We were still on the road to the First Unit Headquarters.
During the trip, I just stared out the window at the scenery passing by.
There wasn't much to see—just a vast stretch of barren land, with towering cliffs rising here and there.

Every now and then, I could feel eyes on me.
Tarara Konomi.
The girl who was supposedly the leader of the First Unit kept sneaking glances at me, only to quickly look away whenever I turned to meet her gaze.

It was kind of funny.
She clearly wanted to talk… but ended up all awkward about it.

Finally, I turned fully toward her.
"Something on your mind?"

She was a little startled.
Her body even jolted a bit in her seat before she gave an awkward smile.

"Ah! No—I mean, yeah… kinda."
Konomi looked flustered by her own words.
"I'm just… curious."

"Curious?"

She nodded slightly.
"Yeah. You're… how do I say this, strange. Not in a bad way, but… different. I heard from Ren-sama that you were directly involved in the Red Gate incident."

I was silent for a moment, then finally replied,
"I just happened to be there."

"Happened to be there, huh?"
Konomi tilted her head.
"But you survived—and even helped a lot of people, I heard. And I also heard you could—"

Riu, who was driving, suddenly cut her off.
"Konomi, don't ask sensitive questions out of the blue."

"Ah, right! Sorry!"
Konomi raised both hands like a kid being scolded by a teacher.

I stifled a small chuckle.
"Are you always this cheerful?"

"Eh?"
She blinked, then giggled softly.
"Maybe. But don't worry, I can be serious too when I'm leading my unit, you know."

"Is that so."
I kept my reply short, but honestly… I was now a little curious about her leadership style.

The car continued moving, and the mood became more relaxed.
Konomi stopped stealing glances.
Now she sat more comfortably, tapping her foot lightly, occasionally looking at me with that same curious sparkle in her eyes.
Her bright energy was a stark contrast to the other commanders I'd met before.

Then I asked—maybe because I wanted to understand her better,
"If you don't mind… why did you want to become a unit leader?"

She lowered her gaze for a moment, then answered,
"I was once saved from a Shuuki. By my teacher. Since that day, I promised myself… one day, I want to save people too—just like she saved me."

Her expression changed.
The lighthearted look in her eyes turned sharp and determined.
Behind that cute smile and light laughter, I could see the soul of a soldier. A leader.

Her gaze grew firmer, more focused.
For a moment, I saw a completely different side of this cheerful girl.

"Sorry for getting all heavy out of nowhere."
She laughed again, softer this time.

I shook my head gently.
"It's okay."

Maybe… the First Unit won't be as bad as I imagined.

Northwestern Mato Region

The Ninth Unit Headquarters of the Anti-Demon Corps stood silent amidst the barren wastelands of Mato.
Its architecture was sleek and sturdy, radiating a cold, efficient aura.
Dry winds swept dust across the hard ground, which had long lost any trace of life.

Few Shuuki could be seen nearby.
This area had been cleared long ago. Most of the monsters had already been hunted and exterminated, and the remaining ones only dared to appear when they sensed no danger.

Unfortunately for them, that sense of safety… was just an illusion.

Suddenly, from the cold yet clear sky came a sound—

WHOOMM!
A shockwave dropped from the heavens like silent lightning.
Its impact struck the earth with devastating force, obliterating the Shuuki that had just crept out from their hiding spots.
Their bodies were thrown back—destroyed before they could even roar.

Then, another light followed.
A streak of brilliance shot through the clouds, diving toward the headquarters.

As the light slowed and came to a stop midair—hovering just above the main courtyard—a silhouette came into focus.
Black attire, with a crimson cloak billowing in the wind.
Long, purple hair glimmering under the pale sun.

Ren Yamashiro.
Leader of the Tenth Unit, and the current Commander of the Anti-Demon Corps.

She hovered in place, breathing evenly despite the incredible speed she had just traveled with.
Her sharp eyes scanned the surroundings, ensuring no threats remained.

