"Hey, Kayda, why did you—"
"You know what? Why don't we play tag?" Kayda said suddenly, cutting me off with that usual playful glint in her eyes.
My ears twitched. "Huh?" I blinked at her mid-sentence, completely thrown off.
Without warning, Kayda leaned forward and tapped my arm. "Tag. You're it," she said with a smirk—and then she vanished, shooting forward at top speed like a damn missile with legs.
"...What just happened?" I mumbled, watching the space she'd just been standing in. Her fading footsteps echoed off the buildings. "I just wanted to ask her something."
I sighed, placing a hand on my hip and sniffing the air. Her scent trail was still fresh, carried lightly on the wind, tugging me to follow her. My tail twitched in annoyance.
"Even if she did get her wings because she found her soulmate… I doubt she'd tell me," I muttered to myself as I started walking. "It's not like it could be me. My soul isn't even from this world…"
I stopped to stretch, arms over my head. A slight ache in my shoulders reminded me that I hadn't fully recovered from last week's training binge.
"Whatever," I sighed again. "It doesn't matter. There won't be time for any of that for a while, anyway…"
Still walking, I added, "Wouldn't mind having her as my wife, though…"
I started speaking with hand gestures as if debating with an invisible audience—completely in my own world—when I noticed someone staring.
"Mom, that crazy person is talking to herself!" a boy shouted at full volume.
I froze mid-step. Slowly turning my head, I saw him pointing directly at me.
"…Seriously?"
Locking eyes with the little brat, I gave him a slow nod—then vanished with a flash step.
The moment I reappeared several blocks away, I smacked my forehead. "Aah, fuck! How am I supposed to get Kayda now?"
I'd flash-stepped right out of her scent trail.
Rubbing my temple, I muttered, "Okay, okay… think. Her trail was going south. That's a start."
[Outer South District | 3rd POV]
"We don't serve demons like you here!" a young man shouted, voice echoing through the second-floor window of a grimy tavern.
A small figure was hurled out into the street, landing hard on the stone path. Despite the fall, the figure twisted midair and landed on their feet, cloak flapping. They scrambled to wrap themselves tighter in their coat, trying to conceal their features.
But fate was cruel today—they'd landed right next to a table of three drunk locals.
"Beggars should just die!" one of them sneered, hurling a jug of cheap beer.
The ceramic smashed against the wall inches from the figure's head. Flinching, the small one ducked lower.
"Those marks… fuck off, you demon!" Another man growled, pointing at red markings faintly visible on the figure's arms.
"What's a damn demon doing here anyway?" A woman said, her face curled with disgust.
The little figure tugged the coat sleeves down tighter, lowering her head even more as the murmurs around her grew louder.
"The Church should just eradicate their kind."
"Don't say that out loud. What if Anabald's dogs hear you?"
"The Church would never allow them to do anything to us," someone else scoffed.
Heart pounding, the small figure took off running—blindly—legs pumping, hair flying behind her. She didn't care where she went. Just away.
THUD.
The girl collided with someone. Hard.
She staggered backward and looked up—right into the eyes of a tall dragonoid woman.
"Oh look," someone from the crowd chuckled, "the demon ran into another person."
"And a dragonoid nun, no less," a man added with a sneer.
"Shut up. Don't draw attention, or we'll get killed too," a woman hissed.
"Shit, this might be one hell of a show for us," one guy muttered, already settling into his seat.
"Yeah. I wonder if she'll torture the demon or just kill it."
"Who wants to bet on it?" a man shouted, holding up a coin bucket.
"Twenty silver on kill!"
"Fifty coppers on torture!"
"Cheapskate!"
"Shut up, Bob!"
While the crowd bickered and placed bets, neither of the two involved had moved.
The dragonoid was simply gazing at the small girl in a calm manner.
"Man, people really do talk too much these days, huh?" the woman spoke gently. "Don't they, little girl?"
The rabbit-eared demon said nothing. Her red eyes stared up, silent and tense.
"Kayda!? Kayda, where the fuck are you!?" A voice suddenly rang out from above—sharp, female, and annoyed.
Kayda's head snapped up. "Ah, shit. She found me."
"There you are, Kayda," I said, appearing beside her with a puff of displaced air.
[Kitsuna POV]
Kayda turned to me sheepishly. "Haha, I guess I'm it now—"
I flicked her forehead with a sharp thwack.
"Ow! What was that for?"
"You interrupted me earlier."
"Well—"
"Just kill the damn demon already!" someone shouted from the side.
My eyes narrowed.
"Shut the fuck up!" I barked, releasing a sliver of killing intent. The air pressure dropped. The crowd around us dropped like rocks, gasping or fainting outright—everyone except one person.
One small figure stood frozen in front of us, looking up with crimson eyes that shimmered with faint fear—and something else.
'Analysis.'
