Chapter 36: Onii-chan
"So what if you know?"
The demon paused slightly, a flicker of annoyance in its eyes at being read so easily.
It loomed over Kanae, enveloping her in its massive shadow.
"Once I kill you, what does it matter if my nest is discovered?"
However, the swordswoman wasn't crushed by its aura. Instead, she breathed a sigh of relief.
She hadn't just spoken to provoke the demon.
Under the cover of her hair, her eyes had briefly darted toward the brush behind the demon. There, another swordsman was still conscious.
Kondo Kojiro.
Although he had been kicked away earlier and likely had several broken ribs, he was still awake. He gripped his Nichirin Sword tightly, watching Kanae intently.
He was a Kanoe rank, after all.
He had survived harsh training and the Final Selection, and had killed demons solo. Pain, injury, and despair weren't enough to make him give up.
In fact, every word Kanae spoke was a coded order for him.
The missing people are still alive.
Kojiro-kun, I'm counting on you! Find them. Get them out.
I will hold the line here.
Even though they had known each other for less than a day, their shared duty as humans allowed them to communicate silently.
The demon didn't notice.
It thrust both hands forward, relying on its uncuttable steel body to crush Kanae.
The girl didn't retreat. Gritting her teeth, she met its attacks head-on.
Meanwhile, the injured swordsman endured the agony in his chest. While the demon was distracted by Kanae, he used incredible willpower to crawl along the ground, slithering away into the shadows of the forest.
Once he disappeared, Kanae changed her strategy.
She abandoned all thoughts of dealing damage. Instead, she focused entirely on stalling, pushing the agility of Flower Breathing to its limit.
When the demon launched fast attacks, sacrificing power for speed, she parried and retreated.
When faced with heavy blows she couldn't block, she used rotational force to deflect them, avoiding a direct contest of strength.
She was like a petal in a storm, dancing between the demon's steel claws and the dense trees.
Floating, spinning, dodging.
Sparks flew as her blade clashed with the demon's metal limbs.
But Kanae was only human.
Her defense wasn't perfect. As time passed, her haori was torn to shreds, and several bleeding wounds appeared on her body.
Yet her eyes remained calm.
The demon clearly noticed I changed my strategy.
Why is it still recklessly attacking?
She was stalling for Kojiro to rescue the hostages and for the backup summoned by the crow.
But what was the demon waiting for?
Is it just stupid?
Or is it waiting for my stamina to run out?
Just as she was analyzing the situation, a commotion erupted in the distant woods!
The screams of loggers, the roar of a swordsman, and the sound of wood being violently smashed.
The rescue was successful!
The demon froze for a second, then roared in fury. Its attacks instantly became more frantic and violent.
Kanae felt the pressure double, but she was relieved.
At least the civilians are safe.
Soon, Kojiro appeared, retreating while fighting. Behind him were seven or eight emaciated, terrified loggers.
Several wooden wolves, created by the demon's Blood Demon Art, were snapping at their heels.
"Watch out!"
Dodging a heavy punch from the main demon, Kanae sprinted toward the group.
She swung her sword, but her blade was a split-second too late.
An old man lagging at the back was pounced on by a wooden wolf. His scream was cut short instantly.
"Damn it!"
Kojiro's eyes nearly popped out of his skull, but he was powerless to save him.
He looked at his trembling hands, then at the terrified civilians. Their helpless eyes reminded him of his own little sister, whom he had failed to protect years ago.
After regrouping with Kanae and repelling the wolves, they stood back-to-back, facing the pack of wooden beasts and the steel demon.
To defeat this demon, the wolves, and protect all these civilians...
Despair began to rise in Kojiro's heart.
"Senior!" he cried out. "How long until backup arrives?"
Kanae remained silent.
She didn't know either.
The demon seemed to enjoy their fear. Instead of rushing them, it began to approach slowly, step by step.
Seeing this, Kojiro took a deep breath. His eyes filled with resolve.
Last time, I couldn't protect the person I wanted to save. This time... at least I can buy a few moments for this Senior.
Come to think of it... if my sister hadn't died, she would be about the same age as her.
Kojiro prepared to step forward.
But Kanae blocked him with her body.
"Go south, Kojiro-kun. Don't look back."
"But—"
"This is an order from a Hinoe rank."
The swordsman hesitated. Kanae's next words sealed his decision.
"With your current strength, Kojiro-kun, you won't buy any time. You'll just die for nothing."
She turned to the terrified civilians and the bloodied swordsman, flashing a reassuring smile.
"So, please live. Survive, and become stronger in the future."
Kojiro's eyes turned red. He turned around and shouted at the civilians, "GO! I'll cover the rear! RUN!"
Watching Kanae stay behind alone...
The hollow-eyed demon actually smiled.
"Mmm... what a touching choice, Little Butterfly."
"But letting them run for a bit is fine. You can't stop me anyway..."
The demon had been angry about losing its food reserves. But on second thought, this game of cat and mouse was fun.
It ordered the wooden wolves to encircle Kanae, cutting off her escape.
"You don't actually think you can beat me, do you?"
Kanae prepared to answer.
But then, heavy, slow footsteps echoed from deep within the forest.
The air grew even more suffocating.
Sweat poured down Kanae's forehead.
No way...
"You're wasting food again, Little Brother," a rough, grating voice spoke. "You shouldn't have let the swordsmen find the nest."
There are two of them?!
A massive tree trunk was pushed aside like a twig. A much larger, bulkier demon emerged from the shadows.
Its skin had the texture of rough granite. On its shoulder, it carried a grotesque greataxe made of a single piece of obsidian-like material.
Its gaze locked onto Kanae.
"One piece of food... isn't enough for me."
"It's okay, Big Brother," the skinny demon laughed. "Let them run. Meat tastes better after it's been exercised. Fresh, healthy human meat is the most delicious."
"Right, Little Butterfly?"
"You were waiting for backup, weren't you? But it looks like... my backup arrived first."
Kanae's heart sank to the bottom of the abyss.
☆☆☆
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