Kuoh City
A rainy night, like a splash-ink painting.
Fine rain threads, like a paintbrush, scattered across the pitch-black sky, making the silent city even more captivating.
Streetlights reflected on the glass of windows, forming blurry halos.
On a rainy night, there were always few pedestrians on the streets, especially in the suburbs.
Only the sound of rain gently pattering the ground created a continuous rustling.
In this rainy night, a man over six feet tall walked with a black umbrella in one hand and the other in his pocket.
His black eyes were sharp and piercing. If someone were to meet his gaze, they would surely be intimidated by his stern look.
He wore a large trench coat over a hooded long shirt. Even with the loose clothing, one could tell he was very tall and slender.
His broad, straight shoulders were wet with splashes of water vapor. Above his shoulders was a thin, handsome face. His eyes were fixed forward, and he moved ahead like a warship, relentless and determined.
Compared to the people hurrying by, the young man stood out like a sore thumb, exceptionally striking.
Luo Guang was strolling through the drizzle.
He had spent half the weekend out, not heading home until after dusk.
Although it started to rain mid-way, he had checked the weather forecast and brought an umbrella, so he wasn't soaked.
It wouldn't have mattered much if he had gotten wet anyway.
As he walked, Luo Guang suddenly heard a faint cry for help from a nearby alley.
As he passed by, the cries became louder and more urgent.
Looking closely, he saw a beautiful woman deep inside the alley.
She was wearing a short skirt suit and black pantyhose, but because of the rain and the tears in the fabric, she looked rather tragically beautiful.
"What's wrong?" Luo Guang asked, glancing at the woman out of the corner of his eye, understanding the situation.
"I... I heard a cat meowing here before, so I came to check. But the cat was so shy that it scared me, and I fell and twisted my ankle."
The woman had a pitiful expression, cradling her right leg, which had some faint bloodstains.
"L-little brother, can you walk me home? My house is right next door. You just have to go through this alley."
The dark alley was about 50 meters long. Only a single dim, yellow streetlight flickered in the middle, its weak glow looking as if it could go out at any moment.
"Okay." Luo Guang nodded.
He reached out to help the woman up, and she leaned against his body.
A faint scent of perfume wafted over. Luo Guang could even feel a pair of soft breasts pressing against his arm.
"Little brother... once we get to my place, I can give you a reward, okay?"
"What do you want?"
"My house is just up ahead, almost there..."
"We're here."
Luo Guang was unmoved by her words but suddenly spoke up halfway through their walk.
Just then, the streetlight flickered a few times and went out, plunging the surroundings into darkness so black he couldn't see his hand in front of his face.
"What do you mean, 'we're here'? My house is a little further ahead..."
The woman had just said this when the man she was leaning on suddenly let go, causing her to fall into a puddle.
"You..."
In the darkness, the woman's eyes flashed with annoyance and confusion.
But before she could finish, she heard Luo Guang say, "Stop pretending. There are only two of us here... no, only me and you, you disgusting ghoul."
Upon hearing this, the woman in the darkness instantly dropped her act. A cold expression appeared on her pale face. "How did you find me?"
"Right from the start. The smell of blood on you is so strong that even the rain and your perfume can't cover it up."
"You knew from the very beginning?"
The woman was stunned. Then, a row of sharp teeth emerged from her parted lips.
"In that case, I have no reason to pretend anymore. But before you become my meal, can you tell me why you came here to walk into my trap even though you noticed me from the start?"
She licked her lips, looking at the young man, her appetite growing.
She even began to consider how to prepare this delicious meal.
"...First, I can't ignore a helpless woman's cry for help. Second, the one who falls into the trap might not be the prey, but the hunter."
The woman was taken aback by his words.
"Are you an exorcist? A jujutsu sorcerer? Or are you one of those 'doves'?"
She realized that the young man in front of her didn't seem to be a normal person, but she didn't choose her prey blindly.
Whether it was an exorcist or a jujutsu sorcerer, they all had a special scent. Even the "doves" were the same, because the weapons those humans used were made from the bodies of ghouls.
Yet, she couldn't smell anything special on Luo Guang.
This meant he was just an ordinary person.