And in front of her—
someone was already waiting.

A woman with deep blue eyes and long, dark blue hair braided neatly behind her head stood calmly, her gaze fixed on Ren.

Fubuki Azuma.
Chief of the Ninth Unit.

"Arriving in style as always, Ren," Fubuki said, her voice flat but laced with a hint of sarcasm.

Ren descended slowly, her crimson cloak fluttering softly before she landed firmly on the ground.
"Apologies for the little commotion. I just wanted to make sure no Shuuki were around to eavesdrop on our talk."

Fubuki exhaled quietly.
"It's not a big deal."

Ren's eyes swept briefly across the area, taking in the scorched and mangled remains of the Shuuki.

"You didn't move an inch when they appeared," Ren remarked softly.
"Did you know I'd be here?"

Fubuki gave a slight nod.
"I detected your energy signature five minutes before you arrived. Besides, they were just bait."

Ren narrowed her eyes.
"Bait?"

Fubuki glanced briefly at the entrance of the unit facility, then back to Ren.
"Mid-level Shuuki with movement patterns that were far too clean. Like they were testing the perimeter defenses. I let them approach to observe the pattern."
She looked toward the ground where the Shuuki had been slaughtered.
"Shame. You got here too quickly."

Ren's expression didn't change.
"I didn't come to help with extermination, Fubuki. I came to talk."

"I know."
Fubuki walked past Ren without hesitation.
"Follow me. Let's talk inside."

Ren stared at her back for a moment, then followed.
The two women entered the Ninth Unit's main building.

— Meanwhile, on the road to the First Unit facility —

After some time, we finally spotted the First Unit's base in the distance.
Its size wasn't much different from the Tenth Unit's—perhaps slightly smaller—but it stood firm in the wild and unforgiving terrain of Mato.
The design was simple and unassuming, but it radiated strength. Just like its chief.

Our vehicle slowed as we reached the front area of the base.
There, I immediately noticed another car already parked.
It was jet black and polished—clearly not a standard vehicle used by the units.

"Looks like we've got a visitor," Konomi whispered to Riu, who was behind the wheel.

Riu narrowed her eyes, observing the car carefully as if trying to identify its owner.
Her usually composed expression grew slightly… tense?

She then turned to me just as I stepped out of the vehicle.
A dry wind swept past us, carrying the earthy scent of Mato's harsh lands.
Riu exhaled slowly, then leaned in toward Konomi and whispered,

"Konomi, can you take him for a walk? Just outside."

"Huh? Why?" Konomi looked confused.

Riu seemed hesitant to answer. Her gaze flicked toward the shut doors of the building.
Then, with a firm yet quiet tone, she said,
"Just go. Take him for a short walk."

I heard Konomi's footsteps approach. When I turned, she was already in front of me, wearing an awkward smile.

"What were you two talking about, Chief Konomi?"
I asked flatly, still watching her expression closely.

Konomi scratched her cheek with her index finger like a child caught hiding something.
"Ah, well… just a change of plans. Since it's a great time, she thought we should go for a little walk."

I stared at her silently for a few seconds before finally letting out a soft sigh.
"Alright. Let's go."

"Huh? Seriously?"
Konomi blinked, surprised.

"Didn't you say you wanted to show me around anyway?"
I narrowed my eyes.
"Or was that just an excuse?"

Konomi let out a sheepish chuckle.
"Hehe… caught me. But for real, I do want to show you around. Come on—I'll take you around the outside first. If there's still time, we can check out the training area or the lookout hill."

I nodded and followed her.
Konomi walked at a relaxed pace, occasionally looking back to make sure I was still behind her.

"Oh, by the way," Konomi said suddenly while glancing back,
"you'll be staying with the First Unit for a while. So if there's anything you're curious about, just ask. I'll help however I can."

Before I could answer, she spoke again in a more cheerful tone,
"Oh right! You can just call me Konomi. You're older than me anyway."

