A few hours passed in the blink of an eye.
Evening had already arrived.
The forest region had grown much darker than in the morning, especially where Tanjiro lay resting. Because sunlight barely reached through the thick canopy, it felt as though dusk had already settled.
Kanae, hovering nearby, saw his relaxed state and couldn't help but ask, "Are you not hungry, Tanjiro?"
Eyes closed, body leaning against the sturdy tree branch, he answered, "Not at all. I can go without food for days, you know."
A faint smile appeared on his face as he thought, 'With mastery over Total Concentration Breathing, this much is considered normal.'
A shocked Kanae floated closer and positioned herself on the other side of the branch. "A few days, you say? You're lying, aren't you?" Her expression was full of suspicion. "When I was alive and on active duty, I could barely last a day without food. Any longer, and I'd lack the strength to decapitate even a normal demon. There was also fatigue and mental pressure to consider."
She touched her chin thoughtfully. "Hey, Tanjiro! Tell me, how are you so sure?"
Opening his crimson eyes, Tanjiro suddenly noticed an exquisite beauty sitting in front of him. Her ripe, bountiful curves were on full display. Because she sat facing him, even her hairy pussy was visible.
'Ah, crap. Not this again.'
Despite his sharpened control over breathing and body, blood naturally rushed downward. Within a second, a noticeable bulge formed in his pants.
Kanae's pale purple eyes automatically caught the sight. A guilty look appeared on her gentle face. She immediately averted her gaze. "I… I'm so sorry! It's… because of me again."
Though she tried not to look, her trembling eyes were subconsciously drawn back to his hardened length, imagining its shape in her ghostly mind. "I shouldn't have removed the clothes after all," she murmured, flustered.
Even though she said that, she made no attempt to hide her body, unlike before.
Tanjiro saw her adorable reaction and let out a small laugh. "Why are you apologizing?"
Her cheeks reddened, even though her ghostly body had no blood.
Licking his lips, he smiled. "My current state is like this because you're simply too attractive, Kanae."
When she heard his honest words, a complex feeling erupted from her core. Her face became a blushing mess.
After saying so, he slowly moved forward.
In a second, their bodies came close. Her embarrassed face was only a hand's distance away.
"W-What are you trying to do? You know we can't touch each other," she whispered, voice cracking.
Tanjiro showed an amused smile. "Why are you panicking then? Don't tell me… are you weak to confessions, Kanae?"
"W-Who's panicking?! I'm not! Okay! I'm not! And I'm not weak, you're just too much, you freak of nature!" she spoke loudly, pupils wavering.
Though a bit surprised, his smile didn't fade.
"So… is that a compliment or a curse?" he asked.
"Think whatever you want, hmph," she huffed, showing a childish pout before flying away, flashing her well-shaped butt.
'All the lust I held back… It's becoming even stronger after seeing her body. And for some reason, she can only wear her old clothes… I need to do something. These cravings are going to burst out at some point,' he thought.
The next moment, his head tilted toward the other side, sensing someone's presence.
'Huh…?'
Once he detected the identity, a wry look appeared on his face.
Kanae also noticed the approaching figure. Her brows furrowed. "No… Why did she have to come!?"
A shadow moved toward their location at a fast pace, followed by a short female figure.
After a few seconds, Shiori and Shinobu arrived.
Shiori perched on a tree branch, exhausted. "Caw, I'm done!"
Tanjiro jumped down, remaining silent.
A moment later, Shinobu stopped beside him with a faint smile.
"Are you so happy to see me that you've become speechless?" she said, obviously with a fake giggle.
'These damn sisters…'
Exhaling softly, Tanjiro stared intently into her purple eyes. "And if I am?" he asked with a serious look.
Shinobu froze in clear shock. Her ears reddened in an instant.
A chuckle escaped his lips.
"Oh, who's speechless now?" he grinned.
Walking away with a pissed yet secretly happy expression, Shinobu muttered sharply, "Let's just focus on the mission... We can talk later."
'Heh...'
"Later, huh. Alright then."
