Fireflies of the Dark Night

The demon fox pondered. How had it come to this?

Everything should have gone smoothly. After nearly being killed by those inhuman creatures disguised as humans, she had resorted to a desperate measure: the art of splitting her soul.

This was a technique only high-ranking demon foxes—those with high intelligence, mastery of spells, and immense power—could perform. Lesser demons lacked the ability to tear their own souls apart, and dividing their power would naturally weaken them as individuals, potentially risking their very existence. Only a powerful and fearsome demon could afford to split itself.

Divided into dozens of fragments, she and her clones had infiltrated human society, hiding in the shadows and devouring lives to regain their strength. It seemed some of the clones had been killed, but they were all weaker, insignificant beings. The overall damage was minimal. The clones had even begun merging with each other, slowly regaining their strength. Fortunately, this was the capital, where even ordinary people possessed faint traces of spiritual energy. In fact, for her current state, such weak prey was ideal. Targeting those with combat-ready spiritual energy would have been too risky.

Amateur curse users, lacking both combat experience and proper training, were also perfect prey. Many of them were former tenant farmers or servants who, emboldened by their meager powers and resentful of the harsh treatment they endured under exorcists, practiced forbidden arts in secret. They knew nothing of the true terror of demons or how to deal with them. Using weaker clones as bait, she lured them in, exploiting their desire for experimental materials or curses. Once trapped, a few mid-tier clones would attack, leaving them helpless. In this way, she had devoured over a dozen of them.

...Among the curse users she had consumed, one had begged for his life and provided valuable information about a merchant caravan. The cargo was ideal for her needs, the porters were defenseless, and while the guards were troublesome, overwhelming them with numbers would suffice. Compared to the powerful beings lurking in the imperial palace, they were nothing. She had smiled at the perfect opportunity. Naturally, she had consumed the curse user in her favorite manner.

Yes, if she had devoured that caravan along with its cargo, she would have regained a significant amount of strength. By now, she should have... but then this happened!

"You damn monkeys...!!"

In a forest overlooking the lights of the capital, a large fox with four tails growled, her words half-curse, half-lament, fueled by resentment. Around her, a dozen smaller demon foxes gathered. Most were smaller than her, with only one or two tails.

"Groooowl..."

The fox demon crouched in pain. Though naturally sensitive to pain, this was something else entirely. How could this have happened...?

"Grrr... The cuts won't heal. And that woman... how dare she take my eye...!!!"

The shallow wound inflicted by that masked weakling's dagger still hadn't closed, continuing to bleed slowly despite her efforts. The blade must have been meticulously crafted, imbued with layers of curses specifically designed to harm demons. How infuriating.

But even more infuriating was the blow that had shattered the right side of her skull. Though the thrower's strength had been enhanced, the stone itself carried no spiritual energy. It was just an ordinary rock... and yet it had completely destroyed her right eye. The bleeding had finally stopped, but that was no consolation. Even now, she was plagued by a skull-splitting headache and nausea.

"You... you... you... How dare you humiliate me like this... I won't forgive you... I won't!!! When the time comes, I'll crush both your eyes with stones...!!!!"

Though she spat out her hatred in a venomous tone, the demon fox knew deep down that this was nothing more than the bitter grumbling of a loser. Demon foxes were intelligent. Unlike lesser demons driven solely by rage, she could calmly assess the gap between her own strength and that of her enemies. That was why, after splitting herself, she had chosen not to immediately attack the imperial palace but instead to slowly gather strength by preying on people in the new district and surrounding areas.

...Of course, it was also well-known that foxes were tenacious creatures, never forgetting past grievances.

"I thought the capital's authorities wouldn't interfere as long as I caused trouble outside the walls... but now, I have no choice. I wanted to regain more strength, but if I keep losing it like this, I should harvest what I can now...!!"

With that, the large fox stood up... and in the next moment, she sank her teeth into the head of one of her fellow foxes. The struggling creature was swallowed whole in a few bites, its resistance lasting less than ten seconds.

The other foxes stared in shock, but the large fox's sunken right cheek began to heal as if evaporating. At the same time, a fifth tail began to grow.

"Why the surprise? We were all originally one. Besides, I am the closest to the original. Isn't it only natural that I absorb you to heal my wounds and regain my strength as quickly as possible?"

She spoke as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. As her fifth tail swished, the heads of three nearby foxes flew off. The remaining foxes let out pitiful cries, their ears and tails drooping as they trembled and prostrated themselves.

The sounds of flesh and bone being crushed echoed through the forest as the large fox devoured her three companions, growing yet another tail.

"...Well, that should suffice for now."

The surviving foxes, fortunate to have escaped absorption, raised their heads at the sound of her voice—beautiful yet cruel, like the chime of a bell. Standing before them was a tall, silver-haired girl dressed in traditional clothing. She wiped a red stain from the corner of her mouth with a white finger and licked it clean.

