NOVEL NEXT Chapter 30: Aftermath
Word count: 2059
<—>
Fujino watched as Rui's head soared through the air, a wave of relief washing over him as he finally let go of the tension that had gripped him. The surge of power within him diminished, signaling the end of Demonic Assimilation.
His attention shifted to the display in front of him.
[ 45,000 XP]
[Objective updated: Prey to Hunter: (36/50)]
[Quest Completed!
After investigation of the mountain, you have discovered that it's indeed inhibited by demons--specifically a family of spider themed ones headed by the youngest member of said family named Rui who bears the title of "Lower 5" one.
Main Objective: Kill Rui
Main Reward: 75,000 XP - 15 to all physical attributes - 10 to all non-physical attributes]
[You have leveled up: 40 —>45]
[Name: Fujino Yuki
Level: 45 (10,042/22,000)
Race: human
Health: 600 / 600 (+4/sec)
Stamina: 700 / 700 (+4.5/sec)
STR: 85
DUR: 60
END: 60
AGI: 70
INT: 30
CHA: 40
Attributes Points (AP): 11]
[The following skill have leveled up:
Swordsmanship: 26 —> 32]
The results of his efforts and his reaction could only be summed up in two words: 'Worth it.'
As he sheathed his blade, he would have left the scene if not for the incredulous voice coming from Rui's severed head.
"Im-impossible! This c-can't be real! Of all people to die to, why did it have to be trash?" he said, his head slowly turning into ash.
Fujino couldn't help but grin at the pitiful whimpering, 'Guess i'll have some fun before I leave,' he pressing down on Rui's head with his foot.
"What can I say? Maybe this trash had a few tricks up his sleeve. You should have stayed home and played dress-up. At least then, you'd still be alive," he taunted.
"Well, sorry kid. Looks like your fate is to die a lonely death. Pretty pathetic, don't you think?" He concluded with a kick to Rui's head sending him far away.
Turning on his heel, Fujino walked away. With the lower moon defeated, he had other priorities to address.
Those priorities led him to the last place he had seen her, suspended by threads like a creature ensnared in a web—ironic, given her spider-like appearance.
The sight pained his heart, a mix of sadness and anger rising within him at the cruel scene before him. 'To think he wanted Tanjiro's sister as his own, good riddance.' He couldn't bear to imagine what Rui would have done to her had she disobeyed him.
He unleashed a wind blade that sliced through the threads, catching her falling body just before it hit the ground. He knelt beside her.
Taking a moment to assess her condition, he noticed the blood and wounds that were now healing, freed from their bindings.
"Hey..." he whispered softly, giving her a gentle shake.
He waited, but when there was no response, he frowned slightly. "Hey, wake up. It's over; you're safe now," he urged again.
Seeing no reaction once more, Fujino felt his heart sink. Had he arrived too late? Were all his efforts in vain? Did all the injuries and hard work lead to nothing? Why couldn't he save her? Would he always be this useless, this pathetic—
Caught in his whirlwind of self-doubt, he failed to notice her eyes slowly opening. Blinking through the haze, he snapped back to reality when he felt her hand gently touch his cheek.
Their gazes locked—her brown eyes meeting his yellow ones. A smile spread across his face, a blend of relief and happiness flooding over him.
"Hey, are you okay? You seemed pretty out of it back there," he asked softly.
As she focused on him, her vision clearing, she became acutely aware of their closeness, especially with her hand still resting on his cheek, causing her face to turn a deep shade of red.
"I-I'm fine, t-thank you," she stammered, shyly averting her gaze.
Fujino found the moment somewhat charming… if only he weren't blushing too. He wasn't accustomed to such tender interactions or affection, especially from a girl.
"Um, you don't need to worry anymore; you're safe now," he reassured her after steadying himself.
She looked back at him, her expression a mix of disbelief and uncertainty. "I see…" she hesitated, aware of his strength. Despite his battered appearance, it was evident he had stood his ground against her father. But Rui still loomed in her mind.
Noticing her uncertainty, Fujino smiled as he delivered the joyful news. "You don't have to worry anymore. Rui is dead. I took care of him myself."
Her eyes widened in shock as she turned her head sharply toward him. Rui? One of Muzan's most powerful demons, gone? She might have dismissed his claim outright, but—
The weight of the news overwhelmed her, tears brimming at the corners of her eyes. They weren't tears of sorrow, but rather tears of joy, relief, and tranquility.
"T-t-thank you so much!" she exclaimed. "It's been so long… so very long that I've lost track of how many days I've spent being forced to be his mother… I wanted to escape, to run away, but i'm so weak, so helpless," she rambled, her sobs and hiccups interrupting her words.
"We never intended to be involved in this—at least, I never did. But he promised us safety and protection... In return, we had to pretend... To take on a role we never chose."
Fujino's eyes widened, not solely due to her recounting the tale, but because of what he was witnessing unfold before him.
Unfazed by his reaction, she pressed on. "This has been my life for a long time... Until you arrived." She flashed him a smile, even as he looked panicked.
"You're the only one who has helped me... Who didn't look down on me or insult me... Even though our first encounter was far from ideal, and you had intentions to harm me, I don't regret it for a second."
Gently, she cupped the back of his head, her fingers soft and delicate against him, pulling him closer until their lips met in a kiss—tender and filled with deep emotion.
She drew back, her smile radiating warmth. "Thanks to you, I've regained my human memories... And because of you... I can finally find peace in death."
With those final words, she closed her eyes, her face gradually turning to ash, leaving only a white kimono behind.
