"So strong... what rank of member is he..."
Among the three who had not been able to join the battle, the female corps member looked at Taka's calm and composed expression with utter disbelief.
Although Taka still appeared so unruffled and undisturbed-
In reality, his lungs felt like they were about to explode.
The countless blood arrows released by Akanuma's Blood Demon Art had pierced his body. Every breath tugged at his injured lungs, let alone maintaining such high-intensity Total Concentration Breathing.
His emerald green kendo uniform had long been dyed red. An ordinary person suffering such injuries would probably have collapsed long ago, or even died on the spot.
But Taka's vitality had always been tenacious. Coupled with him forcing himself to discard distracting thoughts and sink all his focus into the rhythm of breathing, he used the compression of air to stem the bleeding from his damaged blood vessels, miraculously slowing the rate of blood loss.
However, this was ultimately just a makeshift method for temporary pain relief. It could not change the fact that his complexion was growing worse by the second.
"Hey! Are you... alright!" The short-haired corps member, Rintaro, was the first to react. He quickly ran to Taka's side, looking with concern at the crimson fluid slowly flowing down his sleeve onto the Nichirin Sword, his brow furrowed deeply.
"You can't go on like this! You need treatment immediately!"
"..."
Taka didn't answer. He simply swallowed, forcing down the surging, cloying sweetness in his throat.
He readjusted his breathing rhythm, and supporting himself on his right leg which throbbed with tearing pain, prepared to leave this place.
He still had to go to Mount Fujikasane, still had to participate in the Final Selection Tetsushin had spoken of.
"Wait!" The young man who used Water Breathing stepped forward quickly, blocking Taka's path. "Your injuries are too severe! Where are you going? You can't move anymore!"
Taka looked up at him, his gaze still cold and distant.
"Step aside." He tried to force out what he thought was a gentle voice, attempting to squeeze past the young man.
"Are you heading to Mount Fujikasane?" The female corps member, looking at Taka in his kendo uniform and then at the direction he seemed to be heading, asked softly. "You can't. Going to Mount Fujikasane in your current state is no different from walking to your death!"
Rintaro, forgetting his earlier embarrassment, added urgently:
"That's right! You... you are indeed strong, I admit that! But heading to the Selection with such serious injuries, you wouldn't last three days!"
"I never expected you to be a trainee who hasn't even passed the Selection... I thought you were at least a Kanoe-ranked member...."
At this point, the young man in the lead spoke kindly, "I'm Shinsuke. As you can see, I'm a member of the Demon Slayer Corps. This is Akemi, and that guy is Rintaro!"
"Young man who uses Wind Breathing, you are very strong! That creature Akanuma... was a major demon who had eaten at least fifty people! And she was cunning, fast, and her Blood Demon Art was extremely troublesome. We had been hunting her for a long time without success..."
'So, just a major demon, not one of the Twelve Kizuki?'
A flicker of surprise crossed Taka's eyes, and his assessment of the danger posed by the so-called Kizuki rose another level.
But whether major demon or Twelve Kizuki... they were merely stumbling blocks on the path to power.
His goal had never changed… revenge.
"Therefore, you being alive is very important to the Demon Slayer Corps, to Oyakata-sama!"
Shinsuke's tone was sincere and serious. "This strength should not be wasted in vain, should not die from injuries in the Selection! Oyakata-sama needs powerful swordsmen like you!"
'Oyakata-sama?' Taka was unfamiliar with this title, 'It sounded like the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps.'
He remained silent, but inwardly, his resistance had lessened.
'This guy is from the Demon Slayer Corps... meaning he's on the same side as Arasaki-sensei. Can he be trusted...?'
'And what he said made some sense. Forcing the journey might really lead to death...'
Seeing Taka's silence and the unconcealable dizziness and trembling in his body, Shinsuke knew his persuasion had worked.
"Not far ahead, there's a recovery point that can help us. I'll take you there!"
As he spoke, he reached for Taka's arm, but Taka, as if by instinct, violently shook off his hand.
"Cough cough—"
A mouthful of dark, clotted blood finally could not be held back, erupting with Taka's violent movement. This made his vision darken intermittently, and he could barely stand.
The three corps members' expressions changed drastically.
"Quick! Support him!"
"...No need!"
Taka braced himself, forcefully refusing Akemi and Rintaro's assistance. Leaning on the Asauchi, he straightened up again.
"...Lead the way."
The so-called recovery point was a quiet, secluded courtyard hidden away from the main road, near the mountain forest.
The courtyard walls were covered in blooming wisteria. These flowers emitted a rich fragrance that demons detested, permeating the air with a strange, soothing power.
The courtyard was not large, only two Japanese-style rooms and a simple pharmacy.
A kind-faced middle-aged woman, addressed by the members as Aunt Matsumoto, was in charge here.
The walls here were painted with wisteria patterns, signifying that this household had once received help from the Demon Slayer Corps. In return, they also provided whatever assistance they could to corps members free of charge.
When she saw the three corps members bringing in Taka, covered in blood and limping, Aunt Matsumoto was startled and quickly welcomed them into a clean Japanese-style room.
"Oh my, this child is seriously hurt!"
Aunt Matsumoto was experienced… she could tell at a glance the danger of Taka's injuries.
Especially seeing the unnatural rise and fall of his chest as he breathed, his suppressed coughs, and his kendo uniform already soaked through with filthy blood, her expression grew even more grave.
"Quick, undo his clothes. Be careful, don't touch the wounds."
"Young man, go fetch a basin of clean warm water! Akemi, go to the pharmacy and bring my sewing kit and medicine! Shinsuke, please hold his shoulders. Cleaning the wounds will be very painful, try to keep him from moving."
Shinsuke nodded, carefully approaching Taka, trying to soften his tone as much as possible:
"Little brother, bear with it. Aunt Matsumoto is skilled at treating external injuries. It'll be over quickly! You need to cooperate, otherwise, if the wounds get infected, it'll be trouble."
Taka didn't wait for Shinsuke to act. Frowning deeply, he undid his clothes himself, revealing a muscular upper body covered in old and new scars. Fresh blood flowed copiously from his wounds, making Aunt Matsumoto's brows jump.
The hideous bloody hole in his chest was shocking, the surrounding skin and flesh turned outward. With each breath, the damaged lung tissue inside could be seen faintly rising and falling. The penetrating wound on the outside of his right thigh was so deep bone could be seen.
Though the bleeding was barely suppressed by his Breathing Style, it still seeped out slowly. His shoulders and back also bore several wounds of varying depths, horrifying to behold.
"...No need to hold me. Just do it."
"This child...."
Although she didn't know Taka's story, Aunt Matsumoto sensed his resistance. She could only sigh and shake her head at Shinsuke.
She placed the clean warm water, cloths, needle and thread, ointment emitting a cooling medicinal scent, and some internal medicine pills on the small table in front of Taka, instructing him earnestly:
"Child, this is going to hurt a bit, but the wounds inside your body need medicine and stitches, otherwise they'll get worse. Do you understand?"
"Thank you...."
Aunt Matsumoto was silent for a moment, then signaled for the members to leave. The three quietly exited the room, gently sliding the door shut.
Only Aunt Matsumoto and Taka remained in the room. From time to time, painful groans and sharp intakes of breath could be heard from within.
Several hours later, a sweating Aunt Matsumoto finally slid open the door and let out a long sigh.
"Such a tough child... he'll be alright now..."
"Akemi, go cook some hot soup and rice. Everyone must be tired too..."