[You practice swordsmanship diligently every day, but unfortunately, your talent is average. You've reached mastery, but can't advance further]
Demon Slayer Swordsmanship (Mastery)
"That's it?"
Edward felt cheated and cursed in frustration.
He could feel the exhaustion in both his body and spirit. The moment he relaxed, a heavy wave of fatigue washed over him, draining him of all his strength.
He sighed, deciding not to dwell on complicated matters for now.
Just then, the blonde woman and her brother came in with a basin of hot water, intending to wash his feet, clearly trying to ease the tension and show their submission.
Edward opened his eyes to glance at them but refused their service.
"Leave. I'll sleep here for the night and be gone by morning."
His tone was calm, devoid of any emotional expression.
After all, the previous owner of this body had committed many wrongdoings.
No matter how kindly Edward acted now, it wouldn't erase the deep-seated fear and anxiety the siblings felt toward him.
Instead of subjecting them to further unnecessary stress, it was better to make it clear that he wouldn't stay long.
Hearing this, the blonde woman froze, her eyes filled with doubt. She seemed unable to believe that this once vicious man would leave so easily.
But soon, she pulled herself together, quickly tugged her brother along, and nodded repeatedly, whispering.
"You're too kind. You can stay as long as you like. Just call us if you need anything."
The siblings carefully carried the water basin and stumbled out of the room, clearly nervous and in a hurry.
That night, the blonde woman tossed and turned, unable to find peace.
Every time she closed her eyes, Edward's bloodstained face appeared before her, keeping her awake all night.
She was uncertain if this man would do something during the night, and her unease lasted until dawn.
At the first light of day, she vaguely glimpsed outside and noticed a shadow through the window.
Her eyes focused, revealing a young man dressed in the black uniform of a government official, with a sword at his waist, radiating a confident and dignified aura.
"Sis, Edward's gone."
The voice of the blonde boy reached her ears.
She froze for a moment, then exhaled deeply, muttering to herself.
"Gone? Good… good riddance…"
At last, the heavy weight on her chest was lifted, and her entire body relaxed.
She felt as if she had finally awakened from a long nightmare.
...
The morning dew dampened the air, and a thin mist lingered like a veil over the streets of White Deer Town.
Edward walked through the fog, his eyes falling upon a grand and solemn building ahead of him.
The White Deer Town Government.
He entered through the side door, moving with ease, and made his way down the corridors until he reached his room.
The White Deer Town patrol squad wasn't large, consisting of only seven or eight teams.
Edward was the captain of one such squad, commanding only eight patrolmen under his charge.
His immediate superior was Russell, the captain of the entire patrol squad in White Deer Town.
Sitting at his desk, Edward casually flipped through the papers scattered across it, but his expression soon darkened.
The reports were sloppy, with many records incomplete, and some were downright careless.
It was clear that this half-hearted approach had become a habit, with no sign of serious management.
In the White Bird Empire, the threat of demons had been an issue for years.
Although a special organization of demon hunters was established to combat these evil entities, their numbers were woefully insufficient.
Demon hunters would only fully intervene when the situation spiraled out of control.
Meanwhile, the responsibility for dealing with demon threats typically fell on local governments and the grassroots forces like patrol squads.
This arrangement often led to disorganization and negligence, particularly in remote areas like White Deer Town, where patrol management was extremely lax.
If the situation worsened and demons began to wreak havoc unchecked, the demon hunters would take over, and the entire local government would be dismissed, losing all control over the region.
Edward set the papers aside and fell into deep thought.
Sitting in his office, he began to piece together the former Edward's complex past.
The previous Edward had cleverly taken advantage of the chaos caused by the demon menace and the lax management in White Deer Town.
Through secret negotiations with the demons, he managed to maintain a false sense of peace in the town.
This approach not only earned the trust of his superiors but also reduced direct conflict with the demons, minimizing casualties among his subordinates.
As a result, Edward had built up a significant reputation in the town.
Over the years, Edward's cautious style had led him to become a strong candidate to succeed Captain Russell.
Although many people outwardly respected him, not everyone was truly on board with his methods behind closed doors.
Edward's gaze swept around the office, which was empty and eerily quiet.
At that moment, the door burst open, and a thin young man hurried in.
As soon as he saw Edward sitting in the chair, a flash of disdain crossed his face, a clear sign that he disapproved of the former Edward's reputation.
The young man quickly composed himself, his expression turning serious as he removed his hat, revealing a handsome face.
"Greetings, Mr. Edward."
His voice was respectful, but there was a noticeable coldness that he couldn't fully hide.
The newcomer was Richard, the youngest member of the patrol squad but already well-known.
His fame stemmed from his impressive talent, which had even earned him praise from a demon hunter officer in the past.
However, his youthful arrogance had led him to suffer several defeats at the hands of demons, resulting in harsh criticism from his superiors.
He was subsequently assigned to Edward for "training."
The two had clashed, both overtly and covertly, but in the end, Edward's cunning prevailed, and Richard begrudgingly followed his orders.
"Sir, I've just returned from the village. Something's happened there.
Although you've said not to worry about matters outside the town, this time the demons have broken the rules—they've settled in the village."
Richard's speech quickened, as if he were particularly anxious about being interrupted by Edward, likely a result of previous similar encounters.
"I hope… Sir could go… negotiate…"
When Richard uttered the word "negotiate," a flicker of humiliation crossed his face.
The word filled him with frustration and shame, but he still tried to maintain a respectful tone.
He knew full well that angering Edward would have severe consequences for him.
Based on Edward's previous behavior, when faced with such situations, he would usually brush them off and show little concern for the actual problem.
Richard knew that if he wanted Edward to truly address the issue, he would have to "persuade" him with care.
As Richard hesitated over how to continue his persuasion, Edward suddenly spoke.
"I remember the last time, the demon hunters brought a skill scroll. You borrowed it, didn't you?"
Hearing this, Edward stood up and left the office, stretching lazily, completely ignoring Richard's report.
"Huh?"
Richard stood frozen in place, stunned and alarmed.
Did Edward not hear a word of what he had just said? The demon problem was so serious, yet he showed no reaction at all?
"Give it to me."
Edward extended his hand, speaking casually.
Richard took a deep breath, feeling helpless.
He walked quickly to his desk, pulled out a well-preserved parchment from a carefully locked drawer, and reluctantly handed it over.
Richard's heart ached.
Knowing Edward's past habits, this valuable parchment would likely be treated as a trinket, perhaps given to some woman he fancied, rather than being appreciated for its worth.
To Richard's surprise, Edward accepted the parchment calmly, with no trace of the usual disdain.
He nonchalantly turned and walked out of the room, leaving Richard standing there, gripping his sword, his anger and frustration growing.
Just as Richard stood there, lost in thought, half of Edward's body suddenly appeared back through the doorway.
"Are you expecting me to go alone?"