Karin's First Lesson

Bang!

Shinji kicked the wooden door of the grain shop clean off its hinges.

The door flew into the wall and burst into splinters, scattering across the floor like flower petals.

Behind the counter, the shopkeeper stiffly turned to look at the shattered door.

Then he turned toward the three people at the entrance...

He froze.

Crash!

The next instant, he scrambled out from behind the counter. In just a few steps, he knocked over a stool and lost a shoe...

Then,

to Karin's astonishment,

the ill-tempered shopkeeper who had just cursed her out, saying, "The village is about to descend into chaos. Why would I have spare grain to sell to a red-haired outsider like you?"

Thud.

Dropped to his knees before her!

Karin went still.

Something seemed to explode inside her mind, setting her whole body trembling.

"Spare me... My lord, spare me!"

The shopkeeper knocked his forehead against the floor again and again.

He wailed without stopping.

"My lord, didn't you come by last night?"

"I didn't lie about a single thing! I'm just a greedy businessman with a nasty temper. I'm not a ninja, and I've never killed anyone!"

"Karin."

Shinji squeezed Karin's small, clammy hand, bringing her back to herself.

"Huh?"

Karin looked up at Shinji blankly.

Her little face was full of bewilderment.

"Buy the grain."

"Ah... Oh! Right, right!"

Trembling, Karin held out her small hand and showed the damp, crumpled wad of bills.

"S-sir... I'd like to buy some grain. How much will this get me?"

The shopkeeper did not dare raise his head. He merely glanced at the wad of bills.

Then he lowered his gaze at once.

"Ten jin! Ten jin of grain! I'll get it for you right now!" he blurted.

"T-ten jin?!" Karin's eyes widened. "But, sir... I