“I haven’t had a drink in ages. Drinking always brings trouble—and I’m sure I’d end up throwing up.”

  Honestly, after everything Kawagishi has endured, he feels utterly helpless, confused, desperate, and in excruciating pain... If it weren’t for the lingering sensation of his family’s spirits watching over him, if it weren’t for Tanjiro keeping him from losing hope, if it weren’t for the massive revenge still unavenged... the most likely outcome for him would have been to step into the sunlight one last time, savor its warming rays, and then end his own life.

  Right now, he longs to drown himself in drink, though as a demon he can’t truly feast on anything else—drinking would probably just result in repeated bouts of vomiting.

  “Black Wolf Fang, let me borrow some of your liquor so I can try to forget my troubles for a while,” he muttered.

  Determined not to be frustrated by the small hole in the jar’s seal, Kawagishi reached out and tore off the entire sealing paper. In an instant, the rich, mellow aroma of wine burst forth and overwhelmed his senses. Black Wolf Fang’s family wine cellar had remained untouched since he transformed into a demon over sixty years ago, and now Kawagishi was the cellar’s first guest in decades. The wine, having been sealed and matured for so many years, surely had a flavor incomparable to any common drink.

  “Come to think of it, this is the very first time I’ve tasted wine in this new life. Father always said that wine is a drink only understood by adults—since I wasn’t allowed to drink as a minor, today I’m defying that commandment.”

  He added with a rueful smile, “But you were wrong, Father. It’s not that adults can appreciate wine—only those who have experienced much in life truly understand it.”

  In his past life, Kawagishi had simply dreamed of being an ordinary person with a loving family. He cherished the people of this world, for they were so pure—unlike his previous world, which seemed so bizarre and filled with absurdities. With a soft laugh at the thought, he decided not to dwell on his old life anymore—it served no purpose now.

  “This first jar of wine, I dedicate to the teachings of my father. Even though he’s gone, his guidance still sustains me…”

  Gripping the edge of the jar with one hand, he lifted it high. Thick streams of wine cascaded down the jar’s side as he opened his mouth, letting the liquid flow straight down his throat into his stomach. The wine’s aroma was indeed exquisite—a fine vintage indeed. Yet all Kawagishi could taste was a sharp, bitter spiciness that mirrored the bitterness in his heart. Without pause, he finished the entire jar.

  To his surprise, the expected nausea and retching did not come.

  “Could it be that demons can drink without such adverse effects? How damn strange.”

  “Never mind,” he thought.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Kawagishi recalled that in his past life he had also imbibed alcohol—his tolerance was surprisingly impressive. Not only could he handle high-proof spirits, but even a modest beer would turn his face bright red and leave him stumbling, barely able to control his limbs. Feeling his head grow slightly dizzy, he sighed in resignation, “Even as a demon, I had hoped that my enhanced body would let me drink heartily, but I still get drunk so easily…”

  “Then let it be drunk!” he resolved.

  He moved on to a second jar of wine. “This one I dedicate to my mother—for her ceaseless care and warmth, a comfort I have never known elsewhere.”

  Again, he tore open the jar and swiftly consumed its contents, his vision growing dim.

  “This third jar, I dedicate to the trust and admiration of my younger siblings—but I have disappointed you all…”

  With another jar down, Kawagishi swayed precariously, nearly toppling off the large cask’s base. He fought to steady himself, reaching out to grab another jar.

  “This fourth jar, I dedicate to myself—for never having abandoned hope. Even in this endless darkness, as long as there’s even a glimmer of light, I will pursue it with all my might…”

  With a resounding thud, Kawagishi finally collapsed onto the cool ground, drifting into a deep, heavy sleep. Perhaps it wasn’t the wine that had overwhelmed him, but his spirit—truly in desperate need of a respite.

  After circling Blue Ridge Mountain for an entire lap without encountering any man-eating demons, Shinobu Kocho concluded, “Maybe they’ve already left, or perhaps they’re hiding too well. I’ll wait here a few more days and search a bit longer. If I still can’t find them, I’ll have to leave.”

  “Hmph, I’ll bring the Demon Slayer Corps over—I refuse to believe that I won’t find you, you stinking demon!”

  Shinobu Kocho recalled her previous encounter with Black Wolf Fang: just moments earlier, she had slashed the neck of another evil demon with her Nichirin Blade—an enemy who had mocked her for lacking strength, claiming she couldn’t decapitate him. In the next instant, a burst of toxic purple wisteria had erupted, and that demon died in agonizing struggle. While engaging demons, Shinobu Kocho had caught sight of Black Wolf Fang, yet before she could act, he had slipped away, leaving her frustrated. Still, his scarred face had left an indelible mark on her memory, and her instincts told her that this demon would not leave these lands easily.

  “Searching for demons in the dead of night is so tedious—my beauty sleep is ruined yet again…”

  Demons roam at night while humans usually sleep; scouring the mountain for demons is indeed exhausting.

  With a touch of irritation, Shinobu Kocho decided to return home, intending to sleep until late afternoon before coming out again.

  Before long, she ran back to Shiqiao Town. Passing by Mr. Chang’s house, she considered whether to check on Kawagishi.

  “Never mind—at this hour he’s surely asleep. I’ll go find him tomorrow and ask if he’s willing to join the Demon Slayer Corps.”

  Little did she know that Kawagishi had already hidden elsewhere in the town, completely intoxicated and sound asleep—snoring like a pig.

  This town was vast, and Black Wolf Fang’s old home had fallen into ruin decades ago; few remembered it, and probably not one person knew about the existence of the wine cellar.

  At the very least, Shinobu Kocho would never find that cellar.

  After passing Mr. Chang’s house, Shinobu Kocho went to the room the town mayor had prepared for her. She slowly removed her haori and jacket, leaving only her inner garment as she lay on the bed, and soon drifted into sleep.

  Even in slumber, she held her Nichirin Blade tightly in her hand, never letting it go.

  At that moment, the two of them—Kawagishi and Shinobu Kocho—had not yet realized that danger was already on its way……