Only Natural

"Sorry to trouble you."

Yoriichi rose to his feet and gave a slight bow.

"It's nothing, it's only natural. But I have a favor to ask."

"?" Yoriichi looked at him in confusion.

The man said awkwardly, "I want to join the Demon Slayer Corps. I'd like to ask you to recommend me."

Yoriichi examined the man before him. He showed no signs of having trained, so Yoriichi could not help confirming, "Are you sure? Becoming a Demon Slayer is dangerous. You could be killed by demons at any time."

A determined expression appeared on the man's face. He nodded solemnly. "I'm sure!"

"All right. But joining the Demon Slayer Corps requires passing a trial. I'll recommend you to the previous Flame Hashira, but first, we need to finish this mission."

The man's face lit up with joy, and he eagerly led Yoriichi to find the person who had discovered the demon.

Iimoto lived on the outskirts of Riverside Town. By the time the two arrived, night had already fallen.

Since Iimoto lived near the farmlands, where the demon had been discovered, he was extremely uneasy. The moment he saw Yoriichi in the Demon Slayer Corps uniform, he hurriedly invited him inside.

"Three days ago, I found the demon in that field ahead. It was dark then, and I saw a very strange figure in the field. I got curious and moved closer, only to see that figure crouched over a mangled corpse, chewing on it. If I hadn't run fast enough, I almost would have been killed."

As he spoke, Yoriichi followed the direction Iimoto pointed and faintly spotted a shadow. Before he could take a closer look, it rushed toward them at high speed.

"Get back!"

Yoriichi was startled and immediately shouted.

He could now see clearly that the dark figure flying toward them was Kokushibo, though for some reason, he was being sent flying backward.

With a muffled thud, Kokushibo crashed heavily onto the ground.

Yoriichi rushed out the door and shouted over his shoulder, "You two, run!"

The next moment, another figure charged toward them. Yoriichi swiftly drew the long sword at his waist, kicked off the ground, and shot forward.

Clang—

Yoriichi stood before Kokushibo as the Nichirin Blade collided with a sharp claw, producing a crisp ring.

Then the other claw struck. Yoriichi exerted force and twisted his wrist, drawing a flourish with his blade. He deflected that claw while blocking the attack, then moved even faster, suddenly knocking away the claw pressing down on his blade.

Kokushibo endured the discomfort in his chest and struggled to his feet. His Nichirin Blade had already been lost.

Looking at Yoriichi standing in front of him, Kokushibo felt both relief at having survived and unwillingness to accept it.

Why was the demon he had been utterly unable to contend with merely an even match for Yoriichi?

Though unwilling, he was not arrogant. He knew that without a weapon, he was only a burden to Yoriichi. Escaping the scene as quickly as possible was the best choice.

But what Kokushibo saw in the next moment proved that Yoriichi would not be burdened down, nor was he merely evenly matched with a demon.

The demon's attacks fell as densely as rain, yet Yoriichi handled them with ease, effortlessly blocking every strike. Seizing the opening, he drove his blade forward, smashing both of the demon's hands and freezing them in place. In that brief instant, Yoriichi swung his sword in a horizontal slash.

Sun Breathing's blazing crimson heat swept forth. A round sun was traced by the dancing blade, and before the demon's disbelieving eyes, a smooth cut appeared across his neck. His head flew into the air, tracing an arc.

Thud...

With terror still in its eyes, the demon's unblinking head hit the ground.

Yoriichi flicked his blade, shaking off the blood, then looked back at his older brother. "Are you all right?"

As he spoke, he sheathed his Nichirin Blade and gestured for Kokushibo to come over so he could carry him.

Kokushibo frowned, his face full of disgust as he took half a step back. "I don't need your help."

A trace of disappointment appeared on Yoriichi's face. Kokushibo glared at him viciously. "Don't make that face!"

"Watch out!!!"

Just as Yoriichi was about to support Kokushibo, he heard the two men who had run away shout.

The next moment, a cold gust swept past. Yoriichi abruptly grabbed Kokushibo and stepped back, just barely avoiding a sharp claw that sliced off a few strands of black hair.

Kokushibo stared at the attacking demon, his heart still pounding with fear.

Clad in a gray kimono, with long black hair tied high and wooden sandals on his feet, it was clearly the demon whose head had just been cut off!

The demon smiled as though playing around and glanced at his claws. "Oh? You dodged?"

Seeing the faintly disappointed expression on the demon's face, then looking toward the place where a corpse should have been lying, only to find it empty, Kokushibo's expression was deeply reluctant as he spoke after being saved by Yoriichi twice in a row. "Thanks."

Yoriichi froze, then could not help smiling. "It's nothing."

But the demon would not give the two of them time to bond. An even fiercer attack came crashing down.

"That cut you gave me really hurt, you know~"

Yoriichi said nothing and raised his sword to block, but unbelievably, the demon's strength was terrifying this time. Yoriichi was actually forced back.

Seeing this, Kokushibo clicked his tongue inwardly. Aren't you a genius? How can you not even handle one measly demon?

In the end, he would still have to rely on him.

Kokushibo turned and ran. Catching sight of him fleeing from the corner of his eye, Yoriichi merely breathed a sigh of relief and focused on dealing with the attack.

"Your brother ran away. He abandoned you."

The demon still had the energy to mock them while attacking.

Yoriichi's expression was grave.

Why was it so strong?

Even Muzan was no match for him now!

Muzan was the Demon King!

There could not possibly be a demon stronger than the Demon King, could there?

Could it be a Half-Demon?

But as far as he knew, Muzan had always been dismissive of Half-Demons. Half-Demons should have been very weak.

"Who are you? A demon can't possibly be this strong!"

"Take a guess~"

Tch. Yoriichi stopped wasting words. Unable to make sense of it no matter how he thought about it, he could only use all his strength to block the demon's attacks.

But even while barely holding off the attacks, he was injured from time to time. The demon possessed powerful regeneration, and in a battle of endurance, he would undoubtedly be the one to die.

The demon before him clearly understood this as well. "How pitiful~"

Yoriichi's expression darkened further.

This could not continue!

Yoriichi's breathing deepened. His face was stern, and veins bulged on the hand gripping his sword.

His long blade slashed down.

Sun Breathing, Thirteenth Form!

The red Crimson Blade brought forth a flaming round sun. With the double enhancement of the Transparent World and Scarlet Traces, Yoriichi's attack carried overwhelming pressure.

Caught off guard by the suddenly far stronger assault, the demon hastily retreated and raised both hands to defend itself.

Its arms were slowly cut apart. The demon's once-playful expression finally turned serious, but in the next moment, a blade swept across its back.

Moon Breathing!

A head filled with shock slammed heavily onto the ground. Kokushibo could not help smiling as he looked at Yoriichi. "Nice coordination."

Yoriichi also let out a breath of relief and smiled as he walked over to support his older brother, who was nearly unable to stand.

"Thank you."

"Isn't it only natural for an older brother to save his younger brother?"