The anime begins in 1830 with a girl screaming as she’s being beaten. She pleads for help from a boy named Jinta, who watches helplessly, saddened by the scene. The man, revealed to be her father, locks her in a confined space despite her pleas. Afterward, Jinta checks on his sister and discovers she has escaped. He rushes to find her and sees her near a walkway. He notices that one of her eyes has turned red. Jinta apologizes for not helping earlier, but Suzune reassures him, understanding he would’ve gotten into trouble. She asks him to leave her alone, but Jinta refuses, saying they’ll run away together. Suzune is relieved and agrees.
They flee into the forest, where the weather is cold. A strange man appears and helps them. Jinta, exhausted, passes out and later wakes to find the man carrying him, with Suzune beside him. They arrive at a village, which turns out to be a blacksmith settlement. Suzune feels uneasy, saying the place seems strange. The man takes them home, where his daughter greets them warmly. Jinta and Suzune feel a sense of loss, seeing such a welcoming family. The man tells his daughter that the two have no one, so they will become part of their family. His daughter, Shirayuki, is overjoyed and introduces herself. When Jinta calls her “Shirayuki-chan,” she tells him not to say that since they’re family now. Jinta is surprised by this new life.
That night, Jinta wakes up and finds the man cleaning a sword. He asks if he’s a samurai, but the man replies, “No, I’m a guard who protects important people.” Jinta is amazed by his sword. The next morning, Shirayuki joins Jinta, Suzune, and their new friend for a swim. Afterward, Chitose teases Shirayuki for eating too much dango and tells her to eat more vegetables. Shirayuki replies that she can’t resist her mother’s dango because she’s so good at making it. Chitose goes to call her mom, and the others head home.
Jinta asks Shirayuki about her mother. She says her name is Yokaze and that she likely allowed them to stay in the village. Jinta asks if she ever leaves the temple, and Shirayuki says no—because her mother is a “Kahime” (a sacred priestess), someone with fire-based spiritual power. Her father serves as her protector. She explains that this power must be preserved and not used carelessly, especially around ordinary people. Shirayuki admits she hasn’t seen her mother in years and feels sad about it.
Three years pass. Jinta begins training with Shirayuki’s father in wooden sword fighting but loses repeatedly. He says, “I haven’t made any progress,” but Shirayuki’s father encourages him, saying his strength is developing. He promises Jinta will grow stronger with time but must stay focused. As he leaves for work, Shirayuki hands him the sword he forgot and they all say goodbye.
Shirayuki checks on Jinta and encourages him, calling herself his “big sister.” Jinta laughs, saying he’s older, but Shirayuki insists she’s the most organized, so she counts as the elder. Just then, Suzune wakes up and asks what’s going on. Jinta says it’s nothing, and Shirayuki announces it’s time for breakfast. Both girls reach out to Jinta, playfully dragging him along.
After Shirayuki’s father Motoharu dies, Jinta becomes the village’s protector. During a temple meeting, the current Lady of the Temple praises him, saying he’s exceptional at slaying demons. Jinta humbly replies that he’s just doing his duty. The Lady asks about the latest demon, and Jinta explains that it disguised itself as a human to infiltrate the village. The head of the guard says the demon aimed to eliminate the Lady of the Temple. He explains that demons can live for thousands of years, but if they eat the liver of the Kahime, they become immortal.
One of the guards says, “We haven’t confirmed the existence of this demon, and we can’t verify this talk.” The head guard responds that it doesn’t matter and explains that the previous Lady of the Temple, Yokaze, was killed by a demon. They only managed to defeat it because Motoharu sacrificed his life. The current Lady of the Temple believes the demons are after the sword Yara, a sacred blade passed down through generations. The head guard adds that the sword was crafted with immense skill in this town and is believed to hold magical power—katana that has remained untouched for a century. Now, the demons seek to obtain that power. The Lady agrees and acknowledges his point.
Guard Kiyomasa tells the head guard there’s no need to worry, as the Kahime has two guards to protect her. He also insults Ginta, claiming the man has no talent beyond swinging a sword. Ginta asks him, “Do you have a problem with me?” The Lady of the Temple intervenes, saying, “This place deserves respect. Such petty disputes don’t belong here.” Ginta apologizes, and she turns to Kiyomasa, asking, “Aren’t you a guard too?” He answers, “Of course, I’m here to protect you.” The head guard ends the meeting, and everyone leaves—except Ginta, which angers Kiyomasa.
