Demon Slayer: The Second God Who Walks the Earth

Zenitsu was speaking when he suddenly couldn't make a sound. When he looked down, he found himself bound like a mummy by the Hidden Team members, with all his body parts except his eyes wrapped in bandages.

"Woo...Woo..."

Zenitsu called out twice more, but he immediately stopped moving.

The joy and excitement of suddenly seeing an acquaintance made him temporarily forget the pain in his body. Now that he was bound by bandages, the pain immediately surged up. Even the slightest movement caused him great pain, and now Zenitsu dared not move at all.

Looking at Zenitsu, whose eyes were filled with tears and whose despair was palpable even with only his eyes showing, Chiba Yo felt a little like laughing, even though he knew he shouldn't. But thankfully, he held it in.

"Xiao Yang, could you show me the way? I'm going to treat those people you mentioned who are infected with the toxin," Shinobu Kocho said to Chiba Yang.

"Okay." Chiba Yo replied, and then led Kocho Shinobu and the group of Hidden Team members to the place where Zenitsu had just been found.

Zenitsu was left behind and looked after by two members of the Kakuno team.

A group of people arrived at the place Chiba Yang had mentioned. There were many people crawling on the ground who had almost turned into spiders, with almost all the hair on their heads gone, but they did not seem to have become stronger.

"Give them the antidote I just prepared," Shinobu Kocho said to the Hidden Team members who had followed her.

"Yes!" the Hidden Team members responded, and then immediately began injecting the antidote into those who were about to turn into spiders, following Shinobu Kocho's instructions.

The symptoms of those who were injected with the antidote gradually subsided, and more people who were about to be turned into spiders gathered around Shinobu Kocho.

"Shinobu-neechan, I'll go check ahead." Chiba Yo saw that there were enough people on this side and there was nothing he could do to help, so he said to Kocho Shinobu.

After all, their purpose in coming to Mount Natagumo was to find the Twelve Demon Moons and to retest the Crimson Blade. They had not yet discovered the Twelve Demon Moons hidden here, and the only demon they had encountered was the one that Zenitsu had killed.

“Okay, go ahead,” Shinobu Kocho replied.

She can't leave for the time being; she needs to oversee the treatment work here for the time being.

After receiving Shinobu's reply, Chiba Yo continued heading towards the center of the mountain.

I wonder if Mr. Tomioka encountered one of the Twelve Demon Moons... And according to Zenitsu, Tanjiro should be here too. I hope nothing happened to him...

Chiba Yo thought to himself, feeling somewhat worried.

The scenery flashed by, and suddenly, Chiba Yang stopped. He seemed to have just seen something strange.

After taking two steps back, Chiba Yo saw a guy wearing a wild boar's head tied up with rope and hanging from a tree.

It's a boy, and his injuries are so severe; he was even tied up and hung up... Could this have been done by Mr. Tomioka?

In the transparent world, Chiba Yo discovered that the guy wearing the boar's head was a boy. Looking at the boy who was hanging up, Chiba Yo suspected that Giyuu was the one who did it.

The purpose was probably to restrict this guy's movements, after all, his injuries were already very serious, and Giyu still wanted to find the Twelve Demon Moons, so given his personality, he might do something like that.

After untying the ropes binding the boy wearing the boar's head, Chiba Yang carried him to the nearest member of the Hidden Team and handed the boy over to them.

"A boar's head!? What's this?" Upon seeing Inosuke, the Kakuno members were startled, but still took Inosuke.

"He should also be a member of the Demon Slayer Corps. I'll leave him to you. I'm going now." Chiba Yo said and left.

Now he vaguely remembered that he had seen this boy once during the final trial, but at the time the boy quickly ran away while shouting "Charge like a pig!", so Chiba Yang didn't have a deep impression of him.

Chapter 31 The Cunning Ninja

"Oh, okay." The member of the Hidden Team responded, then picked up Inosuke and carried him back to the Butterfly Mansion.

I couldn't do anything... I couldn't even defeat a single demon on my own... Maybe I'm not that strong...

Inosuke, who was being carried on the shoulder, did not fall into a coma. His experience facing the demon tonight made him realize his shortcomings, which caused a change in his mindset. In particular, he was tied up and hung up by that half-half-hachi while he was speaking, which made him realize his weakness.

Because it took some time to rescue Inosuke, Chiba Yo arrived at the front and found Shinobu Kocho fighting a demon.

No, it was less of a battle and more of a mockery. The demon was completely manipulated by Shinobu Kocho, utterly powerless to resist.

Shinobu Kocho pinned the female ghost beneath her and smiled as she said, "I want you to receive your due punishment, so you can be reborn and we can get along well. If someone takes another's life without any punishment, the people who were killed will never be able to avenge themselves."

Shinobu Kocho said, prying open the female demon's eyes with her hands, still smiling as she said, "For example, gouge out her eyeballs."

Then she drew a vertical line on its belly with her finger.

"Or I'll cut open your stomach and pull out your internal organs. The more people you kill, the more I'll interrogate you. Once you endure that pain, your sins will be forgiven. Let's cheer each other on!"

