Present Times,
Yaima City—
The sun hung high in the sky, bathing Yaima City in a golden glow. The city bustled with life, its wooden buildings lined neatly along the streets, their lacquered surfaces gleaming with warmth. People moved to and fro, some bartering at stalls while others carried baskets laden with fresh produce or finely woven fabrics. Children played, their laughter echoing along the narrow alleyways.
Taro stepped out of the inn, his black and navy robes fluttering gently in the breeze. His gaze swept over the vibrant marketplace before him. Sayaka had told him that demon activity was thick here, like a foul stench drifting through the air. He had come to see if her senses were accurate. And to earn some money, of course.
"Busy city," he murmured to himself. It felt strange to be surrounded by so many people after his long stretches of traveling alone. There was something... peaceful about the noise.
He made his way through the market, the air rich with the smell of fish, fresh bread, and spices. The river that ran through the city blessed it with bountiful catches, and the merchants took pride in showing off the morning's haul.
Taro walked with purpose, his eyes gliding over the stalls and the busy merchants. His senses were alert, but he couldn't feel anything demonic nearby. Yet. Sayaka had said this place was crawling with darkness.
'But she's also an idiot,' he reminded himself. 'An annoying, troublesome idiot.'
Lost in his thoughts, Taro didn't notice the man in front of him until their shoulders collided. The impact was light, but enough to make him halt.
"My apologies, good sir," said the man with a smooth, gentle voice.
Taro looked up to find himself staring at a tall, broad-shouldered man around his own height. His features were refined, with high cheekbones, a straight nose, and a pair of kind eyes that seemed to always be half-closed in a peaceful expression. His clothes were white and pristine, yet they were not the ceremonial garb of a noble. Rather, they seemed designed for practicality.
A noble... built for combat? Strange.
The man smiled softly and bowed his head. "It appears I was lost in thought and did not see where I was going. Please forgive me."
Taro's fingers almost twitched toward his sword, but he kept his hands at his sides. "It's fine. I wasn't paying attention, either."
"Takes two to make a mistake, I suppose," the man replied, his smile unwavering.
Suddenly, the old woman behind the fish stall nearest to them pointed a bony finger at the man and snapped, "Oi! You be more careful, you clumsy ox! You'll be the death of my stall one of these days, Takeda!"
The man laughed, the sound rich and genuine. "My sincerest apologies, Oba-san. I shall make it up to you with a fresh catch next time."
"Better keep your word, boy," she grumbled, though a smile broke through her wrinkled face.
Takeda... who the hell is he? Taro wondered. People were friendly with him, but there was an air of reverence around him. Something about his demeanor was too... regal.
He watched as Takeda gave the old woman a deep bow before continuing on his way. As he walked off, Taro tapped the shoulder of a merchant who was busy laying out his fruits.
"That man. Who is he?" Taro asked, his tone as casual as he could manage.
The merchant glanced up, his expression brightening. "Ah, you must be new around here. That was Takeda, the eldest son of the lord of Yaima City. Kind man, that one. Always mingling with us common folk, treating us like family. Not many nobles like him."
The lord's eldest son... and he wanders around a market like anyone else?
"Why would someone of his status be walking around the market?"
The merchant chuckled. "That's just how he is. Says the city is only his home if he knows the people. You won't find a better man anywhere. If only more nobles were like him."
Taro grunted his thanks and moved on, his thoughts swirling.
'So the noble families aren't all garbage. But... something's still not right. If Sayaka was correct, the demons here might have their eyes set on the castle itself. Or the people closest to it.'
He continued walking, occasionally buying some fruits and looking at the various wares. Still, every now and then, he found his gaze drifting toward the castle on top of the hill.
"Something weird is going on..." he muttered.
"Are you calling my peaches weird?!" the stall owner snapped, his voice gruff and offended.
Taro's eyes widened. "Ahh...! No... It just slipped out."
The man shook his head and handed over the fruits, grumbling under his breath.
That Night - The Inn's Porch
The inn had grown quiet, most of the guests already sound asleep. Taro lounged on the porch, his gaze fixed on the small koi pond surrounded by delicate greenery. The pale moonlight shimmered on the surface of the water, making the koi's scales glow like drifting stars.
The night air was cool, crisp. He took a bite of the peach he'd bought earlier, the sweet juice flooding his mouth. "...Sweet," he remarked, his voice a low rumble.
His muscles relaxed against the rough wood of the porch, but his mind was anything but calm. Thoughts of the castle, of the noble family, kept circling back. Demons. Their presence lingered like a faint, sickening stench. But where? And why here, of all places?
