Kocho Kanae's figure darted swiftly through the curtain of rain.
Her mind replayed the contents of the recent phone call.
It was from her superior in the department, informing her that the demons had suddenly become active in the city for some unknown reason, and there were even traces of Kibutsuji Muzan!
"Something's wrong."
This was definitely not normal.
Since the modern era began, Kibutsuji Muzan had always lurked in the shadows, causing trouble sporadically, and his underlings had followed suit. This was the first time they had acted so brazenly.
Especially during the Holy Grail War.
A time when the entire world, and all those in the hidden underworld, were focused on this island.
"What are they trying to do?"
As she pondered this, Kocho Kanae suddenly came to a halt, her gaze falling on a nearby detached house.
Her hand rested on the hilt of her sword.
The sound of flesh being devoured was barely audible amidst the pouring rain, but after years of battling demons, Kocho Kanae recognized it immediately.
Confirming the sound, she pressed a special button on her phone.
After sending a distress signal to headquarters, she gripped her sword tightly and approached the front door of the house.
"Is anyone there?"
Kocho Kanae intended to knock, but just as her hand was about to touch the door, it creaked open on its own.
The scene inside was revealed.
In the midst of the pouring rain, a man with white oak-colored hair sat under the eaves of the entrance.
In his arms was a young woman wearing only her undergarments.
The man was buried in the woman's chest.
Yet, this sight evoked no sense of shame in Kocho Kanae—only rage.
The sound of devouring was clear.
The woman's hand was reaching out toward her, toward the door.
Her lifeless face was filled with despair and a final glimmer of hope.
It was clear that she had been trying to escape, on the verge of running out of the house, when she was caught by this creature.
"Oh, you're here."
The man with white oak hair looked up, his gaze falling on the furious Kocho Kanae standing at the door.
Kocho Kanae saw his eyes.
The irises of his left and right eyes bore the characters "Upper Moon" and "Two," respectively.
In an instant, Kocho Kanae realized his identity.
Upper Moon Two of the Twelve Kizuki.
Doma!
Her body tensed immediately.
This was absolutely not an opponent she could handle.
But...
Doma casually tossed the corpse in his arms aside and stood up unsteadily, his eyes never leaving Kocho Kanae.
As he took in her beautiful face and the anger mixed with her serene, gentle demeanor, the corners of his lips curled into a smile.
Wiping the blood from his mouth, he chuckled and said, "You look delicious."
Boom!
Kocho Kanae was sent flying.
She crashed through a wall and landed in the living room of a nearby house.
The sound of footsteps mixed with the splashing of rain, along with the stifled scream of the homeowner who had been awakened but was silenced before he could make a sound.
Watching the homeowner's body tumble down the stairs, Kocho Kanae struggled to prop herself up on her arms. Her breathing was already labored.
Blood Demon Art.
Doma's ability to freeze his own blood into a mist-like "frost," which he then dispersed with his fan. When human skin came into contact with Doma's frost, it would freeze. If the frost was inhaled into the lungs, it would cause difficulty breathing and eventually lead to the necrosis of the alveoli.
Even though his abilities were recorded in their files, when faced with him in person, Kocho Kanae bitterly realized her own weakness.
Even with all the information about him, she was still powerless to resist.
She had still breathed it in.
She had still been pierced by the frost.
Her breathing grew increasingly difficult, and her body was riddled with wounds from the frost. Her frozen body was beginning to stiffen.
Doma stepped into the living room.
He casually shook the water off the hat still perched on his head.
Looking at Kocho Kanae, who was struggling to stand, he smiled and said, "Are you trying to hold out until your teammates arrive?"
"Give up."
"Even if they received your distress signal, they don't have the manpower to send anyone."
Kocho Kanae gritted her teeth and forced herself to stand.
As she faced the smiling Doma, who seemed in no hurry to attack, she caught a brief moment of respite and felt a wave of dizziness.
Kocho Kanae knew.
Even if the action team could come, by then, she would likely already be dead.
She wasn't going to survive this.
Like the stories she had heard, Kocho Kanae felt scenes from her life flashing before her eyes, like a revolving lantern. Mostly, they were memories of her time with everyone at the Butterfly Mansion.
Mostly, it was her sister, Shinobu.
She really couldn't let go...
"I hope... Mr. Sora will take care of Shinobu."
Kocho Kanae murmured.
For no reason, the image of Kaito Sora appeared in her mind.
She couldn't help but think.
If only Kaito Sora could save her, just as he had saved Yuuki Nanase.
If she were his woman, would the outcome be different...
The thought startled her, and she shook her head with a bitter smile. Lifting her blurry gaze, she looked at Doma.
Summoning all the strength she had left, she tightened her grip on her sword.
Even if she died, she would hold out until dawn. She couldn't let him harm anyone else.
But just as she was about to launch another attack—
Tap.
A hand rested on her shoulder.
When had he gotten there?
Kocho Kanae's pupils contracted.
Assuming it was Doma or another demon who had reached her from behind, she instinctively tried to swing her sword in defense. But a surge of electricity flowed from the large hand on her shoulder, coursing through her entire body.
Her body, already pushed to its limits, could no longer hold on.
With a mournful cry, her sword fell to the ground.
Her body went completely limp.
In despair, she felt herself being lifted into someone's arms.
It was over.
"Who are you?"
Doma's curious, puzzled voice rang out.
It pulled Kocho Kanae, who had already resigned herself to death, back to reality. She saw Doma's confused gaze fixed on the person beside her.
They didn't know each other?
Then who was holding her...?
"Tsk."
"How did you get so badly injured in such a short time?"
Kocho Kanae trembled, her eyes filled with disbelief.
That voice was...
"Mr. Sora?"
Kocho Kanae's voice quivered, on the verge of tears.
Even though she had prepared herself for death, no one truly wanted to die if they could live.
She still had Shinobu, Kanae, and so many other adopted daughters at the Butterfly Mansion that she couldn't bear to leave behind.
"Relax, you'll be fine."
"Mm."
Kocho Kanae completely relaxed, leaning into Kaito Sora's embrace.
An unprecedented sense of safety and warmth spread through her body.
Doma, however, showed no anger at being ignored by Kaito Sora. Instead, he looked at Kaito Sora with even greater interest.
This guy... seems strong?
Doma suddenly swung the fan hidden in his sleeve, sending a wave of blood-red frost crystals toward the two.
But just as the frost reached half a meter in front of Kaito Sora, the void rippled.
A shadow as dark as ink emerged, swallowing all the frost crystals!
The attack failed.
Doma grinned and charged at Kaito Sora, swinging his fan.
But...
Kaito Sora simply drew his wind sword and slashed through the air.
Void Slash!
A dark, almost air-severing blade of void energy shot toward Doma.
Doma immediately tried to dodge.
But...
Watching the black blade reach him in an instant and slice him in two, Doma's eyes filled with shock.
How... so fast?
In the next moment, the black blade, like a black hole, sucked Doma's body into it.
He vanished without a trace.
Kocho Kanae stared blankly at what had just happened.
"Is he... dead?"
"Mm."
The Doma who had nearly killed her without effort...
Had been instantly killed by Kaito Sora?
Kocho Kanae's lips parted slightly, and after a long pause, she murmured, "Mr. Sora... you're amazing."
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