Nezuko had no real experience fighting demons.
During her usual training, most of her sparring had been against Kanao. Although she possessed enough strength to easily overpower ordinary demons, she still could not end battles as quickly and decisively as Kanao could.
Under the demon's attacks, she quickly fell into confusion and panic.
Watching from behind, Soma could not help feeling somewhat disappointed as he spoke coldly, "You're struggling this much against a demon weaker than you. If you face one stronger than yourself in the future, what will you do then? Die in a demon's jaws?"
Nezuko immediately bit down on her lip tightly while continuing to fight.
"You are hunting demons, not sparring," Soma continued. "Life and death are decided in an instant. Your enemy will not show you mercy."
Hearing his voice behind her filled Nezuko with shame.
"Hah!"
With a sharp cry, the young girl accelerated. Under the demon's astonished gaze, she swung her blade in a fierce arc.
"Sun Breathing… First Form: Dance."
A blazing arc of light tore through the darkness.
Before the demon could react, the burning blade cleanly severed its neck.
Its head fell heavily to the ground.
Nezuko came to a stop, breathing heavily as she stared at the demon's corpse before her. A look of pleasant surprise slowly appeared in her eyes.
Tap… tap…
Soft footsteps approached from behind.
Soma walked toward her.
Nezuko immediately lowered her head in embarrassment. Especially after feeling his gaze on her, she did not even dare look up.
"Why did you waste so much time?" Soma asked as he stopped in front of her. "You could have ended the battle immediately. One strike would have been enough."
"I…"
Nezuko wanted to explain herself, but she did not know what to say.
"Was it because you couldn't bear to do it?" Soma sneered lightly. "Or because you think taking a life so easily is cruel, so you subconsciously avoided striking fatal blows? Is that why the fight became so difficult?"
Nezuko pressed her lips together silently.
"Remember this," Soma said as he placed a hand on her shoulder. "The moment someone becomes your enemy, it turns into a fight where either you die or they do. Mercy toward an enemy is the greatest betrayal of your own life."
After speaking, he gently patted her shoulder before lifting his gaze toward the distance.
"Another demon is coming," he said calmly. "This time, don't disappoint me."
Nezuko slowly raised her head and met Soma's eyes.
What she saw there was encouragement.
She truly could not act as decisively as Kanao.
Whenever she faced the act of taking another life, hesitation always appeared in her heart. A part of her could not help wondering if it was too cruel.
Even if the enemy was a vicious demon.
Perhaps it was because she had spent too much time beside Soma.
Somewhere deep inside, she had begun feeling that maybe not all demons were as terrible as people believed.
What if the demon before her was not truly that evil?
Even if it possessed only one ten-thousandth of Soma's kindness…
Perhaps it was that simple thought that caused her hesitation during battle.
"Stop hesitating, alright?" Soma lowered his head slightly and looked at her while gently patting her shoulder again.
"I won't hesitate anymore, sir." Nezuko nodded firmly.
Feeling the warmth of his hand resting on her shoulder made her heartbeat quicken slightly.
She absolutely would not disappoint him again.
Rustle… rustle…
The forest shook once more.
Drawn by the scent of Nezuko's blood from earlier, more demons had arrived.
This time, however, there were two of them.
And each one was stronger than the last demon they had faced.
Soma stood beside Nezuko and asked softly, "You won't disappoint me again, right?"
Nezuko immediately clenched her teeth. "I'll prove myself to you, sir."
"It's not about proving yourself to me," Soma replied with a sigh. "It's about respecting your own life."
Nezuko's cheeks flushed red, and she nodded seriously.
"I understand, sir."
Tightening her grip around the hilt of her Nichirin Sword, she stepped forward toward the two approaching demons. Her dark hair swayed gently in the night wind as she rushed ahead.
Despite facing two demons that were significantly stronger than before, Nezuko displayed an entirely different combat prowess this time. Almost the exact moment they clashed, she cleanly severed the first demon's head.
The remaining demon felt a sudden jolt of panic. The instantaneous death of its companion struck terror into its heart, overriding its hunger for human flesh.
