The faint light of dawn resembled shattered gold, piercing the dense canopy little by little and spilling onto the secret mountain path leading to the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters.
Takanashi Rokuno walked at the head of the group, his deep blue haori swaying gently in the breeze, dried dark red blood still staining its hem. He carried the Shura Greatblade on his back, its surface shimmering with an eerie blue glow, and his steps were steady and restrained. Though he had just fought a bloody battle that exhausted his strength, his straight-backed figure resembled an insurmountable mountain, giving the hundred-plus villagers behind him, still shaken, an immense sense of security.
Kanae Kocho followed half a step behind Rokuya at his side, the pink butterfly ornament in her hair looking especially soft in the morning light. Although her face was still somewhat pale from the earlier oxygen deprivation and blood loss, her gentle eyes never once left the boy beside her.
System notification: Gratitude Points received from Akagi Village villagers +10, +15, +20...
Faint blue light kept flickering at the edge of Rokuya's vision. It was the villagers' heartfelt gratitude. Though each person contributed only a small amount, together they were still slowly replenishing the vast reserves he had consumed when activating his demonic path skills. But at that moment, Rokuya was not focused on the system panel. In his mind, he still could not stop replaying Guan Tinglingzi's smile in the underground cavern after the earthen spike pierced her-a smile at once relieved, poignant, and beautiful.
"A hypocrite... so it was me all along..."
Reiko's dying words were like a tiny thorn. Though it had not struck anywhere fatal, it still ached faintly. Rokuya knew he had done nothing wrong. From refusing to save a coward who had