Chapter 12: Kid, I'm Warning You: Don't Play with Fire
A few days later.
Natsuya returned to the deep mountains where his Sodate, Kazami Koichi, resided.
"Kazami-sensei! I'm back!"
Catching sight of the small hut and the old man watering the fields from a distance, the boy shouted out a greeting.
Over the past few days, Natsuya had been practicing his Breathing Style and sword forms during his travel breaks. However, he was still quite a way off from Level 4.
I wish I could find a few more of those 'High-Quality Event Dungeons,' he thought. Just give me mobs to farm and skills to grind.
He had managed to hoard 1 more Achievement Point, but he'd need at least six more to hit Level 4. If he dumped his points in all at once without maxing out his efficiency, it felt like a waste of resources.
As he was lost in thought, he saw the old man drop his buckets and yoke.
The old man began rushing toward him. At first, it was just a fast walk, then a sprint, his robes billowing violently in the wind.
In Natsuya's VFX-enhanced vision, it wasn't just an old man running. It looked like an ancient, primeval beast hurtling forward atop an invisible hurricane.
That speed... those effects. My 'Cheap Master' has to have Wind Breathing at least at LV.5 or higher.
"It's been a while, Sense—"
OOF!
Kazami Koichi pulled Natsuya into a deep embrace, gripping him with enough force to make his ribs ache.
"Good to have you back, you brat."
Wait, what? Is this some kind of special scripted event?
Natsuya was genuinely surprised. Did I skip an 'Affection Point' cutscene? Before I left, this old man was always scolding me about 'sloppy breathing' and 'weak swings.' Why is he acting so... out of character?
After a moment of being stunned, Natsuya chose not to skip the dialogue.
Honestly, the game was too realistic. The exhaustion from days of travel, the adrenaline of bloodied steel, the lingering shiver of life-and-death encounters, and now... the heavy, solid warmth radiating from the old man.
None of it could be summarized by the simple status icons on his System Panel.
In a daze, Natsuya suddenly remembered a New Year's Day many years ago. He had returned home from university with his luggage, and his father was standing in the doorway under the porch light. His father had given him the same silent hug.
When Natsuya felt overwhelmed, his father had just laughed and patted his back. It was the same warmth.
"Ol'—I mean, Kazami-sensei," Natsuya said, lightly patting the old man's slightly hunched back. His voice was softer than he realized. "I passed the Selection. I'm back."
Why is my nose stinging? Damn it, you devs... trying to bait me into a 'feels' trip!
That night.
For once, Natsuya didn't grind or plan. He chose to just sleep.
When he finally woke up the next day, the sun was high in the sky. He let out a long yawn and wandered into the training dojo. The sleep had been incredible; all his [Fatigue] and negative debuffs had vanished.
Natsuya sat across from Kazami and began eating the Oden the old man had prepared. He didn't skip the scene. He ate while excitedly recounting his travels.
The stories made the old man, who hadn't left the mountains in years, sputter and glare.
"What do you mean 'High Base Stats'? 'Imbalanced Mechanics'? Oh, you mean the demons' bodies are superior to ours? Well, obviously! You can't just tank their hits..."
"What? You encountered a demon with a Blood Demon Art?! No wonder you lost your sword. You've had a rough time, Kokonoe..."
"You've already mastered Total Concentration Breathing? Such rapid progress..."
"You think the Master might be a schemer? Nonsense! Impossible! Whether it was the previous leader or the current Master, they are the most gentle and courageous people I know..."
"You saved other swordsmen? Huh? A young girl? Tell me everything, don't leave out the details!"
"You requested a custom weapon? I've never heard of a rookie doing that..."
"I never expected it. After only one year of training, you've become a mature swordsman, Natsuya."
Kazami sat upright, his expression turning serious.
"It is truly impressive. I can no longer look at you as just a child. There are things I must tell you now."
"Demons come in many varieties. Aside from the common ones, there are those who have gained immense power by consuming many humans."
Natsuya nodded. Most of the demons he'd killed so far fit that description. Zero technique, zero skills—just trash mobs with high health pools. As long as a Slayer was cautious, they were manageable.
"But the real danger," Kazami continued, "lies with those who possess supernatural abilities called [Blood Demon Arts]."
"Like the one you met during the Selection. Each is unique. Their individual strength is top-tier among demons, and because their abilities are unknown until you fight them, they are incredibly lethal."