After saying this, Shinobu Kocho clenched her fists and made a cheering gesture, looking very cute with a smile, but it was clearly a bit scary when paired with her words.

"It's alright, Miss. You are a ghost after all, so you won't die or suffer any aftereffects!"

Hearing Shinobu Kocho say such terrifying words with a smile, Chiba Yo felt a chill run down his spine.

The female ghost was clearly unable to withstand it; cold sweat broke out on her face, and she screamed.

"Do not make jokes!"

The female demon sat up abruptly, and Shinobu Kocho jumped up as well, breaking free from her grasp. The demon stretched out her hands towards Shinobu and shouted, "Die! You filthy woman!"

Then it released a large ball of spider silk from its hands and pounced on Shinobu Kocho. At the same time, it was pushed to the ground by the impact, rolled a distance, and then got up again.

"Sister Shinobu, let me test the power of the Crimson Blade first."

The spider silk shattered, and Chiba Yo spoke to Kocho Shinobu.

Since entering Mount Natagumo, he hadn't encountered a single living demon, making it impossible to test the Crimson Blade. Giyu hadn't encountered one either for so long, leading Chiba Yo to guess that Giyu might have already killed the Twelve Demon Moons here. This demon might be the last one left, and if it was killed by Shinobu Kocho, then there would be no way to test the Crimson Blade's abilities.

"Alright then, since this young lady doesn't intend to get along with me, there's nothing I can do. Remember to kill her after the examination, after all, it's her own choice." Shinobu Kocho said to Yo Chiba with a smile.

"Yes, I will." Chiba Yang replied, slowly walking towards the white-haired spider demon, the Nichirin Blade in his hand slowly turning crimson under his grip.

"Damn it! You should die too!" The spider demon was furious and immediately attacked Chiba Yang.

However, its attacks were completely useless against Chiba Yang. With a flash of light, the thick spider silk shattered, and at the same time, Chiba Yang also severed off the two arms of the spider demon.

"Ah!" The spider-woman ghost screamed in pain.

Then Chiba Yo kicked it to the ground, and pierced its belly with his Nichirin Blade, pinning it to the ground.

From the conversation between Shinobu Kocho and the demon, Chiba Yo learned that the demon had already eaten more than eighty people, and he would show no mercy to such a vicious demon.

A burning pain emanated from the wounds inflicted by the Nichirin Blade and from where it had pierced her. The spider demon's fear grew stronger. All she wanted now was to escape, even if it meant disobeying Rui's orders, but it was too late.

After plunging the Nichirin Blade into the Spider Demon's body, Chiba Yo released the blade, wanting to see if it could quickly regenerate limbs.

Seeing Chiba Yo's hand leave the Nichirin Blade, the Spider Demon immediately tried to regenerate an arm to pull the Nichirin Blade out. However, the next moment, the piercing burning sensation returned, and she could no longer use her most basic ability as a demon.

"It seems that the Crimson Blade can indeed suppress the regeneration of demons." Seeing that this demon had not been able to regenerate its arm, Chiba Yo confirmed that the Crimson Blade could indeed suppress the regeneration of demons.

After all, in this situation, the only chance for the ghost to survive is to regenerate an arm, draw its sword, and escape.

"Alright, now you can go to hell to atone for the sins of those eighty-odd people." Chiba Yang drew his Nichirin Blade, which had turned black when he left his hand, and returned to its original crimson color.

Freed from the Nichirin Blade's restraints, the spider demon didn't flee. Instead, she knelt before Chiba Yo, tears streaming down her face, and pleaded, "Please, spare me! I'll do anything you want to live! I promise I'll never eat people again. What I did before was forced upon me by the other demons. I'm too weak to defy them! Please..."

Before the spider demon could finish her lament, Chiba Yo's Nichirin Blade had already slashed across its neck.

From its conversation with Shinobu Kocho, it's clear that this guy is a treacherous and cunning demon, and he's also good at gaining other people's sympathy. How could Chiba Yo, who already knows all this, be deceived by it?

Its head rolled to the ground, and its body collapsed. The spider demon gradually turned to ashes, and some past events slowly surfaced in its mind.

Hunted by Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen, she fled to Mount Natagumo, where she was rescued by Lower Moon Five Rui and drank his blood, beginning to play the role of his older sister. Another demon, unwilling to continue playing house with Rui, conspired with him to escape Mount Natagumo together, but leaked the secret to Rui, resulting in the other demon, who regarded her as his younger sister, being tied to a rooftop and left to die in the morning sun...

Choosing to leak information to Lei did not earn it good treatment; it was beaten and scolded at will. Although it did not die, the pain it endured was not lessened.

They were all just characters that could be replaced at any time, not family at all. It seems it has never seen this clearly, but perhaps it just wants to rely on a strong person.

I did nothing wrong... I just... wanted to live...

With her last thought fading, the spider demon turned to ashes and vanished into the world.

Sheathing his sword, Chiba Yo realized that Kocho Shinobu had already left.

