Chapter 16: Answering Yukinoshita Yukino's Question
In a room soaked with blood, only a boy and a girl remained standing.
Besides them, the crimson liquid stained the floor, the furniture, and even their clothes.
This place could no longer be described as a mere "crime scene." It had become something far more horrific—a mutilation chamber. Anyone who saw it would be rendered speechless, frozen in place by sheer shock.
Yukinoshita Akira stood in silence, gazing at Yukinoshita Yukino. Her face was pale, her body trembling, yet she remained upright.
He let out a long sigh.
He had once believed this world was just another slice-of-life setting—filled with school life, mundane routines, and peaceful days. But clearly, he had been far too quick to relax.
Because now, as the one who had inherited Yoriichi Tsugikuni's template, he was forced to confront a truth far darker than he had imagined.
This world harbored demons—man-eating Oni.
Who would've thought something like this could happen here? Especially with the girl before him—just an ordinary human. How was he even supposed to begin explaining this mess?
"…What exactly are Oni? And who is this 'Master' they keep referring to?"
Though fear still lingered in her expression, Yukino lifted her face and locked eyes with him. Her voice, though shaken, was clear and determined.
Even in this moment, Akira had to admit—Yukinoshita Yukino was incredible.
"There are times when knowing too much isn't good for you."
"After what just happened, do you really think I can pretend not to care?"
"…Knowing too much can become a burden. This world isn't as safe as you thought. Take one wrong step deeper, and it might cost you your life."
"But didn't I almost die just now?"
He let out another heavy sigh.
As someone who used to call Yukinoshita Yukino his favorite waifu, Akira knew her personality all too well.
She was the type who, even when cornered and beaten down, wouldn't turn away. Once she set her mind on something, she would hold onto it until the very end.
"…Alright. I'll explain everything, one step at a time. First—Oni. They're monsters, in the simplest terms."
"They're artificial beings created by the Demon King, surviving by devouring human flesh. They may resemble people, but every single demon was once human… twisted into something else. Like that woman earlier."
Yukino's eyes widened. The truth hit her like an earthquake shaking her very core.
Man-eating monsters? And they were once human?
And such creatures really existed in this world?
"Then... the 'Master' that demon woman mentioned… she called him 'Muzan-sama', right?"
Yukino's memory was sharp, and her analytical instincts hadn't dulled even during the chaos. Even while she'd been cowering in the corner of the room, she was listening—recording every word.
After all, no one wants to just sit and wait for death. Information was survival.
"Muzan—yes. That's Kibutsuji Muzan. The Demon King. The original demon. He's the progenitor of them all—the first and the strongest."
"…Demon King. The source of all demons…"
Yukino whispered the name, committing it to memory. And with that came a growing sense of dread.
What kind of world had she been living in all this time?
"…Then how did this all come to be? I mean… demons and Muzan and everything?"
"What do you mean 'how'? Demons grow stronger by devouring humans. Every single one of them is under Muzan's direct control. That woman earlier? She was garbage. Barely a threat."
"Garbage?!"
Yukino flinched at his blunt tone. That terrifying creature who had nearly killed her was just... garbage?
"That's right. Among demons, there's a strict ranking system. At the top are the Twelve Kizuki—split into Upper Moons and Lower Moons. Below them are special demons with unique abilities, then high-level demons who've devoured large numbers of humans, then regular demons… and finally, freshly turned ones, like that woman."
"Twelve Kizuki… Upper Moons and Lower Moons… special demons… strong demons…"
Yukino felt her worldview collapsing.
She had lived for over a decade… and yet, she had never heard of any of this.
Akira didn't respond. He silently walked over to a table across the room and picked up a melon that had somehow survived the chaos.
Luckily, that part of the room hadn't been damaged during the fight.
Crunch.
He bit into the fruit without hesitation. The chewing echoed in the blood-stained silence.
"…So what am I supposed to do now?"
Her voice came from behind.
Akira turned on instinct.
The girl—normally calm and composed—looked completely shattered.
Facing death up close had torn away the illusion of control she once believed she had. The fear… it was real.
"You have two options," Akira said quietly. "First… pretend none of this ever happened. Just go back to living your life as usual. You're a normal girl. No one will notice you. No one will involve you… except me."
"…Are you telling me to run away like a coward? Leave everything to you?"
"That's just the truth. She only targeted you out of jealousy. She's dead now. I was the one who killed her. You were never part of this."
"That's not true. This happened because of me. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have gotten involved."
"…Don't talk like I'm some helpless bystander. I'm strong, you know."
Yukino lowered her head slightly and nodded.
She remembered how easily he had taken down that horrifying demon.
How he had turned her to mincemeat using techniques she couldn't even begin to comprehend. That kind of power was far beyond any human.
"And besides…" Akira added, his voice calm. "Even without you, I would've still fought them. Me and the demons… we're on opposite sides."
"…Why?"
"Because this is destiny. My fate was already decided the moment I received this power."
"Destiny…"
Akira simply smiled and said no more. Yukino didn't press the issue.
In truth, Akira had one massive suspicion in the back of his mind.
Was the presence of demons in this world… connected to him somehow?
The world had seemed so normal—so peaceful. And yet now, all of a sudden, demons existed?
It didn't make sense.
But regardless of the reason, ever since he inherited Yoriichi Tsugikuni's legacy, he knew this confrontation was inevitable.
Kibutsuji Muzan—the cowardly Demon King—would never allow the inheritor of the Sun Breathing Style to live peacefully.
And Akira… had inherited the strength of Yoriichi, Muzan's eternal nemesis.
"…So, what do we do about this room?"
Akira glanced around at the blood-soaked interior that no longer resembled a living room in the slightest.
Then he turned to Yukino.
She followed his gaze, her expression stiffening.
Her once-pristine home was now a nightmare.
There was no saving it.
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