KyokaSuigetsu
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Chapter 46. Leech Devil? Pochita Strikes!
🕑 Added 2025-04-24 08:28:02 +0000 UTCAfter Hayashi’s little car disappeared down the road—
Himeno turned to the others and asked,
“How is it that a normal guy knows so much about us?”
They were from Special Division 4.
Makima was their direct superior.
And Makima reported directly to the Prime Minister’s Cabinet.
That meant, technically, their authority was even higher than the CCG’s on paper.
So how could an outsider know so much?
Aki thought for a moment, then shook his head.
“I don’t know. We met him the first time when Makima-sama took us there. After that, he opened a diner. Makima-sama visits often and always chats with him privately.”
Power nodded excitedly.
“The food is amazing! Compared to the manager, even dogs wouldn’t eat Aki’s cooking!”
Aki: ?
After scolding Power a little, Aki turned back to Himeno to share his thoughts.
“I don’t think that guy’s a normal person. He probably has some kind of special power—or pillar. Maybe he’s even more mysterious than Makima-sama.”
Himeno thought about it. That did make sense.
Makima-sama was the type to always act with purpose.
Anyone she took interest in had to be someone incredibly capable.
No question.
To them, Makima was equivalent to an SSS-class ghoul.
BOOM—!
While they were still talking, a sudden explosion rang out in the distance—followed by crashing and human screams.
“?!”
Kobeni’s voice trembled.
“W-what was that…?”
Everyone turned toward the source of the noise.
What they saw was a bloated, tumor-like monster—like a massive intestine. It stood three to five stories tall, rampaging through the area!
“Devil!” Aki shouted, drawing his weapon and rushing forward.
Himeno spat out her cigarette.
“Let’s go!”
Only Power looked at the map, thought for a second, and then suddenly cried out in alarm.
“Nooo! That’s the location of Manager Hayashi’s shop! My diner! My delicious food! Don’t do this!!!”
…
Just before all that happened—
After passing by Division 4, the little van continued heading toward the diner.
Tohru looked toward Hayashi with a bit of concern.
“There’s devil activity near our shop? Are we going to be okay, Hayashi-san?”
“They just said ‘nearby,’” Hayashi said, driving one-handed as he shook his head. “But ‘nearby’ here is defined by scent. Realistically, that range could be anywhere from one to ten kilometers. If it ends up near us, then yeah, we’re just unlucky.”
Tohru nodded, then asked again,
“What attracts devils anyway? Why would they come to this area?”
“There could be all sorts of reasons,” Hayashi recalled.
“Flesh, hostility, scent, hatred, fear… usually it’s one of those. Basically, negative stuff.”
“When a devil needs a specific thing the most, it’ll seek it out.”
“The 20th Ward has been a bit chaotic lately. A devil showing up isn’t that unusual.”
Tohru nodded in understanding.
Then she flexed her arm, showing off her lean, toned muscle to Hayashi.
“But don’t worry, Hayashi-san! I’ll protect the diner! And our manager too!”
“I’m counting on you,” Hayashi said with a smile.
The vehicle turned onto their street.
Just two more corners and they’d be there.
But at that moment—
BOOM~~~!
A loud explosion echoed nearby, followed by deep rumbling.
Screams rang out right after.
Hundreds of people started fleeing in the opposite direction of the sound, like it was routine.
The crowd surged back the way the car had come, panicking.
Hayashi looked in the direction of the blast.
A grotesque-looking devil was grabbing a human—and a ghoul—and stuffing them into its mouth.
It ate the ghoul first.
No matter how much the ghoul resisted or fought back—
A weak C or B-class ghoul like that stood no chance, helplessly forced into the devil’s mouth.
Glurk—!
The ghoul’s blood splattered as it was swallowed whole.
Then the devil moved on to the human.
As soon as Hayashi got a clear look at the devil, memories flashed through his mind.
“Wait… isn’t that the Leech Devil?”
The Leech Devil’s strength was roughly equivalent to an A+ class ghoul, nearly S-class.
It was the partner of the Bat Devil.
In the original story, didn’t it show up because of Power’s cat?
Right… did Power get her cat back?
Then why was the Leech Devil here now?
A string of questions filled Hayashi’s head as he sank into thought.
But Tohru glanced at the distance and immediately shook Hayashi’s arm.
“Hayashi-san, that devil is way too close to our shop. What should we do? Should I go take it down right now?”
Hayashi looked again at the Leech Devil’s location.
Damn, it was just one block over—hop a wall and it’d be right at their doorstep.
But why was it there?
Suddenly, a realization struck him.
“Blood?”
That’s right—Kamishiro Rize had lost a lot of blood there last night!
And the Leech Devil loved blood!
Its current path was following the exact trail Rize had left!
Rize, being an S to SS-class ghoul—
Her blood must be an absolute delicacy for the Leech Devil!
That’s why it was following her trail and not going after anyone else.
“What great timing,” Hayashi sighed.
The Leech Devil’s destructive power was way beyond that of the Vending Machine Devil from before.
If it went berserk, it could easily destroy three to five blocks.
There was no doubt his Deep Night Diner would be caught in the blast radius.
Especially since its main target was blood!
And the sewers near his place probably smelled very strongly of it.
He had no choice now. Of course, it didn’t need to be him.
“Let’s have Pochita handle it. Time to make him earn his keep.”
“Pochita?” Tohru thought about it, then nodded slightly.
“That might work too.”
Just then—
The sound of footsteps echoed from not far away.
All the civilians had already evacuated—so whoever was running now had to be someone coming toward the danger.
Hayashi glanced at the rearview mirror.
And saw Aki Hayakawa, Power, Himeno, and the others charging in his direction.
Seeing them, Hayashi nearly cried out,
“Quick, send Pochita! Let them duke it out while I still have a shop left!”
