1 The day he arrived

He thought to himself that manifesting into this world has become another burden for him to carry. He wishes his life as a sword will finally end in peace until the Saniwa— a great mage who has the power to imbue life into objects awakens him into a human form.

Not necessarily human, but he takes the form of which his name means—

"Onimaru Kunitsuna, one of the Tenka Goken. Looking for demons, I came to wander here and there. I wonder who my master is."

A demon slayer.

Strangely, he uttered that introduction of himself while not even paying attention to the woman standing in front of him. She only has her eyes fixated on him and then her gaze trailing down slowly to see the signature Awataguchi's imperial uniform tied around his waist.

"Welcome to this citadel, Onimaru." She gave him a faint smile.

Yet he still has his cold expression tightly resting on his face, "I have no interest in anything aside slaying demons."

"Saniwa requested for me to take care of you while he's gone. So, I will be your guardian for a while." She didn't mind his cold expression. It's confusing him—judging by the way his eyebrows twitched slightly that she still isn't bothered by it.

"Who is this Saniwa?" He finally asks something.

"With his power, you are summoned into this world and taking form as a..." She was about to say that word but somehow when her gaze moves up to see a horn sticking up from the side top of his head... She paused for a moment.

"I am a demon." A sigh escaped from his mouth as he continues, "You don't need to be my guardian. I can take care of myself if I am not injured."

"That I cannot do." She shakes her head in disapproval, her face slowly scrunched up into a deep scowl. "You will be under my watch until Saniwa returns. That is the order he gave me."

Onimaru did not say anything afterward, just feeding off the entire atmosphere with a silence. Neither of them said anything to each other, and the woman becomes increasingly nervous as his crimson eye, only one of them was blazing intensely like being forged on the scorching flames. The world feels as though it's bending down under his menacing glare.

The silence was interrupted, however, when someone's laugh appeared from just outside of the room. Someone slides the door open slowly and immediately shoots the two a wide smile. The blue-haired old man said to be the most beautiful of the Tenka Goken, "Oh, Onimaru. There you are, that will make you the fourth Tenka Goken to arrive here."

"I accept the title, but I don't feel like getting along with you just because we share the same title." The white-haired man slowly approaches Mikazuki and standing toe to toe with him now. The woman could only gulp down her saliva back nervously, seeing as if the two will lash at each other—

"Well, well, it's not good to be this cold in front of a woman. She will be your guardian for a while too."

"All of the Tenka Goken are not dispatched into any expeditions or missions. You are free to roam into the citadel as long as I accompany you." She quickly filled in Mikazuki's words.

"Do you also want me to accompany you, perhaps?" Mikazuki teased as he lets out a light chuckle to ease the growing tension, making it finally durable for the woman to breathe normally again.

"No. Thank you." Onimaru shakes his head and turning into the woman instead. "Guide me then, so long you take me away far from this man."

Mikazuki laughed again and watched in silence as Onimaru and the woman left him all alone in the summoning room. The reflection of his eyes that was bright now contorts into a darker one as he smiled to himself, "Well, well, I wonder if he will adjust into this citadel just fine."