Jinta went to a restaurant where the manager prepared the food, and his daughter, Offie, worked with him. He asked Offie to bring the food to Jinta, and she did. Afterward, Offie’s father approached Jinta and told him there was a killer lurking in the streets. He was very anxious about his daughter’s safety and hoped the emperor would take action. Jinta advised him to be careful about what he said regarding the emperor. Offie’s father agreed, saying he didn’t want to lose the restaurant, especially since he had acquired it just ten days prior at a low price from the previous owner. Jinta wasn’t surprised. Offie’s father complimented Jinta’s refined taste, noting his place resembled a ghost town and that Jinta had been coming there for five consecutive days. Offie told her father he would lose their only customer, but her father reassured her they were just talking. He then asked Jinta his opinion on the food. Jinta replied it wasn’t bad, just small in quantity. Offie’s father praised his honesty, stating the best chef in the city made it. Jinta inquired why they started working. Offie’s father said everyone had their reasons, remarking that the past hadn’t been kind to Jinta, who confirmed this. Offie’s father believed Jinta had enough money, but Jinta responded he was working to earn it. Offie’s father asked about Jinta’s profession, and Jinta replied he was a demon hunter, which made Offie’s father laugh. He asked if Jinta was heading to Edo now, and Jinta confirmed. As Jinta left, Offie’s father reminded him about the killer, noting rumors that the killer never used a sword, yet all victims were mutilated, and the number of corpses was suspicious. He informed Jinta that many people had gone missing recently concerning the discovered bodies, suggesting they might have been attacked or taken away, and everyone believed demons were responsible. Jinta asked Offie’s father where this killer was, and he replied the killer was in the Edo area. Offie approached Jinta and warned him that stealthy killers and demons were very scary, urging him to be cautious in the dangerous streets. Jinta replied he was old enough for lectures about going out at night. Offie retorted that his tough demeanor just proved he was still a child.
Afterward, Jinta moved to the Shereishi bridge, hoping the killer would appear that day, but realizing wishes don’t always come true. As he began to move, he heard a scream and rushed to find a group of dead men. He noted they were men, and he had heard a woman’s voice afterward. Suddenly, the killer attacked him, injuring him. The killer tried to strike again, but Jinta parried. However, the killer managed to stab Jinta in the back and ran away. Jinta, intrigued by the killer’s power, hoped for more attacks, saying he was ready and harnessing the demon’s power within him. The killer launched another attack, but Jinta broke his sword and aimed a strike, though it missed. Jinta encouraged the killer to try again. The killer told him to wait and revealed himself, saying, “I’m called Musuki.” Jinta said he would remember the name and that Musuki should prepare for death. Musuki replied he had no intention of fighting Jinta, which Jinta found amusing, as he had gotten the opposite impression. Musuki explained he had thought Jinta was the killer, as rumors spread that whoever did it was a demon, so he had followed a demonic scent until encountering Jinta. When Jinta called him a killer, Musuki realized Jinta wasn’t the one. Jinta asked why a demon would hunt serial killers. Musuki suggested they talk elsewhere before someone saw them. They moved to Musuki’s house, and Musuki offered Jinta a drink, assuring him it wasn’t poisoned. Jinta quipped that even if it were, it wouldn’t kill him. Musuki explained that demons, when they mature, choose to appear as humans and live among society, adding that demons don’t lie but they disappear. Musuki claimed he lived in the simple house. Jinta told him he was a demon with a unique power. Musuki explained his power was invisibility and that he was a high-ranking demon who had lived for a hundred years. Jinta commented that he seemed weak, but Musuki retorted that their rank was based on awakened power, not physical strength, and some high-ranking demons could be slow and weak, which he believed he was. Jinta asked if Musuki wasn’t a serial killer, and Musuki confirmed he wasn’t, with Jinta affirming he wasn’t either, adding that he would believe Musuki. Musuki expressed his appreciation and thanked him. Jinta asked why Musuki had attacked him without a word when he thought Jinta was the serial killer. Musuki asked if Jinta had heard of disappearance cases. Jinta acknowledged knowing the number of victims didn’t match the missing people and mentioned hearing a woman scream but seeing no body. Musuki confirmed this, saying the killer only targeted men and kidnapped women. Jinta asked how Musuki could be sure. Musuki revealed that the killer had kidnapped his wife, Hatsuo, about a month ago. She had been with him despite him being a demon, yet she disappeared without a trace. Ten days later, he found her body by the river; the officer he spoke to mentioned she had been horrifically raped. Hatsuo was beloved, and he knew she didn’t deserve such a death. He told Jinta he lived as a human not for society but for his wife, harboring great hatred for the monster who did this and took her life. He wanted revenge, which was why he asked Jinta to stay away. Jinta replied he couldn’t because killing demons was his job. Musuki then suggested they collaborate, gathering information independently, but asked Jinta to let him be the one to end the killer. Jinta asked if Musuki sought revenge, and Musuki confirmed without a doubt. Jinta said that regardless of whether the killer was demon or human, they needed to bear the burden of taking a life, and he asked if Musuki was ready for that. Musuki replied that demons don’t lie, not even to themselves. Jinta said, “Okay, let’s work together.”
