...So dark...So cold...Why?
Why does father look at me with such a terrifying gaze, like I'm some dirty thing?
Mother too...She never holds me, doesn't even want to look at me twice.
"Worthless! I should have strangled you the moment you were born! Wasting food!"
"Why are you crying! It's because your belly isn't strong enough! Giving birth to such a useless thing!"
Father's scolding repeated every day.
Useless...Yes, I am a girl, I am a useless person.
But I'm so hungry, the leftover food on the table, I want to eat it so badly..."Dead girl! How dare you steal food!"
"I'll beat you to death! Useless bastard!"
"Get out and chop firewood! Don't come back if you don't chop enough! Seeing you brings bad luck!"
It hurts so much...but what's worse is the hunger...So hungry ah...My little brother...that's my little brother...It's so good...Why can he sleep in a warm bed, drink warm rice soup, and have father rub his face with his stubble, smiling?
Why can't I? Is it just because I'm a girl?
I also want to...Forget it...I just want to be a little fuller, a little warmer.
Those people came, is this war?
The village was overturned, blood everywhere, my parents and brother became chunks of flesh.
I was chopping firewood on the mountain and escaped a disaster.
But there are no fruits on the mountain in winter, I'm so hungry, I haven't eaten for two days.
Father...Mother...Brother...Meat...Can I...eat it?
So hungry...As long as I can survive!
The blood is so fishy...The meat is so sticky...But I have to eat...As long as I can survive, I still want to eat!
When did That Lord arrive?
He is so beautiful, wearing luxurious clothes, with a noble temperament, cat-like red eyes, so pretty, like the moon at night, unique.
"Oh? A human? In a place like this..."
His voice was low as he questioned me: "What are you doing? Eating them?"
"Hungry..."
"Because...hungry..."
That Lord smiled, his smile eerie and beautiful.
"Exactly! Hunger is the most primal and powerful desire in this world."
"To satisfy hunger, to survive, what's wrong with plundering others?!"
"You are very honest, and very interesting...I think highly of you."
He stretched out his hand, his fingertips Cohesion with the power of temptation and destruction, and inserted them into my brain.
"Become a Demon, gain eternal life and power, and from then on you will never feel the pain of hunger again."
"You can eat as much as you want."
Since then I've eaten so much...so much...I really won't go hungry anymore...Hehehe...Delicious...I still want...I still want to eat more!
Countless chaotic, bloody, gluttonous feeding scenes flashed by like lightning.
Eat! Eat! Eat!
No longer hungry! No longer cold! Power is growing! I can easily plunder everything I once coveted!
Villages, towns, passing pedestrians...all became my hunting grounds and food.
"Hehehe...Hehehehe..."
I grinned, smiling contentedly: "I still want to eat! I still want to eat more! More..."
..."Urgent report! Urgent report! lower rank four, Mukago! Has been slain in Yuepu Town! The killer is Kinoto Rank Squad Member Yasui Ryosuke!!!"
The Kasugai Crow's broadcast echoed across the brightening sky and every corner.
Ubuyashiki Mansion.
Under the veranda, Kagaya paused slightly, and Amane, who was kneeling beside him, also looked up.
The couple exchanged glances, and a relieved smile appeared on both their faces.
"He did it."
Kagaya's voice was gentle as jade: "I knew he could."
Amane nodded lightly: "Mr. Yasui has indeed exceeded our expectations once again."
Mount Sagiri.
Sabito, Giyuu, Moriyama Akira, and others who were morning training all stopped at the same time, looking in shock towards the direction of the sound.
"Lower...lower rank four?!"
Moriyama Akira exclaimed in surprise: "Mr. Ryosuke, he defeated a Lower Rank by himself?!"
"That's great!"
Sabito punched the air forcefully: "Ryosuke-nii is amazing!"
"Very strong."
Giyuu gave an objective evaluation.
Iguro Obanai, who had just finished a round of training, also heard the news, his lips under the bandages tightly pressed together.
Mr. Ryosuke has already gone so far...He must work harder, much harder!
Inside the house, Kanae, who was helping Kochou Shinobu adjust her collar, paused slightly.
"Wow! That guy is amazing!"
Kochou Shinobu blinked, then looked at her older sister beside her.
Kanae nodded, her face not showing joy but worry, her delicate brows slightly furrowed.
"A Lower Rank Demon...Mr. Ryosuke...is he alright?"
Ryosuke was not alright at all!
His body was completely drained, multiple muscles were torn, and several ribs were broken.
When the Kakushi found him, Ryosuke was half-covered in blood, unconscious.
The Kakushi transported him back to Taoyama at the fastest speed.
For six full days, Ryosuke struggled between deep coma and intermittent high fever.
Jigoro brought out all his treasured medicinal herbs, and Uzui Tengen also used some ninja secret medicines.
Rika stayed by his bed, sleeplessly caring for him.
On the afternoon of the seventh day, Ryosuke's eyelashes fluttered, and he slowly opened his eyes with difficulty.
His blurry vision gradually focused, revealing a face full of annoyance and complex emotions.
"Yo, you're awake?"
Shota stood leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed, his tone still as sharp as ever.
"I can't believe you, kid, actually managed to kill a Lower Rank? What kind of dumb luck did you have?"
Ryosuke forced a weak and irritating smile.
"Hey, Shota-ko, watch your attitude when talking to your big bro from now on, I'll be a Hashira soon..."
Shota's face instantly darkened, and he cursed with a laugh.
"Hashira your ass! Talk about it when you can get out of bed! That punch nearly shattered your internal organs!"
Just then, a "clatter" came from the doorway.
Both turned their heads to see Rika's wooden basin fallen to the ground, water spilled everywhere.
She stared blankly at the awakened Ryosuke, her big eyes quickly filled with tears, then she burst into tears with a "waah" and rushed to the bedside.
"Ryosuke-nii! Waaah...You scared me to death! I thought...I thought..."
She cried so hard she couldn't complete her sentences, her shoulders twitching.
Ryosuke winced as she threw herself at him, his chest aching, but he still spoke to comfort her.
"It's okay, it's okay, I'm tough as nails, didn't die, did I..."
At the doorway, Jigoro and Uzui Tengen were standing there, having arrived at some unknown time.
The old man let out a long sigh of relief upon seeing his disciple awake.
Uzui Tengen gave Ryosuke a thumbs up, mouthing the words.
"Flashy!"
Absolutely!
Ryosuke smiled at him.
Rika cried for a while, then got up to pour water and get medicine, busying herself.
Shota watched his sister, pouting, and though annoyed, he said nothing in the end, turning and closing the door behind him.
Watching Rika's busy figure, Ryosuke was very moved.
"Ri..."
But when Ryosuke weakly raised his hand, he suddenly froze.
His other fingers were very dry, only two of them were relatively normal.
Something's not right!
Ryosuke leaned in and sniffed.
What the f—
Salty?
Salt?!