The two of them searched for traces of the demon, circling around the small town from east to west, from north to south. The maze-like streets gave the Shogun a clear sense that the trail was deliberately concealed, designed to delay their pursuit. The demon was clearly working against them—each time they were about to find it, the direction would suddenly change. It was obvious the trail avoided the true location on purpose.
Time passed from morning to noon, to dusk, and finally to night.
Demons would not act during the day, so it made sense that things dragged on until now. For them, night was just as convenient to act. The once-crowded streets were now nearly deserted; most townsfolk had already returned home. After all, several young girls had gone missing in recent days—nighttime was dangerously unsafe. No one dared go out alone.
"Um... ladies."
Kazumi was clearly tired now—perhaps mentally more than physically. He sounded discouraged as he addressed the two women ahead of him.
"What is it?"
Ei turned her head toward him, while the Shogun continued tracing the demon's trail.
"How about... we call it a night? It's getting late. We can rest and continue tomorrow—"
"If you do that... you'll never see her again."
The Shogun finally spoke, her back still turned. She had activated her Elemental Sight as she replied casually.
"Eh?!"
Kazumi's face turned pale.
"These demons only move at night. And according to what the villagers said... she isn't their only victim."
The Shogun rubbed the dirt on her fingertips lightly.
"Do you think delaying one night won't change anything?"
"!!"
He froze in horror.
"Our time is running out."
With that, she stood and met Ei's gaze. They exchanged a look, and the Shogun gestured slightly, signaling her to come closer.
Ei stepped forward, standing close—so close they could whisper.
"That girl is still alive..."
She had already sensed a faint trace of life underground earlier.
"This area—the one the trail deliberately avoided?"
Ei asked.
"You noticed too?"
The Shogun seemed surprised.
"Come on~ I'm not that oblivious."
Ei gave her a playful glance, as if sulking slightly.
"You two aren't really demon slay—"
Before Kazumi could finish—
Vmm~!!
"!" ×2
A strong wave of sensation struck both women's minds. They froze momentarily and turned their heads sharply toward a house in the distance.
Vmm~!
The Shogun activated her Elemental Sight again. The traces that resembled tendrils grew more vivid than before—thicker, pulsing with energy—and they all converged toward a single point.
"Not good. Someone's been taken again."
Ei immediately understood what that meant.
"Ei... stay here. They'll pass this way soon to transport the victim."
The reason the demons avoided this area was precisely because it was the real entrance. If her guess was right, after seizing their prey, they would almost certainly pass through here. Leaving Ei to guard this spot would let her lie in wait for them.
"Alright."
Ei nodded obediently.
The Shogun then vanished with a crack of lightning, her body turning into a streak of violet light that shot toward the direction of the house!
"Whoa!!"
Thud!
Kazumi yelped in shock and fell flat onto his rear.
What just happened? Was that... the fabled Breathing Technique? Was she truly a member of the Demon Slayer Corps—a Hashira from legend?!
"Stand behind me."
Ei spoke calmly to the flustered youth.
"Eh? Ah..."
Kazumi blinked, startled, then quickly stumbled to hide behind her.
Ei stood still in the middle of the narrow, shadowed residential lane, waiting for what was to come. Around her, faint motes of electro energy began to rise, glowing gently in the night.
Elsewhere—
Crackle!Zzt!
In her lightning form, the Shogun sped through the streets like a streak of light—a meteor of thunder. The ground she passed sparked with residual current, leaving trails of blackened smoke in her wake.
She followed the traces to a private residence, where she immediately reverted from her lightning form and slammed straight into the front door—
Crash!
The door shattered instantly under the impact, lightning arcing through the corridor as she advanced, her speed unrelenting. Within moments, she arrived at what appeared to be a young girl's bedroom, completely ignoring the smoking, scorched floorboards beneath her feet—
Boom!
This time, the sliding door didn't break from her impact—it was instead melted away entirely by her surrounding lightning!
"Ah~!! Help!!!"
As soon as the Shogun entered the room, what met her eyes was a young girl being dragged into the ground by a pair of pitch-black hands emerging from below, her small body slowly being swallowed into the earth.
