"Danger! Danger! Kanae, please hold on! Kanae, please hold on! I'm going to call for backup right away! I'm going to call for backup right away!"
A sharp and anxious voice echoed in the air. The moment Kanae's Kasugai Crow Doma up, it saw the words etched in Doma's eyes.
The title of Upper Rank Demon was not only known among the Demon Slayer Corps members, but also among the Kasugai Crow.
The last time Demon Slayer Corps member killed Upper Rank was over 100 years ago.
In the past hundred years, the best outcome for Demon Slayer Corps member when encountering Upper Rank demon has been simply surviving.
Therefore, possessing considerable intelligence, it didn't wait for Kanae Kocho to give instructions this time, and instead determined on its own what it should do.
After shouting twice in the sky to tell Kanae to hold on, it immediately flew away into the distance.
On the street below, Doma glanced at the departing Kasugai Crow, a smile playing on his lips, but he did not intervene.
As the Upper Rank Two, he didn't take the Pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps seriously.
To him, the Pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps were nothing more than stronger pigs. Despite being labeled as powerful, they could not escape their fate as pigs.
Therefore, he didn't take the Kasugai Crow's call for backup to heart.
That's what his experience over the past hundred years has taught him.
A crisp, resounding sword clang rang out.
Doma lowered his head and looked at the girl not far away.
The girl gripped her Nichirin Blade tightly with both hands, leaned slightly forward, and stared at him with unwavering determination. Her face still bore a trace of childishness, but at this moment it radiated an indescribable resolve and courage.
"Oh dear, beautiful lady, this is our first formal meeting, why are we acting so tense? Wouldn't it be better if we all got along peacefully?" Doma's voice was light and airy, as if carrying a hint of cynicism.
"Humans and demons living in harmony?" A low voice came from Kanae Kocho's lips, "I am indeed searching for a way to achieve peaceful coexistence between humans and demons, but..."
"The moment I heard your first words, I understood—it was you!"
Kanae paused for a moment, her gaze fixed intently on Doma.
"It's definitely not the kind of demon that can coexist peacefully with humans!"
Angry words came from Kanae Kocho's mouth, and before Doma reply, Kanae continued to ask.
"Did you eat Sae Tahara?"
Upon hearing Kanae's question, Doma wore a puzzled expression, as if he were genuinely trying to recall.
" Sae Tahara?"
An angry roar came from Kanae Kocho's mouth.
"Who are you trying to fool by pretending not to know? Weren't you two shopping together just a few days ago?!"
Upon hearing Kanae Kocho's words, Doma looked as if he had remembered something.
"Oh! You mean Sae-chan! Sorry, I usually just call her Sae, so I didn't realize it at first."
His voice softened considerably, but his next words enraged Kanae once again.
"Her? I merely made her a part of my body, to live forever with me! In your eyes, you could say I ate her, right?"
Although she had already guessed the general outcome after discovering that the person in front of her was Upper Rank Two, Kanae still felt an indescribable rage when it was actually confirmed, as if it were about to devour her.
She forcibly suppressed her inner rage, but her body trembled uncontrollably from the suppressed fury.
Seeing Kanae trembling with anger in the distance, Doma couldn't help but comfort her.
"Alright, don't be so angry! People aren't ghosts; everyone has to die eventually. No one can avoid this fate. It's just a matter of time. I only helped her advance her time a little bit. Think about it, isn't that saving her from a lot of future suffering?"
Upon hearing Kanae's face darkened further. She gripped her Nichirin Blade tightly and retorted through gritted teeth:
Everyone has their own life and the right to make their own choices. Who needs you to decide for them in advance?
Doma seemed unconcerned by Kanae's anger; he maintained his relaxed demeanor and continued:
Okay, okay!
Don't be so angry. It's pointless to be angry and sad about someone else's death!
After people die, everything becomes nothingness; you can't see anything, hear anything, or feel anything!
Therefore, everything we experience in life is illusory and meaningless!
Kanae scoffed and retorted, "Then why are you still alive? Why don't you just die?"
These words seemed to strike a nerve with Doma. He froze, one arm crossed over his chest, the other resting on his chin, and began to seriously consider Kanae's question.
"Oh yeah! Why don't I die?"
"..."
Seeing that Upper Rank Two was genuinely pondering why he wasn't dead, Kanae couldn't help but fall silent.
Despite her past experiences telling her that no demon is normal, Kanae still felt a pang of disappointment upon seeing Upper Rank Two in this state.
Even Upper Rank Two, the highest-ranking demon, seemed so abnormal. Was there really any possibility that his wish for peaceful coexistence between humans and demons could be fulfilled?
Doma seemed to have thought of something. He snapped his fingers, his face once again displaying that compassionate expression, and began to speak:
"Even though living is meaningless, humanity is a regrettable existence, and I need to live to redeem humanity! However..."
At this point, Doma the subject, looking at Kanae and continuing:
"If someone can bring me death, I wouldn't mind dying!"
Kanae Kocho didn't reply, her eyes fixed on Doma as she began to think about what she should do.
Although she was a top-tier Hashira Rank member of the Demon Slayer Corps, Kanae had a full understanding of her own strength and talent.
She did not believe that her strength and talent were greater than those of the other Pillars.
In the nearly 100-year history of the Demon Slayer Corps, the best-case scenario when encountering Upper Rank is simply surviving.
And since he's no stronger than the other Pillars, he'd probably face a similar situation if he encountered Upper Rank.
Thinking of this, Kanae looked into Doma's eyes. In his seven-colored pupils, the words " Upper Rank " were etched in his right eye, and "Two" in his left.
What's more, he had encountered the Upper Rank Two, one of the top-ranking Upper Rank.
In other words, is it certain that we can't win in a fight?
So...
Thinking of this, Kanae immediately turned around and pushed off the ground with her calves.
The figure had already sped away into the distance.