Crack! Crack!
The blood-red armor covering Maito's body began to split with fissures before shattering into fragments.
Thud!
The previously standing Maito collapsed heavily, barely managing to stay upright by propping himself up with both hands.
His arms and chest were covered in deep, gaping wounds, his flesh visibly squirming as it slowly regenerated.
While Maito was in a sorry state, Shinichi wasn't faring much better either.
A gaping hole had been torn through the black uniform of the Demon Slayer Corps, revealing his mangled chest—even the faint pulse of his heart could be glimpsed beneath the bloodied mess.
Both of them—no, both of these demons—were utterly exhausted.
Leaning on his Nichirin Blade, Shinichi struggled to his feet, breathing heavily.
However, his right eye had now returned to its peach-red hue and the earlier frenzy that had overtaken him had gradually subsided after the fierce battle with Maito.
Of course, the most important thing was seeing Shinobu safe and unharmed in the distance.
He had acted recklessly earlier.
The sleepy Demon silently appeared beside Maito, quietly helping him up.
Maito grimaced and muttered under his breath.
"It's all your damn fault, you idiot woman. Nothing good ever happens when I run into you. You should just go back to your hole and keep sleeping."
Her face was obscured by hair and bandages, Maito couldn't see the sleepy Demon's expression, but judging by the sudden tightening grip on his arm, she clearly didn't appreciate his words.
"Alright, Shinichi, that's enough for today. You've done well, kid. To improve this much in such a short time—I knew I wasn't wrong about you!" Maito gave Shinichi a thumbs-up as he stood.
"Until next time, Shinichi."
With that, Maito turned to leave, supported by the sleepy Demon.
"Wait, Maito!"
Suddenly, Shinichi's voice called out to the two departing demons.
Maito turned back to see Shinichi smiling faintly before saying softly.
"Thank you, Maito."
Maito paused, then chuckled hoarsely before turning away again.
"Ja ne. (See you.)"
A cold wind swept through, and in the next moment, the two crimson figures flickered and vanished.
"Haaah..."
Taking a few deep breaths, Shinichi clutched his slowly healing wound and dragged his Nichirin Blade over to Shinobu.
"Shinobu, are you okay?" he asked with concern.
Shinobu's small face was twisted in hesitation, but seeing Shinichi's worried expression, she finally answered softly.
"I'm fine, but... Shinichi-kun, those two... um, Demons? Are they... your friends? Do you know them?"
Shinichi sheathed his Nichirin Blade and reached out to Shinobu before smiling.
"Ah, that's... a pretty long story. Want to hear it? I can tell you all about it."
"Sure—ah!"
Shinobu had just stood up to reply when a sharp pain shot through her ankle, making her wince and suck in a sharp breath.
"What's wrong?"
"My... my ankle's twisted," Shinobu admitted sheepishly, her cheeks flushing slightly.
*****
On the snow-covered path, Shinichi walked slowly with a slight hunch in his posture because a petite figure was currently clinging to his back.
Shinobu rested on Shinichi's back, her arms wrapped around his neck as she soaked in the warmth radiating from his body.
"This is really comfortable~"
Looking at Shinichi now, his right eye was slightly reddened and his expression carried a faint ferocity—clearly, he had entered a demonized state.
That's right.
In truth, Shinichi was currently in a subtle demonized state, maintaining his Blood Demon Art.
"Blood Demon Art: Mini Raging Blood~"
Shinichi jokingly gave his own condition a name.
In reality, it was just a slight increase in his blood temperature, which in turn raised his body's surface heat, effectively turning him into a giant warmer.
Judging by the way Shinobu nestled against his back with her eyes closed in contentment, the effect was quite good~
After learning that Shinobu had injured her ankle, Shinichi naturally wouldn't let her continue walking.
However, staying in the freezing wilderness wasn't an option either—the area was completely deserted, with no households to seek shelter in.
Even if they sent a Kasugai Crow to request backup from headquarters, it would take quite some time.
Thus, despite Shinobu's own bashfulness and reluctance, Shinichi insisted on carrying her as they continued their journey.
"It was back then, after the fierce battle with Douma, that I lost consciousness. When I woke up again, I saw Maito and Shokyu..."
As they traveled, Shinichi recounted the story of how he had first met Maito and the others.
Of course, he didn't share everything—he didn't go into detail about Shunichi Moriki, the ancestor of the Moriki family, or the progenitor of demons from thousands of years ago.
He mostly treated those experiences as stories to share with Shinobu.
Shinobu, resting on Shinichi's back, listened to his tale, occasionally widening her eyes in surprise.
"So that's how it was? So, Maito-san and Shokyu-san could be friends of the Demon Slayer Corps? I never would have imagined! If my sister knew about this, she'd be absolutely astonished!" Shinobu thought of her sister, Kanae Kocho, who had always wanted to prove that there were good demons who could become friends.
However, most members of the Demon Slayer Corps, including Shinobu in the past, didn't understand or support Kanae's views, believing that the Flower Hashira's wish was nothing more than wishful thinking.
At this thought, Shinobu couldn't help but press her cheek against Shinichi's shoulder, playfully musing.
'Sorry, sister, I didn't mean to hide Shinichi-kun's identity from you. It's just that the Master also said this is Shinichi-kun's own little secret. I can only tell you when Shinichi-kun himself is willing to share it.'
After chatting for a while longer, Shinobu recalled the demon she had just fought—the sleepy Demon—and felt that she too, was an incredibly formidable figure.
She asked Shinichi about her.
However, Shinichi didn't know much about the sleepy Demon either.
This was his first time encountering her, and before this, Maito and Shokyu had never mentioned her.
"Is that so?" Shinobu felt a little disappointed, but then she remembered the notebook the sleepy Demon had given her.
Should she take a look at it?
Time passed unknowingly, and eventually, Shinichi's storytelling came to a halt.
Hearing the steady sound of breathing beside him, Shinichi glanced sideways and saw Shinobu small head resting on his shoulder, her eyes closed in peaceful slumber.
Even the hands that had been clinging to his neck had loosened slightly.
Shinichi smiled faintly and gently lowered himself a little to let Shinobu settle more comfortably against him.
"Mmm~"
Though his movements were careful, Shinobu still let out a soft murmur.
Fortunately, she didn't wake up—instead, she instinctively nuzzled her cheek against Shinichi's neck.
The faint coolness of her touch against his neck cleared Shinichi's mind.
For the first time, he felt a strange yet profound urge to protect this world.
The sensation was truly peculiar.
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