Chapter 3 – Tokyo Demon Hunters Headquarters.

Standing at the threshold of a rather unremarkable building, I looked around.

Tokyo... The smell of the city and the extraordinarily tall buildings surrounded me. While for me, these were just tall, bright buildings, for Denji, they were something marvelous.

At least I managed to fulfill another of Denji's dreams: to get to a big city. Of course, not without Makima's help.

I had my suspicions about her—she accepted my terms too easily, and we made a contract without much fuss.

— Let's go, Denji. This is the Tokyo Demon Hunters headquarters.

Makima was already inviting me inside. The building indeed looked too ordinary despite the architecture around it. Perhaps they didn't want to stand out and attract unnecessary attention. Or maybe they were just trying to save on the budget.

As I walked in, I wondered if I had made the right choice. My instincts told me to be cautious of Makima, though I doubted I could have escaped from her, especially weakened after the battle with the zombie demon.

"Tch... Whatever happens, happens. I'll leave this place once I've regained my strength and earned some money. Just need to figure out how to break the contract..."

So, I entered the hunters' lair, where I could die at any moment. After all, I was a half-demon... A hybrid of a human and a demon, so the hunters would definitely be wary of me.

— Don't worry. I won't broadcast your situation. You'll be just another employee who came here by choice. — As if reading my thoughts, Makima reassured me. — There are over a thousand demon hunters in Tokyo, including participants. The Public Safety Demon Hunters have a good benefits package and paid leave.

— That's good. — I nodded, listening to her and looking around. — Can I take a shower and eat first? My stomach's growling...

— Hmm. We have a locker room and a cafeteria. But since it's your first time here, and in the city in general, I'll have to assign you a guardian. — She agreed and laid out unexpected conditions. — Sorry for starting work right away without a break, but those are the rules.

— No problem. As long as the conditions are met, I'll do the work as best I can. — Throwing both hands behind my head, I smirked.

— Thank you for understanding. — She smiled at me, which stirred a strange feeling inside me.

Rather, not in my heart, but much lower... Damn... Sixteen years old, and hormones are raging. Embarrassing that even if I replaced Denji, my body still reacted to such a small thing.

I didn't used to be like this... I think? My head is a mess right now, so I'll need to sort out my thoughts and capabilities tonight. Strange... I don't remember who I am, but I think the same way I did in my previous life.

"Damn this isekai..."

Wait, how do I even know what isekai is?!

— Hah... Everything's so complicated.

— Hmm? Dissatisfied with something? — The fiery redhead asked, hearing my sigh of frustration.

— Just talking to myself. Just tired. — I deflected.

I didn't want to talk about myself unnecessarily, as I hadn't fully settled into this body, and the whole day was still ahead of me! Oh, God...

Makima directed me to the training hall, where there was a locker room with showers. Luckily, it was morning, and no one was here. Everyone had already gone on patrol, according to Makima.

Undressing and placing the valuables and money I "obtained" from the yakuza in a locker, locking it securely, I entered the long-awaited realm of cleanliness. Though, to be honest, it wasn't exactly pristine. But it wasn't unbearable either. Perfect for a ragtag like me.

If there were a bathhouse here, that would be perfect. Well, let's make do with what we have.

Standing under the cold shower, I pondered a lot. Everything that happened to me today wasn't a dream. I tried to accept it as if it were a dream, but... Unfortunately, it wasn't. My heart literally roared... Looking at my chest, I saw the very cord that turned me into... a demon.

I knew little about this world, possessing only Denji's knowledge. And his knowledge was minimal... No surprise there... Twelve years without freedom. Though not all of the guy's life moments were hell.

Denji was born in the slums of a small town, from where I arrived with Makima. For the first five years, as he remembered, they lived relatively normally. His mother worked, and his father drank less and looked for odd jobs.

Relatively, they had plenty of food in the fridge, and the house wasn't so rundown. But still, the end wasn't rosy for the kid. His mother died of heart disease, and his father drowned in alcohol and debts.

And Denji... He was often beaten... By adults and kids on the street, and by his father at home. In the end, something broke in him, and the little boy killed his father, receiving a psychological trauma.

But he somehow coped with it, sealing away his bad memories. That's why he initially thought his father had committed suicide.

But now, I was him. Though I had some of his habits, it didn't complicate my life.

— Hah... And the only friend was Pochita. — I smiled, switching the water to hot.

After about half an hour in the shower, I headed towards the locker room. And then I remembered I had no towel or change of clothes. And there was no desire to put on the torn jeans soaked in blood and pus.

Trouble.

But to my surprise, I found a neat set of clothes on the bench.

— Hm? No one came into the shower… So these clothes are for me?

It was probably Makima who brought them, or she ordered someone to bring them for me.

— Well, thank you.

Putting on the new clothes, I stood in front of the mirror and started tying a black tie.

It seemed they had given me the standard uniform we were supposed to wear.

A white shirt, black semi-classic trousers, and surprisingly, sneakers with thick soles.

All the clothes fit me perfectly, except for the tie. I undid the top buttons and loosened the tie a bit, finally feeling some freedom. I also had to roll up the sleeves to my elbows, not wanting to ruin and tear the new shirt I had just received.

There was also a jacket and my personal badge, without a photo but with an ID number and name. They made it pretty quickly...

Overall, no complaints. I liked it.

Looking at myself in the mirror, I couldn't help but admire myself. Coming from the slums, yet I looked good. Seriously, ash-blond hair and red eyes. At the same time, my teeth were sharp... and they had been that way since childhood. Amazingly, I never had any dental diseases in my life.

Though, I looked more like a yankee*, to use Japanese terminology.

— Whatever. — I combed my spiky hair back and headed for the exit. — If you don't praise yourself, no one will.

Someone was already waiting for me at the locker room entrance.

He looked like an ordinary Japanese guy around twenty, with black hair tied up in a high ponytail. His earlobes were pierced. He was dressed like all the Public Safety Demon Hunters. The only thing that stood out was the strange katana-like sword he carried on his back.

I didn't like it... Not the guy, but the sword. I could feel the energy of some demon in it. Weird... Since when did I become so sensitive to these things? The feeling was somewhat similar to what I felt when meeting Makima or the zombie demon.

But the person in front of me was just a regular human, not a half-demon.

— You took your time, rookie. — The unfamiliar guy addressed me with indifference. — We need to see Makima. Don't lag behind. — He started walking toward the exit of the training hall.

Heh.

I have a feeling today is going to be another day filled with adventures. Sigh... And I just wanted to rest...

To be continued…

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