章 5: Taking Fido for a stroll in Chiba
"So, Fido, round two?" Desmon said with an arrogant smile.
After saying this, Desmon advanced towards the demon, using his sword to stab one of its paws. To his surprise, his weapon failed to penetrate the demon's tough flesh.
"What are they feeding dogs these days?"
Desmon luckily evaded the demon's claws; now its movements were much faster, contradicting its enormous size.
Alastor failed to pierce the demon's tough flesh; its fur had become extremely resilient. Of course, if they were more synchronized, the story might be different.
Shizuka began to worry as she watched the battle. She had initially considered the fight a game for Desmon, but now he was being pushed to the edge.
"You're truly annoying."
Desmon attempted to strike, but his sword was repelled by the demon's claws, creating an opening in his defense.
In that moment, neither of them could take advantage of it, except for the fact that the demon had a tail.
Its tail, now resembling a spear's tip, pierced through Desmon's chest, lifting his impaled body and sending him flying against a nearby wall, demolishing it in the process.
Shizuka's expression shifted from concern to fear. She couldn't believe that Desmon had been impaled in such a manner out of nowhere; he might even be dead.
But as she approached to assess his condition, debris was flung aside. Desmon leaped up, dusting himself off.
Shizuka's gaze went to his chest, where his shirt had been torn apart, revealing a large circle on his shirt. But his chest remained intact; if not for the blood around, she would have doubted that the guy before her had just been impaled.
"What are you?" She asked in astonishment. Regardless of his strength, surviving and emerging unscathed from that situation was humanly impossible; his regenerative abilities were unfathomable.
To which Desmon responded with a smile. "A demon hunter."
Returning to the fight, Desmon advanced toward the demon, exchanging blows. However, there was no difference; Alastor only caused minimal damage while Desmon barely managed to dodge attacks.
"At this point, I can try that; it worked once."
Desmon used the walls of the houses as support to elevate himself. Now higher than the demon, he descended with an attack. His plan succeeded as Alastor embedded itself in the demon's snout, causing it to howl in pain.
"You're not so tough now, huh?" He felt satisfied to have wounded it, as the fact that his attacks didn't cause damage had bothered him.
However, his smile faded when he tried to pull out Alastor; it was stuck.
"I didn't expect that..."
Saying this, he leaped back to evade the tail that aimed to impale him again.
Without his weapon, he could still fight with his body, but the sound of people peering from windows and emerging from their houses due to the noise caught his attention.
In their first encounter, they were fortunate that a barrier prevented bystanders from being involved, but currently, there was no such protection. One wrong step, and innocent lives could be lost.
Desmon was aware of the destruction demons caused, thus he tried to avoid fighting in densely populated areas. Although their previous encounters had taken place in isolated spots, the present circumstances had them in a neighborhood filled with sleeping families. Children anticipating their parents' arrival at midnight.
"Shizuka, do you know of any large, deserted places?"
She also noticed the commotion from neighboring houses. Involving others wasn't something she desired, but the current situation was complex. At least, that was what she thought before Desmon posed a question.
She recalled every possible location. Luckily, one came to mind; a stadium where she had watched a baseball game a week ago. Though it was quite far from their current location, it met all the criteria.
"There's a stadium, but it's several kilometers away."
"Do you know the way?"
She nodded in response. That was enough for Desmon.
"Sorry, Fido, we'll have to change our playground."
Without hesitation, he advanced toward the demon, evading its claws and tail that tried to strike him. He launched himself beneath the demon's snout, using his hands as a base, and delivered a double kick to the lower part of the snout.
While this might not have inflicted any damage. He managed to lift the giant, multi-ton dog into the air without difficulty. Cracks were left as marks under his hands.
However, he achieved his objective; leaving the demon on its back on the ground. It would take a few seconds for it to recover.
Desmon returned to Shizuka.
"Kurox!"
In response to his call, the motorcycle appeared before them.
Shizuka wanted to act surprised, but at this point, she gave up. Even if Desmon told her he was a demon, she would believe it.
Desmon got on first, gripping the handlebars.
"Get on already, we've got a long journey ahead."
Shizuka climbed on as the passenger, holding on tight.
But Desmon didn't move, in fact, he was holding something in his hands.
"I can't decide, what music do you think would be good for a chase? You know, there has to be music in these situations."
"Does that really matter?"
"That's how ..."
While Desmon explained why he wanted to get in the mood, the demon managed to recover and focus on them, then started charging.
"Just pick one at random!"
She was startled as he noticed the demon advancing towards them, intent on destroying them with its jaws.
Desmon pressed the button that selected a random piece of music.
"Looks like luck is on our side."
"Desmon, you idiot!"
The demon's jaws were about to close on them, promising a painful death.
But Desmon poured his demonic energy into Kurox, causing the motorcycle to accelerate and evade the demon's jaws. They quickly left it far behind.
