The tavern owner bowed low like a lapdog begging for praise as he led Kaigaku toward the edge of town.
Their surroundings grew quieter and more secluded until a brightly lit mansion loomed out of the darkness, a gold plaque reading "Eternal Paradise" hanging above its vermilion gates.
A cloyingly sweet smell of incense drifted through the air. Kaigaku wrinkled his nose and let out a drunken belch-it was sickeningly fragrant, with a faint trace of rot beneath it, like rotten meat coated in sugar. It smelled a little like a demon.
He shook his heavy head and cursed himself for drinking himself stupid. The courtyard was full of lively human figures. Where would a demon come from?
Unexpectedly, a dark shape huddled beside the gate. Only when they drew closer did he see that it was an old beggar, with two copper coins lying in his chipped bowl.
Kaigaku paused and asked the tavern owner with a grin, "Hey, doesn't your cult ever do any good deeds? Aren't you worried that miserable old bastard squatting outside will bring you bad luck?"
The owner glanced at the old beggar, then back at Kaigaku. "You don't understand, honored guest. This fool ended up begging precisely because he refused to believe in our teachings!"
The owner proudly rubbed the lotus embroidered on his lapel. "Our leader says that believers will find paradise, while unbelievers... deserve to drown in the sea of suffering! Hahahahaha!"
Kaigaku raised an eyebrow. That was a new one. He had seen monks pretending to be compassionate and rich people who were genuine hypocrites, but this was his first time hearing someone justify leaving people to die with such righteous conviction.
With liquor and irritation surging to his head, Kaigaku sneered. "Fine, lead the way! Let's see what your