"Clang... clang... clang..."
The sound of the tracks echoed in his ears like a lullaby. Then, Duanmu Huai had a dream.
In the dream, he saw a peculiar scene.
A Japanese-style courtyard stood before him, with several figures gathered inside. They were all dressed in ancient attire. Looking at them, Duanmu Huai felt as though he were watching a period drama.
"...A girl who killed one of the Twelve Demon Moons?"
"That's right. Although that child looks petite, she's incredibly strong."
"Where did she get her Nichirin Sword? Without one, there's no way she could have killed a demon."
"According to my investigation, it seems to have been left behind by a Swordsman who failed to exterminate a demon before."
"She instantly killed a Lower Moon among the Twelve Demon Moons all by herself? If what you're saying is true, then that little girl has truly limitless potential."
"No, it wasn't an instant kill."
Duanmu Huai turned toward the voice and saw one of them shaking her head. She had long black hair and a butterfly hair ornament. He remembered that her name seemed to be... Butterfly Kanae?
"Hmm?"
"It was a massacre."
"..."
"A brutal, passionate massacre. She seemed to take pleasure in slaughtering demons. When she killed Lower Moon Five, she not only blocked its strongest attack with ease, but also cut it cleanly in half—vertically."
"Was she really human?"
"At least I didn't sense any demonic aura from her. But the killing intent around her... was far more intense than a demon's."
"Why didn't you bring her back?"
"Because that child said she was merely a Traveler with more important things to do."
"But if she's dangerous, shouldn't you have forcibly brought her back?"
"That's only my intuition..."
When Butterfly Kanae said this, an exasperated smile appeared