"You've watched the show long enough, haven't you?"
Once all the patients had left the room, the "Miracle Doctor" ceased her charade. She stood up slowly, her gaze drifting toward the three figures standing in the moonlight outside the window.
"Should I thank you? If you had barged in just now, these 'food items' might have gone to waste."
The cloak covering her entire body and most of her head slowly slid off, revealing the figure of a young girl... or rather, a demon.
She had soft hair as white as a snowflake, yet she wore a red kimono the color of wine. With white socks and wooden geta clogs, she was small and thin, appearing at first glance like a frail, delicate girl from a noble household. However, a pair of inhuman, pointed horns jutted from her forehead.
And in her violet-grey pupils, large characters were etched like ink.
Lower Rank Five.
"Though I am thankful..." she tilted her head, her tone sounding deceptively innocent. "Could I trouble you all to die once?"
She walked to the window and gave the thick brick wall a gentle push with her delicate hands. The wall crumbled with a thunderous crash, leaving a hole large enough for her to pass through comfortably.
"As a token of my gratitude, I will allow you to state your names. The samurai gentlemen from before didn't even finish their introductions before they became fertilizer for the vines."
Her words sounded like a form of charity bestowed upon them.
The Storm Hashira and Kuguruma Natsunishi exchanged a look.
It's a Lower Rank...
Igarashi: ?
Why does my junior's gaze... look a bit disappointed? Is he actually hoping to run into an Upper Rank?
In contrast, Shinobu Kochou's breathing became tense as she saw the text in the demon's eyes. This was her first time facing one of the legendary Twelve Demon Moons. Forget winning; she wasn't even sure if the wisteria poison she had meticulously refined would actually work.
Since she's a demon, the wisteria poison should be effective, right?
Seeing the three of them remain silent, Mukago's smile gradually faded. "If you don't want to speak, then please..."
Before finishing her sentence, she lightly tapped her geta. The ground exploded! Several thorn-covered vines, as thick as giant pythons, burst from the earth, whistling through the air as they struck at the three of them.
"Become a part of the nutrients now."
The vines came with ferocious momentum. Even the thinnest among them was as thick as an adult man's arm. One look was enough to know that an ordinary swordsman struck by one would be torn to pieces.
But none of the three present belonged to that category.
Shinobu, like a graceful butterfly, performed a backflip to narrowly avoid the lashing vine. With a flick of her wrist, her Nichirin Sword traced a dazzling arc in the air.
Insect Breathing.
Butterfly Dance: Caprice.
A very simple sting. It didn't even leave a deep mark on the vine; she struck and retreated, then struck again in rapid succession—four or five times. Aside from the impressive speed, it seemed to have almost no killing power.
Yet, the vine began to twitch strangely before drooping limply to the ground. It was the concentrated wisteria extract. Even derivatives of Blood Demon Arts were susceptible. Shinobu moved her slightly numbed wrist discreetly.
What incredible strength! Even a probing attack was nearly too much to handle.
Facing the incoming vines, Kuguruma Natsunishi remained unfazed. "So, she's Mukago..." He drew the "Third Generation Master Kang" from his waist.
Thunder Breathing.
Second Form: Rice Spirit.
Electrical sparks leaped and crackled within the sanitarium. The vines rushing toward him were sliced into several segments in an instant.
As for Igarashi's side, it was even easier. He moved with a leisurely gait, shifting left and right just enough so that every vine missed him completely. Not even the corner of his clothing was touched.
Kuguruma Natsunishi glanced back and confirmed his suspicion: his "cheap" senior's strength was likely far above this Lower Rank. Although their total energy levels were similar and the demon's physical attributes were much higher than Igarashi's, Kuguruma Natsunishi had summarized a rule from his experience: if attributes were comparable, the swordsman held an overwhelming advantage.
Great muscle density, hardness, and high recovery or immortality were all part of "Body." However, these did not yield as much benefit as the "Technique"—the refined skill and martial path—of a swordsman who had undergone thousands of trials. As long as there wasn't a crushing difference in attributes, swordsmen could often fight above their level when facing demons.
The smile on Mukago's face thinned. She clapped her hands as if in praise.
