Crack.
The burning blade wheel sliced through Duko's arms and, without losing momentum, swept clean across her neck, trailing a splash of crimson.
As the spinning blade vanished behind her, a dizzy Kawanishi reappeared in its wake.
He shook his head and finally turned around—just in time to see Duko's severed head drop to the ground.
Her eyes brimmed with fear of death. "So… your wings… they're like Nichirin blades too…"
"Why? Why can a demon… kill another demon?"
As she spoke, her body gradually began to crumble into black-and-red ash.
Kawanishi let out a quiet sigh, repeating the words he'd now said so many times:
"In your next life… don't become a demon again…"
But upon hearing those words, a strange gleam lit up in Duko's eyes.
"No. In my next life… I'll become a demon again."
"My only regret is… I didn't eat enough people… I wasn't strong enough…"
And with that, she dissolved completely into ash, her voice silenced.
Kawanishi stood frozen.
Most demons regained some sliver of humanity before their final moments.
But not this one.
Even in death, even with her mind returned to clarity, she was proud—proud to be a demon.
If she had lashed out with curses or bitterness like the Serpent Demon, Kawanishi wouldn't have been surprised. Everyone feared death, even in brief moments of humanity. Letting go was never easy.
But… to proudly proclaim her pride in being a demon? Even at the end?
"What kind of life… did you live?"
Kawanishi didn't feel anger—only sorrow. This demon… no, this girl—what cruelty had she suffered in life to make her glory in monstrosity?
He believed that if a person, even once in life, had been held with warmth… they wouldn't embrace being a demon with pride.
"This time… the Scorching Feather actively wanted to absorb her ashes…"
"Alright then. Show me… what you went through."
He ended his Flame God Kagura breathing and immediately noticed his body felt stronger than before. His physique had clearly improved.
The excess energy in his body had also diminished significantly—and his desire to know Duko's past burned fiercely.
The black-red ash swirled toward him like birds returning to roost, sinking into his Scorching Feather wings.
Then came the flood—stagnant, dark memories, pouring into his mind like still water.
"You see that freak? She came back to school again."
"Seriously, how can she call herself Meiko? That name's way too pretty for her."
"Shhh, keep it down. What if she hears you? With a body like a wild bear's, she could slap you to death!"
"Heh, who cares? She's never fought back before. Honestly, I wish she would hit someone—maybe then they'd expel her, and we'd never have to see that freak again."
"Wait… a bear, huh? That gives me an idea. A really good one. If it works, we'll never have to deal with her again."
"For real? I'm so done with her already."
"What's the plan? Spill it!"
Amid the jeers and snickers, Meiko stepped through the cold, familiar gates of her school.
In an era when most people were quite short, she stood nearly two meters tall by middle school—and her build was massive.
Born with an abnormal physique, yet a heart as gentle as a child's, Meiko longed to be understood. She longed for kindness. For a simple hug.
And so, even with strength enough to crush those who bullied her, Meiko held back. She never fought, never hurt anyone.
That made her the perfect target.
The word she'd heard more than any other growing up?
"Monster."
Even her own parents had never truly accepted her.
Her father—often drunk—would beat her while screaming that someone as successful and respected as him couldn't possibly have spawned such a monstrous child. She was a disgrace.
And her mother? She simply stood by and watched.
Meiko endured it all in silence—never retaliating, never protesting. She just let the darkness inside her fester and grow.
Until one day…
She saw a glimmer of sunlight in her darkness.
A smile.
A boy—popular, cheerful—approached her.
"Meiko, right? Wanna be friends?"
Her seat was in the very back corner of the classroom. Because of her size, she took up three desks by herself.
"Ei… Eiichi?"
The boy, Eiichi, had a fair, gentle face.
Meiko knew him. She'd watched him often—joking, laughing with friends. So carefree, so radiant. She'd always envied that.
His smile… it was like sunlight.
Meiko stood frozen, unable to speak from nerves.
She couldn't remember what else he said. All she could think was—
"His smile… it's so warm…"
After that, Eiichi often came to see her. At first, she was shy and hesitant, but slowly, she opened up. She told him things she'd never told anyone.
"Eiichi, I wish I could be like you… loved by everyone…"
"No one but you wants to be near someone who looks like me. Tell me… am I really that ugly?"
"I wish I could just… be like you."
Eiichi smiled warmly. "You dummy. What's on the outside doesn't matter. What counts is right here."
He tapped his chest, over his heart.
"I can tell, Meiko. Deep inside, you're a sweet, gentle girl."
"So never say you're ugly again."
"You're one of a kind. You don't need to be anyone else."
His words were like a beam of sunlight on a freezing New Year's morning.
They melted the ice that had gripped her heart for so long.
She smiled for the first time in years. "Thank you, Eiichi."
"You're the best friend I've ever had."
That afternoon, Eiichi grinned as if remembering something. "Hey, let's go to the mountains later. I'll bring a few friends. We'll have fun. They'll get to know you."
Meiko hesitated. "I… I don't know…"
"People don't like me…"
Eiichi chuckled. "You've got to believe in yourself. And give people a chance, too."
"I really think, once they get to know the real you, they won't hate you anymore. I bet they'd all want to be your friends."
"Because you have such a kind, beautiful heart."
Meiko nodded hard. "Alright! I trust you."
That afternoon after school, Eiichi gathered five or six classmates—and brought Meiko along.
She was nervous at first, but Eiichi kept encouraging her. Along the way, he explained to the others just how kind Meiko truly was—that you couldn't judge someone by their looks.
And surprisingly, the others responded with kindness.
They smiled at her. They spoke gently.
For the first time in her life, Meiko felt true joy. It was as if sunlight wrapped her entire body—warmth she'd never known before…
(End of Chapter)