Soma didn't eat any of the wontons.
He gave both bowls to Kanao—and the girl, with her surprisingly good appetite, finished every last bite.
When they were done, Soma returned the bowls and chopsticks to the old man and paid.
"There's an inn on the east side of town," the old vendor said as he packed up his stall. "It's already very late. Staying out here isn't safe."
"It's alright, I'll be careful," Soma replied with a faint smile, his head slightly lowered.
The old man didn't press further. Once everything was packed, he hoisted the heavy load onto his shoulders and slowly made his way into a nearby alley—likely heading home.
Watching the old man's hunched, unsteady figure disappear into the darkness, Soma couldn't help but shake his head.
Life was hard.
At that age, still working this late into a freezing winter night… all for a handful of coins. Just to keep going. Just to survive.
"Uncle, what are you looking at?"
Kanao tilted her head, following his gaze, but didn't notice anything unusual.
"…Nothing."
Soma shook his head lightly. "Just… thinking. Funny, isn't it? Even after becoming a demon, I still end up thinking like a human."
"If you become a demon… you stop thinking like that?" Kanao blinked, clearly not understanding.
"Let's go," he said, patting her head. "There's a shop up ahead. Looks like it has what we need."
Kanao's eyes lit up.
"Uncle… are we going to steal?"
She clenched her small fists, looking oddly excited.
"It's not stealing."
He flicked her forehead.
"Then… rob?"
She looked even more eager.
"…We're just taking things."
He corrected her seriously, "I am the one stealing or robbing. You're just… taking things."
"Mm. Taking things."
Kanao nodded solemnly, as if this distinction made perfect sense.
…
With a demon's strength, breaking into the shop was effortless.
Kanao followed closely behind, clearly a little excited as they moved through the store together, picking out what they needed.
They didn't take much.
Just enough for her.
A few sets of clothes. Some shoes.
Nothing too excessive.
For the shop owner, it wouldn't be a devastating loss—though by morning, there'd definitely be a string of loud, colorful curses echoing through the shop.
Still…
Considering a demon had taken interest in the place, losing only a few items was already a blessing.
If they knew what Soma really was, they'd probably feel relieved it wasn't worse.
…
They moved from shop to shop across the quiet town.
A few attendants who stayed behind were startled awake—but their fate was simple.
Knocked unconscious.
Once they had everything they needed, Soma hoisted Kanao onto his back and headed out of town.
In the stillness of the night, the girl now held a small pellet drum in her hand.
She shook it gently.
Dong… dong-dong… dong-dong-dong…
The soft rhythm echoed faintly through the empty streets.
Soma glanced back at her.
The girl who once felt like a lifeless doll—quiet, distant—was slowly changing.
Now, she looked… lively.
Happy.
"Dong… dong-dong…"
Kanao leaned forward slightly, her head close to his cheek, still shaking the drum.
"Uncle, does it sound nice?"
"…Mm."
"If you like it, I'll keep playing it for you."
Dong…
Dong-dong…
Kanao continued to shake the small drum in a steady rhythm, her mood growing lighter and brighter with each beat.
The cool moonlight spilled down over her delicate face, soft and pale, like a thin veil draped gently across her features.
Sensing her happiness, Soma found his own mood easing as well. His steps grew lighter, his pace more relaxed.
Gradually, he picked up speed.
The wind rushed toward them, brushing against his face, cool and crisp.
But it no longer felt as biting as before.
There was something softer in it now.
A hint of warmth.
Spring was coming.
Without realizing it, winter was already beginning to fade. Soon, the season of blooming life would arrive—and with it, the day the Blue Spider Lily would finally blossom drew ever closer.
For a brief moment… everything felt lighter.
Until—
That peace shattered.
From the direction of the town behind them, a figure suddenly burst forward, racing through the night at incredible speed.
Soma's steps slowed.
Then stopped.
As the figure drew closer, the scent became unmistakable.
A familiar presence.
"A demon…"
He lifted his gaze, watching the approaching silhouette.
On his back, Kanao opened her soft pinkish-purple eyes as well, quietly observing.
The figure came into view.
Bluish-purple skin. A twisted, grotesque face. Blood smeared across its mouth, with bits of flesh still clinging to its lips.
And slung over its shoulder—
A corpse.
Fresh.
Clearly, it had just finished hunting.
Soma fell silent.
This… was why demons were feared.
Creatures that fed on humans—how could anyone ever accept their existence?
"Where the hell did you come from?"
The demon stopped, its crimson eyes locking onto Soma, irritation flashing within them.
"Don't you know this area is my hunting ground?"
Territorial instinct ran deep among demons.
Soma said nothing. He simply watched.
The other demon watched him as well—
but soon, its gaze shifted.
It landed on Kanao.
Compared to the "food" it carried, the one on Soma's back was… far more enticing.
"A child… and such a pretty one at that."
Its voice turned greedy.
"Bet she tastes incredible."
It swallowed slowly, already savoring the imagined flavor. Meat like that—tender, delicate—must be exquisite.
Just the thought made saliva flood its mouth.
"How about this?"
The demon grinned, its expression twisted with hunger.
"As compensation for trespassing on my territory… hand over your prey."
Still, Soma said nothing.
His crimson eyes met the other's, calm and unmoving.
Kanao remained silent as well, her purple gaze fixed on the demon.
For a moment, the air fell into an eerie stillness.
The demon, which had been about to step forward, suddenly hesitated.
A faint sense of danger crept into its instincts.
"…Fine."
It changed its tone.
"I'll trade with you."
With a casual motion, it threw the body off its shoulder.
"Mine may not be as tender as yours, but there's more meat. Fair deal, right?"
The corpse hit the ground with a dull, heavy thud.
"This is already me being generous."
Under the bleak moonlight, the shape of the "food" became clear.
An old man.
Lifeless.
Still.
It was the wonton vendor from earlier.
The same elderly man who had worked late into the freezing night, struggling just to make a living—
Only to meet a far crueler fate.