"Shall we go greet them now? Our comrades, our core, our oldest memories... Though it's utterly loathsome and unpleasant..."

The female fox grinned, her lips curling up so sharply it seemed her mouth might split.

"Even if they are the weakest, most disgraceful fragments of us, right?"

With cruel, ruthless, and utterly contemptuous words, the demon fox sneered at the weakest of her clones, the one that represented their origins.

---

Half-demons, as the name suggests, are beings that inherit traits from both humans and demons. Based on current research, there are three primary pathways through which such beings come into existence.

The most straightforward is when a child is born from the union of a human and a demon. This can occur whether the father is human and the mother a demon, or vice versa. However, the most common scenario is a human woman being violated by a demon and giving birth.

Female demons are rare, and even among them, most despise and look down on humans. With the exception of certain species like the Jorōgumo spider demons, few female demons would willingly engage with human men. There are also cases where humans forcibly capture demons, but given the physical strength of demons, such instances are rare. On the other hand, human women are easier targets, especially those with spiritual energy, making them ideal prey for demons seeking power. Thus, this pathway has the highest occurrence rate.

...There are extremely rare cases of consensual relationships between humans and demons, but these are exceptions among exceptions.

The second pathway involves a human fetus undergoing a transformation into a half-demon while still in the womb.

This is typically caused by exposure to demonic energy. For example, if the mother stays in an area with high demonic energy during pregnancy, or if she is injured in a demon attack and absorbs demonic energy into her body. In extreme cases, a pregnant woman might be violated by a demon, resulting in the fetus being infused with demonic energy.

Demonic energy is the root of a demon's power. When it affects a fetus, the consequences can be severe... The earlier in pregnancy the exposure occurs, the greater the impact. For the mother, being directly exposed to demonic energy from within places a heavy burden on her body. In the worst cases, there have been instances where a half-demon infant tore through the mother's womb during birth. As a result, the imperial court has mandated that doctors perform abortions on half-demon fetuses free of charge, actively targeting them for termination.

---

The third pathway is somewhat similar to the second. It involves humans becoming half-demons after birth due to external factors.

There are several scenarios for this, but the most common include consuming demon flesh or blood, having demonic fluids or energy enter the body through wounds inflicted by demons, or accumulating demonic power through curses, leading to physical transformation. However, few humans become demons through this route.

Demon flesh and blood are not easily obtained, and consuming them once or twice won't immediately transform a human. The same goes for injuries—minor wounds won't cause significant changes, while severe injuries usually result in death from blood loss before any transformation can occur. Of course, there have been rare cases where demons intentionally inflicted non-fatal wounds on humans to facilitate their transformation, but such instances are exceedingly uncommon.

Regardless of the pathway, the imperial court does not recognize the existence of half-demons, with few exceptions.

From the court's perspective, even spiritual energy—a power most ordinary humans lack—is seen as a potential threat. To curb the influence of exorcists and warriors, the court has confined them to the frontlines in the provinces, using systems like alternate attendance to keep them in check. As a countermeasure against potential uprisings by those with spiritual energy or special abilities, the court has established military forces composed solely of ordinary humans, centered around gunpowder weapons like the Stone Fire and Rod Fire units, as well as assassination groups using poisons.

Given this, it's unthinkable that the court would tolerate demons, let alone half-demons who possess even a fraction of demonic power. While it's no longer common for half-demons to be killed on sight, as memories of past wars have faded, this was not the case a hundred or two hundred years ago. Back then, commoners would actively hunt half-demons, and in some regions, public executions of half-demons were even considered entertainment.

For the families of half-demons, having such a dangerous being among them was a source of shame and could lead to discrimination. Many half-demons were secretly killed by their own families or relatives. Their unique nature also made them targets for rogue curse users, who would sell them into slavery. In some cases, even prestigious exorcist families would "purchase" them for experiments or as pawns.

Thus, it's remarkable that one half-demon not only survived for 500 years but also rose to become the head of the Onmyō Bureau. Her story is an exceptional case.

As a refugee from a small country destroyed by demons during the Great Turmoil, the girl had no family and was abducted by human traffickers, eventually being sold to the state. She was used as a test subject for forbidden techniques the imperial court was researching at the time. The plan to mass-produce half-demon soldiers by exploiting the effects of demonic energy was relatively mild compared to other experiments conducted during that period.

Most of the half-demon soldiers were expended during the Great Turmoil, and those who survived but had undergone severe demonification, losing their human rationality, were euthanized. She retained her rationality because her demonification ratio was low, and the demonic energy infused into her came from a tanuki demon known for its low aggression and high intelligence. As a result, she was allowed to survive as a tool of the court.

