For the first time, Genya truly grasped the strength of a real demon in combat.
They were nothing like the ones Hiru or Sabito had casually bound and dragged back before.
Facing them one after another—without Breathing Techniques and unable to enhance his physical abilities—he simply couldn't keep up.
"I've been trapped in these mountains for five years," the grotesque demon sneered, glaring at the panting Genya with open contempt. Its voice was sharp and grating. "You're the first Swordsman I've seen foolish enough to enter without knowing Breathing Techniques. Now then—let's see what you can manage in that exhausted state of yours."
Genya drew in a ragged breath, tightening his grip on his Nichirin Blade. He wasn't panicking. Precisely because he understood his own shortcomings, he had trained his body with ruthless discipline.
Among those his age, his physical strength was unquestionably exceptional. That alone was the reason he was still standing after facing three demons in succession.
[Please… don't let there be a fifth one. I'm already at my limit.]
He snapped his Nichirin Blade upward, knocking aside the demon's clawed strike. The impact still forced him to stagger back.
[Damn it. It's stronger than I expected.]
The demon didn't hesitate. It lunged forward, jaws snapping viciously toward Genya's throat. He barely managed to wrench his left arm up in time to shield his vital point.
Human flesh stood no chance against a demon's fangs. Blood sprayed into the air in a violent arc.
Ignoring the searing pain ripping through his arm, Genya locked his muscles in place. Twisting his wrist, he drove the Nichirin Blade forward with everything he had, aiming for the demon's neck—intending to pierce through and sever the cervical spine.
The demon reacted just as fast. Its left arm bent at an unnatural angle, deliberately allowing the blade to sink into its flesh. Then, just before the edge could reach its neck, it wrenched its arm sharply—ripping the Nichirin Blade from Genya's grip.
Genya released it at once. His hand dropped to his waist, drawing a dagger in one fluid motion as he stabbed upward savagely into the demon's jaw.
Such an injury meant little to a demon.
Its free hand clamped down on Genya's shoulder. With a powerful thrust of its legs, it drove him into the ground, killing intent practically spilling from its eyes.
Genya watched as the demon flexed, dislodging the embedded Nichirin Blade before lunging at him again. He had no choice but to release the dagger and grab the demon's other arm to stop it from tearing into him.
At this rate, defeat was only a matter of time.
The realization struck like a blow—fear of death, frustration at his own weakness, longing for the only family he had left. The surge of emotion burned behind his eyes.
[I won't accept this. Why don't I have any talent? Why can't I learn Breathing Techniques? Why can't I fight alongside my brother? Am I going to die here? Am I… going to be eaten by a demon? No. No! Even if I die, I'll kill this thing first!]
His gaze hardened.
Ignoring the torn flesh of his shoulder, Genya jerked his bitten left arm upward. Then, with savage resolve, he lunged forward and sank his teeth into the demon's shoulder.
This was the scene Hiru arrived to.
He saw Genya biting into the demon like a feral beast. He saw the creature's expression twist from shock to fury. And then, in the blink of an eye, Genya's body began to swell. The whites of his eyes darkened to black. The tide turned instantly.
Genya flipped the demon over and slammed it to the ground, hammering down punch after punch onto its face.
Hiru: …?
For a moment, Hiru felt as though every prior assessment he had made this year had been meaningless. This single Final Selection had already shown him far too many surprises.
There was the cowardly Swordsman who fought in his sleep—and fought even better while unconscious.
There was the boar-masked Swordsman who rampaged like a true beast of the mountains.
And now… a genuine demon eater had appeared.
It was said that humans could be transformed by consuming a demon's flesh and blood. In truth, far fewer were turned that way compared to infection through wounds.
Wound infection directly mixed human and demon blood, making transformation far more likely.
For transformation through ingestion, the demon's flesh needed to contain a sufficient concentration of demonic essence—and it had to survive digestion and absorption.
For Genya to change instantly after taking a single bite from a low-level demon… aside from a Demon Eater constitution, Hiru could think of no other explanation.
[Incredible. Unlike me, a mere pretender, he's the real thing… He must be in utter chaos right now.]
Genya retrieved his Nichirin Blade and cleanly severed the demon's head. Panting heavily, he stared at his own hands—now tipped with sharp claws—then at the wounds that had already healed without a trace.
At last, he sank to the ground, confusion and panic written plainly across his face.
Hiru let out a quiet sigh and stopped concealing his presence. He dropped lightly to the ground and walked toward him.
[How did this happen?]
Genya stared blankly at his claws.
[Did I… turn into a demon?]
"Yo, little Genya."
Genya looked up. After a brief stunned pause, panic flooded his expression. He scrambled to his feet.
"Hiru! Y-you have to listen to me! I—I'm not—!"
Hiru looked him over. After transforming, Genya was now several inches taller than him.
His expression turned complicated.
"Sit down."
"Yes!"
Genya immediately plopped back onto the ground, rigid with tension.
"I—I…"
Hiru reached out and ruffled his hair. Ironically, it looked more neatly combed after the transformation.
"I'm surprised too. Never thought I'd run into someone with a Demon Eater constitution."
"Huh?" Genya blinked up at him. "…Demon Eater?"
"It's a long explanation. For now, relax—you're still human."
Hiru couldn't help but chuckle at the boy's stunned look.
"After the Final Selection ends, come with me. I'll explain everything properly."
"Oh…"
Genya nodded slowly. The tightness in his chest gradually dissipated.
"Then… when will I turn back to normal?"
"Hm. Hard to say. That low-level demon didn't seem particularly strong. The effect should fade after a while."
Hiru crouched slightly, then added casually,
"By the way—what did that demon taste like?"
"Huh? Huh?! Um—if I had to describe it… it was like a pair of socks soaked in sour foot sweat, then stuffed under the armpit of someone with terrible body odor for days."
"I get that you're trying to say it tasted awful…"
Hiru stood up stiffly. His expression twisted as his stomach lurched.
"But what kind of life experience leads to that comparison?"
"Well… I was really little back then. My dad was still alive. One night he came home drunk, and we were all asleep—"
"That's enough."
But Hiru was too late.
"And the socks he'd taken off and thrown aside just happened to fall straight into my mouth—ah. Sorry."
Hiru pressed a hand to his stomach, his face darkening.
Suddenly, he felt like he might throw up too.