Looking at Rui, who was gradually turning into ashes, Lexon couldn't help but lament his bad luck in his heart.
'Since I signed in for all his Blood Demon Arts at once, there's no need to keep him.'
'I was originally thinking of letting him keep Gyokko company.'
'Otherwise, Gyokko seems rather lonely like this.'
"Is your brother's condition alright?" Lexon stopped paying attention to the dissipating Rui and walked towards Nezuko.
"Mhm, mhm!" Nezuko, with her bamboo gag, nodded dazedly. She had grown much larger because she had to carry two men taller than herself.
Lexon walked up to Nezuko, who was now a head taller than him, and said, "You can put them both down."
Nezuko obediently and slowly placed the two injured individuals on the ground.
Because of this, Lexon also noticed that Tanjiro was still conscious, just unable to move. He was currently staring blankly at the disintegrating Rui.
'Ah... Tanjiro's daily post-battle sentimentality phase.'
Lexon didn't say much. Although he wasn't a fan of this kind of sympathy for demons, he wouldn't interrupt it either.
Suddenly, a series of rustling sounds came from the dense forest behind them.
A figure was rapidly approaching.
"The scent of Shinobu Kocho."
With a twitch of his nose, Lexon knew the identity of the newcomer.
Suddenly, an illusion of fluttering butterflies appeared before the eyes of the people and demon present. Both Tanjiro and Nezuko felt their minds go into a daze.
Lexon, however, was not affected at all.
"Killing intent."
Lexon and Tanjiro smelled this scent at the same time.
The figure drew near, revealing Shinobu Kocho's form. She swung the uniquely shaped Nichirin Sword in her hand, slashing towards Nezuko.
"Nezuko!" Tanjiro only had time to let out a panicked shout.
"Clang!"
In that instant, Lexon drew his Nichirin Sword and swung it to meet Shinobu's, producing the sound of clashing metal.
Shinobu's attack was blocked.
Her figure slowed, and she did a flip in mid-air, spinning to mitigate the inertia and impact before landing gracefully.
"Mr. Lexon," Shinobu reverted to the form of address she used when they first met. Her face still held that gentle smile, but the words that came from her cherry-pink lips carried a questioning tone. "Why are you obstructing me, protecting a demon?"
"The one behind you is a demon... don't tell me you don't know, okay? This is a violation of the Corps' rules..."
Although the words were spoken with a smile, they exuded a chilling coldness.
"No, this is my sister... not a demon... ah... I can't say she's not..." Tanjiro, lying on the ground, struggled to sit up and tried to explain.
But Shinobu interrupted him with a smile, "Oh my... it's your sister... How pitiful. Then let me kill her with a gentle poison that won't cause her pain, to set her free."
She tightened her grip on her Nichirin Sword, its tip pointing at Lexon.
"Could you please step aside, Mr. Lexon?"
"No can do."
Lexon also replied with a smile, the smile on his face seemingly mimicking Shinobu's.
Looking at Lexon's smile, an anger vein seemed to pop on Shinobu's forehead, and her temper flared.
Her figure flashed, and she once again swung her Nichirin Sword, its target aimed straight at Nezuko.
"Clang!"
Again, the sound of clashing metal.
Shinobu's Nichirin Sword and Lexon's Nichirin Sword collided once more.
However, the moment after the collision, Shinobu slid her Nichirin Sword down the blade of Lexon's, trying to get past his sword to slash at Nezuko.
But her move was seen through by Lexon. He directly lifted his leg and delivered a whip kick to Shinobu's waist.
Instantly, Shinobu's entire body was sent flying.
She had to do several flips in the air before she could land steadily.
Her face was as dark as water, even her smile was gone. "Are you serious? Or is it because you can turn into a demon, so you're going to harbor other demons?"
'Lexon can turn into a demon?'
Hearing this, Tanjiro and Nezuko at the side were both astonished, but holding their trust in Lexon, they didn't speak, planning to ask when they had a chance later.
"In any case, as long as I'm here, you can't kill her," Lexon didn't give a specific response, but he made his meaning clear.
"Is that so..." Shinobu stood firm, slightly raising her Nichirin Sword, and said, "It's a violation of the Corps' rules for members to attack each other, but you were the one who first harbored a demon and prevented me from killing it, which goes against the mission of the Demon Slayer Corps. Therefore, my attack will be a justified action."
"If you have the ability, then try and stop me."
"Spending over a month together has allowed me to understand that I am not your match," Shinobu said with a cold face. "So... I have made preparations."
As her voice fell, a ponytailed girl in a white cape and a Demon Slayer uniform walked out from behind her.
The girl was expressionless, her eyes devoid of light, as if she were a robot.
This was the disciple under Shinobu's guidance, her successor who would inherit her title of Hashira in the future, Kanao Tsugikuri, a kuudere girl.
"Even if we work together, we might not be your match. But I only need to hold you back and let Kanao slay the demon."
Following Shinobu's words, Kanao also drew the Nichirin Sword at her waist.
"Then let's see you try."
Lexon still had that indifferent attitude, as if he were absolutely confident that he could protect Tanjiro and Nezuko behind him.
The two sides were instantly at daggers drawn, sparks seeming to fly from their confrontational gazes.
Shinobu was committed to her conviction of slaying demons, and towards Lexon, who could turn into a demon and was harboring one for his own selfish reasons, she held an attitude of absolute non-compromise.
Lexon, on the other hand, was simply following his own thoughts, standing on Tanjiro's side to prevent Nezuko from being slain.
The wind rustled through the forest, making the branches and leaves sway.
A jet-black shadow suddenly flew from the sky, bringing with it a cacophony of noise.
"Order! Order!"
It was a Kasugai Crow raised by the Demon Slayer Corps, speaking human words in a piercing voice.
"An order has come from headquarters!"
"Seize Tanjiro and Nezuko, and bring them back to headquarters! Seize Tanjiro and the demon Nezuko! Bring them to headquarters!"
After this Kasugai Crow finished, another one took over.
"Tanjiro, wearing a checkered haori! With a scar on his forehead! The demon girl with bamboo in her mouth! Nezuko!"
"Bring them back! Bring them back!"
Hearing the crow's cries, Shinobu furrowed her pretty brows, but she still slowly sheathed her Nichirin Sword. Across from her, Lexon did the same.
"Kanao, sheathe your sword."
Shinobu called out to Kanao, who was still holding her sword.
"Yes."
Receiving the order, Kanao nodded expressionlessly and put her sword away.
"Inosuke, Inosuke! Are you alright!" Only now did Tanjiro have a moment to worry about the unconscious Inosuke Hashibiera at his side.
"He's just passed out, but his injuries are still very serious," Lexon picked up Inosuke and threw him towards Shinobu. "He's a member of the Demon Slayer Corps. Treat him a little."
Shinobu frowned again, but she still caught Inosuke and fed him some unknown medicine.
The pale face under Inosuke's mask became a little rosy. Although he still hadn't woken up, his condition had clearly improved a lot.
Then, Inosuke was handed over to the members of the Demon Slayer Corps' clean-up crew, the "Kakushi," who had subsequently arrived, to receive better treatment.
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]