The village representative introduced himself as Kōchō to gather information about the demon. He was a thin man who looked just over forty.
The two members were led to Kōchō's house. A modest, small house. As if outsiders were rare, the gazes of the villagers pierced through every window and door crack. In this atmosphere, even the walls seemed to have ears.
Unlike Member Tsuyuri, who fidgeted uncomfortably, Flame Hashira Rengoku Shōjuro maintained a dignified seated posture.
"We apologize for visiting so abruptly and ask for your leniency. We are from the Demon Slayer Corps. We have come to exterminate the rumored demon hiding in these mountains."
At those frank words, Member Tsuyuri behind him panicked inwardly. It wasn't a lie, but it was too direct.
In this era of rapid civilization and enlightenment, suddenly bringing up demon tales would rarely be believed easily, even if this was a remote mountain village.
However, contrary to Tsuyuri's expectations, the villagers' reaction was quiet.
Too quiet. That silence soon acknowledged the demon's existence.
"……If you know something, please tell us."
As if sensing it too, the Flame Hashira asked in a somewhat strong tone. It seemed the other side had realized they detected the demon's presence, and a peculiar unease spread in the villagers' stillness. Hostility was rising from various places.
From the corner of his eye, Tsuyuri caught sight of an old man who seemed to have just returned from fieldwork, gripping a hoe like a weapon beyond the door crack.
"Mr. Shunjo, stop that."
The one who restrained the old man with a single word was Kōchō. Then, Kōchō turned toward the two members and spoke.
"……Couldn't you just turn a blind eye? I beg you like this."
Facing two youths much younger than himself, Kōchō bowed his head deeply enough to touch the tatami without hesitation.
Just seeing that sincere posture made it clear there were unavoidable circumstances. Following Kōchō's example, the other old men uniformly repeated the same words and bowed their heads.
The atmosphere wasn't one of being threatened by the demon. They didn't seem afraid of the demon either.
For some reason, the villagers were genuinely worried about the demon's safety.
The Demon Slayer Corps' mission is to kill demons. To ask them to spare a demon that should be slain—normally, it would be a request firmly refused, but.
"It seems there are circumstances. If it's all right, could you tell us?"
Rengoku Shōjuro stared at Kōchō with sharp eyes. As if relieved to see the youth answering seriously, Kōchō began speaking haltingly.
It was the story of a hornless demon.
・
・
・
Kōchō said it was one night when they learned that the young man who suddenly appeared and saved the village from the brink of death was a demon.
After it was revealed that the plague covering the village was due to a contaminated river, Kōchō decided to patrol the riverside every night. To at least hold a funeral for any bodies thrown in before they drifted away.
During that, he witnessed the young man picking up a corpse.
Kōchō didn't know about demons, but he had heard tales of monsters that eat humans. The moment he saw the young man picking up the corpse, he instantly realized his identity.
Carefully following so as not to be noticed by the young man, Kōchō peered through a crack in the door to see what he intended to do with the taken corpse, and there, small demons gathered, coveting the corpse.
Meeting the lifeless eyes of the already dead corpse, Kōchō trembled. He wanted to scream. He was scared. He thought if he didn't drive them out immediately, they would be attacked someday.
He wanted to run away right then, but paralyzed by overwhelming fear, Kōchō said he couldn't move from that spot for a while.
While staring with frozen gaze, he noticed something strange.
──Aren't you eating, big bro?
──I'm fine. I decided not to eat humans.
The young man merely watched the small demons eating the corpse. He only occasionally wiped the dirty mouths of the small demons and didn't try to eat the corpse himself.
Rather.
──Still hungry?
──Yeah, yeah, then eat this.
To the small demons still hungry after eating the corpse, he smiled and—snap—tore off his own arm from the shoulder.
──You don't have to hold back, eat your fill.
──We mustn't attack humans, so,
──If you're hungry, you have to tell big bro right away.
The moment he saw the young man smiling warmly like a mother, Kōchō said he forgot all about fear.
He was a demon who didn't attack or eat people, instead offering himself to soothe the small demons' hunger—completely different from the demon Kōchō knew.
