After killing the Spider Demon Mother, the forest seemed to breathe again. The suffocating web threads that had strangled the air were slowly crumbling to ash, carried away by the cold night breeze. The moonlight, faint and ghostly through the trees, gave the battlefield a silver sheen.
Yuri walked silently beside me, her boots barely making a sound against the dirt path. Her golden eyes glowed faintly beneath the hood of her maid uniform, scanning for residual threats. I, however, was frowning—not because of any demons left, but because of a more frustrating issue.
Not a single Quest Coin.
I sighed internally. So much effort, and not even one reward from the system.
Apparently, killing demons through the Power Stone's energy (I can't kill them with physical power alone as they will regenerate) didn't count as a "natural" means of elimination. The system must've wanted me to use the Demon Slayer world's own logic—killing them with Nichirin Swords or sunlight. I pinched the bridge of my nose, sighing again.
"Man," I muttered under my breath, "What should I do?"
Yuri glanced at me curiously. "My lord?"
"Nothing," I said, waving her off. "Just realizing that this world has the most annoying definition of natural death."
She tilted her head. "My lord, do you desire to use that sword?" Yuri pointed at the sword hanging on Tanjiro's hip. "You've been looking at it for quite a while. If you want, we should acquire one immediately. Shall I… 'convince' a Demon Slayer to part with theirs?"
I chuckled lightly at her choice of words. "No, Yuri. We'll get one soon enough. But if I have to swing a sword like them, I might as well join their little club."
Before I could continue that thought, Tanjiro, who had been walking ahead of us, stopped suddenly. His sharp eyes scanned the area, nostrils flaring slightly as he caught a familiar scent. "Inosuke," he murmured. Then, without hesitation, he sprinted ahead through the forest.
Yuri and I followed him at a casual pace. The faint sounds of battle grew louder, then faded. As we reached a clearing, we found a shirtless young man wearing a boar mask, panting heavily, his dual blades cracked and chipped. His breathing was wild and erratic—a mix of exhaustion and pride.
"Inosuke!" Tanjiro called out, rushing toward him.
The boar-headed boy turned instantly, brandishing his blades defensively. "Who the hell—oh, it's you! Took you long enough!"
Tanjiro smiled wearily, raising his hands in a gesture of peace. "You're hurt. Are you alright?"
"Hah! Don't underestimate me! I can beat any demon, anytime, anywhere!" Inosuke roared proudly, puffing his chest out despite the blood running down his arm.
I crossed my arms, watching the display with mild amusement. This one has energy, I thought. Like a wild animal pretending to be a warrior.
Yuri looked unimpressed. "Is this… what passes for a warrior in this world?" she whispered dryly.
Tanjiro ignored Inosuke's bravado and continued, his voice gentle. "Inosuke, the Spider Demon Mother is dead."
Inosuke's head snapped toward him. "You killed her?"
Tanjiro hesitated, then glanced at me. "No… not me."
Inosuke followed his gaze and finally noticed me properly. His stance shifted, blades raising slightly. "Who's that?!"
"This is Alastor," Tanjiro said, his tone firm but calm. "And the woman beside him is Yuri. They're… helping us."
"Helping us?" Inosuke repeated, suspicion dripping from his voice. "He smells weird! Like a demon, but… not."
Tanjiro's eyes flickered briefly toward me. "He's not a demon. He's something else entirely. But he killed the Spider Demon Mother."
That explanation didn't seem to comfort Inosuke much. He squinted at me, his animal-like instincts clashing with curiosity. "Tch. Whatever. As long as he's strong enough to fight, I'll test him later."
Yuri's eyes narrowed slightly, and I raised a hand to stop her from reacting. "Relax," I said calmly. "Let the boy bark."
Tanjiro sighed, exasperated but still kind. He stepped forward and looked at Inosuke's arms—numerous cuts, blood drying against his skin. "You're hurt because of me," Tanjiro said quietly. "I should've stopped the Mother faster."
Inosuke blinked, confused by the sudden sincerity. "Huh? What are you talking about?"
"If I had been faster," Tanjiro continued, "you wouldn't have had to fight so hard. You're injured because I wasn't strong enough."
For a brief moment, Inosuke's usual bravado faltered. He looked away, scratching the back of his head as if unsure how to respond to that kind of concern. "Stop saying weird things, you idiot," he muttered. "I don't need your pity. I'm strong! Stronger than you!"
Tanjiro smiled faintly. "I know."
I watched their exchange quietly, my mind wandering. Inosuke is a tsundere, if I remember.
And despite my amusement, something in Tanjiro's words tugged faintly at me. That unshakable kindness, even after all he'd lost. It was infuriatingly noble… and yet, admirable.
No wonder this world gave him the lead role, I thought dryly.
"Come on," Tanjiro said, turning back to us. "We need to find Zenitsu and Nezuko. There's still a stronger demon here—the one who controls the others."
Rui.
I remembered the quest notification clearly. Killing him and infiltrating the Demon Slayer Corps were the next objectives.
I smiled faintly. "Then let's not waste time," I said, summoning a faint aura around my hand as I scanned the forest. "The spider's nest won't remain quiet for long."
Tanjiro looked at me curiously. "You're… going to help?"
"For now," I replied with a small smirk. "After all, I still need to understand how your world rewards strength."
~~~