"Lock…" Kanao's soft voice broke the silence.
Lock turned toward her, tone gentle. "What is it?"
Kanao hesitated for a moment before opening a drawer. From it, she took out a small glass vial filled with a faint purple liquid. She held it out with both hands. "Use this," she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Lock uncorked it and caught a faint floral scent. Wisteria.
He understood instantly.
She must've gone to Shinobu's lab and taken this on her own. Wisteria poison — effective against demons, and perfectly suited for his Heat Breathing techniques.
Lock smiled faintly. "You went through all that trouble for me?"
Kanao's fingers twisted together nervously, her face flushed crimson.
Before she could pull back, Lock gently caught her hands in his. Her breath hitched.
The fading sunlight poured through the window, gilding Lock's face in gold. For a moment, the warmth in his eyes seemed to melt the quiet around them.
Kanao's heart raced. Why does he look like that right now…?
Lock smiled softly. "Thank you. I'll bring Shinobu back."
"…Mm." Kanao's reply was barely audible — softer than a breath.
By the time she gathered the courage to say anything more, Lock was already gone.
She rushed to the window, sliding it open. Her steps carried the faint rhythm of Flower Breathing. There she waited, hands clasped, watching the fading path below — until the evening sky swallowed the last trace of light.
That night, Lock prepared in silence.
He masked his face, then walked to the wisteria bushes in the courtyard, cutting a handful of blossoms.
He mixed the petals with the wisteria extract from Kanao's vial and carefully coated his Nichirin blade. The faint glow of moonlight shimmered along its edge.
"Perfect," he murmured.
After tightening his uniform and checking his breathing rhythm, he slipped out into the night.
From the second-floor window, unseen, Kanao watched quietly. Her lips curved just a little, eyes full of quiet faith.
The forest wind howled as Lock dashed through the dark mountain trail. His figure flickered between the trees — swift and silent like a shadow.
It was his first time leaving the Butterfly Mansion.
His goals were clear.
First, to find Shinobu and make sure she was safe.
Second, to test the results of his recent training.
He'd made huge progress, but with no proper opponent to measure against, he didn't know how far he'd come.
If it's an Upper Rank, I might not stand a chance… he thought. But a Lower Rank? Maybe.
He remembered Shinobu's diary mentioning "a lower-rank demon on Mount Akitake."
Something didn't sit right about that.
The moon hung high when Lock finally slowed down.
The forest around him was eerily quiet, thick fog curling between the trees.
He frowned. "Wait… I'm lost?"
He scratched his head. "Should've asked for directions before leaving…"
Just as he was about to turn back, he noticed a faint figure ahead — an old man walking along the path, carrying a lantern.
"Excuse me, old man!" Lock leapt lightly from a rock and landed in front of him. "Do you know the way to Mount Akitake?"
The sudden appearance of a masked figure out of the darkness nearly made the man collapse.
"D-demon?! Robbery?!"
Lock quickly pulled down his mask. "No, no! Not a robber!"
The man squinted at him — at the calm eyes and youthful face — and sighed in relief. "Good heavens, boy! Don't jump out like that. You'll scare an old man to death."
"Right, sorry," Lock said quickly. "But please — do you know where Mount Akitake is?"
The old man rubbed his chin. "Hmm… Mount Akitake…?"
Lock took a few coins from his pocket — the ones Shinobu had given him for errands — and offered them politely.
The man blinked, smiled sheepishly, and nodded. "Ah, now that you mention it! You're already near the base of Akitake. But…"
He hesitated, voice dropping. "I saw a young woman pass through here a few days ago. Wore a butterfly-patterned haori, same as the one the Insect Hashira wears."
Lock's expression hardened. "And?"
"She looked hurt," the old man said quietly. "There was blood on her sleeve."
Lock's stomach twisted. Shinobu… hurt?
An Upper Rank… it had to be. There was no other explanation.
He forced his tone to be calm. "You should go back down the mountain, old man. This area's dangerous."
The man waved a hand dismissively. "It's fine! You're here, aren't you? What's there to fear?"
Lock almost smiled — almost. But his instincts screamed something else.
Then —
A faint rustling.
Leaves shifting.
Something moved in the darkness behind the old man.
Lock's grip on his sword tightened as he stepped forward, shielding himself. His eyes narrowed, following the faint glint of movement beneath the moonlight.
And then —
Two red eyes opened in the dark.