"That, um… I'm really sorry."
As Yushiro went to fetch their luggage, Yuko pressed her palms together above her head and apologized to Tamayo.
Tamayo smiled gently. "It's fine."
"Tamayo~" Yuko looked up, deeply moved.
"After drawing so much of your blood earlier, I've been feeling guilty myself."
Yuko's touched expression froze. She'd completely forgotten about that!
Give her back her feelings of gratitude!
Tamayo noticed Yuko's aggrieved little stare and couldn't help but cover her mouth with a soft laugh. "Well? How do you feel?"
Yuko blinked blankly. "Feel… what?"
"Your body," Tamayo said, her lips curled slightly. "Even though it was just blood, it should've eased your hunger a little, right?"
After a moment of silence, Yuko nodded faintly. "…Yeah. Honestly, I feel a lot better."
The difference between starving and satisfied was like night and day.
Tamayo sighed. "You really are something. You can endure that kind of hunger."
Even she and Yushiro—whose bodies she had modified—still needed small amounts of blood to survive; they couldn't completely escape the need for nourishment.
And yet Yuko had endured for two hundred years without consuming anything.
Yuko shrugged. "Well, you know people shouldn't all be judged by the same standard."
And she wasn't making excuses—normal demons who starved that long would have gone mad long ago.
At the very least, they'd end up like Nezuko—sleeping constantly to regain strength, intelligence dropping to kindergarten level.
Who else besides her could behave like everything was fine?
Tamayo hesitated, then smiled helplessly. "You're still the same as always."
Yuko blinked and stroked her own cheek confidently. "Really? Becoming a demon probably has at least some perks."
Tamayo shook her head.
What Yuko said was true, but Tamayo didn't believe suppressing hunger for two centuries could be so casually dismissed as "just a special constitution."
Yuko had always been like this—always glossing over her own suffering with a light tone.
"Lady Tamayo, I've brought everything."
Yushiro's arrival broke their nostalgia.
He was panting, carrying a huge pack on his back and a box in his hand—clearly having rushed.
Yuko couldn't help wondering whether he was jealous of her private chat with Tamayo.
Tamayo nodded and stood. "Then let's go."
Yuko extended her hand. "I'll take the suitcase."
Yushiro refused. "No need. These are Lady Tamayo's clothes. I'll do it."
"..."
Yuko's mouth twitched.
Ah. So this is the beginning of the official storyline.
These people were starting to match modern internet behavior.
Absolute degeneracy.
But Yuko didn't mind being empty-handed. She led the two demons through two nights of travel.
If not for their weak demon constitutions and carrying all that baggage, they would've arrived even faster.
As they neared the Demon Slayer Corps estate, they saw a small figure waiting at the gate.
"Kocho Shinobu?"
Yuko had informed the Corps ahead of time that they would arrive tonight, so she wasn't surprised someone came to receive them.
After all, this was the first time in the Corps' centuries-long history—perhaps since its founding—that they were cooperating with demons. Of course they would show courtesy.
Especially since Yuko had written Tamayo's résumé beautifully in the letter—centuries of medical experience, saving lives, etc.
Shinobu was small; from afar she could be mistaken for a child.
Seeing their figures approach, she stepped forward to greet them. "Miss Yuko, long time no see."
"Miss Kocho." Yuko nodded lightly.
Shinobu smiled. "Please, just call me by my name."
"Then call me by mine too," Yuko replied. It was normal for friends to use given names.
Shinobu's face brightened. "Then I won't hold back—Yuko."
"Mhm." Yuko smiled softly.
"Oh—let me introduce you."
Yuko suddenly remembered and pulled Tamayo closer. "This is Tamayo, the doctor I mentioned before."
"And this is Yushiro."
"Hello," Shinobu greeted them with a smile.
"Hello." Tamayo was a little surprised—just as Yuko said, these Demon Slayers accepted their identities very naturally.
Even Yushiro gave a faint "Hello."
Shinobu led them inside. "The Master has been waiting. Please follow me."
Yuko hesitated. "Isn't it still nighttime? Isn't it too rushed?"
Shinobu shook her head. "Not at all. The Master is very much looking forward to this meeting."
Looking forward…?
Tamayo's eyes softened.
Just as Yuko said—this era really was different.
Shinobu brought them to Ubuyashiki Kagaya's residence.
Both he and Lady Amane were awake, sitting upright as they awaited their arrival.
Once everyone entered, Shinobu bowed slightly and prepared to leave.
But Kagaya spoke. "Shinobu may stay."
Shinobu blinked, then nodded. "Understood."
She circled around and sat beside Yuko.
Yuko glanced at her instinctively, and Shinobu returned a gentle smile.
"..."
Something felt… strange. Was it her imagination?
Yushiro sat stiffly, worried that if this woman betrayed them, could he escape with Tamayo in time?
Tamayo, meanwhile, was observing Ubuyashiki Kagaya—specifically his face.
Such unusual scars… At first she thought they were burns, but on closer look they were entirely different.
She also noticed the lack of light in his eyes—he was blind.
Once everyone sat, Kagaya spoke solemnly:
"Lady Tamayo, Mister Yushiro—welcome to the Demon Slayer Corps. It is my greatest honor."
Tamayo bowed slightly. "You flatter me."
"For nearly a thousand years, the Corps has existed solely to defeat the great evil, Kibutsuji Muzan."
Kagaya coughed twice; Lady Amane immediately stepped forward to support him.
He waved her off gently and continued.
"For a thousand years, every Demon Slayer has joined with hatred in their hearts—and every one of them has met their end carrying that hatred."
"I have never doubted the mission I shoulder… yet I also saw no future where Muzan would fall."
"But your arrival has filled me with conviction."
"The tragedy caused by Muzan—will end in this era."
"On behalf of the countless swordsmen who have fought him across a millennium, I offer you my sincerest respect."
Then—he bowed deeply.
Since ancient times, it was rare for someone of higher status to bow to those below.
The Master of the Demon Slayer Corps was giving them immense respect.
This time, even Tamayo was genuinely surprised.
---
Currently at chapter 393 for advance chapters
https:// ko-fi.com/rabi08