The Lotus Monster Book

“Those toads are poison to humans. Only tanuki can
eat them without dying.”
At the Tanuki’s words, the emperor ordered the cook’s
head to be chopped off, but Tanuki-san said, “No, I need cook
to find more toads and cook them into a broth.”
The young priest grabbed the tanuki, shaking it, “You
are as nasty as a tanuki as you were as a pot. More toad
soup will kill the child.”
The Tanuki instantly turned back into a pot, but he whispered
to the old priest. “Cook the toad soup in another pot
and then pour only the broth into me. When the broth is
cool, feed it to the child. Trust me.”
“Trust a monster like you?” the young priest yelled. “Never.”
The emperor looked at the old priest? “Do you believe
Tanuki-san?”
Nodding, the priest said, “I trust he knows how to change
a poison into a powerful medicine.”
The emperor said, “So be it. Her life is in your hands.”
So everything was done as the tanuki ordered. The hot toad
soup was poured into the ancient pot, and when the soup
was cool, the old Priest fed the broth to the princess. After
just two sips, her eyes opened, and she smiled at her father.
In two days, she was well, and she begged her father to keep
the pot for her.
“Would you stay and be my teacher, Tanuki-sama?” the
princess bowed low before the begging pot. “We shall give
you whatever you wish, won’t we, father?”
“Yes, indeed, Tanuki-sama. Won’t you stay?” the emperor
asked respectfully.
The pot immediately sprouted legs, tail and head. He