"I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry! I just… your embrace was so warm, I fell asleep… I really am so, so sorry!"
As she fully woke and realized what had happened, Afune's face flushed red as she apologized to Nightingale over and over.
"Your clothes are so nice, onee-san, they must be really expensive, right? And now they're dirty because you were carrying me… I'm sorry, I don't have money to pay you back, but I'll find a way to make it up to you, I promise…"
Even her own patched-up clothes were barely holding together—so in Afune's mind, Nightingale's attire had to be unimaginably fine. A wave of anxiety and guilt nearly drowned her.
But Nightingale just spoke with complete indifference.
"There's no need to worry about something so trivial. Clothes can be washed, or simply changed for new ones. But if you lose precious time, and a patient's condition worsens… if a life is lost because of that, that's something that can never be forgiven."
To Nightingale, if spending money could save a life, she would gladly do it a thousand times over.
Yet, even she had her limits—one thing she absolutely refused to use was magecraft. Nightingale would not rely on magic or the supernatural to save lives.
In her eyes, medicine was a science everyone should learn, not a miracle for the privileged few.
"But still…"
Nightingale glanced around with a look of mild displeasure. "The environment here is even worse than I expected… There's a hole in the wall? How can a patient rest and recover in such poor conditions?"
"Um… actually, that's from when the man-eating demon broke in," Afune hurried to explain. "I'll go borrow some tools from someone and patch it up right away. It's no trouble—"
But before she could even step outside, Nightingale caught her by the arm with a stern face.
"Disinfect! Sterilize! Wash up! Change your clothes! That one is no longer wearable. Every detail of personal hygiene must be taken seriously. And you're still exhausted. You may have rested in my arms, but that was nowhere near enough—so lie down in bed and stay there. I'll take care of the drafty wall."
Afune had already told her—there were only two people in this house: Afune herself, still a child, and her even younger brother Tasuke. Forced to raise her little brother in such harsh conditions, it made Nightingale's heart ache.
Nightingale's care was so gentle that Afune, waking up after her nap, almost thought she'd just had a sweet dream, and that Nightingale was nothing more than a figure from that dream.
But that illusion didn't last long—because her house was now spotlessly clean, every corner filled with a pleasant scent, the very same comforting aroma she'd noticed clinging to Nightingale.
She remembered Nightingale once telling her: the lovely smell was probably just medicinal disinfectant.
On top of that, the drafty wall had been mended as well. Maybe this winter would be easier than the last, and maybe—just maybe—on the coldest days, she and Tasuke wouldn't have to bother the neighbors anymore.
Afune recalled Nightingale's instructions before she slept: wash your hands and rinse your mouth as soon as you wake, always keep clean.
But as she stepped out of her room, she heard voices… Even if the draft had been fixed, the walls were still thin—soundproofing was impossible given the materials and time they had.
"…Wait a second—who the hell are you, woman? Isn't this Afune and Tasuke's house?"
"Who I am doesn't matter. The patient is resting. This area must remain clean and quiet. I won't repeat myself—a third time, no entry without sterilization!"
"What the hell are you talking about? Move it! I need to check on Afune and Tasuke! Don't think I won't lay a hand on you just because you're a woman!"
Hearing this, Afune's heart leapt into her throat. She raced outside in a panic—not because she was afraid for herself, but because, after seeing Nightingale take down a demon, she was terrified Nightingale might accidentally kill someone with a single punch.
"Seiichirou-san! Nightingale onee-san isn't a bad person! Please, don't fight!"
She shouted as fast as she could, but it was already too late.
Bursting out the door, she was met with a scene straight out of a nightmare—Nightingale, half-kneeling, had one hand on a young man's head, pinning him face-down to the ground.
"Medical disturbances are a problem in any era, but I have plenty of experience with these kinds of patients. Just slam their head on the ground three times—almost every patient learns to behave. If not, another three times. Repeat until they do."
If every nurse or doctor was as formidable as Nightingale, there'd be no such thing as medical harassment… Of course, the price might be that nobody would ever dare go to a hospital again.
Not that Nightingale would care—if you were sick and afraid to go to the hospital, she'd just kick down your door and drag you there herself.
"Nightingale onee-san! Let… let go of Uncle Seiichirou! He's not a bad person!"
Afune's nerves were shot—she was genuinely afraid Seiichirou's head would explode in Nightingale's grip.
But at that moment, she was silenced by Nightingale's sharp, crimson gaze.
"What sort of example is it to shout and cause a commotion in a medical setting? You may not need rest, but others do! Don't trouble people who need to recover!"
After a pause, Nightingale's gaze swept over Afune, her eyes almost glowing.
"I told you to wash up as soon as you woke, didn't I? Personal hygiene is a daily necessity. Good habits keep you healthy. The war against disease is long and hard—let your guard down even once, and the germs will seize the chance. Do you understand?!"
Afune was thoroughly scolded—but, mercifully, Nightingale did listen to her plea and released Seiichirou.
Afune needn't have worried. Nightingale might possess the strength to crush a man's skull, but when it came to people, she always held back.
"What kind of monster strength is this? Is that really something a human can do? I feel like this woman could snap the neck of that bear I ran into last time—barehanded…"
Seiichirou was dumbfounded by Nightingale's terrifying power. He couldn't begin to imagine how anyone, especially a woman, could train their body to such a level.
"Uncle Seiichirou, are you even listening to me?"
