By the time Hiru reached Himejima, the battle had already ended. The palace had yet to collapse, but it was ravaged—its walls scarred with claw marks and battered with hemispherical craters, standing like a structure that had endured relentless destruction.
Himejima stood upon the raised platform in the hall. The blind Swordsman bore no injuries beyond a slightly torn, dust-stained hem of his haori. Before him drifted the ashes left behind by the demons as they died.
"Ah, looks like you've wrapped things up, Himejima." Hiru stepped in through a breach in the wall, sighing at the ruin around them. "Whenever the two of us work a mission together, it feels a bit like… what's the word? Hmm—ah, right, a demolition crew."
"My weapon makes it impossible for me to fight with the same lightness as other Swordsmen," Himejima said, leaping down from the platform with his chain hammer in hand. "But the noise Hiru made… While it did draw the enemy's attention, that should not be the kind of sound a sword makes."
"Ahem… Well, I've actually been thinking of switching weapons or properly training my swordsmanship after this." Hiru looked away. "Anyway—did you really run into a member of the Twelve Kizuki? How was it?"
"According to Yoshika, it was a female demon with the kanji 'Lower Moon' carved into her eyes. Her Blood Demon Art appears related to hypnosis." Himejima nodded slightly. "She was likely newly promoted—not particularly strong."
"So that means… Himejima might soon become a Hashira?"
"That depends on Master Ubuyashiki's judgment." Pressing a palm together in prayer, Himejima recited a Buddhist chant and began walking out. "Let us return. The Kakushi will handle the rest."
"Then I'll lead—"
"Amida-butsu. I appreciate the offer, but please walk behind me." With one hand gripping the chain hammer, the other found Hiru's shoulder with perfect accuracy. "Even though my blindness slows my pace, if we travel according to your usual method…"
Hiru: …I only get distracted sometimes! It's not that I can't navigate!
Fortunately, the moment they stepped out of the palace, the Kasugai Crow waiting outside swooped in and landed on Himejima's shoulder.
"Congratulations! Demon defeated! Congratulations! Caw!"
"Thank you." A rare smile appeared on Himejima's face. "Yoshika, I want the message relayed as soon as possible."
"Caw! Kitaro, the crow of Mizunoto-rank Swordsman Hiru, has already departed with the report!" The crow flapped excitedly. "Before Oyakata-sama sends instructions, go rest at the Wisteria House! Rest!"
"No more demon-slaying?" Hiru glanced at the crow dancing on Himejima's shoulder. "We can actually rest?"
"Caw! Every mission is followed by rest time!"
"But I just finished the last one when they called me over…"
"Caw! A Kasugai Crow adjusts message delivery to match a swordsman's condition! Humans lack the strong regeneration that demons have—caw!
As for this mission, it likely involved the Twelve Kizuki, and there was no Hashira stationed nearby." Himejima held his chain hammer in one hand and worked his prayer beads with the other. "And there are many wounded Swordsmen still recovering at the Wisteria House."
"I see…" Hiru nodded thoughtfully, about to speak, when the crow cawed again.
"And Kitaro said your blade is destroyed! Destroyed! He's going to notify the swordsmith! You must remain on standby until the new blade arrives! Standby!"
Hiru: …Enough. Don't remind him of that.
At the thought of Akiha clinging to his arm and crying, Hiru completely deflated. He truly couldn't handle that swordsmith.
"Looks like you fought hard too, Hiru. Are you injured?"
"No, not really…" Hiru's voice was flat. "Honestly, compared to those demons pretending to be priests, the psychological damage from my blade breaking is far worse…"
"Could it be that your swordsmith has a fiery temper?" Himejima tilted his head. "I was harshly scolded for breaking my weapon too. Later, my swordsmith found a way to replace it, and the new one suits me much better. They do not hold true malice toward you."
"Quite the opposite…" Hiru sighed. "When he delivered the sword, he cried the whole time—like he was entrusting me with his final wish. If he had a temper, he could've just knocked me out. But who can say no to someone begging you in tears?"
