Though briefly taken aback by the fact that each Kasugai Crow had its own name, Hiru quickly composed himself and began discussing the plan to infiltrate the shrine with Himejima.
"The back-mountain path is well hidden, but its end falls within the patrol route of the shrine guards. If possible, I'd prefer one of us to draw attention from the front."
"I'm not fond of stealth. I'll take the front." Hiru looked toward Himejima. "Besides… though I hate to admit it, I get lost pretty easily if no one's watching me. Something might happen."
"Very well." Gyomei nodded. "Just make sure you don't injure anyone."
"I can only promise no deaths." Hiru propped his chin on his hand, his gaze drifting toward the distant shrine. "Under fanatical faith, people are capable of anything. You're the one who needs to be careful, Himejima. A path deliberately left open is most likely a trap."
"No matter… If all the demons gather toward me, that would be ideal."
"Heh—you're confident." Hiru pushed himself up from the table. "Now that I think about it, I've never seen your weapon! While we still have time, let's head to the Wisteria House. We should also brief the other Swordsmen—though they probably won't be of much use."
Himejima offered no objection. Twirling his prayer beads at his usual unhurried pace, he nodded. "It is getting late. Let us return."
Hiru naturally had no complaints and followed obediently.
Himejima soon understood exactly what Hiru meant by "easy to get lost."
Though they were merely walking down the road, Hiru was constantly distracted by the scenery—pausing at street stalls, wandering toward a wildflower by the roadside. On the short walk back from the shrine precincts, Himejima had to follow the Kasugai Crow's guidance and pull Hiru back five separate times.
"Forgive my impertinence…" Himejima's expression grew heavy. "How does Hiru ever manage to arrive in Kyoto on time?"
Hiru turned away, refusing to answer. But the moment Himejima drew his weapon, Hiru eagerly leaned in, surprising the Kakushi as he picked it up and tested its weight.
"This is way harder to handle than a sword…" Hiru handed it back. "Using something so rare in battle—Himejima, you really are amazing."
"Since I cannot see the world, using a sword makes it difficult to strike a demon's neck with precision," Himejima said as the Kakushi helped him secure the weapon behind his back. "But with a blunt weapon, I can land a hit easily—and determine a demon's position from there."
Hiru nodded thoughtfully, but the menacing chain hammer left him momentarily speechless. In the end, he returned to his room to "rest"—which in truth meant staring into space until nightfall.
When the hour came, Hiru followed Himejima outside. What surprised him slightly was that every Swordsman—regardless of their injuries—had dressed neatly and come out to send them off.
Just a single exchange of looks made it clear: if their help was needed, they would leave the Wisteria House without hesitation, even if it meant dying.
[Humans really are as complicated as always.]
Hiru thought to himself.
As planned, Himejima—with the Kasugai Crow guiding him—left town and made a detour toward the back mountains to enter the shrine via the side path. Hiru, meanwhile, headed toward the small shrine, prepared to cause a disturbance and draw pressure away from Himejima.
But upon reaching the small shrine's gate, he found a large group of parents and children forming a new line.
Watching the growing crowd, Hiru frowned, then smoothed his expression and casually approached a passerby.
"Excuse me, what's happening here? Doesn't the shrine close at night?"
"Ah, you must be from out of town." The young man smiled. "This is the Blessing Ceremony. Every night, children from ten to sixteen line up to drink sacred water blessed by the Maiden Deity. It keeps them safe from illness.
Even if you're not of age, you can watch. Our Maiden Deity is very kind—she'd probably bless you as well."
"Thank you. I'll take a look." With a polite smile, Hiru parted ways with the man and returned to his calm demeanor as he approached the shrine. "Demons accepting offerings… Should I call the people foolish, or the demons cunning?"
He slipped naturally into the end of the line, wondering what would happen if he simply overturned the offering table during the blessing.
[Probably get chased by a lot of people? …Well, at least the noise would be enough.]
As the line shortened, he mused, [A place filled with devotees—if someone suddenly disrespects their deity, they'll definitely notice.]
Soon, Hiru reached the entrance and was led inside by a priest. The shrine was elegantly arranged—solemn torii, lush greenery, everything serene. But by the sixth time the priest had to stop Hiru from wandering into the garden paths, the man's expression had turned rather sour.
"We're almost there. Please stop wandering."
"I'm not with the others?"
"You're an outsider. They're locals." The priest pushed open a door. "This is the place. Come in."
But Hiru halted the moment he saw inside. The shrine was silent. Priests and maidens went about their duties—lighting lamps, praying—solemn and sacred. Yet behind each one, a distinct, dark shadow stretched ominously.
[All demons… No wonder the blessings take place at night.]
"Please follow me."
Hiru caught the priest's hostile look, clicked his tongue lightly, and stepped inside.
[He doesn't even realize he's the only human here, does he?]
Hiru's eyes softened with involuntary sympathy.
But the priest didn't notice. Bowing to the elevated platform, he announced, "Seiji-sama, this traveler heard the villagers' stories and wishes to receive the Maiden Deity's blessing."
The man named Seiji smiled kindly. "Understood. I will conduct it. You may leave."
Once the door closed, Seiji's expression twisted, a sharp grin revealing pointed teeth.
"Another demon slayer… Impressive that you found this place."
"No, you're the impressive ones," Hiru replied, lifting his head with a mocking smile as his hand closed around his sword. "I didn't expect over a dozen demons to be gathered here. Truly—quite a surprise."
"Hmph… We merely live under the protection of that great one." Seiji's smile warped further. "To avoid provoking that master, we'll have to ask you to die here.
