Those thoughts churned in his mind as they approached what seemed to be their destination—a well-kept country manor where a well-dressed, gray-haired merchant eagerly greeted them. His green kimono seemed oddly familiar, but Ryuichi wasn’t sure why.

The elderly merchant bowed to Koichi. “Thank goodness you’ve arrived. I was terrified that the monks had refused my plea.”

Ryuichi’s ears perked up at that. What did monks have to do with their being here?

“Ever since my wife was afflicted, I’ve been at my wit’s end. I simply don’t know what to do anymore. I can’t sleep. Can’t eat. All my thoughts are consumed with how much pain she must be in.”

Koichi straightened his clothes in an attempt to be presentable, or at least not offensive. “The payment?”

“Ah yes.” The merchant took out a small red sack and showed their sensei its contents. “Rare golden coins, straight from China,” he whispered.

When Koichi reached out to take them, the merchant returned the sack to his pocket. “Only after the job is done.”

Koichi sighed wearily. It was obvious he wanted payment in advance, but for whatever reason, he restrained himself from simply taking it from the much smaller man. “As you wish.”

Koichi ordered the students to dismount and go inside the merchant’s home.

That eerie feeling of being watched continued to crawl over Ryuichi’s skin. He followed the other students, but not before checking behind him.

Only shadows were there.

Why did the shadows innately creep him out?

Even weirder, there was a peculiar glint in Koichi’s eyes. Their sensei clearly had a secret. Ryuichi just didn’t know what it was.

Evil cause. Evil effect.

But those thoughts fled as he entered the massive home, only to find it completely bare inside. No furniture or much of anything.

Toru sighed at the sight. “Poor man must have sold everything to help his wife.”

Ryuichi scowled. “How do you mean?”

Masa drew his sword as he moved forward cautiously. “We’ve seen this a lot. Demon slayers prey on these people—they steal their money without doing a thing, and then leave them plagued.”

Shigeru sneered. “I say they’re worse than the demons we fight. Anyone who’d take advantage of someone during a bad time in their life . . . shame on them. They should be fed to the demons for what they do.”

Made sense. Ryuichi had never liked predators either . . . mostly because they usually preyed on him.

The seven of them worked their way room by room through the empty home. Koichi remained outside in order to make small talk with the merchant.

Their voices were faint through the walls, but Ryuichi heard their discussion all the same.

“They seem remarkably young. Do you think they can handle this?” the merchant asked. “All the ones before them have failed.”