From below, a circular slash shaped like flames shot straight upward.
The burning Flame Slash tore open the backpack and ignited the objects inside.
What Scribe had packed inside were bottles upon bottles of oil!
Oil fed the flames, and the flames fueled the oil.
In an instant, every vine was covered in burning fire.
Aah! So hot!
The Tree Demon seemed to be one with those vines, as though he could feel their burning pain.
His withered hands frantically slapped and tore at his upper body, as if trying to put out the flames.
However, all the Tree Demon could tear off were the vines themselves.
Perfect chance!
Seeing that his plan had worked, Scribe wasted no words and launched another fierce attack.
As the saying went, strike while the iron was hot.
His charging body dipped slightly, and Scribe scooped up a handful of dirt from the ground.
Seeing Scribe rush toward him, the agonized Tree Demon could only force himself to focus.
With a wave of his right hand, several branches that had not yet been completely burned flew out and stabbed toward him.
Sun Breathing—Third Form—Crimson Sun Mirror!
Using Sun Breathing once more, a horizontal crimson slash shot out in an instant.
As a long-range attack technique within Sun Breathing, Crimson Sun Mirror possessed considerable destructive power.
The moment it made contact, it completely shredded the incoming branches.
Impossible! This is impossible!
Seeing that even his final attack had achieved nothing, the Tree Demon's shriveled face became even more twisted.
If that's the case, then you'll die with them!
Realizing that his death was inevitable, the Tree Demon turned his attention to the remaining Demon Slayer Corps Members.
It looked like that child knew them.
If they died, that brat would surely be upset, at least somewhat.
Even if I die, I'll take someone down with me!
His final struggle surged forth, and the Tree Demon suddenly let out a roar.
Accompanied by a crack like splintering wood, he forcibly tore his upper body away!
I'll bite you to death!
His bloody maw opened wide, and waves of nauseating stench poured from the Tree Demon's mouth.
The one-armed man who had answered Scribe earlier immediately went pale upon seeing the Tree Demon charge at him with his life on the line.
It's over. I'm going to die.
Is my life really ending here?
I'm sorry, Kaori. Your brother probably won't be able to keep his promise.
Despair spread through his entire body, and the one-armed man instinctively closed his eyes.
However, the intense pain he had imagined never came.
Trembling, the one-armed man opened his eyes, and they instantly widened.
The Tree Demon, who had just been screaming about killing him, had already been beheaded, his severed head lying some distance away.
His eyes nearly bulged from their sockets, filled with disbelief.
Have I already died?
With his final doubt, the Tree Demon's head slowly dissolved, eventually turning into black fragments that scattered into the air.
Damn it! I used too much force.
After coming to his senses, Scribe felt somewhat annoyed. He had not expected this guy to be so easy to cut down.
This is troublesome. I was planning to capture him alive and interrogate him.
The Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen who had escaped death wore complicated expressions upon hearing that.
They had already exhausted every ounce of strength just trying to fend off the Tree Demon's attacks, yet Scribe had actually intended to capture him alive.
Comparisons really did make people furious.
After Scribe slew the Tree Demon, the system's voice rang out in his mind.
Congratulations, Host. Mission complete. Rewards are being distributed. Based on the Host's own abilities, Master Swordsmanship (300,000/1,000,000) has increased to 350,000/1,000,000. Based on the Host's own abilities, Novice Breathing Technique (9,750/10,000) has increased to Proficient Breathing Technique (10,000/100,000). All other abilities have been upgraded to Proficient level (10,000/100,000). This mission has been detected as a first-kill mission. Additional rewards have been distributed. Congratulations, Host. You have obtained the skill: Speed Boost. Congratulations, Host. You have obtained the skill: Stamina Boost. Speed Boost: Further increases the Host's already superhuman speed. Stamina Boost: Further increases the Host's already superhuman stamina.
A series of notifications continued ringing in Scribe's mind, and the enormous rewards filled him with wild joy.
Damn, what a haul. What a haul!
