Face Centipede

An old man, who looked to be in his sixties, opened the door. He seemed to be some kind of butler.

"Who are you?"

Namiko gave a slight nod. "Hello, I am a swordsman from the Demon Slayer Corps."

The old man's face immediately lit up. "Please, come in! Please, come in! The Master has been worried sick about this!"

The old man turned and led the two inside, his steps hurried and his body swaying slightly.

Yuko's eyelids drooped slightly as she observed the old man's inexplicably trembling body.

The Clear World had already manifested in her eyes. This old man was just an ordinary person, but his heart rate and pulse were terrifyingly high right now.

It didn't feel like excitement, but more like... fear.

Yuko subtly scanned her surroundings. This place wasn't as prosperous as Tsugikuni's estate in its prime. The entire mansion was empty and desolate, giving off a gloomy aura.

Along the way, neither of them had seen any servants or family members.

Namiko couldn't help but ask, "Old man, where are the people in this mansion?"

The old man trembled almost imperceptibly and forced a calm sigh. "Ah, it's all because of that incident. Everyone is so panicked, they've all fled."

This was only fooling Namiko. Under Yuko's piercing gaze, his words were nowhere near convincing.

He was so tense his heart felt like it would leap out of his chest.

Speaking of which, Namiko couldn't help but ask, "Besides the samurai's wife, has anyone else disappeared these past few days?"

"No, everyone else has left."

Namiko felt much more at ease.

The old man led the two into a room.

"Please wait here for a moment, I will go and fetch the master."

The old man closed the door and left.

Namiko surveyed the room's decorations and said to Yuko, "Miss Yuko, don't you find this a bit strange?"

Yuko felt a pang of embarrassment.

You're too slow to react!

Regardless of the Clear World, the atmosphere here was clearly wrong!

Namiko murmured a couple of times, paced around the room twice, then walked to the door, intending to open it.

She pushed the door, but it didn't budge.

"Huh? The door won't open."

Yuko said helplessly, "That old man must have colluded with the demon here."

Namiko exclaimed in surprise, "How could that be? That old man is clearly human."

"Some humans are more detestable than demons," Yuko said calmly, looking out the window.

Namiko was about to say something else when she instinctively followed Yuko's gaze out the window.

A black shadow flashed past the window.

Namiko immediately tensed and drew her Nichirin Blade.

Yuko shook her head inwardly.

This child... she's not ready.

Soon, there was a rapid thudding sound from the roof, like some creature moving quickly above.

Namiko gripped her Nichirin Blade tightly, her head raised nervously. "It's on the roof!"

BOOM!

The skylight shattered, and a demon in the form of a centipede descended from above, coiling itself on the room's beams. Its numerous legs were like rows of sharp knives, and it was at least ten meters long.

The centipede coiled on the beam, lowering its head. It had an ugly human face.

The Face Centipede looked at the two and gave a grotesque smile. "Two demon slayers~"

Namiko's eyes widened slightly, a look of fear appearing on her face.

She had killed demons before, but this was the first time she had encountered such a bizarre one. It sent chills down her spine.

Yuko remained silent and took a step forward. "You ate the samurai here, didn't you?"

"Ah, it was quite delicious~" A blue tongue slithered out, as if savoring the memory.

"So, that information was fake too."

"No, it was real," the Face Centipede said, looking down at Yuko with a sinister grin. "I really made everyone disappear."

"Disappeared in the literal sense. Everyone disappeared into my belly." Its deformed legs pointed towards its narrow abdomen, looking incredibly grotesque.

Namiko's voice trembled slightly. "Miss Yuko."

Yuko slowly drew her Nichirin Blade and said without looking back, "Stay put."

As Yuko drew her Nichirin Blade, the Face Centipede's alarm bells went off. Unlike the wobbly-legged brat behind her, this swordsman before it, adorned with Markings, was…

His instincts screamed.

Dangerous!

The Face Centipede's coiled form writhed rapidly. Mukade scurried across the beam, its dense footsteps clicking like a train engine as it charged Yuko.

"Careful!" Namiko cried, seeing this and wanting to pull Yuko away.

"Water Breathing: Seventh Form: Drop Ripple Thrust." With a breath like rippling water, Yuko thrust her sword forward swiftly with one hand.

Water Breathing wasn't the optimal choice, but Snow Breathing was too taxing for her at the moment.

Just then, the Face Centipede charged, its Nichirin Blade striking directly between its eyes.

The Face Centipede instantly froze, its sinuous body arching almost completely.

"Water Breathing: Third Form: Flowing Dance."

Taking advantage of the Face Centipede's frozen state, Yuko's water-like, flowing figure rapidly advanced towards the centipede's torso. Where her blade swung, it was like a lifelike water dragon.

"No... impossible!" The Face Centipede's shocked expression froze on its face. The body Yuko had cut began to shatter inch by inch, including its neck, naturally.

Its massive body gradually faded away under the Nichirin Blade's decapitation.

"Cough... cough..."

Namiko was roused by Yuko's light cough and couldn't help but show a look of admiration.

"Amazing! Miss Yuko!" she exclaimed excitedly.

Yuko calmed the pain in her lungs and said faintly, "Namiko, if you're only joining the Demon Slayer Corps to repay a debt, I suggest you leave."

Namiko's excited expression instantly stiffened, and her dejected mood was visible.

"I'm sorry... I couldn't help at all..."

Yuko shook her head. "I'm not trying to blame you, but in your current state, you'll end up hurting yourself sooner or later."

Too naive.

The vast majority of Demon Slayer Corps members had their families harmed by demons, holding an irreconcilable hatred for them.

This was why they charged forward relentlessly, and it was the fate of generations of demon hunters.

If one couldn't cast aside life and death, they couldn't fight demons.

Being evaluated this way by her benefactor, Namiko felt very dejected. "I just want to help others to the best of my ability."

"Helping others doesn't necessarily mean fighting on the front lines. Hasn't the Demon Slayer Corps established a support unit called the Hidden Unit?"

"I think that would be more suitable for you, Namiko."

Ever since Kokushibo had murdered the Master/Lord, the Demon Slayer Corps' residence had been concealed, and a support unit called the Hidden Unit had been established.

Namiko took a deep breath. "I'll seriously consider..."

Her words cut off abruptly. Yuko looked up in confusion.

She saw Namiko's expression filled with terror, her entire face about to crumble. Her teeth chattered as she stared behind her, as if some terrifying existence was right behind her.

Namiko's trembling voice spoke, "Yu..."

"Moon Breathing: Second Form: Bathing in Moon!"

Yuko's eyes darkened slightly. She quickly turned and unleashed two slashes of wind, sending two full moon blades carrying small crescent moons sweeping behind her.

Before she could fully turn to see what was behind her, a majestic voice rang out simultaneously.

"Moon Breathing: Third Form: Loathsome Moon: Erosion."