Akino and Yuka were focused on dealing with a demon in front of them when several strange cries suddenly came from behind. Turning around, they saw three demons force Nohime back before turning to attack the two of them.
Their faces immediately went pale. In their panic, even their sword forms became disordered, and the demon before them drove them back again and again, bringing them even closer to the three demons behind them.
Just as the two of them had no idea what to do, the girl's clear, bell-like shout rang out behind them once more.
A fierce gust of wind swept in from behind. The two eagerly hoped that a miracle would happen again, but this time, it clearly would not.
Though the girl's attack severed one leg from each of two demons, it failed to halt their advance. Amid their despair, Akino and Yuka were even more shocked to clearly feel that the girl had thrown herself over them.
They soon understood what she intended to do. An indescribable surge of emotion welled up in their hearts. This was a timid, insecure girl whom everyone looked down on, yet she was willing to do this for two complete strangers.
What kind of kind heart repaid resentment with kindness?
"Y-you... don't worry about us anymore. Back in the square, we were blind fools. I heard your name—you're Kanroji Noe, right? Noe, it was nice meeting you. Thank you. Hurry and go!" Yuka turned back and forcefully shoved Nohime, trying to push her away from behind them.
"You know my name?" Nohime felt an inexplicable burst of joy. She gave Yuka a silly grin, her eyes curving into crescents. "Hehe, someone will save us."
Who else could save us? Him?
Akino twisted around to look at the boy atop the stone platform, who still had not moved. If he truly wanted to save them, he would have acted long ago. Why would he wait until now?
The demons were already charging right at them. He was so far away—how could he possibly save all three of them from four demons at once, even if he acted now?
Ice Breathing: Sixth Form: Phantom.
Akino watched as the person atop the stone platform vanished into thin air. In the blink of an eye, the white-clad figure stood before the three of them. It was as if an icy wind had swept past, and the bone-piercing cold made all three crouching on the ground shudder.
Clang. The Nichirin Blade slid into its sheath. Along with the crisp metallic ring of the guard striking the scabbard came a dull thud, like a ball smashing into the ground.
A demon head with wide-open eyes rolled to Yuka's feet. She screamed in fright and kicked it away. A layer of snow-white frost covered the clean cut at its neck, and white chill vapor rose from it.
A headless body lay face-down on the ground, twitching nonstop.
Akino turned to look behind him. The other three demons were much the same, their heads cleanly severed as they lay on the ground in their final spasms. Before long, they all turned to dust and vanished without a trace.
Akino turned back and met Yuka's gaze. There was nothing but shock in their eyes.
Blind fools? They had been blind fools toward far more than just the girl behind them.
The two of them had nearly died at the demons' hands several times. Even with all three working together, they had only barely managed to hold their own against four demons. Yet he had used a single move to instantly kill all four of them, so fast that they could not even see how he had struck.
Just how strong was he?
Someone this strong was not even an official member of the Demon Slayer Corps?
Even a true Demon Slayer Corps member could only be so capable.
Akino and Yuka stood with their mouths half-open, not knowing what to say. Akino in particular had just harshly berated him, and now he was overwhelmed with shame.
"See? I told you someone would save us."
Nohime smiled smugly, as if deliberately showing off to them. Then she looked up at the person beside her. "Han Zhiqi, I knew you wouldn't just stand by and watch us die—" Before she could finish, a cold glance sent her right back to where she started.
Nohime hurriedly lowered her head and stuck out her tongue, not daring to say another word.
Seeing Nohime's adorable appearance, the two beside her could only force out awkward smiles. Sure enough, one could not judge people by appearances. Everything had its natural counterbalance.
The girl who had been too shy even to speak with others in the square possessed remarkable skill, while the boy who seemed cold toward everyone refused to abandon the girl. What kind of bond was this?
Sure enough, strange people were naturally drawn to other strange people.
"Thank you." Yuka turned to Han Zhiqi, who stood beside her.
Han Zhiqi did not reply. He shot a fierce glare at Nohime, who was crouching on the ground with her head lowered in silence, then turned and walked toward the stone platform.
The invisible pressure and chill surrounding the three of them faded along with Han Zhiqi's departure.
Nohime secretly followed Han Zhiqi's footsteps with her eyes lowered. Only after he had gone far away did she let out a long breath. With a cheerful smile, she helped the two of them up from the ground and asked with concern, "Are you two okay?"
The two shook their heads.
"We're fine. Thank you so much for earlier. If it hadn't been for you, the two of us would probably..." Thinking back to what had just happened, Yuka could not help feeling another wave of lingering fear.
Nohime hurriedly waved her hands. "N-no, he was the one who saved you. Not only did I fail to help, I almost got you both hurt instead." After saying that, she scratched her head awkwardly.
"No matter what, you were still the first one to save us. Hello, I'm Yuka, and this is my friend Akino. We came together to take the Demon Slayer Corps' Final Selection."
Yuka and Akino took the initiative to introduce themselves.
Faced with Yuka's warmth, Nohime was momentarily flattered.
"Hello, my name is..."
Before Nohime could speak, Yuka said brightly, "Noe. Kanroji Noe, right?"
Nohime nodded shyly. It was the first time anyone had treated her with such warmth.
"I heard you introduce yourself in the square. Kanroji Noe—it's a lovely name."
"Thank you."
Yuka turned to look at Han Zhiqi, who leaned against the stone wall. She wanted to thank him in person, but seeing his unapproachable appearance, she felt a little intimidated and could only turn her pleading gaze toward Nohime.
"Han Zhiqi—Bing Shi Han Zhi Qi. Don't mind him. He's actually a very good person. He just looks a little scary. You'll understand once you spend more time with him."
Yuka gave a soft hum, thinking that she was probably the only one who would say that.
After exchanging a few brief pleasantries, the three came to an open space not far from the stone platform and casually found several smooth rocks to sit on.
"Why did you two come here?"
Akino and Yuka exchanged a glance, then gave a detailed account of Kimura's group—from leaving the mountainside at dusk and entering the forest, to being besieged by a horde of demons, then the Bouncing Demon appearing without a sound, followed by the Spider Demon and the Three-Eyed Demon chasing each other, until the group completely fell apart.
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