Narrator POV.
Isagi raised an eyebrow as he read the notification.
—Huh? What kind of trash reward is this? —he said, crossing his arms, visibly disappointed—. What am I supposed to do with a skill for storing things if I already have an inventory? I got scammed this time.
He rolled his eyes as the second reward appeared, floating inside a system window.
—Well, at least a "special-grade" item sounds more promising… I'll open it later. —He scratched the back of his head, letting out a small yawn.
For now, there was something more important to take care of.
Isagi stretched a couple of times, his shoulders cracking, and began walking through the rubble of the place. The air still smelled of dust, blood, and burnt cursed energy.
—Time to find the kidnapped people and those damn Yakuza… —he muttered, adjusting the grip on his katana as he moved forward.
Even though the fight had been loud, it had also been fast and efficient. Now all that was left was to clean up the mess.
After all, if there was one thing Isagi was sure about, it was that he never left jobs half-done. No half measures here: only full-on work and top-tier service.
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At the Public Safety Devil Hunters headquarters, the sunset filtered through the large windows of one of the offices. The orange glow bathed the hallways in a warm, almost melancholic light, while the echo of firm footsteps rang across the marble floor.
A devil hunter walked with determined—though slightly tense—steps toward his superior's office. When he reached the door, he took a deep breath and knocked three times.
A few seconds passed before a soft yet authoritative voice allowed him to enter.
When he opened the door, he saw her: seated with a straight, elegant posture, Makima calmly reviewed several documents. Her beauty was hypnotic, almost unreal; it bordered on the divine.
She had light reddish hair tied into a braid that fell over her shoulder, and golden eyes with circular, feline pupils that radiated a mix of serenity and absolute control.
—What is it? —she asked calmly, without lifting her gaze from the desk.
—M-Miss Makima… —the hunter stammered, swallowing hard. Even though he already knew her, her mere presence was overwhelming—. The Devil Hunters who were sent to eliminate the demon detected in the warehouse in the southern part of the city… were found unconscious. And the demon… the demon was dead.
Makima interlaced her fingers on the desk and, with a faint smile that revealed no emotion, waited for her subordinate to continue.
—Apparently —the hunter went on— someone got there before them. And not only that… the people who were going to be offered as food to the demon were also rescued.
The red-haired woman showed no surprise at all. Not a blink, not even the slightest change in expression—only that heavy silence that made the air feel denser.
—Are there any witnesses to the one responsible? —she finally asked, opening her eyes just a little more.
—Y-yes, Miss Makima. —The hunter nodded quickly—. The survivors claim it was a young man, around seventeen or eighteen years old… black hair, messy, like a sea urchin.
Makima rested her chin on the back of one hand, thoughtful. Her lips curved ever so slightly into an enigmatic smile.
—Mmm… —she murmured softly, as if an idea had already formed in her mind—. Interesting.
Silence once again filled the office as the sun finished sinking behind the buildings. And although the hunter couldn't see it, an unsettling sensation spread through the air. Makima was smiling… but not out of surprise. Rather, because something new had just caught her attention.
—How peculiar… lately, the demons we're supposed to eliminate have been turning up dead. —Makima rested an elbow on the desk and calmly interlaced her fingers. Her voice remained gentle, but her golden eyes held an analytical gleam—. Every time I arrive at the scene, I sense the same scent… that of a single person.
Her subordinate looked at her with mild confusion, raising an eyebrow.
—Have you heard of him before, Miss Makima?
—Something like that. —she replied, without taking her eyes off the reports on her desk—. According to the civilians involved in the incidents, a young man has been taking down various demons, even ones that civilian hunters normally can't handle. They all agree on one curious detail… his hair: black, spiky, like a sea urchin's.
As she spoke, she flipped through several "failed" mission reports—not due to team incompetence, but because someone else had arrived first.
—It's strange… —she continued, resting both elbows on the desk and clasping her hands in front of her face—. A civilian hunter that active and strong is not common. Usually, civilians only deal with minor demons. The truly dangerous ones are handled by us.
The Devil Hunter nodded slowly.
—Does he have a contract with a powerful demon?
Makima remained silent for a few seconds, contemplating the idea. Then, a soft smile formed on her lips.
—No, I don't think so. —she said in a serene tone—. All the reports mention that he uses a katana to finish off his targets. It would be interesting to have someone with that kind of talent on our side. —Her golden eyes flashed with a light that made it unclear whether she spoke out of curiosity… or convenience.— For now, he isn't interfering with our work. If anything, he's making it easier. So there's no reason to intervene… yet.
The hunter nodded respectfully and bowed slightly.
—Understood, Miss Makima.
Makima returned the nod with a gentle smile that seemed harmless, yet there was something about it… something that could make even the bravest tremble.
The Devil Hunter left the office to inform the others of his superior's order. When the door closed, silence once again claimed the room.
Makima shifted her gaze toward the window, where the last ray of sunset reflected in her golden eyes. She truly didn't care if a human with some talent was killing demons—her goal was something else. To her, all humans were the same.
So simple that she remembered them by their scent, not by their face.
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End of the chapter.
Look, I think I made it clear that this story is more HUMOROUS than anything else, and the first idiot has already shown up, yeah, some guy named.Demented_adult24.
Bro, I already made it clear in chapter 1 that this story is for entertain, not for creating and expanding the Chainsaw Man world like it's an official Fujimoto novel. 🤦