He was the last being in this world that could be called 'evil'. Just a kind demon. Just a purely kind person.
Kōchō was ashamed of himself for trying to drive him out despite receiving great kindness.
Even if he was a demon, it didn't matter. He firmly resolved to accept him and hide him in these mountains.
But it was too significant a problem to hide and handle alone. Kōchō informed all the villagers except his son, and everyone, like Kōchō, decided to accept the young man and hide him in the mountains.
"Why didn't you tell your son?"
Shōjuro asked without thinking.
Kōchō's son was going to learn medicine from that demon. Even if it was a demon that didn't harm people, it was something he should have been told first.
"Telling a child tales of demons eating people would be too horrifying. If he gets scared and can't focus on studies, it would be troublesome. Even more so if he says he won't go to learn medicine anymore. And……"
"And?"
"That child said it. That his teacher is amazing, cool, and someone he respects. With eyes shining brightly, resembling my deceased wife. ……I didn't want to tarnish that light."
Perhaps he saw his lost wife in those shining eyes.
Kōchō smiled with lonely eyes and said.
"He's a really good person. Truly a good person, he is."
"Helping an old man like me who would die if left alone."
"The children by his side haven't harmed anyone either."
"They only eat those who committed suicide. Even if they eat people, it's different from murder."
"It's not that we aren't afraid of demons. But when humans die, they just become bones, right?"
"Then whether they become fertilizer for the soil or flesh and blood for demons, isn't it the same?"
The village elders added their words one by one. The man holding the hoe, called Mr. Shunjo, also made a bitter expression and pursed his lips.
"The demons you want to exterminate aren't here. Whether it's the Demon Slayer Corps or Momotarō, please don't meddle unnecessarily."
"……I understand the circumstances well."
Seeing Shōjuro nodding with a serious expression, a glimmer of hope seeped into the wrinkled faces of the elders. But as if pouring cold water on that light, Member Tsuyuri spoke in a tone of disbelief.
"Understand well…… What do you plan to do? You're not thinking of abandoning the mission and just going back, are you?"
Frankly, Tsuyuri was thinking, 'What's with that demon, it's really awkward to slay~' so it would be thankful if they let it go.
But for a man from the Rengoku family, a demon-hunting clan, and a Flame Hashira at that, to let a demon go was a big problem.
"No way. What I understood is only their circumstances. I don't mean to cancel the extermination of the corpse thieves."
Shōjuro spoke gently to his subordinate member. Tension swirled among the elders, but he, as the Flame Hashira, paid no mind and puffed out his chest.
"No matter the circumstances, stealing the corpses of the deceased who have bereaved families is not right. As one who has taken on the extermination of corpse thieves, I want to persuade them to stop that act alone."
A line delivered softly but confidently. It meant he would persuade, not slay and kill.
"If we make them stop stealing corpses, then technically the corpse thief extermination would be accomplished, right? Hmm, there should be no problem."
"Amazing. A stretch I could never think of as a Hashira."
"For me, who is clumsy at logic, that's a compliment, Kawachi."
"It's Tsuyuri. ……But, if they can't eat corpses, the demons will starve; what will you do about that?"
"I know demons who live solely on human blood. I don't know their whereabouts, but if they truly don't want to attack humans, they will put all effort into the search."
Shōjuro's eyes were sharp, proving his words weren't just empty talk on the spot. The elders' hostility had already vanished.
"………"
"What's wrong, Tsuyuri? If you have something to say, speak clearly."
"It's nothing. Just…… I was admiring how you truly are a friend of Urokodaki-senpai."
If he were here, he would surely have made the same judgment.
At Tsuyuri's words, not sarcastic but filled with genuine admiration, Shōjuro froze for a moment. Then he awkwardly turned his head away.
Somewhat exaggeratedly raising his voice with "Rather than that," but seeing his reddened ears, it's best not to add more.
"More importantly, are you all right, Tsuyuri? If things go like this, you might get caught up in a major violation."
"I'll be fine if I act like a victim, saying I couldn't defy the Flame Hashira's decision."
"Refreshingly cunning, you are."
"Please call it steadfast."
