章 34: Tamayo

"Tamayo-sama, are you sure it's safe to bandage the injured demon slayer?" Yushiro is concerned about their safety, but his loyalty to Tamayo is unwavering as he never left her side.

Tamayo gave her usual gentle smile. "He's a human in need of help, Yushiro. As a doctor, we should help!"

"Tamayo-sama, you are so kind, but putting yourself in such danger for an unknown person—what if the humans misunderstand once they discover our presence?" Yushiro protested weakly, his voice filled with unease.

"Don't worry, nothing will happen. Your blood demon art isn't that easy to crack. We will leave within two minutes once I finish the first aid," Tamayo reassured him.

It's clear Tamayo won't listen to his complaints and worries. Since the doctor has already decided, Yushiro could do nothing but try his best to conceal their presence.

'She's careless. Far too careless... but such a kind Tamayo-sama is more beautiful!' Yushiro stared at Tamayo's gentle face.

Their current situation was dangerous, as they were making themselves targets for both humans and demons.

A single mistake could cost them their lives. While Yushiro didn't mind dying for Tamayo's sake, the thought of anything happening to her was terrifying.

Knowing them and their kind intentions, Ryou revealed himself and spoke in an easygoing tone, "Thank you for your help."

Tamayo and Yushiro were startled by the sudden voice behind them. In a flash, they turned around to see Ryou in his Demon Slayer outfit standing just a few feet away.

'How did he get this close? I hadn't sensed him at all.' Yushiro's entire body froze as sweat formed on his forehead. Their instincts as demons screamed at them to flee, but Tamayo remained calm, understanding there was no chance of escape.

His overwhelming presence... it's the strongest Tamayo had perceived in a long time, matching Yoriichi, who nearly beheaded Muzan.

'Such a strong human... With his strength, there might be a chance to kill Muzan!' Hope surged in Tamayo's heart.

At that moment, Yushiro snapped out of his daze, ready to sacrifice himself so Tamayo could escape, but before he could do anything rashly, Tamayo placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Don't do anything rash, Yushiro. He's incredibly strong; he must be a Hashira."

"You're a Hashira?" Yushiro muttered, his eyes wide with fear.

Ryou nodded. "Yes, and you can relax. Though you guys are demons, I can see that you're not enemies. Thank you for helping the injured man."

Hearing his words, Tamayo and Yushiro's faces relaxed slightly but their entire being remained in a cautious state. They couldn't afford to let their guard down, facing a Hashira who could kill them at any moment.

"We didn't kill the Demon Slayers. We were just trying to save the one who's still alive," Yushiro hurriedly explained, afraid Ryou might misunderstand.

"I know. Where's the demon that killed them?" Ryou asked, his eyes scanning the surroundings.

"It died by the wounded Demon Slayer's sword!" Yushiro lied, trying to avoid their involvement in the demon's demise.

Ryou's teasing gaze met Yushiro's. "It seems like you two killed the demon," he said calmly, seeing through the lie but he didn't press further.

"We..." Yushiro began, his voice trembling as he swayed on the edge of a mental breakdown. Ryou's presence was scary as if his life could end at any moment. 'How can a human be this terrifying, even if he's a Hashira?'

'This human is different from the others. He didn't judge us just because we are demons. If it was someone else, they might have killed us before hearing our words.

It's as if he knows us completely from the inside out, and our thoughts are easily read,' Tamayo thought.

'Maybe he's the key to defeating Muzan,' Tamayo's mind raced with possibilities. As a demon who had lived through centuries, she had witnessed countless battles and encountered many powerful humans.

But Ryou's different. He has the strength to confront powerful demons like Upper Moon head-on.

Above all, she appreciates Ryou's ability to look beyond their demonic identities and understand their motives. In a world where most saw demons as enemies, his vision set him apart.

This quality made Tamayo trust Ryou. If she could earn his trust, they might find a way to end Muzan Kibutsuji, the Demon Progenitor.

It didn't matter if she died in the process; eliminating Muzan was her priority and lifelong pursuit.

Thinking through, she spoke. "I am Tamayo, and this is Yushiro! My life's wish is to eliminate that man, Kibutsuji Muzan.

If we combine our strengths and knowledge, we may have a chance to bring him down. There is something I've been working on for a long time—a drug that could weaken Muzan significantly.

But I need more time. To create such a drug, it's crucial to study the blood of numerous demons, especially those closest to Muzan. This means obtaining samples from the Lower Moon and Upper Moon Demons.

I know it's incredibly dangerous—"

Before Tamayo could continue, Ryou raised his hand to stop her speech.

"I appreciate your honesty," Ryou said. "Though you're a demon, you saved a human life, and I respect that.

I don't know the reason why you want to kill Muzan, despite being a demon yourself. Everyone in the world has a story, and yours is no different.

But it doesn't truly matter. If you're willing to fight against Muzan, then you're an ally, regardless of what you are."

Ryou paused before continuing, "However, I can't help you with your request to collect the demon blood. It's not that I'm afraid of confronting the Upper Moons; it's just that I can't encounter them. No matter how hard I try!

It's as if they can escape my pursuit as soon as I get close to them."

"I understand," Tamayo nodded and explained, "The Lower Moons are afraid of death. They fear the Hashira, knowing they are no match. Most of the time, they command weaker demons to hunt in their stead.

If Muzan doesn't give them commands, they do their own things. Of course, there are some exceptions as some Lower Moon demons don't fear death."

She continued, "As for the Upper Moons, it's more difficult to track their location because they don't leave any traces.

Most of the intel the Demon Slayer Corps gathers comes from survivors or reports of suspicious activities. If there are no suspicious activities or survivors, it's nearly impossible to find them."

Ryou chuckled, "It seems like you know the Demon Slayer Corps better than I do."

"I have lived longer," Tamayo said with a faint smile.

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