Face Centipede

The one who opened the door was an elderly man who looked to be over sixty, presumably some sort of butler.

"Who are you?"

Namiko gave a slight nod. "Hello, I'm a swordswoman of the Demon Slayer Corps."

The old man's face lit up. "Please, come in! Both of you, come in! The master has been worried sick over this!"

The old man turned and led them inside, his steps hurried and his figure swaying slightly.

Yuko lowered her eyelids, studying the old man's inexplicably trembling body.

The Clear World had already manifested in her eyes. The old man was merely an ordinary human, but his heart rate and pulse were frighteningly high.

It didn't look like excitement. It seemed more like... fear.

Yuko began casually surveying the surroundings. This place was nowhere near as prosperous as the Tsugunikis' estate had been at its height. The entire mansion was deserted, shrouded in an eerie silence.

The two of them hadn't seen a single servant or family member along the way.

Namiko couldn't help asking, "Old man, where is everyone in the mansion?"

The old man gave an imperceptible tremble and sighed, pretending to remain calm. "It's all because of that incident. Everyone was thrown into a panic and fled."

That might fool Namiko, but under Yuko's penetrating eyes, there was nowhere for him to hide.

He was so nervous his heart was practically leaping out of his chest.

At that, Namiko couldn't help asking, "Over the past few days, besides the samurai's wife, did anyone else disappear?"

"No. Everyone else left."

Namiko felt much more relieved.

The old man led them into a room.

"Please wait here for a moment. I'll go call the head of the household."

The old man closed the door and left.

Namiko studied the decorations in the room and said to Yuko, "Miss Yuko, don't you think something feels strange?"

Yuko felt slightly embarrassed inside.

She's too slow! How did she only just notice?

Even without the Clear World, the atmosphere is obviously wrong!

Namiko murmured to herself twice, then walked around the room before arriving at the door and trying to open it.

She pushed at 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 haunting this place."

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

"Some humans are more despicable than demons." Yuko calmly looked out the window.

Namiko was about to say something, but instinctively followed Yuko's gaze toward the window.

A black shadow flashed past outside.

Namiko immediately tensed and drew the Nichirin Blade at her waist.

Yuko secretly shook her head.

This won't do... This girl.

Soon, dense sounds came from the roof, as though some creature were scurrying rapidly across it.

Namiko gripped the Nichirin Blade tightly with both hands and looked up nervously. "It's above us!"

Boom!

The skylight shattered, and a demon with the form of a centipede descended from the ceiling. It coiled around the room's beam, the many legs beneath its body lined up like sharp blades, stretching at least a dozen meters.

The centipede coiled around the beam and lowered its head. It had an ugly human face.

The Face Centipede gave the two of them a sinister smile. "Two demon hunters~"

Namiko's gaze grew unfocused, and a trace of fear appeared on her face.

It wasn't that she had never slain a demon before, but this was her first time seeing one so bizarre. It was utterly horrifying.

Yuko remained silent and stepped forward half a pace. "You ate the samurai here long ago, didn't you?"

"Ah, they were quite delicious~" Its blue tongue slid across its lips as though savoring the memory.

"So all that information was fake, too."

"No, it was true." The Face Centipede lowered its head toward Yuko, the corners of its mouth curling into a sinister smile. "I really did make everyone disappear."

"I mean disappear in the literal sense. Everyone disappeared into my stomach." Its deformed legs all pointed toward its long, narrow abdomen, creating an eerie sight.

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

Yuko slowly drew her Nichirin Blade and said without turning her head, "Stay right where you are."

The moment it saw Yuko draw her Nichirin Blade, the Face Centipede went on high alert. Unlike the weak-legged girl behind her, the marked swordswoman before it—

Its instincts told it—

She was dangerous!

The Face Centipede's coiled body writhed rapidly. Its many legs scrambled across the beam, making a dense tapping sound as it charged toward Yuko like a locomotive.

"Watch out!" Seeing this, Namiko tried to rush forward and pull Yuko away.

Water Breathing: Seventh Form: Drop Ripple Thrust. Breath flowed out in the shape of rippling water as Yuko raised her sword with one hand and thrust rapidly.

Water Breathing was not the optimal choice, but Snow Breathing would place too great a burden on her in her current state.

At that moment, the Face Centipede came crashing toward her, and the Nichirin Blade struck the center of its forehead.

The Face Centipede instantly stiffened, its winding body nearly arching upward.

Water Breathing: Third Form: Flowing Dance.

Taking advantage of the Face Centipede's paralysis, Yuko's water-like figure surged rapidly toward its body. Wherever her blade swept, it was as though a vivid water dragon had come to life.

"Im... impossible!" The Face Centipede's shocked expression froze on its face as the body Yuko had cut split apart inch by inch, its neck included.

Under the Nichirin Blade's decapitation, the massive body gradually faded away.

"Cough, cough..."

Namiko snapped back to her senses at the sound of Yuko's light cough, and admiration filled her face.

She said excitedly, "That was amazing, Miss Yuko!"

Yuko subdued the pain in her lungs and said indifferently, "Namiko, if you joined the Demon Slayer Corps solely to repay a debt of gratitude, then I suggest you leave the Demon Slayer Corps."

Namiko's excited expression instantly stiffened, and her face visibly fell.

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

Yuko shook her head. "I'm not trying to blame you for anything, but if you continue in this state, you'll eventually get yourself killed."

She's too slow.

The vast majority of the Demon Slayer Corps' members had lost loved ones to demons and held an irreconcilable hatred for them.

That was why they continued throwing themselves into battle. It was also the fate of demon hunters, passed down from generation to generation.

Unless they could put life and death aside, they had no way to fight demons.

Being judged this way by her benefactor, Namiko grew deeply dejected. "I just want to help others as much as I can."

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

"I think that would suit Namiko better."

Ever since Kokushibo killed the master, the Demon Slayer Corps' base had been concealed, and they had also established a support unit called the Hidden.

Namiko took a deep breath. "I'll seriously con—"

Her voice abruptly cut off, and Yuko looked up in confusion.

Namiko's face was filled with terror. Her features had nearly crumpled, and she stared behind Yuko with chattering teeth, as though some horrifying presence stood there.

Namiko spoke in a trembling voice. "Yuko..."

Moon Breathing: Second Form: Bathing in Moon!

Yuko's eyes darkened. She spun around and swung out two blades of wind. Two round moon blades, carrying tiny crescents, swept toward the space behind her.

Before she could turn fully and see what was behind her, a majestic voice rang out at the same time.

Moon Breathing: Third Form: Loathsome Moon: Eclipse.