Fujino stared at the remnants, unblinking. He was seeing her death but struggled to express it to her. No, he simply didn't want to. It was clear she understood what was happening and was allowing him to witness it.
She passed away peacefully, just as she had always wished.
'Yet I feel so… Useless.'
He remained frozen in place, his gaze fixed on the kimono. His reverie was shattered by the sound of shuffling footsteps behind him.
Turning around, he saw the Kamado siblings, Tanjiro and Nezuko.
[ —> The Protagonist
Name: Tanjiro Kamado (injured)
Level: 34
Health: 430/500
Stamina: 700/700]
[ —> The Chosen Demon
Name: Nezuko Kamado
Level: 29
Health: 650/650
Stamina: 530/530]
Yuki-san... You're crying," Fujino blinked, noticing the tears shimmering in the corners of his eyes.
'Oh, I guess I am,' he thought, feeling the weight of emotions as her situation resonated deeply with him.
"I'm okay, thank you for your concern, Tanjiro," he said, shifting his gaze to the girl. "And that's your sister, right?"
Tanjiro tensed up slightly, his hand instinctively resting on his sheathed sword. "Yes, that's her. Her name is Nezuko... She became a demon two years ago, and I've been trying to help her return to being human ever since."
"Is that so..." Fujino approached Nezuko, who looked at him with wide, curious eyes. Tanjiro took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. As he reached her, he gently ran his fingers through her hair.
"Thank you, Nezuko-chan. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have made it back then. I'm also grateful to you, Tanjiro," he said sincerely. Tanjiro smiled, while Nezuko leaned into his touch.
Tanjiro's gaze fell to the kimono Fujino was holding. He had found him holding it while staring at the grass. He also caught the faint scent of a fading demon. He could sense the grief emanating from Fujino.
"Yuki-san... I'm sorry for your loss," he said, drawing Fujino's attention to the kimono.
"Ahh..." Fujino stared at it for a moment before meeting Tanjiro's eyes. "You know, I used to think demons were just heartless monsters with no redeeming qualities. But meeting her and..." he glanced at Nezuko, "...your sister changed my perspective; not all demons are inherently evil."
He picked up his sword and sheathed it. "I'll go give her a proper burial. This night has been overwhelming, and exhaustion doesn't even begin to describe how I feel."
As he turned to leave, he paused and looked back at Tanjiro. "Also, no need for formalities—just call me Fujino. We're friends now, right?" he said with a warm smile.
"O-ok, goodbye Fujino!"
"Mmhmm!"
The two siblings waved farewell to Fujino until he vanished into the trees.
<—>
In a house located in the heart of Tokyo, a man clad in a white shirt and black pants sat in a chair, gazing at the flickering flames of a fireplace. His complexion was unnaturally pale, accentuated by striking red eyes and short, curly black hair.
At that moment, he was gripping the armrests of the chair with mounting frustration, a vein on his forehead bulging so prominently it seemed ready to burst.
To say he was angry would be an understatement.
Not long ago, while he was ushering his "daughter"—a term that filled him with revulsion—to bed, he lost a connection to one of his demons.
Typically, this wouldn't be a significant issue. Demons of little worth come and go all the time; it was nothing out of the ordinary.
However, the one that had severed its bond was crucial—it was one of his 12 moons, specifically lower moon 5—Rui.
Rui had been a frail human child when he met him forty years ago. He bore a striking resemblance to the muzan's own past, his weaker human self.
So, he transformed him into a demon, and when the child inevitably killed his worthless human family, he manipulated Rui into believing they were not his true parents, for a real family would always care for and protect their own.
He encouraged Rui to create his own family, granting him special permission to bind demons to himself so he could have the family he had always desired.
His investment had paid off, as Rui became powerful enough to join his 12 moons, a demon with potential who was fiercely loyal to him.
Among all the demons, Muzan held a particular fondness for him.
That's why he was infuriated when he witnessed Rui's demise.
His rage intensified when he saw the details of his death and the identity of the one responsible.
"Fujino Yuki," he spat, the name dripping with disdain.
The wretched human possessed an even more wretched ability: he could transform into a demon upon consuming one. A single glance at Muzan would reveal his feelings on the matter.
He felt an overwhelming urge to destroy something, to wreak havoc throughout his home and obliterate an entire neighborhood, but he forced himself to restrain that impulse. He had invested too much time in this identity to let it slip away.
A single command echoed, followed by a sharp thud, causing Muzan to turn around, his movements calm despite the turmoil within him.
Before him knelt a demon, a female, bowing her head. "M-muzan-sama, it's such an honor for me—"
Without any warning, his arm transformed into a grotesque, fleshy appendage, ending in a sharp point. He thrust it toward her neck, injecting her with his blood.
"There's a human named Fujino Yuki. Your task is to find and eliminate him. I will reward you with more of my blood," he said as he retracted his arm, leaving her convulsing on the ground.
The sound of the biwa resonated once more, and she was abruptly transported to a random alleyway.
Once her spasms ceased, she rose to her feet, her now green hair shimmering under the glow of a nearby lamp, a smile spreading across her face.
"Fujino Yuki… It's time for us to meet again~."
<—>
Taisho-era secrets!
After Fujino departed, Tanjiro suddenly recalled that he had many questions he wanted to ask him. Realizing his mistake, he impulsively headbutted a tree in frustration, which startled a nest of birds that then began to peck at him without mercy.
<—>
Finally, this arc is finished. I'll admit I had a lot of fun writing this one. I also got to flesh out Fujino's character and backstory a bit.
The next arc will be a short one, consisting of 4 or 3 chapters to be exact.
It will not be a fun time for him ;)