Fireflies of the Dark Night

It was just past noon—or, in the terminology of this world and era, around the eighth and a half hour. The scene was a forest shrouded in thick, white fog. A deep, impenetrable mist that made it difficult to see even an inch ahead.

---

(And yet, despite being a forest, there's no sound of animals or insects. To top it off, this overwhelming demonic energy… Bingo.)

I—or rather, our group of five servants led by me, accompanied by one exorcist—were slowly making our way through this dangerously ominous forest (the servants were on foot, while the exorcist rode a horse).

We had traveled five or six mountains beyond the Kizuki family's main estate, reaching the mountainous border region. Of course, this wasn't a picnic—it was work. Recently, hunters and woodcutters who ventured into this forest had been disappearing one after another, prompting a nearby village to request an investigation and extermination.

Two scouts from the hidden operations unit had been sent ahead but never returned, not even sending back a single shikigami. This meant the enemy was at least a Daiyou-class demon, and as much as I didn't want to think about it, the possibility of a Kyouyou-class couldn't be ruled out. That's why our group, consisting of a main exorcist supported by a team of servants as decoys, had been dispatched. Dispatched, but…

"The compass is acting up, as expected. The markers… yep, same as before."

I first checked the compass in my hand, confirming that its needle was spinning wildly. Next, I spotted the cloth markers I had tied to tree trunks along the path through the fog. Sure enough, we were going in circles.

When dealing with demons, relying on your five senses is a gamble. Sight, smell, hearing, taste, touch—you have to focus on all of them while also being wary that any one of them could be deceived at any moment.

That's why we rely on tools too… but even those, like this compass, can be tampered with. Though, this level of interference is still manageable. At this rate, the likelihood of the enemy being a Kyouyou is low. Those bastards would go as far as altering the physical laws within their domain. How the hell are you supposed to counter conceptual attacks anyway…?

"…Have we already fallen into the demon's trap?"

As I was inspecting the markers, a polite and somewhat nervous voice called out from behind. I turned to look at the speaker through my mask.

A silver-haired girl with an anxious expression—dressed in a practical (and somewhat revealing) kimono suitable for an exorcist, carrying a bow and arrows. The bow, by the way, was a masterpiece crafted from sacred wood, its string made from dragon whiskers. And while she claimed the outfit was for ease of movement, wasn't it a bit too erotic? You could catch a glimpse of her sideboob. This isn't good for moral education…

…The girl on horseback was Kizuki Ayaka, a 14-year-old from a branch family of the Kizuki clan. In the game's timeline, she's 17 at the start, but right now, she's a timid and gentle young girl.

Her personality is shy and easily flustered, yet kind and nurturing regardless of social status. She's adored as an older sister figure not only by her clan but also by the children of the household staff. In the game, she's a year older than the protagonist and treats him like a good-natured older sister, but her petite stature and clumsy nature made her a beloved healing-type character among fans. And then… she became a victim of the infamous Harabote Chestbuster.

Yeah, after being taken hostage and rendered helpless, she was gang-raped, and just when you thought she'd reappear in a harabote (pregnant) state, she ends up giving birth in front of the protagonist while crying in agony. What kind of twisted fetish do the developers have? Who even enjoys this?

To make it worse, there's a backstory that she was chosen as a sacrificial pawn in a plot to disgrace the protagonist, making her fate even more pitiful. Her tragic end was so heart-wrenching that in fan works, she's often saved by overpowered original protagonists who break her flags. In the Utsu-Ihon (alternate universe) scene, she's as popular as the gorilla princess for being paired with non-human creatures.

"? Banba-san, is something wrong?"

"…No, I was just lost in thought for a moment."

As I was inwardly recalling the (in many ways) horrific fate of her character, she tilted her head curiously, as if sensing my unease. I hate perceptive brats.

…Well, exorcists in general have senses so sharp they might as well be demons themselves.

By the way, Ayaka-chan just addressed me by my surname, which is quite rare among exorcists. Most of the Kizuki family probably doesn't even remember the faces or names of individual servants. I mean, we do hide our faces, but still… In that regard, she's genuinely kind-hearted. She treats even disposable servants as equals, which is why it's not hard to imagine she was chosen to accompany the protagonist early in the game.

"…"

"?"

She tilted her head again, noticing my gaze. Yeah, she's cute.

