The warm afternoon breeze drifted gently through the open shoji screens, carrying the soft scent of spring. Outside, people strolled here and there with calm expressions and confident postures.
Inside the house, Ren Kurotsume sat focused in front of the screen.
"I can win this one battle easily," he said with a confident smile. Wearing a simple white shirt and black pants, he stared at the screen with intense concentration. Moments later, he collapsed onto the floor in victory.
"Finally, I won," he said with a satisfied grin, then stared up at the ceiling with a calm gaze.
"My name is Ren Kurotsume, a normal nineteen-year-old boy. Besides, my life is not very exciting, just living a normal existence," he said with a soft sigh. "My mom died when I was ten years old and after six months of her death, my dad married another divorced woman who had a daughter, for taking care of me and giving me someone to play with."
The door suddenly burst open.
A beautiful girl entered, wearing a tight vest that strained against her full figure and tiny dolphin shorts that hugged her curvaceous hips. She held a pair of black underwear in her hands.
"Ren, I am not going to wash your underwear again and again. You must wear one pair for an entire day," she said in a strict, exasperated tone.
Ren looked up at her before slowly sitting up.
This is Yukie Kurotsume, my stepsister and the daughter of my dad's second wife. But after four years, her mother ran off with another man because of my dad's full-time work. Besides, Yukie is two years older than me, he thought with a soft sigh, then looked at her.
Yukie threw the underwear directly onto his face, then crossed her arms tightly under her huge breasts, pushing them up prominently.
"What the hell are you talking to yourself about, kiddo?" she asked with a serious gaze.
Just then, a curvaceous woman entered the room wearing a long bodycon dress that tightly hugged every lush curve of her body, her full breasts shaking slightly with every step.
"Stop fighting, sweeties," she said in a soft, soothing tone.
Ren looked up at her with a soft smile.
This is Yumiko Kurotsume, the third wife of my dad. He married her five years ago, he thought softly before looking at her.
Yukie looked back at Yumiko with a serious gaze.
"I can't keep washing his clothes all the time," she said with a strict tone before turning and walking upstairs towards her room, her shapely hips swaying with irritation.
Ren crossed his arms and looked away.
"I don't want to talk to you," he said in an aggressive tone.
Yumiko walked gracefully towards him, her bodycon dress clinging seductively to her figure.
"You shouldn't get angry at her like this, Ren," she said with a soft, gentle smile. She bent down slightly, giving an unintentional view of her deep cleavage, and picked up the underwear.
"I will wash your other clothes with mine. Until then, why don't you go and walk outside for a while to make your mind fresh?" she said with a warm smile.
Ren gave a soft sigh.
"Okay. I will come back soon," he said with a confident tone before leaving the house.
Yumiko nodded and walked towards the bathroom, a playful smile on her lips.
"They are getting along well," she whispered to herself with a soft giggle.
In the warm breeze of the afternoon, Ren walked like a lifeless zombie, shoulders slumped, steps dragging.
"Why is it so hot outside…" he muttered breathlessly.
His gaze shifted ahead—people were sprinting in one direction, panic etched across their faces.
"What's happening to them?" Ren frowned, confused, as he slowly moved toward the chaos.
Then, to his left—
A massive demon towered over the street, crushing cars beneath its weight like toys.
"A demon…" Ren exhaled softly. "That's… normal now. Ever since the rifts began opening, they've been pouring into our world."
He turned away, intending to leave.
—but then—
A small girl stumbled out of a wrecked car and collapsed onto the road.
"Someone… help me…" she cried, her voice trembling with fear.
Ren stopped.
He looked back, his expression tightening.
"What the hell is she doing there…?" he muttered, eyes narrowing as the demon slowly turned toward her.
He gulped, his throat dry, scanning the empty streets.
"I can't wait for the hunters… but I can't do anything either…"
His fists clenched. His breath trembled.
Then—
"I have to save her."
His voice dropped into something firm… resolved.
Ren bolted forward at full speed.
A middle-aged man nearby widened his eyes in shock.
"He's fast…"
Ren reached the girl, grabbing her just as the demon loomed closer. With a desperate leap, he carried her across the road and landed hard.
"Are you okay?" Ren asked, his tone sharp but steady.
The girl looked up at him, tears glistening in her eyes.
"Th-thank you… for saving me…"
The ground trembled.
The demon stared down at them, its grotesque grin stretching wide.
"Flesh…" it growled hungrily.
Ren stood, pushing the girl behind him.
"Run. Get out of here!" he shouted.
The demon licked its lips, raising its massive fist.
"Come to me… flesh…"
And then—
A dark portal tore open beneath Ren's feet.
Before he could react, he was dragged into the void at terrifying speed.
"Where am I going?!" Ren shouted in panic.
—Silence—
He crashed onto a cold, circular stone.
Above him—
Two blood-red moons hung in a fractured sky.
