Shinobu Kocho and Yae hurried up the mountain to investigate. Just as they reached the foot of the slope, they witnessed the comical scene of Zenitsu fleeing in a panic, pursued by a demon.
Yae didn't have much experience with the world. Although this was only the second time in her life she had seen a demon, she wasn't particularly afraid. Instead, her concern was primarily for this stranger, Zenitsu.
She looked at Shinobu with worry and instinctively unslung the hunting rifle from her back.
"Sister Shinobu, let's save him, quickly!"
Shinobu, however, hesitated.
Her eyes were sharp, and she quickly sensed that something was amiss.
This yellow-haired boy looked incredibly cowardly and weak, yet he was holding a Nichirin Sword.
He wasn't wearing a Demon Slayer Corps uniform, yet he wielded a Nichirin Sword and was being chased by a demon right at the foot of Momoyama.
Combining these pieces of information, Shinobu formed a tentative but likely accurate guess.
This yellow-haired boy... could he be Jigoro Kuwajima's other disciple? Horitake's junior brother?
It was very likely!
From their previous conversations, Shinobu knew that Horitake's junior was exceptionally timid, which matched the personality of this yellow-haired boy perfectly.
But still...
Shinobu couldn't help but criticize him in her heart. Isn't this personality a bit too weak? To be chased around by such an ordinary, low-level demon?
And this is the foot of Momoyama. Your master and senior brother are right up the mountain, yet you can't even handle a single ordinary demon?
Even setting that aside, I can tell that this kid's strength is decent. He is capable of killing this demon.
To have sufficient strength and yet be frightened into fleeing like a rat... this is simply...
Suddenly, Shinobu felt a sense of having "entrusted someone to the wrong person."
After spending the last two days with Yae, Shinobu had come to thoroughly like this resilient girl. Now, seeing the potential partner Horitake wanted to set Yae up with—this junior brother of his—Shinobu was, to be honest, very disappointed.
She felt that Horitake's junior was not good enough for Yae.
Thinking of this, Shinobu's expression turned serious. She felt it was necessary to act as a gatekeeper for Yae's future happiness. She absolutely could not let Yae jump into a fire pit!
Just then, Shinobu sensed something and turned her head.
Horitake was standing there, hidden in the shadows. He locked eyes with Shinobu, remaining unnoticed by Zenitsu and Yae.
Meeting Shinobu under these circumstances—especially with his junior brother performing so pathetically—left Horitake feeling incredibly ashamed and awkward.
Horitake could only clasp his hands together from a distance in an apology to Shinobu. At the same time, he placed his index finger against his lips, silently pleading with her not to intervene or help Zenitsu.
Shinobu was incredibly intelligent; she immediately deduced the sequence of events.
It's likely Horitake wants to train his junior, so he sent him to kill the demon. But being worried, he's protecting him from the shadows.
However, looking at it now, his junior seems like mud that can't hold up a wall.
Shinobu's expression turned slightly cold. She didn't expose Horitake's presence, nor did she step in to help. She simply stood there, arms crossed, her tone laced with displeasure:
"This boy must be Horitake's junior brother. I didn't expect him to be so weak and cowardly. He can't even kill such an ordinary demon. He is simply too useless!
I do not intend to help him.
If you want to help him, Yae, you go ahead. I will not lift a finger."
Yae blinked, looking a bit hesitant.
"I... I see."
Yae couldn't help but look at Zenitsu, who was still running away, and then thought of Horitake's imposing figure. Inevitably, she compared the two martial brothers in her heart, and then...
By comparison, this guy running for his life really did seem a bit useless.
Yae felt a mix of amusement and exasperation.
However, Yae was a kind-hearted girl by nature. Seeing how pitiful Zenitsu looked, she decided to help.
She handed the dog's leash to Shinobu.
"Sister Shinobu, please look after Taro for me."
With that, Yae raised her hunting rifle and quickly loaded the ammunition.
After loading, she didn't choose to aim and fire immediately.
The demon was chasing Zenitsu at high speed; no matter how good Yae's marksmanship was, she couldn't reliably hit such a fast-moving target without risking hitting the boy.
Instead, holding the gun, she bravely charged toward the demon!
With a heroic, spirited shout, Yae rushed in fast. She swung the stock of her rifle with full force, smashing the demon chasing Zenitsu and sending it flying!
Not stopping there, Yae quickly raised her gun and fired. Bang! A shot at close range hit the demon's head, blowing half of its skull apart!
Nearby, Zenitsu stared blankly at this scene.
In his eyes, this girl who had suddenly appeared to save him was too cool! Too beautiful!
Looking at her, Zenitsu felt as if a spring breeze had blown through his heart. He was struck by Cupid's arrow.
However, no one knew Zenitsu's heart was fluttering. To an outsider, it just looked like Zenitsu had been scared silly by the sudden turn of events and was standing there like a fool.
Hidden nearby, Horitake had been observing everything. Seeing this scene, he didn't know whether to be happy or sorrowful.
Happy, of course, because of Yae's performance.
Even without a Nichirin Sword, and knowing she couldn't kill the demon permanently, she still bravely rushed up and saved Zenitsu.
But Zenitsu?
He clearly possessed strength greater than the demon, yet he was scared into fleeing, only to be saved by a girl whose combat power was lower than his own!
Zenitsu, oh Zenitsu, you have truly lost face!
Do you know that the girl who saved you is the senior sister I spent so much effort finding for you? I wanted to set you two up!
And this is how you perform? So disappointingly!
In this moment, Horitake even began to reflect: Was trying to matchmake them a mistake? Zenitsu seems unworthy of Yae. If I pair them up, would I be ruining Yae's lifelong happiness?
While Horitake was questioning if he was playing a bad matchmaker, and Shinobu was watching coldly from the side, the battle took a new turn.
The demon, despite having half its head blown off, suddenly stood up!
Even missing part of its skull, the demon roared in ferocious rage. Extending its claws, it lunged straight at Yae!
This scene was terrifying, and it gave Yae a significant fright.
Since she hadn't had time to reload, her response was a bit panicked.
The distance between them was short. The demon with half a head had already rushed in, lunging right at her!
Helpless, Yae could only use her hunting rifle to smash at it again.
Unfortunately, her strength was inferior to the demon's. Although the blow knocked the demon back a few steps, Yae was also knocked flying and fell to the ground.
The demon, having only retreated a few steps, remained vicious. Snarling and clawing, it charged toward Yae, who was now on the ground.
Yae had no time to defend herself. She could only stare with wide, terrified eyes as the demon pounced on her.
Hidden nearby, Horitake sighed, preparing to intervene.
Shinobu, too, no longer intended to stand by and watch.
But who could have guessed? At that critical moment, Zenitsu's "alt account" went offline, and his "main account" logged in!
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 40 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
Here's the link:
[pat*eon*com/DaoistRoeoNQ]
Thank you so much for your support!!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"