Morning sunlight bathed the landscape in a golden glow.
Mitsuri Kanroji watched as the first rays of dawn struck the demon's body. The moment the light touched its flesh, the creature let out a final, silent scream before disintegrating into ashes that scattered in the breeze.
So this was what a demon truly was—a being that feared the sun.
She had managed to rest for part of the night, though she had tried to persuade Yohan to take a break as well. However, he had firmly refused, insisting that someone had to keep watch to prevent the demon from escaping.
During the latter half of the night, the two of them had talked at length. She learned much about demons and, more importantly, about the existence of the Demon Slayer Corps—an organization dedicated to hunting and eradicating these creatures.
Hearing about beings as terrifying as demons had sent shivers down her spine, yet at the same time, she found herself intrigued. But beyond all that, what truly brought her joy was the realization that she wasn't alone in being different. There were others in the world who were special—just like her.
And right now, the person in front of her, Yohan, was undeniably special. Compared to him, her immense strength and unusual appetite didn't seem like such a big deal anymore.
Her heart began to pound wildly in her chest. Now that the immediate danger had passed, her emotions were becoming clearer.
"All right, the sun is up, and the demon is dead. It's about time we head back," Yohan said, stretching his arms.
"We've been gone all night, after all."
"Oh no! I completely forgot about that!" Mitsuri gasped, suddenly panicked. "I didn't go home at all last night!"
Yohan smirked at her flustered reaction. "Your parents are probably worried sick."
Her expression twisted in distress. "Oh no… They're definitely going to think something weird happened! What if they misunderstand? What if—"
"Relax. We'll just head back quickly."
With that, the two of them hurried down the mountain path toward town.
…
Meanwhile, in a darkened room somewhere in Tokyo,
A tall, pale-skinned man dressed in an elegant black suit sat alone, swirling the crimson liquid in his wine glass. His dark hair framed piercing red eyes, which shimmered with an eerie glow.
Suddenly, his expression contorted in displeasure.
The delicate wine glass in his hand shattered against the floor, the deep red liquid pooling like spilled blood.
A shadowy figure emerged from the darkness.
"Lord Muzan."
Muzan Kibutsuji's expression remained impassive, but his voice carried an unmistakable edge. "Just now, Wakaruba was killed."
The shadow trembled slightly. "Lower Moon Three…? Could it have been the Demon Slayer Corps?"
Muzan's eyes narrowed, his fury barely restrained. "No, not the Corps."
He had glimpsed the final moments of Wakaruba's life through his blood. The images were faint, distorted by distance, but what he saw was clear enough.
A man and a woman.
It had been the man who had dealt the killing blow.
"Useless. Pathetic." Muzan seethed. "A Lower Moon, slain just like that."
The room's temperature seemed to plummet as his rage filled the space.
"Send word to the demons near Tokyo. Be on the lookout for a male-female pair traveling together."
He paused for a moment before issuing his final command.
"And summon Akaza. I wish to speak with him."
Then, without another word, he disappeared.
…
Unaware of the storm brewing in the demon's world, Yohan and Mitsuri arrived back in town.
Even if Yohan had known that Muzan Kibutsuji had taken notice of him, he wouldn't have been too surprised. From the moment he had decided to kill Lower Moon Three, he had understood that he was declaring war against stronger demons. It was only a matter of time before more powerful enemies came after him.
But for now, that didn't matter. His priority was growing stronger.
After parting ways with Mitsuri, Yohan headed straight to his inn and collapsed into bed. The adrenaline of battle had kept him going, but now exhaustion weighed on him. Before all of this, he had been nothing more than an ordinary person. So much had changed so quickly—both physically and mentally. Even he needed time to process everything.
Meanwhile, Mitsuri hesitated in front of her home, her heart pounding with nervousness. Taking a deep breath, she pushed the door open.
Her parents were seated in the courtyard, waiting.
"You finally decided to come home?" her father said, his voice stern.
"Dear, you were just worrying about her all night," her mother chided lightly before turning to Mitsuri with a gentle but firm expression. "We're not angry, sweetheart, but we were very worried. You didn't come home at all, and you didn't tell us where you were going."
Mitsuri swallowed hard. She had known this was coming.
"Mom, Dad… Actually, this is what happened…"
She decided not to hide anything. Step by step, she recounted everything—her day in the village, her journey into the forest, and the terrifying encounter with the demon. She even explained what Yohan had told her about the Demon Slayer Corps.
After all, demons were real. The world wasn't as safe as they had always thought. She wasn't just telling them the truth to clear up their concerns—she wanted them to be prepared for what lay ahead.