Afterward, Jinta and Musuki began gathering information from the villagers. Later, they met again, and Musuki remarked it had been another exhausting and fruitless day, noting they couldn’t rest and had to keep working, to which Jinta agreed. Next, they went to Musuki’s house and started drinking. Jinta asked why Musuki was chasing his sister. Musuki explained it was for money, as many people hated demons and wanted them destroyed. He pledged to take a lot of money from these people in exchange for killing demons, asking if Jinta had a problem with that. Musuki noted that Jinta didn’t seem like someone who killed without reason and, besides, couldn’t complain while enjoying drinks bought with that money. Jinta chuckled, mentioning another reason was to gain strength, stating his life mission was to stop a particular demon. Musuki noted it was to stop, not kill. Jinta explained he had been human but witnessing a demon kill the woman he loved turned him into someone like that demon, so killing demons that threatened humans felt natural. Musuki pointed out that by doing so, he was also allowing that demon to live. Jinta recalled Suzune becoming a demon and told Musuki he hadn’t decided what to do when he faced her again, mentioning needing much strength and calling himself a coward. Musuki asked what Ginta would do after avenging his wife. Musuki replied he would do nothing; the only reason he lived as a human was his dislike of violence and not wanting to be hunted by humans or fight his kind. He wanted a peaceful life and wished his wife were with him; when he achieved peace, he would live alone and tend to her grave. Jinta reminded Musuki that he had said Musuki wasn’t the type to do something without good reason, but Musuki replied that Jinta shouldn’t think of him that way, as he was consumed by blind hatred for the damned monster.
They moved to Offie’s restaurant, and Jinta went there to eat. He asked Offie, “Did you find the killer?” She replied, “You never mentioned you were looking for him.” Offie said, “But you told me your job is to kill demons, so it’s reasonable to assume that tracking down rumors like the killer is part of what you do, right?” Jinta replied, “Things haven’t been going well.” Offie’s dad said, “This is tough on you, my friend, isn’t it? Making a living truly is a big pain.” Jinta said to Offie, “There must be lines of people because of a great waitress like you, and I think everyone in Edo is busy.” Offie’s dad asked him, “Do you think Offie has charm?” He said, “About eight out of ten.” Offie’s dad said, “That’s what I wanted to hear,” and told him he had great taste. Offie asked her dad, “What’s this big story?” He said, “It’s good that you haven’t had any serious relationships in your life.” Offie replied, “That’s clear and true, but you shouldn’t put Jinta in an awkward position.” Her dad said, “I just wanted to help you.” Offie assured him, “Don’t worry, I plan to stop living with you someday, but until that time comes, I want to act like your devoted daughter.” Her dad said, “Okay.” And Offie apologized to Jinta, who told her, “No need to apologize,” and mentioned that her dad is a really good man. She replied, “Of course, he’s a source of pride for me.” Jinta asked, “Wasn’t your dad like that?” She said, “Sorry, I shouldn’t have asked.” Jinta told her, “I had a younger sister named Suzune, and my dad treated her very badly, hitting her and saying she didn’t belong to our family, so I took Suzune, and we ran away from home a long time ago.” Offie asked him, “Do you hate your dad?” He replied, “No, I understand why he did that, except things didn’t go as he wished.”
They then moved to the bridge where Musuki and Jinta were. Musuki asked Jinta, “Did you find out anything?” Jinta replied, “No.” Musuki said, “Another pointless search.” After that, Jinta started to move, and Musuki followed, saying, “There haven’t been any kidnappings or attacks lately, so we haven’t been able to gather any information.” Then, Musuki asked Jinta to stop and said, “Look over there.” Jinta said, “That’s Offie.” Musuki asked him, “Do you know her?” Jinta replied, “She’s the daughter of the restaurant owner I go to.” Musuki said, “Then it’s not good for her to be out alone.” Jinta told Musuki, “I’m going to her,” and approached her. Offie said to Jinta, “The moon is beautiful tonight,” and asked him, “Are you alone?” He said, “No, I’m with a friend.” He looked behind him but didn’t see Musuki, who had disappeared. Musuki told him, “I didn’t show myself to her,” and advised him not to hesitate to take her home since they didn’t want her to become the killer’s victim. Offie asked Jinta, “Is something going on?” He replied, “No,” and asked her why she was there. She said, “I was enjoying the flowers,” explaining their beauty and that they bloom in winter and are one of the best types. Jinta said to her, “They’re indeed nice; I’ve never seen anything like them before.” She replied, “They’re rare, that’s why I hold on to them and admire them, and they look amazing in spring when they bloom.” Jinta asked Offie if she could go home so her dad wouldn’t worry. She replied, “Okay, and thank
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