"Where… am I…?" he whispered, his voice shaking.
Blood spilled from his lips.
He raised a trembling hand, touching it.
"What… is this…?"
His eyes widened—
A sharp spear had pierced through his chest from below.
"How did I get here…?" he gasped.
Echoing footsteps rang through the empty expanse.
A voice followed, slicing through the silence.
"Let's see… what I've got."
A woman emerged from the shadows, her presence suffocating.
She looked down at him, her gaze cold and piercing.
"A human…? How disappointing. My target was that demon."
She circled him slowly.
Ren forced his fading eyes toward her.
"Who… are you…?" he asked weakly.
She stopped.
"My name is Shizume," she said, her voice smooth yet dangerous. "A nine-tailed fox spirit."
Flames flickered in her eyes.
"I require a vessel… a body to inhabit so I may walk freely in the human world."
Ren's vision blurred.
"Am I… going to die…?" he whispered.
Shizume smiled—sharp, predatory.
"No. This—" she gestured at the spear through his chest "—is merely part of the ritual."
She raised her hand, flames igniting around the stone.
"You are weak. Easy to control. But…" she smirked, "…I would have preferred something stronger."
Her eyes burned into his.
"Still… you will do."
She spread her arms as the fire intensified.
"Prepare yourself… to become mine."
Ren's eyes snapped open.
"What—?!"
He jolted upright.
The ruined street. Crashed cars. Smoke in the air.
He was back.
A man approached him calmly, bowing slightly.
"My name is Kael Viremont," he said warmly. "A member of the Devourer Guild. We found you unconscious when we arrived to eliminate the demon. You've been out for an hour."
He extended his hand.
Ren hesitated, then grabbed it, pulling himself up.
His eyes dropped to his chest—perfectly unharmed.
"My injuries… the spear…" he stammered.
Kael tilted his head slightly.
"Are you feeling alright?"
Ren grabbed his shoulder, panic rising again.
"I was there! I got dragged into another world—there was a spear through my chest! A woman named Shizume—she said she'd make me her vessel!"
Kael simply smiled, calm and steady.
"I'm not sure what you experienced," he said gently. "But when we found you, there was no demon. Just you, collapsed on the road."
Ren slowly looked down at his hands.
"They were covered in my blood… how is that possible…?"
Kael studied him for a moment, then reached into his pocket, pulling out a card.
"Come to this address tomorrow," he said, offering it. "Our Guild Master might be able to help."
Ren took the card with trembling fingers.
"…Thank you."
Kael smiled, patting his shoulder.
"What's your name?"
Ren scratched the back of his head nervously, managing a faint smile.
"Sorry… I didn't say earlier. I'm Ren Kurotsume."
Kael's expression brightened.
"Ren Kurotsume… nice to meet you."
He extended his hand again.
Ren shook it firmly.
"Nice to meet you too."
The card slipped from Ren's grasp.
"Ah—sorry…"
He bent down to pick it up.
But when he stood back up—
Kael was gone.
The street was empty.
Ren looked around, confusion creeping in.
"…Where did he go…?"
Night settled quietly over the house.
Ren sat at the dining table, eating in silence, his gaze heavy and distant—as if his mind was somewhere far beyond the room.
Kenji glanced at him, चिंता flickering across his face.
"What happened to him?" he asked, his tone edged with concern.
Yumiko smiled softly, reaching over to pat Ren's shoulder.
"He's grown up now," she said gently. "There's a lot on his mind. We shouldn't disturb him."
Then her expression shifted—slightly playful, slightly annoyed.
"But what about you?" she added, turning to Kenji with a small pout. "Another work trip again?"
Kenji let out an awkward laugh, scratching the back of his head.
"I'm sorry… work's been piling up. I can't exactly sit around doing nothing," he replied helplessly.
Yukie rolled her eyes dramatically, cutting in with a dry tone.
"Speaking of responsibilities… did you prepare your stuff for tomorrow's biology class, Yumiko? Or are you planning to walk in and teach everyone absolutely nothing again?"
Yumiko froze.
Her hand shot to her mouth, eyes widening in horror.
"I—completely forgot!"
In the next second, she bolted upstairs like her life depended on it.
A beat of silence followed.
Ren continued staring down at his plate, unmoving.
Then—
The air shifted.
A subtle chill crept into the room, unnatural and sudden.
Ren's fingers tightened slightly around his chopsticks.
"…It's cold," he whispered under his breath.
Kenji frowned, confused.
"Cold? It's spring, Ren."
Ren didn't respond.
He slowly stood up, his chair scraping faintly against the floor.
"I'm going to sleep," he said calmly.
Without another word, he walked upstairs—his presence fading with each step.
Yukie watched him go, her expression narrowing slightly.
"…What's wrong with him?" she muttered to herself.
Then she shrugged, picking up her food again like nothing happened.
"Whatever. More food for me."