NOVEL NEXT Chapter 34: Gyokko
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Ryuji had found a fixer—an intermediary who discreetly connected him to a modest house for sale. It wasn't large, but given their financial constraints, it was enough for the Kamado family to settle down and start anew.
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"I'm heading out to pick up a few things," Ryuji said softly, slipping his arms around kie's waist as she tidied up the room.
Kie tensed slightly, her face flushing a delicate pink. "Alright," she murmured, trying to keep her focus on her task.
Ryuji chuckled under his breath and gave her a light pat before stepping back. As he turned to leave, he couldn't help but notice how her ears turned crimson.
"Mother, Uncle's teasing you again," Nezuko muttered as soon as the door closed behind him.
"Nezuko, don't say such things," Kie replied, her cheeks now burning a deeper red. She reached out, smoothing Nezuko's glossy black hair. "Your uncle isn't bullying me."
"But I saw him slap you!" Nezuko pouted indignantly, crossing her arms.
Kie froze, instinctively covering her backside with one hand before realizing what she was doing. Quickly withdrawing it, she glanced at Nezuko's determined expression and sighed, utterly flustered.
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Outside, Ryuji stretched his fingers toward the sky, letting the sunlight filter through. Warmth bathed his face, but his thoughts lingered on the moment with Kie, and an involuntary smile tugged at his lips.
"Maybe I should buy her something… something elegant," he mused, clenching his fist slightly. Her gentle demeanor, that mixture of grace and shyness, left a mark on his heart.
In the past, Kie would have refused such indulgences outright. But now... perhaps things had softened between them.
Ryuji's musings were cut short as a strange unease settled over him. He glanced over his shoulder and saw them—three men trailing him at a distance, their casual demeanor too practiced to be natural. His smile faded, and his eyes sharpened.
Keeping his movements calm, he adjusted his pace and turned into a narrow alley. The men quickened their steps, following closely behind.
Once inside, the alley stretched desolate and silent—a perfect place for an ambush.
"Well, well," one of the men sneered as they closed in. "Looks like you've got yourself into a bit of trouble, friend."
Ryuji turned to face them, his expression impassive. "What do you want?"
The leader, a dark-skinned man twirling a dagger, flashed a toothy grin. "Oh, nothing much. Just a little… donation. Call it a welcome tax. And maybe," he added with a lecherous smirk, "we'll take your pretty woman for a drink. Help her… get acquainted with the locals."
Ryuji's jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing dangerously. These men thought him easy prey—a lone traveler with a family to protect. They had no idea what they were dealing with.
"Enough talk," the leader snapped. "Take him down!"
Two of the thugs lunged forward, daggers gleaming. The first barely had time to swing before Ryuji's foot smashed into his throat with brutal precision. The man crumpled to the ground, his weapon clattering uselessly as he wheezed his last breath.
The second froze mid-step, horror dawning on his face. Ryuji was already upon him, gripping his neck in a vice-like hold. With a sharp twist, a sickening crack echoed through the alley. The man fell limp, lifeless.
The remaining three backed away, panic etched on their faces.
"This guy's no ordinary man!" one of them hissed.
Ryuji's expression remained cold as he advanced. The dark-skinned leader dropped to his knees, his earlier bravado replaced by trembling fear. "P-please, spare us!" he begged, his voice shaking. "We didn't mean it! We—"
Before the man could finish, a chilling, mechanical voice echoed in Ryuji's mind.
"Ding! Congratulations, Host! You have killed one person and earned 0.1 attribute points."
"Ding! Congratulations, Host! You have killed one person and earned 0.1 attribute points."
Ryuji stiffened as the emotionless tone repeated. Point… from killing? The revelation sent an uncomfortable chill through him, but he couldn't deny the faint thrill that accompanied it.
His gaze hardened as he looked at the remaining men, his mind swirling with dark thoughts. Mercy was not an option.
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"Please spare me! I have an elderly mother to care for—she's already eighty..."
