A few days later.
The trio stroll through an open plain, the wind brushing softly against the tall grass.
Miyuki squints at the endless horizon. "Hajime-Sama, are you sure there's a village around here? Because all I see is grass, more grass..."
Ren replies calmly, not even glancing back. "I'm not sure. But this is the only region left we haven't visited. And the only one we haven't saved yet."
Miyuki groans. "Great. We're saving invisible people now."
As they walk together, Miyuki says. "It's weird… Matsunaga-Kun hasn't been responding."
But still… no voice came.
Miyuki called again. "Matsunaga-Kun? Matsunaga-Kun?!"
A beat of silence passes. Then—
"...Wait." She looks around. "Where's Matsunaga-kun?"
Ren glances behind them. Nothing but empty plains.
Miyuki yelled. "Where the hell did he go now?"
Ren sighs. "He was right here a moment ago... I saw him."
Miyuki turned around, looking for him. "He's… he's lost again…"
For hours, they search. Calling, shouting, arguing which direction they came from. No Kasumi.
Until finally—
They stumble upon a breathtaking field of colorful flowers beneath a massive cherry tree.
And there he is. Kasumi Matsunaga, sitting cross-legged in the shade, gazing at the sky like a poet who's given up on civilization.
Miyuki's eyebrow twitches. "Oh, I swear I'm going to kill him."
Kasumi turns lazily toward them.
Then—out of nowhere—he grabs his sword and hurls it straight at her.
Clang!
Miyuki blocks it mid-air with her spear, sparks flying.
Ren doesn't move, just blinks slowly.
Kasumi storms toward them, fuming. "WHY DID YOU LEAVE ME BEHIND?!"
Miyuki shouts back, "We left you behind?! You're the one who lost your path. And besides everything, how did you end up here in such a short time? It's not like you ran miles away when we weren't looking for a moment and you ended up here."
Kasumi snaps. "It's not my fault. I got distracted by the clouds, alright?! They looked… interesting! Next thing I know, you two are gone, and I'm stranded in a field of flowers like some romantic tragedy! I was sitting here for hours, waiting for you and Hajime-San to come… Do you even know how frustrating it was?"
Miyuki crosses her arms. "And we've been walking for hours under the sun without food or water."
Kasumi points dramatically. "You should've tied a rope around me if I'm such a flight risk!"
Miyuki smirks. "Gladly. Next time, I'll tie you to a tree."
Ren stands between them, expression calm as ever.
Miyuki sighed, brushing the grass from her skirt. "Anyway… what is this place?"
They all turned—and froze.
Before them stretched a realm that couldn't possibly belong to Earth. An ocean of silver grass swayed with the wind, each blade gleaming like starlight trapped in motion. The air itself shimmered between hues of dusk and dawn, the sky unable to choose between night and morning.
The wind sang.
Not like a sound carried through air — but like a hum born from the heart of the land itself. It whispered through the flowers, along the stones, around their feet, until it sank softly into their bones.
Among the far hills, they saw boulders veined with pale blue light, pulsing faintly as if alive. Between them drifted translucent shapes — not walking, not floating, merely existing in defiance of logic. Their outlines flickered with every blink, as though the world hadn't decided what they were meant to be.
And at the center of it all…
A colossal tree towered over everything, roots like ancient serpents coiling through the glowing soil. From its branches hung lantern-like fruits, each one beating gently with imprisoned radiance.
Miyuki's breath caught. "Matsunaga-kun… how did you even find this place?"
"I don't know," he said casually, "I just wandered around and… ended up here…"
Ren's maroon eyes reflected the soft light. His expression remained calm, yet his voice carried an edge.
"Nature is beautiful… but this isn't nature's doing. This place wasn't born… it was made."
Kasumi shrugged, picking another fruit. "Hajime-san, who cares who owns the farm? There are dragon fruits, melons, apples… even things I can't name. It's paradise!"
Miyuki giggles softly, sitting down on the glimmering grass and taking a strange golden fruit shaped like a star. "He's right, Hajime-sama… For once, can't we relax? The air here feels… gentle."
Ren's gaze is fixed on the colossal tree. The light in its fruits pulsed — slow, steady, like breathing.
It almost felt like the tree was watching them.
As they sat beneath the twilight sky, the silver field hummed softly around them — as if the world itself had paused to listen.
A few hours later.
After leaving the silver field behind, the world darkened again — a forest swallowed in twilight. Gnarled trees loomed like frozen monsters, their branches bending into clawed silhouettes.