Without a second thought, it spun around to flee.
"Water Breathing… First Form: Water Surface Slash."
The blade flashed brightly through the night.
In the next instant, the fleeing demon's neck was sliced open effortlessly.
The battle ended there.
Compared to before, Nezuko had actually defeated two stronger demons in even less time. Her strikes had become sharp and decisive, no longer hesitant like during her first fight.
Clap… clap…
Behind her, Soma applauded lightly and could not help praising her.
"Very good, Nezuko. Well done."
The girl stopped while breathing heavily. Hearing Soma clap for her made her unconsciously straighten her chest proudly, while relief quietly spread through her heart.
At least she had not disappointed him.
However, the consecutive battles had exhausted a huge amount of her stamina. Now that she suddenly relaxed, her mind became dizzy, and her footing slipped.
Her body tilted forward.
She had already prepared herself to crash painfully onto the ground—
But the expected pain never came.
Instead, she fell into a warm embrace.
Only then did Nezuko realize that Soma had appeared in time and caught her in his arms.
The warmth surrounding his body instantly made her face redden. Her small hand loosened around the sword hilt, letting the blade fall to the ground, while both arms naturally wrapped around his waist.
"Sir… my head feels dizzy."
She buried her face deeply against his chest as she spoke softly.
"It's probably because this was your first real battle and you used too much strength," Soma analyzed calmly. "Rest a little and you'll be fine."
Kanao, who had been watching nearby, narrowed her pink-purple eyes slightly at the sight.
At that moment, Nezuko lifted her head from Soma's chest just enough to meet Kanao's gaze directly.
Immediately, she guiltily lowered her head again.
Soma himself did not think much of it and simply continued holding her.
Nezuko was not heavy at all. Her body was soft and delicate in his arms, almost like holding warm jade.
"In future battles, you must stay this decisive," Soma reminded her. "Don't hesitate anymore."
"I understand, sir."
Nezuko mumbled softly against his chest.
Especially after noticing Kanao's gaze on her, a tiny sense of satisfaction quietly rose inside her heart.
"Are you feeling better yet?" Soma eventually asked.
"I'm still a little dizzy."
"You've been in my arms for almost half an hour already."
Only then did Soma finally realize something was off.
No matter how exhausted she was, there was no way she could stay dizzy for this long.
Still, he did not expose her act. He merely patted her shoulder lightly.
"If this continues, the sun's going to rise soon."
Nezuko's face immediately turned bright red.
Knowing that he had seen through her, she quickly escaped from his arms in embarrassment.
Soma did not pay much attention to it. Instead, he lifted his head and looked toward the sky.
The darkness was beginning to fade.
Light would soon descend upon the world once again, and this chaotic night was finally nearing its end.
No one knew how devastating the losses suffered by the Demon Slayer Corps had been during the night.
Nor did anyone know what condition Muzan Kibutsuji was currently in.
Watching Soma silently stare at the sky, Nezuko suddenly felt an impulse rise within her heart.
Her small hand slowly reached out and gently held his.
The soft, pale hand resting inside his palm caused Soma to freeze slightly before he turned his head toward her.
The wind blew gently through the forest, making the girl's long black hair flutter softly. A few loose strands brushed against her face, and with her free hand, she nervously tucked them behind her ear, revealing ears and cheeks that had already become burning hot.
Panic flickered within her beautiful eyes.
This was probably the first time she had ever done something this bold.
Especially as a girl.
She could not help wondering what Soma thought of her now. Would he think she was too shameless? Too frivolous?
Nezuko's heart was beating nervously.
Soma merely glanced at her once before quietly looking back toward the sky.
The first rays of dawn pierced through the darkness.
A new day had arrived.
No matter how wildly demons had rampaged across the land during the night, they would eventually be forced to hide once more like rats crawling back into the shadows.
Seeing that Soma did not reject her and simply allowed her hand to remain within his, Nezuko quietly let out a breath of relief.
Just like him, she raised her head and looked toward the rising sun.
For some reason, today's sunlight felt especially beautiful.