zenji started talking, and when he spoke about trivial things, Natsu asked him to skip it and speak quickly. Then Ginta announced that he had been promoted to senior clerk in Sugaya City and that he appreciated everyone’s presence to celebrate. He expressed his gratitude, and Ofuu and Miura congratulated him, asking him to help Mr. Juuzou as best he could. Zenji confirmed that he would and that he would make Sugaya the biggest store in the city. Miura was sure Zenji would succeed, and Zenji declared he would be one of the greatest clerks in history. Natsu thought he was full of hot air, but Zenji asked her to let him enjoy the party tonight.
Then Sedana came to them and asked them to stop fighting and offered food, which surprised Zenji. Sedana said a day like this required more than ordinary soba and congratulated him on the promotion. Zenji thanked Sedana, and Ofuu didn’t forget the drinks and poured some for him. Zenji was surprised by how special the drink was and asked her how she got it, but Ginta was the one who bought it. Ginta told him it was a special occasion, which made Zenji happy and thankful. He asked everyone to eat before it got cold, and they celebrated while eating.
Then Zenji remembered something and brought out a bottle of new sake his boss drank every night. He thought today was the right day to share it. Ginta recognized the sake, and Zenji said it should be served cold. Ofuu offered him a cup to pour into, but Natsu took the bottle from Zenji and poured it herself, saying he was the star of the party. He was surprised by the luck of the day, feeling extremely happy, and told her that living to old age was worth it. Natsu told him he wasn’t that old yet, but he said it spiritually. He joked that he couldn’t believe she used to be a rude child, now pouring him sake. Natsu said she’d pretend not to hear that, and he quickly apologized.
Then Zenji drank and immediately spat it out. It was very salty, smelled terrible, and was undrinkable. Miura poured him another cup, but it wasn’t good either, which Zenji felt ruined the party. He offered some to Ginta, who thought it was a bit weak but not bad. Natsu asked if this was the sake people were raving about. Zenji confirmed that it was what his boss drank. Then Sedana brought out more drinks, and Natsu commented that Zenji was lucky because everyone was so kind. Ginta drank more, and we move to his home.
Later, Ginta left and went to the bridge, where he met a prostitute. She commented that the weather was cold as snow, and he said he was looking for work. She thought he was so desperate he couldn’t even talk to her, then laughed, saying she was joking. She wasn’t sure she could lead him to work, but many strange stories were spreading—like a bedridden son replaced by a demon or demons hiding under a bridge, or a wandering woman at night. She said, “That’s a lot, isn’t it?” She added that these troubled times might just be anxiety, and even four cups of black tea weren’t enough to sleep.
Ginta said, “You mean the foreign ships in Ura?” The prostitute replied that the emperor was acting like a puppy in front of the Americans. Ginta said evil spreads when society falls into chaos. She agreed and told him about a sake selling wildly—perhaps because people wanted to drink their worries away. She said it tasted like poison that would send you to heaven. Ginta asked her to investigate that sake for him. She wondered if there was bad news, but he hadn’t seen anything yet and hoped it was nothing. She agreed, and he thanked her but warned her to stay safe, joking that Natsu would kill him if anything happened to her. She laughed, not realizing he was joking, and noted the snow on her hand and how cold it was.
Later, Natsu came to Ginta’s house and greeted him. Ginta was surprised she found him, but Ofuu had directed her. She had guessed he lived nearby and mentioned he was only a stone’s throw from Kihee. She told him he should have said something—they weren’t strangers, after all. Natsu seemed annoyed.
When Natsu heard Ginta’s neighbors shouting, she asked who they were. Ginta explained it was the neighboring family—likely the father was in another sake fit in the middle of the night. He then asked what brought her over. She said she needed his help: Zenji had been skipping work and was now drunk in a bar in Nihonbashi. Ginta was surprised—they had just celebrated his promotion! But Natsu confirmed it happened the next day, and all Zenji did now was drink. Her father was ready to consider this the last straw.
She asked Ginta to accompany her as a bodyguard, even offering to pay him. Ginta refused the payment and confirmed the location. They headed to Nihonbashi, where the bar reeked of booze. Inside, Natsu approached Zenji, who was clearly drunk. When she scolded him, Zenji dismissed her and rudely suggested she was just frustrated because she was single—offering to “set her up” and insulting her further. Natsu, furious, nearly attacked him, but Ginta stopped her.
Zenji also insulted Ginta, calling him a failed demon slayer. Then, in his drunkenness, he attacked Ginta, who dodged and struck back, knocking Zenji down. Ginta chastised him, saying that sake is a gift from heaven, but using violence over it is shameful. Just then, the mood soured. A drunk showed his sword, terrifying Natsu. The bar erupted into chaos as they attacked Ginta, throwing bottles, which he blocked to protect Natsu.
As more drunks lunged, a mysterious palm-like force emerged and repelled one of them. Another was repelled with the back of Ginta’s sword. Natsu tried to wake Zenji, but he was unconscious. Suddenly, Akitsu appeared, helping fend off the attackers. He remarked that Ginta hadn’t changed. Ginta thanked him, saying it had been a long time, and Akitsu reminded him he was “the third.”
Later, at Ginta’s house, Zenji woke up. Natsu offered him a drink. Zenji apologized profusely, but Natsu told him she didn’t need excuses. She acknowledged his hurtful words but said what mattered was that he valued her deep down. She took his hand and told him not to dwell on it—she wasn’t naive enough to get mad over drunken rambling. Still, Zenji insisted on apologizing, saying the sake made him feel high but not satisfied, and seeing her had made him strangely angry—especially about Ginta.
Just then, Zenji’s superior appeared. Hearing of his drunken outburst, he warned it was his last chance. Zenji wondered what to do now, but Natsu told him the answer was simple: work hard and make up for it.
Later, Akitsu and Ginta sat at his house. Akitsu, too, heard the neighbors fighting. He asked how famous Ginta was, and Ginta admitted he was somewhat known. Ginta asked why Akitsu had been near the bar, and Akitsu explained strange things were happening in Kyoto: a man stabbed his brother after drinking strange sake. More violent crimes followed—all tied to the same sake brand from Edo. It was expensive, smelled odd, and seemed to affect behavior.
They went for a walk, and Ginta asked if there was other evidence. Akitsu only mentioned sightings of a strange woman at every incident—not fitting a seller’s profile, but still suspicious.
At the sake shop, they saw blood outside. Inside, it was chaos—the owner was dead. Akitsu noted that the clean area in the dust indicated frequent activity. The shop had been looted, but they’d taken only a specific sake, suggesting intent. Ginta wondered if it was truly worth killing for. Akitsu argued this sake seemed to push people to extremes, stripping inhibitions entirely.
As they investigated, two demons appeared. Ginta and Akitsu fought side by side and killed them. Ginta admired Akitsu’s weapon, and Akitsu said maybe the demons were drawn by the scent of the sake. Ginta doubted that theory, but they agreed something was very wrong.
Outside, snow continued to fall heavier than before. Akitsu remarked that the snow deepened every night, and this gave Ginta a bad feeling.
