DMC: Being a demon hunter in Japan is not easy

Christmas Eve is a time filled with symbolism and emotion, a tradition that has endured through the centuries, evolving with cultures yet always preserving its essence: a moment of kindness, generosity, and hope. The carols filling the streets, the scent of fresh pine mingling with sweets and spices, the twinkling lights imitating the stars—all of it creates an atmosphere that seems to defy the darkness itself. For humanity, it's a season of reconciliation, a reminder that even in the coldest and darkest days, the warmth of united hearts can light up the world.

But this light, so precious to humankind, is an affront to demons—creatures that exist only to spread suffering and death, viewing their prey as mere sources of entertainment. Among all these demons, one in particular despises this day with every fiber of its being. Known as the antithesis of Santa Claus, it prowls the shadows, feeding on hatred and contempt for this holiday.

The origins of this demon are shrouded in mystery. Some say it was born as a twisted echo of the earliest Christmas rituals, when offerings meant to ward off the darkness inadvertently attracted the very things lurking within it. Others believe it is a manifestation of children's collective fears—a monster taking shape in the minds of those who fail to understand the true spirit of Christmas.

Its physical form varies depending on who describes it, but certain features remain consistent: a tall, hunched figure cloaked in tattered garments that seem to absorb light, massive horns, eyes like dying embers glowing with boundless hatred, and a voice that rumbles with a terrifying, guttural laugh. It is said to be accompanied by twisted creatures—corrupted versions of the familiar symbols of this holiday.

This demon doesn't simply kidnap naughty children; its true intent is far more insidious. It seeks to destroy the emotional bonds of families, stealing away their most vulnerable members and leaving behind an unfillable void. By spreading pain and fear during this festive season, it hopes to permanently tarnish the spirit of Christmas, turning what was once a symbol of hope into a reminder of loss.

Unlike Santa Claus, who brings gifts and joy, this demon has its own dark take on Christmas traditions. Instead of a sack of toys, it carries a bag made of dark, leathery skin, filled with broken dreams and the screams of the children it has captured. Instead of a sleigh, it travels on a throne of ice and bones, pulled by shadowy beings that silently streak across the skies. Wherever it goes, Christmas decorations wither—lights flicker and die, wreaths dry out, leaving a trail of death and desolation. Though its full presence is rarely seen, the signs of its arrival are unmistakable: a bone-chilling cold, a metallic scent in the air, and an oppressive silence, as if the world itself holds its breath.

Would this Christmas be like any other?

A grave mistake to assume so, for now, this demon has achieved a bitter victory over its nemesis.

Leaving Santa Claus gravely wounded is satisfaction enough, rendering him vulnerable just as he is set to embark on his journey to deliver gifts to the world.

Is there anyone capable of opposing such a vile and powerful demon?

As long as darkness exists, there will always be light. And while a mighty demon rises to destroy everything… there will always be some fool ready to destroy it.

...

"This looks perfect."

Inside a modest apartment, a woman busied herself with the final touches on her Christmas decorations, humming cheerfully as the festive atmosphere lifted her spirits.

After placing the last ornament on the tree, Shizuka stepped back, admiring her work with pride.

"I've never put in this much effort, but I think it turned out great." Shizuka said, her tone light as the decorations throughout her apartment brought her a sense of delight.

The festive decor filled the apartment with holiday cheer. In the living room, a Christmas tree stood in one corner, adorned with red and gold ornaments and wrapped in a string of warm lights that cast a soft glow. At the top of the tree, a golden star gleamed, completing the look. Around its base, a few small touches added to the scene: a pair of Christmas-themed cushions on the sofa and a red throw draped over part of the couch.

On the living room table, a small centerpiece featuring white candles and sprigs of pine added a cozy charm, while the shelves displayed a snowman figurine and a couple of Christmas baubles, adding a festive flair without overcrowding the space.

The kitchen was also adorned with Christmas details. Over the counter, a garland of pine and tiny lights added warmth to the atmosphere. The kitchen table was decorated with a bowl of fruits in golden and red tones, complemented by a pendant lamp casting a soft glow.

As she mentioned herself, in past years, she had never bothered to decorate her apartment; at best, she would have a few small ornaments. But this year, she put in more effort to give the place a festive look.

Is there some unwritten rule that says a woman her age shouldn't go all out decorating her apartment?