"So, where am I headed?" He said calmly, as if he hadn't been on the verge of being devoured and mutilated by the demon moments ago.
"I really wish I had your composure." She had abandoned all rational thought being beside him.
"Just keep going straight until you reach a park. Then take the right road onto the highway." As a driver in Chiba, she knew the routes well.
"I think they won't let us."
Upon hearing this, Shizuka noticed a shadow covering them. Looking up, she saw the demon's figure descending upon them.
Desmon turned right, avoiding the attack that should have crushed them.
But this took them off the route, entering residential areas once again.
Shizuka didn't have a moment to breathe, as before she could tell him which way to go, Desmon abruptly turned left, narrowly missing a car that was hurled at them.
This caused them to enter people's yards, crashing through several walls and fences. Surprisingly, Kurox had no issue with this, plowing through everything like they were made of glass. Because of this, Shizuka pressed her body against Desmon, as debris flew towards her.
Desmon could feel two soft things that were comfortable to the touch, but he sensed that if he said anything, Shizuka might throw him off Kurox. So, he kept it to himself for now.
After exiting the residential area, they reached the highway with the giant demon still in pursuit.
"That thing is really persistent. Are all demons like this?" For Shizuka, having the demon still chase them was annoying, but it was better than it causing havoc among innocent people.
"It's normal for it to give up after being beaten, but it must have its reasons."
"Like you calling it a name it doesn't like?"
"Fido is a good name."
Desmon responded as he veered to the right, dodging the demon's tail.
He would usually try to cut off that tail, but Alastor was currently embedded in the demon's nose.
"Are we there yet? I don't like just limiting myself to dodging."
They had spent over 5 minutes merely evading Fido's attacks, and even though this dog was gigantic, its pursuit speed exceeded any expectations.
"We have another 5 minutes. By the way, shouldn't that thing be split in two?"
"It really knows a lot of tricks." Desmon grinned. "Let's switch."
The demon's tail split into two. If it was easy to dodge before, now it would be a sure death to try that.
With a swift move, Desmon rose from his seat, switching positions with Shizuka. She was now the driver.
"You know if you slow down, we're dead, right?"
"Don't tell me that after we switched positions!"
"Someday, you'll tell your kids that you drove a motorcycle while being chased by a demon."
"As if that's something to brag about!"
Desmon stood up on Kurox, something impossible at the speed they were going, but on Kurox, he had full control.
"Come on, Fido, don't make this ride boring."
The demon's tails moved towards Desmon, intending to pierce him, ensuring his death this time.
Though they didn't achieve their goal, Desmon managed to deflect them with a kick.
"Come on, that's not all you've got, right?"
The demon roared, causing its attacks to become faster.
"Do you always have to provoke it?"
"It's fun." He said with a smug smile.
With that, Shizuka focused on driving while Desmon deflected the tails that would have pierced them at the first opportunity.
For the other drivers on the road, they witnessed something surreal; a motorcycle with a person atop it repelling whips coming from a giant dog. But obviously, this couldn't be real; it must be special effects for some new movie they're shooting. Most of them chose to ignore it. However, among them, a single person pulled out their phone to report the situation unfolding in Chiba.
Desmon and Shizuka were already nearing their destination, but as they got close, one of the tails changed its attack pattern, sweeping towards Kurox.
"Tch!"
Unable to dodge or deflect this, Desmon jumped onto the tail, using it to impede its movement, but now he was an easy target.
Shizuka might have tried to stop to help him, but before she could do anything, Kurox abruptly stopped, pivoting on its axis to face the demon.
"What the hell?"
Kurox advanced without slowing down toward the demon. Its tails, as well as its jaws, were waiting for him.
Unfortunately for it, and defying the odds, Desmon managed to dodge its piercing attack, grabbing onto the tail and using it to launch himself backward.
As he fell to the ground, he would have been an easy target, but Kurox caught him, skidding in the process and passing through the demon's legs.
"Does this thing have a mind of its own?" She complained. The entire time she had tried to steer Kurox, but it seemed Kurox was driving itself.
"I have no idea." He replied with his usual disinterested tone.
Though they had managed to escape that predicament, the demon now blocked the only entrance to the highway.
"Desmon, wait, you're not thinking of doing what I think you're thinking, are you?"
Seeing how he was doing things, it reminded her of action movies, and in their situation, she had an inkling of what Desmon was about to do, something she really didn't want to happen.
"I'm not psychic to read your mind, but if I had to guess, I'd say you're on the right track." He said with a tone full of confidence and a big smile.
Desmon extended his arm towards the handlebars, imbuing Kurox with demonic energy, instantly accelerating to a speed that would usually only be reached after several seconds at top speed.
Meanwhile, the demon also began to run in their direction.
If this happened, they would crash into each other, with the demon coming out victorious.
