Kikai Banashi Hanasaka Ikkyuu

A creature named Karma challenges people to intellectual contests, offering a wish to those who win or taking their soul if they lose. Hanasaku Ikkyuu, a young monk known for his intelligence, once enjoyed solving riddles until his mother became ill and his skills proved useless. He abandoned his cleverness after that. Karma locates Ikkyuu and proposes a contest. On the same day, Ikkyuu saves a sick beggar boy. Karma presents Ikkyuu with a chance to use his intellect again, raising the question of whether it can now help those in need.