I never expected a first-kill mission to come with extra rewards. I really hit the jackpot this time.
After calming himself slightly, Scribe noticed that the surviving Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen seemed dejected.
Though they had survived, the two men with severed arms would likely never be able to work as swordsmen again.
As for the swordsman with the broken leg, he had died because he had not received treatment in time.
Not to mention the swordsmen whom the Tree Demon had killed before Scribe arrived.
Looking at the corpses strewn across the battlefield, Scribe walked over and patted the shoulder of the man who had answered him.
The dead cannot be brought back. All we can do is live well in their place.
After hearing that, the one-armed man, Kondo, suddenly raised his head.
His eyes turned red, and tears streamed out uncontrollably.
Although Scribe was only eight years old, at that moment, he seemed so tall and imposing in their eyes.
There seemed to be some kind of magic in his words, capable of stirring others' emotions.
Kondo wiped away his tears and raised his Nichirin Blade with his one remaining arm.
Live well!
The other three raised their Nichirin Blades as well.
Live well!
Watching the four men's emotional expressions from the side, Scribe felt his muscles twitch.
He had only wanted to comfort them. How had he ended up looking like some kind of charlatan who could fool people with just a few words?
Maybe I can discuss the art of language with Doma someday?
After tidying up the Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen's bodies, Scribe and the others hurriedly left the forest.
The sounds of battle could easily have drawn unrelated people over. To keep the existence of demons from being exposed, the Demon Slayer Corps had always operated discreetly.
After Scribe and the others left, the forest returned to silence.
Only the broken trees, scorched vines, and massive crater in the ground indicated that a fierce battle had once taken place there.
After some time, a figure suddenly appeared there.
The newcomer's skin was deathly pale, his body thin, his hair black, and his pupils seemed to be filled with blood.
This person—no, this creature—was Kibutsuji Muzan!
The progenitor of demons, the root of all evil, had actually appeared here!
Looking at the traces of battle around him, Muzan's brows immediately furrowed tightly.
That guy actually died?
How strange. Did one of the Demon Slayer Corps Hashira make a move?
Fine. Since he died, that only proves he was worthless.
But the feeling lingering in the air is truly disgusting.
As though he had sensed the traces of Sun Breathing lingering in the air, Kibutsuji Muzan's face twisted in disgust.
Perhaps I should send a few demons to investigate this strange energy.
After muttering quietly, Muzan turned and left.
No matter what, the Tree Demon would never have imagined that Kibutsuji Muzan, whom he revered so greatly, considered him nothing more than trash.
If he had known of that assessment, he would probably have been so furious that he came back to life, only to die of anger again.
Meanwhile, Scribe and the others had already left the forest and arrived at the entrance of a large residence marked with wisteria flowers.
Just as he was about to knock on the door, Scribe heard footsteps coming from inside.
Creak—
As the gates opened, Scribe's expression immediately changed in surprise.
You?!
Chizhong, who had opened the door, never could have imagined that he would encounter Scribe here once again.
Why are you here?!
His expression stiffening somewhat, Chizhong pointed at Scribe and shouted.
How does someone who isn't a Demon Slayer Corps Member know about this place?!
Scribe blinked at Chizhong, who was shouting at him, then sighed.
I say, aren't you going to look at the situation first?
Besides, everyone who comes here is here to rest and recover, right?
Only after being reminded did Chizhong notice the four injured Demon Slayer Corps Members beside Scribe.
How did you get hurt so badly? Hurry inside and rest so you can receive treatment!
He hurried forward to support the injured men and led them into the residence.
As he passed Scribe, he did not forget to shoot him a look of contempt and anger.
Scribe merely shrugged indifferently and walked inside as well.
This family, marked by wisteria flowers, had once been saved by the Demon Slayer Corps. Therefore, they provided free lodging, medical care, and supplies to every passing Demon Slayer Corps Member.
Although Scribe was not an official Demon Slayer Corps Member, he was still given a delicious meal.
Before you continue