Tale 215: Ofuku and the Demon (Ash)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan" episode 147, story 1)

"Once upon a time, a certain village was struck by a harsh drought." Ash begins. "Many of the crops died, and the villagers feared they would starve that winter. One traveler even feared he would have to sell his daughters into slavery."

Misty swallows hard at this. "As he sat by the road and pondered what to do, he thought he saw a rock in the evening fog." Ash continues. "But when he looked again, it turned out to be a demon sitting on a rock!"

Melody gasps at what the demon will do to the man. "The demon told the man that he knew about the drought, and promised to make it rain in exchange for one of the man's daughters." Ash assures the jittery Meloetta. "Before the man could react, the demon was gone. It started to rain not long after, and the village rejoiced--the rivers and creeks refilled, and the fields were revived. The man called his family together and explained everything. The eldest daughter and the middle daughter refused, but the youngest daughter, whose name was Ofuku, was braver than her sisters, and eagerly volunteered to go with the demon, despite her mother's protests. Besides, she assured her family, she had a plan."

"So what did she do?" Now Brock is interested.

"Sure enough, the demon came on the day the rain stopped." Ash explains. "He took Ofuku, and crossed rolling plains, green valleys, deep forests, and high mountains, unaware that Ofuku was leaving a trail of Berries behind him."

"I see--Ofuku's making a trail to find her way home." Misty predicts.

"Before long, Ofuku arrived at the demon's cave, where she did the demon's laundry, swept the floor, and cooked for him, among other chores." Ash went on, acknowledging Misty's eager prediction with a nod. "Whatever the demon asked her to do, Ofuku did it well."

After a few moments to let the audience process what has happened, Ash continues "A year passed, and one day, Ofuku noticed the Berries she had scattered had taken root and began to grow into trees. She eagerly followed the path home, but it was not long before the demon was on her trail!"

"Oh no!" Melody yelps.

"Ofuku called to her parents to find a holy scroll." Ash explains. "Her mother found one, and heaved it at the demon, making sure to say 'Akuryo taisen!'"

"That means 'evil spirit, begone!', by the way." Brock explains.

"The demon fled in fear of the holy scroll's divine magic, and Ofuku was hailed as a hero." Ash concludes. "Ever since then, on the final day of winter, the people of that village always hung a holy scroll at their doors so the demon would not return."