The Laughing Swordsman

It did not take long for the two of them to get near the wide gate of the city.

Layla smiled.

"We are almost there!"

Apollo nodded enthusiastically.

"Yeah! Let's-"

A thundering crash resounded from their front. Snow scattered high into the air, obscuring whatever it was that appeared.

Layla waved her hand around, trying to blow away the specks of snow.

"Gah! Where did all this snow come from?"

Apollo coughed due to inhaling some of the snow.

"I think something fell down!"

A deep and silky voice rang out, making the air vibrate ever so slightly.

"Referring to me as something is quite rude, wouldn't you say?"

The voice spoke slowly, as though it was giving a gift by letting people hear it. By speaking this way, it gave others time to bask in the words he said.

Apollo scratched the side of his head.

"Ah, was it rude?. But everything is something, right? That means I wasn't wrong!"

Layla nodded.

"Oh! That does make sense!"

The snow cleared to reveal a demon with five horns on its head.

It was not too tall, just barely higher than two meters. However, the five-horned demon stood with pride, making it look taller than he really was. Other than its black skin, it looked strangely close to a human.

The five-horned demon's face appeared to be deliberately sculpted by an expert craftsman. This was especially apparent through its sharp jawline and high cheekbones.

The five-horned demon had sunken cheeks that made its face look a little long. Normal demons had bright yellow irises, but this demon had mysterious silver irises instead.

The five-horned demon chuckled before lifting up his head. He had neat and shiny silver hair that was just barely long enough to reach the top of his neck.

His horns were not particularly large. They peeked out of his silver hair like claws. Despite their pitch-black color, they let out a faint luster.

"Haha, I suppose we should cut to the chase. What are you two doing here?"

Layla blinked a few times.

"Ah, why are we here?"

Apollo scratched the side of his head.

"We were going to ask to find... that one person."

The five-horned demon used a finger and thumb to smoothen a fold of his white suit jacket. There was a blue vest underneath, however, they didn't hide its toned body. Either the demon's body was too big, or the vest was too small.

"...May I know the name of this mysterious individual?"

Layla replied confidently with her arms high in the air.

"We both know you!"

The five-horned demon raised an eyebrow. He reached into the pocket of his white suit pants, taking out a sleek silver pen.

"You two know me?"

Layla shook her head.

"No, no. We both know you!"

The five-horned demon chuckled while twirling the silver pen in its hand.

"Are you perhaps weaving an elaborate jest?"

Apollo chimed in.

"I think the name was something like that... Or maybe it was that?"

A small smile emerged on the five-horned demon's face.

"It won't be easy to find an individual when their name itself is a question."

Layla scratched the side of her head.

"What?"

Apollo loudly whispered to Layla while holding a hand to the side of his face. It was as though he believed a hand would block all sounds going towards the five-horned demon.

"I think he means it will be hard to find him if we don't know his name."

Layla giggled.

"But we know his name, silly! We both know you!"

Apollo rubbed his chin with his thumb and forefinger.

"Oh... that is a strange name."

The five-horned demon nodded.

"That is a strange name indeed. Almost as strange as you two."

Layla tilted her head to the side.

"Eh? How are we strange?"

Apollo scratched the side of his head.

"I think I'm pretty normal..."

The silver pen had been spinning around in the five-horned demon's hand. Suddenly, it stopped. The demon caught his pen before pointing it towards Layla.

"At first glance, you simply seem peculiar. Some human girl that attached the ears of a beast to your head and can endure the cold weather despite wearing an unbuttoned red jacket."

The corner of the five-horned demon's lip turned up.

"However, then comes the tail you can move so freely. If someone watched closely, they would see that your ears do the same. At first glance you appear human, however, you are part of a different species. One that I have never seen before in all my years."

Layla jumped up and down enthusiastically.

"Wow! I sound so cool and mystifying!"

The five-horned demon chuckled.

"That is because you are, my visitor."

Apollo raised his free hand in the air.

"Oh, oh! What about me?"

The five-horned demon nodded.

"Don't worry, I didn't forget about you."

He twirled the silver pen in his hand, pointing it towards Apollo.

"As for you... You also appear to be a human. However, you are someone that navigated their way through the forest without so much as a scratch."

Apollo tilted his head to the side.

"Eh? But it was mostly Layla... taking me with her."

The five-horned demon laughed.

"Regardless, you have traveled through the forest unscathed. Perhaps a veteran could pull such a thing off if this veteran was lucky and had the proper tools..."

The demon held the end of the pen between his middle finger and thumb. His forefinger had raised before pushing the end of the silver pen.

A soft click echoed throughout the snowy plain as the tip of the pen poked out.

"The only inconsistency with that is your young age and seemingly useless weapon."

Apollo waved his bokken around with annoyance.

"It's not useless! You can practice swinging the sword!"

He continued waving his bokken around as though he wanted to prove a point.

The five-horned demon sighed.

"Yes, yes. That is part of the reason why I said seemingly."

The demon proceeded to click his pen once more and put it back into its pocket.

"However, that is far from the most peculiar thing about you."