Time passed—who knew how long—in that endless darkness.
Until finally…
Aoyama felt something change.
His body was no longer drifting.
"Cough—!"
He suddenly sat up—
And thud!
His head collided with something unexpectedly soft.
"AHH!!!"
A rare scream burst out.
It was Shinobu Kocho.
Standing nearby, Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke all instantly covered their ears—
And turned around at the same time.
Aoyama's vision was blocked.
Instinctively, he reached out to feel—
But the moment he touched it—
His wrist was seized tightly.
"What do you think you're doing?!"
Shinobu's face flushed red.
Her eyes burned with anger.
"I—!"
Aoyama finally realized what had just happened.
He immediately scooted backward.
He had just…
Headbutted something he absolutely shouldn't have.
Embarrassing didn't even begin to cover it.
He turned his head away, rubbing his nose awkwardly.
"I—I'm sorry! I didn't know—if I had—"
"Don't say another word!!!"
Shinobu, face burning, drew her blade instantly.
"Wait, wait—Shinobu, calm down!"
"I really didn't know! Don't do anything rash!"
Aoyama panicked.
He had just woken up—
And this was the situation?!
How could he have predicted that?!
"I said stop talking!"
CRACK—!
The bed split clean in half.
Thankfully, Aoyama had already pulled his legs back—
Otherwise, he might've been neatly amputated.
And worst of all—
Those three idiots had witnessed everything.
Shinobu, mortified, turned and ran out of the room.
Zenitsu turned back around, grinning.
He gave Aoyama a big thumbs-up.
Aoyama's eyebrow twitched.
"Why are you still standing there?!"
"The bed's broken—go get me a new one!"
"Y-Yes! Aoyama-senpai, wait a moment!"
Tanjiro immediately dragged Inosuke out to fetch a new bed.
Zenitsu, meanwhile, looked at Aoyama with deep admiration.
"Aoyama-senpai…"
"Can you teach me that just now…?"
"I don't need much! Just holding hands is fine!"
"Preferably Shinobu's hand—but anyone's will do!"
He even started acting cute.
Aoyama's face darkened.
BONK!
He smacked Zenitsu on the head.
A huge lump instantly rose.
"That was an accident, you idiot!"
"Get out and let me rest!"
Zenitsu clutched his head, crying as he ran out.
Finally alone—
Aoyama frowned.
Something was wrong.
When he hit Zenitsu just now—
He hadn't used much strength.
Yet the force had been excessive.
A strange power surged within his body.
His head felt heavy.
Then—
The system voice echoed.
"Ding! Host has slain a member of the Twelve Kizuki."
"Rewards granted: +10 Body Enhancement, +10 Blade Sharpness, +10 Speed…"
"+10 Spirit Power, 5 Summoning Scrolls, 4 Regeneration Potions…"
"3 Concealment Talismans, 20 Gold."
"Ding! Host body has surpassed limit."
"System unlocking—Demon Slayer Mark."
The Mark?!
Before he could even process it—
Pain exploded in his skull.
He clutched his head.
His body burned like it was on fire.
His temperature skyrocketed.
His heart pounded far beyond normal limits.
THUD—!
At that moment, Tanjiro and Inosuke returned with a new bed.
Seeing Aoyama in agony, they dropped it immediately.
"Aoyama-senpai! What's wrong?!"
Tanjiro reached out—
But the moment he touched him—
"AH!"
"He's burning hot!"
"What's happening to you?!"
Aoyama's eyes snapped open—
Now glowing blood red.
He lashed out instinctively.
Tanjiro was nearly sent flying—
But Inosuke blocked him just in time.
"What's wrong with him?!"
Inosuke shouted.
Tanjiro shook his head, panicking.
"I—I don't know!"
"Go get Shinobu-san! Hurry!"
As Tanjiro ran out, Inosuke followed.
Meanwhile—
Aoyama staggered to his feet.
Step by step—
He walked out.
Then—
With a single leap—
He shot into the sky.
Far higher than any normal human could reach.
Outside, a few workers from the Butterfly Mansion looked up.
"Did you see that?"
"A shadow just flew past!"
"Was that a bird?"
"No way… you're seeing things. Get back to work."
They shrugged it off.
But Aoyama had already disappeared.
Far away—
He found a deep lake.
Without hesitation—
He dove in.
Back at the mansion—
"Shinobu-san! Shinobu-san!"
"Something's wrong! Aoyama-senpai is in trouble!"
Tanjiro burst in.
Inside, Shinobu was still flustered from earlier—
Her face faintly red, a bit annoyed despite knowing it wasn't intentional.
The door slammed open.
Tanjiro stood there, gasping.
"He's in pain! His head—his whole body!"
"Please come quickly!"
"What?!"
Shinobu shot to her feet.
"He just woke up—he was fine a moment ago!"
"How could this happen?!"
Without hesitation—
Tanjiro grabbed her hand and pulled her outside.
They rushed back—
Only to find Zenitsu sitting there, still teary-eyed.
Tanjiro ran into the room.
Empty.
"Zenitsu! Did you see where he went?!"
"Y-Yeah…"
"He jumped… and disappeared…"
Zenitsu stammered.
"Did he… hit someone again?"
Tanjiro froze.
"He hit you?!"
Zenitsu lifted his hair, revealing the swollen bump.
Shinobu frowned deeply.
"Enough of that."
"We need to find him—before something worse happens."
She strode past them immediately.
Her thoughts raced.
She had examined Aoyama multiple times.
Aside from his arm injury—
There had been nothing wrong.
So what was happening now?
With that question heavy in her mind—
Shinobu sped off to find him.
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