From the refrigerator, Kurumi cruelly took out the coffee pudding left behind by Kusuo Kusuo, smiling as she answered Dazai’s question.

“You’re asking where Kusuo went? He must be out saving the world.”

“…You’re serious, aren’t you, madam?”

Dazai was baffled; his telepathic analysis seemed to fail when it came to Kurumi. Everything she said came out effortlessly, without filtering through her brain. Perhaps in every mother’s heart, their son was a hero destined to save the world.

“But since Kusuo hasn’t come back for so long, maybe he’s found someone he likes outside. Ah, Kusuo is at that age now. Feel free to eat the coffee pudding, no need to save any for him.”

Kurumi still missed her missing son after all these days. After all, her husband was constantly bellowing: “Where’s Kusuo A-dream? The TV at home is broken / I’m going to be late for work / I forgot my keys again, help!”

Unintentionally, a dark cloud of frustration brewed in Kurumi’s heart.

The coffee pudding became a sacrifice.

“I won’t hesitate then, madam,” Dazai said, without declining the sweet treat. After tasting it himself, he didn’t offer any to Hyakki. Ultimately, his mistrust towards strangers far exceeded that of an ordinary person.

Curious, Kurumi asked, “Does this child not eat?”

Hyakki quietly “looked” at her, his hand unmoving, held under the table by Dazai.

Dazai explained on his behalf, “He has no tongue, cannot taste food, no hearing to hear the gentle voice of Madam, and he has no sight to see this world.”

Kurumi was stunned.

In the lives of ordinary people, encountering injury or being dismissed from work would be a significant setback, even for Kurumi, who had a genius elder son and a superpowered younger son. She had been shielded very well, never exposed to darkness, so how could she understand someone like Hyakki?

She exclaimed, looking with concern at Hyakki, who had no apparent flaws.

“This child is so pitiful! “

“No.”

Dazai raised Hyakki’s hand and made a beckoning cat gesture, amusing himself, and said playfully, “Hyakki is not pitiful at all. He can see the spiritual world that we cannot see, discern good from evil, defeat demons and monsters, and not even break a sweat in summer…”

“Madam, in his eyes, you are a kind and good person, so I am willing to believe in you.”

“Please help him.”

Dazai’s iris-colored eyes and Hyakki’s gray-brown eyes looked at Kurumi together, an indescribable bond forming between the two, with no third person able to intervene.

When imperfection turns into perfection, gloom is purified, and the most positive human light bursts forth.

Kurumi was instantly won over.

Mission accomplished.

She was deeply moved, tears streaming down, and immediately said, “But Kusuo isn’t home…”

Kusuo Kusuo?

Dazai once again realized that in the heart of this lady, someone else was the most formidable.

The TV on the first floor of the Kusuo household turned on automatically, emitting a faint buzzing sound. After a few seconds, a blond youth appeared on the screen, his arrogant and aloof voice interrupting their conversation.

“Mom, do you only remember Kusuo? Kusuo isn’t out on a date; he’s running around being chased by a dog, so he can’t come back right now to eat his coffee pudding.”

“Oh? Kusuke?”

Kurumi was pleasantly surprised.

The long-offline genius elder son of the Kusuo family successfully came online.

Ignoring his mother’s dullness, Kusuo sat in his high-backed chair, his cold gaze fixed on Dazai.

“Are you trying to garner sympathy from me and Kusuo’s mother? I’ve overestimated you, Ability User,” he remarked, his words dripping with venom.

“Ah,” Dazai sighed, smiling wryly. “Mrs. Kusuo is indeed a rare and precious good person in this world.”

Indeed, Hyakki seemed to be the nemesis of all good people.

As expected, Kurumi clasped her hands together, wearing an expectant expression. “Kurumi, since Kusuo isn’t home, let’s help this child regain his sight and enjoy tasting food, okay?”

Internally, Kusuke coldly thought: Not okay.

Nevertheless, he was caught by the soft spot of family ties and said with a troubled expression, “Mom, I’m really busy.”

Kurumi was puzzled. “If Kusuo isn’t here, what is Kusuke researching?”

Kurumi, who had always been overshadowed by his superpowered younger brother since childhood, answered with great pride, “Kusuo needs me to save him. As his older brother, I can’t just stand by. I’ll come help after I figure out how to deal with that dog.”

Kurumi found herself in a dilemma. Considering Kusuo was bitten by a dog, Kusuke’s involvement in killing the dog seemed justified. Dazai took a step back and said, “I’ve heard Mr. Kusuo is a renowned inventor from Cambridge University, with a reputation surpassing even his younger brother’s. Since Mr. Kusuo excels in invention and creation, could you perhaps create a growth-adjustable spinal prosthesis?”

Dazai thought it would be difficult, but to his surprise, Kusuo responded without hesitation, “It’ll be delivered in seven days.”

With a snap, the TV abruptly shut off as if eager to end the disturbance.

Dazai: “…”

Mr. Mori, is this what you meant by contemporary technology being incapable?

Dazai hesitated, glancing at the intuitively perceptive Hyakki, who sensed no issues. In Hyakki’s world of perception, the life flames of “Dororo” and the pure white life flames of Kurumi Kusuo coexisted peacefully.

The world was beautiful.

Hyakki couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed for not finding any demons.

Suddenly, Hyakki’s head turned slightly, his inorganic cold gaze directed towards a specific direction outside.

Demon Radar.jpg

Thirty kilometers away from Yokohama, a plane from Italy landed at Tokyo Haneda International Airport.

A white-haired youth with a non-mainstream style, wearing a studded collar around his neck, exposed shoulders, and ragged jeans, emerged enthusiastically dragging a suitcase.

“I’m here for Yokohama Park’s crepes!”

Wait, saving people?

That was just a side effect of tourism and enjoying sweets. You had to have fun first before putting any serious thought into things.

But Bai Lan didn’t know that the intense red aura emanating from him was about to pierce through space.

The ultimate red name has arrived.