Demon Slayer: I am a Demon.

Thinking about the other person's usual personality, gentle.

And he has such a handsome face.

It's perfectly normal for a man who is good-looking, has a good personality, and is capable to be liked by girls.

For a moment, Makomo was completely absorbed in watching.

………………

A cool mountain breeze

So they lit a campfire to ward off the approaching chill.

As the afternoon approached, everyone gradually got up. Su Mu stretched and stood up, and saw Makomo sitting next to him.

The girl lay sprawled on the floor, propped up on her elbows, her chin resting on her hands, like a sleeping kitten.

Su Mu gently draped his clothes over Makomo, then glanced at Kanao, who had woken up almost simultaneously with him, and gave her a gentle smile.

…………

When Makomo woke up, she found herself covered with thick clothes. Her face flushed slightly, and she instinctively looked towards the spot where Su Mu had just lain down to rest, but he was nowhere to be seen.

Makomo hurriedly stood up and realized that Su Mu was already talking to everyone around the campfire.

Feeling guilty, Makomo quickly walked over.

"Makomo, you've come at the right time. Everyone is discussing working together tonight."

Su Mu smiled and waved.

"Ah."

Makomo nodded and naturally sat down next to Su Mu. Because she was wearing a mask, no one could see what expression the girl had at that moment.

“We just discussed it, and we’ll all start working together tonight, preferably to come up with a set of rules.”

Su Mu whispered to Makomo.

"Ah."

Makomo nodded in agreement. That's how demon hunters are; they never fight alone, but rather work together with their companions, cooperating and relying on each other.

Demons are different. They are often alone. Even if they are powerful, a single Demon Slayer Corps swordsman is often no match for a demon. However, when swordsmen cooperate closely with each other, they can often kill demons that are several times stronger.

The better the teamwork, the stronger the performance.

However, none of them had any experience with teamwork before, so there were quite a few problems from the start. Moreover, it was obvious that the others were resistant to Kaigaku.

Kaigaku probably sensed it too, and remained rather silent.

Su Mu, however, seemed oblivious to all of this and began assigning tasks to everyone according to his own ideas: who would be responsible for defense, who would be responsible for attack, and who would be responsible for assisting teammates...

Of course, everything remained only on paper.

So Su Mu asked everyone to think of a better way. Perhaps because it was the first time they were experiencing teamwork, everyone was eager to share their ideas.

And so, the relatively simple, still-uncoordinated ghost-hunting team was simply formed around the campfire.

…………

Once the Ghost Hunting Squad was established, everyone started teaming up and cooperating to do some simple training.

Since no one really knew how to coordinate, the training became chaotic.

After half an hour of training, everyone stopped to rest, shared their opinions, and then began to think about how to do better, how to improve, how to better deal with the attack of evil spirits, and how to better cooperate to kill the evil spirits.

…………

After identifying some problems and training for about an hour, everyone took a break to prepare for the upcoming night.

This night, for everyone, was no longer about being prey for ghosts, and even more so, it was no longer just about surviving for seven days on the summit of Fujikasa Mountain, but about figuring out how to exterminate more evil spirits.

…………

During the break, Su Mu ate roasted rice balls just like everyone else.

At that moment, Kaigaku walked over.

"Is something the matter?"

Su Mu looked at Kaiyue as he approached, and casually asked while eating his rice ball.

"why?"

Kaiyue looked at Su Mu, who was eating a rice ball, his eyes filled with doubt and curiosity.

"what?"

Su Mu was puzzled.

Why pretend you don't know?

Kaigaku raised his thick eyebrows slightly: "When Nishimura Kenichi approached you alone before, he must have told you about me, right? Don't you mind?"

Su Mu also stopped eating and watched as Kaigaku, who would fall into demonhood in the future and cause his master, Kuwajima Jigoro, to commit seppuku out of shame, was ultimately beheaded by Zenitsu Agatsuma, whom he had always looked down upon and who only knew the first form of 'Thunder Breathing'.

"Since you've put it that way, I'll be frank with you."

His gaze was honest.

Kaigaku also tightened his grip on the hilt of his Nichirin Blade, his head slightly lowered: "If you have any accusations, feel free to say them. I reckon you probably don't want me to stay here any longer."

As he spoke, Kaiyue raised his head again, looked at Su Mu, and casually shrugged: "Actually, I don't care too much about these things. At worst, I'll just leave."

Su Mu shook his head: "Why would I blame you for that?"

The voice, which was different from what he had imagined, surprised Kaiyue. He looked at Su Mu with a skeptical expression, wondering if Su Mu was lying or what.

“I don’t know how your teammates died, but I have a general idea that you probably made your judgment based on your own circumstances, or perhaps you felt that you couldn’t win, or that there was no other way, or that the final result would be the same…”

Kaigaku fell silent for a moment.

"If you feel you have a chance, you wouldn't just abandon your companions, would you?"

He smiled.

"But abandoning one's companions, or even causing their death, is itself unforgivable."

