Only this name... Breath of Desire?
Marcus was stunned.
Why does that sound so... indecent?
As indecent as the position Nezuko was in on top of him AT THIS VERY MOMENT!
But the system didn't give him even half a second to question his life choices, because the messages kept pouring in like an avalanche:
[Breath of Desire: Scent of a Woman! Move the heart through emotion, fuel the body through desire]
[Special characteristic: possesses an extremely powerful attraction toward the opposite sex. When a member of the opposite sex is nearby, whether enemy or ally, the potency of your breathing technique increases drastically]
[Fundamental rule: by deeply inhaling the body scent of the opposite sex, and I mean DEEPLY, the Host can analyze the target's physical constitution]
[The depth of analysis is divided into four levels: 30%, 60%, 90%, and 100%!]
[Level one: First Kiss. Upon reaching thirty percent analysis, basic amplification is unlocked]
[While in close contact with a female target, the host receives a general physical enhancement across all stats. (The greater the overall power of the female target, the higher the enhancement cap)]
[Level two: Ride or Die. Upon reaching sixty percent analysis, the ability "Total Concentration Breathing — Constant" is unlocked]
[When within range of a female target who meets the requirements (initial radius: five meters), the host automatically enters the state of "Total Concentration — Constant" without active maintenance, strengthening the body at all times]
[Level three: Love Combo. Upon reaching ninety percent analysis, Breath of Desire forms are unlocked]
[Exclusive forms linked to that particular woman are unlocked. The traits and effects of each form are directly related to the unique abilities and characteristics of the female target]
[Ultimate Tier Four: Skin to Skin. Upon reaching one hundred percent analysis, special rewards can be obtained.]
[Special reward for demons: Devour Blood Demon Art. The Blood Demon Art of a demon can be devoured (those of the Twelve Kizuki cannot be devoured).]
[Special reward for humans: Breathing Technique Breakthrough. One of the Three Pieces can be randomly obtained (Marks, Transparent World, Bright Red Nichirin Sword)]
[Beginner gift package included: Nichirin Sword ×1, Basic Swordsmanship Memory Infusion ×1, Basic Constitution Strengthening ×1.
Do you wish to accept?]
[Character currently being analyzed: Nezuko Kamado: Demon]
[Strength classification: C]
[Potential classification: Extremely high (can activate level four analysis)]
[Analysis: ... 3%... 4%...]
Marcus looked down. Nezuko was still rubbing her cheek against him, completely oblivious to the fact that she had just become his first "analysis target."
He felt a little bad.
A little...
And that little bit lasted exactly two seconds before his brain started processing what he had just read.
Okay. OKAY. Let's recap.
Getting close to girls made him stronger? Without training? FOR FREE?
Total Concentration Constant, that ability that took hunters YEARS of suffering to master, he got it just by being near a woman? AND ON TOP OF THAT it got amplified?
Combat forms were unlocked through prolonged contact with girls?
PROLONGED CONTACT?
And when you hit a hundred percent there were SPECIAL REWARDS? Blood Demon Arts? The full set of all three pieces?
Marcus felt his eyes getting watery, but not from sadness, from pure emotion.
This... this... this...
WASN'T THIS CUSTOM MADE FOR ME!?
And on top of that, it worked regardless of whether they were friends or enemies? Meaning, he had an advantage against ANY woman?
What an shameless cheat...
A fleeting thought crossed his mind: if Muzan disguised himself as a woman... would it count? Because technically he could shapeshift, so...
No. No no no.
Save that for later, RIGHT NOW THE IMPORTANT THING!
Nezuko Kamado was literally in his arms!
Potential classified as "extremely high"! Capable of activating level four analysis! The full jackpot!
Marcus's nostrils blew out two puffs of pink steam so intense they looked like chimneys.
"Mmh?"
Nezuko stopped dead, sensing a change.
Lifting her face, her pink eyes looked at him with confusion...
This food... was it getting hotter?
Because the body beneath her was quite a bit warmer than before.
But there was something else... within that scent that had driven her crazy, now there was something different, something that wasn't food, but...
Calm?
It was warm... Soft... It felt like... like when she curled up in mama's lap...