But Desmon had a plan in mind, something Shizuka would hate.
"If you'll excuse me~"
Desmon lifted Shizuka, carrying her in his arms while standing on Kurox.
"You were really going to do it!"
Seconds before the collision, Desmon leaped over the demon. Its tails tried to pierce them, but he used his legs to deflect them. He even gained some support from them, reaching its jaws where he timed a perfect step to avoid being devoured. He then leaped over the demon.
Kurox passed underneath, intercepting them before they could crash into the ground.
Desmon was seated on Kurox, holding Shizuka in his arms. It was quite a romantic sight if anyone else saw it, but if they examined Shizuka's face, they wouldn't see the expression of a smitten maiden, but that of a woman who wanted to smack the guy carrying her.
Feeling secure, they continued on their way, pursued by the demon.
Once inside the stadium, they descended and waited for their guest.
"By the way, when do you plan on letting me go?" Shizuka still held Desmon in his arms, frustrated by being treated like a helpless maiden.
Desmon put on an amused smile, understanding Shizuka's words.
"How much longer do you plan to keep me in your arms? I'm going to use that sword of yours to run you through the chest!"
"That's probably why you're single." He remarked, gallantly helping Shizuka down.
"I'll ignore that." She would get back at him later. "Do you have a plan? It doesn't look like you are dealing damage to the demon with your blows.''
"I thought of one on the way here. It's really annoying to do, but I don't have much of a choice. By the way, you'd better step back, as the demon is after you too."
"What do you mean...?"
Before Shizuka could finish her sentence, the demon leaped into the stadium.
"It's time to settle the score, and you also have something that belongs to me, though I'm still paying for it." Desmon declared.
Desmon started advancing toward the demon.
-I hope there's a fountain in a nearby park. Desmon thought as he sped forward.
Desmon leaped over the demon, evading its tails and claws. After several dodges, he adapted.
Landing on Fido's nose, he used both arms to pull Alastor out of the demon's flesh.
Alastor came loose, causing a significant hemorrhage in the demon. However, at this point, it didn't feel as much pain.
Fido, the first test subject for 'that.'
With Alastor in hand, he used the strength in his legs to make a great leap, rising up and gaining significant distance from the demon.
"The view from up here isn't bad at all."
The demon also leaped, aiming to crush him with its fangs, but this time that's Desmon's plan.
As the momentum waned, Desmon began descending. In Shizuka's view, she was about to witness him being devoured.
Desmon smiled before he hurled Alastor in a spinning motion towards the demon's snout.
As Desmon passed through its jaws, Alastor prevented the demon from closing its jaws around him. Just before entering the throat, Alastor was retrieved.
Shizuka witnessed it all: the boy she had called for a simple task was devoured. However, even though the situation dictated that it was now her turn to die, a part of her believed this was all part of his plan.
After dealing with its initial target, the demon shifted its attention to Shizuka, slowly advancing toward its prey.
She, on her part, didn't budge, perhaps out of fear or the confidence she had in him.
When the demon was close to her, it started writhing, its howls echoing through the nearby streets. It was a cry of pain.
It tried to shake it off, but nothing changed. Gradually, its expression transformed, its paws losing strength, and it collapsed to the ground.
As Desmon entered the demon's stomach, he began cutting everything in sight, whether intestinal walls or destroying any organs he encountered.
Upon dying, the demon started to disappear, its body turning red before vanishing completely, revealing the figure of a certain demon hunter who had been devoured moments before.
Normally, he would have been proud of this, but now he was completely covered in blood and fluids from the demon's organs.
"If they're tough on the outside, they're soft on the inside." That's what he thought before letting himself be devoured.
"You're truly amazing." Shizuka approached to see his condition, which was nothing out of the ordinary.
"I know." Desmon's smile faded after saying this, catching Shizuka's attention. "I have two pieces of news, one good and one bad. Which one do you want to hear first?"
"I'll go with the bad." She said, somewhat exhausted.
"Your entire school, as well as your students, are in danger. I can't tell you when, but that place will become a feast for demons. I can't assure you how I know, but call it intuition after today's events."
Shizuka's cheerful and tired expression changed in an instant. She wanted to ask if he was joking, but Desmon's serious expression told her he wasn't.
"But don't worry, there's still good news, and that is, I won't charge you for today, as my job is still unfinished."
Desmon carried Alastor over his shoulders.
"It's not a coincidence that thing pursued us after leaving your school. It's likely that one of those two demons you mentioned ordered an end to us."
Although Desmon said he would take care of it, it's not easy to process the fact that at any moment, her school and students could be slaughtered by demons. Today, she witnessed how dangerous they are.
"How will you do it?" She asked, somewhat dismayed.
"I'll stay in Chiba until those demons are dealt with. After all, my job involves handling the demons you saw, so I can't charge you until it's done." Desmon sighed heavily. "And here I thought this job would be short and turns out it's an indefinite one..."
