Demon Slayer: Seraph of Radiance

Takahashi was deeply surprised. Though Sayuki's injuries appeared severe — no, they were severe — something was strange: her vital signs remained surprisingly stable.

Once the foreign objects were removed from her body, Takahashi was confident Sayuki would recover quickly.

By all logic, just barely clinging to life would already be a miracle with wounds like hers. Yet Sayuki was merely unconscious, her breath weak but steady.

At that moment, Takahashi suddenly felt a chill.

Looking down, she realized she was standing before Kawanishi disheveled and half-dressed. The kicked-in door was letting cold air pour into the room — no wonder she was freezing.

Hurriedly fixing her clothes, Takahashi shot Kawanishi a sharp glare like a hooked dagger:"Shut the door."

Kawanishi obeyed at once and returned after closing it.

By now, Takahashi had already picked up a sharp surgical knife, carefully cutting away Sayuki's blood-soaked garments.

Blocking Kawanishi's view, she said:"You should leave. Don't get in my way."

"Come back tomorrow — she'll stay here tonight."

"By tomorrow, she should wake up."

Hearing her words, Kawanishi gently nodded:"Thank you, Takahashi-nee. Please take care of Sayuki. I'll head out for now."

Sayuki, what gift did you prepare for me?When you wake up tomorrow, I'll be wearing it before you.

Kawanishi exited the clinic and softly closed the door behind him.

Outside, a number of curious onlookers were staring at the place with mixed expressions. The commotion earlier — especially the three loud bangs — had drawn plenty of attention.

He walked slowly back toward Sayuki's house. Pushing open the door, he stepped inside without turning on the electric light. The house was dark and quiet.

Climbing the wooden stairs, the creaking under his feet sounded piercingly loud.

At the landing stood Sayuki's bedroom door. Kawanishi entered.

The room remained as simple and tidy as always, with only the most essential furnishings.

On the nightstand by the bed was a neatly folded garment. Kawanishi approached and picked it up, unfolding it in his hands.

It was a crimson haori — its color like flowing blood even in the darkness, impossible to look away from.

On it, meticulously stitched, were three characters: Kawanishi.

The haori was not particularly stylish and felt somewhat mismatched, but its handmade stitching made it special.

The outer fabric was stitched in vibrant red thread, while the inner lining was pieced together from unfamiliar materials, fine and smooth to the touch.

Perhaps it was a specialty fabric from Asakusa.

Kawanishi could almost picture Sayuki clumsily threading the needle, spending who knows how long carefully crafting this gift for him.

"Sayuki… I accept your gift."

"Now it's time for your brother to get you justice."

With a whoosh, Kawanishi swept the haori around his shoulders, the sleeves fluttering as he spun into it. His gaze was calm but filled with bone-chilling murderous intent.

His four wings unfurled behind him as he vanished from the room in a flash, the nearby window banging open and shut with the gust left in his wake.

Night had fallen. Most people in town stayed indoors after dark, and under the cover of night, Kawanishi soared over Teiting Town like a silent bird, attracting little attention.

He flew toward the site where Sayuki had been attacked. Though the scent was faint and much dispersed by wind, his keen senses picked up the lingering trace.

He hasn't left this direction... what is he planning?

After flying a short distance, the faint scent suddenly grew dense — like a bright flame in the dark forest. Its source: an abandoned hut on the outskirts of Teiting Town.

"Hiding here, huh? What are you up to?"

Kawanishi narrowed his eyes, locking onto the location and exact position of the man inside.

With his four wings pumping, he rocketed downward, intending to smash through the roof and subdue his target in one swift strike.

BANG!

Suddenly, a sharp pain struck his chest — a powerful impact as though he'd been punched hard. Sparks burst from the point of impact.

A black metallic projectile embedded itself in the center of Kawanishi's chest. It pierced his iron-hard physique but was halted by his dense muscles before fully penetrating.

Strangely, the wound didn't immediately heal.

Special alloy? Tamahagane mixed metal?

Before he could extract the bullet, another volley came.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

But Kawanishi was ready now. His body weaved through the air like a white sturgeon swimming gracefully through a summer river, easily dodging each shot.

"So you noticed me? Fine. Face me directly, then."

Nearby house lights flicked off, as those awakened by the commotion dared not peek outside, instead shutting their windows and hiding in fear of being drawn into trouble.

Tucking his wings back, Kawanishi dove sharply, evading the incoming fire and landing heavily with a loud thud, scattering clouds of dust.

With a gentle flap, his wings swept the dust away.

Revealed before him stood the black-clad man — eyes wild and bloodshot behind his bandaged face, glaring at Kawanishi with crazed hatred.

Kawanishi asked coldly:"Why did you attack Sayuki?"

The blood vessels in the man's eyes bulged until they practically fused into the whites, his expression turning deranged.

He cackled:"A demon? No — more than one demon! Hahaha! I'll kill you all!"

From under his coat, the man raised a long cylindrical object and pointed it at Kawanishi.

BANG!

Kawanishi tilted his head slightly, effortlessly dodging the shot.

Narrowing his eyes, he studied the weapon — his heart jolting in realization.

A gun.

Smoke curled from the muzzle, and even from dozens of meters away, Kawanishi could smell the distinct scent of gunpowder.

No wonder it was so fast and powerful — it's a firearm…

So this world has guns, too.

The man pointed the weapon directly at Kawanishi's head, laughing maniacally:"Little demon, never seen one of these before, have you?"

"Times have changed."

"The useless Demon Slayer Corps still uses swords, but mankind has created guns and cannons!"

"I'll kill you!"

He squeezed the trigger repeatedly, muzzle flashing with orange bursts as bullets shot forth.

But Kawanishi merely swayed with calm ease, like a fish dancing effortlessly through a stream, dodging every shot with grace.

Though fast, the bullets' trajectories were predictable. The man possessed no special skills to alter their path.

Staring at his emptying gun, the man's grin cracked into hysteria:"Impossible! You're just lucky!"

"Die die die die die die—"

Kawanishi interrupted with a mocking sneer:"...Are you some kind of broken record?"

(End of Chapter)