At that moment, Kawanishi took a closer look at the girl before him.
Shinobu stood atop a tree by the shore, her eyes slightly narrowed, lips curved in a faint smile. She wore a haori patterned like butterfly wings, and in her hair was a mint-colored butterfly clip edged in deep violet, securing her hair in a night-gathering style curl.
One of her hands was behind her back, hiding something.
All of a sudden, Kawanishi realized—and a chill surged through him.
This smiling girl… was a monster.
Kawanishi could already sense something strange about her.
First of all, he hadn't noticed her presence until she revealed herself.
And that illusion of countless butterflies dancing in the moonlight? That wasn't a trick of the eye—it was some kind of technique, radiating pure pressure.
As for the wind that had circled his neck just moments ago… now that he thought about it, that was probably the edge of her blade. If she'd meant it, his head would've already been on the ground…
Can humans really be this powerful?
"She must be the strong demon slayer from Black Fang's memories—the one from the Demon Slayer Corps."
Kawanishi slowly put on a harmless smile as he met Shinobu's eyes.
She didn't speak—just stood there smiling gently, which made the pressure weigh even heavier on Kawanishi's shoulders.
He broke the silence first. "Hello, my name's Kawanishi Kamado. I'm a traveling adventurer. I just arrived in the area."
Shinobu's smile curved a bit more, mischievous now.
"I'm Shinobu Kocho, a demon slayer."
"A traveling adventurer? Then you must have seen many places and cultures."
"Honestly, I've always admired the life of a traveler."
"Would you tell me about what you've seen and experienced on your journeys?"
This man wasn't ordinary. His clothes were in tatters, full of battle-worn marks, yet his body bore no wounds.
The way he had surged from the water just now—with speed and power that even surpassed that of many demons.
And more than anything, he gave off an odd feeling. Something like a demon, yet distinctly not.
Demon slayers had instincts. They weren't always right, but they were rarely wrong.
That's why Shinobu had nearly cut him down earlier.
He wasn't ordinary, and that meant Shinobu needed to know where he came from.
Kawanishi grinned. "What I've seen? Oh, far too much for three days and nights to cover."
"For example, I once went to a kingdom where the princess was stunningly beautiful, inside and out. But the queen grew jealous and forced her to flee the palace. Fortunately, she was helped by seven dwarves, and eventually found her prince and together they drove the queen out."
Shinobu covered her mouth and giggled. "That's quite the fairytale ending."
She didn't believe a word of it. His story was riddled with holes.
Then Kawanishi added, "But the story doesn't end there."
"After they married, the prince fell in love with an even more beautiful girl. The princess became the jealous queen herself—bitter, twisted, and obsessed with beauty."
Shinobu nodded thoughtfully. "Hmm… now that ending sounds more realistic. But it's still a story."
Kawanishi shrugged. "If you think it's just a story, then it is. But if you take it as truth, then it's real."
Just then, Kawanishi's vision blurred—Shinobu had vanished from in front of him.
At the same time, a fragrant breeze swept in from behind. He turned his head—and there she was, right in front of him, face mere inches from his own, staring directly into his eyes.
Kawanishi could feel her breath on his face—warm, ticklish.
But there was no hint of intimacy in it—only a chill that pierced to the bone.
The gap in power… was too overwhelming. She'd been right there in front of him, and he hadn't seen a single movement…
"Kawanishi, was it? You're a terrible storyteller."
"So, tell me. Who are you really, and what are you doing here?"
"No normal person could have a body like yours. And in the Demon Slayer Corps—I've never heard of you."
"Tell me your origin. And make it a good story, or this could get dangerous for you."
Terrifying. Absolutely terrifying.
Shinobu's strength had surpassed anything Kawanishi could have imagined.
If she found out he was a demon, she might cut him down in a single instant.
How could a human girl, barely in her twenties by the look of it, possess such overwhelming power?
Kawanishi paused, then spoke casually. "Okay, I was just joking earlier."
"The truth is… my family was killed by demons. I've spent years hardening my body, training alone, and following rumors of demons until I arrived here."
"I was feeling worn out just now, so I went for a swim to clear my head."
"My real goal is revenge—killing demons."
There was some truth in his words, though he spoke lightly. But that night's memory still surfaced, and his eyes filled with sorrow.
Shinobu froze for a moment, then drifted back a step, widening the distance.
Her earlier suspicion had been driven by how similar Kawanishi seemed to a demon. She couldn't be sure, but her instincts told her something was off.
And with even a hint of doubt, she couldn't afford to lower her guard.
But no matter what his origins were—those sorrow-filled eyes… there was no way to fake that. Shinobu trusted her judgment.
"Sorry… I didn't mean to bring up such a painful memory."
Bringing up someone's deepest trauma—it was like rubbing salt into a fresh wound. Now Shinobu felt a bit guilty herself.
Kawanishi waved it off. "It's fine. I've gotten used to it."
Shinobu gave a soft hum, then covered her mouth and laughed again.
She didn't respond, only gave him a meaningful glance, scanning his entire body before turning around and beckoning him to follow.
"Come on, let's get you a change of clothes and somewhere to rest."
"Your outfit's completely soaked and clinging to your skin."
"There's a town just ahead—called Ishibashi. You've been traveling a long way, haven't you?"
"And has no one told you? You look just like a beggar right now."
Kawanishi looked down. It was true—he'd jumped into the water fully clothed, and now that he was out, he was completely drenched, his clothes sticking to his skin.
Truly, a sorry sight.
But Kawanishi didn't move. Shinobu turned and looked at him, puzzled.
"What's wrong?"
(End of Chapter)