The air was thick with mist, and even the insects had stopped singing. Only their footsteps echoed through the silence.
Miyuki hugged her spear closer. "It's so quiet… I can even hear my own heartbeat."
Kasumi grinned nervously. "Maybe the trees are shy. They don't like talking to strangers."
Miyuki shot him a glare. "Then maybe you two can start a conversation, because you both never shut up."
Before Kasumi could answer, she froze, pointing ahead. "Wait—look. A village."
Ren lifted his head slightly. In the distance, through the drifting fog, wooden rooftops peeked out. No lights, no smoke, not even the cry of a crow. Just stillness.
Ren's voice was calm, unreadable. "I know…"
Kasumi blinked at Miyuki. "Wait—you saw that with just one eye?"
Miyuki punched him in his stomach.
Ren's gaze didn't waver from the darkness ahead. "There are demons in that village."
The air shifted.
Miyuki instantly gripped her spear.
But before either of them could take a step—
Kasumi was gone.
"Huh?" Miyuki blinked. "Where did he—"
Ren sighed. "He went ahead."
They hurried after him.
By the time they reached the village, Kasumi was already there — sword drawn, standing amid the broken houses and empty wells. The village looked ancient, every house leaning like a dying memory.
But the smell of rot and decay filled the air. And around them… shadows moved.
Dozens of demons crawled between the huts — thin, gray-skinned, their limbs twisted and wrong. Their eyes gleamed with hunger, yet none of them attacked immediately.
Kasumi frowned. "Hajime-san, Miyuki-san… I've never seen demons like these. They look incomplete..."
Before Ren could answer, the ground trembled slightly.
They turned.
From behind the village, a colossal figure rose — a towering black silhouette, easily thrice the size of any house. Its arms were too long, its nails scraping the ground as it moved. Two horns curved like sickle blades from its head, and its glowing white eyes sliced through the mist like moonlight.
Even Miyuki took a step back. "W-What… is that thing?"
It took one step toward them, the earth groaning under its weight—
Then it stopped.
Its gaze met Ren's.
And in an instant, its monstrous expression twisted into fear.
Without a sound, the creature turned and fled into the forest, its body vanishing into mist as if swallowed by the night itself.
The smaller demons followed, scattering like frightened insects, leaving only silence in their wake.
Kasumi exhaled, lowering his sword. "Hajime-san… they're gone. Just like that. What should we do now?"
Ren's eyes lingered on the shadows where the giant had vanished. His voice came quiet.
"There's nothing we can do."
They moved through the village like strangers in a photograph—each step disturbing dust that had been sleeping for decades.
A house draped in wisteria stopped them. The vines hung heavy with pale, tangled blossoms; their perfume was sweet and faint, like a memory you almost remember. The wooden door was swollen with age.
Ren stepped forward and ran his fingers along the grain of the door. It was locked from the inside. "Someone must be living here," he said, eyes scanning the windows for movement.
He knocked. The sound echoed in the empty lane and then—almost at once—the door creaked open.
They froze, every breath held but Ren's. An old man filled the doorway, thin as a reed, shoulders stooped, his face a map of small, patient grief. For a long moment he simply looked at them as if trying to recognize the ages in their faces.
"Come inside," he said abruptly, voice brittle but urgent. "Demons are roaming around."
Ren says calmly. "They've fled for now…"
"Fled?"
Kasumi smiles, "This guy has scared them away."
The old man swallowed hard. His hands trembled against the doorframe. "Who… who are you?"
Ren says politely, calmly. "My name is Ren Hajime, and these are my friends — this boy's name is Kasumi Matsunaga and this girl is Miyuki."
The old man stared as if trying to reconcile the name with something long buried. Then, he stepped back and motioned them in.
Kasumi thinks. "This man doesn't know Hajime-San? Anyway…"
The house was small but kept with a careful hand.
The old man's voice is calm. "It's been a very long time since someone visited this village..."
"Long time since someone visited this village…?" Miyuki asked, "What does that mean?"
"It's been over decades since any traveller visited this village. I'm surprised to see you here..."
Kasumi asks, "How do you even live here?"
The old man says. "I only live for living…"
Kasumi could not hide his curiosity. "What do you do for a living? Do you earn? Do you have kids?"
"No, I don't have any kids… I don't earn either… I am dependent on agriculture only… and only I am managing it alone in this village."
Miyuki asks in concern. "Why do you still live in this abandoned village? Why don't you just leave it?"
