Chapter 499: The Meeting, Part 2

Hiyori was a little shocked by the announcement, but when she thought about it, she realized that it wasn’t exactly something she hadn’t expected. Even at a young age, she had already understood that, as a member of the Ichinose Family, she would eventually be married off to someone from another branch of the Demon Hunter Association. It was simply one of the responsibilities that came with being born into a family like hers, and she had grown up knowing that her own wishes might not matter much when the time finally came.

Haruna, on the other hand, didn’t seem particularly bothered by the whole arrangement. She had known for a long time that she would eventually marry one of the men involved in their family’s affairs, and she had already resigned herself to that possibility. Although she certainly wasn’t fond of the idea of having her marriage arranged for her, she wasn’t naive enough to believe that the situation offered her nothing in return.

If anything, she had already started thinking about how she could make the most of it.

After all, whoever ended up becoming her husband would have to work hard to keep her satisfied, both in terms of their family responsibilities and whatever else she decided to demand from him. She had no intention of spending her entire life obediently following a man simply because their family had decided that they were a suitable match. If she was going to be forced into a marriage, then she would at least make sure that she was the one who benefited from it.

Besides, Haruna had plenty of other desires she wanted to fulfill. She wanted to live a lavish life, enjoy the luxuries that came with her position, and surround herself with men who could entertain her. The idea of having several men at her beck and call was certainly appealing to her, even if it wasn’t something that society would readily accept.

From what she had observed, most people seemed to take monogamy for granted. Being involved with several partners, especially for a woman in her position, would probably be frowned upon. Still, Haruna wasn’t particularly interested in letting other people’s opinions dictate how she lived her life. If she could find a way to get what she wanted without causing too much trouble for herself, then she would gladly take it.

Of course, she understood that there would be limits to what she could do. Her family had its reputation to maintain, and the people surrounding her would undoubtedly have their own expectations. Even so, she wasn’t about to abandon her ambitions simply because someone might disapprove of them.

Haruna had been born with power, and she had spent much of her life surrounded by people who treated her accordingly. From a young age, she had been taught, directly or indirectly, that her status gave her privileges that ordinary people could only dream of. It wasn’t particularly surprising that she had grown accustomed to getting her way.

In fact, the longer she lived with that kind of privilege, the more she began to feel as though the world itself belonged to her. She had little reason to believe otherwise when so many people were willing to accommodate her wishes, whether out of respect, fear, or a desire to gain something from her family.

Naturally, that had influenced the way she viewed her future. She wasn’t someone who planned to settle for an ordinary life, and she certainly had no intention of allowing a marriage arrangement to take away the freedom she believed she deserved.

Meanwhile, the other people in the conference room seemed equally interested in the two sisters. Their gazes occasionally shifted toward Hiyori and Haruna, and it wasn’t difficult to understand why.

Although both women were still young, they already possessed the appearance, family background, and potential that made them desirable prospects for marriage. Their connection to the Ichinose Family only made them more appealing, especially to those who hoped to strengthen their own positions within the Demon Hunter Association.

Their beauty was one thing, but their family name carried considerable weight as well. Marrying either of them would mean gaining a connection to one of the most influential families in the organization, and that alone was enough to attract attention.

It was hardly a secret that the two sisters were highly coveted among the people who mattered. Their future marriages had always been a subject of interest, even before their father decided to turn the current meeting into an opportunity to make such an announcement.

However, their father’s next words quickly brought everyone’s attention back to the matter at hand.

"More than anything, I don’t think this is going to be easy," Hisashi said, his expression growing serious once again. "At the moment, the Child of Anti-Prophecy appears to be under the protection of several powerful demons. What’s more, those demons seem to have established a faction of their own, and their primary purpose appears to be protecting him."

Hisashi paused for a moment, allowing the information to sink in before continuing.

"We’re not dealing with a helpless individual wandering around without anyone to support him. Whoever this child is, he already has people willing to stand between him and anyone who tries to harm him. That alone makes our task considerably more difficult."

One of the people seated around the conference table raised a hand, looking somewhat unconvinced by the explanation.

"Isn’t that a bit of a stretch, though?" he asked. "From what we’ve been told, the Child of Anti-Prophecy was born as a human, wasn’t he? If that’s the case, why would demons go out of their way to protect a human? I thought they considered us little more than disposable pawns."

His question wasn’t unreasonable. In fact, several people around the table seemed to share the same concern, judging by the way they exchanged glances.

As far as the Demon Hunter Association was concerned, demons had never been particularly friendly toward humanity. Their relationship had been defined by hostility, conflict, and countless battles that had continued for generations. Although individual demons might have their own motives, the general understanding among demon hunters was that humans and demons were natural enemies.

To demons, ordinary humans were often nothing more than tools to be used whenever necessary. Some might exploit them for their own ambitions, while others might treat them as insignificant creatures whose lives had little value.

The thought of powerful demons protecting a human, therefore, was difficult for many people in the room to accept.

Why would creatures that had spent so long treating humanity as an inferior race suddenly devote their resources to protecting a single human child?

There had to be a reason, and whatever that reason was, it probably wasn’t something they could afford to overlook.

"For all we know, the answer is rather simple," Hisashi replied. "The Child of Anti-Prophecy might be their only remaining option. If the prophecies are true, then he is the only one capable of preventing the Prophecy of Yesh from coming to pass. Without him, the demons may have no way to escape the fate awaiting them."

Hisashi’s expression hardened as he looked around the room.

"Think about it. If the prophecy truly means the end of their entire race, then wouldn’t it make sense for them to protect the one person who could save them? Regardless of whether he is human, they would have every reason to keep him alive. His existence could determine whether their entire race survives or disappears from this world."

The explanation seemed to settle the matter for the time being. While there were still questions that needed answers, the possibility that the demons were protecting the child out of desperation made enough sense for the people present to accept it.

It also made the situation considerably more urgent.

If the demons understood the child’s importance, then they would probably do everything within their power to prevent the Demon Hunter Association from reaching him. They might even be willing to sacrifice their own lives to ensure that he remained safe.

That meant the association couldn’t afford to underestimate their opponents.

"This is going to be a long hunt," Hisashi continued. "I have no illusions about that. Finding the Child of Anti-Prophecy will be difficult enough, and getting past the demons protecting him will be another challenge entirely. However, if we want to put an end to the demon race once and for all, then we have to eliminate the child before he can interfere with the prophecy."

His voice carried a firm conviction, leaving little room for anyone to mistake his intentions.

"We have spent generations fighting these creatures. Countless people have lost their lives, families have been destroyed, and our ancestors have devoted themselves to a conflict that has dragged on for far too long. If there is finally a chance to bring all of this to an end, then we cannot allow it to slip through our fingers."

He clenched one hand against the table, his gaze sweeping across the gathered members.

"The Child of Anti-Prophecy is the key. As long as he remains alive and capable of fulfilling his role, the demons will continue to have a chance of escaping their fate. We cannot allow that to happen."

The atmosphere in the conference room grew heavier as Hisashi’s words settled over everyone.

It was clear what he was trying to tell them. In his eyes, the Demon Hunter Association had no realistic path to a complete victory unless the Child of Anti-Prophecy was dealt with first. As long as the child remained alive, the prophecy could still be overturned, and the demons could potentially escape the fate that had supposedly been laid out for them.

However, if they succeeded in eliminating him, the situation would change entirely.