Explaining was pointless, and running would get him nowhere.
Rowen couldn't help but regret trusting Hell's so-called guidance that had led him to such a hostile place.
Just as he stood there at a loss, caught between staying and fleeing, Kanae's gentle smile entered his view.
There was a soft light of curiosity in her eyes, and her warmth felt like it could melt winter snow.
Under that gaze, Rowen found himself defensively testing the waters. "...If I said I really didn't mean any harm, would you believe me?"
"Hmm~ since Mr. Rowen says so…" Kanae tapped her snowy chin thoughtfully, then smiled. "I guess I'll believe you?"
"Big sis?!" Shinobu gasped. Rowen blinked in disbelief. "...Seriously?"
"But since you've got nowhere to go, why not stick with us for a while? We happen to be looking for an extra hand."
Kanae nodded cheerfully, not only letting his earlier sketchiness slide but even offering him a job.
(Is she really not afraid I'm a bad guy?) Rowen wondered, though his eyes couldn't help drifting to the blade at her waist. His expression turned slightly odd—shouldn't swords have been outlawed during this time?
Shinobu, on the other hand, was visibly displeased and tried to protest again, only to be casually brushed off by her sister's teasing.
So even though he still hadn't managed to strike up a conversation with the expressionless little Kanao, Rowen still landed a hot meal that night.
His "job" turned out to be laughably simple—whenever the sisters were out, he was to use the allowance Kanae gave him to buy lunch for Kanao and make sure she ate.
That wasn't even a job, really. It made Rowen wonder if this beneficial future he was promised... actually meant living off others?
If that were the case, well, he wasn't quite sure how to feel about it.
...
After dinner, at the Kocho sisters' temporary lodging—
Rowen lay lazily on a bench in the courtyard, gazing at the stars as he habitually stroked Kanao's head like she was a cat.
Kanao, for her part, simply sat beside him and stared without resistance or reaction—completely blank.
It was quiet between them, strangely harmonious, if a little weird.
Why didn't Rowen say anything? Because he'd already tried. No matter what he said or how he joked or teased, the kid never reacted. So he'd given up and now just sat there, lost in thought about the future.
Suddenly, urgent footsteps broke the calm.
"—We were just taking a bath, and you're already laying hands on her again?!" Shinobu returned, cheeks still flushed from the hot water. She stormed over, snatching Rowen's wrist.
"It's just... petting. That's not allowed?"
"Are you seriously saying that right now?!"
His utter nonchalance left Shinobu wide-eyed, genuinely unsure whose worldview was broken.
Rowen lifted his hands innocently. "Of course. I used to do the same with Nezuko and Hanako—no one ever complained. Or... are you the one thinking something weird here? That's not good, you know."
"You bastard...!" Shinobu clenched her fists, but restrained herself from hitting him. Instead, she grabbed Kanao's hand and turned away. "—Kanao, let's go. Stay far away from this guy."
Still slumped lazily on the bench, Rowen only shook his head with a sigh. "People these days... Tch. Guess I'll go for a walk."
"A walk? At night?" Shinobu stopped in her tracks, turning back with narrowed eyes. "What, you want to become a demon's midnight snack?"
"Demon?"
"What's with that look?" Shinobu asked, expression twisted with disgust.
"I already told you—it's a look full of warmth."
"Gross. So you're one of those people who doesn't believe demons are real, huh?"
"On the contrary. You don't believe I'm a good person, but if I said demons exist, would you believe that?"
"That's different!"
"How?"
"Because demons do exist!" Shinobu's voice dropped an octave—low, serious, and absolute.
But given her quick temper and stiff personality, Rowen just waved her off like she was bluffing. "So do demons."
"Tch… one day, you'll understand."
"I think so too… but I kinda hope you never have to find out."
"I'm actually looking forward to the day you cry and beg me for the truth."
Clicking her tongue, Shinobu snapped her final retort and led Kanao away without another word.
Watching their figures disappear into the dark, Rowen mumbled to himself, "Demons, huh?"
For the record, the monster he'd fought earlier still only registered as a "monster" in his mind. If he had to categorize it, it felt more like a mutated, superhuman zombie than an actual demon.
Because by his understanding, ghosts and spirits—at least the kind he knew from horror movies and books—were what counted as "demons."
................
In the days that followed, Rowen lived alongside the Butterfly sisters. Life finally started looking up.
His only job was watching over Kanao.
Since he was technically a "temporarily disabled" person, he didn't even need to carry luggage during the move.
And he still got free room and board.
Shinobu continued to treat him with nothing but hostility, but her constant emotional outbursts were a fountain of Depravity Value for Rowen, who couldn't help poking at her just to see her frown.
Kanae always smoothed things over with a warm smile.
True to her nature, she never once showed negative emotions, which left Rowen both impressed and a little disappointed.
He also noticed that the Butterfly sisters always left during the night and slept during the day—hence why they needed someone to watch Kanao.
And tonight... after seeing Kanao off with dinner, Rowen returned to his room alone, changed into a freshly pressed priest's robe, put on a silver cross necklace, and proudly strutted toward the local hospital.
Of course, the robe was a backup piece "borrowed" from the church. Sure, he forgot to ask permission—but Christianity was all about love, wasn't it? A little love for him should be fine, right? The whole religion preached compassion and forgiveness—so a tiny borrowing incident could be overlooked.
The New Testament even said, "If someone strikes your right cheek, offer them your left as well." By that logic, not marching up to the priest and begging for a clean set of clothes made him the bigger man here.
And as for why he was cosplaying as clergy?
Well, Christianity wasn't exactly popular around here. But he didn't want to shave his head, and he hated traditional priest robes—so this was the only option.
Why pretend to be a priest in the first place? Simple: unless emotions were directed at him personally, the residual negativity in the air was almost useless. His reserves were running dangerously low—only about ten percent left.
So posing as a priest let him "counsel" people, guiding them to vent their emotions while subtly collecting that precious energy.
And as for the issue of being a demon?
Hey—nowhere in the Bible did it say demons couldn't be priests, right?