"Hoh, you have some skill. A bit better than the ones from before. But haven't you noticed? From the moment you stepped into this sanitarium, you've been breathing in my 'gift'."
She spoke like a little girl sharing a secret, her tone filled with mischievous pride. Why was she chatting with these swordsmen who came to kill her? Beyond absolute confidence in her strength, she was waiting for her Blood Demon Art to take effect.
Looking at the three of them, she said slowly, "My Blood Demon Art can scatter invisible spores. Do you know what yam bulbs are? A little contact only makes the skin itch, but if you inhale too many... they will take root and sprout in your lungs and blood vessels. Finally, they will grow out of your bodies one by one. You'll become my favorite potted plants..."
As she spoke, she watched for expressions of panic. However...
"A-choo!"
Kuguruma Natsunishi couldn't help it and let out a loud sneeze. Then, looking at the demon as if facing a mortal foe, he cried, "It took effect so quickly?! Damn Blood Demon Art!"
Mukago: ...
No, I don't think my spores cause sneezing.
"You big dummy, her spores don't cause sneezing," Shinobu said helplessly to her companion. "And didn't you already inject the inhibitor?"
Kuguruma Natsunishi froze, then said seriously, "No, it's her spores that gave me an allergy."
Hearing their lack of tension, bickering like a comedy duo, Mukago vaguely realized something was wrong.
"Inhibitor?" What was that?
She tried to accelerate the catalysis of her spores, only to find that the spores that should have taken root in their bodies had lost all reaction.
How? What's happening?! Did these people... line their lungs with Nichirin steel?!
Noticing the sudden change in Mukago's expression, Shinobu Kochou smiled. She even wore a smile sweeter than the demon's, yet it held no warmth.
"Are you talking about those cute little spores? Before coming here, we already injected ourselves with an inhibitor. Thanks to the samples from the previous patients, I'm already very familiar with your 'pathogen.' My dear... Miracle. Doctor. Miss."
Holding her sword, she tilted her head and looked at the demon with sympathetic eyes.
"But a miracle doctor like you probably wouldn't understand this, right? After all, looking at you, you don't seem like the type who went to school."
Kuguruma Natsunishi couldn't help but twitch an eyebrow. The way this girl spoke reminded him of when Kanae used to tease Uzui Tengen. It was confirmed: they were definitely biological sisters.
Mukago's sweet mask finally shattered. The fury of being toyed with surged, making her expression turn hideous.
"...You all... seek death!"
Her figure vanished from the spot instantly! It was a lunging speed far exceeding that of an ordinary demon, surpassing even many Rank A swordsmen. Her target was the youngest-looking one, Shinobu Kochou.
The strike was so fast that Shinobu's pupils constricted, her body barely able to react. Yet, she didn't panic in the slightest. She knew that the "Big Radish" and the Storm Hashira beside her would definitely see it clearly and protect her.
And indeed, it was so. Kuguruma Natsunishi saw it clearly, and his body was just barely able to keep up. As for Igarashi? He was already standing quietly in front of Shinobu at some point, his Nichirin Sword halfway out of its sheath. He looked as if he were simply waiting for the opponent to crash into him.
However!
Mukago skidded to a halt halfway through her assault! It wasn't to avoid the blades of the Storm Hashira or Kuguruma Natsunishi. Instead...
Her gaze was locked onto the hem of the Storm Hashira's haori, which had fluttered up due to his movement, and a button of a completely different color.
Gold...
This man is a Hashira?!
Extreme terror instantly overwhelmed her anger. Without any hesitation or even a single parting threat, Mukago directly summoned a massive cloud of spore powder. Simultaneously, more dangerous vines—thicker, harder, and dark purple—burst from the ground, frantically lashing at the three of them!
But harming them was not her goal.
In the next second, Mukago used the cover of the dust and vines to bolt toward the distant forest without looking back!
Run, run, run!
There was not a shred of hesitation, nor any plan to try and fight them.
I'm going to die, I'm going to die, I'm going to die! I've been so low-key, only eating a few ordinary runts... how could a Hashira from the Demon Slayer Corps find me?!
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