For the rest of the night, I cut up all the zombie demons one piece at a time, leaving only minced meat.
Although I didn't approve of such brutal methods, there were three factors at play.
First, survival instincts. I didn't want to die here, so it helped my strength.
Two, Denji's painful memories. Though he was dumb, and an obedient mutt of the Yakuza, he himself disliked them to the very end. Not only his father, but also those freaks didn't let him live a normal life. To pay off his dead father's debts, he went out of his way, and even sold his organs.
The third and final interaction with the power of the saw. When I became a demon myself, I was driven by bloodlust. I was in my mind and could think, but my body moved on instinct, doing impossible things. It was as if I was a berserker and went on a rampage, but I moved smoothly with the flow.
*Vr-r-r*
Sitting on the corpses, I stabbed the last zombie's body and vertically slashed, whereupon it fell down.
- Phew... The last one....
The saws in my hands broke and disappeared as if they weren't there, and my face melted, leaving a strange liquid on the ground, which immediately dried up without leaving a trace.
- So that was it... Turning off the transformation was easier.
Before that, I pulled the cord in my chest every 15-20 minutes, as a result, I stayed in demon form. But if the time limit runs out, I'll be human again.
- Is it... Morning already? - Looking up at the roof of the hangar, I noticed glimpses of the day's dim light. - Dawn.
I survived after all...? I still feel lousy... It's like my strength has been sucked out of me. No... I still have a few tenths of a percent of my strength. Probably from the blood loss.
Except I'm hungry. No wonder. This body's been eating nothing but bread and stale food. Oh, Denji-Denji-Denji. Why are you so unlucky in life?
Standing up from my comfortable seat, I stretched and walked towards the exit. Before I did, though, I realized one thing.
- If they're corpses... They don't need some things, do they? - I smirked.
Out of 100 zombies, I left five corpses intact.
- The people with rottenness started to rot. Ironic, to say the least. - I whispered to myself as I searched the corpses.
One corpse belonged to a Japanese mafia boss who had made me, as well as the under-batya, pay his debt.
The other four were acolytes trusted by the old man. Danji remembered them well, so thank him that I was able to stop myself from destroying the bodies.
Their pockets were obviously stuffed with cash, or some other valuables.
When I searched the mob boss first, I found a wallet. It was about 35,000 yen, which is both small and large. Although I don't know the current exchange rate in dollars. Anyway, it's not like this old guy keeps all his wealth around with him... Unless it's in the car outside.
Finding a couple more rings that were pure silver, I put them in the old man's purse.
Seeing the credit cards, and a couple other unnecessary business cards, I threw them away. They're of no use to me...
What caught my eye, of course, was the photo of the old man with some kid. Apparently, it's his grandson.
- Well, fuck him. - I shrugged my shoulders and threw the picture away, too. - Demons don't have consciences, so why should I? - humming, I searched the other corpses.
The other four didn't have much cash, but there were some nice bonuses in the form of rings and bracelets that could be exchanged for money at some pawn shop.
- And now, we can get out of here... For my nose can't stand the smell of blood anymore.
Just as I was about to leave, the hangar door opened. It blinded me for a couple seconds.
Seeing who decided to enter the hangar so early in the morning, I prepared to pull the cord on my chest. Whether it's a human or another demon, I can't let them get away.
There's only one way out of here and that's the main hangar door. There's no point in hiding, either.
- That's odd. Is everyone dead?
A woman's voice, filled with curiosity and coldness, carried throughout the building. And not just my back, either.
Either from the surprise of hearing the sound of a "living" person, or from fear.
Standing in front of me were three men in black suits and overcoats. Two men on either side with hats, and one woman
A beautiful young woman of about twenty-five years of age with light brownish red hair braided into a braid with a quiff and two loosely falling curls on either side framing the girl's face. She has a golden-colored iris with many red "rings" encased around the pupil.
The snow-white skin, and the dead stare of the fish were mesmerizing and frightening at the same time....
- Ms. Makima. There's a man in there. - the guy whispered to his boss, apparently.
I had good hearing...
- Hm... - she hesitated and walked towards me. - Who are you?
- Me? - After a moment's thought, I had to say what came to mind. - Private demon hunter. And you are, as I understand it...
Looking at their clothes, I realized they were public-safety demon hunters. They're pretty famous all over the world.
Every country has demon fighters, and civilian hunters are in fact illegal laborers. No... They can defend themselves and kill demons, but are restricted in many ways.
- ...From public safety?
- That's right. - Nodding, she smirked. - And by law, you are forbidden to kill demons of middle class and above. - She tilted her head and regarded me from head to toe, but her gaze stopped at my chest, where I held the cord at the ready. - Are you a demon? No... Half demon.
"Fuck..." - I sighed, realizing that this smelled like kerosene.
What am I surprised about, though? Standing there holding a strange cord that was inside my chest. Not every person does that, at least I don't think so.
- Huh. Yeah. I had to confess. - But I didn't kill people, I killed zombies. They attacked me and all the corpses were already zombified because of the zombie demon. - I tried to explain what happened here.
- Anyway, you already broke the law and lied to me. If you were human, you would have gotten off with a fine or punishment. But I found out you're a demon. - She came closer and suddenly started sniffing me.
- Feh. Get away from me, you crazy woman. - I took a couple steps back, cause she was giving me the creeps.
- Heh-heh. I like the way you smell. Not human, not demonic. Although... It's like you don't just have two scents, but several at once.
Did she notice something? I'd understand if she could detect both demon and human scents in me at once, but more than one?
- I take it you're not just going to let me go? - Frowning, but still smiling calmly, I looked straight at her, cord at the ready.
- You're an interesting guy. - She closed her eyes. - Then let's do it another way.
Raising my eyebrows, I wondered what she had to offer, but I sensed a setup.
- How?
- You'll be in my care and become my pet. - she smiled devilishly.
It's like I'm making a contract with someone... Huh... Why am I so unlucky?
- Hmm... Can I think about it? - I asked a question.
- I think you're in no position to think and choose between life and death. Think carefully, because your life literally depends on your answer.
Yeah. It's not an easy situation. That strange lady could really kill me. She's too strong and dangerous, for God's sake.
Why do I pray to God? Isn't he the one to blame for this?
"So... Wait... I'm a half-demon. Practically a demon, if you put it that way. Which means..."
- Huh..." I let go of the cord and stepped back a couple steps, as the woman stared at me, almost point-blank. - Then we'll make a contract. - I smirked.
- Contract? - She tilted her head and looked at me with more curiosity than before. - Does that make sense? I could just kill you and no problem.
- That's the point. - I crossed my arms, showing only my confident side. You don't want to give any slack in these verbal fights. - I've been killing demons for a long time, and I have a whole garage of experience behind me. That's why I would like to join your organization myself.
- Hmm... - she put her fingers to her chin and thought for a moment.
- And besides. - pointing my thumb at my chest, I said the following. - I have the heart of a chainsaw demon and I can transform demon.
- ...
The silence was long. Tension was rising and the hangar still reeked of blood. Already plotting my escape plan, I concentrated on breaking between the two hunters who stood at the main doors.
- So what do you want? - The lady asked me, her ears perked up.
- For starters... What's your name? - I smiled, asking the beauty's name.
- Makima.
Well... I'll try to negotiate with this strange lady named Makima.
To be continued...
===============>