The Lady of the Temple asks Ginta if he’s alone outside, and he confirms. She tells him to drop the formalities and walks toward him, which surprises him. She reminds him, “I told you before to treat me informally.” Ginta replies, “But you’re the Lady of the Temple, and I respect you.” She insists, “Then I ask you, when we’re alone, to call me by my name. You’re the only one left who can.” Ginta calls her “Shirayuki,” causing her to blush. She admits she’s being selfish because she relies on him for everything. Ginta tells her it’s not a problem, reminding her that the Kahime is supposed to rely on her guard. Shirayuki thanks him and informs him that Suzune is here, waiting to see him.
Ginta visits Suzune, who was asleep. He warns her that if anyone finds out she’s here, she could be executed due to the Temple’s rules. Shirayuki explains that Suzune came because Ginta hadn’t returned home for three days while fighting demons. Ginta replies that her visit still breaks the rules. He gently wakes Suzune and tells her he misses her, but she must never come to the temple again—it’s forbidden. Suzune asks, “Then why can you come here whenever you want?” Ginta answers, “Because those are the rules, and we must follow them.” Suzune agrees quietly. Ginta then senses someone coming and tells her to stay silent. She assures him she knows a way out and quickly leaves.
The head guard approaches Shirayuki and asks to speak with her about some suggestions. She invites him in but tells Ginta to wait outside. Ginta protests, not wanting to leave her alone, but Shirayuki insists. As he waits, she tells him that the safety of the city now lies in his hands, and she hopes he’ll keep defending it with all his strength.
Ginta reflects on the past, remembering when Shirayuki’s mother passed away. Shirayuki told him she would be appointed the new princess in her mother’s place. She expressed her love for the city her mother sacrificed everything to protect and said it must remain strong. She added that she hadn’t seen Ginta since then. Ginta promised her, “I’ll keep working until I see you again. I’ll grow stronger, follow in Motoharu’s footsteps, fight the demons, and become the village’s guardian.” Returning to the present, he leaves the princess’s room.
Meanwhile, two demons talk. One asks how things are progressing. The other, observing Suzune, replies that things seem fine—even if no one believes it—but he saw it with his own eyes. He’s certain she looks exactly like the one he remembers.
Back at Ginta’s home, he wakes up and steps out of his room. Suzune also wakes and asks if he’s going to the temple. Ginta tells her he’s free until noon, which makes her happy. She hugs him, and Ginta mentions that the bandages covering her eye are coming loose. Suzune adjusts them to hide her red eye.
Shirayuki suddenly arrives, surprising Ginta. He asks how she got there, and she says she ran away and invites him to spend the day with her. Ginta declines, saying it’s dangerous since she’s a princess. Shirayuki explains she got permission from the chief. Suzune then suggests they all have breakfast together like they used to. The three of them sit down and share a meal.
Suzani commented that Ginta should’ve brought better food for Shere. Ginta warned her to be quiet or he’d hit her. Shere laughed and said they all knew he had never hit Suzani. Ginta insisted he was strict when necessary and could be harsh too, but Shere doubted that, and Suzani agreed—saying he wasn’t like that at all. Ginta joked, “You both want trouble, huh?” which made them all burst into laughter. Suzani challenged him to go ahead and hit her. Ginta raised his hand toward her but couldn’t bring himself to do it. He told her he’d let her go this time, which made them laugh again.
Ginta got ready to go out with Shere, and Suzani was overjoyed. He asked why she was so happy. She replied it was because he was going out with the princess to have fun—and if he was happy, that made her happy too.
As Ginta walked with Shere, no one recognized her as the princess. People were surprised to see Ginta with such a beautiful girl. They went to Chizu’s mother to buy dango. She was surprised and asked Ginta who the girl was. Ginta replied she was just a friend. Shere asked for ten servings of dango, but Ginta said they’d only get two and some tea, which shocked her.
Shere then asked if Chizu’s mother didn’t recognize her. Ginta explained that she hadn’t seen her in years and likely didn’t remember her. Shere said she had expected that. Chizu’s mother prepared the food and even added sweets, saying she remembered Ginta always loving them as a kid. Surprised, Ginta asked, “You still remember that?” She replied, “Of course. You always came here asking for them when you were little.” She apologized for calling him that, but Ginta assured her it was fine. He tried the sweets and said they were delicious, which made Chizu’s mother very happy.