If he left at this moment, he would simply be evading the situation and leaving Shizuka and her students to their fate. A school being massacred by demons is something he won't allow to happen again.
"Can you really do it?" There was a hint of fear and doubt in her voice.
"Who do you think you're talking to? I'm Desmon, a demon hunter. If you have a problem with them, call me, and I'll take care of them for you. That's my motto." He said with a lot of pride and arrogance.
"Thank you." She bowed.
When Desmon initially delivered the bad news, she had thought of doing anything to make him stay; whether it meant selling all her possessions or taking out a loan. She would have done it for the sake of her students. However, to her surprise, Desmon treated it as part of his initial job, without charging her more.
"Now all that's left is to find a nearby park or a bridge to spend the night under, and if I'm lucky, a fountain to clean up. I really reek of demon." He smirked mockingly as he said the last part.
"What are you saying? You can stay at a hotel. I'll give you the money upfront."
"I told you, I won't accept it until the job is done. That's something my mother taught me. Besides, I have experience sleeping in unpleasant places, so it won't be an issue. And from what I see, this city has better conditions than I thought. It'll be like a 5-star hotel."
Shizuka clenched her teeth upon hearing this. How could someone so young say that with a smile? She wondered, but she didn't find an answer. She definitely wouldn't allow someone who saved her life and helped her with her problem to do that.
"Until you deal with the demons, you can stay at my apartment. It's not very big, but you can use the couch to sleep, and you'll be able to take a shower."
"If you're making such a generous offer, I don't have much choice but to accept, as it's better than sleeping on the streets."
"Alright, then let's start walking, as it's a bit far from here."
"We can use Kurox."
"No way! You're covered in blood and smell bad."
"It's for that very reason that you can't find a partner, even inviting a stranger to stay with you."
"I really want to hit you!"
And so, they began heading towards Shizuka's apartment.
After several minutes, a group of people arrived at the scene, but they found nothing.
"Are you sure about what you saw?"
"I am. I saw a demon, one of those from the books."
"If that's the case, we'll have to increase surveillance. You also mentioned seeing a boy fighting against that thing?"
"Yes, I'm certain. I even took a picture."
He took out his cellphone and showed them the picture, depicting a white-haired young man in a black trench coat battling some sort of whips coming from a giant dog.
"We need to meet with him."
After finishing their conversation, everyone dispersed.
Underestimating the demons was one of their mistakes, and the worst one was treating Desmon as one. But they are still not aware of this fact.
...
Omake: Sword
After arriving at Shizuka's apartment, Desmon cracked a few jokes before heading into the shower to take a bath. Meanwhile, Shizuka went to her room to find a change of clothes for him. She didn't have anything in his size, but she found some sweatpants that Desmon could wear.
Once she found them, she headed to her living room to go to the bathroom and leave the change of clothes for him. But on the way, she got distracted by Alastor, who was by the side of the couch. Since its sheath was lost during the fight, it's currently on full display.
She imagined herself wielding a sword and cutting down demons while wearing a red trench coat. But she quickly dismissed that idea. Her curiosity got the better of her, and she started getting closer, noticing Alastor's details perfectly.
"I were you; I wouldn't do that." Desmon said as he emerged from the shower.
"I was just curious about..." She couldn't finish her sentence, in fact, she couldn't form any words at all.
She had left a towel for Desmon to dry himself, but he was currently using it to dry his head, leaving his body entirely exposed.
Shizuka's gaze roamed over the upper part of his body. His figure was defined; he didn't have massive muscles, but they were sculpted to complement his physique. There was no trace of the injury he had received during the fight, indicating abnormal regenerative abilities.
Her gaze continued downward, but at that moment, she wondered something.
-I'm sure he doesn't have his sword with him.
Her gaze remained fixed in that area. For someone who was single and had never even been kissed, seeing something like this left her in shock. Of course, as an adult, she had found ways to provide herself with affection during lonely days, but none of the adult videos she had seen had prepared her for this moment.
She wasn't so innocent as to believe that babies were delivered by storks, but what she was witnessing shattered one of the notions she had.
-Since when do men have an elephant down there?
Her mind, as well as her face, finally comprehended the situation.
Desmon had entered the living room naked.
"I guess I should say something, but I'm not ashamed of my body." Desmon shifted a certain part of his body as if to boast.
"Get dressed, you damn exhibitionist!"
Shizuka threw the change of clothes at him, which Desmon caught before retreating back to the bathroom. He did so with a mocking smile.
Once Desmon was gone, she covered her face. She never expected to see something like this.
"Are all foreigners like this?"
She's really mistaken because she should be asking herself if all those who have the blood of the legendary Sparda Knight possess such attributes, and the answer to that is a resounding yes.
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