The girl's face was pale, covered in sweat, her tears streaking down as she struggled desperately against the demon's grip. Just as she was about to be pulled completely underground, her gaze caught sight of the beautiful woman who had arrived at the last moment—and instinctively reached out for help.
"Save me!!! Please save me!!!"
She cried out frantically.
Seeing this, the Shogun decided to take a gamble. Lightning surged across her entire body as she transformed the paper umbrella in her hand into Engulfing Lightning, ready to strike. She lunged forward, feinting a horizontal slash aimed at the demon's arm.
The lightning-clad spear sliced through the air like the claw of a thunder dragon, cutting forward with a sharp gust of wind toward the demon's wrist!
"!!"
The demon panicked at the sight and, in a desperate act of self-preservation, abandoned the girl—hurling her straight toward the Shogun's position. If she hit the wall or the floor with that force, she would be gravely injured, perhaps even killed.
"Ah~!!"
The girl screamed, shutting her eyes tightly to brace for the pain.
But the Shogun anticipated this. She withdrew her blade in an instant and caught the flying girl in her arms. The girl, who had braced herself for agony, instead felt herself land in a warm embrace—soft, gentle, and carrying a faint, sweet scent. The expected pain never came; only comfort and safety.
"?"
She opened her eyes in confusion and saw that the person holding her was a stunningly beautiful woman. Under the moonlight, she looked almost angelic... and the girl's cheeks flushed bright red without realizing it.
Meanwhile, the Shogun entered a state of hyperfocus—time seemed to slow around her. Fixing her gaze on the demon's arm that was retreating underground, her eyes flashed.
She lifted her naginata and unleashed an invisible slash through the air!
Crack!
Like a draw-cut strike, the blade's speed was instantaneous. It severed the demon's wrist right as it tried to vanish, the severed limb disintegrating midair.
"Guh—ah!!"
A painful roar echoed as the demon triggered its Blood Demon Art, pulling its mutilated arm into the ground. Its body melted into shadow and fled rapidly from the room, disappearing into the night.
The Shogun glanced briefly toward its escape route and smiled faintly. Run, then. Someone's waiting for you there.
"Mm—mm!!"
The girl in her arms was still trembling, clutching tightly onto the Shogun's sleeve in fear.
Looking down at the frightened girl, the Shogun's expression softened.
"Are you hurt?"
She asked quietly.
"Mm... I-I'm fine... thank you... big sister///"
The girl's face turned pink as she whispered her thanks like a timid kitten. For some reason, just looking at this woman made her heart race uncontrollably—a feeling she had never experienced even toward the handsome boys she'd met before.
The Shogun noticed a faint cut on the girl's cheek near her long black hair, still bleeding slightly.
"..."
Her violet eyes narrowed. She reached into her kimono pocket and took out a pale lavender handkerchief, folding it neatly before gently wiping the girl's wound. Her movements were soft and delicate, as if she were tending to something precious.
"///!!"
The girl froze, her body trembling at the touch. She didn't dare move, her face heating with shyness as the woman carefully cleaned the small wound. She hadn't even realized she was hurt until now. Under that tender gaze, her eyes grew hazy—she looked at the Shogun like one might gaze at a lover at first sight.
"There... all done."
Satisfied that the bleeding had stopped, the Shogun tucked the handkerchief away, then gently brushed aside the girl's messy hair and tucked it neatly behind her ear.
"Hmm—the door, though..."
She glanced awkwardly at the bedroom door she had completely melted away.
"I-It's fine/// really... it's fine..."
The girl shook her head quickly, still blushing.
"Hmm... even so, I should compensate you a little."
The Shogun reached into her pocket, pulled out her money pouch, and placed a few coins in the girl's hand.
"Eh?"
The girl stared blankly at the unfamiliar 'money' in her palm.
"Go to sleep now... You'll need to wake early tomorrow."
Vmm~
With those soft words, the Shogun didn't vanish in a flash of lightning as before—instead, she slowly dissolved into radiant motes of violet light, disappearing gently before the girl's eyes like a dream.
"!"
The girl blinked, startled, then rushed outside to look around—but the woman was already gone.