"... I have no other choice. My wife loved this place so much…"
Ren asked, voice low. "What happened to your wife?"
The old man's jaw tightened. He looked away toward the window where the first thin light of moon softened the ruined roofs. "She's dead… and everyone in this village… is dead."
Something stirs in Ren, his gaze softens.
He has lost his wife… like I did in the Sengoku Era. I can feel the pain and devotion in his voice… Poor souls… we had to suffer just because of the demons who don't even belong to this beautiful world… and ruin others' lives.
Ren asks softly, his voice almost hesitant.
"...What happened to this village? To your wife… and everyone?"
The old man stares into the distance, his cloudy eyes glimmering with the weight of years.
He smiles faintly. "Ah… that's a long story, young man."
He begins to speak —
Forty years ago.
The village was alive. Children running through the rice fields, bells ringing in the wind, and the scent of blooming lilies by the river.
And among it all… there was her. My wife. My light.
She loved this village more than anyone — said the mountains watched over us like kind gods.
Those were our most peaceful and happy days…
But then, one day… a shadow passed through.
They said it wasn't human… but a devil who walked like a man.
I wasn't in the village at that time. No one saw him clearly, but after he left… the air itself felt heavier.
People began to fall ill, one after another. No doctor could name the sickness. The pandemic.
By the time I returned from the city… half the village was gone.
And my wife — my beloved — was fading before my eyes…
I sold everything, begged doctors, prayed until my knees bled… but nothing changed.
In the end, she smiled and said, "Don't cry. This village will always be beautiful… as long as you remember it that way."
And then she was gone.
After the funeral, I thought about leaving. But where would I go?
So I decided to stay here.
People call me foolish, but… somehow, living here makes me feel she's still around… watching over this quiet, dying place.
.
He stops. The wind moves gently through the cracked window, stirring the dust in the sunlight. A calm, nostalgic smile lingers on his face — the kind that hides a lifetime of loneliness.
Ren lowers his head, eyes soft with sympathy. He doesn't speak.
Kasumi's voice softened. "I'm sorry for your wife. If you want… I know someone who can erase curses. She might… she might be able to help."
We already know whom he's talking about.
"No thanks…" He shook his head slowly. "I have lived long enough to know when a wound is too old to mend. I do not want to die chasing a dream I do not own..."
Ren moved closer and bowed slightly. "Let us at least try to ease this place. If demons still haunt these homes, we will drive them out."
"Alright… If you insist, then may the gods follow your steps. Be careful."
As dawn cracked the horizon into pale color, they stepped outside the house. The first light made the torn roofs glitter. The old man's back was curved, but his eyes were clear.
Kasumi says, his voice determined. "Hajime-san! Miyuki-san! I've made up my mind. I'll kill every single demon in this world. These ones too! Alone!"
Miyuki blinked. "You always say that."
Kasumi pointed at her. "But this time, I have a plan."
"Not again. Your last 'plan' nearly got you killed! Remember? That fight?"
Kasumi crossed his arms, muttering. "It won't happen again…"
Miyuki shot back. "Won't happen again?! Name one plan you've ever made that worked."
"…I'll get back to you on that."
Ren, who had been silently watching them, finally spoke. "Miyuki-chan, maybe we should give him another chance."
Miyuki turned, scandalized. "Hajime-san, you know how his 'chances' end!"
Ren's calm tone didn't waver. "I know. But even disasters deserve redemption."
Kasumi's face lit up. "Thank you, Hajime-san! You're the only one who believes in me!"
Miyuki sighed, pinching her forehead. "Fine… but this is your last chance. Last. Final. Ultimate."
Later.
At night.
The three of them lay beneath a large tree near the village edge, the moon spilling silver light through the branches.
Kasumi whispered confidently, "You two should sleep. I'll handle everything from here."
Miyuki turned to him suspiciously. "What are you going to do?"
Kasumi yawned and flopped down. "Just taking a little nap before the big warm-up."
Ren's eyes half-opened. "Warm-up…?"
"Of killing demons," Kasumi added, already curling into his blanket. "Don't worry, this time I'll wake up on time. Trust me."
Miyuki glared. "That's exactly what you say everytime."
He waved lazily. "Goodnight~"
Ren just smiled faintly, laying his haori beneath his head, without a blanket.
Hours later.
Ren stirred awake. The forest was quiet, the air crisp. Miyuki slept peacefully beside him. But Kasumi's blanket was empty.
"...Matsunaga-kun?"
He stood, scanning the dark woods. His sharp senses stretched out—he could feel demonic presence, but no Kasumi.