I frowned slightly.
"In that case, just call me Souta. Using last names… feels too formal for this kind of situation."

"Alright then, Souta-san."
Right after Konomi said that, we continued walking away from the facility.

After a few minutes, we had made it a fair distance from the unit's main base. I looked around at the area.

"This place… the terrain's kind of unique," I murmured.
"Wide and open. And those cliffs seem far enough from the central compound."

Konomi turned around while walking backward, a faint smile on her face.
"Yep. The First Unit was purposely assigned to an open-area region. They say it gives us a better field of view for detecting Shuuki. And also…"
She pointed westward, toward a series of tall cliffs barely visible in the distance.
"Those cliffs used to be a hideout for mid-level Shuuki. But we've already cleared it."

I scanned the surroundings.
Dry land, a harsh wind…
The atmosphere here felt much wilder than the calmer region where the Tenth Unit was based.
A perfect battlefield, really.

We continued walking for several more minutes.
And then, I felt it.
It was too quiet. Not just peaceful—unnaturally silent.

We both stopped, sensing something.
I glanced around.
"Shuuki."

I was right.
The ground in front of us began to tremble.

Konomi and I exchanged glances almost at the same time.
The earth before us quivered more violently.

"Souta-san, get back!"
Konomi shouted as she reached out and held my arm.
She stepped forward, placing herself between me and the cracking ground.

From that widening fracture, several Shuuki burst out—
The rift split wider, and from that shadowy gap, emerged snarling monsters with hulking forms and wild, bloodthirsty eyes.
They growled and charged immediately.

Konomi lowered her stance, raising both hands in front of her.
A faint golden aura wrapped around her body, the wind seeming to dance around her.

That stance—!
I froze. It felt familiar—like I had seen those movements before.

Before I could process it further, Konomi dashed forward like a golden arrow.
In one fluid motion, she struck the first Shuuki with Tiger Claw Slash—
an open-palmed Qi strike that sliced through her enemy like a tiger's claw.
The sound of flesh tearing and a beast's scream echoed together.

She spun, kicking back into another target—
a rapid series of moves that shattered their formation.
One by one, the Shuuki fell, crumpling to the ground.

But then—
A massive Shuuki emerged from behind a collapsed stone ridge.
It was far larger than the others, with glowing red eyes and spiked armor all over its body.

"Konomi! Behind you—!"

Before I could even react, she had already leapt into the air.
With precise grace, she twisted midair and drove a crushing blow upward into the creature's jaw—
Tiger Crushing Strike.
The strike was so powerful the beast lifted off the ground…
and then slammed back down with a thunderous crash.

Konomi landed softly.
Her breathing remained calm, as if she'd just warmed up.
But just as she was about to fully rise—

WHAM!

Another, smaller Shuuki pounced from behind her, claw raised—
ready to strike her from a blind spot.

Without thinking, my body moved on its own.
With one swift motion, I punched the creature in the side of the head.
The impact sent it flying into a boulder—and it didn't get back up.

Konomi turned quickly, eyes wide.
"Eh…?! Just now…"

I exhaled slowly, calming my pulse.
"Reflex."

Konomi stared at me for a moment before finally offering a small smile.
"So that's your power, huh… Souta-san.
Though honestly, you didn't need to do that. I could've handled it."

Souta didn't answer.
Instead, he stared at the Shuuki corpses Konomi had already taken down.

Then I turned to her.
"Konomi… the technique you just used. Doesn't Himari use a fighting style similar to that?"

Her eyes lit up slightly.
"Ah, that. If I remember right, Himari's ability is called Learning.
It lets her copy the combat styles of other Anti-Demon Corps members."

I nodded slowly.
"I see… the movements felt familiar. But compared to Himari, your technique feels more… refined. More pure."

Konomi smiled.
"Maybe because Himari's just copying the movements.
She's amazing, sure—but that Learning ability still depends on how well she understands and resonates with the original technique.
If it doesn't suit her, the power drops."

