The sun set, and night fell.
As darkness spread, the demons that had been hiding all day began to appear.
Soma stepped out of the cave where he had spent the entire day. He looked up and saw a full moon hanging high in the pitch-black sky.
For demons, daytime was forbidden, while night was a time for indulgence.
Many demons hunted during this hour.
Soma walked into the town.
The daytime hustle and bustle had long since faded. Doors were tightly shut in every home. Only Soma, a lone demon, wandered the streets, which felt empty and desolate.
Passing by an inn, he silently slipped inside and stole a roasted chicken the innkeeper had prepared for tomorrow's business.
The chicken was still warm, its color appetizing. He tore off a piece and put it in his mouth. For humans, it would be delicious, but to Soma, it felt like chewing wax—barely better than eating dirt.
Suppressing the feeling, he swallowed the meat. Even as he did, his stomach seemed to protest, and the scent of true food—a smell that tantalized a demon—wafted through the air.
Shaking his head to suppress the craving for human flesh, he soon arrived at a house in the town.
With a light step, he was already on the rooftop. Sitting there, holding the roasted chicken, he silently watched the full moon, struggling inwardly to suppress his hunger for flesh.
Time passed slowly.
At some point, the wind picked up, carrying a cold chill across Soma's body. In the sky, clouds had covered the moon, plunging the dim night into complete darkness.
"Tick… tick…"
Rain began to fall without him noticing.
Droplets hit Soma's head and shoulders, sliding down to his face. The icy water streaked across his cheeks.
He wiped the rain from his face and realized that he was soaked from head to toe.
Yet, Soma had no intention of leaving. As always, he remained seated on the rooftop, his gaze fixed on the empty street through the downpour.
The girl he had met last night—he had promised her that if she came by at night, he would bring food to help her keep her strength. It might have been a momentary act of pity yesterday, but he didn't intend to break his word.
However, judging by tonight's situation, the girl likely would not come.
"Tick… tick…"
Rain hit the ground, splashing muddy water. The skinny girl, carrying her bag, hugged herself and quietly stepped out of her house.
The freezing rain soaked her, running down her neck and chilling her to the bone. She could feel her body's warmth slowly draining away.
At that moment, she longed to immediately return to her worn, leaky hut. It was broken and inadequate, but at least it provided some shelter from wind and rain.
Yet, for some reason, she thought of the strange man from yesterday, remembered what he had said, and her steps quickened.
Soon, the skinny girl reached the spot where she had met the man yesterday.
The street was empty. Only the rain falling in sheets filled her vision. Her delicate, purple-tinted eyes looked down slightly.
At such a late hour, in such cold weather, with such heavy rain, who would come out?
Yet, for some reason, a small spark of anticipation swelled within her. She unconsciously lifted her head, and through the rain, she saw the strange man sitting alone on the rooftop. His clothes were soaked, and water dripped from his wet hair.
The girl's eyes widened at that moment—she hadn't expected him to actually show up, even in such heavy rain, waiting here for her.
It was the first time anyone had ever waited for her. The first time anyone had truly cared about her. Even though her clothes were soaked and her body chilled, her heart felt warm. In the darkness and cold of her life, when the world seemed dead and silent, she suddenly felt a long-lost warmth and a sense of life.
"You came."
Soma jumped down from the rooftop and stood tall before the girl.
She looked up, staring blankly at the man in front of her. Her lips were slightly pressed together, her fingers unconsciously clenched.
"I didn't expect you to come."
Soma smiled at her. With this heavy rain and so late at night, he hadn't expected her to come just because of a small promise he had made—and his promise had been to bring only a little food.
The girl pressed her lips together, saying nothing. She simply stood there, like a small, timid, frail cat. Rain soaked her hair and clothes, chilling her to the bone, and she shivered involuntarily.
"Let's go under the eaves. You shouldn't stay in the rain any longer."
Soma stepped forward and took her hand. It was very cold, like holding a block of ice.
Under the eaves, the rain no longer fell on them. His tall body shielded her from the wind. The girl stayed quietly, feeling the world suddenly become warm and safe.
"I told you last time, if you came at night, I'd bring you something to eat."
Under the eaves, Soma reached into his clothes and took out the roasted chicken wrapped in lotus leaves, still slightly steaming.
The girl looked at the chicken, then at the man drenched from head to toe.
He was completely soaked, in such heavy rain, on such a cold night—but the chicken had been carefully protected.
And that carefully protected chicken was for her.
A feeling she couldn't quite describe spread through her chest—warm, like hot water pouring over a cold ice layer. She realized, for the first time in a long while, that the world wasn't entirely cold; there was another kind of warmth, opposite to the chill.
"Eat." Soma patted her head gently, a hint of compassion in his voice. Such a small girl—back in his world, she should have lived carefree under her parents' protection, but her situation clearly wasn't good.
The chicken was delicious and hot. At his encouragement, the girl took small bites, savoring each one.
At that moment, Soma realized he was hungry too.
"Uncle, you eat too."
The girl offered him what she thought was the best chicken leg.
"I'm not hungry."
He shook his head.
The girl looked puzzled. He seemed hungry—she knew that feeling of hunger well—but why would he say he wasn't?
"Is it because you don't like to eat these?"
"Mm."
"Then what do you like to eat?"
The girl lifted her eyes to look at him.
Soma hesitated. When he had been human, there were many foods he had enjoyed, but now, those foods were like chewing wax to him.
As a demon, there was only one thing truly delicious—but that was a line he could not cross.
Shaking his head, he patted her on the head again without answering what he liked to eat. Instead, he asked,
"Do you know where Mount Sagiri is?"