Shirai Takeru: That's right.
Shinobu fell silent, but her gaze turned icy.
Unlike her sister, Kanae, who had compassion in her heart, Shinobu harbored deep hatred toward demons.
To her, the idea of coexistence was laughable.
So even though Kirishima Touka was now part of the chat group…
If Touka had been standing in front of her, Shinobu would have drawn her blade without hesitation.
Kirino Kosaka: This has to be a joke, right? Things like that really exist?
Miko Yotsuya: I'm actually kind of curious—what do ghouls look like?
Erina Nakiri: Don't get curious about stuff like that! You'll scare yourself and won't be able to sleep tonight!
Shirai Takeru: Why not say "wet the bed" instead?
Miko Yotsuya: What do you take me for? I'm not a kid!
Shirai Takeru: Ever seen a horror movie? This is worse.
Erina Nakiri: This group is getting way too weird. Why is it pulling in all kinds of bizarre beings!?
Shirai Takeru: Uh… question. Do I count as one of those bizarre beings?
Erina Nakiri: …
What do you think?
I still don't dare to imagine what you've done with the photo I posted!
Crack!
On the other side—
Kirishima Touka clenched her fist and crushed a glass.
So this… this is how humans see us ghouls?
Kirishima Touka: You think I want to live this way?
Kirishima Touka: You really think human flesh is some kind of delicacy to us?
Kirishima Touka: If I could, I'd much rather enjoy human food like anyone else.
Kirishima Touka: But to our kind, human food is inedible. It can't fill us at all.
Kirishima Touka: Just like lions and tigers hunt other animals, ghouls eating humans is just nature's way.
Touka's voice trembled with anger.
Shinobu Kocho:"Nature's way?"
She sneered.
"Then by your logic, it's only natural that humans hunt down ghouls too. And you shouldn't resist."
Erina Nakiri: Shivering… why does what she said make a little too much sense?
Kirino Kosaka: Did you forget your meds today!? You're human, remember!?
Kirino Kosaka: Or are you secretly one of them already?
Miko Yotsuya: This chat group today is so intense—way better than before.
Robin: Seriously, none of the new members are easy to deal with.
Kirino Kosaka: I wonder what the other two are like…
Butterfly Shinobu: In any case, you'd better not show yourself in front of me!
Kirishima Touka: I actually would like to see what the Demon Slayer Corps is all about.
The two of them were clearly squaring off in the group now.
But after a moment of hesitation, Kirishima Touka added:
"If we don't eat humans, we die."
"Even so, I only hunt when absolutely necessary. And I only target scumbags."
"The kind of people even you humans would find disgusting."
She finished chatting.
But before anyone could respond, she gave a self-deprecating laugh.
What was the point of explaining this?
Did she really think her words would change anyone's mind?
Could predators and prey ever truly coexist?
How naive of her to even try.
Shinobu Kocho:"Lies. Everything that comes out of a demon's mouth is a lie."
She didn't believe a single word.
Kirino Kosaka: I'm suddenly really glad I'm just a normal person.
Miko Yotsuya: Yeah, normal worlds are better…
Shirai Takeru: Miko Yotsuya, you're overthinking it. You won't stay normal for much longer.
Miko Yotsuya: ???
What do you mean by that!?
Kirino Kosaka: Yotsuya! Are you mutating behind my back!?
Miko Yotsuya: I don't think so?
Miko Yotsuya: Shirai, what do you mean? Something's going to happen to me? Or my world?
Shirai Takeru: Can't tell you yet. The less you know, the more you can enjoy your final peaceful days.
Shirai Takeru: You'll understand in time.
Miko Yotsuya's joy from spectating was instantly gone. Anxiety kicked in hard.
She was all alone in her room.
But now she couldn't shake the feeling…
That there was someone in the corner.
Someone behind the door.
Someone behind the curtains.
Maybe even under the bed.
The whole room suddenly felt crowded.
Ahhh!
The more she thought about it, the more scared she got.
She threw her blanket over herself, covering even her head.
Only then did she feel a little safer.
Kirino Kosaka: So... am I going to mutate too?
Kirino Kosaka: Or is my world also some crazy high-stakes universe, and I'm just a clueless normie who's never seen the dark side?
Kirino Kosaka: That's so tragic, and kind of pathetic!
Shirai Takeru: Nope. You're thinking way too much.
Shirai Takeru: You're just a plain old normal person—aside from being a pervert who's obsessed with eroge.