Those Who Travel Together

"What did Miss Yuko say?" A trace of confusion appeared in Tamayo's vacant eyes. She wondered if she had misheard.

Yuko knew this was unbelievable, so she repeated herself. "I've already found a way to overcome sunlight."

This time, Tamayo heard her loud and clear.

Tamayo's vacant eyes gradually brightened. Her first thought was that it was impossible, but she immediately noticed the details in Yuko's words.

A method...

That proved the change had not occurred within her naturally.

The reason Muzan disliked his kind yet continued creating more of them was to find a demon capable of overcoming sunlight.

Every demon awakened a different Blood Demon Art. Perhaps one of them would be able to overcome sunlight.

Since it was a method, then it must be...

Tamayo hesitantly asked, "Miss Yuko, are you referring to the Blue Spider Lily?"

As Muzan's close attendant and physician, Tamayo had been turned into a demon so she could research medicine capable of overcoming sunlight. It was only natural that she knew about the Blue Spider Lily.

Yuko did not keep her in suspense. "Yes. I've already consumed the Blue Spider Lily."

Tamayo's breath caught, and her eyes flickered faintly.

It really was the Blue Spider Lily!

Muzan had not been mistaken. The Blue Spider Lily really could let a demon overcome sunlight.

"The fact that I was able to retain my consciousness after becoming a demon was most likely because I had consumed this before."

So that was how it was.

Tamayo's pupils contracted slightly.

After becoming a demon, the loss and distortion of one's self-awareness could not be overcome by an ordinary person's will.

No matter how strong their will had been, no matter how close their loved ones had been in life, after becoming a demon, they were nothing more than food.

She had the most say in this matter.

After all, despite having loved her husband and children so deeply, she had eaten them with her own hands.

That kind of distortion, which twisted a person's will, was simply impossible to resist.

After hearing Yuko out, Tamayo's expression grew solemn. "Miss Yuko, please, whatever you do, don't let the demons discover that you've overcome sunlight."

Otherwise, Muzan would certainly go mad.

All the demons would go mad.

They would hunt Yuko down like madmen.

Until Muzan obtained Yuko.

If that happened, Muzan would become invincible.

Yuko chuckled softly. "Of course."

Before the Taisho Nine Hashira had grown strong enough, she would never reveal herself.

"As for the Blue Spider Lily, I think Miss Tamayo may need it." Yuko continued, "I can provide it for you."

Yuko meant to give Tamayo the Blue Spider Lily so she could overcome her vulnerability to sunlight as well.

Tamayo hesitated when she heard this, but eventually shook her head.

Yuko was puzzled.

Tamayo explained, "Muzan has been hunting me all this time. I don't possess Miss Yuko's immense strength. If he finds me, Muzan will truly become invincible."

Yuko froze slightly. She really had not considered that.

Still, Miss Tamayo had always hidden herself well. She should be fine, right?

But there was indeed a risk involved, so Yuko said no more.

"Then what about your research?"

Tamayo shook her head. "No need. It would be best if you didn't even tell me where it grows or what its growth characteristics are."

"Knowing this much is already more than enough for me."

She would not give Muzan the slightest chance to learn anything about the Spider Lily.

Yuko nodded lightly. "I understand."

The two sat quietly for a while before Yuko asked again, "Miss Tamayo, where are you living now?"

Tamayo sighed. "I have no fixed residence."

Just like her.

Yuko felt a headache coming on. "I was thinking that perhaps we could find a way to stay in contact."

Tamayo asked, "Does Miss Yuko have a fixed residence?"

"Neither do I."

"..."

Well, that was...

Information traveled slowly in ancient times. Without a reliable means of communication, parting usually meant never seeing each other again.

But...

She did not seem to have anything else to do at the moment.

Yuko looked at Tamayo and asked hesitantly, "I wonder if Miss Tamayo would mind having a traveling companion."

Tamayo was stunned for a moment, then smiled. "Of course. Rather, it would be my honor to travel with Miss Yuko."

Two people who were fundamentally kind and shared the same ideals would have no trouble walking the same path.

Tamayo glanced at the sky. "Dawn is almost here. Please wait for me a moment, Miss Yuko."

"Just call me Yuko."

Tamayo smiled. "Then Yuko, you can call me by my name as well."

"Mm."

What Tamayo meant by waiting was actually gathering some corpses to store as provisions.

It was the turn of winter and spring. As long as they were stored properly, meat would not spoil easily during these days.

Yuko did not find Tamayo's actions inappropriate. In modern society, she might perhaps be charged with damaging human remains.

But in this era, an ordinary person's life was hardly considered a life, much less their corpse.

Exposed bones in the wilderness were perfectly normal.

Yuko helped Tamayo search the villagers' damaged houses for usable containers and gather some corpses that were still in good condition.

After storing the food, Tamayo asked, "Yuko, can you eat human food?"

Demons could not die, but they still expended physical strength.

Especially when using their Blood Demon Arts.

Once a demon's strength was depleted, only eating humans could restore it. Human food would not work.

Although it was not as difficult to swallow as human food was for ghouls, it was not much better. Their sense of taste would gradually fade.

The main issue was that it could not provide the necessary energy.

That was why Tamayo wondered if Yuko had overcome this problem as well.

Yuko shook her head. "When my brother was still around, I would occasionally drink his blood."

"After he passed away, I haven't eaten anything for a very long time."

Tamayo asked in surprise, "Don't you get hungry, Yuko?"

Yuko smiled helplessly. "Of course I do, but I can still endure it."

Tamayo had previously wondered whether Yuko had never eaten at all. She had not expected it to be true.

What kind of willpower did it take to endure that?

This was completely different from an ordinary person going hungry. Even Tamayo, who had already broken free from Muzan's control, could not survive without blood.

Even drug addiction was not this severe.

Tamayo studied Yuko deeply for a moment, then suddenly smiled. "I've just had an idea."

Yuko asked in confusion, "What is it?"

"I want to open a clinic," Tamayo said slowly. "That way, perhaps I can obtain a little blood from my patients."

"It won't be enough to keep us full, but at least it should fill our stomachs."

Yuko smiled faintly. "Good idea!"

That was exactly what Tamayo had done during the Taisho period.

She treated people and took the opportunity to draw some of their blood.

That was how she and Yushiro sustained themselves.

Their eyes met, and Tamayo smiled as well.