Afterward, Ginta told Shere he was no longer her big brother—he was now the city’s guard. Shere replied, “I know. Nothing lasts forever.” She added that it was one of her father’s favorite sayings. Ginta reflected on how his father always taught him important life lessons and how he still felt guided by him every step of the way. He said he wanted to stay on that path. Shere said, “I hope we become like my mom and dad and protect the city the way they did.”
They then visited their favorite spot where they used to meet. Shere thanked Ginta for spending the day with her. Ginta told her he had a wonderful time, which made her happy. But she also admitted feeling guilty for focusing only on her problems and dragging him into them. Ginta asked if she felt satisfied now. She said yes and then revealed she had brought him there because she wanted to share something important.
She told Ginta she was going to marry Kiomasa. The village leader had informed her the day before. She explained she needed to bear a successor so she wouldn’t repeat her mother’s fate. Kiomasa, a guard born in the city, was expected to become the next chief, and their marriage would be good for everyone. Though she leaned toward accepting it, she confessed that—speaking as Shere, not as a princess—she loved Ginta.
She told him she had once thought about running away with him to start a new life, but figured he wouldn’t agree. Ginta confirmed he would’ve refused. Shere said it was because he didn’t love her. Ginta clarified that he had sworn to protect the city and the princess—not Shere. He had trained hard for that, and if he ran away with her, it would make all his training meaningless and be an insult to himself.
Shere said they were very similar: when everything ends, people can only choose how to live, not who to live with. She chose to remain a princess, and if she abandoned that identity, she wouldn’t be able to look him in the eye. If her role was wrong, so were her feelings for him. So she would continue to live as a princess—and asked him to stay loyal and love her until the end. Ginta promised he would stay her guard and protect her to the very end.
We then shift to Suzani, who was alone and feeling anxious. At the temple, Shere informed Ginta that two demons had been spotted in the forest and ordered him to eliminate them. Kiomasa would protect her while he was gone. Ginta replied, “Alright. I’ll take care of them as soon as possible.” Shere wished him good luck.
After leaving the temple, Ginta was stopped by Kiiamasa, who asked if he had heard the news about his marriage to the princess. Ginta calmly replied that he had. Kiiamasa questioned whether Ginta was really not going to do anything, but Ginta said that protecting the city and the princess’s happiness was what mattered most to him. Kiiamasa accused him of pretending not to love her and demanded, “What about your heart? Are you crazy, man?” Ginta simply answered, “Of course I am,” and walked away, leaving Kiiamasa stunned.
Meanwhile, Suzuni was alone when a demon approached her. The scene shifted to Ginta, who was deep in the forest searching for the demons when he was suddenly attacked. The demon, surprised that Ginta dodged, asked how he saw through the ambush. Ginta responded, “I know there are two of you—where’s the other one?” The demon said the other had an important task in the city.
Ginta struck first but missed. The demon counterattacked, injuring Ginta’s face. Ginta retaliated and managed to sever the demon’s hand, though it struck again with the other, which Ginta dodged. Holding its severed hand, the demon remarked that while demons live for centuries, humans surpass themselves by passing their dreams forward. It then asked Ginta, “Do you know why you use that sword?” It claimed to have defied nature to gain its power. Ginta responded that he would kill anyone who threatened those he loved.
Back with Suzuni, the other demon approached her, asking if she knew who she was. Suzuni said the demon was the demon itself. It agreed but said they were alike. Suzuni denied it, claiming she was human and trembling with fear. The demon said sisterly love was what made her feel human and admired how much her brother had fought for her. It asked if she thought her brother was great, and Suzuni replied that he meant everything to her.
The demon then said it saw a young girl in her heart and warned that someone wanted to harm her brother. It offered to help and claimed demons never lie. It reached out its hand, asking her to come with it. Suzuni refused, saying it might endanger her brother. The demon then said, “Will you still say that after seeing this?” and showed her a glimpse of the future—Shereai marrying Kiiamasa.
The demon claimed to have foresight, allowing it to share brief visions of the future. Suzuni called it outside, saying she didn’t want to know the truth. She asked if Shereai really did that, and the demon confirmed it. Suzuni accused it of lying. The demon offered to show her again and claimed it was all for her brother. Hesitantly, Suzuni reached for the demon’s hand.
