Kamiya Kawayuki took small sips of warm water, her icy fingers slowly regaining some sensation.
She looked up, finally having the leisure to carefully examine the strange underground space.
The girl's gaze swept over Mr. Cheng Mo's calm profile, then passed over Lady Tamayo's gentle yet distant expression.
Finally, her view settled on Yushiro, who was fiercely wiping down equipment in the corner.
Her ice-blue eyes widened slightly.
This boy... his aura was well-concealed, but it was definitely not human.
Was he also a demon?
Yet, his eyes were clear, his movements free, completely devoid of the frenzied feeling of being controlled by bloodlust.
And in another corner of the room, that samurai statue, placed on a special base and carved from dark red crystal... the solidified yet still present energy fluctuations were clearly those of a demon, yet so silent and peculiar.
Lady Tamayo had broken free from Muzan's control; she knew that.
A century ago, during her escape, she herself had been one of those hunting her down.
But here... besides Tamayo, besides herself, who had just been rescued by Mr. Cheng Mo, there were actually two other demons who had escaped Muzan's grasp?
This realization left her somewhat dazed for a moment.
She had discarded most of her demon blood, frozen herself for a century, endured endless pain, and finally relied on Mr. Cheng Mo's miraculous methods to completely strip away the curse... and here, there were actually other possible paths?
Himura Ruri noticed her gaze and followed it.
The young girl explained softly, "That... is my father. He became a demon to protect me, and now... he's asleep, and has turned into this."
There was no fear in her voice, only deep heartache.
Himura Ruri softly recounted her and her father's experiences after being attacked by Muzan.
After she finished speaking, Tamayo's voice also gently chimed in, "Yushiro became a demon by my hand; he was never controlled by Muzan."
She answered Kamiya Kawayuki's questions about Yushiro.
Kamiya Kawayuki was completely stunned.
Four of them... including herself.
In this underground laboratory, there were actually four demons who had broken free from Muzan's control in different ways?
This completely overturned her century-long understanding of "demons."
She had always thought that she and Tamayo were extremely rare, perhaps even the only two exceptions.
Seeing her dazed expression, Himura Ruri hesitated for a moment, then, holding a freshly poured cup of water, gently walked to her side.
"Miss Kawayuki, would you like some more water? You look... very sad."
Kamiya Kawayuki did not turn her head.
Her gaze remained fixed on her pale yet slender fingers, as if they were stained with an unwashable defilement.
The former Upper Rank's voice was low and hoarse, filled with self-mockery: "Sad? No... I'm just examining these hands of mine, stained with the blood of innocents."
"Every line on them is etched with unforgivable sins."
She slowly clenched her fingers, her knuckles turning white.
"An existence like mine, perhaps... shouldn't even be free. Eternal torment is the rightful destination."
"Sister, don't say that!"
Deep in her mind, Hotaru cried out anxiously, her thoughts filled with heartache.
Himura Ruri did not immediately refute. She stood quietly for a while, her gaze also falling upon her father's crystal statue.
Then, she said softly, "...My father also became a demon, but I never for a moment thought he shouldn't live. I want him back, no matter what. Only by living is there hope."
Kamiya Kawayuki abruptly turned her head, intense pain and incomprehension swirling in her ice-blue eyes:
"It's not the same! Your father is a victim; he held onto his humanity, and even after becoming like this, he can still protect you! But me..."
Her voice choked, burdened by an unbearable weight.
"I was Muzan's accomplice, a willing participant in slaughter! I enjoyed the pleasure that power brought; I... I even..."
The guilt of devouring her sister almost overwhelmed her, making her unable to continue speaking.
"No, Sister, you weren't willing! Muzan twisted you!"
Hotaru tearfully retorted in her mind, yet it was difficult to dispel the self-loathing that had accumulated for a century.
Just then, a calm voice interjected.
"There is only one true evil, and that is Kibutsuji Muzan, who made you this way."
Mr. Cheng Mo had walked over at some point, his gaze like a tangible force, falling upon Kamiya Kawayuki.
"He twisted your souls, enslaved your wills, including Lady Tamayo, including Himura Senichi; essentially, you are all victims."
He took a step closer, his gaze burning: "You say your hands are stained with blood, that you can't atone? If you killed a hundred innocent people and can't forgive yourself, then go and strive to save two hundred, three hundred people harmed by demons."
His words were devoid of any sentimentality, only stark persuasion.
"Use this awakened strength of yours to protect more people, instead of wallowing in self-pity, self-exile, and destruction here, which is utterly worthless."
Looking at Kamiya Kawayuki's dazed profile, Mr. Cheng Mo's voice even softened a rare hint:
"Living is more important than anything. Only by living can you fight, only by living can you atone..."
"Only by living can you wait for the day you truly find liberation and forgive yourself."
He paused, his tone hardening again: "If you seek eternal torment or destruction as you say, that is merely another form of escape, allowing Muzan's curse to succeed once again."
The laboratory fell silent for a moment.
Himura Ruri and Tamayo, and even Yushiro, who was listening with pricked ears, looked at Mr. Cheng Mo with some surprise.
This man, who was always calm and indifferent, would actually take the initiative to say so many words to comfort someone?
And... he spoke so directly, yet so logically, like a hammer shattering all embellished excuses.
Himura Ruri clenched her fists, as if infused with courage.
She also looked at Kamiya Kawayuki and nodded forcefully: "Mr. Cheng Mo is right! The one who should die, who should be completely eradicated, is the root cause of all tragedies, it is Kibutsuji Muzan!"
"And not any victim who still has a chance to turn back, who still has a chance to do good for this world!"
Kamiya Kawayuki was completely stunned.
Mr. Cheng Mo's words were like a cold chisel, breaking open the thick, frozen shell of her self-reproach.
And Himura Ruri's words were like the first ray of sunlight piercing through after the chiseling, bringing a gentle warmth and strength.
Especially this young girl before her; her father had become a demon, and she herself had almost died.
Yet, there was no gloom in her eyes, only resilience and hope, and she was even trying to ignite the hope of others.
In Kamiya Kawayuki's ice-blue eyes, the dead, almost solidified self-reproach began to violently loosen and tremble.
Her tears silently slid from the corners of her eyes, falling in large drops onto the back of her hand.
They were mixed with too many complex things: shock, bewilderment, and a trace of... a stirring that even she herself dared not confirm.
She remained silent for a very, very long time.
Finally, she very slowly raised her head, her voice still terribly hoarse, but seemingly with a faint trace of strength: "...Save... more people...?
She seemed to be asking herself, and also confirming with the people in front of her, "...Can someone like me... really do that...?"
"Yes!"
Himura Ruri broke into a warm, bright smile, "Starting with the next one, we'll do it together!"
Lady Tamayo also smiled gently, a glimmer of encouragement sparkling in her purple eyes.