Thoughts churned through his mind, but anger burned brightest.
He was furious at his own helplessness. His younger brother was fighting for his life right in front of him, and he could do nothing but watch.
They were both born of a swordsman's bloodline. Why did his younger brother have to stand in front of him?
Shouldn't he be the one standing in front of his brother, protecting him?
He gritted his teeth and tried to get up, but a scream rang out. He looked up to see a tongue piercing straight through Muichiro's left arm.
"Muichiro!!!"
Yuichiro cried out, but Muichiro twisted his arm around, using the Demon's own attack—and his own flesh and bone—to pin its tongue. He seized it and reached Yuichiro in an instant.
Muichiro clamped the kitchen knife between his teeth. Before Yuichiro could ask what he was doing, he grabbed Yuichiro by the front of his shirt. "Go!!!"
With a fierce yank and a throw, Muichiro hurled him straight out the window. Yuichiro had no idea where his brother had found the strength.
"Little brother!"
Yuichiro tried to rise the moment he landed, but his head was ringing. He struggled to his feet and saw Muichiro locked in battle with the Demon again.
But no matter how badly Muichiro wounded it, no matter how many times he hacked at it with the kitchen knife, its body healed almost at once.
It was as if the Demon were immortal!
How could anyone defeat an opponent like that?
Despair swept over Yuichiro. He glanced around and spotted Tetsu no Sosuke.
"..."
The sight stunned him so badly that, for a moment, he had no idea what to say.
He opened his mouth to ask for help, but the words would not come.
He wanted to demand