Doma couldn't quite understand it. For the first time in his life, a feeling called "wanting to know more" had appeared in his heart toward that mysterious Water Hashira.
As for why he was so certain she was a Water Hashira—he could only say that if strength like that didn't belong to a Hashira, then the Demon Slayer Corps might as well be finished.
With a trace of anticipation, Doma asked, "Did that woman tell you her name?"
"Or did she say where you could find her in the future?"
Aiko shook her head in confusion. "No. After she woke me up, she just let me go."
A flicker of regret passed through Doma's brows. He put on a sorrowful expression and said, "I see… then you must have had a hard time."
It had to be said—Doma's appearance truly was extraordinary. That face, paired with his rainbow-colored eyes, was enough to enchant countless young girls.
Aiko's cheeks flushed deeper and deeper. "Cult Leader…"
Doma seemed to understand what the girl was thinking. The corner of his lips lifted slightly as he opened his arms and pulled Aiko into an embrace.
A faint redness spread across Aiko's face, her gaze growing increasingly dazed.
"Then… did she say anything strange to you?" Doma's gentle voice suddenly whispered beside her ear.
Strange… words?
Aiko froze for a moment. Remembering what Yuko had said, anger crept into her voice.
"That hateful woman said the Cult Leader eats people and is an evil demon!"
"Then do you think I am?" Doma gently stroked the girl's neck as he spoke. At some point, the compassionate look in his eyes had turned cold.
"Of course not! The Cult Leader must be a divine child sent by the gods to save us!"
"Then, Aiko… are you willing to share eternal life with me, to be forever happy together?"
Aiko replied excitedly, "Yes! I'm willing!"
"Is that so? I understand."
Without any warning, the joy-filled expression on Aiko's face froze solid. A large spray of blood burst from her severed neck, drenching Doma in crimson.
Holding Aiko's still-excited-looking head in his hand, Doma lowered his gaze to look at himself.
"Oh dear… how am I supposed to clean this up later?"
He cried out as if in panic, yet his other hand never stopped dismembering Aiko's body. The scene was drenched in blood.
---
Elsewhere, Yuko suddenly felt something and turned her head.
The city had already become as tiny as an ant.
A moment later, she turned back and continued recording her information.
Using her fingernail as a pen and her own blood as ink, Yuko documented Domas details in her notebook.
She found that her blood was truly convenient.
Not only could it enhance the power of weapons, it could rapidly heal wounds, and even allow people to see ghosts.
Now that she had overcome sunlight, she could even use it under the sun.
It was simply too useful.
Yuko really was too versatile.
Inside the notebook were fragmented memories she had recorded, as well as information about demons.
It had already been filled with four pages.
The first page held the data personally verified by an expert—Yoriichi—about Muzan.
He possessed seven hearts and five brains. His arms could transform into flesh whips.
Judging purely from this information, Muzan's Blood Demon Art didn't seem particularly powerful.
At least… it didn't seem especially bizarre.
It even appeared inferior to many of the demons they had encountered before.
But Yoriichi had given this evaluation:
Even the slightest contact was fatal.
Although Muzan's Blood Demon Art was simple, wasn't overwhelming, pure power also a form of power?
The second page recorded information about Kokushibo.
Yuko had fought Kokushibo more times than she could count. Even during his human days, the two of them had often trained together.
The accuracy of the information was as high as ninety-nine percent—even more precise than Muzan's.
The third page contained data about Upper Rank Three.
There wasn't much written—only a single line:
His body bears blue striped tattoos, has short pink hair, and his name is suspected to be—'Akusa.'
That name was clearly wrong. She must have seen Upper Three's real name in the comments back then, but she probably misread the character.
Yuko couldn't remember clearly anymore, only that the shape of the character was similar when translated into Chinese.
On the newest page was Upper Rank Six—Doma.
Blood Demon Art — Ice, Poison.
Aside from Muzan, there were only six Upper Ranks worth recording.
As for the Lower Ranks—at the end of the day, they simply weren't strong enough to threaten a Hashira.
They didn't count as real combat power.
That was the cruel charm of the Demon Slayer power scaling: Hashira instantly kill Lower Ranks, Upper Ranks instantly kill Hashira, Muzan instantly kills Upper Ranks, and Yoriichi instantly kills Muzan.
If this power balance were even slightly more reasonable, Yuko wouldn't need to tread so carefully, fearing every misstep.
"Overall manifestation — an extension of ice-based forms…"
After finishing the final line, Yuko lifted her head and looked ahead.
Before her stretched a vast expanse of land.
Japan wasn't small—but that was only compared to other countries.
To step into it and try to hunt down a few demons hidden among a sea of people using ancient-era information networks was no easy task.
Even over the course of a hundred years, she might not find a single one.
Not every demon held a social identity as prominent as Doma's.
Looking at the boundless land before her, Yuko let out a quiet, lingering sigh.
The road ahead was long and heavy.
---
After becoming a demon, time slowly faded from Yuko's perception.
Though she still watched the sun rise and set each day, she could no longer remember how much time had passed.
"Did you hear? That dojo master was eaten by a demon!"
Whispers from a street stall in a certain city caught Yuko's attention.
The person beside them exclaimed, "You mean the master of that Shindō-style school?"
"Yes! That's the one!"
Shindō-style…
Yuko had a vague impression of it—a martial art passed down from the Warring States era, teaching not only swordsmanship but also grappling and ninjutsu.
"Terrifying… it's only been a few days, and three people are already dead!"
Hearing this, Yuko hesitated slightly and stepped forward to sit at their table.
"Huh? You are…?"
"Excuse me, could you explain what's going on with these demons?"
"Who are you? Just barging in like this," the two men frowned. Anyone would feel uncomfortable if a stranger suddenly joined their table mid-meal.
Suddenly, their expressions changed. They hurriedly poured Yuko some tea.
"Please, have some tea!"
One of them fawningly reached for the money Yuko handed over.
The man pouring tea's eyelid twitched. He smacked the other's hand hard and snatched the money away.
The other looked dissatisfied.
Without changing expression, Yuko took out another payment and placed it on the table.
"If there's anything you want to ask, just ask us brothers! There's no news in this city we don't know!" The man's eyes lit up as he collected the money, patting his chest and pointing at his companion.
They looked like two sworn brothers boasting to the heavens.
Yuko twitched the corner of her mouth, somewhat speechless. "The demon you mentioned earlier?"
"Oh, that…" the man swallowed nervously, fear in his eyes. "The masters of several martial halls in our city have all met with disaster these past few days."
The other nodded frantically. "They were all eaten by demons!"
"How do you know they were eaten? It could have been a vendetta killing."
The two glanced at each other. One of them spoke tremblingly, "The dojo was covered in blood, with chunks of flesh and remains of internal organs everywhere. If that wasn't a demon, then what was it?"
Yuko slowly narrowed her eyes.
---
Currently at chapter 300 for advance chapters
https:// ko-fi.com/rabi08