Demon Progenitor Development Project

As a boy, Komaji felt that he was an unfortunate person, unfortunate to be born into a poor family and unfortunate to have a father who was seriously ill.

My father needs medicine for his illness.

And it requires a lot of money.

A number that a poor family cannot afford.

His father was his only family, and Komaji, unwilling to give up, listened to his father's bitter sighs and secretly made up his mind.

"catch him!"

"You little thief!"

Several heavily armed men, shouting as they chased after the desperately running boy, were on the same side.

(PS: "Dōshin" is an official title in the Edo Shogunate, similar to a junior police officer; "Jitsu" is an ancient police baton, and in the main family, there is a similar thing called an iron ruler. These things are pretty much the same.)

Unfortunately, the shouts and curses from the group gradually subsided, as they couldn't catch up with the boy who was as fast as the wind.

Komaji stopped, panting, took his money bag, avoided the crowd's gaze, and quietly returned home through the narrow alley.

Back home, Komaji carefully disposed of the money pouch, took out the money, and then went to cook dinner.

He is very busy.

This impoverished family relied entirely on Komaji for survival, and the seriously ill father kept his relatives at a distance.

After preparing the meal, Komaji brought in the food—raw fish and white rice—but he had already eaten the bean rice mixed with millet seeds.

"Click——"

The precious white rice fell to the ground, which would normally make Komaji feel heartbroken.

At this moment, Komaji just stared blankly at the corpse that had long since stopped breathing in mid-air.

A few days later—Komaji's father's funeral began.

Komaji proceeded with the funeral in a methodical manner, like an empty doll.

The neighbor, unable to bear seeing Komaji like this, comforted him, saying, "Komaji, your father did this for your sake. He didn't want to be a burden on you anymore. He was originally the pillar of the family, not a bedridden cripple. For him... this might be a good ending."

In ancient times, when people could no longer survive, an elderly person from a poor family would always leave and never return.

They chose to leave the hope of life to their descendants and leave death to themselves.

No, that's not true at all.

My father only despised my behavior of acquiring wealth through theft; I have brought shame upon him.

Memories of arguing with his father surfaced in Komaji's mind.

Komaji felt sad, but also vaguely relieved and ashamed.

The day after the funeral, Komaji went out to steal again. This time, however, he did not run away. Instead, he was caught, tattooed with the mark of theft, and then exiled.

After being exiled, Komaji didn't know what to do and just wandered aimlessly, occasionally taking odd jobs to make ends meet.

Until he met the benefactor of his life—Keizo.

Qingzang is a good person with a cheerful and generous personality.

"Oh, young man, thank you for finding my purse! Let me treat you to noodles!"

Without allowing Komaji to refuse, the middle-aged Keizo put his arm around Komaji's shoulder and led him to his usual freak clinic.

A steaming bowl of soba noodles was placed in front of Komaji, who watched this scene in silence.

He didn't understand. Was it because the tattoos on his arm weren't noticeable? (The three dark blue tattoos near Komaji's wrists were very prominent, indicating that he was a thief.)

This idiot actually invited a criminal to eat noodles?

"Eat up, young man, don't be shy."

Keizo laughed heartily and began to eat without any hesitation.

Komaji had long been looked down upon by many people because of his tattoos and was completely unaccustomed to Keizo's mannerisms.

"Thank goodness it wasn't lost, I need to buy clothes for my daughter."

Qingzang, who has a daughter, smiled sheepishly as he counted the money in his purse and chatted as he explained a lot of things.

"Why...why are you saying all this? I'm a criminal."

Komaji was utterly confused. He didn't seem like the kind of person Keizo should be sharing his daily life with.

They were complete strangers meeting for the first time!

“Young man, that only shows the mistakes you made in the past. Who doesn’t make mistakes?” Keizo pointed to the tattoo on Komaji’s arm.

"Besides, weren't you waiting for me with your money bag?"

Komaji didn't say anything; he had snatched the money pouch from a thief.

Having a history of theft, he could tell that the cloth used for the money bag was of poor quality; it was just that the technique was skillful and it looked very nice.

How can a piece of cheap fabric be filled with so much money?

This indicates that the owner of the money bag was very poor but needed to spend a lot of money.

Komaji had been scolded by his father for this before.

He wouldn't steal money from noble knights, because if caught, he'd be beaten or even killed—he simply couldn't afford to offend them.

He could only steal money from ordinary people.

When his father found out, he was furious. Stealing someone's hard-earned money or money meant to save their life was utterly despicable.

Therefore, Komaji took action to seize the item and waited for Keizo, the owner, to come to him.