The trembling voices and desperate sobs snapped Ryuji out of his thoughts.
His gaze, cold and unyielding, locked onto the three men kneeling before him.
Feeling the intensity of his stare, the thugs gasped for air, their bodies trembling as though caught in a hurricane.
Ryuji's body tensed, and in a flash, he moved.
Two of the men tried to flee, but they were no match for his speed. He caught up to them in moments, his strikes swift and fatal.
The dark-skinned leader, realizing escape was futile, turned to fight, lunging with his dagger. Ryuji sidestepped, and with a calculated motion, his hand became a weapon. A sickening crack echoed as the thug's wrist snapped under Ryuji's grip.
"Ahhh!" the man screamed, his voice filled with agony.
Ryuji didn't hesitate. His fingers closed around the man's neck, and with one final, sharp twist, it was over.
"Ding! Congratulations, Host. You've killed one person and earned 0.1 attribute points."
"Ding! Congratulations, Host. You've killed one person and earned 0.1 attribute points."
"Ding! Congratulations, Host. You've killed one person and earned 0.1 attribute points."
The mechanical voice reverberated in Ryuji's mind as he straightened, glancing at his attribute panel.
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**Name:** Ryuji
**Physique:** 1.5 (Normal adult: 1)
**Dexterity:** 1.5 (Normal adult: 1)
**Strength:** 1.5 (Normal adult: 1)
**Spirit:** 1.7 (Normal adult: 1)
**Breath Style:** Breath of the Sun (1.1/100)
**Attribute Points Earned:** 0.53
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Ryuji stared at the glowing panel, conflicted.
The ease of gaining these points left him uneasy. He remembered killing a black bear when he first arrived in this world—it had been far more challenging than these petty thugs, yet the reward had been the same.
This inconsistency stirred a dark thought within him.
But he suppressed it.
No. Some lines shouldn't be crossed.
However, if someone were truly evil or beyond redemption, Ryuji might not hesitate to act again—for the sake of gaining more power.
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**In the Forest**
Chiba Natsuo trekked cautiously through the woods, stopping before the entrance of a dark, yawning cave. His hesitation was evident.
For days, he had tracked a demon to this location, confirming it was its lair. Ordinarily, he would wait for reinforcements—demon hunting was never a solo mission.
But it was daytime, and sunlight streamed through the forest canopy.
"As long as I retreat before nightfall, I should be fine," he muttered, gripping the hilt of his Nichirin Blade tightly.
Taking a deep breath, he ventured inside.
The cave was damp and dark, the air heavy with the stench of decay. As his eyes adjusted to the dim light, Chiba saw piles of bones scattered about, some still smeared with blood and bits of flesh.
"This must be it," he whispered, his muscles tensing as he prepared to leave. He had confirmed the demon's presence—now was not the time for recklessness.
But then, something caught his eye.
In the corner of the cave, a strange, glimmering object lay half-buried in the shadows.
It was a jar—intricate and otherworldly, its surface shimmering with a mesmerizing light.
Chiba hesitated. It looked valuable. Surely, it wouldn't hurt to take it with him?
As he stepped closer, a chill crept over him.
Before he could react, a pale hand shot out from the darkness, piercing through his chest.
Chiba gasped, staring down at the gaping hole where his heart had been. His body trembled, disbelief and resentment filling his wide eyes.
He collapsed, his Nichirin Blade clattering to the ground.
From the shadows, the jar began to tremble. Slowly, a grotesque figure emerged.
Its white, twisted form was crowned with yellow eyes and purple fins, its mouth where its eyes should be, and vice versa. Small, malformed arms sprouted from its head like branches.
Gyokko, Upper Moon Five of the Twelve Kizuki, had awakened.
"The Demon Slayer Corps… here already?" Gyokko murmured, his grotesque face twisting into a scowl. "Could they know I'm searching for the Blue Spider Lily for Lord Muzan?"
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