"Hmm, I like it. I should make you my tsuguko."
"Ah, my breathing is Water Breathing, so I'll just accept the sentiment."
Tsuyuri had no confidence to withstand the Flame Hashira's firepower. With his level of Water Breathing, it wouldn't even be a contest; it would end in a steam explosion.
The mission's policy was set as persuasion, not extermination, but problems still remained.
"I have no complaints about the Flame Hashira's decision, but the other guys probably won't stay still."
Several other members were participating in this mission. They were currently moving separately, searching for the demon's traces in the mountains.
If they find the demon's hideout first, things will definitely get complicated.
"We should hurry to go persuade. I ordered them to avoid combat until I arrive, so they won't immediately slay them, but……."
Shōjuro, who was about to say someone should guide them to the demon's hideout, stopped speaking.
Footsteps were heard. The loud, stumbling footsteps of a boy. Hearing that sound, Kōchō nodded and looked at Shōjuro and his group.
"That's my son. Just in time. Let my son guide you to the hideout. ……By the way, did something good happen? It's rare for Nobuya to run like that──"
Cutting off Kōchō's puzzled words, the boy almost tumbled into the house. Placing his hands on his knees, breathing roughly—but the boy's face when he looked up had no sign of joy.
"Te, Teacher's…… house……!"
The boy gasped with a pale face.
Swallowing saliva between ragged breaths, a desperate tear streamed down his cheek.
"Rei-sensei's house is on fire……!"
＊
The time goes back a little, to just past 4 PM when the sun was still up.
Right after boy Nobuya wiped his eyes and left his teacher's side. Several shadows appeared around the old house where children's voices leaked out.
The men in black clothes all glared at the shabby house with equally vicious expressions.
"Is the demon here?"
"Yeah, couldn't find any other hideouts."
"There's a shabby village, but the Flame Hashira and his group went to investigate there."
"If there's nothing in the village, then this place must be……."
The hideout of the demons called 'corpse thieves'.
Listening closely, children's laughter leaked from inside the old house. Such innocent liveliness didn't match the demons they knew at all.
A doubt flashed by—what if those in the house were human?—but seeing the house thoroughly blocking sunlight, it had to be demons.
Then, the emotion to feel at the innocent laughter should be creepiness, not warmth.
They were evil demons living without recognizing sin, stealing and eating human corpses.
"What should we do? Charge in and slay them?"
"Yeah, it's daytime, so we have the advantage."
"Wait. The Flame Hashira ordered us to standby. Not to cause a commotion during the day."
"But if we wait for night, the demons will scatter, and the commotion will get bigger."
The men voiced their opinions. They had to follow their superior the Hashira's order, but the prevailing thought was that in this situation, they could handle it themselves without troubling the Hashira.
It didn't take long for a conclusion to be reached.
"But it's better to avoid going inside the house."
"Right, if there's a trap, it would be a disaster."
"Then how? If we dawdle, the sun will set."
"I have a good idea."
All the men's eyes turned to one man who raised his hand in a strong tone. He took out a small box from his pocket and picked up a short black-headed stick from inside. Matches.
"Let's use this."
Everyone realized what the man meant.
If today had been a windy day, no one would have made such a suggestion. But today was weather without a breeze. The men had confidence they could manage it.
"Let's drag the ugly demons out into the sunlight."
Nodding, hatred for demons burned in the men's eyes.
The old house would surely make good fuel.
＊
The moment they saw smoke rising from the mountaintop, the elders' screams erupted, turning into chaos in an instant.
"Rei?"
Amid the ear-splitting uproar, the one who asked the sobbing Nobuya wasn't Shōjuro. It was Member Tsuyuri, who grabbed Nobuya's shoulder with a bloodless face. His lips were trembling.
"Th, that demon…… is his hair white? Eyes red? Carrying a sword? On his eyes…… isn't there some character engraved?"
Bombarded by the frantic questions from the pale stranger, the frightened Nobuya nodded. At that moment, Tsuyuri let out a silent groan and knelt.
White hair. Red pupils. Sword.
Shōjuro could think of only one person from those three words. But why such features appeared in the description of a demon, Shōjuro couldn't understand.
