Just as Shinobu leapt toward another branch, someone grabbed the back of her clothing.
She turned—
It was Aoyama Ren.
Her footing slipped, and she fell toward the ground.
Aoyama caught her by the shoulder midair, his other hand gripping a branch to steady them both. The two descended smoothly and landed without injury.
"You—"
Before Shinobu could finish, Aoyama had already taken her sword from her hand.
"What about me?" he smiled. "I didn't let you fall. I'll hold onto your blade for now—just in case you try to slip away and stab me."
She twisted her body, attempting to strike his side—
But Aoyama locked her arm in a swift hold, pinning her beneath his arm while gripping her wrist firmly, preventing another punch.
"Aoyama-kun," Shinobu said lightly, "do you think this is appropriate behavior toward a young lady?"
Aoyama glanced down calmly.
"It's better than tying you up with rope."
Seeing no sign he intended to release her, Shinobu changed tactics.
"Why are you protecting that demon girl? Could you at least tell me the reason?"
"Reason?" Aoyama replied flatly. "There isn't one."
The conversation died instantly.
Shinobu sighed softly.
Silence settled between them.
"Aoyama-kun," she continued, "you are violating Corps regulations. My attack against demons is justified. But you—are truly breaking the rules."
Still facing downward, she couldn't see his expression.
"Are you even listening to me?"
Aoyama didn't answer.
Because—
A heavy scent of blood had just reached his nose.
And faint, deliberate footsteps were approaching.
Noticing his distraction, Shinobu seized the opportunity.
A blade sprang from the sole of her shoe as she kicked upward toward him.
Aoyama frowned slightly, tilting his head aside just in time. He released her hold and returned her sword to her hand.
"See you later, Aoyama-kun~"
Shinobu assumed her attack had worked—that he had let her go to pursue Tanjiro.
But when she turned—
Aoyama stood before a patch of grass, arm extended, gripping something tightly.
"If you dare come, why hide?"
With that, he yanked a demon out of the brush.
Pale face. Fine clothing.
Another one of Rui's "family."
Brother? Younger brother?
Hard to tell.
Aoyama threw him over his shoulder and slammed him to the ground.
Shinobu stopped in place.
So it hadn't been her attack.
A demon had appeared.
Interesting.
This Aoyama was… more interesting than Tomioka, at least.
"Well, Aoyama-kun? Need help?" she asked sweetly—
Without stepping forward at all.
Aoyama glanced at her.
How should he describe this woman?
There was a saying…
What was it again?
Something about a woman's heart being…
He lightly tapped his own forehead.
Why couldn't he remember it?
The demon lunged toward him.
Aoyama kicked him away in annoyance.
He had almost remembered.
Now the thought was gone.
The demon scrambled back up. The broken leg he'd suffered regenerated instantly.
Realizing he couldn't win, he suddenly dropped to his knees.
"Please! Help me! Let me leave this place!"
He kowtowed repeatedly, smashing his forehead against the ground until blood stained the dirt red.
Aoyama walked forward and crouched in front of him.
"Spare you?" he asked calmly. "You're a demon. I'm a Demon Slayer. Give me one reason."
The demon's eyes darted.
"I—I just became a demon not long ago! I haven't eaten anyone yet!"
The instant the words left his mouth—
Aoyama's blade flashed.
Blood sprayed across the ground.
The severed arm that fell beside them slowly crumbled into ash.
His strike had been so fast that even Shinobu blinked in surprise.
"You lied," Aoyama said with a faint smile. "Your scent reeks. You haven't eaten no one—you've eaten many."
The demon trembled violently.
This man—
Was more terrifying than Rui.
The severed arm regrew.
Aoyama spoke again.
"Next question. How many people have you eaten?"
"I—I…" The demon hesitated, no longer daring to answer carelessly.
"It wasn't my choice! Rui forced me to be part of his family! He made me eat people! He even changed my face!"
Tears squeezed from his eyes as he pleaded.
Aoyama slowly stood.
Demons weren't all the same.
Some were good.
Some were evil.
But this one—
Deserved to die.
He raised his blade.
One clean slash.
The demon's head rolled twice across the ground.
His wide eyes remained fixed on Aoyama as his body began turning to ash from the neck down.
Ding!
"Host has slain a demon."
"Reward: Arm Strength +20."
Aoyama sheathed his sword and looked toward Shinobu.
"He was lying again."
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