He shook Miyuki awake. "Miyuki-chan… Matsunaga-Kun's gone."
She blinked, half-asleep. "He's probably in the village…"
Ren shook his head. "No. He's not even there."
Miyuki sat upright instantly. "What?! Then where—"
Ren's calm cracked slightly. "Maybe he got lost again."
Miyuki groaned. "How did he get lost while sleeping in one place?"
Meanwhile, far, far away…
Inside a dark cave, a family of bears snored peacefully.
Nestled comfortably between them, Kasumi was fast asleep—hugging the massive mother bear like a fuzzy pillow. Apparently, she'd mistaken him for one of her cubs and dragged him here.
Kasumi mumbled in his sleep, snuggling closer. "So warm…"
A small, blissful smile spread on his face.
In his dream.
Kasumi stood in the center of a boxing ring, wearing red gloves and a triumphant grin. Muzan Kibutsuji lay flat on the floor, wearing boxing trunks and a dazed expression.
A referee with a parrot's head lifted Kasumi's arm. "The winner is—Kasumi Matsunaga! He's the savior of this world!"
The stadium erupted with cheers. "MATSUNAGA! OUR HERO!"
Their faces aren't of humans but of different animals.
Eliza sat at the edge of the ring, cartoonishly sobbing rivers of tears.
Kasumi pointed at her dramatically. "See that?! I beat your boss with one punch! I'm no weak anymore."
Eliza kept crying, clenching the ring's wall.
Ren stepped into the ring. "You've proved yourself, Matsunaga-kun. The world is safe now."
Miyuki followed, crossing her arms. "I take back everything I said. You're actually strong."
Kasumi grinned, flexing exaggeratedly. "I know, right? Finally, people recognize greatness!"
Back in the cave.
Kasumi was still hugging the bear. The bear gave a sleepy grunt, shifting her weight. Kasumi snored louder, completely oblivious.
Meanwhile —
Back in the village, Ren's voice was low but firm.
"Miyuki-chan… I'm counting on you. If I show up, the rest will scatter. You're the only one who can handle this quietly."
Miyuki nodded. "Understood."
Ren turned, his crimson haori brushing through the night breeze. "Until then, I'll find Matsunaga-kun."
Before she could even respond, he vanished instantly — no sound, no wind, no trace.
Miyuki exhaled slowly and stepped forward.
The village was swallowed in darkness — homes half-collapsed, lanterns long dead, air thick with silence. Even the wind refused to move.
Only her footsteps echoed faintly, mingling with the whisper of her spear spinning lazily in her hand.
The ribbons tied to it — one blue, one red — fluttered like twin spirits in the night.
Her cloudy, white hair caught the faint glow of the moon, glistening like silver silk. Adjusting her black eyepatch, she whispered softly,
"Let's get this over with…"
Then—
A faint growl.
A blur of motion from her left.
"SKY BREATHING — FIRST FORM: Twirling Clouds!"
Without even looking, she spun the spear in a perfect circular arc. The blade sang through the air —
Shing!—
And a demon's head flew clean off. The blood splattered upward, dissolving into mist that spiraled around her before fading like vapor.
She landed gently, spear tip gleaming red. "Hmph. Pathetic."
As she moved deeper, the shadows thickened. More demons emerged — small, disfigured ones with clawed arms and distorted faces. They snarled like wild dogs.
Miyuki's thoughts ran cold.
Something's off… these aren't normal demons. Their forms are too erratic. It's like they're mutating… evolving.
The demons surrounded her, dozens of them, crawling over the rooftops and walls — all fixated on her single silver eye.
She sighed lightly. "So many, huh? Fine… come, then."
They pounced all at once.
"SKY BREATHING — FOURTH FORM: Cloudy Day!"
Her spear blurred.
Each swing painted a streak of silver light through the dark, her movements flowing like vaporous wind. She twisted, spun, and leapt — her entire figure moving like a living storm.
Every demon that came near her was sliced apart before their claws could touch her.
When the last one fell, Miyuki stood alone amid the carnage, the air shimmering from the speed of her strikes.
Her breathing didn't falter. Not even a drop of sweat fell.
Then—
RUMMMMBLE!
The ground trembled beneath her feet.
Her head turned. Her eye widened.
From the far end of the village, something enormous rose from the mist — a shadow blotting out the sky.
A colossal black demon, towering higher than any big house, its claws long enough to tear through trees like paper. Its pale white eyes glowed through the fog.