He let out a tired sigh, tipping his head back to stare at the sky. "This place seems decent. Almost too decent. Could Sayaka be wrong?" he mused.
"No. I'm never wrong."
Her voice came from above him, sudden and uninvited. His body tensed on reflex, but he didn't reach for his sword. There was no point. He already knew who it was.
"Sayaka," he said flatly, refusing to look at her. "I told you not to sneak up on me."
"If you were a little more vigilant, I wouldn't have to sneak up on you," she replied, her voice light and teasing.
Taro glanced up to find Sayaka hovering above him, sitting cross-legged in the air as if the world's rules of gravity meant nothing to her. Her black kimono glowed softly under the moonlight, her long silver-white hair cascading around her shoulders like mist.
She grinned down at him, her expression far too amused for his liking. She reached down, plucking one of the peaches from the tray beside him and biting into it without hesitation. "Mmm! So sweet!" she exclaimed, her eyes almost sparkling with delight.
Taro's eyebrow twitched. "You do realize you're supposed to ask before just... taking things, right?"
"But I'm not a person, so your rules don't apply to me," she replied cheekily.
Taro exhaled sharply. "You're as irritating as ever."
"It's part of my charm," she said with a smirk, then took another messy bite.
He watched her eat, the sloppiness of her chewing almost comically undignified. "Just swallow first, then talk."
"Fine, fine." Sayaka swallowed the peach's flesh with an exaggerated gulp before wiping her mouth with her sleeve. "Happy?"
"Not particularly."
Ignoring his grumbling, Sayaka's expression shifted, her playful demeanor fading into something more serious. "You feel it, don't you? The malice. This place is practically choking on it."
Taro looked past her to the distant castle perched on the hill, its towering silhouette framed against the moonlit sky. "I haven't sensed anything... not directly. But you keep talking about this place like it's crawling with demons. Are you sure you're not just being paranoid?"
Sayaka's gaze sharpened, her smile now gone. "It's there, Taro. That castle... it stinks of corruption. Something's rotting from the inside, festering and spreading."
Taro frowned. "And you're sure it's demons?"
"I'd bet my life on it," she replied, her voice low and firm. "There's something wrong with that noble family. And I don't mean just the usual greed or cruelty you'd expect. This is something deeper. More insidious."
Taro's fingers drummed against the wooden porch. "So, you're saying I should just march up to the lord's doorstep and start swinging my sword until I find the source?"
"That would be amusing," Sayaka said with a sly grin. "But no. You need to be smart about this. Subtle."
"Subtle?" He almost scoffed. "You've seen how I fight, right?"
"Yes, yes. Swing the sword, kill the demon, get paid, repeat." She rolled her eyes. "But this time it's different. You're not dealing with some wild beast tearing through villages. This is something rooted in the very foundation of that castle."
"Get to the point, Sayaka."
"Fine, fine." She folded her arms over her chest. "The eldest son of the lord, the one you bumped into today. His child is always ill. Sickly. Never gets better, no matter what they do."
Taro's eyes narrowed. "And?"
"They surround him with guards constantly. Problem is, every time they find a guard to protect him, that guard either tries to kill him, steal him away, or just... vanishes. Like they were never there to begin with."
Taro's hand tightened into a fist. "And you think that's caused by a demon?"
Sayaka's gaze didn't waver. "I'd bet on it. Whatever's affecting the boy... it's not natural. And it's drawing other demons like moths to a flame."
"So what do you want me to do about it?"
Her grin returned, cat-like and smug. "Take a job from them. Get close to the family. Find out what's happening, and then kill whatever bastard's responsible. Preferably after we get paid."
"Of course," Taro muttered, rolling his eyes. "It's always about the money with you."
"Money buys food. And I like food." Sayaka plopped down next to him, the edge of her kimono rustling against the wooden floor. "Besides, you're broke, remember? And if you're going to keep dragging your feet all over the country, you need supplies. Which requires money."
Taro stared at the koi pond, his own reflection a shadowy blur. "A sick child surrounded by treachery and demons... Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen."
"Exactly. And disasters are where the money is."
He sighed, his shoulders sagging. "Fine. We'll approach the nobles tomorrow. Try to get hired. But if this turns out to be some wild goose chase—"
"Then you can blame me all you want," Sayaka interjected cheerfully. "But I'm never wrong. So let's prepare for a feast once we get paid!"
Taro shook his head, a rueful smile touching his lips. "You're hopeless."
"But charming, right?"
"No."
They both fell silent, their eyes drawn to the moon's pale glow reflected in the pond's gentle ripples. Whatever was waiting for them in that castle, Taro would tear it apart if he had to.
Even if it meant walking straight into the jaws of hell.