Obanai Iguro

Hachijojima Island.

The heavy rain poured down like a waterfall, with raindrops the size of beans splashing onto the ground.

Through the torrential downpour, a small, thin figure ran, each step landing on the muddy ground, leaving deep and shallow footprints that were gradually blurred by the rushing water.

It was a boy who looked about eleven or twelve years old, his clothes tattered, his kelp-like hair soaked by the rain and plastered limply against his forehead.

Between his messy hair were heterochromatic eyes, green on the left and gold on the right. Two conflicting emotions—despair and unwillingness—mingled on the boy's face. His cheeks had been torn by someone, the crescent-shaped gash stretching from the corner of his mouth to his earlobe, revealing red muscle as grotesque as a canyon.

Most bizarrely, a small white snake was coiled around the boy's neck like a scarf.

The white snake's fierce vertical pupils stared intently into the rain behind him, its tongue flicking constantly as if a ferocious monster lurked in the downpour.

"Swish, swish, swish!"

The sound of scales scraping against the muddy ground suddenly broke through the rain, a faint noise that pierced Obanai Iguro's ears like a death spell.

He gently plucked the little snake from his neck and threw it aside with force. He could die, but his friend could not.

In the foul-smelling dungeon, this was the only "family" that accompanied Little Obanai.

"Kaburamaru, run!"

Little Obanai screamed hysterically, then pulled a dagger from his chest. This was a dagger he had intended to use for suicide, but now he chose to use it to fight against fate.

The moment Obanai Iguro turned, a colossal serpent-like monster broke through the rain.

Its upper body was a woman with a gaping mouth, her face contorted and hideous, her mouth filled with sharp teeth that sent shivers down one's spine.

Her yellow vertical pupils flashed with a cold light, a sinister smile playing on her lips. Her lower body was a black snake's body, its writhing tail like a sharp blade.

"Keep running!"

"Why don't you just die obediently? It's so boring."

The Serpent Demon looked at Little Obanai with amusement, mockingly sneering.

"Why don't you die!"

"Monster!"

Little Obanai spat at the Serpent Demon, gripping his dagger and charging forward resolutely. Even though he knew he would die, accepting death was different from dying while resisting.

It was best for the descendant of a sinner like him to die, but not at the hands of such a monster.

"All your clan's wealth came from me!"

The Serpent Demon easily swatted Little Obanai away, and the dagger was flung somewhere unknown.

"Cough, cough, cough!"

Little Obanai gritted his teeth, the pain of his broken bones preventing him from crying out.

The Serpent Demon, no longer interested in toying with its prey, was hungry and wanted to devour him.

Its massive serpentine body coiled and sprang, its mouth rapidly stretching like clay until it was large enough to swallow a whole person.

"Monster!"

"I won't forgive you even if I die!"

The twelve-year-old boy's face showed not fear of death, but hatred for the demon.

At the critical moment, a burning sword strike severed the rain curtain and half of the Serpent Demon's body, splattering black blood.

The Serpent Demon froze. An attack of this magnitude could only come from a Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps.

Damn it!

Without hesitation, it turned and fled into the rain, moving at what was likely its fastest speed.

"Damn Hashira, why are they after me?"

"Damn it!"

The Serpent Demon uttered vicious curses, the wound from its shoulder to its belly healing, but every cell was trembling.

The Hashira were too strong; it couldn't handle them. It had to let the brat go.

"Child, I'll be right back!"

Rengoku Shinjuro's cheerful and warm voice dispelled the cold rain. Little Obanai only saw a blur of movement, followed by the sound of footsteps.

Even though he didn't understand anything, he could feel the immense pressure.

In that moment, he became filled with longing, a desire to possess the strength to fight demons.

But in an instant, his hope vanished. He was merely the descendant of a sinner; he deserved to die in the pouring rain.

Just then, a gentle voice spoke, different from the passionate voice just now, this one was more like the spring breeze of March.

"Hello, my name is Tendo Hiruma. What's your name?"

As he looked up, those brilliant golden eyes met his, making Little Obanai unable to meet his gaze.

This person looked about his age, so why was he acting so familiar?

Immediately after, an umbrella was opened above Little Obanai, blocking the cold rain.

"What's your name?"

Hiruma asked, though he already knew the answer. He raised his hand and handed Kaburamaru back to Obanai, saying, "Don't just toss your important family member around like that again!"

"How could you..."

His words caught in his throat. Once Kaburamaru had climbed back onto his neck, he struggled to his feet and consciously retreated from under the umbrella.

He hesitated to look at the young man before him, feeling a sense of inferiority.

I'm just a descendant of a sinful clan who lives by plundering wealth from demons. My blood is inherently vile. How can I possibly stand shoulder-to-shoulder with others?

I really should just die.

Seeing the dejected young man standing in the rain, Hiruma felt a pang of sympathy. He knew the past of every Hashira in the Demon Slayer Corps.

Obanai's family, the Iguro clan, lived luxuriously off the wealth stolen by demons. Every so often, they would sacrifice an infant from the clan in exchange for greater fortune.

He despised the blood that flowed through him, always feeling like he was guilty.

Joining the Demon Slayer Corps to kill demons was his way of atoning for his sins.

But who gets to decide their birth? It's not his fault how he was born.

Hiruma figured Obanai wouldn't understand any of this now, but perhaps things would get better as they spent more time together.

"You'll get sick if you stand in the rain like this. Think about him a little!"

Hiruma pointed at Kaburamaru, then moved closer to Obanai.

This time, Obanai didn't step back. He glanced at Hiruma and said coldly, "Obanai Iguro, that's my name!"

"Tendo Hiruma, please take care of me from now on!"

Hiruma flashed a brilliant smile. After all, how could a snake get sick from the rain? He had told a little white lie.

"Oh!"

"Why did you help me?"

Hiruma's next question shocked Obanai.

"Because I wanted to help! That's all!"

Obanai looked bewildered. It was the first time he'd heard such a unique reason. If he weren't a sinner, he might have been able to chat with him.

A moment later, the sound of footsteps echoed through the rain, like a rapidly moving object.

As expected of the old man, he's back so quickly.

It makes sense, really. In front of a Hashira, a Serpent Demon is just trash, maybe slightly stronger trash.

Suddenly, a blue figure lunged towards the two of them. Hiruma immediately sensed the danger.

But it was too late to draw his sword. With Shinjuro Rengoku, a Hashira, present, and knowing the plot, Hiruma relaxed.

This turn of events, however, came too suddenly.

The blue figure was another demon.

Damn it, I was careless. I didn't dodge.

In the nick of time, Hiruma shoved Obanai away.