"Cut its head off."
Yukishiro stood on the stone platform, voice steady. Every time Mitsuri shouted the name of her breathing form, he wanted nothing more than to hide. He couldn't understand how she could yell something so ridiculous in the middle of battle.
"There are so many other names," he thought with a sigh. "Why choose that one?"
"I understand!" Mitsuri called back brightly.
Though she looked soft and full-figured, her strength was balanced. Her curves lay where a woman's should, yet her legs, arms, and abdomen were slim and toned, built for speed.
She leapt from the platform like a streak of pink lightning, rushing toward the couple below. The two clung to each other desperately, certain their throats were about to be torn out—only for Mitsuri's blade to flash before them.
Her Nichirin Sword twisted like a whip, instantly slicing off the Demon's reaching arms.
The creature shrieked, tumbling to the dirt. Black blood poured as it staggered backward, clutching the severed stump. Its glowing eyes burned with rage, turning from the cowering couple to Mitsuri. A guttural growl rumbled from its chest, a warning and a promise.
Mitsuri landed lightly, spinning to face it. Her eyes darted to the twitching limb on the ground.
"Eh? Why the arm? I clearly cut the head…" She glanced back at Yukishiro, flustered.
He only stared, face unreadable.
She stuck out her tongue in embarrassment. "Seriously, I aimed for the neck. How did it become an arm?"
"You ask me?" Yukishiro thought coldly. "You never meant to take its head. Don't think I didn't notice."
His fury broke through his calm voice. "If you don't sever its head, the next ones will be eaten alive. Those two were lucky to meet you—but what about others? Will they be as lucky? If you can't bring yourself to do it, then stand aside and let it devour whoever it wants."
Mitsuri froze. Her little hesitation had been seen through. She lowered her head, unsure what to do.
They had been human once. The thought of cutting them down felt like killing a person herself. But if she let them live—if she allowed them to kill others—wouldn't that also be the same as murder?
Her teeth sank into her lip. She looked up at Yukishiro's still, distant face. He wasn't going to step in.
The couple sat paralyzed on the ground, grateful yet astonished. Their rescuers were none other than the pink-dressed girl and the white-clad boy mocked in the square. Not only did the girl hide such strength, but the way she obeyed the boy's commands left them speechless.
The Demon, ignored, snarled in frustration. With a sickening crack, a new arm burst from its stump.
The girl whimpered for help, clinging to her companion, but the Demon's gaze had shifted. Mitsuri was its prey now. She had ruined its hunt—if it didn't kill her first, it would never feast in peace.
Yet even with its hunger raging, its eyes flicked nervously to the Nichirin Sword in her hands.
It threw back its head and howled, long and shrill.
Yukishiro's eyes narrowed. "It's calling for reinforcements."
A rustling stirred the woods. Branches bent.
In a blink, three more Demons appeared—one crawling low across the ground, another dropping from a tree fork, and the third standing tall and grinning. With the first, they completed a circle, surrounding Mitsuri, Yukishiro, and the couple.
The pair scrambled upright, swords drawn, pressing back-to-back with Mitsuri. Fear lined their faces.
Four Demons against them.
Mitsuri's hands trembled slightly. She trusted Yukishiro wouldn't abandon her, but even he… four at once might be too much.
Regret gnawed at her. "If only I'd listened. If I'd taken its head when he told me, maybe this wouldn't…"
"Hey! Don't just stand there like some idiot—come help us!" the boy, Akino, shouted up at Yukishiro.
At those words, Yukishiro's indifferent expression softened. A smile flickered across his lips for the first time.
Mitsuri blinked in surprise. It was the first time she'd ever seen him laugh—yet what she smelled in that smile was not warmth. It was ridicule, and anger. He was mocking her for ignoring his words, for bringing them into this mess.
"Why should I help?" Yukishiro said coolly. "They won't eat me."
Akino froze, stunned. His face twisted as realization dawned. Rage surged. "What did you just say? Do you call that being human? You'd watch your companions die here?"
Yukishiro shrugged, calm as stone. "That's what she deserves. People should act within their limits.
She had none, but still showed off. Tell me—doesn't she deserve it?"
"You—!" Akino's voice shook with fury. "Are you even a man? Your companion is trapped, and you just stand there mocking her? You… you're no better than these Demons!"
"Just shut up."
The harsh rebuke didn't come from Yukishiro, but from Mitsuri.
Akino froze, wide-eyed. The girl in pink was glaring at him, eyes shining with tears.
"You can't say that to him. What gives you the right to talk to him like that? I don't allow you to say that about him!"
Her words came sharp, one after another, like whips.
Akino faltered. He'd spoken up for her—so why was she scolding him?
"I… I was defending you…" he stammered.
But the girl beside him, Yuka, had already grasped what was happening. She tugged at Akino's arm, urging him to stop.
Under Mitsuri's fierce gaze and Yuka's silent plea, Akino could only shut his mouth, though resentment burned in his chest. He couldn't understand—why defend someone who treated her so coldly? Why protect him?
He glared up at Yukishiro. The boy in white hadn't moved. He was leaning lazily against the stone wall, as though the whole scene was nothing but theater.