Tanjiro was so furious that steam was practically coming out of his ears, his face was glowing red like a shrimp fresh out of the pot, and his fists were clenched so tight his knuckles were cracking.
Kindness? Compassion? Empathy?
Only those who keep their distance from his sister deserve to enjoy his goodness!
From Urokodaki's angle, things weren't any better. Because he had just witnessed how his disciple, who he had seen loosen his arms five seconds ago, who he thought had finally gotten some common sense knocked into him... had closed them again. RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM. And with an expression of ecstasy that should be illegal.
This brat had short circuited again.
Not even the mask could hide the veins throbbing on his temple anymore. They looked like they were about to burst.
"MARCUS!!!"
Letting go of Tanjiro, who was about to bite his hand if he didn't release him, he advanced. "You! Right! Now! LET. HER. GO!"
Tanjiro shot toward the two of them like a bull that just saw red.
Seeing them coming, Marcus panicked.
But his arms holding Nezuko were welded shut, without the slightest intention of loosening. It would have been easier to rip his arms off his body than to separate them from her.
The system counter kept climbing in his head!
HE COULDN'T LET HER GO! Even if they killed him!
"Ma... Master! Listen! Please listen to me please please! This is training!" he screamed in desperation. "It's necessary for my breathing technique! For real! I swear on everything hol..."
He tried to back away while screaming, but with Nezuko on top of him, comfortable and purring and with zero intention of moving, he didn't get anywhere.
"YOUR TRAINING REQUIRES YOU TO HUG HER LIKE THAT!? DOES SHE NEED TO SHOVE HER FACE IN THERE!?" Tanjiro was pointing at him with his finger trembling with rage, his eyes practically on fire.
"This is... this is...!" Marcus's brain searched for an excuse at the speed of light. "I'm... I'm sensing her aura! Yeah! That's it! Her breathing rhythm! It's an advanced perception technique!"
"YOU'RE NOT SENSING JACK! SHE HAS A BAMBOO MUZZLE IN HER MOUTH! SHE CAN'T EVEN BREATHE NORMALLY, YOU MORON!"
Shit...
And then a shadow fell over his face.
Urokodaki was right above him. Looking down at him, in silence. The tengu mask hiding his expression, but you didn't need to see his face to know that behind it was a man on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
"Let her go."
"Gulp."
Marcus swallowed so hard it was audible. But his head shook from side to side like a rattle. NO.
"Fine." Urokodaki's voice dropped half a tone. "If you've got the guts to not let her go, then don't let her go EVER. Let's see how long you last."
When words don't work, you move to action. Urokodaki wasn't going to draw his sword and cut him, though the urge was definitely there, but lifting this human shaped parasite into the air and shaking him until he came off... that was within acceptable limits.
The former Water Pillar crouched down and firmly grabbed both of Marcus's ankles with both hands.
Tanjiro, who didn't even need an explanation, did the same on the other side and grabbed Nezuko's ankles with determination.
The two of them looked at each other for a second. United by a common cause.
"PULL!"
With a grunt from Urokodaki, the two of them pulled at the same time.
Marcus and Nezuko rose into the air like a pair of fish freshly yanked out of the water.
But they were still hugging.
Marcus's arms didn't give a single millimeter, and neither did Nezuko. She had her little arms latched onto the back of his neck.
Their faces remained firmly pressed together.
"AAAAAAH!! MASTER, NO, PLEASE! MY NECK IS GONNA BREAK!"
"LET HER GO! IF YOU LET HER GO THE SUFFERING ENDS!"
"NO!!"
"LET HER GO, YOU BASTARD!!" Tanjiro screamed from the other side, pulling with everything he had.
"OVER MY DEAD BODY!!"
And Nezuko in all of this?
She didn't really understand what was going on.
But there was one thing she did understand. The warm thing that smelled nice and made her feel safe... they were trying to take it away from her.
Someone was pulling on her. Trying to separate her from HER source of warmth. From HER comforting scent.