Meanwhile, Ginta continued fighting the other demon. He was pushed into the water and attacked from behind. Ginta asked, “Why do you want to hurt humans?” The demon replied, “Because of what I am.” Ginta asked if that meant it naturally wanted to kill humans. The demon explained that it had a specific goal and accepted its nature—it couldn’t rebel against what it was. Ginta said, “Then I’ll show you no mercy.”
The demon revealed it could absorb power from other demons, growing stronger and changing form. Ginta attacked, but the demon cut off his arm and broke his sword. Still, Ginta grabbed the broken piece and drove it into the demon’s body, killing it. Before dying, the demon said it had fulfilled its goal and revealed the other demon had powers of perception. It warned that after 170 years, the strongest demon would rise to rule over all demon offspring in the city. This was the reason they had come.
Ginta, shocked, wondered if a demon was already living among them—and thought of Suzuni. The demon grabbed Ginta’s head and said, “You wield this sword to protect those you vowed to defend. But if you find they are not worth protecting—who will you kill then?”
The scene shifts to Princess Shirayuki, where Kiyomasa tries to get close to her, but she pushes him away, saying they need to first confirm whether Ginta has defeated the demons. Kiyomasa insists it’s the right time to marry, warning that if they wait, they might have to wed in front of Ginta. He steps back and leaves the decision to her. The princess begins to cry, arguing that she was wrong and must marry Kiyomasa now for the city’s sake. As she moves toward him, a demon enters, accompanied by Suzune, who witnesses the scene and asks the princess why she’s doing this.
Meanwhile, Ginta regains consciousness and is shocked to find his severed arm still intact. Realizing something’s wrong, he rushes toward the city—only to find it in flames. Back at the princess’s location, Suzune confronts her: “I thought you loved Ginta, but I guess you’re ready to settle for any guy, right?” The princess denies it, and Suzune demands an explanation.
Ginta arrives home but finds it empty. Grabbing his sword, he heads to the princess’s house. There, Suzune continues: “Why did you do this? I worked hard to bring you two together because I wanted Ginta to be happy, and this is how you repay me?” The princess responds, “I know you did it for Ginta, but to remain his little sister, you need to stay innocent in both body and mind.”
Suzune replies, “I used to believe in you. I was ready to endure everything for your sake.” The princess says, “I’m sorry. I am the princess now, responsible for the entire city. That’s the only way I can repay Ginta’s feelings.” Suzune asks, “So you’re abandoning your love for my brother for strangers?” She removes her blindfold and starts laughing, accusing the princess of making her look like a fool. “Shut your mouth and don’t move,” she warns.
The demon beside Suzune tells her, “Now you’ve seen it. While Ginta was fighting for her life in the forest, the princess embraced another man. Isn’t it painful to suffer without knowing the truth?” Then it adds, “Isn’t it infuriating that your brother is getting hurt because of this deceitful princess?”
Suzune mutters, “Wouldn’t it be better if she were dead?” Suddenly, she transforms into a demon, shrouded in black smoke. “You must die now,” she tells the princess. Kiyomasa tries to stop her but is struck down by the demon, losing consciousness. The demon urges Suzune to resolve the matter herself. Suzune grabs the sword.
At that moment, Ginta arrives. Shirayuki rushes to embrace him, but her head is severed in his arms, leaving him in shock as memories of their past flood in. He sees Suzune stab Shirayuki and, in rage, swings his sword at her, though she dodges. “Why are you attacking me?” she asks.
“Are you really Suzune?” Ginta demands. She confirms she is. “Then why did you kill Shirayuki?” he asks.
“I did it for you,” she replies. “I wanted you to be happy. You should smile.”
“How is that logical?” Ginta asks.
“I’ll explain. The princess was lying. She was going to marry someone else. I didn’t want you to be sad,” Suzune says. When Ginta tells her to be quiet, she snaps, “Don’t tell me you still love her! She’s a liar!” She explains that now that Shirayuki is gone, Ginta won’t feel pressured anymore and should go home—because she’s tired.
“You killed Shirayuki, burned the city, betrayed the people who raised us—and now you expect me to believe you’re tired?” Ginta retorts. Suzune shrugs, “Is that a problem?”