As time passed... even though exorcists are long-lived compared to ordinary humans, they are still mortal. Before she knew it, she had become the eldest member of the Onmyō Bureau, respected for her deep knowledge and her status as a survivor of the Great Turmoil.

Of course, appointing a half-demon as the head of the Onmyō Bureau would normally be unthinkable... but when the Jade Tower Emperor personally appointed her a hundred years ago, no one dared to object.

The Jade Tower Emperor was a ruler who tightened the lax discipline of the court, promoted frugality and tax reductions, and appointed officials based on merit. His direct appointment of her signified that her talent and experience were deemed worthy of leading the Onmyō Bureau. Refusing was out of the question.

Though there was some envy, her tenure as head of the Onmyō Bureau lasted over 80 years, during which peace largely prevailed. This was due in part to her abilities, but also because there were no major upheavals during that time.

Incidentally, her gender was hardly an issue. In exorcist families, where spiritual energy and special abilities are valued over gender, there have been many female heads of the Onmyō Bureau throughout history.

...Her fall from grace came shortly after the death of the previous emperor, Yangsheng, and the ascension of the young Qingli Emperor. The Onmyō Bureau's Research Institute was discovered to have been secretly conducting forbidden experiments, led by its deputy head and research director, Daoyan Weng—also known as Matsushige Daoyan, the 28th head of the Matsushige family. Along with over a dozen other exorcists involved in the research, he fled, and as their superior, she bore responsibility. The only reason she wasn't imprisoned was due to her long service and past achievements.

Her status as a half-demon, combined with resentment from court nobles, subordinates dissatisfied with her long tenure, and ministers who found her difficult to deal with due to her abilities and connections, led to a compromise. Under the pretext of a general amnesty following the new emperor's ascension, she was stripped of her rank, exiled from the inner capital, and subjected to periodic inspections.

Having lost her position in the court, the half-demon chose not to disappear into obscurity. Instead, she settled in a renovated abandoned house in the new district of the capital, where surveillance was easier... along with several half-demon children who had been imprisoned in the Research Institute's underground cells as test subjects for forbidden techniques.

And so... she picked up a half-demon child begging in the new district and became the director of an orphanage and a teacher at a temple school. This is the story of Azuma Hibari, the woman who lived this life up to today.

---

"Hey, kids. I've cut the watermelon, so wash your hands."

Azuma, who had chilled the watermelon in well water stored in a jar, called out to the children playing tag in the yard.

"Okay!"

The children responded cheerfully. It was around two in the afternoon—time for a snack. The new district, though mostly made of wooden buildings and lacking the concrete jungles of modern cities, was still hot in the summer. The children, sweating from playing, were eager for something refreshing. The cold, juicy watermelon was a treat they couldn't resist.

The watermelon was small, watery, and not very sweet—a lower-quality fruit sold at half the usual price. But for commoners, it was still a delicacy, and the children eagerly grabbed slices and began eating.

"Hey, don't forget to say 'thank you' before eating. And make sure to spit out the seeds, okay?"

Azuma smiled as she reminded the children, who were enthusiastically devouring the watermelon. Then, her gaze fell on a girl with fox ears and a tail, watching the scene from a distance with hesitation.

"Shiro, what's wrong? Aren't you going to eat?"

Azuma gently called out to the girl who hadn't touched the watermelon. Shiro, the girl with fox features, looked down shyly and fidgeted before timidly opening her mouth to speak.

"Um... well, since everyone is eating, I thought it would be hard for me to take some..."

Azuma understood everything from the girl's expression and words. She was truly holding back.

Just the other day, this half-demon girl had been picked up from a wretched state, treated for her injuries, and became a new resident of this orphanage. With almost no memory and nowhere to return to, she had no choice but to stay. However... the girl, who called herself Shiro, was timid, reserved, and rarely asserted herself, perhaps due to her lack of memory. She always observed her surroundings, yielded to the other children, and never voiced her own desires.

In a way, she was a "good kid" who didn't require much attention, but at the same time, it was heartbreaking. From her experience, Azuma realized that the girl was afraid of being driven out of the orphanage.

"You must be tired and sweaty too, right? Eat properly. If you push yourself too hard, you'll collapse."

"Big sister, why don't you eat with us?"

As Azuma gently urged her, Akane, the little sister of everyone in the orphanage, approached the fox girl with her mouth stained with watermelon juice. Smiling, she offered a piece of watermelon with both hands.

"...Yeah, let's eat together."

After a moment of hesitation, the fox girl smiled softly and accepted the watermelon from the lizard girl. With a crisp sound, she took a bite and began chatting with Akane and the other children while eating.

Azuma glanced at the peaceful scene with a warm expression. Then, peering through the gaps in the sliding door, she wore a worried look that the children couldn't see.

"...Maybe I should strengthen the barrier."

What crossed Azuma's mind was the news she had heard recently—a merchant caravan on the road to the capital had been attacked by a group of demons.

