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12 Demon Slayer: Floating Comment
🕑 Added 2025-01-05 20:17:35 +0000 UTC"Yuuki went missing three days ago.
That day, he went out fishing as usual. On his way back, he delivered fresh seafood to two local hot spring inns. He never returned home."
"Does he often come back late?"
"No, never. Ever since Rika was born, he's always been punctual."
Haruto rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "So the issue lies with those two inns?"
Saori shook her head helplessly. "I don't know."
After a moment of hesitation, Haruto asked, "Then why do people say… your husband ran off with a geisha?"
"That's nonsense!"
Saori's voice rose sharply, startling her half-asleep baby, who began to cry softly.
Her stern demeanor faltered as she cradled her child, gently rocking her. "Rika… my little Rika…"
A silence hung in the air before Saori finally spoke again, her voice low. "Maybe… maybe it's karma."
Haruto said nothing, merely tilting his head as if urging her to continue.
Three years ago, a young fisherman from the countryside named Yuuki met Saori, a beautiful geisha from Asakusa, during a town festival.
Saori was not only stunning but also skilled at capturing the hearts of men. Yuuki, naive and inexperienced, couldn't resist her charms. He abandoned his family—parents who had raised him and younger siblings who depended on him—to follow Saori to the bustling streets of Tokyo.
But what could a simple fisherman do in a city like Tokyo?
Menial, backbreaking jobs were all he could find. Living at the lowest rung of Asakusa's social ladder, Yuuki watched with a heavy heart as Saori returned to entertaining men for a living.
Yet Saori wasn't entirely without feelings for Yuuki. In her darkest moments, it was his unwavering devotion that gave her the strength to keep going.
One day, shortly after the New Year, they made a daring escape.
Saori stole a bag of money from her brothel's madam, and the two fled, taking a train out of the city and evading their pursuers. They eventually settled in a quiet village neighboring Tokyo.
With that stolen money, the young couple built a modest but comfortable life. Yuuki fished to provide, while Saori became the ideal housewife, nurturing their child and supporting their small family.
"He swore to me, in front of the gods, that he would never betray me… that we would live together forever…" Saori's shoulders trembled as tears slid silently down her face.
"Let's not jump to conclusions yet," Haruto said gently. "What are the names of those two inns?"
Saori raised her tear-streaked face, confused. "What do you mean?"
"Maybe the problem really is with those inns. Assuming the worst about your husband so quickly… isn't that unfair to both of you?"
Whether it was due to her lingering hope or her unshakable trust in Yuuki, Saori eventually gave Haruto the names of the two hot spring inns.
One of them was Banseisha, the very inn Haruto had visited when he first arrived in Hirano.
A chill ran down Haruto's spine.
An inn boasting delicious sea bream, fresh lobsters, and sweet king crab… could it possibly be hiding a man-eating demon within its walls?
The thought sent shivers down his arms.
And to think he had waltzed in so recklessly!
If he had been caught and trapped like prey…
He clenched his fists. "I'll check the other inn first," Haruto muttered, deciding to act before reinforcements from the Demon Slayer Corps arrived.
As night fell, the hardworking fishermen of Hirano shuffled along the town's brightly lit "Hot Spring Street," wearing their wooden sandals. For them, this was a sanctuary, a place to relax after long, grueling days.
The other inn, Netsuyu, seemed unremarkable from the outside.
A wooden sign at the entrance read:
"No swordsmen allowed."
Haruto smirked. If the front door is closed, I'll just use the back.
With practiced ease, he scaled the wall and landed silently within the inn's courtyard.
From the steam rising into the cold night air, it seemed no different from a modern hot spring. Bathers lounged in the communal pools, towels draped over their heads as they soaked.
Nothing appeared out of place at first glance.
But Haruto wasn't one to rely on appearances. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and let his consciousness spread like rippling waves, probing the surroundings.
Bathers, masseuses, foot rubbers, and…
His brow furrowed. He dismissed most of the mundane activity but scrutinized the hidden rooms. His search turned up nothing unusual.
Could he have been wrong? Was Banseisha the real den of demons?
Frustrated, Haruto retracted his awareness and prepared to leave. But as he passed a particular room, something caught his attention.
Moments ago, his senses had registered two presences in that room—a man and a woman. Now, only one remained.
"What the…" he muttered, creeping closer.
The room's sliding door stood ajar, revealing a lone woman sitting in a private hot spring. Her long, damp hair clung to her pale skin as she licked her hand, looking utterly satisfied—like a predator after a feast.
Haruto's stomach churned. Her hand was unnaturally large, veins bulging under the surface. Her claw-like nails glinted menacingly in the faint light.
This wasn't a woman. This was a demon.
Suddenly, the demon snapped her head toward Haruto, baring sharp, jagged teeth.
Haruto's vision blurred as he stumbled back, his awareness flooding back into his body.
He clenched his jaw. "Great. First time playing scout, and I walk right into a demon's feeding ground."
Drawing his blade, Haruto charged toward the room.
The wooden door splintered under his kick, and he stormed inside, sword at the ready.
The room was empty.
The only trace of the demon's presence was the private hot spring, its faintly yellow water still rippling.
Leaning over the edge, Haruto's heart sank. Beneath the steaming surface lay countless human bones.
This was the demon's lair.
Just then, the door creaked open behind him.
"Excuse me… are you looking for someone?"
Haruto turned to see a young woman with long black hair peeking into the room, her wide, innocent eyes filled with curiosity.
Something about her felt off. Her voice was too calm, her posture too deliberate.
Haruto's lips curled into a sardonic smile. "Big mistake, granny. Didn't anyone tell you that a demon should mask its stench before facing a Slayer?"
The air around Haruto ignited as he lunged forward, his blade blazing with fiery resolve.