“I now understand—the Suzune I once knew is gone.” Ginta attacks her again, but misses. She’s shocked by his attempt to kill her. Then, Ginta transforms into a demon, gaining the powers of the one who had previously injured him.
Seeing his transformation, Suzune tries to defend herself, saying she did it all for him. Ginta cuts her off, telling her to be silent. “So you’re abandoning me like everyone else,” she says. “I thought you were different. I thought you’d always be there.” Then she says she doesn’t need him, that he meant everything but didn’t value her. “Fine, I’ll go live in hell.”
She lunges at him, moving rapidly, then suddenly stops and says, “You must die.” She thrusts her hands into his chest—but can’t pull them out. Ginta unleashes a powerful blow, sending her flying. She rises again, and Ginta says, “That strike wasn’t enough.” He prepares another attack, but this time it hits the other demon. The clairvoyant demon tells Suzune to go far away.
Then Suzune left, and Ginta tried to follow her, but he couldn’t pull his hands out of the she-demon’s body. He called out to Suzune, but she told him she didn’t want to talk because she was angry—and that she would tear everything in this world to pieces. She said she would visit them again, and that would be her final visit. The she-demon laughed, saying she had achieved her goal.
Ginta finally pulled his hands free and told her that they were only achieving their goals by shedding blood. The she-demon replied, “Of course, that’s what we want.” She claimed to have seen the future, where demons couldn’t keep up with how fast time changes. Darkness would drown the light made by humans who stole from their homes. In the end, demons would no longer be myths like in the past, and now, she could die happy knowing she secured a future for her sisters. Then, the sky rained, helping extinguish the fires.
Afterward, Ginta picked up Shirayuki and lamented that despite all his training, he hadn’t thought of protecting her. Angrily, he went home, packed his belongings, and decided to leave. He went to the captain of the guards, who asked where he was going. Ginta said he would leave the city to retrain and grow stronger to face the great demon when it attacked. The captain asked if he meant Suzune and if he really thought he could kill her. Ginta admitted he once loved Shirayuki and could only hate Suzune now. He said he must end things, one way or another, and the darkness inside him urged him to kill her—but he needed a solution.
The captain replied, “Now that you’ve become a demon, I thought killing was all you cared about. But there’s still dignity in you.” He handed Ginta a sword. Ginta drew it, and the captain said, “This makes you a Ray. You must follow the rules and traditions.” He added “Kaji” to his name, making him “Ginta Kaji.” Ginta said he shouldn’t carry the sword, but the captain responded, “No one from the Atsukaman family is left. Leaving this sword to rot in darkness is pointless. It belongs in your hands. I believe the princess would find peace in death if this sword were with you.”
He then apologized to Ginta, knowing about his love for the princess. He admitted that he once told her to marry Kiyomasa for the city’s sake, not realizing Kiyomasa had feelings for her. The captain only wanted his son’s happiness, but the tragedy weighed heavily on him.
Ginta then left, and Shiozi’s mother came to him in tears. “Are you really leaving?” she asked, saying she’d always remember him.
The scene then shifts to the year 1850, in the city of Soaya. A man named Zenji, deputy to the village chief, met the chief and Ginta. Upon seeing Ginta, Zenji asked, “Is this the man?” The chief replied, “Of course. Now go with him and tell him everything.”
The chief left, and Zenji asked Ginta if he had been told the full story. Ginta replied, “The chief told me he has a daughter and that a demon wants to kidnap her.” Zenji said that wasn’t all. The chief’s daughter, Natsu, was thirteen and spoiled. The night before, she had seen a demon outside her window trying to kidnap her, and heard it say, “Return my daughter to me.” Ginta was shocked. Zenji explained that the demon had a daughter who looked like Natsu, which was why it tried to take her.
Natsu then arrived and scolded Zenji, threatening to tell her father if he kept slacking off. When she met Ginta, she asked, “Are you the one who came to protect me? If so, please leave. You look too young.” Zenji tried to calm her, but Natsu said Ginta must’ve come for money and would leave later. She claimed this was just an opportunity for him. Zenji reminded her that her father had chosen Ginta, believing in his skills, but Natsu told him to shut up. She said she hated having a samurai without a lord as a personal guard, so they wouldn’t pay him and he should go back where he came from. Then she stormed off.