If anyone asked Shizuka why she decided to go all-in this year, her answer would be her roommate.

"If this doesn't awaken his Christmas spirit, nothing will."

A few days ago, during a casual dinner conversation, Shizuka and Desmon touched on the subject of Christmas. That's when she found out that Desmon hadn't celebrated it in years—not since he left his small hometown.

The fleeting, lonely expression that crossed his face for just a second was enough for Shizuka to decide she had to bring the holiday spirit to him.

So, where is the guy for whom Shizuka worked so hard to decorate her apartment?

That's easy: Desmon is out buying fried chicken.

A deeply ingrained Japanese Christmas tradition—fried chicken is a must for Christmas dinner. Shizuka used this as an excuse to send him out while she decorated.

Fried chicken is no joke when it comes to Christmas dinner. Fast-food restaurants turn into absolute battlegrounds.

Something Desmon learned too late, as even demons couldn't compare to the ferocity of housewives determined to secure their share of fried chicken.

Meanwhile, Shizuka enjoyed the fruits of her labor. Decorating to such an extent in minutes is no easy task.

As the Sobu High School teacher hummed a Christmas carol to herself, she heard the front door open.

Wearing his usual black trench coat, blue jeans, and a white shirt, Desmon walked into the apartment, holding the hard-won Christmas dinner in his hands after surviving a brutal clash against middle-aged women.

"I'm not sure if I should be impressed by the decorations or worried that I took so long you managed to do all of this." He said, his tone lighthearted.

At any other time, Shizuka might have overanalyzed his words. But after living with him for months, she had learned that such comments were as good as a compliment—or so she thought.

"I worked hard to decorate and get everything ready. What do you think?" Shizuka puffed out her chest proudly.

"It looks great, especially down below."

"Hmm? I couldn't find many decorations for the lower part of the tree." She glanced at her Christmas tree, which she had purchased just for this occasion. Don't underestimate the salary of a single teacher...

"I was talking more about your outfit. It's sexy." Desmon said, giving her a thumbs-up.

-Seeing her in that outfit made the fried chicken run totally worth it.

Shizuka blushed and averted her eyes at his remark.

"The outfit was a prize… don't get any weird ideas." She muttered, her cheeks flushed.

While shopping, Shizuka had come across a raffle at the mall and decided to join. She ended up winning, and her prize was a Santa Claus costume.

So, before starting her decorations, she tried it on.

Shizuka wore a Christmas outfit that was both elegant and alluring, subtly revealing her feminine curves. Her long, dark hair—slightly wavy—fell in soft waves over her shoulders, framing her delicate face with rosy cheeks that gave her a hint of shy charm. A red Santa hat with a white trim perched atop her head, complementing her short, figure-hugging red dress. The dress, adorned with fluffy white details along the edges, clung to her body in all the right places, accentuating her curves and drawing attention to her ample mountains, which would make anyone's gaze linger. Around her neck was a holly leaf choker with tiny gold bells that jingled softly with every movement, and a black belt with a gold buckle cinched her waist. Her slender thighs were encased in red thigh-high stockings with fluffy white trims, adding both warmth and a hint of allure

The outfit was meant to bring a festive atmosphere, but Shizuka's figure made it look far sexier than intended.

When Shizuka put on the outfit and looked in the mirror, she realized it was tighter than she expected. Even so, she decided to keep it on since she planned to tease Desmon a little. After all, he always called her an old lady. However, Desmon's straightforward words caught her off guard—something she should have expected.

His honesty was as boundless as his love for sweets.

"I like it; it's pleasing to the eye." He said with good humor.

After saying this, leaving a blushing Shizuka behind, Desmon walked to the kitchen and placed the fried chicken on the table.

"Are we eating already? I'm starving." He asked in his usual tone.

Shizuka sighed at Desmon's attitude, unsure if his words were genuine or just a way to mock her.

"It's only a few minutes until midnight."

"Eh... but I'm hungry..."

"Are you a little kid or something!?"

Shizuka let out a heavy sigh, heading to the kitchen and pulling out a box of cookies.

"Here, have some. The rest of the cookies are for Santa." She said, sitting at the table now that everything was ready and there was nothing left to do but wait for midnight.

Desmon began eating the cookies, his expression content.

"Do you really believe in Santa Claus? Aren't you a bit old for that?" With nothing else to do, he decided to chat with Shizuka until midnight.

