Hours passed as Ali followed the eagle through forests and across rivers. The eagle flew at full speed, but Ali kept pace effortlessly, running nonstop for hours without breaking a sweat.
As Ali leaped over a tree branch on the ground, he thought, 'People are going missing in this town, but it's only travellers who are disappearing—none of the victims are from the local population. This demon better be strong. I need a body bag to experiment with!' Just then, Ali heard the eagle's piercing call overhead.
Looking up at the giant wings in the sky, Ali suddenly halted as the forest cleared, revealing a fifty-meter-high cliff ahead. Standing on the edge, he gazed out into the distance and saw a medium-sized town with a small river running through it. It was a beautiful sight with the sunset casting a warm glow over the landscape.
Ali held out his hand as the eagle landed on it. "When you hear my whistle, that means the mission is over then you can go report back immediately," he instructed, then flung his arm upwards, sending the eagle soaring high into the sky toward the river, where it dove down to catch some fish for sustenance.
Ali took a deep breath before leaping off the cliff. He descended headfirst, the wind whipping his hair back as he plummeted—fifty meters, forty, thirty—then he quickly flipped, pulling the spear from his back and stabbing it into the solid cliff. The spear slowed his descent, carving a small fissure in the rock until Ali landed smoothly on the grassy field below. He holstered the heavy spear and sprinted toward the town.
The town itself was bustling with activity as people from all over the country filled the streets. A hub for travellers, it was a place to spend the night, sell wares collected on the road, or buy exotic goods from other travellers. Prosperity and opportunity buzzed through the air, oblivious to the danger lurking in the shadows.
As the last rays of sunlight faded, the town only grew louder. Locals flocked to their favourite taverns and restaurants, while outsiders searched for inns to rest for the night. Amidst the crowd, a tall foreigner with a handsome face and a massive spear strapped to his back walked down the main street, parting people as he went. His aura alone made people clear a path for him, avoiding eye contact.
'Now then, if I were a merchant looking to spend the night, where would I go?' Ali mused, observing the various shops and people around him as he continued walking, ignoring the stares he received.
After a while, Ali stopped at the entrance of a four-story Japanese wooden building, teeming with life as the noise of its patrons spilled onto the street. It was a large inn located in the heart of the town.
Inside, every table was filled with people talking, laughing, eating, and sharing stories of their travels with newfound friends. Pretty women with light makeup weaved through the tables, taking orders from customers. Everything was going smoothly until the door opened, and everyone turned to see the newcomer.
The once loud inn fell silent as they took in the sight of the man standing at the entrance. Ali glanced at the quiet crowd and walked in, scanning the room until he found an empty table by a window. He walked over and set his heavy spear against the wall next to him, the spear so weighty that the wooden wall creaked under its burden, causing everyone on the ground floor to hear it.
Ali sat down and gestured for one of the waitresses to come over. The girl, startled to be singled out by the handsome stranger, remembered her job and approached his table, her hands trembling slightly as she held an empty tray.
"What food are you serving tonight?" Ali asked, his voice calm.
The girl blushed under his gaze and took a deep breath before answering, "Tonight, our dishes are mainly focused on fish since it's in season right now."
Ali proceeded to order twenty-three servings of the fish dish, causing a ripple of murmurs from the other patrons at the absurd quantity of food. The inn's guests, having recovered from the shock of the imposing man now gazing out the window, resumed their noisy chatter.
A beautiful middle-aged woman with striking deep blue eyes and lustrous black hair styled in an elegant traditional Japanese fashion descended from the second floor to the first upon hearing about the intriguing stranger who had walked into her inn. Her kimono was rich and elaborate, adorned with delicate patterns of cherry blossoms and a vibrant sash that emphasised her graceful figure. She moved with a practiced elegance, her every step light and deliberate, exuding an air of quiet authority and refined poise. This woman, the owner of the establishment, had a reputation for her beauty and charm, which, combined with her sharp business acumen, made her a well-known and respected figure in the town.
"Hello, Tsuda-san, you look as beautiful as ever tonight," one of the locals complimented as she made her way downstairs to greet her guests.
"Oh, Kurata-san, it's so nice to see you in my inn tonight," Tsuda replied, smiling warmly as more customers complimented her beauty and invited her to join them for a drink.
Ali watched the scene with mild interest, scratching the tip of his nose with his finger.
The night wore on until midnight, with Ali's meal becoming a spectacle for all the patrons who couldn't help but watch him eat. Some even mustered the courage to approach him, but he quickly dismissed them. As the clock passed midnight, the ground floor of the inn began to empty. The locals headed home to the outskirts of town, while the travellers either rented rooms upstairs or left for cheaper accommodations, as this inn was more upscale.
The waitresses clocked out after finishing their shifts, leaving only two people on the ground floor. Behind the counter, Tsuda was wiping down the bar, her eyes fixed on the handsome man with the ominous spear beside him. "Sir, I will be closing the inn soon. You still haven't paid for your food," Tsuda said, her voice charming but tinged with an edge.
'Another foolish demon slayer snooping around in places they shouldn't,' she thought as Ali turned away from the window and met her gaze.
Ali smirked and stood up, grabbing his spear and letting its head drop heavily to the ground, leaving a small dent in the floor. He walked toward the trembling woman, dragging the spear behind him as it tore into the wooden planks.
Tsuda felt a chill run down her spine as the tall man stood on the other side of the counter, his midnight-coloured eyes boring into her.
Ali holstered the spear, easing some of the tension, and sat down on one of the wooden stools at the counter. He looked at Tsuda and said, "You know what's interesting? When I'm about to kill someone, most humans have the same terrified reaction—they can barely breathe." He paused, tapping the counter with his finger, and went silent for a minute, staring directly at the woman, who had stopped what she was doing, her hands at her sides, her heart racing.
"It's interesting that even man-eating monsters like you have the same reaction as their prey," Ali said, a demonic smile spreading across his face.
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