Zenji turned to Ginta and said, “What an embarrassing family. They’re not social at all.” He apologized.
Later that night, Zenji entered Natsu’s room. She was surprised and asked why he came. Zenji replied, “Since you dismissed the new guard, I’ll be protecting you instead—just in case something bad happens.” Natsu, annoyed, asked if he thought she was lying. She said even her father didn’t believe her, which is why he hired a suspicious samurai.
Zenji said, “I think you’re wrong about your father. I believe the chief genuinely cares about you—you’ve always been his top concern.” Natsu replied, “But you know I’m not really his daughter.” Suddenly, Natsu heard the demon’s voice and began to panic, pleading with Zenji for help. Concerned, Zenji asked, “What’s wrong?” At that moment, the demon appeared in front of Zenji, moving closer while repeatedly saying, “Return my daughter to me.” As the demon reached for Zenji, Ginta struck, cutting off its hands. Ginta asked for the demon’s name, but it kept repeating the same phrase. Ginta landed another blow, eliminating the demon completely.
He turned to Natsu and asked, “What payment do I deserve for my expertise?” Natsu asked, “Did the demon die?” Ginta replied, “When a demon dies, white smoke appears. That’s how I know it’s dead. And yes, I’ve seen this before. But I’ll return again.”
The next morning, Ginta and Zenji went to Zenji’s house. Zenji thanked Ginta for saving him and said, “You delayed the demon, but it will return. Please stay with us again tonight.” Ginta agreed and asked Zenji to tell him more about Natsu, especially because of what the demon had said.
Zenji explained, “Natsu isn’t the chief’s biological daughter. She was born to a man and woman from the chief’s family, but both died. Still, don’t worry—she isn’t from a demon lineage. If she were, the chief would never have adopted her. His wife was killed by a demon, and his son fled and never returned. The chief blames demons for everything that destroyed his family. So why would he take in Natsu if she were related to demons?”
Later that night, Natsu and the chief were having dinner. The chief asked, “Is everything alright with the new guards?” Natsu replied, “Everything’s fine. Thank you for caring about me.” The chief said, “What kind of father wouldn’t care about his daughter?” Natsu then asked, “Why did you choose that guard?” The chief explained, “Lately, there have been demons sighted near Ido. At the same time, there were reports of a man who confronts and kills demons with a single blow.” Natsu asked, “Are you talking about that samurai?” The chief confirmed, “Yes. He kills any demon if he’s paid. I chose him because I trust him. I thought it was best to make him your personal guard.” Natsu asked, “So… you believed me about the demon?”
The next morning, outside her room, Natsu reflected that scary stories come in many forms—from direct tales to folk legends—but they never truly disappear. She remembered a servant once talking about the chief’s son being kidnapped and his wife dying because of demons. He had adopted a girl while waiting for his son’s return. This made her uneasy.
Back in her room, feeling afraid, Natsu opened the door and saw Zenji. “Why are you here?” she asked. Zenji replied, “I’m waiting for my chance to redeem myself for yesterday.” Natsu coldly said, “I don’t care about that.” Zenji asked, “Is there no place in your heart to forgive me?” Natsu replied, “Maybe, but you’ll have to take me somewhere nice first.” Zenji smiled and said, “Alright, I’ll take you somewhere wonderful.”
Natsu then asked Ginta his name. She told him, “My dad trusts you a lot… I think I’ll trust you too.” Ginta responded, “You love your father a lot, Natsu.” She smiled and said, “Of course. He adopted me and gave me a home—why wouldn’t I love him?” Ginta replied, “A small, happy family,” and added, “I really think the chief cares about you.” That brought a smile to Natsu’s face.
When Ginta mentioned the chief’s lost daughter, Natsu cut him off, saying she knew nothing about her and got angry. Ginta said, “I think I touched a sensitive chord.” Natsu asked, “Is it possible for a demon and a human to have a child together?” Ginta replied, “Of course.” Natsu worried, “Then I could belong to that demon who appeared.” Ginta reassured her, “That demon is not your father.” Natsu asked, “How do you know that?” Ginta said, “I know who that demon is—we have a long history. I’m sure he never had a child like you.” Natsu asked, “Is that really true?” Ginta answered, “I’m not lying to you.”