Don't worry—no matter how much noise you make, the humans outside won't care. Humans are ignorant creatures. Give them shelter and they'll gather. Even if they know we kill, as long as they gain something, they pretend not to see."
"Ahh… I was supposed to draw attention too." Hiru sighed, tapping the back of his blade against his shoulder as he glanced at the demons closing in. "But this number of demons? Not nearly enough."
"Has despair made you ramble?"
"Come test it yourself." Hiru lowered the blade, smirking. "Who do you think has been watching me train?"
Guided by his Kasugai Crow, Himejima made his way through the forest. Fortunately, the specially trained bird could see at night; otherwise, navigating alone would have been difficult.
"This is it, caw." The crow's voice weakened, sounding distorted. "Straight ahead is the Little Shrine. Heavy patrols."
"I wonder how Hiru is doing…" Himejima pressed his palms together, concern on his face. "Was I too rash—"
BOOM!
"What a strong tremor." Himejima rose, frowning. "Yoshika, what happened?"
"Caw… caw…" The crow froze for a long while before stammering, "A… a palace. Collapsed."
Himejima Gyomei: …?
[Just what sort of method is this to draw attention?]
Even knowing the seriousness of the situation, Himejima couldn't help drifting mentally.
"All the patrol guards ran toward the collapse, caw! Perfect timing! Perfect timing!"
Himejima refocused, lifting the chain hammer from his back. "Let's go. We slay the demon swiftly—then find Hiru."
Hiru stood atop the ruins, gazing at the closing priests with a sigh.
"In a sense, it's a pity I couldn't crush you all."
Dust-covered Seiji dragged himself up, spitting out grit and glaring at Hiru. This swordsman was insane. After cutting down three demons with sheer speed, he ignored the rest and immediately started demolishing the shrine—by grabbing demons by the collar and smashing them into walls.
Shouldn't a demon-slaying Swordsman be more cautious than the demons?
More restrained?
Why? Why could he act without hesitation?
Madman. Madman. Madman.
Noticing Seiji's confusion, Hiru laughed.
"Sorry. I don't care if I'm discovered. If anything, I'm looking forward to it."
"What?"
"Heh… Right now, it looks like demons are hunting humans. But once everyone realizes demons exist, you'll just be beasts with human faces." Hiru sneered. "Honestly, I'm looking forward to it."
"Hmph. Mere humans—"
"Oh my, thanks for the compliment!"
Seiji: …Are you insane?! I wasn't complimenting you!
Hiru glanced at his slightly blunted Nichirin Blade and smiled.
"Two more, and I can use it freely."
"Stop gawking! All of you—attack! Do you want that master to punish you?!" Seiji roared, charging first. As he passed another demon, he grabbed it and hurled it at Hiru.
Hiru didn't refuse the offering. Decapitating it in one stroke, he turned his blade toward Seiji.
But Seiji's hand had already been raised. It slammed down, striking the blade's side.
Clang.
Hiru stared at the snapped sword, momentarily dazed. Before he could dodge, a swipe tore apart his hair tie.
Stumbling back several steps, he looked at the broken blade in disbelief.
"…It broke?"
"Heh. You must be a novice Swordsman." Seiji kicked the upper half away. "A blade is strong head-on, but its sides are weak. And a demon slayer without a blade—"
"You know something?"
Seiji froze. An inexplicable chill crawled up his spine.
"…What?"
"One more demon, and I won't have to hold back with this blade." Hiru tightened his grip. "When I received this sword, someone begged me for it while crying. Do you know how much pressure that is?"
Watching the blade gradually turn red, Seiji felt a rising terror.
"Who cares about you?! What are you all standing around for? Attack!"
More than a dozen demons charged. Hiru didn't move.
"You lot… do you have any idea how long I've endured for this sword? A bunch of trash."
A crimson flash erupted from him, reducing the approaching priests and maidens to ash instantly.
Seiji fled toward the crowd, but a whistling sound preceded something piercing him—pinning him to the ground as searing pain spread like burning flames.
Hiru stood tall, glancing down at Seiji pinned beneath half the broken blade. Ignoring him, he retrieved the other half and approached.
"Monster! You're the monster!" Seiji screamed, looking like nothing more than a battered human. "Help! Someone—!"
The commotion had long alerted the shrine workers nearby. They rushed in.
"How could this happen?!"
"Is that Seiji-sama?"
"Who's that man in the gray-blue haori?"
"Why are they fighting?"
Hope flickered in Seiji's eyes.
"He's trying to kill the Maiden Deity! He's slain the other priests! Hurry—"
His voice stopped abruptly.
A sharp pain at his neck. Confusion in his final moments.
Why could Hiru decapitate him so openly in front of humans?
Didn't he care about being treated as an outsider?
Why? Why?
But no one would answer him.
The crowd fell silent, like geese strangled mid-cry.
Hiru watched Seiji's head turn to ash. Sheathing the broken piece in his hand, he drew the other shattered fragment, his expression darkening.
"Damn… I've only had this sword for a week… Ugh, I don't want someone clinging to my arm crying.
Guess I shouldn't use 'Breathing Styles' as an excuse to dodge sword practice anymore… At least I should learn how to strike without chipping the blade…"
Scanning the crowd and finding no demons, Hiru leapt past them, landing on a rooftop and vanishing within moments—his work here done. He needed to check on Himejima.
Only after he disappeared did the crowd regain its voice.
"He killed Seiji-sama!"
"The other high priests too!"
"Where's Seiji-sama's body?!"
"He must've used some kind of sorcery!"
But their panic never turned to pursuit. Not a single person dared follow Hiru's trail.