Nezuko's hair shimmered like silk beneath the moonlight, and without thinking, Rowen's fingers twirled a strand of that glossy black, idly playing with it.
But the wintry mountain forest before them was unnervingly silent. Even the rustling of leaves in the breeze sounded unnaturally loud.
A creeping tension gripped Rowen.
He could hear the thudding of his own heart speeding up—and beside him, Nezuko's confused voice: "Mr. Rowen? What's wrong?"
"Well… don't you think it's a little too quiet?"
It was winter, yes, but the snow hadn't fallen yet.
The forest should've been alive with nocturnal animals, rustling underbrush, insect chirps, and the hoots of owls. But now? It was a silence so complete, it felt suffocating.
Even the crunch of dry leaves underfoot sounded unnaturally eerie.
"C-Could it be a bear?" Nezuko whispered, catching on to the change in atmosphere. Her small hand gripped the hem of Rowen's shirt tightly as she looked around in fear, pink eyes wide with unease.
Rowen swallowed.
A bear? Could a bear make an entire forest fall silent?
Honestly, he wasn't sure. But he couldn't think of anything more dangerous than that.
"Go wake everyone up," he said, setting aside his confusion and lowering his voice.
"W-We should go together…"
"It's fine. I'll keep watch. You go inside—no matter what you hear, don't come out."
Turning your back on a predator only provokes it—that was survival 101. So Rowen turned to face the trees, his eyes scanning the underbrush as he gently nudged Nezuko back toward the house, trying his best to appear calm.
Nezuko bit her lip, clearly conflicted, but in the end she turned and ran for the cabin.
He listened as the sound of her sandals faded down the path.
Cold sweat was already soaking through the back of his shirt, but he kept quiet and began edging backward toward the house, trying to grab a weapon just in case—
Rustle—! Before he could even reach the door, something moved in the brush.
A burly figure with moss-green hair emerged, pushing branches aside.
The man's eyes were unnaturally small, with pitch-black pupils that swallowed the iris. His fingernails were long, sharp, and stained dark.
He sniffed the air and suddenly jabbed a finger at Rowen. "You freak! What's that stench on you?!"
"Me? A freak?" Rowen blinked, confused. He looked down at his rough linen clothes, then back up at the weirdo with the feral appearance, and pointed at himself, completely dumbfounded.
"What the hell are you, fresh out of the egg? Thought I sniffed something valuable." The green-haired man—no, Oni—spat on the ground, eyes filled with contempt.
"Uh… wait. Who are you?"
"I came all the way from town thinking I'd found something good. And it's just you? What a waste!"
Then, as if playing the part of some thug shaking down a shopkeeper, the green-haired Oni jabbed a finger toward the house behind Rowen, declaring arrogantly, "As compensation… this place is mine now! Everything in there—my food!"
"F-Food? You mean the sweet potatoes? Or the rice balls?" Rowen asked instinctively, thinking the guy was trying to rob them.
As soon as the words left his mouth, a vein bulged on the Oni's forehead. He bared rows of jagged, shark-like teeth and snarled, "—You little bastard! Are you mocking me?!"
"Hey man… You think this family's got any meat stocked up?" Rowen shot back, totally baffled. His logic seemed sound—but it enraged the Oni even more.
"—YOU WANNA DIE?!" the green-haired demon roared, leaping forward.
He crossed the distance in an instant. His claws sliced through the air with terrifying speed, aiming straight for Rowen's throat.
It was faster than anything human. Rowen barely even saw it—he just instinctively dodged.
The claws grazed his neck, leaving a deep, ragged gash. Blood sprayed under the moonlight, vivid as silk ribbons.
Hot blood dripped down his neck and soaked into his chest, the pain like fire—sharp, vivid, and painfully real.
For someone like Rowen, who'd only ever lived in peaceful times, this was a sudden and shocking reminder: this was not a game. This was survival.
"Heh~ You dodged it? Not bad for a freak…" the green-haired Oni sneered behind him. He licked his fingers instinctively—then froze.
"—This flavor…! Smells weird, but it tastes incredible?!"
(Me? I taste good?) The bizarre words rattled around in Rowen's brain—but more than confusion, he felt the overpowering urge to run.
He was a normal guy. Last time he got into a fight was back in middle school. Now he was facing some deranged freak? Of course he wanted to get away.
But then—creeaak—the cabin door opened behind him.
Kie stepped out in a panic, holding the woodcutter's axe, and Nezuko followed, clutching a kitchen knife with trembling hands.
Just seeing them stopped Rowen from bolting.
The green-haired Oni didn't care about Rowen's inner turmoil. He was staring greedily at him like prey. "—Hahaha!! You'll be perfect! I'll drain every drop of you!"
He lunged forward, laughing maniacally, and wrapped his hand around Rowen's throat, slamming him hard into the ground.
The impact knocked the wind out of him. His vision blurred. He grabbed at the Oni's arm, trying to wrench it off—but the creature's strength was overwhelming.
"You're not even one of the good freaks. No blood from that one. Just a human who smells good," the Oni leered, breathing hot and rank against Rowen's face. "But now… I'll savor every last bite of you…"
The demon grinned wide, ready to snap Rowen's neck—when suddenly—
Thunk—! A dull, heavy crack rang out.
An axe sank deep into the Oni's skull.
Kie stood behind him, gripping the axe with both hands. Her arms were shaking, her mouth frozen in silence, but her breathing was ragged, rapid.
…
The sound of axe meeting bone echoed through the forest.
The Oni's twisted grin froze on his face. His cloudy eyes rolled upward.
The blade had buried itself almost to the Oni's brow.
If he were human, that would've been the end of it. But…
Just as relief washed over Rowen, a chilling sensation ran down his spine.
Before he could even process what was happening, the Oni's hand—still wrapped around his throat—tightened again.
Everyone heard it. That crack.
And then, the world went still.
Kie and Nezuko forgot to breathe.
They could only stare—helpless—as the life slowly faded from the boy lying motionless on the ground.