Are You a Monster?

The wind picked up, night fell, and the forest began to feel eerie.

Han Zhiqi opened his eyes. Perhaps it was the atmosphere, but this time, from falling asleep to waking up, he had maintained Total Concentration: Constant. Of course, he was also fully aware that Nohime was asleep on his lap.

His legs were already starting to feel numb. But this strange girl was still asleep. She had promised to keep watch, yet she was sleeping more soundly than anyone. So carefree, she had no sense of danger whatsoever.

Han Zhiqi gently patted her cheek a few times. After a few pats, Nohime mumbled something with her mouth opening and closing.

"Wake up, stop sleeping."

Han Zhiqi patted her a few more times. Although this girl talked too much and was annoying, her soft, pink cheeks felt quite comfortable to pat.

"Hmm? Is it time to eat?"

Nohime, still groggy, sat up, pouted, rubbed her eyes, and then turned her head to see Han Zhiqi staring at her coldly, a hint of anger on his handsome face.

"Han Zhiqi, you're awake." Nohime grinned, her face lighting up with joy.

Han Zhiqi didn't understand. Where did this girl even come from? Did she have no worries? Why was she always so blissfully foolish?

No wonder everyone disliked her. Being insecure and timid was one thing, but her constant, silly happiness was probably another.

"It's getting dark. We need to be prepared."

Nohime glanced around. Indeed, the sky was darkening at an almost visible rate, and even the air smelled different – fetid, dangerous, and restless.

Only now did her expression become slightly serious, but it quickly broke, and she, along with Han Zhiqi, succumbed to the moment.

It happened the instant Han Zhiqi looked down.

"Let's eat something first. Once the fighting starts, we probably won't have the time or appetite."

Han Zhiqi reached for the backpack he carried behind him. As he lowered his head, his gaze inadvertently fell upon a flash of white. Upon closer inspection, that flash of white was none other than Kanroji Noe's chest.

At some point, the buttons of Nohime's shirt had come undone, and half of her ample bosom was exposed to the air.

Han Zhiqi's face turned bright red with embarrassment. He quickly averted his gaze, accidentally bumping his nose against the stone wall. The pain almost brought tears to his eyes.

Nohime, clearly unaware of what had happened, merely observed Han Zhiqi's strange behavior. Seeing him bump his nose, she quickly asked with concern, "Are you alright?" She started to get up, intending to check his injury.

Han Zhiqi squeezed his eyes shut and waved his hand, stopping her from approaching. He stammered, "You... you're exposed, hurry... hurry and cover up."

Exposed? What was exposed?

Nohime looked around and only then realized that the buttons on her shirt had come undone at some point.

"Huh? Why did they come undone again?"

Again? She said "again"! What kind of monster was this?

Han Zhiqi's hair stood on end. He wished he could disappear into a crack in the rock.

Nohime, however, spoke calmly, not realizing the immense impact her situation had on others. To her, it seemed as ordinary as eating or drinking.

"Okay, okay, I've buttoned it up." Nohime let out a long sigh of relief.

This was the first time Han Zhiqi had ever seen someone get tired from wearing clothes. He was utterly speechless.

He glanced at Nohime's chest and saw that it was indeed buttoned up. Only then did Han Zhiqi nervously turn back around, his face as red as a ripe apple, and say angrily, "As a young lady, how can you have so little self-respect? If you know your shirt buttons easily come undone, why don't you wear something else? Do you know how much trouble you cause others by being like this?"

Seeing Han Zhiqi angry, Nohime's bright smile flickered across her face. She slowly lowered her head, like a child who had done something wrong, and said weakly, "I... I'm sorry. I... I don't have any other clothes to wear. I ran away from home secretly."

Seeing Nohime's cautious and timid demeanor, Han Zhiqi's heart softened. He even felt guilty for saying such harsh words. Running away secretly meant she probably hadn't brought any food either.

Han Zhiqi glanced at Nohime. As expected, apart from the Nichirin Blade uniformly issued by the Demon Slayer Corps, she hadn't brought anything else.

Han Zhiqi didn't want to inquire why she had run away from home or why she was participating in the Demon Slayer Corps assessment.

He wasn't interested in other people's private matters. Moreover, once the assessment was over, they would have no further interaction. Even if he knew, it would be meaningless.

Han Zhiqi took out a simple backpack from behind him and opened it. Inside were neatly folded meat and vegetable patties and several bottles of water.

Judging by the preparation of the meat and vegetable patties, the Butterfly Mansion trio had been quite thoughtful.

Han Zhiqi's impression of them improved.

"Eat something, drink some water."

Han Zhiqi took out a meat and vegetable patty and placed the rest between them where both could reach.

"Eat up. The assessment has just begun. While you still have the mood, eat as much as you can. For the next six days, you probably won't have the mood to eat."

Nohime looked at the meat and vegetable patties in the bag beside her. They looked delicious. She wanted to eat but was too embarrassed. Finally, unable to resist her rumbling stomach, she reached into the bag, took out a patty, gave Han Zhiqi an embarrassed smile, and began to eat with relish.

Han Zhiqi thought women were truly strange creatures, not only strange but also unfathomable.

"Where are we going next?" Nohime asked as she ate.

"We're not going anywhere. We'll stay right here. We're not familiar with the situation in the forest, and wandering around would be too dangerous. Those two little girls said we just need to survive on the mountain for seven days. They didn't say how, so even if we hide and do nothing, as long as we're still alive after seven days, we'll still pass the assessment."

Nohime nodded. "I'll listen to you."

"By the way, why didn't you want to join Kimura's team? They seemed to really like you. If you were willing, they would have welcomed you."

Han Zhiqi gazed at Nohime, feeling that this woman was like a blank piece of paper, as if she understood nothing.

"Why should I join them? Whether they like me or not has nothing to do with me. I don't know them."

Nohime thoughtfully considered Han Zhiqi's words, feeling they made sense and yet didn't. "If they invited me, I would be very happy. It's a shame they don't want me."

"Hmph, it's right that they don't want you. Not everyone is as foolish as you. How have you managed to live this long being so clumsy?"

Instead of being angered by Han Zhiqi's slightly disdainful words, Nohime was pleased. She knew that the boy in front of her accepted her, which was why he said such things. Shrugging, she dismissed it.

"That's why I'm following you."