(…It'd be a shame to let her die.)

In a way, she's an early-game heroine with no landmine flags, but mercilessly, there's no route where she becomes the protagonist's love interest. What's more, she actually has a childhood friend in the hidden operations unit, making any romantic pairing with the protagonist hopeless.

…And that childhood friend also ends up suffering horribly due to the story's demands. Not to mention the bonus content and spin-off novels that add bittersweet side stories, further eroding the sanity of fans… Seriously, the developers of this game are messed up.

"…Most likely. But there's no need to be too pessimistic. If the demon were truly intelligent, it would be far more cunning. The enemy doesn't seem to be that sharp. Or perhaps its abilities are limited in scope."

If the demon really wanted to disorient us, it wouldn't just make the compass spin wildly. It would subtly manipulate the needle without us noticing. It would also remove the markers I tied to the trees. Hell, it wouldn't even need to create this fog—it could just use illusions to show us a false world, making it impossible to distinguish reality from fantasy. The fact that it hasn't—or can't—do that means the situation isn't the worst-case scenario.

"Then…"

"But we can't let our guard down. This fog limits visibility and makes it hard to detect their approach. Especially since Ayaka-sama's fighting style is suited for long-range combat, this situation isn't something we can take lightly."

Her tendency to get overconfident and fail is a bad habit of hers. While her optimistic and straightforward personality might be charming in some ways, carelessness is an unforgivable mistake in this line of work.

"Y-yes…"

Ayaka-chan looked chastened by my remark. Even though I'm technically beneath her, she's acting like this. She's pouting—adorable. Of course, as a servant, I'd never say that out loud.

For now, we should set up a defensive formation. Wandering aimlessly would just waste our stamina. The standard procedure would be to create a protected area with a barrier, rest, and use shikigami for surveillance.

"Hei, Kashiwagi, set up the tent. Asagiri, stay by Ayaka-sama's side. Heguri, you're with me to scout the surroundings…"

As I turned to give the order, I realized something. We no longer had the luxury of taking our time.

Heguri, the second most combat-capable member of our team after me, was nowhere to be seen.

"Everyone, form a perimeter around Ayaka-sama and stay alert…!!"

It took less than two seconds for my command to be followed. In the next moment, we had formed a protective circle around Kizuki Ayaka.

We drew our weapons, scattered salt to create a simple barrier, and I, having been forcibly taught a basic shikigami technique by the gorilla princess, pulled out a few pieces of paper cut into animal shapes and inscribed with spells using my blood. The shikigami let out a poof of white smoke before taking on physical forms and moving.

"U-um, isn't that too much blood for the shikigami…?"

"I'm aware. These aren't for reconnaissance."

The squirrel-shaped shikigami—or more accurately, a squirrel-like form with its head covered by a talisman—shared its vision with me through a clairvoyance spell I had layered onto the talisman.

"…Ayaka-sama, if I may, please prepare yourself."

Finally understanding my intent, she nocked an arrow and drew her bowstring.

While keeping an eye on the front, I was also sweating under my mask as I guided the shikigami. Damn, controlling multiple shikigami with shared vision requires a lot of concentration… It's like playing multiple FPS games at once, if I had to compare it to my past life.

(Got it...!!)

No, to be more precise, perhaps I should say I made it find me. In the next moment, one of the visions I shared with one of my shikigami turned pitch black. It bit...!!

I silently pointed in a direction. Almost simultaneously, a divine flash of light shot toward that spot. Cutting through the fog, the arrowhead imbued with spiritual energy reacted to my blood soaked into the shikigami's talisman, piercing through the head of the monstrous boar that had been trampling it, literally shattering its skull. Bones and brain matter exploded like pomegranate seeds, scattering in all directions.

The boar, likely a "Middle-Class Demon," collapsed lifelessly. Around its corpse, smaller demons like dogs and insects—"Lesser Demons"—swarmed. And then... they were torn apart by a rain of light arrows falling like fine hail.

"Lady Ayaka, three monkeys are approaching from the front...!!"

As soon as I reported, three faint shadows emerged from the fog. Depending on how you looked at them, they could almost pass for human. Without prior knowledge, one might have carelessly approached and become a victim. However, in reality, three arrows struck their abdomens, tearing through their tough fur, subcutaneous fat, and bodies protected by demonic energy, splitting them cleanly in half.

