As the fat woman stood with a cleaver, ready to cut up the "meat," she saw Kujo Tachibana appear suddenly in the doorway, holding a long sword and clearly meaning trouble.
She shouted,
"Who are you? How dare you meddle in the affairs of the Tajima family!"
"Somebody, come!"
The fat woman's shout shattered the peace of the Tajima household.
Kujo Tachibana made no move to stop her. He wanted to see whether there were any innocents left in this filthy family.
Before long, the "remnants" of the Tajima Clan gathered, all armed with weapons.
They packed the passageway in the attic, trapping Kujo Tachibana at the entrance to the "kitchen."
An emaciated old man, surrounded by the others, came before Kujo Tachibana.
He was Tajima Hisashi, the current head of the Tajima Clan, already sixty-three and nearing the end of his life!
He was also the one among them most desperate to become a demon!
"Boy, how did you find this place?" Tajima Hisashi asked, his face dark.
Kujo Tachibana didn't answer. He simply asked,
"Why would you do this?"
At Kujo Tachibana's words, Tajima Hisashi couldn't help thinking,
Another self-righteous swordsman who loves meddling in other people's business. These people will never understand the power of demons.
In fact, Kujo Tachibana wasn't the first to discover the Tajima family's secret. Those who'd come before him had long since been buried in the soil of the courtyard.
The Tajima family, with its demons, was invincible!
Tajima Hisashi gave a cold snort.
Pointing at the young women's bodies hanging in the kitchen, kept as food stores, he said,
"Hmph! These people are nothing but lowly commoners!"
"It's their honor to help us become long-lived demons!"
Hearing this, Kujo Tachibana nodded. He understood.
Human desire to cling to life was hardly any weaker than that of demons.
Even if it meant making "them" eat people!
Kujo Tachibana thought those consumed by such desire were even more terrifying than demons.
Then he looked impassively at Tajima Hisashi and asked,
"Oh, is that so? One more question: have all your people gathered?"
At that, Tajima Hisashi suddenly sensed that something was wrong!
Kujo Tachibana was far too calm!
When something was amiss, there was usually a reason. Tajima Hisashi was an old fox, and he discreetly took a few steps back, then gestured for the others to attack.
Kujo Tachibana looked coldly at the demons before him, their faces twisted and their bodies reeking of blood.
He fully activated his Sword Heart Clarity sense...
Fortunately, the result was just as he'd expected.
Aside from one creature still emanating a cold, evil presence, there were no other living people left in the Tajima household.
Kujo Tachibana slowly raised his long sword and slashed without mercy!
Today, he would bury this living hell for good!
"Let thunder shatter the darkness!"
"Thunder Breathing—Sixth Form—Thunderclap Roar Modified!"
"BOOM!!!"
After a thunderous roar like a bolt from the heavens, the demon family's home, the Tajima estate, had been reduced to ruins!
The dust slowly settled.
Standing atop the rubble, Kujo Tachibana murmured,
"Since you want so badly to become demons..."
"Then I'll grant your wish!"
This was the first time Kujo Tachibana had killed people. Even though he'd killed more than twenty at once, he felt no guilt or anything of the sort.
Deep down, Tachibana didn't think these "people" were people at all!
"Shing..."
He slid his long sword back into its sheath, then drew the Nichirin Sword at his waist!
With a sharp "shing," the blade rang out, its note lingering in the air!
Kujo Tachibana looked at the Nichirin Sword in his hand, its blade engraved with the words "Destroyer of Demons," and said softly,
"Don't worry. You're next."
After saying this, Kujo Tachibana turned toward the distance, where Tajima An was fleeing for his life!
"I'm going to die! I'm going to die!"
"That terrifying human swordsman is about to catch up!"
"Faster! Faster!"
Tajima An babbled in terror as he ran desperately toward the forest ahead, his legs pumping tirelessly!
Kujo Tachibana's attack had just scared the wits out of Tajima An, a mere "fodder" demon!
Without even hesitating for a second, Tajima An had run for it!
Kujo Tachibana followed the demon from behind, keeping his distance as they headed into the forest.
He let the demon run so far only because he didn't want to endanger anyone else in Black Mountain Township.
The battle would almost certainly be a one-sided slaughter...
But Kujo Tachibana couldn't be sure whether the demon had some strange Blood Demon Art.
Better to be safe and get away from the crowds!
Once Tajima An had gone far beyond Black Mountain Township,
Kujo Tachibana suddenly stopped and slid the Nichirin Sword back into its sheath.
He bent slightly at the waist, stepped back with his left leg, and rested his right palm lightly on the hilt.
He assumed the opening stance for an iaijutsu draw.
(Fun fact: I use Thunderclap and Flash with an iaijutsu draw every time, too.)
"Breathe..."
Air rushed into Kujo Tachibana's lungs, making his chest swell.
He opened his blood vessels fully and rapidly separated oxygen from the air, sending it into his bloodstream. The oxygen quickly combined with the red blood cells...
Golden light rose from his lungs and spread through his blood vessels, reaching his whole body in an instant.
At the same time, he controlled his muscle fibers, channeling almost all his energy ceaselessly into his feet!
In a flash!
Sparks flew as thunder began to rumble!
"Thunder Breathing—First Form—Thunderclap and Flash!"
This move was perfect. Kujo Tachibana didn't think it needed changing.
In the blink of an eye, Kujo Tachibana became a streak of blue and yellow lightning.
In the space between breaths, he crossed a hundred meters!
"Swish..."
The Nichirin Sword was drawn and sheathed again, as if it had been a mere illusion.
The force of Tajima An's sprint carried on, and his head was knocked from his neck. His field of vision slowly began to turn upside down...
Until, with a "thud," the demon's head hit the ground!
The headless body kept running for dozens of meters before toppling over and gradually turning to ash.
Kujo Tachibana had no interest in hearing Tajima An's last words. He stood nearby, cold and indifferent. Right now, all he wanted was food!
Only after watching Tajima An's sinful head turn completely to ash did Kujo Tachibana turn and race back toward Black Mountain Township!
Kujo Tachibana was truly starving now!
He'd always had a big appetite, and this body was just fifteen, right in the middle of a growth spurt!
Damn, he got hungry fast!
He'd spent ten hours traveling during the day and was already starving. Then, while in that state, he'd unleashed a powerful move.
Tachibana was barely holding on. If he didn't eat soon, he might become the first Pillar to starve to death.
Tonight, Kujo Tachibana was destined to become the Rice Pillar!
The Kasugai Crow named Zhong Kui followed Kujo Tachibana all the way. Only after Tachibana returned to Black Mountain Township did it turn and fly off in the other direction, carrying news of his victory.
Before you continue