Night returned to the ruined city.
Not gently.
Not quietly.
It crept back in—
Like something reclaiming its territory.
The faint light of the day disappeared behind thick clouds, swallowing what little safety remained.
Darkness took over again.
Inside the abandoned house—
Silence.
For once—
Real silence.
Maru lay near the wall, one arm loosely resting over the metal bat beside her. Even in sleep, her grip hadn't fully relaxed.
Daichi was sprawled in the corner, snoring loudly, completely unaware of anything around him.
Hikari had fallen asleep sitting against the wall, her glasses still slightly tilted on her face, her breathing soft and steady.
They were exhausted.
Completely drained.
For them—
Sleep came easily.
But not for everyone.
Rishiro slowly opened his eyes.
No sudden movement.
No confusion.
Just—
Awake.
"…Alright."
His voice was quiet.
Almost like he had been waiting for this moment.
He sat up slowly, careful not to make unnecessary noise.
His gaze briefly moved across the room.
Checking.
Confirming.
Everyone was asleep.
Good.
He stood up.
Light.
Silent.
From the corner of the room, he grabbed his dark cloak and threw it over his shoulders.
The fabric settled naturally, blending him into the shadows.
The chainsaw rested beside the door.
He picked it up without hesitation.
Then moved toward the exit.
Step by step—
Until—
He stopped.
Something sat beside the door.
Small.
Still.
Watching.
Nando babā.
The little yokai sat there like a grumpy statue, arms crossed tightly as she stared at the entrance like it personally offended her.
Rishiro looked down at her.
"…Didn't know you did that too."
The yokai immediately reacted.
"Tch."
Her voice was sharp.
"This is my house!"
She pointed slightly at the floor.
"Someone has to make sure noisy humans don't break it while sleeping!"
Rishiro smirked faintly.
"Right."
He placed a hand on the door and slowly pushed it open.
The cold night air slipped inside immediately.
"Keep guarding the place."
He stepped outside.
"I'll be back after I gather some information."
The yokai didn't respond.
But she didn't move either.
Still guarding.
Still watching.
Outside—
The city felt different at night.
Heavier.
Darker.
Alive in the worst way possible.
Clouds covered most of the moon, leaving only faint traces of light across the ruined streets.
Rishiro didn't walk.
He climbed.
His movements were smooth and controlled as he scaled the side of the nearest building.
No wasted motion.
No hesitation.
Within seconds—
He reached the rooftop.
From there—
He moved.
Jumping from one building to another.
Light.
Fast.
Silent.
Like a shadow passing through shadows.
Below him—
The city told its story.
Several survivor groups had formed.
Some huddled together inside buildings, too afraid to move.
Others cautiously fought weaker yokai, struggling with every encounter.
Some argued loudly—
Voices filled with fear, frustration, and desperation.
Everyone was trying to survive.
But no one knew how.
Rishiro didn't interfere.
Didn't help.
Didn't reveal himself.
He simply observed.
Because right now—
Information was more valuable than strength.
Patterns.
Behavior.
Power levels.
Human reactions.
Everything mattered.
Eventually—
He stopped.
His movement slowed as his gaze focused on something below.
A familiar group.
Kenta Moriyama.
The self-proclaimed leader stood confidently in the center of an open area.
Even now—
He looked composed.
Untouched.
Around him, several survivors gathered, listening closely.
Following.
Beside him—
A girl sat quietly.
Yumi.
Calm.
Unshaken.
Her long hair moved gently with the night wind as she listened without interrupting.
Rishiro crouched low on the rooftop.
Blending perfectly into the darkness.
Hidden.
Watching.
Listening.
Kenta laughed.
Loud.
Confident.
"I told you guys before."
"That idiot made a mistake."
One of the survivors frowned.
"You mean that chainsaw guy?"
Kenta nodded.
"Yeah."
"The one who thought he was funny."
He scoffed slightly.
"Refusing to join us was the dumbest decision he could've made."
Another voice spoke up.
"You think he's dead already?"
Kenta shrugged.
"Probably."
A small laugh escaped him.
"This world isn't kind to idiots."
Above them—
Rishiro rested his chin on his hand.
"…Rude."
His tone was quiet.
Almost amused.
But he didn't react further.
He kept listening.
Because this—
Was useful.
The conversation shifted.
One of the survivors leaned in slightly.
Lowering his voice.
"Did you hear the rumor?"
Kenta's interest sharpened immediately.
"What rumor?"
The man hesitated.
Then spoke carefully.
"Some survivors saw something."
"A huge yokai."
"Red skin."
"Massive body."
He swallowed slightly.
"They said it looked like some kind of demon."
A pause.
Then—
"Like an Asura."
The atmosphere changed instantly.
The group fell silent.
Even the wind seemed to pause.
Someone spoke—
Voice tense.
"…How strong is it?"
The man shook his head.
"Way stronger than the ones we've fought."
A beat.
Then—
His eyes lit up slightly.
"…imagine the reward for killing something like that."
That single sentence—
Changed everything.
Fear—
Mixed with greed.
Kenta smirked.
Now fully interested.
"Now that sounds interesting."
Yumi finally spoke.
Her voice calm.
Measured.
Unlike the others.
"Rumors like that usually spread for a reason."
She looked slightly upward.
"Something like that might really exist."
Above them—
Rishiro's eyes narrowed slightly.
A giant yokai.
A demon-level existence.
Something far beyond what they had faced so far.
Dangerous.
Extremely dangerous.
But—
Not impossible.
And more importantly—
Not random.
A system wouldn't introduce something like that without purpose.
Which meant—
Reward.
Opportunity.
Progress.
A small smile formed on his face.
Slow.
Sharp.
Interested.
He stood up quietly.
The wind caught his cloak, making it ripple softly behind him.
No sound.
No presence.
Just—
Movement.
He stepped back into the darkness.
And vanished.
Leaping across rooftops once more—
Already thinking.
Already planning.
Already calculating.
Because this—
Wasn't just survival anymore.
This was strategy.
And somewhere deep inside—
That faint, glitching presence stirred again.
Watching him.
Interested.
Like it had been waiting—
For him to aim higher.
End of Chapter 17