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Presumably, many people in the world have had troubles similar to mine.
How to explain to a child the cruel reality that his father doesn't love him?
Even Takehime as his mother couldn't bear to tell him bluntly.
I was extremely unwilling, but still bore the humiliation of gilding Tsugikuni Michikatsu's face. "He's doing alright. Actually, actually he's doing something remarkable, so he can't come back to see you..."
Speaking well of Tsugikuni Michikatsu was truly disgusting. After returning, I had to find an excuse to beat him up.
Hirono's eyes brightened. Not the slightest bit dejected that his father abandoned him. "Yes, what is Father doing?"
I said he was being a demon hunter. Daily refining swordsmanship. Also had to ride through the night, rushing to places threatened by demons.
"Are demons terrible things like Shuten-dōji?" Hirono kept asking. "Is Father also like Minamoto no Raikō, pursuing the Demon King's traces?"
I thought with difficulty, still nodded. Wouldn't puncture his fantasy.
Hirono suddenly straightened his back, saying loudly, "Father is a hero! When I grow up, I'll also follow Father, hunting the Demon King together!"
Good. Finally pacified him!
I nodded randomly, preparing to slip away. Didn't expect this brat to grab my sleeve saying, "Samurai sir, I also want to become a swordsman like Father. Please teach me martial arts!"
Fine. Anyway, I also needed to train. When idle, could guide him a couple moves to kill time.
I just treated it as humoring a child. Didn't take it seriously. After Takehime heard... she very solemnly gave me a gift according to apprenticeship etiquette.
"Miss Chihaya's martial skills are outstanding. Your willingness to guide him, giving him a skill to protect himself—truly extremely grateful."
This gift made me quite embarrassed. Could only seriously help him correct mistakes. Also taught him the Breathing Style techniques Yoriichi taught me.
When that Yoriichi guy arrived, let him personally guide his own nephew.
Unfortunately, before Yoriichi or other Hashira could rush over, the Haiki clan couldn't sit still.
About the sixth night of the war of words, I trained as usual. Hirono refused to sleep obediently, squatting beside me asking this and that.
He mainly wanted to ask why I always trained at night, slept during the day. Was it because some secret technique was hidden within? And seriously considered whether he should learn from me to change his schedule.
I was pestered by this brat quite impatiently. Secretly pondering whether to spank him to brutally and simply solve the problem.
Before grabbing this guy to beat, my ears keenly heard an unusual wind sound.
That sound was very light. Like a leaf falling on the ground, soundless. Yet made me suddenly tense up. Almost instinctively covered Hirono's mouth, blocking him behind me. My other hand already drew the blade.
In the shadows at the wall corner, something slowly wriggled. Slowly took form under moonlight.
"Oh? You two haven't gone to bed yet? Tonight's moonlight must be extremely beautiful." That was a hoarse voice like grinding stone. Very uncomfortable to hear.
Hirono widened his eyes, fearfully watching that thing growing in his vision.
It grew from the narrow shadow. Had human-like limbs, yet grew a ferocious head. Physique robust and tall—over nine feet.
From the moment it appeared, my hands gripped the blade tightly. In my mind, as if a voice was frantically screaming danger at me.
It had eaten too many people. That fishy, rotten stench almost solidified into substance. Stank so much I almost suffocated.
It narrowed a pair of huge demon pupils staring at me. Its nose twitched twice. "Oh? You don't seem to be human. This scent... somewhat familiar yet strange. Wonder how you taste?"
The next moment, it vanished.
Following dangerous intuition, I turned and kicked Hirono away, shouting loudly, "Go find Takehime! All of you hide!"
Splurt—
My right arm broke off. Fortunately, I reacted extremely fast. Used my left hand to grab back the demon-slaying blade. Turned and slashed over.
Hirono trembled. Seemed to cry. But still remembered what I said. Climbed up and ran away.
I also had no time to care about him. Moved my left wrist, waiting for my right arm to rapidly regenerate.
Yemonse returned to the shadow where he initially appeared. Holding my right arm, brought it to his nose to sniff. Immediately swallowed it in one gulp.
"The taste is quite delicious..." It licked its lips. Seeing my hand rapidly regenerate, made a surprised sound. Looked more interested. "You're actually also a demon. This truly was unexpected. Could you also have been invited by this family?"
I asked back, "What do you mean 'also'? Were you invited by that Haiki clan?"
While verbally dealing with it, my brain spun rapidly.
Why did it appear behind me so fast, then return to its original position so quickly?
Was it Blood Demon Art? What Blood Demon Art? Using what medium? Behind me? Shadows? Shadow!
This guy could move freely in shadows. No wonder it ran so fast.
In the night, this was a natural home advantage. Very disadvantageous for me.
If it fought me to halfway exhaustion and suddenly ran to grab someone to eat, I probably couldn't stop it.
Tch. Thinking about this was useless. Better think how to cleanly chop off its head.
Good news—Yemonse seemed to see me as a companion. Didn't attack again. Instead started explaining, "Oh my, truly sorry about that—eating one of your arms. Old man Haiki promised me, as long as I help him take down the Tsugikuni family, I can eat as many people here as I want."
That is to say, Haiki knew this was a man-eating demon. Still invited him over just to borrow demon power to defeat enemies?
Truly shameless.
I said, "What a coincidence. I was also invited by the Tsugikuni family. Wanting to eat them before me is impossible."
"Don't be so rigid, miss," Yemonse said in a cloying tone. "You understand—battles between us demons are wasted effort. Wasting stamina for those few humans—how uneconomical?
How about this—you give me the Tsugikuni family. I'll let you have the Haiki clan. Looking at you, haven't eaten many people, right? Must eat more people to become more formidable."
I said, "Can't do that now. The Tsugikuni family is hiding a treasure. If I guard their family business for them, they'll give me the treasure. How about this—you pretend to retreat first. After a few days when they hand me the treasure, I'll split half with you. How's that?"
Yemonse narrowed its eyes. Suddenly showed a ferocious smile. "Miss, I offered goodwill. Taking me for a fool is too much, isn't it?"
Tch. Actually didn't fool it. Was my lying skill too terrible?
I exerted force, leaping up. The blade in my hand traced a semicircular arc, taking the initiative to slash toward its neck.
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