Kaigaku raised his head and looked at the setting sun.

He did not regret his previous choice, but he also knew that if he went all out, he might be able to save one or two teammates, but in that case, he would also be in an extremely dangerous situation.

As for those so-called teammates, they were only just acquaintances, so how could he possibly take such a big risk for them?

Su Mu nodded, but then shook his head: "I didn't mean to consider you a companion, nor did I intend to entrust my back to you."

Kaigaku looked up in shock: "Then why did you keep me in your team?"

"There are always some people who are different. They don't trust others, nor do they entrust their backs to others. They are also very self-centered and won't risk their lives for their companions. Even if they suffer temporary humiliation, they can endure it. They always believe that as long as they live, they can definitely change the status quo..."

Su Mu looked up at Kaiyue:

"Isn't that the kind of person you are?"

Kaigaku remained silent, offering no rebuttal, his blue eyes still filled with doubt.

"In my personal opinion, it's ideal for every teammate to trust each other and be willing to entrust their backs to each other. But for someone like you, that's impossible. Yet, people like you are often more capable and competent. Just because you're unwilling to entrust your back to others or protect theirs, are you going to be abandoned because of that?"

"In my opinion, this is not advisable."

"With your abilities and strength, and given teammates willing to sacrifice their backs for you, you'd be able to perform even better, wouldn't you? And you'd be more likely to lead this team to victory?"

Kaigaku fell silent. He had always been a self-centered person, and it was hard for him to imagine that there would be a team specifically provided for him.

If such a team really existed...

Kaigaku could hardly imagine how precious this being was to him.

"So, when such a team appears, please choose to leave only at the very last moment of the battle."

He said in a relaxed tone: "So, my opinion of you is simply that you should just do your best to bring out your own abilities."

"You only need to think about how to utilize your abilities."

"Your back is where your teammates are thinking of you, don't you think?"

Kaigaku's hand unconsciously tightened on the hilt of his Nichirin Blade at his waist. If such a team truly existed, how could he possibly leave so casually without any burden or concern?

Perhaps he wouldn't fight to the death for this.

But they will probably, and absolutely will, fight to the very last moment, and will never give up while there is still hope.

Seeing Kaiyue fall silent, Su Mu shrugged: "Of course, your current strength is far from worthy of having such a team to serve you."

Kaiyue's hand unconsciously tightened on the hilt of his sword, but he quickly released it. He looked at the man before him and said solemnly, "From now on, I will make you feel..."

The boy's tone suddenly became firm:

"I deserve it."

Chapter 137 Kaigaku

What kind of person is Kaigaku?

When they were orphans, they didn't care if they had to drink muddy water. They believed that no matter what the process was, as long as they survived, they would definitely be able to change their situation.

When she was adopted by Gyomei Himejima, she behaved the same way as other adopted children, and even smiled happily when Gyomei Himejima patted her head while eating.

Having stolen money, been driven out at night, and on the verge of losing his life, he did not hesitate to extinguish the burning wisteria candles and push his former companions out to save his own life, even though Himejima Gyomei, who had adopted him, was among them.

Having left the temple, in order to become stronger, he, still a child, resolutely chose to travel a long way to Momoyama and became a disciple of the "Sound Pillar" Kuwajima Jigoro. During this time, he worked hard and soon gained Kuwajima Jigoro's approval.

In the future, after joining the Demon Slayer Corps, he continues to work hard to hunt demons. Although he is not popular, he is working hard to climb the ranks step by step, just like other swordsmen, hoping to become a 'Pillar' in the future.

Just as he was about to become a 'Pillar', he encountered Upper Moon One, Kokushibo, while on a mission. Isolated and facing overwhelming power, he resisted but realized he couldn't fight back. In order to survive and become stronger, he was ultimately forced by Kokushibo to become a demon, without considering what would happen to others after he became a demon.

Even when his master, Kuwajima Jigoro, committed seppuku to atone for his sins, he was unconcerned when confronted by Zenitsu Agatsuma. He felt that it had nothing to do with him and did not feel sad or remorseful for his master's act of seppuku. He did not care about those who looked down on him and even felt angry that his master had done his best for him, yet his master had made him, a good-for-nothing like Zenitsu Agatsuma, inherit his mantle.

When Kaigaku, who didn't know the First Form, fought against Zenitsu Agatsuma, who only knew the First Form, Kaigaku used the Seventh Form, Fire and Thunder God, which was different from the First Form, and was defeated. He felt that it was because his master was biased and had never taught him this move.

Even if Zenitsu Agatsuma explained that the 'Seventh Form: Fire and Thunder God' was a sword technique he created himself, a technique he created so that one day he could fight alongside him, he wouldn't be moved. He would only feel angry, angry that someone he had always looked down on could create a new sword technique.

Even in death, he never believed it was his fault.

In the end, facing death, Yushiro mocked Kaigaku, who was left with only a head: "He who does not give to others will eventually have nothing if he lets his desires swell, and he will die alone. How tragic."