"..."
Eto's sultry tone sent a slight shiver down Byakuya's spine.
"Byakuya-nii, is it really okay?"
Mayu still made sure to actually ask Byakuya first.
"Mm, as long as you like something, it's fine."
Byakuya nodded.
"Okay!"
Mayu beamed with joy as she entered the clothing store.
Now that she was clean, wearing the beautiful clothes Eto had given her, and shopping together with them, she no longer had to experience the rejection and disdain she used to face from adults in stores.
Now, Mayu looked fair and adorable.
The store clerks who had seen her a few times before didn't even recognize her at first.
In Byakuya's mind, his impression of The Nutcracker from the original story was still vivid.
The meaning behind The Nutcracker… was essentially "The Ball Crusher Princess."
But as things stood now, Mayu didn't seem like she would head down that path anymore.
After a while, one of the clerks started to feel that this little girl looked familiar.
Eventually, she remembered; The frequent visitor who used to peek into the store from outside was that little beggar girl.
However, even after recognizing her, the clerk didn't say anything.
She had no idea why this girl had suddenly transformed into a wealthy "little princess," but it wasn't her place to care.
As long as she made a sale, that was all that mattered.
So, pretending not to recognize Mayu, the clerk welcomed them with a bright smile.
Even now, Mayu remained a bit reserved, carefully picking out only two outfits that she really liked.
"You don't want to choose a couple more?"
Byakuya asked.
Mayu shook her head.
She was already more than satisfied. Besides, she didn't want to be too greedy when asking things from them.
"Alright, then. Think about if there's anything else you want to buy."
Byakuya said.
"No, I'm good."
Mayu smiled brightly. "Byakuya-nii, Eto-nee, let's go home."
As she spoke, she took both of their hands in hers.
That said, they still spent some more time wandering around the mall.
There were a few daily necessities they still needed to buy, including some things for Mayu.
They also picked up a few toys for her, things like dolls and other small trinkets.
As they walked along the street, Byakuya and Eto chatted and laughed with Mayu.
By now, it was getting late, and the streets were growing emptier.
As they passed through a small alleyway, Mayu didn't notice the silent danger creeping up behind them, she was too busy happily talking.
On the other hand, Byakuya and Eto had already sensed that someone was tailing them.
"Seems like there's something… unclean following us."
Eto suddenly remarked with an indifferent tone.
"Yeah…"
Byakuya replied calmly.
Mayu blinked in confusion, looking up at them both; clearly, she didn't understand what they were talking about.
Just then, the man who had been tracking them from the shadows finally stepped out.
He must have already considered them his prey, certain that they wouldn't be able to escape from under his watchful eyes.
"Well, well~ If it isn't our adorable little walnut?"
The man, wearing a blood-red mask, spoke in a way that seemed deliberately aimed at her.
The masked man's words carried a clear hostility toward Mayu.
Hearing his voice, Mayu whipped around.
The moment she saw this nightmarish figure, her face went pale.
It was only now that she realized; they had wandered right into Blood Demon's feeding grounds.
Regret flooded her heart. How had she not noticed something so important?
She had been so caught up in her conversation with Papa and Mama that she hadn't realized her route was wrong.
And now, the family she had just found was about to be taken away from her by Blood Demon.
Byakuya and Eto turned to look at the approaching ghoul, their expressions calm and unreadable.
"I still remember it clearly," Blood Demon sneered, his tone mocking as he spoke to Mayu. "The taste of your parents back then was something else."
His voice dripped with amusement as he added, "It's been a while, hasn't it? Looks like you've managed to cozy up to a couple of humans. That's impressive. Too bad they're going to die because of you~"
Mayu bit down on her lip so hard it was on the verge of bleeding.
Back then, Blood Demon hadn't just killed her father, he had violated and brutally murdered her mother as well.
This was the very reason why Mayu later became known as Nutcracker.
Her obsession with making money and becoming beautiful stemmed from that trauma. Her tragic past played a major role in shaping the.. peculiar fixation she would later develop.
"Byakuya-nii, Eto-nee, you should run."
Mayu took a decisive step forward, shielding Byakuya and Yoshimura with her small frame. "He's strong. Let me hold him off."
She remembered that Blood Demon had been classified as an A+ rated ghoul by the CCG and was known as the 'Overseer' of the 19th Ward. To her, someone like that was utterly invincible.
Byakuya-nii might be a ghoul investigator, but several CCG investigators had already died at Blood Demon's hands.
Mayu had no idea how powerful Uchiha Byakuya and Eto Yoshimura really were. She only wanted to buy them time to escape.
Even if she died today, she had no regrets.
This had been the happiest day of her life.
Her only regret was that she hadn't been more careful with their route; she had dragged Papa and Mama into this danger.
"Trying to run?"
Blood Demon had no intention of letting them go. In a flash, he lunged forward.
A surge of panic filled Mayu as she activated her kagune.
Her kagune was rather unique;it was a combination of both Koukaku and bikaku. Naturally, this meant she had two kakuhou.
However, she hadn't acquired this through cannibalization; it was a naturally inherited composite kagune from her parents.
This meant that her father was a Koukaku ghoul while her mother was a bikaku ghoul.
Of course, not all ghouls could inherit traits like this. The vast majority were born with only a single kagune type. Having a composite kagune was considered an extremely rare genetic trait.
The most exceptional case was a ghoul born with all four kagune types, the only known example being Donato Porpora.
Mayu's two koukaku kagune extended outward, forming protective barriers in front of Byakuya and Eto. At the same time, she lashed out with a long, powerful bikaku kagune at Blood Demon.
"Hmm? You have two kagune types?"
Blood Demon's eyes gleamed with excitement. "That just makes me want to eat you even more!"
He had never seen Mayu use her kagune before.
But her strength was still too weak.
The bikaku attack was easily dodged, and Blood Demon closed the distance in an instant, he was right in front of her.
Mayu's expression turned to despair.
At that critical moment, she suddenly felt a warm, steady hand rest gently on her shoulder.
"Don't be afraid."
A calm, reassuring voice spoke.
"Leave the rest to me."