……No, actually, he had a vague premonition. As if denying that premonition, Shōjuro also asked with bloodless lips.
"You…… what do you know?"
Swallowing, Tsuyuri hesitated to answer for a while, then exhaled a labored breath as if choking on the world's despair and dejection—
"Urokodaki-senpai."
He confessed in a thin, trembling voice.
"That demon…… is Urokodaki Rei."
A sound as if the world was crumbling, burning.
＊
Opening my eyes to heat so intense it distorted my sense of season, my surroundings were ablaze, hot, scorching.
To describe it in Sengoku-era terms, the Honnō-ji Incident; in Edo-era terms, the vegetable merchant Oshichi. Plainly speaking, it was on fire. Hotter than the Rio de Janeiro Carnival~.
"What, why?!"
What happened while I was asleep? Jumping up in a hurry, the children surrounding me rushed over, crying.
I should have been sleeping in a corner of the room, but now I'm in the center of the house. It seems everyone moved me here. I'm grateful. Thanks to that, I'm barely avoiding being burned.
But in this sea of fire, it's only a matter of time!
"Sleeping soundly even in this situation, you're really too carefree!"
Mayu shouted more sharply than usual, ignoring the burning sounds.
Beside her, spider webs shot from her hands blocked the flames spreading across the floor, while Rui barely supported the collapsing roof with threads.
"What's happening?!"
"I don't know……!"
Mom sobbed, swallowing her breath.
"The fire started suddenly. Surely someone set it from outside……!"
Before her words ended, she burst into tears and covered her face. Yukari desperately patted her back to calm her.
Set fire—by whom? It can't be the villagers. They wouldn't do such a thing. Then, have we been discovered by the Demon Slayer Corps?
No, never mind that now. Let's think of a way out of this situation.
White smoke rising to the ceiling slowly turned turbid and swirled. What was it, black smoke is bad to inhale, right?
"Bow your heads. Don't inhale the smoke."
A demon's body isn't one to be broken by mere flames. But demons also feel heat as hot and pain as painful. Inhaling smoke chokes you, and if your lungs burn, it's agonizing enough to make you cry. That wounds heal quickly means repeating painful experiences.
"Hot……."
"Throat, hurts……!"
"Breath……!"
"It's okay, it'll be fine…… Here, cover your mouths with your sleeves."
Holding the crying children, especially the small ones, I felt pathetic that I could only offer comforting words.
If only I could use a demon art that spews water, but unlike Rui and the others who shoot threads to support the house, I, who can do nothing, am the most useless.
"Rui, come here. Here, this way."
"I'm fine. You sit there, big bro."
"What foolish talk, if you stay there, you'll burn──"
"The one talking foolishly is you, Rei!"
Mayu's scream tore through my ears.
"Right now, the one who mustn't burn is you!!"
Even in a situation where anger is called for, somehow I feel relief at her sharp scream, as usual.
"We'll manage even if we burn! But you're different. Your regeneration is weakened, right?! Planning to become charcoal?!"
Choking on the scorching heat, Mayu shouted. Already, the whole house was filled with black smoke, making it impossible to distinguish each other except by voice.
In the blackened, blurred vision, I don't even know if my eyes are open now.
Breathing makes my chest tight and hot. Heat, perhaps hundreds of degrees, invades from my throat to my trachea and lungs. The more I breathe, my chest shrinks, even my sweat glands burn away──
Everything becomes unknown.
Consciousness gradually fades, thoughts dull, senses go out one by one.
A sound like branches breaking overhead.
"Big bro, dodge!!"
Who shouted?
With a clattering sound, something crushed me.
It seemed painful, hot, or perhaps nothing at all.
All emotions burned black, and what remained at the end──
Hunger.
＊
"I heard rumors of a demon hunter among demons not long ago!"
At the sobbing shout of Tsuyuri chasing behind, Shōjuro listened without stopping his steps.
"They said he had red eyes, white hair, and carried a purple sword! The moment I heard, I immediately thought it was senpai!"
Now, even without boy Nobuya's guidance, it was obvious where the hideout was. The direction where black smoke billowed.
