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(If I don’t want to get married, the only option is to make a living as a scribe…)

Although I thought that, reality didn’t go as smoothly.

I was lectured by my father for two hours, and I was finally freed only when evening came.

“Today’s lecture was especially long…”

It was the worst that my father happened to be there when I fell from the ladder, but it was also poorly timed after I had declined the dinner with my fiancé. Father telling me to stop writing and avoid ghosts was, partly due to the public opinion, but mainly because he was genuinely worried about me. I knew well that my father wanted me to have a normal marriage.

Sighing and walking home with Kafuka, we came out to the main street lined with large merchant houses, where they hung vermilion lanterns in front of their gates and on second-floor balconies, catching the eyes of passersby. As dusk approached, the lights from the lanterns filled the street, making it look as though the entire area was covered in lantern fruits, like the glowing ghost lights.

In front of the watchtower in the plaza, pole lanterns stood, faintly illuminating the returning people’s paths.

“Look, ‘Gray Dust Abode’ is coming into view.”

At Kafuka’s words, I looked up and saw the lanterns shining in the dark foothills of the mountain.

Climbing the stairs, we reached the separate residence of the Ai family, where Natsuki now lived.

──”All Matters, Will Be Taken Care of by the Scribe.”

On the wooden signboard, written in strong and distinctive handwriting, the words swayed in the occasional breeze. Alongside the sign were two red lantern fruits hanging from the branches. These fruits, named after demons, were said to be a sign for calling ghosts.

Although it was within the city, the area near the foothills of the mountain, where no one passed by, had a strange feeling to it. It was probably because it was a sacred mountain where the Tai shrine stood. Rows of graves were lined up, and there were rumors of a ghost market—where the dead gathered.

Recently, my father’s new wife, who he married after the death of my mother, had started to feel uncomfortable with me, so we had moved to this separate residence. From the moment I first saw it, I felt it was the perfect place for ghosts to appear, and I found myself liking it. Moreover, even though the scribe shop stayed open late into the night, it didn’t bother anyone. Thanks to that, I stopped visiting the main house unless necessary.

Despite the name ‘Gray Dust Abode’ sounding grand, it was a quiet scribe shop.

The owner’s name was Ai Natsuki, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the Ai family. Although there were elderly servants to manage the separate residence, the only senior servant was Kafuka, a young man who assisted Natsuki. His black hair and slightly bluish eyes were typical of the Western region, and he wore clothes that made it easy for him to move.

Although it seemed like a place on the outskirts of town, without a customer in sight, the business surprisingly managed to attract people. From time to time, late at night, customers would come, each with their own reasons.

──This night was no exception.

“…Ah.”

In the middle of the night, amidst the wind, I thought I heard a high-pitched sound. I strained my ears to listen.

When the dead visit, there’s a strange sound called ‘Oni Kyo’, which sounds like a deer’s call or a death cry. It’s a forewarning of misfortune and a sound that I eagerly awaited.

As I was lost in my work, Kafuka’s worried voice interrupted my concentration.

“Miss, you must be tired after going to the main house today. Why don’t you close the shop and rest early?”

Kafuka looked sleepy himself, and I smiled slightly in response.

It’s true that my father’s lecture was long, and I was tired from seeing my new mother, but as soon as I returned, I was eager to write and couldn’t fall asleep.

“I need to copy the ‘Yūgaku Kagenki’ that my sister asked me to do… Kafuka, go ahead and rest.”

“Then, I’ll take you up on your offer and go to bed first. Please don’t overdo it, Miss.”

With those words, Kafuka left the shop. The sky was dark, and the moon was nowhere to be seen. Only the lanterns’ light flickered weakly, and there was an eerie atmosphere, as though something suspicious might be lurking.

However, ‘Gray Dust Abode’ had irregular business hours, and it was rare for customers to visit in the middle of the night. Without feeling lonely in Kafuka’s absence, I moved the completed paper to the shelf and placed the next sheet under the paperweight—and that’s when it happened.

“I’m sorry for the late hour. I would like to ask for your help with a letter…”

A woman’s voice. When I called out to her from outside the door, a customer entered, dressed in a gray cloak.

“Master, I… I’ve been deceived.”

The customer, who wanted help with writing a letter, spoke with a trembling voice from across the desk.

In the city, few people could write. So, when someone needed to write or read something, they would usually come to the scribe’s shop. The scribe’s were often called ‘Master’.

“I see… That must have been difficult for you.”

I responded calmly with a neutral tone.

“I was deceived, lost my way, and couldn’t find my way home… I was wandering in the dark when I saw a red light… and I remembered the rumors about you, Master, and thought I should ask for a letter…”

Her voice was low and dark, and her downcast face was hard to see. It wasn’t just because the room was dim from the lanterns. She didn’t seem burdened by the weight of her belongings, but the fact that she hadn’t taken them off even after entering felt odd.

(This customer is probably…)

I thought to myself but wisely didn’t say anything out loud.

The ghosts who visited ‘Gray Dust Abode’ looked just like living people, but they were still ghosts. There was something different about them. I felt a prickling sensation on the back of my neck as I slightly opened the drawer of my desk and continued the conversation.

“Let me first take the name and address of the person you’re writing to.”

As I continued the formal process, the woman whispered in response, and I wrote her words down on a bamboo slip. While I would eventually transcribe them onto paper with ink, I made quick notes on the bamboo slip, which was easy to replace with one from the mountain behind the house.

“The recipient is Master Bo Rongyun… The location is Luming Province, Kokoro Village. I’ve passed through there before. It’s a small village, but there are many who appreciate music, and I remember the shrine of the master of the qin, Sun Tong.”

“Yes, that’s right. I couldn’t make a living in my hometown… After learning the arts, everyone is sent away from the village…”

I recalled hearing a beautiful qin duet when I passed through that village. In Unjing, there were popular shops where music was played during meals. Those with skill could easily find work, unlike in the countryside.

(Although she’s leaving her hometown alone…)

“…She wants me to come immediately. She said she would be waiting at the usual place and wants me to write that down.”

As I continued questioning and taking notes, I observed the woman’s clothing. She wore a cotton-lined long robe over her dress, embroidered beautifully with a pipa design. It seemed that her life was not too hard. For a brief moment, a fragrance drifted through the air.

“Customer, you’re wearing a very fine fragrance.”

I casually remarked, but inside I was intrigued.

(She’s wearing fragrance in her clothing—only those with noble status or special permission to wear silk can do that. And this fragrance… I’ve smelled it somewhere…)

“Behind the palace…”

I muttered as I finally recalled where I had encountered this scent before.