This was an extremely serious incident. Large-scale attacks on caravans near the capital were rare. During her time as the head of the Onmyō Bureau, such incidents had only occurred once or twice.

"Apparently, they managed to repel the attack with few casualties... but that might make the townsfolk too complacent."

It was merely a repulsion. Several demons had likely escaped. Yet, many residents of the new town were already relaxing as if the problem had been resolved. The recent increase in missing persons—likely victims of demon attacks—had ceased, and the self-defense measures of staying indoors, locking doors, and carrying charms were being abandoned. Her temple school had been closed for the past few days for the safety of the students, but it was set to reopen tomorrow.

If anything, this was the time to be most vigilant... She knew all too well how cunning, cowardly, and despicable demons could be. Ideally, she would have liked to stay with the children a bit longer, but...

"Mom, you should have some watermelon too!"

One of the children, whom she cherished as her own, called out to her, snapping her out of her thoughts. Before her stood a young boy, offering a piece of watermelon with an innocent smile.

"...Ah, you're right. It looks delicious. I'll have some."

Healed by his pure expression, Azuma smiled softly and accepted the watermelon. With a crisp, satisfying sound, a faint sweetness spread in her mouth, and the refreshing juice soothed her throat.

After reassuring the children with a smile, Azuma discreetly glanced at the white-haired girl from earlier.

(A half-demon fox...)

Rumors said that the demons who attacked the caravan were also fox demons. Considering the timing, it was easy to jump to conclusions, but that would be too simplistic.

She didn't truly believe that the white-haired girl was an evil demon. If she were a demon, she would naturally possess demonic energy. Conversely, she would have no spiritual energy at all.

The girl, being a half-demon, possessed both demonic and spiritual energy in nearly equal measure. This meant she wasn't a full demon.

Besides, Azuma's eyes weren't fooled. She could tell if someone was lying or hiding their power, given enough time. The half-demon fox girl had nothing to be wary of in that regard. Everything she said was true, her personality wasn't an act, and her current power was nearly negligible. As a half-tanuki herself, Azuma was confident in this assessment.

Therefore, there was no reason to drive the girl away. If she were cast out, she would likely be the first to be devoured due to her fox blood. Alternatively, she might be kidnapped by local thugs or used as an experiment by rogue sorcerers. Worse, given the recent demon attacks, she might become the target of the townsfolk's anger and be beaten to death.

(And then there's that guy I need to keep an eye on...)

The person who had been with the fox girl when Azuma found her, carrying a spear and wearing a cloak that even she, a tanuki, couldn't immediately identify. The fact that he wore such a cloak suggested he was no ordinary person. Moreover, the moment she released her killing intent and prepared for battle, he withdrew, indicating he wasn't some amateur. He likely had formal combat training and real battle experience.

(Shiro... her injuries were severe, but...)

Even if half-demons are hard to kill, the indiscriminate nature of her injuries seemed unnatural for someone of his skill. If he had wanted to kill her, he wouldn't have left her in such a state. If he had intended to capture her, he wouldn't have caused so many wounds.

"..."

Azuma had no intention of suspecting the unfortunate girl. But at the same time, there were too many unnatural elements. This vague unease plagued her. No matter how much she agonized over it, she couldn't find answers with the information she had. Yet, she couldn't abandon her duties at the temple school either.

"Maybe I should set some conditions..."

As an exile from the Onmyō Bureau, it was difficult for her to legally obtain expensive and valuable tools, and her funds were limited. The barriers and shikigami she could create with her current tools were, even for her, of limited effectiveness. Besides, as a half-tanuki, she wasn't suited for direct combat as an exorcist. Therefore, the best way to strengthen security with limited resources was to set conditions. By adding conditions and restrictions to the activation of barriers, she could concentrate the necessary spiritual energy on specific targets.

"Let's see... the condition could be... only those invited by the children, perhaps?"

She had already instructed the children not to follow strangers or let them into the house. She would remind them to follow these rules strictly. Azuma continued to think of ways to protect the children in her absence.

Of course, a fox demon could use transformation techniques, and demons were liars by nature. But she had anticipated that. The orphanage's barrier was designed to detect lies and block illusions. There were no gaps.

Half-demons were both discriminated against and valuable. It wasn't just demon-haters who wanted them; human traffickers and rogue sorcerers also sought them out. The orphanage had even been attacked for this reason before. The children were well aware of this and wouldn't carelessly invite anyone in. That's why she added this condition.

Azuma was serious and sincere, truly acting to protect her children.

But... in a way, she might have grown complacent after a long period of peace.

Yes, she should have remembered that demons were endlessly cunning, cowardly, and despicable. If she had, she would never have allowed such carelessness or loopholes.

...And so, the stage was set for tragedy and calamity.

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