Before they could go much farther, they noticed someone walking ahead on the same path.
It was Toru Tanaka—Emi's older brother.
He seemed to be heading in the same direction as them.
After spotting them, Toru slowed his steps and looked at them with slight curiosity.
"Where are you two going?" he asked.
Haruto answered calmly, "We're heading to the public bath."
Toru raised an eyebrow slightly. "Did Emi not tell you?" he said. "You shouldn't walk around without her, especially not alone. It's dangerous."
His expression turned more serious as he continued.
"Most demi-humans around here don't like humans very much."
Haruto and Miyuki exchanged a brief glance.
Toru let out a small breath before speaking again. "I'm going there as well. So… let's go together."
Haruto nodded. "Alright."
With that, the three of them continued walking together toward the public bath.
After a short while, they arrived.
The building was large, much bigger than it had seemed from a distance. The entrance stood wide, with wooden doors and simple designs carved into the surface.
Once inside, they saw that the place was divided into two sections.
There were two doors ahead—one on the right and one on the left.
The door on the right was marked with blue, while the one on the left had a pink marking.
It was clear which was which.
Miyuki gave a small nod before heading toward the pink door.
Haruto and Toru walked toward the blue one.
As Haruto stepped inside, he noticed how spacious it was. The bath area was wide, with stone flooring and warm steam rising gently into the air. The faint sound of water echoed softly, creating a calm atmosphere.
After everything they had gone through that day, the place felt almost peaceful.
Without wasting time, they prepared themselves and began to wash, letting the warmth ease the tension in their tired bodies.
In the east, beyond the demi-human village, the forest stretched wide and dark. The ground was stained crimson, littered with the bodies of patrolling demi-human soldiers. Only one remained, a lone figure running desperately toward the village.
Before he could reach the forest's edge, a shadow dropped from above. A man appeared, descending swiftly from the branches. Steel gleamed in his hand. With a single, precise strike, he cleaved the survivor in two. The body fell heavily to the forest floor.
The man landed lightly, his boots barely touching the forest floor. His eyes scanned the village beyond, calculating and cold.
The sword in his hands was slick with blood. He bent slightly, scooping more from the fallen soldiers—and this time, without a hint of hesitation, he brought the blade to his lips and licked the crimson liquid, savoring it.
A soft, almost amused chuckle escaped him. "Not enough," he murmured, his gaze sharp, "but soon… very soon."
From the shadows behind him, more figures emerged. They were all dressed identically in black, faces hidden beneath hoods and masks. Only one remained unmasked—the leader.
The man with the bloodied sword was that leader. His eyes glimmered beneath the dim light filtering through the forest canopy, scanning the village beyond.