Name: Nekro
Age: 13
Race: Rabbit Demon
Bloodline: Rabbit Devil
Level: 23
Class: Unknown
A rabbit demon?' I blinked. 'Never heard of that.'
I crouched down, intrigued. Reaching up, I gently pulled back her hood, revealing jet-black rabbit ears that gleamed with a strange shimmer—like they drank in the light.
'Cool… And she's so small—barely even a meter tall. Is this really what 13-year-olds look like here? But… shit. Devil bloodline. That's trouble.'
As I examined her, I let some of my killing intent linger, and she suddenly collapsed to her knees, breath caught in her throat.
"Oops. Sorry," I said, pulling it back instantly. "I was agitated."
I gave Kayda a pointed look.
"You're strong, right?" Nekro asked suddenly, her voice small but full of something fierce.
I smiled. "For my age, yeah. I'd say so."
"Will you train me?" she said, eyes locking with mine. "I don't care what I have to do—just please. Teach me how to control my power."
I blinked. Then smirked. "I was planning to take you in anyway."
"You were!?" Kayda and Nekro said at the same time.
"Yeah," I shrugged. "She's the perfect size to be used as a loli backpack. And she's cute."
"…Loli backpack?" Kayda asked.
"Oh, it's a thing from my past life. In stories, powerful warriors would always carry a sweet little girl on their back—either while traveling or fighting. Instant cool points."
"You… want her to be on your back while fighting?" Kayda asked.
"How is that supposed to be training?" Nekro added.
I rolled my eyes. "Obviously I'm going to train her too."
"You think the Church will just let you train a demon?" A man sneered, stepping out from the crowd.
"Demon? Wait—how did you all—" I started.
"They saw the marks on my arm," Nekro said quietly, looking down.
"Oh," I said, lifting my sleeve. "So you've got tattoos too?"
The crowd gasped at my inked arms.
"Another damn demon!" the man growled.
"The Church is pathetic if they let two of you walk free," someone muttered.
"You dumbasses," I said, snorting. "These are curses. That doesn't automatically mean demon. Though yeah… In our case, it does."
"Curse or demon, we don't want your kind here!" the man shouted, waving a fist.
"Haha, no worries," I said, walking past him and picking Nekro up like a plush toy, cradling her in my arms. "Go ahead and report us to your little cult. Make my job easier later."
"Cult!? Blasphemy!" The man roared, but I was already walking away.
"Let's go, Kayda," I said, grinning.
Kayda followed close behind. I heard Nekro mumble, "Ma'am…" Are you sure it's wise to insult the Church like that?"
"Ma'am?" I laughed. "I'm the same age as you. Call me Kitsuna."
"…We're the same age?" she asked, stunned.
"And yes," I added, "pissing off the Church will help later."
"How…?"
"You'll see," I said with a wink.
Just then, a loud growl came from Nekro's stomach. Her cheeks flushed.
"Let's get you some food first," I chuckled.
[Later—At a Restaurant]
Nekro devoured her food like a starving squirrel while Kayda and I sat across from her. I rested my chin on my hand, watching with mild awe.
"So," Kayda said, leaning in slightly. "What is your reason for wanting to keep her?"
"She's interesting," I said plainly. "I want her in my squad."
"She's our age."
I nodded.
"You want a 13-year-old to join your team of lunatics?"
"Yeah. Apricot needs a partner."
"You want to pair her with a child?"
"Yup. For some reason, I think these two would click."
"Click how?" Kayda asked, narrowing her eyes. "Romantic or fighting partners?"
I stared at her. "I haven't even seen her fight. What do you think I mean?"
"…Are you sure she isn't interested in someone else?" Kayda said, Oddly aggressive.
I raised an eyebrow. "Positive."
"She's an ex-Federation soldier, Kitsuna. She might be playing you."
"She's suffered," I said, my voice firm now. "I've seen what she's been through. Hell, her past might be worse than mine."
Kayda stiffened.
"Don't hate her just because we're close," I added, staring her down. 'Jealous much?'
"Anyway," I continued, "her bloodline is intriguing. Never heard of a rabbit devil before."
Kayda blinked. "Devil?"
"Yep."
Kayda glanced at Nekro, eyes narrowing.
"If you're thinking of harming her," I said flatly, "I'll use every skill I have to disappear with her."
"I wasn't planning to."
"Good. Because I've got things under control."
"Really?" Kayda said with a smirk. "Like that time you stabbed Brenda and had Sirone on you?"
"We agreed never to talk about that," I said through gritted teeth.
"Help! Help, Kayda! Sirone's trying to kill me!'" she mimicked in a high voice.
"Tsk. Her arrows hurt, okay?!"
Kayda laughed, tears forming at the corners of her eyes. "You're running for your life from someone half your size… Priceless."
"If you two are done," Nekro said, wiping her mouth with a napkin. "I'm finished. We can go now."
I blinked at the sheer amount she'd eaten… and smiled.