At first I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me, or maybe it was just a mistake by the painters or the designer. But the longer I stared at the gates, the more certain I became. What in the seven hells was a blue spider lily flower doing here? The buds, the petals, the overall design, it was unmistakable, engraved and painted right there on this so called Lord Ikemoto's gates. Something about it felt deeply off.
The guards pushed the heavy gates open with collective effort, and there came a sight that made anyone pause and think. If this was where Pacho lived, I could see with complete certainty why he was always smiling. The compound had an entirely different atmosphere—decorated with flowers and trees, a classic pond off to one side. It gave off a warm, welcoming feel, far livelier than the Ubuyashiki mansion. If I had to compare, the Ubuyashiki place carried a cool, almost gloomy air, while this one felt much more alive, though both were equally beautiful in their own way.
"Come on, follow me," Pacho called.
I shook off the flood of thoughts and followed behind him. When we reached the veranda, we slipped off our slippers and stepped onto the wooden floor, then circled around the house to what seemed like the back door.
We passed several rooms until we reached the living room. A girl sat at a low table, reading from scrolls. She had dark hair, sharp eyes, and a serious expression overall. When she noticed us, her face softened slightly, but the change vanished almost instantly, as though she didn't want us to see it.
"Welcome back, big brother," she said to Pacho, then fixed me with a silent, deadly stare, surprisingly intense for a child.
"Thank you, Akami. What about Ayumi?" Pacho asked.
"She went out."
"Oh." He paused for a second. "And Father?"
"Father is upstairs in his study."
"Can you call him for me? Tell him I've returned."
The girl set the scroll down, stood up, and walked past us. Pacho sat down on the wooden floor, and I followed suit without thinking.
There was a lot to admire about the house—not just the architecture, but the details too. Beautiful, well-crafted vases stood in the corners, and paintings of animals and beasts decorated the walls. While there were plenty of things to take in, I couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that this family had some kind of connection to something Muzan would kill for. And Pacho was caught up in it.
"It's amazing, isn't it?" Pacho asked from beside me.
"Yeah, it is."
"I had the same face when I first came here."
"Who wouldn't be amazed?" I said. Sure, some people grow up in places like this, but if you set them aside as exceptions, then yes—this was far beyond average.
As we talked, Akami returned with a tray holding two cups. She moved carefully, set the tray down, and left without a word. Pacho reached for a cup first, steam rose from it as he drank. I followed, and when the aroma hit my nose, I realized it was tea, strange, not the usual green tea you find everywhere.
One sip, and it rushed through me like it was flushing my insides clean. It was minty with a strong kick in the chest—you could almost mistake it for wine. But after it settled, I felt rejuvenated. My senses sharpened, and even my muscles seemed to feel fresh and new. This was no ordinary drink.
A minute later, a man walked in, dark hair, serious expression, and clearly strong. On his chest was the same spider lily emblem as the one on the gate. For a moment, my concern deepened.
"I'm back, Father," Pacho said, bowing from his knees.
"Welcome back," the man replied, then turned to me. "And this is…"
"This is my brother I told you about," Pacho said.
"I'm Tatsuya Uzui," I said quickly.
"You're the brother Chogi spoke of—from the mountains?"
"I am."
He walked over and sat on the floor across from us.
"You know, we talked about you just this morning. I must say, you don't look like what I expected." He turned to Pacho. "You didn't tell me your brother is a samurai."
"I just found out today myself," Pacho chuckled.
"Well, Samurai Tatsuya, I am Shuichi Ikemoto. You can call me Shuichi. Welcome to my house," he said calmly, though his voice carried a subtle edge that made me suspicious,.or maybe I was just making it up in my head.
"Thank you, Mr. Shuichi," I said.
Then the girl with the sharp stare walked in, carrying a tray with a cup on it. She set it down in front of Mr. Shuichi. I couldn't help noticing the strong resemblance between them, their hair as dark as onyx, their eyes carrying the same piercing intensity.
"A sudden question, Samurai Tatsuya," Mr. Shuichi began. "I heard there was a war far from here, between the South and the West, I believe. Tell me, which side do you fight for?"
"I don't fight for any of them."
"Hm. How strange. And yet you carry a blade. Surely you don't use it on people at random?"
"No, no! Actually, I'm a Demon Slayer—" The moment the words left my mouth, I wished I could take them back.
"You're a Demon hunter?" His face lit up. He turned to Pacho. "Your brother is a Demon hunter?"
Now that I thought about it, I had never told Pacho about this side of my life, and he had never asked. But I regretted saying it now. I didn't know exactly why, but something about Ikemoto Shuichi and his connection to the spider lily felt dangerous.
"You know, people always say Demon hunters chase ghosts, that demons don't exist. They only say that because they've never encountered one themselves." He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I have encountered one myself." He traced a scar on his face near his chin.
"It happened in my youth. I was on a business trip, riding at night, when it attacked us. Before I realized what was happening, it had killed my companions. When it came for me, I tried to fight back—that's when I got this." He ran his finger along the scar on his neck.
"As I thought I was about to die, he appeared—a Demon hunter. He fought the creature. It was a long battle, but I sat there, weak on my knees, and watched everything."
"That's a touching story, Mr. Shuichi," I said.
"Indeed it is." He nodded. "People don't really understand the efforts of Demon hunters. They work in the darkness of night to protect people while they sleep. That's the saddest part. Keep up the good work." He reached out and placed his hand on my shoulder, but then jerked it back sharply, his eyes moving from his hand to my shoulder.
"What is the problem, Mr. Shuichi?" I asked.
"Nothing. It's just… you seem too strong for a child. Your muscles, at first I thought they were steel."
That felt like foul play. Complimenting someone like that—I could feel my face heating up. Damn, I was blushing.
"Thank you, Mr. Shuichi."
"I know I might be intruding, but I have a request for you, Samurai Tatsuya, and I would be very grateful if you'd accept it."
A request so soon? "What is it?" I asked, paying close attention.
"You see, Chogi is to become my heir in the near future." He gestured toward Pacho. "And I have planned a trip to solidify that claim. It's a trade journey, one that involves delivering a family heirloom. With this heirloom, he will be officially named heir and gain the requirements needed to marry my daughter. The heirloom will secure his position, and the marriage will seal it."
He paused, reached for his cup, and took a sip. "I have prepared men to escort him—some of the strongest in the entire village of Shogi. But this village can only offer so much. I was wondering if someone like you, who has seen real battle up close, could help."
"I know Demon hunters tend to be busy, so if you could at least help train my men, I would be deeply in your debt." He bowed his head.
Yes, he had finished stating his request. The request to see it for himself. I looked at him and thought: this man is full of crap. There was only one answer I could give.
"I refuse to acknowledge your request, sir."