[Slaying a Mid-Rank Demon: +900 Paradise Coins]
Okane Kichiro let out a relieved breath.
Tanjiro had almost stolen the kill—thankfully, he had been a heartbeat faster.
A pity it didn't drop a treasure chest. That Spider-Head Demon was strong enough; shouldn't it have had a chance to drop one?
Or… do only Upper-Rank demons drop treasure chests?
That doesn't seem right.
As Okane Kichiro was still feeling regretful, a boar mask suddenly shoved into his face, almost scaring him out of his skin.
"It's you!!"
Inosuke roared. Two streams of hot breath puffed out from the boar mask's nostrils as he panted excitedly.
"Your scent—it's the same! You're the one who killed that demon controlling the spider threads earlier, right?! You're strong!! Fight me!"
"Uh…"
Okane Kichiro stared at Inosuke's battered state. With all those wounds, the guy looked like he could faint from blood loss any second. How was he still this energetic?
"STOP causing trouble for people!!"
Tanjiro slammed a headbutt straight into Inosuke's forehead, trying to jolt some sense into him. This wild boar… When someone saves him twice in a row, his first reaction is not gratitude but challenging them to a duel?
The headbutt knocked Inosuke flat. He lay on the ground groaning, and the once-chaotic scene instantly quieted.
"This little girl—yours?"
Okane Kichiro ignored Inosuke's challenge. He knew the guy's personality well enough. Lifting Nezuko by the back of her collar like a kitten, he turned to Tanjiro.
Nezuko blinked with wide, vacant eyes—she really did look like a kitten being scruffed.
In her current mental state, all humans were "family." Seeing Okane Kichiro, she instinctively registered him as her younger brother. Back home, she was always the older sister—yet now her "little brother" was holding her up like a cat.
The confused, half-asleep Nezuko didn't know what to make of it. Her mouth puffed out in a tiny irritated mumble.
"Yes—that's my sister…"
Tanjiro hurriedly took Nezuko back into his arms—only to freeze, remembering that Nezuko was a demon. He suddenly didn't know how to explain anything.
"Your sister's a demon, right?"
Okane Kichiro said it casually as he patted Nezuko's head.
Tanjiro instantly panicked and yanked Nezuko behind him.
It wasn't an overreaction. Okane Kichiro's strength was overwhelming—every move he made left a deep impression. Tanjiro was painfully aware that none of them could stand against him.
And protecting a demon—especially your sister—was a grave violation of the Demon Slayer Corps' rules. If discovered, Tanjiro would be severely punished. Even his teacher could be implicated.
It was far too serious for him to treat lightly.
"Relax. Your sister is… special. She's a demon, yet she suppresses her demonic instincts. I've never seen anything like it."
Okane Kichiro smiled gently, and some of the tension in Tanjiro's shoulders eased.
"I kill demons because they eat humans—not because they are demons. So tell me: has your sister ever eaten a human?"
"Never. Absolutely never."
Tanjiro's answer was iron-solid.
"I believe you."
Okane Kichiro nodded after a moment of silence.
"But my belief means nothing. You'll have to make the rest of the Demon Slayer Corps believe you too—especially the one standing behind you."
"What?"
Before Tanjiro could process that, a butterfly-light silhouette floated down from above—silent, graceful.
But beneath that elegant beauty was lethal intent.
A slender blade was already drawn.
Tanjiro didn't react in time. He could only watch, helpless, as the blade lanced straight toward Nezuko.
In that split second
Okane Kichiro stepped past Tanjiro, seized Shinobu Kocho's wrist, and redirected her to the side.
Her blade grazed Nezuko's cheek and sank deeply into a tree trunk.
Tanjiro's legs nearly gave out. He clutched Nezuko and staggered back, trembling.
Just when he'd thought the situation was finally easing… another powerful Demon Slayer appeared—and with the intent to kill. If not for Okane Kichiro's intervention, Nezuko would've been gone.
The realization filled Tanjiro with overwhelming gratitude.
"Okane Kichiro, what do you think you're doing? Protecting a demon violates Corps rules, you know."
Shinobu asked with her usual gentle smile, though a note of reproach lingered beneath it.
"That's true. But Nezuko's case is unique. We should report to the Master and let him judge."
"You even know her name now?"
Shinobu's gaze slid toward Nezuko, sweeping over her from head to toe.
"So this is your type, Okane Kichiro? I won't comment on your taste… but a demon is a demon. If you can't kill her, at least don't get in my way."
"That's going too far."
Okane Kichiro inhaled deeply, calming himself. Shinobu was fundamentally kind—but her sharp tongue was another matter entirely.
Sparring with her had given him plenty of headaches before.
"Too far? Compared to you? You're not even a Hashira yet, yet you dare act above your station—and for a demon, no less. Attacking your own 'mentor,' hmm? Tell me, who's really going too far?"
"…"
"Why so quiet? Give me one good reason for your actions."
"…"
Okane Kichiro couldn't argue. She was right.
He had only just met Tanjiro today.
From Shinobu's perspective, he had no reason to protect Nezuko.
Unless he truly was… interested in her?
Shinobu's brows knit together. Seeing him wordless, even her perpetual smile began to twitch. Her wrist strained in his grip, strength subtly increasing.
But Okane Kichiro held her easily in place.
Her gaze grew more and more hostile. Okane Kichiro, feeling guilty, avoided her eyes.
Just then
A cold voice drifted from the side.
"You two… could you pay attention to the situation? This is not the time for flirting."
Giyu Tomioka stood with his blade in hand, watching them with a flat expression.
He wasn't jealous—Giyu simply disapproved of their utter lack of discipline.
They were supposed to be slaying demons. And here they were—hand in hand, staring into each other's eyes. These were supposed to be Hashira?
If not for the courtesy owed to colleagues, Giyu would've already reported both of them to Kagaya Ubuyashiki. Their irresponsibility was unbelievable.