"...Everyone, the small fry are here. Protect Lady Ayaka."

After glancing at the storm of arrows unleashed by the girl behind me with a tremendous impact and roar, I calmly issued orders to my colleagues. In a somewhat mechanical tone, three immediate responses came back. At the same time, small demons—"Lesser Demons"—sporadically emerged from the fog, and each of my comrades cut them down with their weapons.

Historically, there have been various classification methods, but at least in the original story's setting, the most common way to distinguish the "rank" of demons is a five-tier system. Namely, "Infant Demon," "Lesser Demon," "Middle Demon," "Greater Demon," and "Calamity Demon."

The lowest rank, "Infant Demon," isn't even fully a demon yet. It refers to beings that are halfway to becoming demons. Over time, they evolve into "Lesser Demons," "Middle Demons," and "Greater Demons" by devouring other demons or humans—especially those with high spiritual energy or special abilities—or by living in places rich in spiritual energy, known as dragon veins. Eventually, after hundreds or thousands of years and consuming countless humans and fellow demons, they condense and refine their power to become "Calamity Demons," referred to as "sentient disasters."

Of course, only a tiny fraction of demons ever reach the level of "Greater Demon" or "Calamity Demon." The exorcists, though corrupted by years of privilege, are not incompetent. They understand that demons consider them the most prized prey, and they know that if humans are devoured, it will harm their own entrenched interests. They hunt demons at the slightest hint of their presence, ensuring they are exterminated before they can grow stronger. Thus, 90% of demons remain "Infant Demons" or "Lesser Demons," and even lower-ranking exorcists can handle them one-on-one.

Yes, as long as they are only "Lesser Demons."

"Ah... gah!!?"

We turned at the sound of something squelching. It was the lower-ranking exorcist, Hei, who had become the source of that grotesque noise.

A three-meter-tall bear-like "Middle Demon" had grabbed his head. More accurately, it had crushed his head and lifted him up. His body dangled limply, and bits of red flesh, blood, and bone fragments dripped from the bear's clenched fist. The monstrous creature glared at us with red eyes, growling, causing the exorcists' horses to whinny in terror.

"You... how dare you...!!"

With a voice filled with rage, our primary charge and the main force of this extermination mission reflexively drew her bow. The shot, fired at close range and infused with excessive spiritual energy due to her anger, literally blew away the left half of the bear.

The bear, now missing half its face, collapsed to the ground, twitching and convulsing. Its internal organs spilled out from the gaping wound, and a pool of blood stained the ground.

But in a way, this was a misstep. Given the numbers, expending so much spiritual energy in a single attack was meaningless. It only reduced the exorcists' combat effectiveness and worsened the situation.

"Tch, the formation's broken...!?"

We had already lost a skilled lower-ranking exorcist, and now another was gone. Moreover, Ayaka's powerful attack had drained a significant amount of her spiritual energy. And bows are notoriously disadvantageous in close combat.

"Tch...!!"

In the next instant, I cut down a wild dog-sized bee with a spear enhanced by spiritual energy, then crushed the skull of a bat-like demon that emerged from the shadows with a reinforced heel drop.

Even "Lesser Demons" are surprisingly difficult to kill with a single strike using normal weapons. That's why infusing weapons or body parts with spiritual energy for reinforcement is a common tactic. In my case, I focus the energy on specific parts like the spear's tip or my joints and muscles, rather than enhancing the entire weapon or body. This isn't my original idea—it's borrowed from the protagonist of the original story. The advantage is that it conserves spiritual energy.

"Lady Ayaka, the number of enemies is unexpectedly high. I suggest we retreat for now."

As I made the suggestion, I threw two kunai from my pocket, which struck the head of a rat-like demon trying to pounce on us through the fog, shattering its skull. These creatures are bundles of bacteria, and getting bitten or scratched by them can lead to nasty infections.

"But in this fog...!!"

"Tch, you're right...!"

I clicked my tongue softly. This fog, likely composed of demonic energy that disrupts our sense of direction... as long as it's here, no matter how far we run...!!

'Oh, are you in trouble? Well, I can't have you dying here. Let me adjust the difficulty just a little for you.'

Suddenly, a voice, as if whispering in my ear, playful yet slimy, echoed. I recognized that voice.