"What's wrong with believing in the magic of Christmas?" She replied, raising an eyebrow.

"You've got a pretty childish side..."

"I don't want to hear that from a guy who hunts demons—creatures that supposedly don't exist."

"That's a totally different thing." He nodded firmly.

"Oh, yeah? How is the existence of demons different from Santa Claus?"

"Well... you see... one of the differences is..." He stumbled over his words, failing to come up with a good argument.

Shizuka smirked, amused at seeing him rendered speechless.

"For your information, when I was a kid, I always left a glass of milk and cookies before going to bed. And the next morning, they'd be gone."

"Your parents?"

"They used to go out on Christmas to have fun, so it couldn't have been them."

The thought that her parents might have been behind the gifts had crossed a young Shizuka's mind many times. Even as an adult, she still entertained the possibility. But once she learned that the supernatural and fantastical were real, what was to stop Santa Claus from being real too?

"You don't have to say that with so much pride..."

"They'd always have dinner with me first before going out. They're great parents, so don't start thinking weird things." She lightly smacked him on the head.

Her words might have been misinterpreted to suggest she spent Christmas alone like many other Japanese kids, but Shizuka had always been deeply loved and cherished by her parents as a child.

"All right, all right. So, you were spoiled as a kid, and Santa even brought you presents."

"And you? Didn't you say you hadn't celebrated Christmas for over five years?" Shizuka's curiosity about Desmon's past grew.

"It's not that I didn't want to celebrate. I just didn't have the time." He replied, grabbing another cookie.

"Why not?"

"Most people are less cautious during Christmas. It made my old job easier."

Desmon had once been a young mercenary. His work ranged from taking out criminal gangs for money to assassinating assigned targets. Back then, he didn't think twice about breaking into a house and eliminating his mark, even if the family was there to witness it.

At the time, his mental state was far from stable. The incident that drove him away from his home had left deep psychological scars.

But after meeting someone who became his mentor for a long time, Desmon gradually began to recover emotionally, becoming more selective with his assignments. He increasingly took on protective jobs.

Jealousy, revenge, and envy were the most common motives behind assassination requests. However, there were also assignments to eliminate people worse than demons—jobs Desmon accepted eagerly.

"That must've been really hard for you.'' Shizuka said, her tone tinged with sadness.

She knew Desmon had been a mercenary but didn't know the exact nature of his work, though she could imagine. For a twelve-year-old to survive on his own seemed impossible, so she couldn't judge him for the choices he'd made.

"Don't make the mood heavy, baka." Desmon flicked her forehead lightly with his fingers.

"Kya!" Shizuka let out an unexpectedly cute yelp at the sudden flick. "What was that for?!" She exclaimed, covering her forehead.

"Christmas is supposed to be a time to be happy or something, right?"

If Desmon showed no interest in his past, Shizuka had no reason to pity him. That was the message Desmon wanted to convey.

"Don't switch roles. I'm the adult here!" She complained, though her expression now was calm.

"This is better." With a smile, Desmon got up from the table and walked over to the Christmas tree to admire it, as Shizuka had held most of his attention until then.

-He usually acts childish, but Desmon can also act like an adult...

Living with Desmon over the past few months had been a rewarding experience for Shizuka. Bit by bit, she'd come to know him better, discovering that the young demon hunter was much more than a demon-killing machine.

Feeling cheerful, Shizuka got up from the table and began preparing the milk and cookies for Santa Claus, placing them on a small table near the living room.

Just a few minutes remained until midnight, making this a relatively quiet and cozy Christmas.

"Shizuka, I should assume this gift is for me, right?"

"What are you talking about... huh?"

Shizuka had bought a present for Desmon, but it was still in her room, so she found it odd that a peculiar red sack was now sitting under the Christmas tree.

"So, I can assume you didn't put it there? Is it a gift from Santa Claus? I must've been really good this year, huh." He said arrogantly.

"I'd like to say it's from Santa Claus, but it's not even midnight yet."

For a moment, she found herself pleased by the idea of something tied to Santa Claus being real, but with it not being midnight yet, the presence of the gift didn't make much sense.

Shizuka walked over to the Christmas tree, standing beside Desmon.

Desmon trusted his instincts; they'd gotten him out of countless tough situations. But even he hadn't noticed when that red sack appeared.

