Crossover: The Problematic Deity of Arcadia

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Edo - Chiyoda District Patrol Station.

Under the dim light of an oil lamp, the veteran patrol officer Omaeda led a group of five rookies through the quiet streets of Edo.

"Ōmaeda-senpai, are we really taking this too seriously?"

One of the patrolmen yawned, his rifle slung lazily over his shoulder.

"Midnight patrol and we're armed to the teeth? Isn't this a bit much?"

"Shut your mouths, you brats. I'm doing this for your own good," Ōmaeda snapped, eyes scanning every shadow, every alley with a tense look. "Be alert. Edo's not safe after dark these days."

Normally, he wouldn't be this on edge. But recently, whispers had reached his ears—disturbing ones.

Demons.

A word he hadn't heard in years, suddenly echoing back into his life.

He couldn't help but shiver, remembering the tragedy that had struck a neighbor's family years ago.

"You're not buying into that Ubuyashiki clan nonsense, are you?" chuckled an older officer beside him.

"All that crap about a horde of demons invading Edo soon—give me a break. What is this, the Heian era?"

Someone else chimed in with a laugh, "Heian period or not, I doubt demons were real even back then. That stuff's just ghost stories and fantasy."

He gave his rifle a twirl and added smugly, "Besides, we've got these bad boys. I'd like to see a 'demon' take a bullet to the face and keep coming."

"Isn't the Ubuyashiki family supposed to be nobility?" another scoffed. "How'd they end up obsessed with this demon-slaying junk? And now they want us to patrol like it's the end of the world?"

"Right? I heard they even sent letters to every patrol station in Edo. Must've cost a fortune just on postage! What the hell are they thinking?"

"Keep your voices down, idiots," Ōmaeda barked, and the chatter died immediately.

He sighed and muttered, "You city boys have no idea how terrifying real demons are."

There was a flash of fear in his eyes as he continued, "Back in my hometown… I saw one. A real man-eating demon."

"What?" Officer Sawa tilted his head, skeptical. "Who did it eat?"

"My neighbors… the Tokito family."

Ōmaeda's tone turned solemn.

"The parents died young. Just left behind two brothers—Tokito Yuichirō and Tokito Muichirō."

"They were getting by, barely, collecting herbs and selling them. Then one day, out of nowhere, a demon came. Yuichirō was torn apart… eaten."

"Muichirō? Poor kid was so traumatized, he forgot everything. Couldn't even recognize people anymore."

"I saw that thing that night. I swear—it had a face like a monster, sharp teeth, greenish skin… no wonder it broke him."

"What happened to the younger brother?" one of the officers asked, genuinely curious. "Did he die too?"

"No, he survived. I heard later he joined the Ubuyashiki family… became a member of their demon-slaying corps. That's when I learned there were people who actually fought demons for a living."

One of the rookies whistled. "Damn. Lost his brother, but ended up with the nobility? Lucky guy. I bet he eats rice balls with plum fillings now."

"Plum?" another laughed. "Hell no. Nobles like that? Gotta be meat. Probably pork at the very least."

Soon the group was bickering over whether high-class rice balls came with plums or pork, much to Ōmaeda's exasperation.

This was supposed to be a warning, not a food debate. How did we get here?

Just as he was about to cut in again, the flickering light of the oil lamp caught something ahead.

"Who's there?!"

Ōmaeda's gut clenched as he peered into the gloom. It was an old man, dressed in luxurious robes but with a horribly distorted face.

Fear and irritation mingled in his voice. "Old man, what are you doing out scaring people in the middle of the night?"

"Scaring people?"

The old man tilted his head—literally—until his neck bent at an impossible 90 degrees. Every officer who saw it felt their heart leap and instinctively raised their weapons.

And then the man grinned, eyes wide.

"Been traveling for seven days… finally. Six of you. Just enough for two meals."

"FIRE!!" Ōmaeda roared.

Gunshots cracked through the night, riddling the old man's body with holes. His expensive clothes were shredded, blood soaking through.

But then, as the officers watched in growing horror, the wounds vanished—healed in seconds.

The old man slowly opened his eyes.

In his left, the kanji for Upper Rank. In his right, the number Four.

—Hantengu, Upper Kizuki Four, had arrived.

"Kill them all. Then we'll hit the Imperial Palace. The louder, the better."

At his words, pairs of glowing red eyes began to appear in the shadows…

And then came the sound of wet, hungry slurping.

"Don't worry, there's plenty to go around," Hantengu chuckled. "Once we're done here and our lord takes over Edo, we'll build our empire of the night. There'll be all the fresh blood we could ever want."

The creatures in the darkness shivered with excitement, their eyes burning with madness.

And then—

With a chorus of unearthly howls, the patrol unit was swallowed by a monstrous tide.

Within seconds, not even their bones remained.

Only their mangled rifles, discarded and silent, bore witness to their fate.

---

The Ubuyashiki Clan Residence - Late at night.

Ubuyashiki Kagaya sat beside Ryo Yagami, sighing heavily as he handed over a letter.

"The Imperial Palace has fallen. Only a single young princess managed to escape. The rest… are likely dead."

Beside them, Kanae Kocho furrowed her brows. "So it started…"

"Are we making our move now?" asked one of the seven Hashira, all gathered and brimming with anticipation.

Ryo raised an eyebrow, calm and composed. "Not yet. Give it time. If we act now, they'll only get in the way."

He was clearly talking about the people at the palace—and clearly not trusting them.

The Hashira paused. Then sighed.

Trust? That was a joke.

The palace had always known about the demons. Yet they turned a blind eye, offering only fake support to the Demon Slayer Corps from time to time.

"Lord. Yagami," Kagaya asked gently, "How long do you think we should wait?"

"At the earliest, dawn tomorrow," Ryo replied with a faint smile.

Kagaya chuckled bitterly. "I think it'll be later than that."

He knew the nobility far too well. They wouldn't beg for help until the bloodshed hit their side.

Civilian deaths? To them, just weeds that grow back.

He sighed. "Fine. Let the nobles feel, even for a moment, the weight we've carried for centuries."

And so… they waited.

---

Three days later

A formal plea for aid arrived from the Imperial Palace.

Two hours after that, Edo was officially declared fallen—now a paradise for demons.

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Yo~

Sorry for the irregular update schedule these past two weeks—my graduation project has been taking up most of my time. Tomorrow is that big day, so I won't be able to post. After that, things will return to normal—or maybe even better!

See ya Sunday~ 

P.S: I put this note across all my fics, so you might see it again. Just making sure everyone's in the loop!