All along the way, Nezuko walked toward home with an indescribable turmoil in her heart, her arms filled to the brim with bundles and parcels. The more she thought about it, the more unbearable it became—this demon, buying so many things, coming to her home… for her sake.
It felt as though the sky itself were about to collapse.
If she refused him…
But how could she possibly refuse? If the demon were to grow angry—
The consequences were unthinkable.
Yet if she agreed…
Did that mean she would have to become a demon's wife?
And if she became a demon's wife… what if, one day, she had children?
Would they… be demon children?
The thought alone sent her mind spiraling. Heat rushed to her face, her cheeks burning as though they might catch fire, and she could not help but steal another glance back at him.
Truth be told, his appearance was not unpleasant. Taller than most men in the town, broad-shouldered, with a presence that was difficult to describe—there was something about him that set him apart.
If he were not a demon…
Perhaps he would not have been so difficult to accept.
But he was a demon.
…
Soma , of course, had no idea how far her thoughts had wandered—nor how wildly they had strayed. To him, bringing gifts when visiting someone's home was nothing more than a matter of courtesy, an effortless gesture.
Holding Kanao's hand, he walked leisurely, speaking with her from time to time, occasionally casting his gaze over their surroundings.
But the further they followed Nezuko, the more the scenery began to change—and not for the better.
The houses grew increasingly dilapidated, one more broken than the last. The air was thick with a foul stench, and the ground was littered with refuse and waste, while stagnant water pooled in places, releasing a sharp, unpleasant odor.
Children lingered along the roadside, most of them thin and frail, their condition a quiet testament to hardship. Adults appeared now and then in the doorways of the crumbling houses, but they too were gaunt, their eyes carrying a mixture of weariness and something darker. When they looked at Soma—a stranger in their midst—their gazes were far from welcoming. Some held open hostility; others flickered with unmistakable greed.
As they passed one particular house, strange sounds drifted from within—voices of men and women intertwined in a way that was both loud and unsettling. Outside, several men sat on chairs, waiting in silence.
When Nezuko passed by, their eyes followed her instinctively. A couple of them even licked their lips, their gazes filled with crude desire.
Some glanced toward Kanao as well, but the moment Soma's eyes met theirs, they quickly looked away, shrinking back into themselves.
He narrowed his eyes slightly, studying them for a moment before shifting his attention to the house. Soon enough, a man emerged from inside, hastily adjusting his clothes.
"Next."
A woman, barely covered, stepped out and called lazily, and one of the waiting men hurried in with obvious eagerness.
At that, Soma understood immediately what kind of place it was. Without hesitation, he guided Kanao away from that direction.
Kanao glanced at him, then toward the house. Soon, those strange sounds resumed, intense and unfamiliar, stirring her curiosity.
"Uncle, what is that place?" she asked, her voice innocent.
Soma simply tapped her lightly on the head. "Don't ask."
"Oh…"
Though she turned away, a trace of curiosity still lingered in her eyes.
Ahead of them, Nezuko had heard it all. Her body stiffened, and despite the weight of the items she carried, she quickened her pace, as though trying to escape the sounds behind her.
Following after her, Soma continued to observe their surroundings. It was clear this was the poorest district of the town, utterly different from the place where he and Kanao lived.
Everything here spoke of hardship.
And those who lived in such conditions… were rarely simple.
From what he could see, it was not difficult to imagine that Nezuko's family lived a far harsher life than he had initially assumed.
That was enough for Soma to understand.
Following behind Nezuko, it did not take long before they arrived at a small, dilapidated thatched house. Compared to the others around it, it had clearly been patched up in places, as though someone had done their best to keep it from falling apart entirely.
But at the entrance, several rough-looking men stood blocking the way, their expressions fierce and unpleasant as they spoke to a woman dressed in a simple kimono of white and violet, a scarf wrapped around her head.
One of them, wearing a lewd grin, stepped forward and reached out to grab at her, forcing the woman to retreat in panic, her face turning pale with fear.