NO!
"MMMHP!!"
With a whine of protest, her little arms, those little arms that looked like they belonged to a harmless girl, exploded with monstrous strength and clamped around Marcus's neck like an enraged python.
"Ugh..."
Marcus's eyes rolled back and his tongue nearly popped out. The colors on his face were changing like a traffic light.
Urokodaki loosened up immediately when he saw his disciple turning purple.
And the moment he loosened, Nezuko loosened.
Then he tried pulling again.
And Nezuko squeezed again.
He loosened. Nezuko loosened.
He pulled. Nezuko squeezed.
Well then!
The situation found itself in a temporary stalemate.
Neither Urokodaki nor Tanjiro dared pull with all their strength, for fear of hurting the person they were holding.
But these two stuck to each other simply REFUSED to let go.
"Let go already, you little shit!"
"Let Go Of My Sister, you degenerate!"
"Master, it's a necessary contact! It's technique! Please believe me!"
"Mmh! Mmh Mmh!!"
And there they were.
Four people connected to each other by ankles and arms. Starring in the most absurd tug of war in the history of the Demon Slayers.
And a few meters away, pinned to the tree where everyone had forgotten about it, the temple demon's head slowly opened its eyes.
It looked at the scene.
"..."
What?
Time ticked by second by second, and Marcus in this war of attrition felt pain... and happiness at the same time.
[Analysis progress: 10%...16%...27%...]
[Congratulations, host! Analysis of Nezuko Kamado has reached 30%. Level one unlocked: First Kiss.]
[Based on the strength and potential analysis of Nezuko Kamado, the host currently receives a 30% enhancement to all physical stats while near her. (This value accumulates and increases as the target grows stronger.)]
[Analysis progress: 33%...45%...57%...]
[Congratulations, host! Analysis of Nezuko Kamado has reached 60%. Level two unlocked: Ride or Die.]
[While within a five meter radius of Nezuko Kamado, the host automatically enters the state of "Total Concentration — Constant," strengthening his body at all times with an enhancement efficiency of 70%. (This value accumulates and increases as the target grows stronger.)]
[Analysis progress: 66%...72%...87%...]
[Congratulations, host! Analysis of Nezuko Kamado has reached 90%. Level three unlocked: Love Combo.]
[Exclusive form unlocked: Breath of Desire — First Form: Valkyrie!]
[Notice: when using the form, if the analysis target is nearby, potency increases to 200%. If the target is absent, no potency increase is applied.]
[System notice: standard analysis has concluded. Progressing from 90% to 100% through regular contact is not possible. For the specific method of advancement, the host is advised to... "figure it out on your own."]
As the information about the special move flooded his mind, Marcus finally let out a sigh of relief and let his arms drop limply.
After the initial stalemate in the air, they had moved to the ground when Tanjiro couldn't keep pulling anymore, and the four of them continued wrestling there.
And now that Marcus had let go, one of the two locks had disappeared. Nezuko couldn't hold on alone and was finally dragged away by her brother Tanjiro, blinking with eyes full of confusion and a hint of reproach.
The very instant they separated, Tanjiro opened his equally sore arms and planted himself in front of Nezuko like a guard dog, glaring daggers at Marcus.
Marcus ignored him completely. He turned around with no strength left and said: "Master... I think I've understood a new Form."
"Don't change the subject on me!"
Snorting coldly, Urokodaki crossed his arms. "With your talent, you've barely just figured out how to breathe, and you're already going to tell me you've created your own form? In thirty minutes? Hugging a demon? DO I LOOK LIKE AN IDIOT TO YOU!? Don't think that just because you said that I'm not going to give you the beating of your life when we get back!"
Marcus rolled his eyes. He got up with his legs shaking like jelly and held out his hand in front of Urokodaki.
Urokodaki looked at him with a sour face. "What?"
"Lend me the sword for a moment."
"..."
"I'll prove it to you."
________
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