This confused her even more. Her instinct was telling her EAT. But something deeper, something that came from the Nezuko of before, was telling her STAY.
The hunger retreated and in its place appeared something like attachment. An attachment that made her fingers, which had been digging their nails into his shoulders, loosen up.
'It works. It ACTUALLY works!'
Seeing her change that fast, seeing those eyes looking at him with curiosity instead of hunger, feeling the claws stop digging in... Marcus's heart went completely haywire.
But this time it wasn't fear or adrenaline. It was something else, something much more stupid... more human.
She had just awakened his breathing technique. She had unlocked his system. She had given him a real chance to survive in this world. And now she was looking at him with those huge eyes, confused, innocent, with no idea what she had done for him.
"Th... thank you..." it came out without thinking. Quietly, and his face turned so red it could compete with Urokodaki's mask.
"?"
Looking at him, Nezuko tilted her head.
"MAAAAR—CUUUUS!"
A scream that sounded like every letter had been chewed up and spit out with hatred popped the pink bubble he had been floating in.
Moving his eyes stiffly, Marcus saw him.
A few meters away. Urokodaki. Standing. Fists trembling. Radiating a murderous aura so thick that the plants around him were probably wilting.
"NOW THAT YOU'RE LUCID, LET HER GO!"
Marcus swallowed hard.
"YOU LUSTFUL BRAT, AT LEAST HAVE SOME SENSE! ARE YOU SERIOUSLY NOT AFRAID SHE'LL BITE THROUGH THAT BAMBOO AND RIP YOUR THROAT OUT!? SHE'S A DEMON!!"
"Ma... master..."
Marcus flinched, and the strong survival instinct he had kept sharp for eight months kicked in instantly and mercilessly crushed any other consideration his body might have been having.
He had to let her go.
He had to explain himself. He had to survive first and be a degenerate later.
Forcing a smile he thought was pure, his hands started to loosen, ready to push Nezuko away with grace and dignit...
[WARNING! Contact state is about to be broken!]
[Analysis speed of target "Nezuko Kamado" will decrease drastically!]
[Current speed: 3% per minute. Once contact ends, it will drop to 0.03% per minute]
His hands froze midway.
His brain ran the numbers at a speed he had never used before.
Hugging her, in half an hour he could analyze up to 90%.
Without hugging her... THREE DAYS.
Something broke inside him, or rather, something welded shut.
An unbreakable determination.
This was his breathing technique! His path to getting strong! His survival! This wasn't lust, it was STRATEGY!
To hell with the master's face.
I WOULDN'T LET GO EVEN IF I DIED!
The arms that had loosened snapped shut like a bear trap, and Nezuko, who for a second had felt the grip give way and was about to pull away confused, found herself back against Marcus's chest so fast she let out a "MMF!" of surprise against the bamboo.
The squeeze was so sudden that both their chests collided against each other.
But Nezuko didn't seem to mind.
In fact, it was the complete opposite. Being pressed back against the source of that scent that tickled her brain, her little eyes narrowed with pleasure.
Her little face went from side to side, nuzzling into the crook of Marcus's neck, and from her throat a soft little sound started coming out.
A purr.
[Contact state: restored. Deep analysis speed: restored. Current speed: 3% per minute]
PHEW... PHEW... That was close.
Mental note: manners don't earn analysis points. Shamelessness does. Priorities clear.
A smile spread across his face without him being able to stop it.
Relief first, then satisfaction, and then something that didn't have a decent name...
But there was a problem, and it was that his smile, that expression meant VERY different things depending on who was looking at it.
From Tanjiro's point of view, what he was seeing was this: a complete stranger who appeared out of nowhere. Who his sister had tackled. Who a second ago was letting her go, meaning he could let her go, and who suddenly, for no apparent reason, had pulled her back against his chest WITH MORE FORCE THAN BEFORE. And his little sister, his innocent, sweet, and pure little sister, was trapped there in this guy's arms.
And the bastard was SMILING.
Not an apologetic smile. It was satisfaction. PURE DELIGHT.
Inside Tanjiro's brain, something snapped.
"LET GO OF MY SISTER RIGHT NOW!!"
________
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