Meanwhile, Tanjiro noticed Kanae's worry and tilted his head in confusion.
'Does she think I don't exist? Or is she still doubtful about my strength? Hah, this is a bit embarrassing.'
And so, time gradually passed.
Before long, the sun had set and night had fallen over the forest.
On the route.
A bloody, petite girl limped slowly under the moonlight.
Viscous red drenched the entire left side of her head, dripping in thick trails down her shoulder and soaking her clothes.
Her left leg dragged with every step, also smeared in blood, clearly injured.
Raven black-to-purple hair was tied in a neat back bun, secured with a butterfly hairpin. A few loose locks and bangs framed her delicate face. Her amethyst eyes were wide and striking, yet lacked pupils.
'Damn you, Tanjiro. Making me the bait and even taking my sword! My hair and clothes are ruined too… Just you wait, you brat. I'm not forgetting this.' She cursed inwardly.
Of course, she was the Insect Hashira, Kocho Shinobu.
Currently, she was faking her injuries.
Not because she wanted to, but because the role of bait had fallen on her shoulders after losing so one-sidedly in rock-paper-scissors matches against Tanjiro.
They had played several rounds, and she had been defeated thoroughly.
The Marechi blood she had brought along was ultimately used on herself — smeared across her body to agitate and lure out the demon.
Some distance away, Tanjiro stood motionless on the top branch of a towering tree. His Selfless State and extrasensory perception were fully active, completely erasing his presence while he scanned for any unusual activity.
His nose continuously sniffed the air for the demon's scent, his mind calm and face deadly serious.
Kanae hovered above the seemingly endless hole where the demon was hiding, keeping watch from the air.
With her visionary perception, it was impossible for her to miss a demon's presence.
Though it was unnecessary — Tanjiro's senses were far beyond Hashira standards. He could accurately detect evil and dark auras from vast distances, pinpointing their exact location with the slightest cue.
Some time passed.
When Tanjiro changed positions for the second time, his nose finally caught the disgusting scent they had been searching for.
The Transparent World activated with a thought.
Then Kanae's voice came from above. "It's out, Tanjiro! But unlike we predicted, that demon doesn't seem powerful at all. It's even moving weirdly."
He nodded. 'I think I know what demon it is…'
Without a sound, he vanished from his spot — moving so fast and with such perfect control that not even the branch he had been standing on trembled.
...
On the other side.
Shinobu's pupils narrowed as she saw a crouching male demon with entirely red eyes and white horns slowly approaching. A large bump protruded from the top of its head, and its entire body was covered in bulging veins and deep wrinkles.
The demon wore an expression of pure terror and fear as it crept forward, muttering in a pathetic whine. "Six years… To taste the first Marechi in so long, ah… The unluck! The injustice! Why can't poor me have a delicious meal every day, ah…! What have I done wrong? I'm only trying to survive…"
Hearing his delusional, self-pitying speech, a flash of panic crossed Shinobu's face.
'Tanjiro, come out now! I can't defend myself…'
The moment she thought that, the demon noticed the Corps uniform she was wearing and felt a chill run down its spine. Realization hit — it had been tricked.
It shrieked in terror, cowering on the ground and shielding its neck with both hands.
"Eeeeeikk!! I'm innocent! I didn't do anything!! Don't bully me, aahhhh!"
In that instant, a bright red Nichirin sword descended from nowhere.
With precision and fully unleashed strength, Tanjiro's blade sliced through the demon's protective hands and its extremely durable neck in one clean stroke.
A powerful blast of air rippled outward from the impact, sending the decapitated head and headless body flying in opposite directions.
A dumbfounded Shinobu heard his calm yet serious voice. "Stay on your guard. It's not dead yet…"
She caught the sword he threw toward her and unsheathed it immediately. "What makes you so sure?" she asked, voice tense.
Turning his crimson eyes toward her, he revealed nonchalantly, "It's one of the Upper Rank demons."
Once she heard that, her pupils twitched wildly.
"Upper Rank…"
....
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