7:23 p.m.
East Blue.
A villa in Oykot Island's urban district glowed with warm yellow light.
In the yard, smiling sunflowers blooming like sunlight swayed as they took root in the lawn.
The cool nighttime sea breeze blew through the open screen windows into the living room.
It carried the fresh scent unique to the orange grove outside.
Inside the house.
On the virtual screen projected by the Visual Den Den Mushi.
Stella, the host of the World News Broadcast, delivered the news in a sweet, professional voice that echoed through the living room.
Six-year-old Nami, who had only turned six this year, was curled up in the middle of the sofa in cute orange-patterned pajamas.
Her biological parents sat on either side of her.
When Stella mentioned that the Demon Moon phenomenon had caused monsters and ghosts to appear in various places and reminded the public to be careful.
The previously cozy atmosphere was immediately tinged with unease.
"M-Monsters?"
Nami's small hand unconsciously gripped the corner of her mother's clothes, her voice carrying a trace of fear.
"Like the ones in ghost stories that eat people?"
Her mother frowned tightly and instinctively pulled her daughter into her arms.
Though she and her husband had learned the Demon Slayer Breathing Technique and basic Swordsmanship.
They were, in the end, ordinary people who ran an orange grove, with almost no combat experience or talent.
When faced with such supernatural threats, they could only rely on the local Police Station.
"Demons and ghosts could appear in the city at any moment. That sounds dangerous."
"Yeah."
Her father let out a long sigh, his face full of worry.
"The environment on Sea Star is getting more and more complicated. Sea beasts, monsters, magical beasts, Danger Beasts, and now demons and ghosts too."
He