Either the sack had always been there, or whoever left it was far more skilled than him.

-Better to stay cautious.

With just minutes left before Christmas, an unexpected surprise would be irritating, so Desmon grabbed Alastor, which rested near the sofa. If anything emerged from that red sack, he'd eliminate it instantly.

"We're both curious, so let's see what Santa left us." He said with an arrogant smile.

Without hesitation, Desmon reached into the red sack, ready for anything that might come out.

But inside the sack was nothing—just a large, empty red sack.

"That's weird."

"Does it even make sense?"

Both peered curiously inside, almost expecting something to happen—but nothing did.

After all, Santa's sack isn't just for carrying gifts.

With their guard completely lowered, the red sack swallowed both Desmon and Shizuka.

In just a split second, they were engulfed by darkness and transported elsewhere.

As they fell from a great height, Desmon and Shizuka took in the breathtaking view. Sure, they were plummeting toward their deaths, but for Desmon, it was just another day, so he enjoyed the moment.

In the vast white horizon, they spotted a strange village in the distance.

"The ground is getting closer..."

"Yeah, that's usually how gravity works."

"Do something, idiot!"

"On it."

As they neared the snowy ground, Desmon wrapped his arms around Shizuka, using himself to absorb the impact.

The white ground—nothing but snow—was disrupted by a massive thud that sent snow flying.

"Well, that's gonna hurt tomorrow." Desmon said lightheartedly, even as his vision turned red. Not from the blood caused by the fall, but because of the two soft sensations pressed against his face.

Shizuka quickly pulled her chest away from Desmon's face once they were safe.

"You're the only one who'd say that after falling from that height!" She yelled, covering her chest in embarrassment.

"What can I say? I'm used to it." He said, tilting his head while springing to his feet.

"By the way, where are we?"

"I have no idea. I'm terrible at geography."

"You've been at Sobu High for several months and still don't know the basics?" Shizuka sighed, realizing she'd have to give him more lessons.

"Classes are boring," Desmon said, waving his hands dismissively.

"Let me recap—a strange red sack swallowed us and brought us here. Judging by the snow everywhere, we must be at the North Pole."

"So, Santa Claus kidnapped us? That sounds way too ridiculous."

Shizuka raised an eyebrow at him. After all that had happened over the past months, the idea of Santa Claus abducting them didn't seem entirely far-fetched anymore.

"By the way, I don't think we're at the real North Pole." Desmon crouched down and touched the snow.

"Why do you say that?" Shizuka asked, confused.

"Don't you feel it? I thought you were smarter than this."

-I don't get it. We're in a cold, snowy place, and there's snow everywhere…

As she thought about it, something important clicked. She crouched down and touched the snow with her hands.

"It's not cold!" She exclaimed in surprise.

Since they arrived, their bodies had stayed at a normal temperature—something impossible if they were truly at the North Pole.

"I've got no idea where we are, but if Santa Claus kidnapped us and brought us here, there has to be a reason. If not... well, I hope the kids of the world will forgive me if I give Santa a nice little cut on his neck."

"Don't casually talk about decapitating Santa Claus!"

"I don't think I have much choice until I meet him." He replied.

She nodded at his words. Shizuka brushed the snow off her outfit, stretched a little, and adjusted the Christmas hat on her costume.

"At this point, the idea of Santa Claus kidnapping me doesn't feel so crazy anymore, but at least he could've called first."

"Santa Claus calling you to fix a problem? Sounds even more surreal—maybe he wants you to save Christmas?" Shizuka joked with a playful tone.

By now, worrying about how they got here was pointless. The only thing left to do was move forward, especially since they had glimpsed a village in the distance while falling.

"Staying here won't solve anything. Let's pay the guy in the red suit a visit." Desmon summoned Kurox, his reliable devil arm; a black motorcycle.

"Your attitude is contagious." Shizuka let out a small smile.

"So, what do you say, Shizuka? Ready for a Christmas adventure?" Desmon hopped onto Kurox and extended his hand to her.

"I don't think I have much of a choice, do I?" Without hesitation, she took his hand and climbed up behind him.

Her arms wrapped around his waist, and he could feel two soft marshmallows pressing against his back.

"Alright, time to have a little meeting with Santa Claus!"

Without waiting any longer, Kurox sped off toward their next destination—the village of Santa Claus.