Demon Slayer: I am a Demon

The branches in the forest stung my face as they lashed against it. The grotesque demon with its bluish-purple face fled desperately, blood seeping from its wounds due to the intense movement.

"Huff! Huff! Huff..."

He was panting heavily, and the fatigue in his body was getting heavier and heavier.

Evil spirits don't normally feel tired, but that's only when they're not injured. When they are injured, their bodies will prioritize healing their wounds.

Wounds are nothing to demons. Even if someone cuts off an arm or pierces the heart with a knife, it can heal quickly. But if the knife is a Nichirin Blade forged from sunlight-absorbing gorilla sand iron and gorilla crimson ore, then the situation is different.

Wounds inflicted by a Nichirin Blade, which possesses the special ability to limit the regeneration of demons, will heal very slowly.

For demons who haven't felt tired in a long time, the feeling of fatigue can surface in their minds and cause them great panic and fear.

That was the feeling of facing death.

"Escape, escape for your life!"

As this thought crossed her mind, she felt more resentful. She had clearly sensed Su Mu's presence before. If he had joined forces with her, the situation might not have been so bad. In fact, he might have even been able to fight back against these ghost hunters with her. But when he sensed the situation here, he left without hesitation, showing no intention of treating her as a companion or one of his own.

How foolish!

Do you think these demon hunters will let you go after killing me?

How ridiculous.

"Whoosh!"

A flash of light appeared behind him, and the fleeing demon screamed and tumbled to the ground.

However, a Demon Slayer Corps swordsman who had been chasing after them threw his Nichirin Blade without hesitation, slashing it directly at the thigh of the running demon, causing the fleeing demon to lose its balance and fall to the ground.

Hiroshi Furukawa did not disappoint his teammates and charged in without a word, his blade flashing like autumn water.

It's now!

"Breath of Flame, Second Form. Flame Rises."

With his swords in both hands, Hiroshi Furukawa leaped into the air and simultaneously unleashed a powerful slash with his Nichirin Blade. The speed of his grip on the blade exploded in that instant, and the fiery strike aimed directly at the demon's neck.

The evil spirit sensed danger and tried to dodge, but it was too late; the sharp blade instantly pressed against its neck.

The demon felt a sudden lightness in its neck, as if it were flying in the sky. But immediately, it saw its familiar body and the headless neck gushing blood like a fountain.

"So it turns out my head was severed."

His head hit the ground with a dull thud.

At the same moment, Hiroshi Furukawa landed, one hand on the ground holding a sword, half-kneeling and breathing heavily.

Their companions arrived at that moment, and upon seeing the evil spirit vanquished, they all smiled in unison.

A Demon Slayer Corps swordsman looked at the severed head that Captain Hiroshi Furukawa had cut off. Seeing the grotesque skull, and remembering his fallen comrades, he strode forward in fury and stomped on the head repeatedly, his teeth clenched in hatred.

"Damn it, these wretched creatures shouldn't exist in this world."

Hiroshi Furukawa and his companions were all panting heavily, and no one stopped them from venting their anger.

Although its head had been severed, the demon's powerful vitality did not kill it immediately; its eyes could still move, its ears could still hear, and its nose could still breathe.

However, the Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen present did not pay much attention. Although demons have strong vitality, once the neck of a powerful demon is severed by a Nichirin Blade, death is only a matter of time. They could see the head of the demon being trampled underfoot slowly dissipating.

As the demon's corpse dissipated, a foul stench began to emanate from the air.

"These vile demons, even in death, are so foul."

The swordsman, who had the demon's head under his feet, kicked it away with a look of disgust.

The dissipating heads rolled among the grass, emitting a foul stench, and the demon's life was gradually fading away.

As life gradually fades away, the memories that were once lost return little by little. Before becoming a ghost, he had a wonderful family, with a gentle wife and obedient children. But as he became a demon, all happiness was destroyed by the smell of blood.

The gentle wife held him tightly, watching him devour her flesh, hoping he would come to his senses. She wept and begged him to spare the child, to only eat her...

These memories, which had gradually faded as he became a ghost, all resurfaced in his mind.

Pain, endless pain, grief

Boundless sorrow

All of these arose in the mind of the evil spirits along with death.

Tears mingled with blood in his eyes, dripping silently. All the beautiful memories and happiness that once belonged to him would be destroyed one by one after he became a ghost.

A somber atmosphere permeated the air with the death of the demon, but the Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen present did not sense this atmosphere, only smelled the stench emanating from the air. If Tanjiro Kamado were here, he might have been able to smell the sorrow permeating the air and feel that sorrow.

But ordinary people cannot perceive these things; they can only smell the foul stench emanating from the dead evil spirits.

"This ghost-hunting mission is finally over."

A swordsman, panting, began bandaging his wounds. His face showed sadness because his comrades had died, but also a sense of relief that he was still alive.

"Boss, I heard that you're going to treat Lord Kyojuro to a meal after the mission is over."

A swordsman limped up to Hiroshi Furukawa, his face filled with anticipation. That was the "Flame Pillar," an object of admiration for all swordsmen.

"Um."

Hiroshi Furukawa nodded, a slight smile appearing on his tense face.

"Could you take us with you then?"

The limping swordsman looked pleadingly, and the other swordsmen couldn't help but look over, their faces full of anticipation. That was Kyojuro Rengoku, the "pillar" who slew the Twelve Demon Moons, the Flute Demon.

"no problem."

Looking at his companion, Hiroshi Furukawa did not hesitate.

"But will Lord Kyojuro mind? After all, Lord Kyojuro only promised the eldest brother."

The swordsman with the limp was somewhat worried.

"Don't worry, it'll be fine. Lord Kyojuro will only be happy that I'm taking you all with me."

Hiroshi Furukawa shook his head. In his heart, Kyojuro Rengoku was a caring person who treated others like an older brother. He always had a smile on his face and was full of enthusiasm. He was always full of love and guidance for his juniors. There was absolutely no need to worry about these things.

Upon hearing this, everyone smiled and relaxed.

Only Hiroshi Furukawa remained somber, his head bowed as he looked around.

"Boss, what are you still looking at?"

The limping swordsman arrived at "Hiroshi Furukawa" with a smile and asked, "After we get back, let's go for drinks in the brothel. I heard there's a new courtesan who's incredibly beautiful..."

Hiroshi Furukawa seemed to have discovered something. He suddenly squatted down, touched his toes on the ground, then looked up and squinted.

"Boss, what's wrong?"

Seeing Hiroshi Furukawa's solemn expression, the limping swordsman looked somewhat strange.

"I'm afraid this ghost-hunting mission is not over yet."

Hiroshi Furukawa placed his hand on the hilt of his Nichirin Blade, his eyes sharp as a blade.