Demonic Creatures

Is it time to eat?

Her eyelashes fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes. Because she was facing the light, she could only vaguely make out an old man standing before her. His hair and beard were neatly groomed and snow-white, and he wore a white robe that exuded a sense of holiness.

He reached out his hand and slowly placed it atop her head. His ethereal voice seemed to come not from the person in front of her, but from the distant horizon, sounding like sacred music from heaven.

"Child, you have suffered."

Inagaki Miki's eyes instantly welled up with mist, and clear teardrops rolled down from the corners of her eyes within seconds.

She opened her mouth, but her chest felt stifled. It was as if her throat had been pinched shut; the words were stuck fast, and she could not make a single sound.

"Demonic energy is constantly polluting this land upon which humanity relies for survival, raising a brood of vicious minions. The road ahead is rugged. Can you take on the heavy responsibility of exterminating demons and defending the righteous?"

"I... I can."

Inagaki struggled to calm her emotions, speaking in a tone as firm as she could manage.

"Good." The old man took out a Saintess Fruit—this was Shiraishi Wataru using his [Alienation] ability to change the appearance of a parasite.

"Consume the Saintess Fruit, and you will officially succeed as the Saintess. The Demon Fetus within you will also be eradicated. At the same time, you must embark upon that Path of Demon Extermination, filled with thorns and trials, to secure a glimmer of hope for all living beings and for this land."

Inagaki respectfully took the Saintess Fruit with both hands and tilted her head back to pop it into her mouth.

The old man before her seemed to turn into smoke and clouds, smiling as he gradually melted into the particles of the twilight light.

Inagaki reached out, but a sudden, sharp pain struck her abdomen. From her perspective, her swollen Demon Fetus began to struggle and twitch violently.

"No, you are not my son; you are a squatter. You are a demon, and you deserve to die!"

A look of hatred flashed in Inagaki's eyes as she slapped her abdomen hard.

Once, twice, three times. Everything fell silent.

She looked at her flattened lower abdomen and a complex smile appeared on her face.

"There is still that demon that needs to be purified." Inagaki looked at the small patch of sky outside the window and muttered to herself.

She slowly stood up, not even bothering with shoes, and walked out into the hallway barefoot.

Below the hospital was a courtyard provided for patients to sunbathe and engage in outdoor activities, though it usually closed after dusk, and it was nearly that time now.

"Saintess! Why are you here?"

"Greetings, Saintess."

The two fellow believers were somewhat surprised; the Saintess had never come to the courtyard before.

"I have received a divine revelation and am about to set off to exterminate a demon. Do not worry, I will return. Prepare dinner for me," Inagaki Miki said to her two fellow believers with a solemn expression.

The nurse, who was preparing to bring all the patients back to the ward, was used to this and even had the energy to play along: "Where is the Saintess going in the courtyard to exterminate demons? Be careful, there is an anthill to the west; it's quite dangerous."

Inagaki shook her head, gazing at the sunset on the horizon, and walked out with the two believers.

The nurse thought about it but decided not to stop her. It was rare for her to come out for a walk; if it got too late, she would just carry her back later.

"I am leaving. You two go back first."

Inagaki Miki waved her hand, and then, to the nurse's utter astonishment, she simply floated straight up into mid-air and flew off in a certain direction.

"Farewell, Saintess! Exterminate the demons and evil!" The two believers knelt and bowed in coordination.

The nurse clutched her chest as if having an asthma attack, looking back and forth between the kneeling patients below and the figure in the distant sky. For a moment, she couldn't tell if she was the patient or if the other party was.

"Wow, the Saintess flew away."

"Isn't it normal for the Saintess to fly?"

"Look at this person, she looks so ignorant. Maybe she escaped from the psychiatric ward. Let's stay away from her."

Some patients pointed at the nurse.

Oh no, I've become the mental patient!

No! I need to report this immediately!

A patient flew away!

The nurse turned and ran in a hurry, unable to care about closing times. Coupled with the sensational supernatural events of the past few days, her only thought now was that she was going to quit her job today!

Inagaki Miki clumsily maneuvered her body, rising from a dozen meters to a hundred meters into the high sky.

The bustling urban area, the neon lights gradually turning on, the flow of traffic and crowds, and flocks of sparrows flying off to who knows where—it was all in her view.

The strong wind blew, making her sway a little. It took her some time to gradually master the technique and be able to fly forward against the gale.

She looked down and memorized the location of the hospital, fearing she wouldn't find her way back.

"The aura of evil flows toward there."

Inagaki's eyes gazed at that complex of buildings; she could sense the existence that she detested to the extreme.

Without lingering, she flew toward her target with all her might.

At dusk, the bars began to welcome people who had perhaps just woken up. For them, a new day was only just beginning.

The lights were bright, and the scene was one of debauchery.

"Chikahiko, you're here so early today. Hahaha, I heard that girl you messed with last time almost called the police. I saw it, and it was miserable, tsk tsk."

"She took the money; she just wants more. A greedy, insatiable bitch."

Ogura Chihiko curled his lip, sat down in the booth, and listened to the warm-up music while casually opening a bottle of wine on the table to pour himself a glass.

"I'm telling you, you'd be better off finding women from that circle. Their tolerance is far beyond what an ordinary person can handle."

"Using something that others have already pissed on? Doesn't that disgust you?"

Ogura Chihiko downed the wine in one gulp and shook his head. "The girls who look pure are more fun. Watching them look lost and helpless, with those innocent eyes like little white rabbits..."

His drinking buddy clicked his tongue twice. "Even a pervert like me thinks you're a freak. I heard you're planning to get married again? Which ignorant girl did you trick this time?"

"Heh." Ogura Chihiko chuckled. "I've been eyeing this target for a long time. Her parents only care about money. As long as I control them, she won't ever dare to initiate a divorce. If we do divorce, I don't have a single cent of assets under my name, haha. I rely entirely on my family's support."

Amidst the idle chatter, night fell, and the bar grew increasingly lively.

The dance floor was filled with deafening DJ tracks, a mix of people of all colors, men and women swaying their youth and flaunting their charms.

Ogura Chihiko strolled around the dance floor, but didn't see any target that caught his eye, so he turned his gaze toward the bar counter and unexpectedly spotted a beautiful woman.

"Beauty, here all by yourself?"

"That's right."

"Want to go down and dance for a bit?"

The woman glanced at Ogura Chihiko sideways. He looked good, his clothes were all luxury brands, and the watch on his wrist was one she had seen in a magazine.

She smiled and met his gaze directly. "Sure, but I don't know how to dance. You'll have to teach me."

"Simple. I'll definitely teach you hand-in-hand." Ogura Chihiko took her hand directly and walked to the dance floor.

"Follow the rhythm, sway casually like me, and when you're feeling the vibe, just jump along. Woo-hoo!"

Just as the two were getting closer, the music stopped abruptly.

"Huh?"

"Why did it stop?"

"We were just getting into it!"

"DJ, get out here!"

At the console in front of the dance floor, the DJ, dressed in rebellious attire, looked submissively at the woman in a hospital gown beside him. "B-beauty, I stopped it like you said. Can you let me go now?"

Around him, the assistants and security guards lay scattered, groaning in low voices.

Inagaki did not answer him, nor did she look at him. She lifted her bare foot and stepped onto the expensive DJ mixing console, looking down at the "demons" below who were beginning to stir in chaos.

Soon, she spotted her "long-awaited" target.

Found you, evil spirit.