Somewhere in Tokyo Prefecture – a quiet trading company…
Inside a modest office building, Muzan Kibutsuji—now living under the alias Tsukihiko—was currently playing the role of a gentle husband and doting father.
He sat peacefully on a plush cushion, gently cradling his "daughter" in his arms while whispering sweet nothings to soothe her. The serene image of a happy family hung in the air like delicate thread—beautiful, but fragile.
Suddenly, from a darkened corner of the room, came a low, pulsing hum.
"Be good now," Muzan murmured to the child, his voice still soft. "Go find Mommy and play with her for a while, alright? Daddy has something to take care of."
The little girl pouted, clearly reluctant to leave her father's embrace. But she didn't argue—because she knew.
She knew that whenever her father said he had "something to handle," nothing she did could change his mind.
She had once tried throwing a tantrum to gain his attention. But the atmosphere that followed… the bone-chilling cold, and his eyes—those eyes that looked at her not with affection, but as if staring at a complete stranger—had frightened her to her core.
Since then, whenever she heard him say he was "busy," she didn't protest. She simply obeyed and left to find her mother.
As the door closed behind the girl, the warmth vanished from Muzan's face. The loving father facade crumbled away, revealing the terrifying indifference beneath.
"Nakime," he said coldly. "What is it?"
A spectral figure emerged from the shadows—it was Nakime, the Biwa-playing demon and gatekeeper of the Infinity Fortress.
"Lord Muzan," she spoke in a reverent whisper, "not long ago, one of our scouts reported signs of the 'Runaway'."
"The Runaway, huh…" Muzan's tone dipped further. "Tamayo… that wretched woman."
His crimson eyes narrowed.
"Very well. Notify Yahaba and Susamaru. I want that traitor dragged back here. I'll personally remind her what happens to those who betray me."
"As you command, Lord Muzan."
Nakime's form vanished into the shadows once more, likely returning to the Infinity Fortress to deliver Muzan's orders.
Muzan sat in silence, gazing at a photograph on the table—an image of his "happy family." He reached out and brushed a finger against it, but the touch held no warmth.
"Blue Spider Lily… where are you hiding?"
…
The next morning, Yohan and Mitsuri Kanroji had packed up and were ready to head toward Asakusa.
"Yohan, Yohan!" Mitsuri's excited voice rang out as they loaded their luggage onto the carriage.
"You said Asakusa is really lively and beautiful—was that true?"
"Absolutely," Yohan replied with a confident grin. "It's nothing like the places we've been so far. When we get there, I'll show you around properly, I promise."
Truth be told, Yohan had been feeling a bit guilty—ever since they began traveling together, he'd dragged Mitsuri from one battle and training session to another. He hadn't even taken her out to properly enjoy the world.
This time, he decided, we'll do things differently.
"I'll make sure we have fun in Asakusa."
"Yay!" Mitsuri's face lit up like a summer sunrise. "I knew it! Yohan, you're the best!"
The sparkle in her eyes danced with anticipation.
Their journey was smooth. The skies stayed clear, and no demons dared to cross their path.
With no immediate threat looming, the two of them spent the carriage ride wrapped in lazy comfort, nestled beside each other and swapping stories about the past.
Yohan shared tales of the delicious food he had eaten in his previous life—
"Mapo tofu, kung pao chicken, Peking duck…"
Mitsuri's mouth watered with every new dish he described.
"Can you make any of them?" she asked eagerly.
Yohan scratched his head and offered a sheepish smile. "Actually… no. I'm terrible at cooking."
Mitsuri's eyes went wide. Then narrowed. Her fists clenched.
"What do you mean you can't cook them?! You got me all excited for nothing!" she yelled, swinging her fists toward him in mock outrage.
Yohan quickly raised his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright! I swear—if we get the chance, I'll take you somewhere that serves the real thing!"
Mitsuri huffed, but she finally let it go. Not without scribbling the promise down in her little notebook, though.
…
That evening, the carriage driver turned back and informed them:
"Guests, we'll be staying the night at the town up ahead. We'll reach our final stop tomorrow."
Yohan and Mitsuri disembarked in the quaint little town.
"The sun's still up," Mitsuri said, eyes sparkling. "Why don't we look around a bit before resting?"
Clearly, she wasn't ready to settle in for the night.
Seeing her excitement, Yohan chuckled and nodded.
The two wandered through the quiet streets.
The town was oddly lifeless. Apart from a few elderly folks shuffling about, there wasn't much activity.
"Outsiders, huh?"
"And the girl looks young, too…"
"Walking around like it's nothing… what are they thinking?"
"Another one about to disappear?"
The whispers drifted from the shadows and street corners, subtle but unmistakable. And the eyes—so many of them were fixed on Mitsuri.
Yohan caught it instantly.
Girl.Disappear.
Something was very wrong.
He stopped beside an old man sitting on the steps of a house and gently asked,
"Excuse me, sir. We're just passing through, but… has something strange been going on around here?"
The old man looked at him with wary eyes, then leaned in, voice low.
"You and your girl should leave. As soon as you can, before night falls."
"This town… it isn't safe anymore."
Yohan frowned. "Please, tell us what's happening. We'd be grateful for any information."
The man hesitated, then glanced around and whispered,
"Young girls… just turned sixteen… have been vanishing."
"They're fine at night… but come morning, they're gone. No signs. No struggle. No trail to follow."
"Folks say there's a demon behind it. Feeding on them."
He let out a deep sigh and shook his head. "Now, only old folks like us are left in this town."
With that, he turned and shuffled away, leaving Yohan in deep thought.
Mitsuri leaned close and whispered,
"So this is the work of a demon?"
"No doubt about it."
Yohan's brows furrowed. A hazy memory stirred in the back of his mind—he remembered something from his past life.
A demon that loved the taste of young girls.
A swamp demon.
The Swamp Demon.
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