At the same time, a deep, rumbling sound echoed from afar, and the thick fog began to thin.

"Huh!? Wh-what was that sound...!?"

"This... the fog is weakening!! Protect Lady Ayaka and retreat from this area...!!"

As the exorcists were bewildered by the sudden noise, I ordered my comrades to evacuate. Naturally, as the most capable fighter among the surviving lower-ranking exorcists, I would cover the retreat.

『GROOOOAR!!!』

Emerging from the thinning fog was a tiger... or rather, a massive demon cat that could easily be mistaken for one. Tigers don't exist on this continent, so it couldn't be one. Oh well.

"Tch!!"

Thankfully, the fog had thinned. If it had been thicker, I wouldn't have reacted in time. I blocked the fanged strike with the shaft of my spear. This creature was just one step shy of being a "Middle-Class Demon." It tried to pin me down with its weight, crushing me against my own weapon. Ugh...!!

"Don't underestimate me!!"

In an instant, I gouged out the demon cat's eyes with my dominant hand. I had specifically grown out the nails on my index and middle fingers for situations like this. Infusing them with spiritual energy to harden them, I crushed the cat's eyeballs, causing it to let out a shriek and flee.

A brief moment of relief, but it was short-lived. From behind, a nimble weasel, a monkey, and a frog—all "Lesser Demons"—sneaked up on me. Almost simultaneously, the swarm of grotesque creatures lunged at me...

"Look out!!"

At the shout, the heads of the weasel and monkey demons exploded. It was a single arrow shot by Ayaka from a distance. But...

"Ah..."

The third arrow, likely fired in haste, missed the frog demon, which was about the size of a large dog, grazing past it instead.

SHAAK!!

I managed to deflect the high-speed tongue strike with my spear, preventing my head from being torn off. However, I couldn't fully dodge it, and my left shoulder was grazed. The black robes worn by lower-ranking exorcists like me are woven with threads infused with spiritual energy by curse artisans, providing minimal protection. But they're mass-produced—better than nothing, but not by much.

"Don't you dare show me that disgusting tongue...!!"

I spun my spear and sliced off the frog's tongue as it shot out. The frog demon let out a strange cry and spewed something purple from its large mouth. Just by the color, I could tell it was dangerous.

"Ugh...!?"

I quickly tore off my robe and used it as a shield against the liquid. As expected, the purple liquid dissolved the robe almost instantly.

"Stop spewing that filthy stuff...!!"

I stabbed the frog demon through its mouth with my spear, killing it. Then, I sensed something behind me. I swung my spear sideways as I turned, just as a giant mantis's scythe grazed my chest. In return, my spear sliced the mantis in half.

"Pant, pant... tch...!?"

I glanced in the direction where my allies had retreated. The fog was thin, but I could no longer see their shadows. I might have been able to follow their footprints, but... I didn't have time to inspect the ground carefully.

"I'll have to escape on my own...!!"

There was no way a single lower-ranking exorcist like me could handle the endless waves of demons. I pulled a flash bomb filled with gunpowder from my pocket and hurled it at the approaching horde.

With a bright flash and a loud explosion, I took off running. The flash bomb had no killing power, but the light and noise temporarily disoriented the lesser demons. Not that it would work on higher-ranking demons... but for now, it was enough.

Clutching my wound, I desperately ran through the fog. This was bad. The demons would undoubtedly prioritize me—a lone, bleeding target. I had to put as much distance between us as possible. I infused my legs and lungs with spiritual energy and ran at full speed, making no sound.

I ran desperately, frantically... Perhaps it was because of the fog obscuring my vision. No, at that moment, I wasn't thinking clearly, but the main reason was probably... "him."

"Pant, pant... whoa!?"

The next moment, my foot caught on a tree root, and I stumbled. Before I realized it, I had tumbled into a vertical cave that I hadn't noticed until now...

"Luck or misfortune... is bad luck actually good? This is..."

In the depths of the dark, dark cave, I muttered to myself as I stopped the bleeding from the wounds on my shoulder and chest, half-naked.

Falling into the cave, I could have easily died from the impact... but luckily, there was a lake at the bottom. I landed in it, washing away the smell of blood and sweat. Instead of heading back to the surface, I fled deeper into the cave and decided to camp out between the rocks. Though I didn't light a fire, the only light came from the starlight filtering through the cave's ceiling.