"..."
She lowered her gaze to the coins still in her hand, staring in puzzlement.
"The money... big sister gave me... What kind of money is this?"
...
Whoosh!!
Standing at the center of the street, arms crossed, Ei slowly opened her glowing violet eyes as the disgusting squelching sounds from afar drew nearer. The currents of electricity flickering around her body intensified.
Splash!!
A shadow as dark as sludge streaked across the middle of the road—its true body clearly hidden within some alternate space.
"So, you've finally come? You sure made me wait."
She muttered coldly, then raised one hand in front of her chest and placed the other vertically before her heart.
Zzt zzt!
A moment later, a faint violet rift appeared at the center of her chest. Within the starry glow of lightning energy, a magnificent blade began to form from the shimmering light.
She grasped the hilt and drew it straight upward from her chest as if her own body were the sheath. As the long blade emerged, its edge radiated waves of ethereal violet brilliance that illuminated her beautiful features—and her eyes, which resonated with that same glow.
"!!"
Kazumi, standing beside her, was left dumbfounded. Though the way she drew the sword was bizarre, it was also breathtakingly cool—and stunningly beautiful. Even a man with a girlfriend would have his heart stirred by such a sight, let alone any single man. And that thunderous aura... could she truly be one of the Demon Slayer Corps' Hashira?!
Ei's expression remained cold as she drew Musou Isshin, then reversed her grip so that the blade pointed downward. Estimating the shadow's path and where it would stop, she drove the blade's tip into the ground.
Vmm~!
The tip didn't pierce the earth but instead caused it to ripple like the surface of water. The once-solid dirt road now shimmered as if it had turned to liquid, the waves spreading more violently by the second...
"!"
Ei twisted the hilt to the right.
Crack!
It was as if she had turned a key in a lock. The next instant, the ground beneath her transformed into soft, dust-like particles, spreading outward from where the blade was embedded.
It was as though a dimensional gate had been opened—the land itself splitting into a space-like rift. On the other side was a murky, underwater-like world, not blue but yellowish-brown, littered with torn clothes and traces of blood.
Just as the black shadow began slipping into this portal to escape, Ei used Musou Isshin as a medium, channeling her lightning through the rippling surface below.
Zzt zzt!!
"Gyaaaahhhhhh!!!"
A shriek of agony erupted from below. The shadow jerked back from the portal, and a male demon—his entire body smoking—emerged from the ground. He wore black, had long hair, and three horns sprouting from his head. His eyes were solid red, devoid of pupils, and his face twisted with malice.
"..."
Ei pulled Musou Isshin free, spinning the blade gracefully before holding it steady in front of her. Her calm, cold gaze fixed upon the one-armed demon. She had seen plenty of such creatures before. Back in Inazuma, she had slain legions of yokai and monsters—this was nothing new.
"So you've finally shown yourself, little demon."
Her sharp gaze lingered on the creature's wound. The smooth, clean cut told her all she needed to know—it was the Shogun's doing.
Zzt zzt!
The lightning-wreathed Musou Isshin rested at her side, the blade nearly grazing the ground and leaving a glowing scar of light along the surface.
Rattle-rattle-rattle!!!
The demon opened its mouth, clenching and grinding its teeth together at incredible speed, producing a shrill, grating noise.
It looked down at its smoking skin and severed arm, then—snap!—a new hand sprouted rapidly from the stump.
Splash!
The demon sank back into the ground, transforming into shadow once more, slipping beneath the earth to close in on Ei's feet.
Without hesitation, she slashed downward.
Vmm~!
Crack!
The ground split open again, revealing the space below—and the demon reaching out to grab her ankle.
"!"
The demon froze in shock, face twisting in panic as it tried to retract its arm—but—
Ei gave it no chance. Following the first strike, she immediately swung again in a returning slash, aiming precisely for the hand reaching for her leg.
Slash!
The demon's arm was severed like paper, flying away and landing several meters off. The demon howled in agony, clutching its stump before flipping violently out of the ground and crashing onto the street outside.
"Graaahhh!!"
The demon clutched the wound corroded by Musou Isshin's unique power, writhing on the ground in agony as saliva dripped from its mouth.
