The red oni and the blue oni had spent an entire day, working until they were cramped with exhaustion, to set everything up.
But they never expected it to fail so miserably.
Not only had it failed to improve the oni's image in the villagers' eyes, it had even deepened their misunderstanding of oni.
Now, inviting the villagers over again was impossible.
The red oni was heartbroken.
It was all his fault for smiling so happily and scaring all the villagers away.
The red oni cried, "It's all my fault. I must have smiled too happily and scared those villagers. Blue, am I too stupid?"
As the red oni kept blaming himself, the blue oni sighed. "Red, stop crying. I've thought of a way."
The red oni paused and stopped crying. "What way? Do we make more invitation boards and invite the villagers again?"
The blue oni spoke slowly. "No. My method is—a kind oni and an evil oni."
The red oni blinked. "A kind oni and an evil oni? What does that mean?"
The blue oni explained seriously, "Right now, the villagers' prejudice against oni is deeply rooted. It can't be changed. So to make the villagers accept you, we have to find a way to let them see the kindness inside you."
"Let the villagers know that the red oni is kind."
The red oni was stunned.
Let the villagers know that the red oni was kind?
That was what they had been trying to do all along, and it had failed miserably.
The red oni asked in confusion, "Then what should we do? Those villagers are scared the moment they see me. They won't even give me a chance to speak."
"There's no chance to show them the kindness of oni."
The blue oni said seriously, "It's actually very simple. We just need to create the image of an evil oni, and then you defeat that evil oni in front of all the villagers. That will let them see your kindness."
This was the most direct method.
But the blue oni didn't like it.
Because this method not only created a kind oni, it also created a vicious oni.
It would only restore the red oni's image.
It wouldn't restore the image of the entire oni race in the villagers' eyes.
The red oni thought for a moment. "I think I understand. An evil oni causes trouble in the village, and then I chase the evil oni away, right?"
The blue oni: "That's right."
The red oni: "But... we don't have an evil oni here."
After thinking for a moment, the red oni's eyes suddenly widened. He looked at the blue oni in shock. "Could it be..."
The blue oni said seriously, "That's right. I'll disguise myself as the evil oni and cause trouble in the village. When the villagers are scared of me, you'll take a stick and beat me in front of them, protecting them."
"You'll become the hero who drove away the evil oni."
"Then you can become friends with the villagers."
This was the blue oni's method.
But this method was too radical. If used improperly, it could even worsen the villagers' fear of the entire oni race.
Hearing this, the red oni quickly said nervously, "Blue, don't joke around."
The blue oni said seriously, "I'm not joking. I'm serious. Right now, this is the only way for you to become friends with the villagers."
The red oni quickly said, "But... if we really do this, it would be too unfair to you."
From the very beginning, the red oni's desire to befriend humans wasn't for himself.
It was to improve the image of the entire oni race.
And to protect the blue oni from being pelted with beans.
But now, the blue oni was going to hurt himself to help the red oni become friends with the villagers.
Seeing the red oni hesitate, the blue oni explained, "I don't plan on becoming friends with the villagers anyway. Even if I play the evil oni, I don't care."
"Don't worry about me."
The red oni: "But..."
The blue oni: "No buts. Even if it's for the sake of the entire oni race, I'm willing to play the evil oni."
"It's settled. We'll do it this way."
"Tomorrow, we'll carry out the plan."
The blue oni didn't wait for the red oni to argue.
He directly made the decision. Tomorrow, he would play the evil oni and cause trouble in the village.
Then let the red oni defeat him.
The red oni was speechless.
According to the blue oni's method, the red oni could indeed become friends with the villagers.
He could integrate into human society.
But doing so would hurt the blue oni.
The red oni had already decided.
Once he became friends with humans, he would make it up to the blue oni. He would give him many, many gifts.
To repay everything the blue oni had done for him.
Not only that, even after becoming friends with humans, the red oni would never abandon the blue oni.
And so, a full day passed in the blink of an eye.
Early the next morning, before the red oni had even gotten out of bed, the blue oni had already arrived at his door.
He called out loudly, "Red, are you still not up? Get up. It's time to carry out the plan."
Before long, the red oni, who had just woken up, opened the door and came out.
The red oni said hesitantly, "Blue... I... I think we shouldn't do this. It would be too unfair to you."
The blue oni scolded him, "Red, why are you backing out at the critical moment?"
The red oni was speechless.
The blue oni's face showed an awkward smile. "I'm going down the mountain now to scare those timid villagers in the village. You must come."
The red oni: "Blue, be careful of the villagers' beans."
The blue oni: "Don't worry. I'm not afraid."
With that, the blue oni, dressed in frightening-looking clothes, ran down the mountain toward the village.
Though the blue oni was always a homebody, when it came to speed, he was even faster than the red oni.
It didn't take him long to reach the village.
Without hesitation, he chose a house, kicked the door, and shouted loudly.
"Delicious villagers!"
"I am an evil oni! Open the door right now and let me eat you!"
With that, the blue oni raised his fist and pounded the door again.
At that moment, inside the house, a newlywed couple was eating breakfast.
Hearing someone pounding on the door, they angrily opened it. "Who's there? How dare you cause trouble at my house? Are you tired of living?"
When the villager opened the door and saw the blue oni's fierce face, his terrifying horns, his claws, and his two evil fangs, he nearly fainted.
He quickly slammed the door shut. "An oni! There's an oni! Get the beans! Throw beans at him!"
Early in the morning, an evil oni had come to the door.
The villager, terrified, quickly grabbed a handful of beans, carefully opened a crack in the door, and saw the blue oni baring his fangs and claws again.
Without a word, he threw the beans.
"Throw them all on him!"
"Go to hell!"