"Ouch... damn it, don't let it get infected. There's no penicillin in this era."

I washed the wound, disinfected it, applied ointment, and bandaged it. That was the extent of the treatment I could manage. Despite the setting's surprisingly advanced medical technology—likely due to the rampant demons—it didn't mean much if you didn't have the supplies. Not that a disposable lower-ranking exorcist like me would be given much medical attention anyway.

"Well, I've managed to survive this long."

I muttered as I looked at my body, covered in scars. Even with my rudimentary medical knowledge from my past life, having some understanding made a huge difference. Thanks to that, I've survived several near-fatal injuries. Of course, it wasn't just medical knowledge—understanding spiritual energy, techniques, the abilities and traits of demons, and even the dynamics within the Onizuki family played a part. Lower-ranking exorcists like me had limited access to accurate information due to strict control.

"The fog has thinned quite a bit..."

The fog, likely the work of demons, was clearing up, partly because night had fallen, but that couldn't be the only reason. The loud noise during the battle, the eerie whisper in my ear, and my knowledge of the original story... with some calm thinking and mental clarity, the answer was easy to deduce.

"...Time to sleep."

I stitched up the thin white undergarment I wore beneath my black robe—now stained reddish-black—as an emergency measure. With my spear in hand, I leaned against a rock, scattered salt around to create a simple barrier, and closed my eyes...

---

At the hour of the ox, the time when demons grow most ferocious and powerful, it appeared.

A black mist—perhaps miasma. A clear surge of malevolent spiritual energy... it easily seeped through the makeshift barrier I had set up, corroding the protective salt and rendering it useless.

The black miasma gathered, forming a shadowy silhouette resembling a human figure.

'...…'

For a few seconds, the shadow stared at the sleeping lower-ranking exorcist before slowly approaching. It leaned in close to his face...

"...What are you trying to do, demon?"

At that moment, I, who had been pretending to sleep and observing in third person, thrust the tip of my spear at the shadow's neck and asked. Oh, I figured you'd show up after I fell asleep. That's just like you.

'Oh come on, that's harsh. I was just about to offer you a taste of my special elixir.'

The shadow, radiating a dark, oppressive spiritual energy, spoke in a masculine tone. Though the words were friendly, demons' words were inherently untrustworthy. Especially this one—if the people of this world knew its true nature, they'd either flee or try to kill it on sight. Of course, unless they were a renowned exorcist, they'd likely end up as its meal.

And for someone like me, who knows the original game this world is based on, the distrust runs even deeper. So why are you, with your twisted hobbies, approaching me? You can have my left ring finger if you want. Just please, stay away from me forever.

"Such harsh words. I'm not here to eat you. Can't we be more friendly?"

The shadow condensed, taking on a more defined human shape, and began to gain color.

It was a blue-skinned beauty. Long blue hair, matching azure eyes, and robes reminiscent of a wandering monk, dyed in shades of blue. She wore a wide-brimmed hat to hide her origins. Tall and slender, with a well-proportioned figure, she carried a massive anchor on her back...

"Who do you think you're fooling? After all the people you've devoured."

I kept my spear ready, maintaining a hostile stance. Given her past deeds, anyone would react the same way. And considering her deranged personality, she probably prefers it this way. Many first-time players of the game were charmed by her friendly demeanor, treating her as a heroine, only to meet a gruesome end with the protagonist's death.

"So, are you hungry? I've got some rice balls. Let's eat together. It's not the usual brown rice and grain mix you lower-ranking exorcists eat—it's real white rice."

Smiling warmly, the woman sat down in front of me as if it were the most natural thing. She removed her hat... revealing two thick, scarred horns curving from her head.

"Here, eat up. The fillings are pickled plum, kelp, and bonito—all delicious. Don't hold back. Oh, are you thirsty? I've got a water bottle too."

With a relaxed, kind-looking smile, the cunning, despicable, arrogant, selfish, and utterly deranged demon declared.

Akagami Midori Dōji... that was the name of the "Calamity Demon" who had once terrorized the capital so fiercely that the emperor himself issued an order for her extermination. Known for her atrocities and misdeeds, she was the most polarizing character among the game's fans—a great demon whose actions inspired both love and hate.

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