The warm glow of the Izakaya's lanterns, broken now and then by bursts of laughter and clinking cups, created an atmosphere that felt almost like home.
When Raiden stepped across the threshold, several pairs of eyes turned toward him.
One of those gazes belonged to the owner.
The man immediately noticed the Kasugai Crow perched on Raiden's shoulder. After a brief pause, he approached with quiet respect and personally led Raiden through the lively hall to a private room on the second floor.
Before the door was even opened, two male voices drifted out.
"Another woman has gone missing in Hirai's West District. Has Headquarters still not sent support?"
"They said a Demon Slayer has taken the mission. He should be on his way."
"A Demon Slayer? Not a Hashira? You know how strong that Demon is. The two of us, both Kinoe rank, can barely hold it back. What is one Demon Slayer supposed to do?"
The first man's voice rose with frustration. Dozens of disappearances should have warranted a Hashira's intervention.
"The Flame Hashira was injured in battle with an Upper Rank demon. The other Hashira are guarding their assigned regions. There may simply be no one available."
The second Slayer sighed, his tone heavy.
The demons appearing in Hirai were not only powerful but elusive, striking at night and vanishing without a trace. They wanted to resolve the situation themselves, but the truth was plain. They were outmatched.
"But sending just one Slayer? What rank is he?"
"Kinoe."
Raiden pushed the door open and stepped inside, answering calmly.
The two Demon Slayers instantly gripped their swords, eyes sharp with suspicion.
Only after recognizing the Izakaya owner and the Kasugai Crow on Raiden's shoulder did they relax.
"And you are?"
The Slayer named Danki studied him carefully.
Before Raiden could respond, the crow let out a sharp cry.
"Raiden! Demon Slayer Corps, Kinoe rank! Assigned to the Hirai missing persons mission. All local members are to cooperate fully!"
The room fell silent.
If Raiden had introduced himself alone, they might have doubted him. He looked far too young, almost like a boy. But the Kasugai Crow served directly under Kagaya Ubuyashiki. It would never falsely announce a Slayer's rank.
Danki and Haruto quickly stood.
"What's the situation?" Raiden asked.
Danki and Haruto exchanged glances.
"These past few days, several powerful demons have infiltrated Hirai," Danki began. "They abduct people at night. Over forty have already disappeared. We have limited manpower. We can deal with one demon at best, but not multiple at once."
Haruto added quietly, "One of them is a Wolf Fang Demon. Its strength rivals a Hashira. Even if you're Kinoe rank, this isn't something you can handle alone."
It was an uncomfortable truth. At equal rank, demons were stronger than humans. Their regeneration and stamina far surpassed any Slayer's. In prolonged combat, a human would inevitably fall.
Raiden did not argue. He simply looked at Danki and asked, "Where does the Wolf Fang Demon usually operate?"
Danki stiffened. That was not the response he had hoped for.
He had intended to discourage Raiden, to convince him to request reinforcements. Not to send him marching straight toward danger.
Haruto sighed. Raiden looked young, but there was no hesitation in his expression.
"Raiden, this isn't pride or competition. The Wolf Fang Demon is extremely dangerous. We believe that…"
"Who is in charge of this mission?" Raiden asked evenly.
Haruto fell silent.
The calmness in Raiden's gaze unsettled him. It was not arrogance. It was not recklessness. It was something steady and unfathomable, like still water concealing depth.
"If I am in charge," Raiden continued, "then provide me with the Wolf Fang Demon's activity range."
Haruto swallowed.
"Hirai West District. There's an abandoned sector there. Hozhi is stationed in that area tonight."
One Slayer guarding territory against something of that caliber was a risk, but they had no better options.
"Understood."
Raiden pushed open the window and leapt into the night without another word.
For a moment, silence lingered in the room.
"He just went alone?" Danki muttered.
"What else can we do?" Haruto replied, already moving toward the window. "We follow him."
They both jumped out after Raiden.
"There might be a turn for the better," Haruto added.
Danki frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Did you notice the way he looked at us? That wasn't the gaze of someone at our level. I've seen many Kinoe Slayers. None of them gave off that kind of pressure."
"And when we mentioned the Wolf Fang Demon's strength, his expression didn't change at all."
Danki hesitated.
"So what are you saying?"
"He's either completely foolish," Haruto said quietly, "or he's the kind of man who doesn't see a Wolf Fang Demon as a threat."
Danki frowned deeply.
The crow had announced him as Kinoe rank. No matter how capable he was, rank had limits.
If he were strong enough to defeat something at that level, he would have advanced long ago.
Unless… there was more to Raiden than they understood.