"Scared?" Suma reassured him. "It's all right, sir. I'll protect you. Do you need my help?"
"Huh? May I?"
The old man in a kasaya opened his mouth wide and said with watery eyes, "I'm hungry. Help me fill my belly!"
With that, two small horns sprouted from his forehead, and his eyes turned scarlet and terrifying.
A demon!
Suma's pupils contracted. Why was there a demon here?!
She wanted to scream, but Hantengu clamped a hand over her mouth.
Hantengu bared his teeth, his voice trembling between them. "Don't! Don't speak, or I'll get scared!"
Suma's entire body went rigid. Fear instantly engulfed his whole body like a tide. She had never felt death so close.
The hazy moon cast a thin veil of light. With the faint glow spilling into the alley from outside, she finally made out the characters in his eyes.
Upper Rank Four!
This demon was actually even stronger than the one she had encountered before!
Tears immediately streamed down Suma's face.
What had she done to deserve such rotten luck?!
Last time, Upper Rank Six had nearly killed her single-handedly. This time, Upper Rank Four had captured her outright. What was she, an Upper Rank demon magnet?!
Every single Upper Rank just had to come looking for her!
She, Hinatsuru, and Makio had only been keeping watch outside because they were no match for Upper Rank Six.
And now, of all things, her watch had brought her an Upper Rank Four!
Her luck was simply unbelievable!
Grief welled up inside Suma. Her whole life suddenly seemed to have lost its luster, and she thought she should have switched places with Makio back then...
And so, Suma and Hantengu shed tears at the same time...
"Suma!"
Suddenly, mechanisms clicked.
Makio and Hinatsuru appeared on opposite