Kazami listed several demons he remembered from his youth. A demon that could teleport by stomping the ground. A demon that could spit unquenchable fire. A demon that could trap people in hallucinations through eye contact.
"Against those 'Gimmick Mobs,' no matter how strong your swordsmanship is, you'll die if you don't figure out the mechanic."
I get it, Natsuya thought. Mechanism Bosses. Like that 'Rust Fruit' demon—one touch and it's 'Weapon Destroyed.' A regular Slayer is helpless once their sword snaps.
"However..." Kazami's voice dropped an octave. "Even those demons aren't the true threat. Because no matter how dangerous the ability is, the demon is still flesh and blood. They can be decapitated. And if they are decapitated, they die."
"Natsuya, once you start taking solo missions, watch a demon's eyes. Specifically, those with numbers engraved in them: The Twelve Kizuki."
Kazami took a deep breath. "If you see them, send your Kasugai Crow for help immediately. Request a higher-ranked Slayer, or even a Hashira. Do not try to solo them. They are not opponents you can win against right now."
"Requesting backup, stalling, or just surviving until sunrise—that counts as a victory. If you have to, abandon the mission and run. That is acceptable."
Natsuya was surprised. This didn't sound like something his stiff, traditional Master would say.
"The Twelve Kizuki? So the demons don't have Four Heavenly Kings, they have Twelve? Is it like the Zodiac or something?"
"They are the Twelve Demon Moons," Kazami corrected. "Six Upper Moons and Six Lower Moons. Every one of them has physical stats that dwarf common demons, and they all possess terrifying Blood Demon Arts. They are the personal guard of the Demon King, Kibutsuji Muzan."
"What about the Demon King himself?" Natsuya asked, his "Gamer IQ" piqued. "How strong is he? Can he solo his own Twelve Kizuki?"
Seeing Natsuya's excitement at the mention of a challenge, Kazami warned him sternly.
"I don't know how strong he is, but he is certainly stronger than the Moons. All demons are created from his blood. He is the progenitor. He won't be weak."
"I am warning you: do not even think about seeking him out for revenge. It is suicide. He is not an opponent you or I can defeat. Furthermore... there hasn't been a confirmed sighting of him in over a hundred years. No one knows where he hides."
Oh, I see. A mysterious Endgame Boss. Maybe the devs haven't even finished his model yet; he's just a lore character for now.
Natsuya wasn't afraid. Instead, he felt a spark of anticipation. Conquering the challenges set by the developers through skill and strategy was the best part of any game.
"Forget the King for a second," Natsuya asked. "What about you, Kazami-sensei? If you fought one of the Twelve Kizuki, what are your win rates?"
Since Kazami was the highest-level Friendly NPC Natsuya had seen, he could use him as a benchmark for the Moons' power.
Kazami fell silent for a long time. Finally, he spoke.
"The Lower Moons... they change frequently. They aren't invincible. In my prime, if I put my life on the line... I might have been able to defeat Lower Moon Three or Four."
Wait, really? Natsuya did the math. Kazami had a Power Level of 187 and LV.5+ Wind Breathing. Even a common demon with a stat of 300 probably couldn't touch him.
But if you factored in Blood Demon Arts, it changed the math. That 'Rust' demon only had a stat of 50, but he was more dangerous than a mob with 80. If the Moons had high stats and broken abilities, then yeah, a regular Slayer wouldn't stand a chance.
"And the Upper Moons? How strong are they?"
Kazami went quiet again.
"I don't know."
"You don't know? Is the gap that big? You wouldn't last a few frames?"
"No," Kazami said gravely. "I don't know because for the last hundred years, no one has ever seen an Upper Moon and lived to tell the tale."
"Everyone died?"
"Yes. Everyone."
Every Slayer Corps unit that had ever encountered an Upper Moon was annihilated. Because they left no survivors, there was no intel. No one knew what those six demons looked like, where they hid, or what their powers were.
Natsuya frowned. "What about the Hashira? There are nine of them, right? Surely they know something."
In every game, Natsuya thought, the 'Gotei 13' or 'Hashira' equivalent are supposed to trade blows with the top-tier villains.
Kazami looked at him and shook his head slowly.
"I was talking about the Hashira, Natsuya."
"The Nine Hashira have almost never been at full strength. Part of it is because talent is rare. But the main reason? The Upper Moons have slaughtered countless Hashira over the years."
"Against an Upper Moon... even a Hashira is lucky just to die quickly."
Natsuya: "..."
That's a hell of a difficulty spike.