Demon Slayer: I am a Demon

Chapter 89 Far surpassing oneself, even surpassing one's own life (1/4)

"I never intended to eat her."

Su Mu spoke softly, calmly yet firmly.

"Who would believe that?"

Akaza shook his head, his gaze disdainful: "Otherwise, why keep a human girl like this by your side?"

"Why are there so many 'whys'? Just like adults constantly striving to become stronger, why are there so many 'whys'?"

"The reason for pursuing becoming stronger is—"

Akaza opened his mouth instinctively, wanting to refute, but found that he couldn't seem to find a reason why he needed to become stronger. Why?

There doesn't seem to be a reason why.

So, there's nothing strange about the other party keeping a human girl by their side. Although it's strange for a ghost to keep a human by its side, there's nothing really weird about it. There are many more ghosts that are even stranger than Su Mu.

While Su Mu and Akaza were talking, the girl was still practicing quietly.

But soon, the movements became slower and slower.

Humans can't be like ghosts; they get thirsty and tired, and they can never be tireless like ghosts. Kanao only practiced for a short while before she had to stop, panting heavily.

"You see, that's just how people are."

Akaza stopped what he was doing, and Kanao, who was standing there panting, said, "The limitations are too great. Even the training time is restricted. Not only that, the physical limitations are too great. Once a certain level is reached, there is no way to go any further. No matter how much you train, it will be useless. In fact, as you get older, you will start to regress."

As he spoke, Akaza clenched his fist slightly: "But demons are different. Once they become demons, from the moment they become demons, their physical strength has already reached the limit that humans strive for."

"And this is just the lowest level, like trash like you."

As he spoke, Akaza looked at Su Mu with a mocking expression.

He looked down on the weak demon, but deep down he had a vague desire to get closer, as if there was something important that he would remember if he got closer to the demon.

But no matter how hard you search or how much you think about it, you can't figure it out.

"No matter what, I won't let her become a ghost."

Su Mu lowered his head and silently stroked the Nichirin Blade with his hand.

"I really don't understand you, you're a demon yourself, yet you seem so dissatisfied with your demon identity. It's unbelievable. Sigh, and stop always carrying that Nichirin Blade, doesn't it make you feel disgusted?"

Akaza frowned: "You're just like those fragile humans holding excrement, utterly disgusting."

Su Mu's lips twitched slightly.

In fact, Akaza's description was not wrong. To demons, this weapon containing solar energy was truly as disgusting as excrement.

But feeling is one thing, saying it out loud is another, which made him feel quite uncomfortable as he kept stroking the blade of the Nichirin Blade.

Therefore, in the end, they could only respond with silence.

Akaza, seeing that Su Mu had lowered his head again and was not saying anything, was rather bored. He could only look at Kanao, who was panting heavily, and said: "Generally speaking, the humans I invite to become demons are all extremely powerful among humans. It is already lucky for such a weak human child to be invited to become a demon."

"If you train with me, I believe you will soon become a powerful demon, and it's even possible that you will become one of the new Twelve Demon Moons."

Su Mu didn't speak, and continued to stroke the blade of the Nichirin Blade with his hand.

Seeing this, Akaza also found it quite boring. A weak demon, and he could give up some training time to talk to him. He felt that this was the first time in so many years that he had been able to be patient.

Ordinary, weak ghosts are not worth his effort.

So they went back to the empty cave and continued their training, continuing their relentless pursuit of the path.

"call----"

Kanao gripped the hilt of the wooden sword, raised her hand, and wanted to continue practicing as well.

But I had absolutely no strength.

No matter how hard I try, I can't do it.

"Okay, stop now."

Su Mu looked at Kanao, who was sitting on the ground, still struggling to get up, and spoke gently.

"I want to continue—"

Kanao glanced at the demon who was still tirelessly training, biting her lip slightly. This demon had given her uncle a severe beating before, and she saw him beat her uncle so badly that he was powerless to fight back, while she herself was just as helpless.

This feeling is absolutely terrible.

She didn't want to face that situation again.

If it were just that the opponent was strong, that would be one thing, but now, even my own efforts seem so insignificant compared to theirs.

There was almost no chance of resistance.

"Take a break, you've practiced long enough."

Su Mu reached out and patted Kanao's head: "You're already incredibly impressive."

"But—we're still far from it—"

Kanao bit her lip, her head slightly lowered: "Am I... never going to have a chance to protect Uncle?"

"Ha—Uncle doesn't need your protection."

Su Mu tapped the girl on the head: "It's time to rest, don't think so much."

As he spoke, he gently picked the girl up.

The girl's body was very light and her delicate body was very soft, so it was easy to pick her up and carry her to the prepared resting place so that she could lie down and rest.

Kanao raised her head, staring wide-eyed at her uncle: "I'm so useless!"

Don't overthink it.

"Look, that demon is still practicing, while Kanao doesn't even have the strength to lift her hand."

"Because he is a ghost, and you are a human. Humans and ghosts are different."

Su Mu said softly.

"Uncle, can I become a ghost like you?"

The girl's eyes held a hint of anticipation; she had clearly overheard her uncle's conversation with the ghost.

"Uncle, turn me into a ghost too."

As she finished speaking, Kanao noticed that her uncle, who had always been gentle with her, was unusually angry, and very rough and furious.

Even though her uncle seemed to be in a bad mood and was very angry, he didn't hit her. He just looked at her and quietly said, "Never say things like 'become a ghost' again."

"Never have such thoughts."

Kanao pursed her lips, not understanding why, after all the benefits of becoming a demon that the demon had described, he was unwilling to let Kanao become a demon.

Once she becomes a ghost, she will become even more powerful and will never let anyone bully her uncle again.

"I will listen to my uncle."

Kanao pursed her lips. Although she was very unwilling, her uncle's order was far greater than her own, even more important than her own life.

Nothing was more important than my uncle's order.

"Go to sleep."

Su Mu patted Kanao's head, and the girl gently closed her mouth. She was too tired to stay awake for long and soon fell into a deep sleep.

Even though the Akaza training in the cave was very noisy, it didn't wake the sleeping Kanao at all. The little girl was really putting in all her effort to practice.

Su Mu covered Kanao's back with the bedding, then sat down beside her, quietly continuing to stroke the blade of the Nichirin Blade.

The blade that seemed to slay the demon appeared to be growing ever sharper.