Demon Slayer: I am a Demon.

She muttered to herself, feeling somewhat foolish at Tanjiro's actions. Didn't Tanjiro have any thoughts of his own?

This is clearly a very vague and unrealistic thing.

I've never heard of anyone being able to sniff out any 'weak points'.

Doesn't anyone have any questions about this?

"Seriously, do you really believe what he says?"

His tall figure involuntarily appeared in my mind, and then I shook my head without hesitation:

"If it were me, I wouldn't be so foolish."

Shinobu Kocho thought that Tanjiro would probably give up after a day or two of persisting in such a foolish thing, once he saw no results.

……

But every day after that

Tanjiro would still come to the huge rock and stare at it blankly, as if he were under a spell.

Whether it was Kamado Aoi, who was Tanjiro's mother, or Takeo and Nezuko, who were his younger brother and sister, they were all worried about Tanjiro, but none of them stopped him.

"Is there really no one to stop such a foolish act?"

Shinobu Kocho stood by the window, watching Tanjiro standing beside the boulder.

"Do you really trust someone that much?"

She felt incredulous and looked at the man who was teaching the only boy who had learned 'Sun Breathing'. Everyone seemed to listen to him and trust him completely.

This trust made her think of another figure.

That is, the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps

Ubuyashiki Yoshiya.

Although Kagaya Ubuyashiki doesn't have any swordsmanship skills, everyone trusts him implicitly and is willing to listen to him.

Although Kagaya Ubuyashiki's appearance became terrifying due to his illness, no one was afraid of him; on the contrary, every swordsman felt a sense of kinship with him.

I recall the first time I met 'Lord' Ubuyashiki Kagaya.

The voice is very soft, with a light and airy quality, yet it feels very comfortable to the ear, and it makes you feel happy and cheerful without you even realizing it.

It felt like a gentle, warm breeze brushing against my cheek.

Almost every swordsman in the Demon Slayer Corps holds his lord in the highest esteem.

Now, Shinobu Kocho vaguely sensed some of the qualities of 'Lord' from Su Mu. Staying by his side for a long time always made her feel very comfortable and natural.

Does someone who speaks ill of others behind their back also possess this trait?

He shook his head almost instinctively.

But Shinobu Kocho knew very well that this person was indeed very charismatic, and it seemed that everyone liked him quite a bit.

but

She's clearly someone who likes to talk badly about others!

Clearly...

"choke!"

Suddenly, the sound of a sword being drawn rang out, startling Shinobu Kocho from her thoughts and causing the girl to look up.

Tanjiro, who had been standing in front of the giant rock as if possessed, suddenly moved.

You can see that Tanjiro's eyes are still closed, as if he is 'breathing', and then he slashes the huge rock in front of him with his first sword.

"Clang!"

A metallic clang rang out as the blade struck the boulder, sending sparks flying.

"Ah……"

The butterfly couldn't help but sneer: "I thought it could really cut through boulders, but it's still like this..."

"How could it be possible, as he claims, to be able to smell some so-called 'weak point' and then, with insufficient strength and speed, cut through something far beyond what one can cut?"

That's really naive.

I'm still too young; I always trust others too much.

Where could one possibly find the so-called 'line of weakness'?

"After a few more attempts, if you fail, you'll probably realize that what he said was really stupid."

Butterfly muttered to herself.

Tanjiro, with his eyes still closed, kept sniffing and, following the faint senses he had, unleashed his Nichirin Blade once more.

Slash after slash at the huge rock

Failed again and again

But deep down, I could feel lines, like a spider web, gradually winding around the stone, running through all sides of it.

"This is……"

The vague feeling he sensed made Tanjiro suddenly open his eyes.

The boy's eyes brightened at that moment.

"I've found it..."

The boy let out a long howl, and the sudden loud noise startled all the birds in the surrounding area, causing them to take flight and circle in the air.

And at this moment

Tanjiro raised his Nichirin Blade.

The sharp blade sliced ​​through the air and landed on the huge rock.

With Tanjiro's current strength, he should not have been able to cut through this huge and hard corpse. The result should have been the same as before, but the blade seemed to be unusually sharp, extending almost along a tiny, almost invisible 'line' on the boulder.

"boom!"

An explosion was heard.

The huge rock was smashed in two.

"I...succeeded."

The moment he cleaved through the boulder, Tanjiro gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, staring blankly at the massive rock he had just split open: "Master, I really succeeded. I really... I really sensed that 'weak point'."

These days, he himself can't believe it.

In fact, Tanjiro's heart was also wavering.

But in the end, I chose to believe what the adults said, and at the same time, I chose to believe in myself.

…………

Shinobu Kocho stood by the window, staring blankly at the scene, her mouth slightly agape, unable to comprehend it.

She had personally observed that huge rock; it was extremely hard, and she had even tried to cut it herself, but to no avail.

Not only did she judge that Tanjiro couldn't cut it, but even Urokodaki-senpai judged that Tanjiro couldn't cut the huge rock.

But it was still cut open.

incredible.

Almost immediately, he rushed out and saw the man who had finished teaching the boy practicing 'Sun Breathing' and was now combing Kanao's hair.

Upon seeing her approach, the man looked up, staring at her with a puzzled expression.

"It's...it's a success, Tanjiro...Tanjiro split that rock."

"Oh!"

A very bland response.

"Tanjiro split that huge rock in two."

Shinobu Kocho thought the man hadn't heard her clearly or understood the meaning of her words. Didn't he feel excited? Didn't he feel thrilled?

This is such an incredible thing!

"Oh!"

Once again, I gave a very calm reply.

"Didn't you...hear me?"

Shinobu Kocho couldn't hold back any longer.

"I heard you clearly."

Su Mu finished combing Kanao's hair before raising his head to look at Shinobu Kocho and said in a calm tone, "Tanjiro split that rock."

Aren't you surprised?

"This is something Tanjiro is capable of doing."

"What's so surprising?"

Shinobu Kocho: "..."

The man's questioning gaze made Shinobu Kocho feel like a clown, overreacting to the situation.

It felt like going back to a few days ago, when I overestimated myself and challenged this person, only to suffer a crushing defeat.

"I...I'm not surprised at all."

Faced with the man's questioning gaze, Shinobu turned her back, and the white earlobes peeking out from her hair slowly turned red, like the sunset glow. Gradually, this blush spread from her ears to the girl's delicate cheeks.

feel

In all my life, I have never experienced as much shame and embarrassment as I have in front of this man.

"I... I'm not surprised at all."

The girl whispered again.

"Oh!"