Shinri encountered a man like none other. He had faced many magicians who were tainted by monstrous powers. Shinri's father and older brother, both seasoned magicians, could potentially deal with the likes of the half-moon warrior. However, the man before him was in a league of his own.
(You've got to be kidding... He used the half-moon warrior as a stepping stone?)
The man used someone who had overwhelmed him and Saki, despite their combined efforts, as a warm-up. They had no idea what kind of magic he used. However, during the battle, Shinri witnessed the moment when the dull blade transformed into a renowned sword. Most likely, he had deliberately endured the half-moon warrior's thrust to buy time.
While just deflecting a single blow was a life-or-death struggle for Shinri, the man had casually parried a relentless barrage with just one blade, all while shielding Shinri's back. It was beyond belief.
And then came their final clash.
The man intimidated the half-moon warrior into attacking at top speed, deftly evading it before delivering a single, fatal strike. He handled a high-wire act where one misstep meant death with ease.
In other words, there was a considerable gap in their abilities.
(Who the hell is this guy? And what if he's an enemy?)
That was the worst-case scenario. The man had jumped in to protect Shinri, so the likelihood of him being an enemy was low. But that wasn't enough to make a definitive judgment.
The man, who had been muttering something, turned to face Shinri. At first glance, he looked like an ordinary person.
However, from that moment on, Shinri's heart began to race. His breathing became rapid, and his hands trembled with tension.
'Tenchi Kaeshi' caused his gaze to flicker up and down, but it seemed like even that had been seen through.
That's when Shinri recalled his father's teachings. To truly understand one's opponent, especially in battle, one must not avert their gaze but instead meet the opponent's eyes directly. Fear alone wouldn't lead to understanding. With this thought in mind, Shinri looked directly into the man's eyes.
But his determination quickly turned into regret.
(No way... What the hell is this? Seriously?)
What he saw within the man's eyes was something incomprehensible. It was vast, massive, and had lost its original form. No matter how many magicians he had killed or how many supernatural beings he had exorcised, this was not something that should have taken such a shape.
Shinri couldn't even begin to imagine what kind of path led to something like this.
It was like a frog being stared down by a serpent.
Nonetheless, as a Demon Hunter, Shinri felt it was his duty to speak up and inquire about the man's true identity.
"I just want to ask one thing, who are you?"
"What do you gain from extracting that information?"
The words escaped Shinri's mouth, driven by his duty, but he instantly regretted it.
Cold sweat poured down his face, and his thoughts became blurry. If the man decided to, Shinri's life would be over in an instant.
However, the man replied in a casual tone, disregarding Shinri's nervousness.
"You don't have to be so guarded. I'm just an unlucky college student who happened to pick up this Youkai sword. I have some business with the Youkai or monster-like creatures up ahead."
"Youkai sword, you say?"
"That's right."
Shinri was even more confused now, but he decided not to push further. The man seemed to be on his way to the mountain's summit.
After handing over the sheath as instructed, the man promptly walked away towards the mountaintop.
"Haaah!"
Immediately afterward, Shinri exhaled all the air he had held in his lungs. He had known that there were monsters among the Demon Hunters, but he never expected to encounter something like this.
He tried to contact Tsukiko but found the message "Out of Range" on his phone screen.
(Using a Shikigami for communication might only lead to it being detected, and I shouldn't waste my magic power on that right now.)
He changed his mind and picked up Saki, who had been unconscious. His top priority was to get Saki to safety as soon as possible.
"... "
Shinri glanced back at the mountaintop one last time before rushing towards the boundary. He wouldn't look back again.
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