*ClickClack
*ClickClack
*ClickClack
The sound of footsteps echoed through the silent streets in the middle of the night.
A young girl walked alone under the dim glow of the lanterns. Pale skin, black eyes, and long silky dark brown-red hair swayed gently behind her. She wore a black yukata with red and yellow flower patterns.
She was the same girl whose shoulder had been stabbed two days ago.
'This is already the fifth round… and still nothing happened.'
'He said he would be watching… but I can't see him anywhere.'
'He didn't abandon me… right?'
*Clunk
*ThudThump
Heavy footsteps broke the silence.
She froze.
*ThumpThudThump
Slowly, she turned around.
At first, there was only darkness. But as the figure came closer, her pupils shrank—
—and she ran.
A man, gripping a giant axe, charged toward her. His face twisted in the same grotesque madness as the one who had attacked her before.
'I think this is the right direction…'
*ClickClack
*ThumpThump
The distance between them kept shrinking.
*HuffHuff
After taking several sharp turns, she finally reached a stable.
Her face lit up.
'I found it!'
She rushed inside and spun around to face her pursuer.
*Grrr
The man blocked the entrance, his lips curling into a sinister grin.
No escape.
Without hesitation, he lunged forward.
The axe came down—
She shut her eyes.
"Good job."
A calm voice echoed behind the man.
*Thud
When she opened her eyes, the man was already unconscious.
Standing in his place was a silver-haired boy, a sword resting on his back—and a coffin strapped behind him.
Jin turned toward her, scanning for injuries.
"Are you okay?"
"Y-Yes… I think so."
She replied, still catching her breath.
After a moment, he looked straight into her eyes.
"Do you remember what you have to do now?"
"Yes."
"Then start."
"…"
Her lips trembled.
No words came out.
"We don't have time. Hurry up."
"I… I…"
*Sigh
Jin let out a heavy breath.
In one smooth motion, he unsheathed his sword and pointed it at her.
"If you can't do this, then you're useless to me."
"I have no choice but to get rid of you."
Her face went pale.
"No… you can't—!"
"Yes, I can."
He stepped forward and thrust his sword.
"Aaaaaahhhhhh!!"
"Someone help—help me—!"
"Please—no—no—!"
Jin calmly sheathed his blade and nodded.
"Good. Now for the end."
Before she could react—
*Pinch
"AAAAAAHHHHHHH!!"
Her scream echoed across the entire area.
"Perfect," Jin said flatly.
He removed the coffin from his back and took out a corpse—the body of an orphan girl who had died earlier that day in the city hospital.
Picking up the axe, he began stabbing the corpse.
Meanwhile, the girl clutched her waist, tears forming in her eyes.
"You're so mean…"
"I cooperated with you… even risked my life…"
"And you still did this to me…"
She glared at him, aggrieved.
Jin slowly turned.
"What did you just say?"
His voice turned cold.
"You almost ruined my entire plan with your hesitation."
"Do you even know how many people will die if I fail to kill that demon?"
He stepped closer.
"And you're complaining about a pinch?"
"There are kids younger than you in the corps who've lost limbs… eyes…"
"And they still fight."
"They fight so people like you can live without fear."
His gaze sharpened.
"And you couldn't even complete a simple task."
"I…"
"I'm sorry…"
Her head dropped.
Jin snorted and went back to work.
A few minutes later, he placed the body outside the stable, then hoisted the unconscious man onto his shoulder.
"Follow me."
The next morning, the body was discovered.
The townspeople gathered. The police arrived.
As expected, the case was dismissed from their jurisdiction.
The girl was buried.
From a distance, Jin watched everything silently.
And after sunset—
Someone entered the graveyard.
'A human?'
'And not under control…'
The man began digging.
An hour later, he pulled out the corpse, wrapped it in cloth, and carried it away.
Jin followed.
Through the forest…
Through a hidden path…
And finally—
A tunnel.
'So this is where you've been hiding.'
Jin jumped in.
He jumped into the tunnel, and after falling for some time, he swiftly landed in the basement.
'Total concentration'
'Wind breathing'
He vanished, moving silently across the shadows, searching for the demon.
Somewhere ahead, faint sounds reached his ears.
"Master, a demon slayer is assigned to this city. We cannot continue this any longer, or we will get caught," a trembling voice whispered.
"I don't care, I can feel that I am near my next evolution" came the gruff reply.
In front of the man, a demon stood—seven feet tall, grey-skinned, and emaciated. It looked like a walking corpse, munching on a half-eaten body while a pile of skeletons lay nearby.
"Bring me more corpses, and after finishing my evolution, I will kill that demon hunter!"
"But master…"
Kurai stammered.
"Do you want to become my next meal, Kurai?"
"I deeply apologize, master"
Kurai immediately knelt.