Ei lowered her gaze slightly, stepped over the disintegrating severed arm, and flicked the blood from her blade with a smooth motion.
"Impossible?!!"
The demon struggled to its feet, attempting to heal its arm—but it didn't work. The limb refused to regenerate. Its regenerative ability had been completely sealed!
No way!
"Y-You... what kind of sword is that?!"
It stumbled backward instinctively, terrified, staring at the beautiful violet blade pulsing with lightning as it stammered out the question.
"The blade that governs time and eternity. Killing you with it feels almost like a waste."
Still, it was the only weapon she had now—her naginata was with the Shogun.
"...That's not a Nichirin Sword?!"
A weapon more powerful than a Nichirin Sword?! One that could suppress a demon's regeneration entirely?! Terrifying! Who on earth was this woman? Was she part of the Demon Slayer Corps too? Why had he never heard of her before?!
"It doesn't matter if you don't understand. You won't live long enough to learn, demon."
Ei spoke coldly, locking her eyes on its neck as she took her stance for a draw-slash.
"Heh... is that so?"
The demon suddenly smirked.
"?"
Ei frowned slightly, sensing something off—
Splash!!!
The moment she prepared to draw her blade, three identical demons erupted from the ground around her—left, right, and behind—surrounding her completely. In the same instant, they lunged, fanged mouths wide open, aiming for her vital spots!
More than one?!
So that's why it was mocking her earlier. Seeing the triumphant sneer on the demon's face, Ei didn't flinch or panic—she simply smiled faintly in return.
"?!"
The demon froze, unnerved by that confident smile. Something wasn't right.
Ignoring the three attacking from behind, Ei focused only on the one before her—and drew her blade.
"Thunderclap!"
Vmm!
Crack!
Countless flashes of blade light covered the demon's entire body.
Slash!
When the lightning faded, not even a full corpse remained.
The reason she hadn't defended herself was simple—she wasn't alone.
Slash!
The Shogun appeared in a burst of lightning behind her, thrusting her naginata straight into one demon's open mouth, then kicking the other two square in the face, sending them crashing into the wall nearby!
The Shogun exhaled softly, relief flickering in her eyes. Looking down at the demon skewered on her naginata, she frowned irritably and drove the blade deeper—straight through its stomach—impaling it entirely.
Moments later, the creature turned to ash and vanished.
"Shogun—"
"Idiot!"
For once, she snapped.
"..."
Ei flinched slightly—rare for her.
"Why didn't you dodge?" the Shogun demanded.
"Because I had you—"
"What if I'd come a moment later?" she interrupted sharply.
The Shogun wasn't unaware of Ei's strength—but just now, she had sensed it clearly. Ei hadn't used any defensive technique, no shield, no lightning armor—she'd simply exposed her bare body to the enemy's attacks!
"..."
Ei looked down, a hint of guilt flickering in her eyes. Her hands tightened unconsciously around Musou Isshin's hilt, fingertips tracing the carved patterns nervously.
"...I shouldn't have yelled," the Shogun said softly after a moment, regret crossing her face.
"I'm sorry... I shouldn't have shouted at you." She lowered her head, her tone full of guilt.
"...It's fine. I know—you were worried about me, weren't you?"
Ei gave a small, understanding smile, her voice cautious but warm.
"Foolish question! You think I want to watch you get hurt by those things? I was worried sick about you!"
The Shogun raised her voice slightly, as if letting out the emotion that had built up inside.
"!"
Ei's eyes widened for a moment—then softened, a heartfelt smile spreading across her face. She nodded, touched and quietly overjoyed. She had wanted to hear that—those words, spoken only to her.
The Shogun averted her gaze with a small huff, glancing toward the direction where the remaining two demons had fled.
"See? Because of you... they got away."
Her tone was more of a complaint than anger.
"Sorry... that was my fault."
Ei admitted awkwardly, her hands fidgeting at the hem of her robe. Seeing her daughter's sulky expression, she couldn't help but feel guilty. She had let her personal feelings interfere with battle—it was her mistake, her carelessness.
"No matter. They won't get far."