"Yeah, yeah, I heard you, Afune… but, you know, all this talk about man-eating demons—aren't those just scary stories old people tell kids?"
He scratched his head, looking troubled. "Maybe you just mistook a bear or some wild animal for a demon? It was pitch dark, after all. Easy mistake."
"No, it wasn't! It was really a man-eating demon—just like in Grandpa Yutaro's stories!" Afune bristled at his disbelief. "Tasuke saw it too, and… and Nightingale onee-san was there! She's the one who saved us!"
"Even so…"
Seiichirou still looked unconvinced, so Afune turned her hopes to Nightingale.
"Nightingale onee-san! Please, tell Uncle Seiichirou the truth—it really was a demon, right? I wasn't seeing things, was I?"
Seiichirou also turned to Nightingale, though his gaze was a mix of awe and residual fear from earlier.
"You think it was a demon too?"
"No! That was not a demon."
Nightingale's answer was absolute. "That was a patient."
The two of them: "…"
You're really not helping us out here.
Afune let out a discouraged sigh… Being a child, nobody ever truly believed her.
"Let's set aside this talk of man-eating demons for now. At the very least, this lady did save your and Tasuke's lives, right?"
Seiichirou smiled warmly at Nightingale. "Really, thank you so much, miss. You're a bit… odd, but you're a good person."
"No need to thank me."
Nightingale's lips curled into a gentle smile, her scarlet eyes gleaming with a soft light. "I'm a medical professional. Saving lives is my duty. Even if the path ahead is hell, even if I must become a demon myself, I will save every last life I can—until the very end."
Afune realized there was no convincing Seiichirou about the demon, so she decided to ask one of the village elders later. If it was Grandpa Yutaro, surely he'd believe her.
"Nightingale onee-san, I'll make you some tea, all right? Grandpa Yutaro really likes the way I brew tea—I think you'll like it too."
Then she turned to Seiichirou. "Uncle Seiichirou, would you like to stay for tea as well?"
"Oh! That's Grandpa Yutaro's tea, isn't it? Well, I have some things to take care of, but I suppose I have time for a cup."
"Great! I'll get the tea ready, so Nightingale onee-san and Uncle Seiichirou, please wait inside for a bit."
With that, Afune darted back into the house, skipping lightly, and Seiichirou followed.
But just then, a hand seized Seiichirou by the collar.
A wave of chill washed over him, and he felt an overwhelming pressure from behind as blood-red eyes seemed to glow in the darkness—cold sweat beading on his brow.
"Wh-what is it…?"
"Not a word. Are you planning to drag all your germs into this house? For everyone's sake—including your own—it's time for a thorough sterilization and disinfection. Prepare yourself!"
The pressure intensified, even the air around him feeling thick and heavy. Seiichirou began to panic.
"Uh… In that case, maybe I'll just not come in for tea. I'll… I'll just go. Isn't that enough?"
"No! I noticed some irregularity in your left leg just now. There may be a fracture, or possibly muscle degeneration. You need a thorough examination immediately, and if the situation is serious, amputation might be necessary."
Nightingale's crimson eyes narrowed, a wild, terrifying glint in their depths. She seemed both capable of normal conversation and yet utterly deaf to all appeals.
"From this point on, I'll be administering treatment whether you like it or not. Please understand—it's for your own good."
"!!!"
I'm dead, I'm dead, I'm dead, I'm dead…!
Seiichirou swore he could see a death omen sparkling above his head… even if he didn't know what a death omen was.
…
By midday, the sun was high and the sky clear—today's sunlight felt especially dazzling.
With such bright, searing sun, demons surely wouldn't dare show themselves… The girl couldn't help thinking so.
After joining the Demon Slayer Corps, she had grown used to fighting man-eating demons. While other girls her age worried about dressing up and looking pretty, she'd learned to grip a sword and face demons head-on—her palms and fingers covered in calluses.
Because demons only came out at night, she had to fight when other children were asleep. So, to bathe in the gentle sunlight now—it felt like coming home.
Just before she entered the Butterfly Estate, she caught sight of a cherry tree in full bloom in the courtyard.
"It's already blooming?"
She couldn't help but be surprised—when she'd left, the tree was still bare.
She wasn't the type to pay much attention to flowers or plants. That was more her sister's thing. Still, she had to admit—the flowers suited her sister's breathing style.
"I'm home."
She spoke almost by habit, not expecting any reply. But just then, something suddenly covered her eyes.
"Welcome home, Shinobu! Guess who?"
"Onee-san?"
Shinobu's voice held a hint of surprise. The hands fell away, and as she blinked back the light, she turned and looked behind her.
"Hi, Shinobu. Welcome back from your mission."
Standing before her was a woman who looked almost exactly like her—only gentler, softer in every way.
"Onee-san? Why are you still here?" Shinobu asked, puzzled. "Don't you have a mission too?"
"Well, yes, but since you're coming home today, I wanted to see you before I left… After all, I'll be going far away, and as your big sister, I wanted to see your face one more time before I set out."
Clasping her hands beside her cheeks, Kochou Kanae's eyes curved into warm crescents, her voice overflowing with affection. "Without me around, I worry—my precious Shinobu might forget to take care of herself, or skip meals, or lie awake at night missing me… uuuh…"
"Onee-san! I'm not a child anymore!"
Shinobu's cheeks burned as she glared up at Kanae in embarrassment. "Even if I'm not a Hashira like you, I can fight demons on my own now, you know?"
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T/N: heh i like how nightingale talks