With Ubuyashiki's question, the gazes of everyone in the room fell upon Tamayo.
Tamayo, a demon who had also survived since the Sengoku era, likely the longest-lived being in this world aside from Muzan himself.
Among those present, the majority were meeting her for the first time. Many looked at her with obvious hostility and hatred in their eyes.
This was pure hatred toward demons.
But unlike ordinary demons, Tamayo did not possess that dense demonic aura, which was quite inconsistent with her age.
Regarding this, Ubuyashiki's explanation to everyone was that through modifications to her own body over the long passage of time, Tamayo had freed herself from the fate of devouring humans, and the demonic aura characteristic of demons had gradually dissipated from her.
Now, Tamayo only needed to consume a small amount of blood periodically to sustain her life.
However, although Ubuyashiki had explained it this way, it was still insufficient to eliminate the hostility toward Tamayo among those present.
If Ubuyashiki were not here at this moment, there would definitely be someone among those seated who would immediately draw their blade and behead her without hesitation.
[So, she is Tamayo?]
Across from Tamayo, Kanae narrowed her eyes slightly, carefully observing her.
Truly unbelievable...
This legendary being who had witnessed the complete process of Mitsuba's transformation into a demon, who had once driven Mitsuba into a desperate situation—she actually looked like this?
She didn't appear powerful, nor did she seem filled with resentment and anger as Kanae had previously guessed. Instead, she even seemed somewhat exhausted and... melancholic?
Had they really not found the wrong person?
"I have no advice to give regarding Tsugikuni Mitsuba."
Under the silent gaze of everyone, Tamayo simply lowered her head slightly and spoke calmly:
"She is very strong. The demon slayer who truly had the possibility of defeating her passed away hundreds of years ago.
"Now, she cannot be defeated by any human. Therefore, I cannot give any advice regarding your extermination operation."
"Hmph!"
The moment Tamayo finished speaking, a cold snort rang out from among the people.
It was none other than Sanemi Shinazugawa.
"A demon is a demon! No matter how nicely you dress it up, it's still a demon! I don't think she's here to help us at all! She's deliberately here to mislead us!"
Among those present, as the one with the most explosive temper, and likely also the one who harbored the deepest hatred toward demons, Sanemi Shinazugawa undoubtedly wanted to kill Tamayo the most.
Having witnessed with his own eyes as a child how his mother, transformed into a demon, slaughtered all his younger siblings, he did not believe in any demon in this world.
As long as they were demons, they would definitely devour humans.
Therefore, all their actions would certainly revolve around deceiving humans and devouring them.
Thus, demon slayers could never cooperate with demons. All demons in this world must be slain... This was Sanemi Shinazugawa's view on demons.
Even the Tamayo before him, he did not consider to be an exception.
What do you mean you don't need to devour humans anymore?
Isn't that just saying you used to devour them before!
What do you mean you only need a little blood?
Isn't that just saying you still rely on humans to provide sustenance!
What do you mean you have a grudge against the progenitor of demons and have been planning against him for hundreds of years?
I think you're a spy! A spy sent by that progenitor to deliberately interfere with us!
At the root of it, who can prove that you're no longer under the progenitor's control? Just based on your empty words?
If Ubuyashiki weren't sitting here right now, Sanemi Shinazugawa would have rushed forward long ago and chopped Tamayo and that male demon behind her into pieces!
"I have no advice regarding Tsugikuni Mitsuba, but if it's about Muzan, perhaps I can..."
Completely ignoring Sanemi's hostility, Tamayo still lowered her head and spoke in that calm tone:
"Hundreds of years ago, I personally witnessed how Tsugikuni Mitsuba's elder brother defeated Muzan, and how Muzan ultimately escaped.
"Muzan's body contains numerous brains and hearts. Ordinary decapitation has no effect on him at all. You must simultaneously strike all these weaknesses to have a chance of severely injuring him..."
"Severely injure?"
Sharply catching this word in Tamayo's speech, Ubuyashiki asked curiously:
"Miss Tamayo, do you mean that even if we strike these weaknesses, we still cannot kill Muzan?"
"Yes."
Tamayo nodded gently.
"As the progenitor of demons, Muzan's regenerative ability has reached an inconceivable level.
"The Child of God from hundreds of years ago could not slay him in one breath. I do not believe that those of you present here can accomplish this.
"Furthermore, when Muzan senses a threat to his life, he will explode his entire body into pieces, scattering in all directions to escape using this method.
"As long as enough fragments ultimately escape to fuse into a single brain, he can gradually restore himself and recover his original strength.
"This was where that Child of God failed..."
"Amitabha... To think such a bizarre creature could exist in this human world..."
Beside them, Gyomei Himejima pressed his palms together, his tone filled with shock.
To be able to fuse back together after exploding into pieces... As expected of the progenitor of demons. Ordinary demons simply could not accomplish this.
"However, I believe I can develop some medicines to counter these abilities."
As Tamayo spoke, her gaze fell upon the specially sealed bottle containing blood on the table before her.
Without a doubt, the blood inside was what had flowed from Doma's mouth and back last night when he pretended to succumb to poison.
Although mixed with some wisteria poison, this was genuine blood from Upper Rank Two.
With this blood, Tamayo was confident that she could perhaps develop some medicines targeting Muzan.
"Then, there is the Crimson Red Blade (赫刀)."
"Crimson Red Blade? Miss Tamayo, is this some kind of special weapon?"
From Tamayo's mouth came yet another term that no one present had ever heard before.
"No, it is a special form of your Nichirin Blades.
"Once the Crimson Red Blade is activated, the blade of the Nichirin Sword becomes scalding hot and turns red, possessing strong suppression against demons' regeneration.
"Hundreds of years ago, that Child of God used the Crimson Red Blade to easily cut open Muzan's body and severely injure him."
Recalling the brief days of traveling together when he had explained to her, Tamayo slowly explained:
"According to what he told me, this is a special ability achieved by gripping the hilt with great force, thereby completely stimulating the solar energy contained within the Nichirin Blade..."