Chapter 30: Let Me Become a Monster That No One Can Shaken
Although Masashi had lost both arms, he was still a swordsman of the Demon Slayer Corps and possessed an instinctive sensitivity to killing intent.
In that moment just now, he had truly felt the threat of death.
That demon named Tatsu really intended to kill him to keep him silent.
"He wants to kill me because I struck a nerve.
It's because he's afraid I'll expose his conspiracy!"
Masashi screamed frantically in his heart as a strong sense of mission rose within him.
"No, I can't just wait here to die.
I also can't stand by and watch Lady Flower Hashira be killed by that demon."
He struggled to sit up, but failed time and again due to the severe pain in his body.
But he did not give up; every time he fell, he gritted his teeth and tried again.
"I must return to the Demon Slayer Corps... I must report this news to headquarters..."
Masashi looked at the two green Nichirin Swords placed in front of the tatami mat; those were his and his brother's swords.
Now his brother was dead and he was crippled,
But the swords were still here, and the will of the Demon Slayer Corps was still here.
"Brother... if your spirit is watching from heaven, please protect me..."
Masashi murmured softly, a look of determination flashing in his eyes.
"Even if I have to crawl, I will crawl back to headquarters.
I must not let that demon's conspiracy succeed!"
...
Outside, the night was as cool as water.
A few cherry blossom trees were planted in the clinic's courtyard; though it wasn't the flowering season,
The withered branches held a unique, poignant beauty under the moonlight.
Kanae pulled Tatsu all the way to the center of the courtyard before stopping.
She let go of Tatsu's sleeve, turned around, and faced him.
Moonlight spilled over her, draping her in a silver-white veil.
However, at this moment, her face lacked its signature gentle smile, replaced instead by a look of seriousness and sorrow.
"Tatsu."
Kanae called out softly, her voice carrying a hint of a tremble.
"Just now... did you want to kill him?"
It wasn't a question, but a statement of fact.
Tatsu looked at Kanae, neither avoiding her gaze nor denying it.
In front of Kanae, he disdained lying and did not want to lie.
"Yes."
Tatsu admitted frankly.
"That man named Masashi is a scourge if left alive."
Hearing this answer, although she had anticipated it, Kanae's body still trembled slightly.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, seemingly trying hard to calm her emotions.
"Why?"
When Kanae opened her eyes again, they were filled with tears.
"Tatsu, you promised me you wouldn't eat people or hurt humans.
Why did you have the intent to kill?
He... he is just a poor man who just lost a loved one and is deeply devastated."
"Kanae, you are too kind, but this kindness will sometimes harm you."
Tatsu took a step forward; though his voice remained cold, it carried a hint of urgency.
"Can't you see?
That man's mind is filled with nothing but hatred for demons; he won't listen to any explanation at all.
If you let him go back, he will surely make the fact that you are harboring me known to everyone."
Tatsu paused, his gaze becoming sharp.
"When that time comes, how will the Demon Slayer Corps treat you?
How will those so-called Hashira treat you?
You will be ruined because of me, and might even be executed as a traitor.
I'm not afraid of death, but I cannot watch you get hurt because of me."
Tatsu's words were cruel, but every word hit the mark, pointing directly at reality.
Listening to Tatsu's justification, the sadness in Kanae's heart grew even deeper.
She knew Tatsu was doing it for her own good,
But this kind of "good,"
Was built on the foundation of trampling over life, which was something she could not accept no matter what.
"Tatsu, I'm not afraid of trouble, nor am I afraid of being misunderstood."
Kanae stepped forward, reaching out both hands to gently cup Tatsu's cheeks.
"But, if I kill an innocent comrade just to protect myself,
Then I will never forgive myself for the rest of my life, and I won't forgive you either."
Feeling the warmth from his cheeks, Tatsu's originally restless heart gradually calmed down.
He looked at the close-at-hand Kanae, saw the tears in her eyes, and the hard barriers in his heart collapsed.
"Can humans and demons really not coexist?"
Kanae asked softly, as if asking Tatsu, and also as if asking this cruel world.
"I know it's hard, and I know everyone has their own pain and hatred.
But,
If we don't even dare to try, if we choose slaughter to solve every difficulty we encounter,
Then we really will only be able to fight in the darkness forever."
"Tatsu, trust me, okay?"
There was a hint of pleading in Kanae's voice.
"Trust that I can handle this, trust that Masashi will understand one day.
Don't let your hands be stained with the blood of the innocent, okay?"
Tatsu looked into Kanae's eyes, which were full of hope.
It was the most beautiful light he had ever seen in these long, dark years.
He could not refuse this light, nor could he refuse this girl who was trying her best to pull him back and prevent him from falling into the abyss.
He knew that if he really killed Masashi, although it would solve a problem,
An irreparable rift would appear between him and Kanae forever.
It was a conflict of ideals, a baseline of humanity.
Once he crossed that line, he could never go back.
"...I really lose to you."
After a long while, Tatsu let out a long sigh and gave a helpless, bitter laugh.
He reached out and gently covered the back of Kanae's hand that was cupping his cheek.
"Fine, I won't kill him."
Tatsu said in a low voice.
"Since you said to trust you, then I will trust you.
No matter what happens, I will stay with you."
Hearing these words, the tears in Kanae's eyes finally overflowed, but this time, it was due to relief and being moved.
She broke into a smile, a smile like an epiphyllum blooming in the night, breathtakingly beautiful.
"Thank you, Tatsu."
Kanae said softly.
Tatsu looked at Kanae's smile; although he felt a sense of relief, a trace of gloominess refused to dissipate.
He wouldn't kill Masashi for Kanae's sake.
But that didn't mean the trouble had disappeared.
On the contrary, the trouble was just beginning.
After Masashi returned, it would inevitably cause a massive uproar.
The Demon Slayer Corps' investigation, the Hashiras' crusade—all of it would follow in succession.
Relying on Kanae's strength alone was not enough to go against the rules of the entire Demon Slayer Corps.
Moreover, Kanae was too gentle; her gentleness was both her strength and her weakness.
In this cruel world, gentleness often meant fragility.
"Since I can't kill him to keep him quiet, then I can only make myself stronger."
Tatsu vowed secretly in his heart.
Right now, he was too weak.
Although he had decent physical fitness and regenerative abilities, he was still far from enough when facing truly powerful foes.
If he didn't become stronger, when that moment arrived, how would he protect Kanae?
How would he guard this hard-won bond?
"Sun Breathing..."
The term surfaced in Tatsu's mind.
It was the original breathing, the source of all Breathing Styles, and the strongest power to restrain demons.
And then there was the "Transparent World."
That was a realm that legendary martial artists who reached the pinnacle could enter,
Allowing one to see through an enemy's muscle contractions and blood flow, predicting all attacks.
If he could master that state, he would be invincible in battle.
"Mount Kumotori... I must go there soon."
Only by standing at the peak of power would he be qualified to talk about protection,
And be qualified to hold up a sky where Kanae could breathe freely in the gap between the Demon Slayer Corps and the demons.
"Since trouble is destined to come, then before that, let me become a monster that no one can shaken."
"Tatsu? What are you thinking about?"
Kanae noticed Tatsu's distraction and asked softly.
Tatsu pulled back his thoughts and looked down at Kanae, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
"Nothing.
I was thinking about what to have for breakfast tomorrow."
Kanae burst into laughter.
"Really, you were just so serious a moment ago."