I looked at Konomi, who radiated a powerful aura—perhaps even stronger than mine.
This girl… she might actually be stronger than me, even though I've been struggling to level up as fast as I can.
Which means… I'm still far from reaching the level of the unit chiefs.
Especially Ren Yamashiro.
Even though I haven't seen her true power firsthand, her aura alone tells me—she's the strongest of them all.
No wonder she's the one who became Commander.

Konomi turned to me, a bit confused, then scratched her cheek with one finger.
"Souta-san? What are you thinking about?"

I snapped out of my thoughts.
"It's nothing."

"You sure? If you've got a question, just ask. Don't hold back."
She said it with a soft smile.

I said nothing, choosing not to respond.
My gaze returned to the fallen Shuuki, their blood drying on the cracked, dusty ground.
This kind of sight… never gets easier.

"It's nothing," I repeated quietly, then looked back toward the path we came from.
"Haven't we been walking around for a while now?"

Konomi looked a little surprised. Her expression shifted for a moment, like she'd just been rejected.

"You want to head back already?"
she asked softly, her smile faltering just a little.
"Too bad… I wanted to show you the Watch Hill. It's a beautiful spot—you can see half the eastern region from there."

I glanced at her, noticing the excitement in her eyes slowly fading.

"We can do that another time," I said.
My tone might've sounded flat, but I didn't mean to shut her down.
There was just… too much on my mind.

Konomi stared at me for a second, then sighed and smiled again.
But this time, the smile felt different.
Smaller. Quieter. Maybe a bit resigned.

"Alright. Let's head back," she finally said.

We started walking—slowly—back toward the First Unit's facility.
Our steps weren't as brisk as before.
Konomi walked beside me, hands folded behind her back like a high school girl enjoying a peaceful afternoon walk—
a stark contrast to the battlefield we had just come from.

For a while, we walked in silence.
But it wasn't awkward.
It felt calm… comforting.
The wind picked up again, sweeping up dust and the scent of dry earth.

"By the way…"
Konomi broke the silence, glancing over with a curious expression.
"Are you always this quiet?"

I glanced at her.
"Not really. Depends on the situation."

"I see."

"Are you still in school, Konomi?"
I asked suddenly, turning to look at her fully.

She stopped mid-step, eyebrows raising in surprise before turning into a playful grin.
"Heh~? You just said you didn't want to ask questions, and now you're interrogating me?"

I shrugged.
"I got curious."

She giggled briefly, then resumed walking beside me, eyes forward.
"I see."
Her voice was light, but something about her tone felt… deliberately held back.
"Yeah, I'm still in high school. But since I'm already part of the Anti-Demon Corps, my school schedule is flexible. Mostly self-study—except during exam periods."

"Nei's the same, right?"

"Mmm, yep."
Konomi nodded.
"Even though she's only eleven, she's already in a special program for young members. The curriculum's adjusted for her."

I frowned slightly.
"Isn't that… a bit much for someone her age?"

Konomi gave me a strange look, as if something had just occurred to her.
"You're funny, Souta-san."

"What do you mean?"

"You're worried about Nei, but you forget that you yourself—"
She suddenly stopped, biting her lower lip.
"Ah, never mind. Point is, in our world, age doesn't mean much. Nei's strong. She has her reasons for being here."

I fell silent, mulling over her words.
Our world…
That phrase sounded foreign to me, yet somehow familiar.
Like it touched on something buried deep inside—something I hadn't fully grasped.

"Anyway,"
Konomi brightened her tone again, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"If you're curious… I'm in my second year of high school.
If you're ever interested, I could show you the school sometime."

"Why so suddenly?"

"Even with the flexible schedule, I still go there once in a while," she said, clasping her hands behind her head.
"Besides, didn't you say you're trying to 'get to know' the people here? I'm one of those people, aren't I?"

