"I'm afraid... this mission isn't over just yet."
Hiroshi Furukawa crouched down, carefully examining the traces left on the ground. Even during the hunt, he had sensed something unusual. Even after slaying the demon, he remained cautious, paying close attention to his surroundings—and now, he had finally found a clue.
Several swordsmen approached as well, focusing on the ground. In particular, the footprints left behind caught their attention, their expressions tightening.
"Could it be…?"
Footprints themselves weren't unusual, but these were different. Ordinary humans leave faint marks on the ground, almost negligible.
Demons, however, are not the same.
With physical abilities far beyond humans, a demon's footprints appear normal when walking casually. But once they start running, especially at high speed, the marks they leave on the ground become pronounced.
This is because demons are incredibly strong. When they step, the force they exert on the ground is far greater than a human's. With each step, especially when lifting a foot, they subconsciously press down harder, leaving deep, distinctive prints unlike anything a human would make.
For the Demon Slayer Corps, trained to protect humanity and eradicate demons, every swordsman is taught by the "Cultivator" about demon habits, weaknesses, and how to track them. Part of this training includes identifying demon footprints.
And now, right in front of them, fresh, unmistakable demon footprints appeared.
"No wonder that demon ran in this direction… it must have been seeking help from another of its kind."
One swordsman spoke coldly.
"But… how could there be another demon?"
The swordsman with a limp from his injuries looked incredulous. According to the reconnaissance from the "Kakushi," this mission area should only have contained a single demon.
Moreover, most demons are solitary. Except in very rare cases, they rarely gather in groups.
Demons are extremely territorial and seldom allow another demon into their hunting grounds.
On top of that, with the existence of 'Blood Battles' for rank, any demon aspiring to become part of the Twelve Kizuki instinctively views other demons as rivals, increasing mutual hostility.
Even when demons do form groups, it's usually because a powerful demon dominates weaker ones.
Thus, under normal circumstances, a territory would only host a single demon.
At least, over all these years, except when Hashira lead campaigns against the Twelve Kizuki—where multiple demons might be confronted simultaneously—ordinary demons rarely gather.
"Maybe it wandered here from somewhere else," one swordsman guessed.
"Hmph. Who cares why there's another one? Since it showed its face, we'll just kill it too."
Another swordsman gripped his Nichirin Sword, eyes burning with murderous intent.
The others nodded, turning their gaze to Hiroshi Furukawa.
"Captain, what do you say? Should we pursue it and cut off its head?"
The limping swordsman tightened his grip on his sword, eyes fierce as he looked to Hiroshi Furukawa.
All of them hated demons. To become a Demon Slayer, most had personal vendettas—some had their happiness destroyed directly or indirectly by demons. Naturally, hearing there's another demon meant they wouldn't let it escape.
Hiroshi Furukawa also wanted to slay the demon. Yet, when he glanced at the tired faces of his comrades, he shook his head.
"No. We rest and reorganize first."
"Captain…"
One swordsman couldn't hide his frustration. His hatred for demons ran deep, and hearing there was still another demon, he couldn't bear to let it go. All he wanted was to chase it down and cut its neck with his Nichirin Sword.
Hiroshi Furukawa walked over and patted him on the shoulder. "I know how much you hate demons. I feel the same—I also want to pursue this demon immediately. But we must remain rational. That's the only way we hunt demons, instead of becoming prey ourselves."
"We've just slain one demon. Our bodies are nearly exhausted. At this pace, if we fight again in our current state, how long can we last?"
"A demon is different. Their stamina is infinite. If the fight drags on even slightly, we—having lost our strength—will be the ones in danger."
Hearing Hiroshi Furukawa, the swordsmen felt some reluctance, but they knew he was right. They had not yet mastered the 'Total Concentration: Constant' technique and could not maintain their breathing state indefinitely.
Most of them could only hold their Breathing Technique for anywhere from a few minutes to half an hour before they could no longer sustain it. Once that happened, their physical strength would be no different from an ordinary person's.
And an ordinary person could not defeat a demon.
Furthermore, being forced out of the "breathing" state temporarily leaves them extremely weak—worse than normal humans.
"First, we rest. Once we've recovered, we'll track this demon again."
Hiroshi Furukawa looked at everyone, clenching his fist. "This demon won't escape. Once we've rested, we'll deliver the killing blow."
"Right. We follow the Captain's lead."
"Let this bastard live a few more days."
…
The swordsmen nodded and echoed his words with resolve.
Seeing this, Hiroshi Furukawa nodded as well. He allowed the team to rest while summoning the "Kakushi" responsible for this area.
The "Kakushi" are the logistical backbone of the Demon Slayer Corps, handling non-combat support tasks. They are responsible for battlefield assistance, intelligence transmission, equipment maintenance, covert surveillance, and post-battle cleanup.
"Sirs."
Two Kakushi approached Hiroshi Furukawa, bowing slightly. "Nearby lodgings have been prepared, with food and clean water. Medics from the Butterfly Mansion are here to treat everyone… Sir, do you have any other instructions?"
"When the sun rises and the world is bathed in light, send your people to track the source of these footprints. Be extremely cautious. If you find its hiding place during the day, notify us immediately."
"Understood."
The Kakushi nodded immediately and stepped back.
Once they withdrew, Hiroshi Furukawa gazed at the footprints on the ground. His hand rested lightly on the hilt of his Nichirin Sword as he murmured:
"Run while you can, demon. Scurry away in fear. I will find you, and then, with my own hands, I will sever your head."
"It won't be long now."
He lifted his head, staring at the full moon in the dark night. "After all, I still have to treat Lord Kyojuro to a meal. I can't afford to waste too much time."
A faint smile appeared on his lips, as if he imagined Lord Kyojuro, gentle like an elder brother, giving him a thumbs-up and loudly praising him.