Ginta then asked Zenji, “Do you know how demons are born?” Zenji said, “Isn’t it obvious? Like humans—from their parents. Or am I wrong?” Ginta explained, “There are many ways demons are born. The usual way is through two demons having a child. But some are born when demons force themselves on humans for their own pleasure.”
Some demons are born from nothing—manifesting from pure emotions, especially dark ones like bitterness, anger, jealousy, sorrow, and obsession. These feelings slowly seep into a person, settle deep within, and eventually congeal into a physical form. Ginta explained that such demons are essentially emotions wrapped in flesh.
While he spoke, Natsu grew frightened. Suddenly, the demon appeared again. Ginta approached it and asked, “What is your name?” Then he attacked the demon, striking it multiple times and knocking it to the ground. He turned to Natsu and asked, “Do you want me to kill it?” He explained that her emotions had summoned the demon—it was a result of her desires. The chaos it brought made her father pay more attention to her. Ginta said, “You wanted to be treated like a real daughter, and then this demon appeared, saying the things no one dared to. Isn’t that what you truly wished for?”
Natsu, pained, said, “Please stop,” trying to quiet the voice in her head. Ginta remarked, “This demon will return even after I kill it. It won’t disappear for good until you control your emotions.” Natsu asked, “But how? I don’t know how.” Ginta replied that it was simple—she just had to ask him to kill it.
Natsu reflected on how she’d ignored things she didn’t want to see and feared showing weakness. Deep down, she just wanted to be loved. She imagined her father appreciating her if a demon appeared, calling her a queen. Those ugly emotions had now taken form. The demon was her—and the one who needed to be destroyed was also her.
Zenji comforted her, saying, “The only thing that needs to be killed is the demon, not you, my lady. Even if it was created from your emotions, that doesn’t matter.” He held her hand and told her to trust him. He assured her that both she and the boss cared deeply for each other, but neither knew how to express it. What they needed was honest communication—like a real family.
Natsu asked Ginta to kill the demon. Ginta faced the creature and unleashed a powerful attack that sliced it in half. Zenji, seeing white smoke, asked, “Is it dead this time?” Ginta confirmed, “Of course it’s dead.”
Afterward, Natsu fell asleep, and Ginta waited outside her room. But the demon reappeared, muttering that he had expected this outcome. He said this demon wasn’t born solely from Natsu’s emotions—other princes in the country also held the potential to become demons. He recalled Zenji’s mention of the boss’s wife, who had been killed by a demon. That’s why the creature had said, “Return my wife and daughter.”
Ginta realized the demon referred to the child born to the boss’s wife, Shizuni. He hadn’t expected this reunion and told the demon he remembered him clearly. Again, he asked the demon’s name, but it only repeated, “Return my daughter to me.” Ginta responded, “People should live in the present, not be trapped in the past.” With that, he struck the demon again, releasing white smoke.
Later, Ginta visited Zenji’s house. Zenji thanked him, and Natsu, though still adjusting, expressed her gratitude. Ginta said, “Don’t thank me. This wasn’t a job—it was paying off a debt.” He told her that age doesn’t make someone an adult, but time gives people perspective. He recalled how, in his youth, his worldview was narrow. He understood that causing harm was wrong, but he hadn’t seen what was hidden beneath people’s actions. At the time, he could only run away. Now, he wanted to atone.
Natsu admitted she didn’t fully understand him. Ginta told her to show her father the same kindness he showed her. “That’s all it takes,” he said. Natsu replied she didn’t need him to tell her that. Ginta then said his goodbyes and left.
Afterward, the boss joined Zenji and Natsu. “Did Ginta leave?” he asked. Zenji replied, “Of course he did. But boss, you should have come to say goodbye.” The boss said it wasn’t necessary—he had known from the start that Ginta would complete the mission. When Zenji asked why he trusted him so much, the boss replied, “Don’t ask stupid questions. Any respectable father trusts his son.”
He then told Zenji to get to work or his salary would be deducted. Zenji immediately agreed, not wanting that to happen. Natsu asked her father, “Is there anything I can help you with?” Surprised, the boss asked, “What’s with this change?”
Natsu replied, “They asked me to return the kindness you’ve shown me.” The boss smiled and said, “That’s a great kindness from you, but don’t worry anymore. The best way for children to repay their parents is to live long—that’s all I want. I just want you to be happy.”
After that, he left, and Natsu followed him to help.
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