Her smile this time felt different—not teasing, but genuine.
And somehow…
I felt like I'd been cornered.

"…I'll think about it."

"Hah, such a safe answer!"
Konomi grinned but didn't push the topic further.

I smiled slightly. The mood had grown much lighter now.

"How long have you been part of the Anti-Demon Corps?" I asked at last.

Konomi lifted her chin a bit, her eyes lighting up as she recalled.
"Hmm…"
She tapped her cheek with a finger, casually thinking.
"I was recruited around two years ago, but I only became a full-fledged member a year ago. And as for being a chief…"
She let out a small breath.
"…that's only been about eight months. My mentor appointed me directly as their successor."

"A year in, and already a chief?"
I was honestly impressed.
"That's incredible."

She quickly shook her head, her short hair swaying.
"Not really. I'd been training with my teacher since grade school, so we'd known each other long before I officially joined the Corps."

Konomi grinned proudly.
"Ehehe~ yeah… even though sometimes I still feel intimidated during meetings with Commander Yamashiro and the other chiefs. But I do my best."

"Ren Yamashiro, huh…" I muttered under my breath.

Konomi glanced at me curiously.
"So… how close are you to Commander Yamashiro, Souta-san?"

I paused a moment before answering quietly,
"Not that close. I'm still trying to figure her out."

Konomi raised an eyebrow, a small, knowing smile tugging at her lips.
"Trying to figure her out, huh?"

I turned my face slightly away.
"Why do you ask?"

She hesitated, then said,
"Well… back at the Tenth Unit, you two looked kind of close."

Ah. She must mean when Ren teased me before I left with Konomi and Riu-san. I recalled that moment.

"I don't think so. I feel like she was just messing with me."

"Hmm… being teased by Commander Yamashiro, huh… That's not something to take lightly, you know?"

"Doesn't she do that with others too? Not just me."

Konomi let out a small giggle.
"Sure, I know she can be playful sometimes. But usually, she only acts that way around people she finds interesting or… important."

I fell silent, eyes fixed on the path as we walked.
"Important, huh… I'm not sure about that."

"Well, maybe you just don't notice it," Konomi replied gently.
"But she looks at you differently. Commander Yamashiro rarely shows that kind of softness to others… especially toward men."

I turned slightly to glance at her, noticing how cheerful she looked even though her tone held a hint of sincerity.

"So you're curious about me and Ren because…?"

"Because I think you're interesting," Konomi answered without hesitation.
"I've been curious about you from the start. You're clearly not ordinary. Your power is strange, your aura feels different, and now… you seem close to the Commander. Of course I'd be a little suspicious."

I gave a slight smile.
"Even if you ask, I won't give you an answer."

"Eh? Come on~"

I ignored Konomi's playful whining for a moment, and she seemed to understand. We fell into a comfortable silence again.

Eventually, we reached familiar ground—those large stones we passed earlier, and the bent, dried-up tree that marked the path back.
After ten more minutes, we arrived at the First Unit facility.

Konomi and I stepped through the gate together.
We had barely taken a few steps into the yard when a familiar voice called out.

"Souta-san!"

I turned quickly.
Standing there, beaming, was Nei Ookawamura.
Behind her were two more familiar figures—Suruga Shushu, with her usual friendly smile, and Himari Azuma, her expression still as composed as ever.

"Oh, so you're all here too," I said, somewhat surprised that I could remember their names so easily. Normally, I was terrible with names.

Himari stepped forward, idly twirling the end of her braid.
"We were just discussing tomorrow's patrol. But I'm more surprised to see you here, Souta. What brings you to this place?"

"About that…"

Before I could explain, my attention shifted.
Behind them stood another figure I immediately recognized—a white-haired woman.

Uzen Kyouka, Chief of the Seventh Unit.
Her expression changed the moment she laid eyes on me.

"Souta Hayashi!"

Hello, amazing readers!

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