"What's your name, young man?"

"...Komaji".

Looking at the disheveled boy, Qingzang sighed quietly, feeling that he couldn't just leave him alone.

"Komaji, you probably don't have a place to stay yet, right? Come to my dojo! My dojo is short of people."

Komaji: ? ? ! !

And so, through sheer force of choice, Komaji became a member of the Soryu Dojo and also became part of Keizo and Koyuki's family.

*

"Komaji, dinner's ready!" Koyuki called out to Komaji, who was drawing.

"coming."

Without a second thought, Komaji put down his pen and ran toward Renyuki.

A corner of the drawing paper fluttered in the wind, and several koi fish seemed to come alive on the drawing.

The Suryu Dojo has a koi pond. Keizo and Renyuki both love these beautiful fish, and even though the dojo is struggling financially, they never thought of selling them.

Since Komaji joined, this lucky charm has a new job: modeling for Komaji.

Komaji's student-level artwork would be collected, critiqued, and collected by his teacher, Koyuki.

Komaji, who came from a humble background, never dreamed that he would come into contact with such an elegant art as painting.

"I'm gonna start now."

Komaji sat at the small table, with Koyuki on his left and Keizo on his right. It felt like a dream. Was this kind of happiness really something he could have?

Keizo patted Komaji on the back and laughed, "Don't look like you're dreaming. A man should be more composed. I'm entrusting Komaji to you!"

Lianxue blushed shyly.

Komaji said resolutely, "I will definitely protect Koyuki!"

Qingzang was overjoyed; the penniless boy of yesteryear had grown into a strong and upright man.

*

Happiness comes and goes as quickly as it arrives.

One day, Komaji held up some beautiful jewelry he had bought from the Evergreen Trading Company, intending to give it to Koyuki and win her favor.

Back home, Komaji once again faced the scene of his family leaving.

Qingzang and Lianxue collapsed on the dining table, black blood at the corners of their mouths, clearly indicating they had died from poisoning.

Komaji's eyes were practically popping out of their sockets.

The temple next door.

"Luckily, Komaji hasn't married Koyuki yet, otherwise he would still have a share in this dojo. Now it's great, the Soryu Dojo will soon be mine!"

"That old bastard Qingzang, he said he'd pay money to buy his dojo, but he won't give it to him? What a waste of his beautiful daughter."

"That's it."

The two poisoners laughed heartily.

Komaji pushed open the door of the dojo next door, his gloomy eyes sweeping over the people inside. He rushed in expressionlessly, swinging his fists and unleashing vicious kicks.

In an instant, blood splattered everywhere, and death descended upon them.

"Komaji!?"

"Wait! We didn't do it!"

Komaji didn't listen; he just kept swinging his fists, using all his strength, as if he were roaring, venting the hatred and regret in his heart.

Why did you scum have to kill Master Qingzang, such a good person!

Even though you've been causing trouble at the Su Liu Dojo and preventing your master from taking on any new disciples, your master has never blamed you!

Bastard! Bastard! Bastard!

Why take away his last safe haven!

In no time, there was not a single survivor left in the dojo.

Covered in blood and filthy grime, Komaji emerged and returned to the Soryu Dojo.

After this horrific scene was discovered, the deaths of nearly a hundred people exceeded people's imagination of individual strength, and thus legends about ghosts began to circulate.

*

At night, Komaji sat alone in front of the tombstone, lost in thought.

"Hey! Kid! You're the one who killed those hundred people next door, aren't you?" A hawk that flew over landed on the roof and suddenly spoke in human language.

Komaji's eyes remained fixed, showing no surprise whatsoever at the falcon speaking.

"Did someone close to you die?"

"Perhaps I have a way to get them up again?"

Komaji suddenly looked up at the strange eagle.

"any solution?"

"Even if it means being shattered to pieces, suffering countless torments, and descending to the eighteenth level of hell, I wouldn't hesitate?" A human-like evil expression appeared on the falcon's eagle face.

"Of course, only you can do it! I'll do anything for you!"

Komaji, kneeling on the ground, stared intently at the hawk.

The eagle, or rather, the lurking falcon, smiled cunningly.

"But before that, you'll have to go through training."

“培训？”

"Yes, it's about attending classes and studying."

Ha! Kid, get ready for the tortures of knowledge! —From Fujun, who hates studying

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Komaji and Koyuki are the perfect pairing of a delinquent and a rich girl!

Lianxue's family runs a dojo and raises koi fish; they are clearly a family that has never had to worry about food or clothing.

Komaji came from a humble background and was a criminal!