In its grip — a massive elephant, writhing helplessly.
With a monstrous crunch, it tore the beast in half and devoured it whole, the sound echoing across the empty fields, the elephant's blood pooling down its body.
Miyuki blinked once, unimpressed. "I wonder where it even found that elephant… poor thing."
Then the giant looked down at her. Its gaze locked. Its voice cracked the sky—
"RRRAAAAAAWWWWWRRRRR!!!"
The roar sent shockwaves through the trees. Dust and debris spiraled around her.
Yet Miyuki didn't move an inch. Her single silver eye glimmered coldly.
"Too loud…"
The demon swung its claws — faster than wind, heavier than stone.
Miyuki raised her arm — and caught the entire strike in her small palm. The ground cracked beneath her feet, dust scattering in waves.
She smiled faintly. "You're not just some ordinary demon… are you?"
With a swift motion, she gripped the claw tighter —
CRACK!—
Snapping its nail clean off.
Then, with a flick of her wrist, she hurled it like a dagger.
The nail pierced the demon's own forehead. It staggered back with a shriek.
Miyuki whispered, "I'll report this to Hajime-sama later."
She bent her knees, spear gleaming in the moonlight.
Her figure blurred — a streak of white slicing upward into the clouds.
Then—
Slash!
One clean cut.
The demon's head fell from its shoulders, crashing into the ground like a collapsing boulder. Its body dissolved into black dust, fading into the night air.
Miyuki landed softly, her spear spinning once before resting in her hand.
"Done."
She glanced toward the forest beyond. "Now… where in the world is that idiot Matsunaga-kun?"
A few hours later.
The first rays of dawn stretch across the horizon, painting the world in soft gold. Ren and Miyuki stand quietly before the old man's worn-down cottage, the smell of damp earth still lingering in the morning air.
The old man's hands tremble as he looks at them, eyes glimmering with both awe and tears.
"You kids aren't ordinary…" he murmurs. "You're far too strong. Tell me… were you sent by God himself? Just for me?"
Ren's lips curl faintly, almost into a smile. "Kinda…"
Miyuki giggles softly, covering her mouth. The sound feels strangely alive against the silence of the morning.
The old man lowers his head, his voice cracking with age. "I don't know how long I have left… My wife must be waiting for me in heaven…"
He looks at the sky. "Just a few more years, and I'll go to her. But thank you… for saving me. I don't have to live hiding anymore like a coward. Not after forty years without her."
Ren bows slightly, eyes soft but unreadable.
"We're sorry we couldn't help you sooner. It's our duty to protect others, no matter when or where."
He meets the old man's eyes, and for a brief moment, the world feels still. "Now, allow us to take our leave. We need to find our friend… He's been missing since last night."
The old man nods slowly, smiling faintly. "Alright… I'll never forget your kindness, Hajime-san. Not until my last breath."
As they walk away, the old man watches them until they vanish behind the trees.
Miyuki glances sideways at Ren, her voice gentle.
"Hajime-sama… why are you always in such a hurry to leave? You never say proper goodbyes. People want to see you one last time… yet you always walk away before they can."
Ren's steps don't slow. His tone is calm, distant, almost wistful.
"You'll understand it in future…"
Miyuki looks down, silent for a while, listening to the quiet chirping of morning birds.
A few moments later.
Kasumi is still clinging to the mother bear, his eyes tightly shut, face peaceful like a baby.
Ren stands over him with an amused sigh.
Ren gently pokes his shoulder. "Matsunaga-kun… are you still sleeping?"
Kasumi mumbles drowsily, "Don't wake me… I still have to save the village from the demons…"
Ren raises an eyebrow. "But, uh… it's already morning."
There's a pause.
Then, Kasumi's eyes shoot open. "—WHAT?!"
He jerks up so fast he almost headbutts the bear. Looking around in panic, he blurts,
"Hajime-san! Where am I?! What happened?! Why is this bear hugging me?!"
The mother bear, unfazed, tries to pull him back into her arms with a loving growl. Kasumi flails dramatically. "No, no—let go! I'm not your cub!"
Meanwhile, Miyuki is completely ignoring the chaos, giggling as she plays with two bear cubs nearby.
Kasumi finally wriggles free, hair sticking out in every direction. "Hajime-san, next time you see me in danger, please help me first before laughing!"
Ren's faint smile deepens. "But it was too peaceful to interrupt."
Miyuki bursts into laughter, and even the mother bear lets out a low, contented rumble—as if joining in on the joke.