"It seems your swordsmith is unusually gentle."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because most swordsmiths would charge at you for breaking their blade," Himejima said calmly while turning his prayer beads, "and some might even attempt to drag you down with them."
Hiru: …These people are the real demons.
"Haa… I wonder how my brother's mission is going." Hiru's gaze wandered again, drifting over the scenery. "I can handle missions alone now, but I still prefer doing them with my brother…"
"Longing reflects deep affection, but relying excessively on others will hinder growth." Himejima gently tilted his head. "Hiru has strength as well. Please grow up swiftly."
"Eh—?" Hiru gave him a bright smile. "Is that so? Is that really so?"
"Hm?"
"Does that mean Himejima approves of me? It feels like you've gotten much closer to me."
"Though your personality is somewhat childish, and your methods unexpected… it is undeniable that Hiru is a capable and dependable Swordsman." Himejima uttered another Buddhist chant. "There is no question about that."
"Childish, huh…" Hiru's smile softened. "It's probably because I've always been protected. Except for that time."
"That time?" After the crow pecked his cheek, Himejima extended a hand to pull Hiru back from wandering off the road again. "Is this a burden on your heart?"
"Sort of… but also not really." Hiru's smile grew a bit bitter. "If you want to hear it, Himejima, I can tell you. But it's a dull, flavorless story."
"If you do not mind, Hiru."
"Of course not. Besides—you shared with me as well. Let's call it an exchange of secrets." Hiru smiled lightly, looking up at the star-filled sky. After a moment of silence, he began:
"My brother and I aren't blood-related. I was adopted into the family later. Besides my current brother, there was also an older brother who treated me very kindly.
"When I was little, my new father disliked me and always looked fierce, so I cried constantly. My brother was also disliked for his own reasons. But my eldest brother always protected us in front of Father, even when it meant being punished for it.
"Everything changed when my brother displayed talent surpassing even our eldest brother's. Father began neglecting the eldest and favoring my brother instead."
"Because of that, my brother ran away from home at a young age. He didn't even get to see our mother one last time."
"But things didn't improve. My eldest brother grew silent and withdrawn, and eventually left home as well. With no choice, I became the new heir."
"And since Father hated seeing me excel, I never learned what an heir should. I only poured myself into the things I loved."
"When I was suddenly forced into the role of heir, I was completely overwhelmed. But I wasn't entirely hopeless, so with plenty of stumbling, I barely managed to fulfill the duties."
"Only then did I grasp the pressure my eldest brother had been under. But with both him and my brother gone, I had no choice but to force myself to grow quickly."
"And just when things finally began to stabilize… my eldest brother came back."
"The brother I always respected had become a demon. He returned with the one who turned him into a demon and slaughtered everyone in the household. But when that person tried to kill me, my eldest brother stepped in to stop him."
Hiru kicked at a pebble, his expression hidden. "That must have been the last time he protected me… In any case, I survived—left with nothing.
"After that, I broke down emotionally and lived alone for a while, until I ran into my brother, who had fled home long ago…"
He fell silent for a long time—so long that Himejima thought he wouldn't speak again—before he finally continued:
"…After that, my brother protected me, and I've lived safely until now.
"I know some of my behavior is childish. But because I lost so much in an instant, I still feel this inexplicable anxiety. I subconsciously rely on my brother.
"Haha… my story's a bit boring, isn't it?"
"Amida-butsu… What a sorrowful experience." Tears streamed from Himejima's eyes again. "A demon appearing in your home… You must have suffered greatly all this time."
"Haha, it was long ago," Hiru laughed again. "And my brother is truly super reliable! He's gentle, strong, and incredibly dependable! Himejima, you'll definitely like him when you meet him! He's the kind of person whose gentleness makes you lean on him without realizing it!"
Even without seeing Hiru's face, Himejima could feel the sincere affection and admiration radiating from her.
"Amida-butsu… I am indeed curious now about what kind of person your brother is. Come to think of it, you never told me his name."
"Yoriichi!" Hiru's smile brightened even more. "My brother's name is Yoriichi—and he's the most radiant Swordsman in all the land!"