"Yo, Natsu! Pick up any demon scents yet?" Kira called out.
In moments like this, with multiple paths and no clue which to take, it was time for Natsu's nose to shine.
Natsu sniffed around each tunnel entrance before jogging back. "Seems like there's demon scent in every path. Why don't we split up?"
"Split up, huh? Not a bad idea…" Erza murmured, her mind already calculating everyone's strength and the possible scenarios they might face.
"Alright! Happy, let's roll!" Natsu shouted.
"Aye!" Happy chirped.
Before Erza could even give the order, Natsu and Happy bolted into the middle tunnel.
"Natsu! Wait—ugh, that guy never listens!" Erza groaned.
"Eh, let him be," Kira said with a shrug. "You know Natsu. He's been like this forever. The guild needs his kind of reckless energy to keep things lively!"
Hot-headed guys like Natsu were always a hit, no matter where they went. Sure, they could be infuriating, but you couldn't stay mad at them.
"Gray, go with Natsu, please," Erza said.
Her plan was simple: three paths, four people, so one path needed two. Natsu and Gray were relatively weaker, and against element-shifting demons, they'd struggle alone. Pairing them up made sense. Meanwhile, she and Kira were strong enough to handle a demon solo, so they'd each take a path.
"Got it!" Gray nodded, knowing Erza and Kira could handle themselves. He sprinted after Natsu into the middle tunnel.
"Then the left path's enemy is all yours," Erza said to Kira.
"Leave it to me!" Kira grinned, giving her a mock salute.
Erza turned and headed into the left tunnel, leaving Kira alone.
One second… two seconds…
"Alright, time to move!" Kira cackled, rubbing his hands together. "Let's clean this place out!"
With everyone gone, Kira's true colors showed. He pulled a small backpack from his coat and started yanking gemstones and crystals off the cave walls, stuffing them in.
"One, two…" he counted gleefully.
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The backpack looked small but was enchanted with spatial transfer magic, linked to the underground vault in Kira's home. It was basically a portable treasure hoard. Only Kira could activate the spell—anyone else would just have a regular bag.
He'd been at it for ten minutes, and the bag still looked flat as ever.
"What are you doing?"
A crisp voice echoed through the cave, nearly scaring the daylights out of Kira mid-heist.
Winter, the young girl, had somehow crept up behind him. She stared at him, her face a mix of confusion and curiosity.
"Uh… I'm creating wealth through hard work!" Kira said, trying to play it cool.
Getting caught by a kid like this was a bit embarrassing, but hey, making money wasn't something to be ashamed of!
"Didn't you say yesterday that adults have weird hobbies? Is this what you meant?" Winter asked.
Running a tavern back home hadn't taught Winter much about money—she'd grown up in this remote, birdless snow mountain, after all. To her, Kira's gem-grabbing looked like some odd collector's quirk.
Hobby? What did I say to her yesterday? Kira thought, scratching his head. And what's with this kid? I thought she was all mature, but that was such an innocent question. Is she breaking character or what?
Deciding not to dwell on it, Kira switched gears. "So, what are you doing here?"
Winter's tone shifted back to her usual calm resolve. "Fighting demons is the Isisnu clan's duty. I don't want to rely on you guys completely—I'm joining the fight!"
Whoa, talk about conviction for someone so young!
"It's dangerous, you know," Kira said, crouching to meet her gaze. "You didn't inherit Demon Slayer Magic. Facing demons who've lived for decades or centuries? That's a tough spot."
"I've taken over a demon's power," Winter said firmly. "Even if I can't do much, I won't be a burden. The day my father died, I promised him I'd take on the Isisnu clan's responsibilities, even without that magic."
Kira stood, resuming his gem-collecting while tossing a question over his shoulder. "Was that your dad's dying wish, or is this just you being stubborn?"
Winter frowned, unsure what he was getting at, but answered honestly. "It's what I want to do."
"Got it…" Kira paused, then asked, "But what if your dad didn't want you carrying that burden at all?"
"I know," Winter said, her voice steady. "Ice Demon Slayer Magic can only be inherited willingly."
Kira spun around, surprised. "Wait, what?"
"It's a secret only those who inherit it know—not even my uncle is aware," Winter said, revealing something she'd kept hidden for years. "The Isisnu clan's magic wasn't stolen. My father gave it away willingly."
"No wonder you don't seem to hate the guy who took it," Kira said, piecing it together. "So, your dad's death…"
"When I was little, my father told me, 'Those who hunt demons will eventually be consumed by them.' I didn't understand then, but later I realized his mind was already half-swallowed by the demon's power."
Winter's voice was steady as she recounted her story to Kira, who listened intently, munching on some snacks he'd brought along.
---
In the snowy field, a young girl and her father stood together.
"Father, what's happening to your body?"
"Those who hunt demons will be consumed by them… So that's what it means," the man said, looking at his half-blackened body. He knelt before his daughter. "Winter, this is our clan's burden. If I had my way, you'd never have to take on this power."
---
Inside a small shop, two men sat across from each other.
"You want this magic? It's a power that can consume your will!" Winter's father warned.
"I need it to fight stronger demons. Please, let me borrow it. I swear I'll return it to your daughter before I die."
"No… if you're willing to take it, that's for the best. The elders always said it was meant to guard against some ancient demon, but no one's seen it in forever. Instead, it's killed so many of our clan. Passing it on might finally let it serve its purpose. You don't need to return it to my daughter—just pass it to someone worthy."
"Thank you!"
Unseen, Winter listened quietly to their conversation.
---
On the snowy mountain, demons and wolves surrounded the father and daughter.
"Damn it… I just gave away the magic, and now we run into a legendary demon? Talk about bad luck!" her father cursed.
"Father!" Winter cried.
As the man fell, the one who'd received the magic arrived just in time to help…
"You… you're the legendary demons? Die!"
---
Before a grave, a man and a young girl knelt.
"I'm so sorry. I never meant for this to happen because of me," the man said.
"My father gave up the magic to protect me. It's not your fault," Winter replied. "I'll prove to him that even without it, I can live well and carry the Isisnu clan's duties!"
---
Back in the cave, Winter shared her memories with Kira.
"Ice Demon Slayer Magic is seen as the Isisnu clan's pride, but only those who inherit it know the truth—it's no honor. It's a dangerous power that puts us in harm's way.
"To keep me from being consumed by it, and to spare me the clan's burden, my father gave it to a man who came here by chance, hoping to end the Isisnu clan's nightmare. But then we were attacked by a water demon. That man avenged my father, but I still want to end the demons that have cursed our clan for centuries myself."
Kira munched on his snacks, nodding. Now that's a plot twist.
"So, to let my father rest in peace and to free future generations from this burden, I want to take down the root of the Isisnu clan's curse myself!" Winter declared.
"I get your resolve," Kira said, wiping his hands. "But you could die, you know."
"I'm not afraid!" Winter shot back.
Kira grinned mischievously. "Yeah, but I am!"
---