Behind Marcus, Rengoku stood completely still, watching as the blue patterns slowly spread across the body of the man in front of him.
In that instant, he remembered the meeting from three months ago and Marcus's exact words: "I can devour the Blood Demon Arts of demons."
Back then, no one had truly grasped the weight of that sentence. Now, the meaning hit him with absolute clarity.
"Demon Pillar… now I understand," he murmured with a faint smile.
Marcus turned his head when he heard him, revealing a small trace of blood still lingering at the corner of his lips. His golden pupils flashed for an instant before disappearing.
"Sorry about the spectacle."
Rengoku was stunned for a second before bursting out, "HAHAHA!!"
Marcus looked at him, puzzled. "You don't find it repulsive?"
"Repulsive!?" Rengoku laughed even harder. "You've turned a curse into a gift! It's a tool that the WORLD has placed in your hands for a reason!"
He stepped closer and gave him a firm pat on the shoulder.
"Those beings have consumed innocent lives! If eating a piece of their flesh allows you to exterminate more of them, then do it without hesitation! Turn them into your own fuel for battle! Hahaha! You have my respect!"
"…"
Marcus looked at him, not knowing what to say for a moment.
"…Thanks."
Brushing it off with a gesture, Rengoku turned his attention to the demon pinned against the wall.
He was already completely finished.
The blue stripes had vanished from his skin and his body hung limp from the blade. He didn't even have the strength left to complain.
"What do you want to do with him?" he asked. "Is it necessary to keep him alive?"
Marcus walked over and firmly gripped Makomo's hilt.
"No need."
Puff
The moment he pulled out the sword, Slasher's body slid heavily down to the ground.
Marcus looked down at him with absolute coldness.
The demon's eyes shifted with one last effort to look at him. In those golden pupils there was no longer a trace of malice, only a deep fear.
"…W-What are you…?"
Marcus simply raised Makomo and, with a single clean slash, separated his head from his body.
And just like that, he died.
Right after, he fixed his eyes on the sword and kissed the blade with a deep mixture of gratitude and devotion.
"Thanks, Makomo."
In reality, even without that attack of hers, he wouldn't have been so careless as to let the demon escape.
But he knew he had to flatter her.
'You're welcome, Marcus-kun~'
To one side, Rengoku, on seeing Marcus kiss the steel and whisper to it, tilted his head slightly, visibly confused.
Noticing his fixed gaze, Marcus returned the look with complete naturalness.
"She's my wife."
"…"
Rengoku held a tomb-like silence for exactly one second. And then, he burst out again.
"HAHAHAHA!! A wife! I like that determination! A swordsman must treat his weapon as his lifelong companion! I admit that even I lack that level of devotion!"
"…"
It seemed he had misinterpreted things.
…Forget it, there was no need to give him an explanation either.
Suddenly, a gust of fresh air reminded him of his current state. He looked down to inspect himself and reality hit him.
"Rengoku…"
"Yeah?"
"What happened today… could you not go around telling people…?"
Rengoku looked him up and down and, obviously…
"HAHAHAHA!!"
The laughter rang out again throughout the station.
"I'll try!"
"…What do you mean 'I'll try'?"
"Exactly that! I'll make an effort!"
Giving him a pat on the back, Rengoku started walking toward the exit of the platform.
"Let's go, Marcus! It'll be dawn soon! Let's find something to eat!"
Marcus stayed where he was, watching his back move away from him.
Rengoku said he was going to look for food, but the first thing he did when he got to the stand was crouch down in front of Tomi and Fuku to calm them down. And, while he was at it… "I'll buy all your bentos!!"
Immediately, Makomo's voice rang out.
'…He's… someone really odd…'
Marcus smiled with a certain helplessness. "Yeah… But he's a good person."
'Oh…'
Then, he lowered his eyes to the purple-pink blade.
"Makomo."
'Yes?'
"From now on, don't sleep for so long."
She stayed silent for a moment.
'…If I don't sleep, I can't come out… Without these months of sleep, I wouldn't even be able to talk to you right now. And from here on out too… if I don't rest, I can't manifest.'
"I'm sorry…"
'No, Marcus-kun, I'm very happy.' Makomo's voice sounded genuinely cheerful. 'Even when I'm sleeping, I can see what's happening outside through… I had never seen a world so colorful: the lights, the automobiles, the trains… And I had never met so many people: Tamayo-san, Kanao-chan, the Pillars… Thank you, Marcus-kun.'
However, Marcus didn't show the joy that the moment seemed to call for.
"What's happening outside… can you see all of it?"
Makomo went silent and the pink tone of the blade intensified, turning vibrant. A long while passed before she answered with a tantrum: 'Hmph! Pervert!'
Marcus laughed, feeling a little embarrassed but also a little mischievous.
"So, from now on, what do you prefer? Should I leave you in the living room at night, or would you rather stay by the side of my bed to keep watch?"
'Y-You… SHUT UP!'
"Or even better, I'll just put you straight on the sheets!"
'Don't you dare!'
"Just watch whether I dare or not!"
'If you dare to put me in the bed, I-I… I'll castrate you!'
"…"
Marcus's expression tensed.
'Hehe! Got you scared, didn't I~?'
This time it was Makomo's turn to laugh, and seeing her like that, brimming with that childish joy, a hint of tenderness appeared in Marcus's eyes.
"Makomo."
'Mm?'
"Let's chat for a few days, and then you go to sleep, okay?"
'…Yes!'
'Oh, by the way, Marcus-kun,' Makomo's mischievous voice rang out again. 'You don't actually have to talk out loud. As long as you have your hand on the hilt and you think it, I can hear you.'
"Huh?" Marcus blinked, instantly going from tenderness to outrage. "Why didn't you say so earlier?! You've had me talking out loud like a madman this whole time!"
'Bleeeh! That's what you get for bothering me!'
__________
Throw your stones, drop them ALL! 💎
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And if PS aren't your thing but you still want more chapters...
P-a-t-r-e-o-n → Athome790