Soma recognized her at once.
Kamado Kie.
Before he could act, a child rushed out from behind her, clutching an axe, his small face filled with defiance as though he meant to strike.
"Takeo, go back!" Kie cried, quickly pulling her son behind her. Against several grown men, what chance did a child have?
"Well? Have you made up your mind yet?" the man at the front sneered, paying no attention to the boy's weapon. His gaze lingered shamelessly on Kie, taking in her figure beneath the modest clothing, his eyes growing hotter the longer he looked.
"You're just a woman. How are you going to support all these children? Come with our boss, and you'll have a better life. At the very least—"
"Y-you… get away from her!"
Nezuko's voice rang out in alarm as she rushed forward. The bundles she carried were dropped carelessly at the door as she placed herself protectively in front of her mother, fierce as a cornered tigress.
"Well, well—another beauty," the man chuckled, his eyes lighting up as he reached out toward Nezuko's delicate face, fingers poised to touch.
Shing—
A flash of steel cut through the air.
Before anyone could react, the man's arm was severed cleanly, sent flying as blood sprayed outward, spattering across Nezuko's pale cheek. A heartbeat later, the man collapsed to the ground, writhing and screaming in agony.
The sudden violence stunned everyone present.
Only then did they notice the figure approaching—calmly sheathing his blade.
Tall, well-built, dressed in immaculate clothing of fine material, his features strikingly composed—yet even after severing a man's arm, he had not so much as blinked.
The sheer contrast was unsettling.
From the group, a sturdier man stepped forward, his presence more imposing than the others.
"I am Hasegawa Satoshi, second-in-command of the "Renyi Syndicate," he said, his voice dark with restrained anger. "I oversee this area. Don't you think you've gone too far? Cutting off my man's arm without cause…"
Soma lifted his eyes to look at him—then, without hesitation, drew his blade again.
The tip of the sword stopped just short of Hasegawa's forehead.
A chill ran through the man as the cold gleam of steel hovered before him. He hadn't even seen when the weapon had been drawn.
"Leave."
The word was spoken softly, almost indifferently.
But the threat within it was unmistakable.
Hasegawa's face drained of color. In that moment, he had no doubt—if he lingered even a second longer, that blade would split him open without hesitation.
Fear flooded his chest. Though he couldn't comprehend why this man acted with such disregard, the sense of death pressing against him was painfully real.
Without another word, he barked orders to his men, and they fled in a panicked scramble, dragging their wounded companion with them.
Watching them disappear, Soma sheathed his bloodstained blade. If not for the fact that he intended to remain in this town for a while longer with Kanao—and wished to avoid unnecessary trouble—he would have ended the matter with a single strike rather than merely severing an arm.
After all, killing in broad daylight would inevitably draw attention from the authorities. It wasn't something he feared—but it would be inconvenient.
Still, judging by the resentment in that man's retreating gaze, this matter was unlikely to end so easily. Perhaps it would be better to settle things properly after nightfall.
After all… he was a demon.
Of all beings to provoke, they had chosen a demon—were they simply tired of living?
Meanwhile, Nezuko stood frozen, her face spattered with blood. The sight of the severed arm, the man's agonized screams—it all struck her at once, overwhelming her senses.
Just moments ago, she had begun to think this demon might not be so frightening after all.
But now, that illusion shattered completely.
The memory of that night—the terror she had felt—surged back to the surface. Her legs weakened beneath her, trembling as fear took hold once more.
Supporting her trembling daughter, Kie tried her best to steady herself. Though fear still lingered in her heart, she understood clearly that this man—whoever he truly was—had just helped her family. Gathering what composure she could, she stepped forward, placing her hands neatly before her abdomen a
"Th-thank you, sir, for your help… It seems you came here with Nezuko…"
Before she could finish, a gentle voice interrupted her.
"Lady Kie, we meet again."
The warmth in the tone caught her off guard.
