The Classic Rescue Scene

Though he was crying and complaining furiously in his head, Kiyohiko kept a death grip on the arm thrust through his stomach. His nails sank deep into the demon's flesh, preventing the Hand Demon from pulling its arm back for another attack.

He struggled to turn his head. His bloodstained face was twisted, but his gaze was exceptionally fierce as he roared at Tanjiro:

"What are you staring at?! Never seen a handsome guy bleed before?! It can't move now... cut its head off!! Hurry!!"

In that instant, Tanjiro saw it.

Amid the overwhelming stench of blood, a line led to the opening created by the Hand Demon's momentary standstill. It was the opening Kiyohiko had traded his body for-the Opening Thread!

The thread pulled taut!

Tanjiro's eyes became perfectly clear in an instant, focused after casting aside every distracting thought. He tightened his grip on his Nichirin Blade, and the ground cracked beneath his feet. His body became a streak of water-blue light, following the thread beneath the arm on which Kiyohiko was impaled and shooting straight into the sky!

"Total Concentration... Water Breathing..."

The Hand Demon tried in terror to pull its arm back to defend itself, but Kiyohiko let out a beastlike roar. Ignoring the agony of his wound tearing open, he locked its joint in place even harder. "The era name changed again this year, you bastard!"

"First Form: Water Surface Slash!!!"

The blade flashed, calm and sharp as the surface of water.

The Hand Demon's enormous head separated from its neck in that instant and flew high into the air. The last thing reflected in its malicious eyes was that demon, covered in blood and hanging from its arm, yet still grinning and laughing wildly as he said strange things.

"Waaaah!! It's dead! Is it really dead?! That long-armed monster!"

A heart-rending scream shattered the post-battle silence. The bushes shook wildly, and the blond-haired Zenitsu Agatsuma burst out, tears and snot streaming down his face. He had originally planned to run, as far away as he could, but the sight of that strange "good demon" big brother charging out to save someone kept replaying in his head. His conscience had hurt so badly that he had finally run back in tears.

"K-Kiyohiko!! There's a hole in you!! Your guts! Are those your guts?!" Zenitsu screamed, covering his face and pointing at the horrifying wound on Kiyohiko's abdomen, which was still slowly writhing. He was so frightened that his eyes nearly rolled back.

Then he turned sharply and saw Tanjiro supporting Kiyohiko.

"Ah!! It's you! The... the guy I met at the entrance to the Final Selection!" Zenitsu pointed at Tanjiro, his face full of shock. "So you're the iron-headed guy Kiyohiko was looking for! You're not dead yet either!"

Though Tanjiro was puzzled by the name "iron-headed guy," this was clearly not the time to dwell on it. He looked anxiously at Kiyohiko in his arms. "This isn't the time for that. Mr. Demon, he..."

"Shut up... you're too damn loud..."

Kiyohiko cursed weakly and leaned against Tanjiro, feeling his vision begin to blur. It wasn't from blood loss, but from hunger.

Extreme hunger.

The smell of the ashes left after the Hand Demon dissipated, the rich scent of blood coming from Tanjiro, and... the two nameless unfortunate souls lying on the ground not far away.

The two candidates had probably been swatted away by the Hand Demon. Their breastbones had caved in, they were barely breathing, and blood had stained the grass red. To Kiyohiko, that vivid red was now more alluring than any gemstone and smelled ten thousand times sweeter than the finest A5 wagyu.

Gulp.

Kiyohiko heard himself swallow distinctly. Every cell in his body was screaming: Eat them! While they're still warm! Just one bite, and the wound can heal! My strength can return!

No... I can't eat them... If I do, I really won't be able to go back...

Kiyohiko bit the tip of his tongue hard, and the sharp pain brought him back to his senses somewhat.

They're about to die. I have to hurry.

Kiyohiko was torn. He didn't know whether he could stay conscious if he saved them; after all, he was in terrible condition. But as a medical student, all the training he had received would not allow him to stand by and watch them die.

Think about it. If I hold back my hunger and save these two people who are certain to die, the contrast between a demon and that saintly... no, that compassionate image will definitely take my bond with Tanjiro and the others up a notch.

Yeah, right, that's it. Saving those two background characters is just a bonus.

And just like that, Kiyohiko convinced himself.

He went to the wounded men. The smell of blood was so strong that it was practically like someone was pressing Kiyohiko's head into a spicy hot pot. His pupils contracted into pinpricks, his nails lengthened beyond his control, and a low growl like a beast guarding its food rumbled from his throat. "Ugh..."

"Mr. Demon?!" Tanjiro keenly sensed that something was wrong. Kiyohiko's aura was even more dangerous now than it had been when he faced the Hand Demon.

Zenitsu was so frightened that he hid behind a tree, his teeth chattering. "H-h-he... his voice changed! That's the voice of someone who wants to eat people! I've heard it before! Definitely!"

Kiyohiko shoved Tanjiro away and dug both hands deep into the dirt, forcibly suppressing the urge to pounce and tear into them. He raised his head. His eyes were bloodshot, half filled with human reason and half with demonic madness.

"Listen... Tanjiro, Zenitsu..."

His voice was as hoarse as if he were chewing sand, and every word seemed squeezed through his teeth.

"I'm going to save them... use my Blood Demon Art... to transfer their injuries to me..."

"What?! But your wound is already..." Tanjiro stared in shock at the gaping hole in Kiyohiko's abdomen, which was still healing slowly.

"Cut the crap!" Kiyohiko growled, cutting Tanjiro off. He took a deep breath, and his gaze suddenly turned razor-sharp as he fixed it on the Nichirin Blade in Tanjiro's hand.

"After I save them, I'll get even hungrier... I might completely lose my mind..."

"If... I mean, if..."

Kiyohiko reached out a trembling hand and pressed it against the chest of one of the dying candidates. At the same time, he turned and looked at Tanjiro with determination in his eyes.

"If I really turn into a monster that does nothing but eat people, if I bare my teeth at you..."

"Tanjiro! Don't hesitate! Aim for my neck... and cut it off!"

Damn it, Kiyohiko. You died suddenly saving people as a doctor before you transmigrated. If you die saving people again after transmigrating, that'll be way too embarrassing.

Kiyohiko hesitated no longer. A dark red light burst from his palm.

The candidate's breastbone mended at a speed visible to the naked eye. At the same time, Kiyohiko's chest abruptly caved in, as if struck by an invisible iron hammer.

As the dark red light in his palm faded, the last candidate's breathing steadied. He was only unconscious.

Tanjiro started to approach to check on Kiyohiko, but he soon stopped.

Kiyohiko's eyes, once clearly black and white, had now turned completely scarlet, their pupils vertical and needle-thin. The fangs in his mouth grew uncontrollably, and saliva mixed with streaks of blood dripped from the corners of his mouth, sizzling as it fell onto the grass.