It seems they went to Mr. Yiyong's place. I'll head over there too...

Chapter 32 An Sai Yaogu

Chiba Yo was a little confused at this moment, and he was trying to figure out the situation in front of him.

Giyuu and Shinobu are entangled in a strange position ahead.

Shinobu Kocho was pinned under Giyu's arm by his ribs. Shinobu was trying hard to break free, but she was no match for Giyu. Even though she was trembling from the effort, she was still unable to break free from Giyu's grip.

What are you doing?

Chiba Yang looked at the scene before him and didn't dare to go out directly, afraid of disturbing the two of them.

"Mr. Tomioka, are you listening? Mr. Tomioka. My attack to slay the demon was justified, so it doesn't violate the rules. But Mr. Tomioka, this is a violation of the rules! You're obstructing the slaying of the demon! What are you trying to do?"

Shinobu Kocho was unable to break free from Giyuu's grip. Despite her anger, she maintained a smile and asked Giyuu a question.

However, Giyu did not answer her. Instead, he showed a strange expression, which seemed to be puzzled or helpless. In short, Chiba Yo did not understand the meaning of this expression.

"Wouldn't it be better if you said something? This is an ultimatum. At least tell me your reasons." Not hearing Giyu's reply, Shinobu Kocho continued to ask with a smile.

Although she was smiling, veins were bulging on her forehead, clearly indicating that she was angry.

After being repeatedly questioned by Shinobu Kocho, Giyuu finally stopped remaining silent and wearing that strange expression, and replied, "That was probably about two years ago..."

However, he was interrupted by Shinobu Kocho before he could even open his mouth.

"Talking about that kind of thing for ages is giving me a headache. Are you deliberately trying to cause me trouble? Are you holding a grudge because I said you were disliked?"

Shinobu Kocho now strongly suspects that Giyu's current behavior is because she just said that he was disliked.

Giyu felt offended once again after hearing Shinobu's words.

...Are they so relaxed because the Twelve Demon Moons have been eliminated?

Chiba Yo wanted to go out and ask if the Twelve Demon Moons here had been eliminated, but he couldn't find an opportunity to go out.

Then he saw his own crow perched on a tree above him, and asked it in a low voice, "Excuse me, have the Twelve Demon Moons here been eliminated?"

His crow had just flown around Mount Natagumo and should know whether the Twelve Demon Moons had been destroyed.

"Caw! Caw! The Lower Moon Five has been wiped out by Giyu! The Lower Moon Five has been wiped out by Giyu!" The crow flapped its wings and cried out loudly after hearing Chiba Yo's question.

!! This was done on purpose, wasn't it?!

Chiba Yo felt a sudden tightness in his chest and a sense of panic. He turned his head and saw that Giyuu and Shinobu Kocho were both looking at him and still in that position.

"Um... I was just passing by and didn't mean to bother you. Sorry!"

Seeing that there was no way to hide, Chiba Yo walked out somewhat awkwardly and immediately apologized to Giyu and the others.

Oh no! I saw them in such a ridiculous pose, will I be resented in the future? Especially Shinobu, seeing Giyu carrying me under his arm for so long, I'm sure she'll want to erase my memories!

Chiba Yo had already seen Shinobu Kocho's kind smile, a smile so kind that it made him a little scared.

I must never get too close to her again, or I'll definitely get poisoned!

"I'm leaving now!" Chiba Yo noticed that Giyuu and Shinobu Kocho were still watching him, and he felt that if he stayed any longer, he might be silenced immediately.

Just as he was about to turn and leave, a crow flew over and cawed loudly.

"Order! Order! Headquarters has issued an order! Capture Tanjiro and Nezuko and bring them back to headquarters! Ga! Capture Tanjiro and Nezuko, who is a demon, and bring them back to headquarters!"

In addition, there is another crow that keeps describing Tanjiro and Nezuko's appearance.

Tanjiro was wearing a checkered jacket and had a scar on his forehead.

Nezuko, the demon girl biting a bamboo stick.

Bring them back! Bring them back!

Two crows circled in the air, repeatedly cawing.

Upon hearing the order, Giyuu and Shinobu stopped, while Chiba Yo also stood there, somewhat confused about the situation.

Tanjiro and... a demon girl? Are there still demons on this mountain? Why bring her back? What's the connection between this demon and Tanjiro? Nezuko... Zenitsu seemed to have mentioned her before, what's going on here?

One question after another popped into Chiba Yo's mind, and he had temporarily forgotten about Giyu and Shinobu.

Until Shinobu Kocho came over and patted him on the shoulder.

"Xiaoyang, you didn't see anything just now, right? You must have, right?"

If there's anything you want to forget, I can make you a forgetting medicine.

If you ever get injured in the future, you can come to the Butterfly Mansion to find me, and I will make your body completely healed.

Shinobu Kocho said to Yo Chiba with a smile, but her face was etched with shadows.

The three sentences in a row sent chills down Chiba Yo's spine; each sentence was more terrifying than the last.

I must never get hurt again! If I encounter a ghost, I'll kill it in one strike, never in two!