She blinked, confusion flickering across her face. Did she know this man? His clothing alone marked him as someone of status, far removed from the kind of people she usually encountered. Slowly, hesitantly, she raised her head.
At that exact moment, he turned.
And she saw his face.
How could she ever forget?
Her expression drained of all color in an instant. Gripping Nezuko tightly, she stumbled backward, her voice breaking into a terrified cry.
"A demon… a demon!"
Even Takeo, who had moments ago rushed forward with an axe in hand, now collapsed onto the ground, his courage vanishing as though it had never existed. Facing ordinary men, he could still muster defiance—but before a demon, even lifting his weapon became impossible.
Standing beneath the sunlight, Soma offered a mild, almost apologetic smile.
"I must apologize for my sudden visit. It seems I've frightened you."
Yet that gentle smile only made Kie tremble more violently, her lips quivering as she tried—and failed—to form coherent words.
"Y-you… you…"
Her voice faltered into nothing.
Soma'gaze shifted toward Nezuko.
By now, she had recovered somewhat. Aside from the shock of witnessing a man's arm severed before her eyes, she was no longer paralyzed by fear like her mother. In truth, she believed she understood his intentions—and because of that, she no longer thought he had come to harm her family.
Besides, though he had shown a cold and merciless side just moments ago, the truth was that along the way… he had been unexpectedly gentle.
Even if that gentleness had mostly been reserved for the girl beside him.
Still—
perhaps, just perhaps, he might show her a little kindness too.
"Mother… don't be afraid," Nezuko said softly, helping her mother back to her feet while cautiously glancing toward him. "He won't hurt us."
Soma exhaled quietly, sensing that he had frightened them more than intended.
"Explain things to your mother first," he said, stepping aside to give them space. "It would be better if you spoke with her before I come in."
With that, he turned away, deliberately avoiding looking at them further, allowing the family a moment to gather themselves.
Kanao stood naturally at his side, tilting her head slightly as she watched the frightened family. No matter how she looked at it, she couldn't understand—her uncle was so kind, so gentle… so why were they all so afraid of him?
Meanwhile, Nezuko, convinced she understood everything, nervously twisted her fingers together. A faint blush crept across her delicate features as she led her mother aside, whispering hurriedly.
No one could hear exactly what she said.
But before long, Kie suddenly pulled her daughter into a tight embrace—and burst into tears.
And then, she cried harder.
And harder still.
Standing off to the side, Soma frowned slightly, a trace of bewilderment crossing his face.
Something… feels off.
It was one thing for people to fear him—he was a demon, after all—but the scene unfolding before him felt strangely exaggerated, as though he were about to commit some unforgivable crime.
What on earth had Nezuko said?
Not long after, Kie returned, her eyes red and swollen from crying, her cheeks damp with tears. Nezuko followed close behind, her head lowered the entire time, refusing to meet his gaze.
"Nezuko… explained everything to you, I assume?" Soma asked gently.
At his words, Kie's composure broke once more. She clutched Nezuko tightly, tears welling up again as she lowered her head, her voice trembling with sorrow.
"P-please… treat Nezuko well… don't… don't bully her… Even though… even though I don't know how things work between demons and humans…"
Beside her, Nezuko, who had kept her head lowered all this time, dared to sneak a glance at him. Just a few fleeting looks—but enough for something in her expression to change.
The sadness on her face softened.
In its place, a faint blush spread once more across her cheeks.
Soma listened, his confusion deepening with every word.
What… is this supposed to mean?
He had never intended anything of the sort.
And yet—
almost involuntarily, his gaze flicked toward Nezuko. Even in her distress, there was something undeniably endearing about her—her delicate features, her soft vulnerability, the quiet charm that made her difficult to ignore.
…Not that it would be entirely unacceptable.
Shaking his head, he forcibly cast aside the stray thought, a wry smile forming at his lips.
"Lady Kie," he said at last, his tone light but measured, "may I come inside now?"
...
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