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The Hashira standing nearby had their expressions stiffen, hands tightening on their sword hilts, ready to draw at any moment.
Tengen Uzui's temple throbbed.
"Hey, hey—who told you you could act so familiar?"
Yuko tilted her head toward him, and those strange crimson pupils made Uzui swallow hard.
Yuko spoke lightly:
"I'm not actually a demon. I was joking earlier."
"..."
"Ah! I knew it! There's no way a demon could walk around in sunlight!" Uzui shouted, eyes wide, pointing at Yuko excitedly. "Then what was that earlier? Some kind of illusion?"
Rengoku slammed his fist into his palm, shocked.
"Oh! So that was a magic trick? I was completely fooled!"
Kanroji Mitsuri blinked.
"Eh? It was magic? Wow~ that's amazing!"
Obanai Iguro frowned, his mismatched pupils staring sharply at Yuko.
"Was that really just a magic trick?"
Himejima Gyomei murmured,
"Namu Amida Butsu."
Tokito Muichiro blinked blankly.
"What's magic?"
Behind the group, the Kocho sisters stood together.
Kanae looked curiously at Shinobu, who was quietly laughing to herself.
What is she finding so funny?
"Shinobu, is what Yuko-san said true?"
Shinobu stifled her smile.
"Big Sister, what do you think?"
Kanae fell silent.
Truthfully… she did not think it was magic at all.
Magic was just deception—tricks.
But this very person had saved her life when she was moments from death.
And Shinobu—she knew her sister well—clearly already understood something, and was simply enjoying watching everyone else panic.
Besides, this person was the one who saved her.
And the Master appeared completely relaxed, which meant he and Yuko had spoken beforehand.
Kanae, who had long wished for peace between humans and demons, had not yet spoken aloud—
but in her heart, she had already accepted Yuko.
Seeing that the others had relaxed even a little, Yuko felt a subtle spark of mischief rise within her.
"Really now, how could a demon possibly walk freely under sunlight?" Yuko said cheerfully. "Isn't that right, everyone?"
Uzui folded his arms.
"True enough. Didn't expect you to be this flashy, woman."
Yuko's lips curled.
"Right?"
"Right my ass! You scared the life out of us!" Uzui exploded again.
"…Uh."
Rengoku Kyōjurō nodded seriously.
"So it really was a trick."
Mitsuri's eyes sparkled.
"That magic was amazing! But… how did your hair change color?"
Then she gasped, eyes shining even brighter.
"Ah! I've got it!!"
"You must've eaten one hundred and seventy snow mochi or shiratama dumplings every day for eight consecutive months!" Mitsuri declared, practically vibrating with excitement. "That's it, right? Right??"
Yuko had been ready to brush the question off—
but the second half of that sentence made her brain go blank.
Huh??
What did changing hair color have to do with… eating sweets?!
And why was the number so ridiculously specific?!
As Mitsuri unintentionally leaned close, Iguro's brows knit tightly, and he pulled her back.
Mitsuri blinked.
"Iguro-san?"
Iguro stared expressionlessly at Yuko.
"If it was magic, then you shouldn't mind performing it again."
Earlier, he had been distracted—he hadn't seen clearly whether she used any tricks.
And as she herself had said, a demon walking under sunlight was simply impossible.
If it were possible, Muzan would've stopped hiding in the shadows ages ago.
"Of course I don't mind," Yuko said with a bright smile. "Then I'll show you my specialty trick."
Mitsuri clapped her hands.
"Yay! Show us!"
Hearing the commotion below, Sanemi—still gripping his sword, veins bulging—looked like he might explode.
These idiots are still playing around while he's being serious?!
Don't they understand how grave this situation is?!
But when he glanced at Nezuko, desperately restraining herself, his anger twisted into something darker.
Down below, the others paid no mind to Sanemi's inner turmoil—they were wholly focused on Yuko.
"Watch carefully," Yuko said, lifting her snow-pale hand.
"Mm-mm!" Mitsuri leaned forward, eyes unblinking.
Wow… this girl's muscles are really something.
Still, Yuko suspected she had the advantage here.
Iguro narrowed his eyes.
This woman—
Despite overwhelming Sanemi and effortlessly repelling two Hashira—
her hands had no calluses at all.
Yuko lowered her gaze.
Her smile widened.
"For this magic trick, I'll demonstrate… wound regeneration."
Wound regeneration?
Even the Master's pale, doll-like children peeked out curiously.
Before anyone could react, Yuko curled her fingers.
Her black nails sliced through her palm effortlessly.
Blood welled up, dripping onto the ground—two soft taps.
Then—
Before their stunned eyes—
the several-centimeters-long wound writhed, pulled together, and closed at a visibly rapid speed.
Tanjiro froze in the wind.
Yuko-san—please stop messing around…
"!!"
Mitsuri clapped wildly.
"Wow! Amazing!"
That wasn't the issue.
Iguro's voice dropped sharply.
"The scent of blood."
This was definitely no magic trick.
Kanae's eyes flickered.
"I knew it…"
Uzui trembled violently and unsheathed his blades.
"You—you ARE a demon!"
Yuko smiled serenely.
"It's just magic."
Uzui broke instantly.
"Are you kidding me?!"
Kyōjurō crouched down, dipped his finger in the blood, and sniffed it.
"No doubt. It's real blood."
Tomioka Giyu: remaining invisible.
Himejima Gyomei: blind, unable to see; weak, helpless, and pitiful.
Muichiro blinked.
"I thought it was magic?"
The Hashira grew tense again, eyes sharp and wary.
Yuko sighed, lifting her palms in surrender.
"After all that, do you really think I'm some man-eating demon?"
The Hashira paused.
Fell silent.
Truthfully… she behaved far too normally.
And far too mischievously.
Her personality felt unmistakably human.
While the Hashira were lost in thought, Yuko pointed toward the platform.
"Also—Nezuko has passed Sanemi-san's test, hasn't she?"
They turned instinctively.
And indeed—
While they were busy arguing—
the demon girl had continued resisting the powerful lure of Sanemi's marechi blood.
A demon who could endure even rare blood…
Could they really deny her a chance?
"Tch."
Hearing Yuko's remark, Sanemi reluctantly withdrew his hand.
Nezuko exhaled in relief, bent down, dragged her box slightly aside, crawled inside, and—with a wary glance at Sanemi—
reached out and shut the lid.
Sanemi: "..."
Seeing everything finally settle, Ubuyashiki Kagaya smiled gently.
"It seems you all understand now."
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Currently at chapter 423 for advance chapters
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