"Why didn't you report it!"
"If I reported, the Demon Slayer Corps would kill senpai!!"
Tsuyuri shouted with a voice ready to burst, stronger than Shōjuro's yell.
"No matter how kind senpai was, just for being associated with a demon, they drove him away! Then no matter how good senpai is, no matter the good deeds he's doing, just for being a demon, it's obvious they'd kill him!!"
Shōjuro couldn't refute. The Demon Slayer Corps would surely have done so.
Still, thinking that at least to him alone, he wished Tsuyuri had secretly tipped him off—was that an arrogant hope?
"The Demon Slayer Corps, guys who think anything goes to kill demons!!"
──According to Nobuya's testimony, the ones who set fire to Rei's hideout were men in black clothes.
He didn't witness the arson directly. But smelling smoke and returning to Rei's house, he said men were standing around the house engulfed in flames.
In front of the blazing fire, not causing a commotion, not trying to put it out, just staring—it's only natural to conclude they set the fire.
"To me, the Demon Slayer Corps looks like demons!!"
As if answering Tsuyuri's wail, the sky suddenly darkened. Black clouds loomed over the sunset-red sky, and the drizzling raindrops instantly turned into a downpour as if buckets were poured.
Mountain weather is fickle. Rain that would normally only annoy felt like salvation now.
"And──on senpai's eyes──there's──engraved……"
Blocked by the downpour, Tsuyuri's shout from behind grew faint. Couldn't tell what he was saying, but Shōjuro had no time to ask back.
Focusing his mind to not let his breathing falter from the shaking heart, he dashed. One step, two steps, three steps—the smoke smell grew thicker as he ran.
The mountaintop drenched in rain. In the open center stood a collapsed house.
Right in the middle, a black scarecrow stands. The scarecrow, emitting black smoke while getting wet in the rain, takes a step forward.
It can't be a scarecrow.
It had human form.
The head part, charred like charcoal, opens its eyes. The pupils barely spared from burning lose shape, becoming mushy with a molten iron hue. What remains is only a nostalgic color.
Not a trace of the kindness once held in his comrade's eyes.
"Everyone──"
Shōjuro's shout couldn't catch up.
As if judging that one demon charred black enough for regeneration to not keep up could be handled somehow, one member gripped his Nichirin Blade and charged.
The next moment, the member flew through the air. Too fast to tell if thrown or hit. Even the one flying through the air seemed not to know what happened, with a dazed face, tumbling down the mountain.
"──Everyone evacuate!! Strengthen the village's defense!!"
Shōjuro's belated shout followed. His sword was already drawn.
The first to run down the mountain was Tsuyuri. The demon pounced roaring as if targeting his back, and Shōjuro blocked his claws by a hair's breadth.
How to connect this hungry, angry beast-like him now with the kind inspector he once was.
Please, let no one notice. That he was him.
He is no longer him. Just a demon. The Demon Slayer Corps drove him onto the demon's path. We are the ones who ruined that beautiful sword, that existence.
"I'll handle this! Hurry to the village!!"
Pushed back by Shōjuro's shout, the other members also ran after Tsuyuri.
But──
"Big bro! Stop, return to your usual self!!"
At that shout, a few stopped their steps.
The figure of a boy crawling out from under the collapsed house. Desperately shouting, that appearance was clearly a demon. Following the boy, other shadows revealed themselves from the burned ruins. They too were demons.
Perhaps judging it faster to slay the demons here than go protect the village. Several members turned their steps toward them.
A single slash. No hesitation. To them, demons were beings to be slain. The head of the demon closest to the sword, the smallest one, flew up and rolled through the mud like a ball.
The curtain of hell rose.
Child. Woman. Boy. Man. Girl.
In the downpour, all sorts of screams were swallowed by the sound of water. The demons scattered like spiderlings, and the members chased them. No matter how much Shōjuro shouted, those shouts didn't reach.
Was it because of the rain erasing the world? Or because of their hatred that wouldn't stop without exterminating the demons?
The members' eyes were bloodshot as they mercilessly targeted the fleeing demons.
Like this, like this, no more──
Which side is the demon?
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