The demon tossed a small pouch toward Kurai.
"Take these pills. I want at least ten more corpses within a week."
Kurai hesitated, glancing nervously at the demon.
"The demon hunter knocked out all the people I fed these pills"
He admitted.
"Oh! Then feed it to those with family. That demon hunter cannot knock people inside their homes, can he?"
The demon's grin was monstrous, and Kurai began sweating.
"Y-yes, master…"
From the shadows, Jin's brows furrowed.
'These pills… capable of turning normal humans into savages? If modified, could they do it permanently?'
He stepped back into a stance.
'Flame breathing: Third Form'
Jin sprinted forward and launched into the air, blade arcing in a vertical slash.
'Blazing Universe'
The fiery slash struck the demon, cutting its entire right arm to ash.
"Ugh…"
"The… demon slayer!"
Kurai bolted toward the exit. Jin smiled slightly; he had already alerted the local police.
'Two dozen guns waiting for him…'
He ignored Kurai and turned his focus back to the demon, whose right arm was slowly regenerating.
"You have two options, demon"
Jin said, eyes sharp.
"Answer my questions politely, or I will make you."
"Kekeke… big words for a puny human"
The demon sneered, stuffing the entire pouch into its mouth. Within seconds, its body expanded, growing ten meters tall, muscles bulging over its previously skeletal frame.
"I will show you why demons are superior"
It roared, charging toward Jin. Despite its size, it moved more slowly than a human in Jin's vision.
'First Form: Unknowing Fire'
The demon swung its massive fists. Jin's blade moved faster—swift cuts severed both hands in an instant.
'Seventh Form: Avid Flame'
He sliced through the demon's legs and half its torso. The creature collapsed, lifeless, realizing it had overestimated its power even after evolution.
'So this is the end for me…'
"Now tell me about those pills. Where and how can you get them?"
The demon tried to speak but only managed a hoarse whisper:
"Go… to hell…"
Suddenly, its body began to inflate and explode violently. Chunks of its massive body flew toward Jin, but he rotated his blade:
'Wind Breathing: Third Form – Clean Storm'
A small tornado formed, repelling the flying debris. When the dust cleared, nothing of the demon remained.
'Shit… now what?'
Kurai was still tied up, trembling. Jin knew interrogation would be difficult—Kurai likely had little knowledge about the pills' origin.
After making sure Kurai was secured, Jin left the basement and reemerged into the quiet night of Toyonaka City. Lanterns flickered in the empty streets as he made his way toward Amagasaki city, carrying the deadly pills safely.
'No way these stay in circulation… not after what I just witnessed'
The journey was tense but uneventful. By the time dawn broke, Jin reached the safehouse designated by the headquarters. He handed over the pouch, ensuring it was stored in the containment chamber.
'At least this threat is contained… for now'
-
After completing his mission, Jin left Toyonaka and headed toward Amagasaki to report.
The road was quiet.
"Okay, you can come out now."
Silence.
Then—
A girl stepped out from behind a tree.
It was her.
"Why are you following me?"
"I'm not following you…"
"I'm just… coming with you."
Jin stared at her blankly.
Then turned and continued walking.
"Wait!"
She ran ahead and blocked his path.
"Please, just listen."
"Hmm."
She took a deep breath.
"I want to become a demon slayer."
"Good for you."
He tried to walk past her.
She grabbed his hand.
"At least hear me out!"
"I want to learn from you."
"You said demon slayers are too few compared to demons."
"So why are you refusing?"
Jin sighed.
"There are two things you should know."
"First—demon slayers are born with talent."
"If you don't have it, no amount of effort will help."
"And second—even if you do…"
"You train under instructors."
"Not someone like me."
The girl smiled confidently.
"You don't have to worry about that."
"I have talent."
"And I don't care about ranks."
"I just want to learn from you."
"I won't hesitate again."
Jin narrowed his eyes.
"Is that so?"
His pupils glowed faintly white.
"Whoa… your eyes are shining!"
She leaned closer, fascinated.
Jin ignored her.
'Her aura… small, but incredibly dense.'
'Even denser than Makomo's.'
'And… golden?'
'No breathing style I know has that color.'
'She'll have to create her own.'
"Hey! Mr. Slayer! Come back!"
He snapped out of his thoughts.
"Ah… sorry."
"So… about my request?"
Jin turned and started walking again.
Her shoulders dropped.
Then—
"If you can keep up…"
"I'll accept."
Her face lit up instantly.
She ran beside him.
"Where are we going, Mr. Slayer?"
"Mitaka Jin."
"Huh?"
"My name."
"Oh!"
She grinned.
"I didn't tell you mine either."
She looked straight ahead, smiling brightly.
"My name is Shimizu Asumi."