"That fast...?"
The Spider Demon Daughter's eyes widened in terror.
The speed of the man in front of her was beyond anything she had expected.
Cold Cry deliberately lowered himself onto one knee so he was at the same height as the girl. From a distance, it looked as though he was gently embracing her.
However, the cold blade pressed against her neck told a completely different story.
"Don't move."
His voice was emotionless.
"Otherwise, I'll cut your head off immediately."
"I... I won't move..."
The girl's voice trembled.
"Please... please don't kill me..."
The Nichirin Blade had pierced her throat, making her voice unclear. Although she promised not to move, her small body continued trembling uncontrollably.
The icy aura surrounding Cold Cry seeped into her wound, making her feel as though her entire body was freezing.
"Who are you?"
Cold Cry asked.
The girl hesitated.
"I... I'm just the tired older sister..."
"Tired?"
Cold Cry frowned slightly.
What kind of answer was that?
The girl's expression became panicked.
"Lei... Rui..."
"My brother Rui..."
"No, no! I mean... I was forced!"
"He isn't really my brother..."
"He is one of the Twelve Kizuki... Lower Rank Five!"
"Twelve Kizuki?"
Cold Cry's expression changed.
For a moment, he thought he had heard wrong.
But the fear on the girl's face confirmed it.
She wasn't lying.
A member of the Twelve Kizuki was here.
The demons who served directly under Muzan Kibutsuji.
Cold Cry's breathing became slightly faster.
He never expected to encounter one here.
However, considering the number of Demon Slayers who had disappeared on Natagumo Mountain, it made sense.
Only a powerful demon could have caused such devastation.
A sudden thought crossed his mind.
If this Lower Rank Five knew anything...
"Where is he?"
Cold Cry's voice became sharper.
"Where can I find him?"
The Spider Demon Daughter hesitated.
"He..."
She knew Rui's strength better than anyone.
The two people before her were powerful, but compared to Rui, they were still far behind.
If Rui discovered that she had betrayed him...
The punishment would be terrifying.
"He is..."
"Near the river."
After thinking carefully, she decided to reveal the location.
Her father would be able to deal with them.
And even if Rui discovered what she had done, surely he would forgive his own family member.
"You're not lying?"
Cold Cry stared at her.
The girl immediately shook her head.
"No! How could I dare to lie to you?"
Cold Cry remained silent.
Then he stood.
"It doesn't matter."
"Knowing that a member of the Twelve Kizuki is here is enough."
The girl's eyes widened.
"Wait..."
Before she could finish speaking
Cold Cry flicked his wrist.
The Nichirin Blade flashed.
Her head flew into the air.
No blood splattered.
The clean cut was almost merciful.
As her vision spun, the Spider Demon Daughter stared at Cold Cry in disbelief.
"You..."
"You said..."
"You wouldn't kill me..."
Cold Cry didn't look back.
"I never promised that."
Before her head reached the ground, the Nichirin Blade had already returned to its sheath.
Cold Cry disappeared into the forest, heading toward the river.
---
Noe stood frozen in place.
She looked in the direction Cold Cry had left.
She wanted to follow.
But she hesitated.
She knew she had hurt him this time.
Cold Cry had always been cold and distant, but he had never abandoned her before.
Seeing him leave without saying anything made her heart sink.
Behind her, the white cocoon surrounding Murata slowly loosened.
The Demon Daughter's death had caused her threads to weaken.
Murata immediately crawled out.
His clothes had already been damaged by the corrosive liquid, and he quickly brushed away the remaining acid.
When he saw the demon turn into ash, then noticed Noe standing nearby, he let out a sigh of relief.
"Did you defeat her?"
Murata looked grateful.
"Thank you."
"If you hadn't appeared, I probably would have been melted alive."
Noe looked at him silently.
Then she realized something.
Cold Cry had known.
He had sensed that Murata was still alive.
That was why he ignored the corpses trapped inside the cocoons.
Those Demon Slayers were already dead.
Saving them would not change anything.
But Murata was alive.
And saving a living person was more important.
The more Noe thought about it, the more she realized she might have misunderstood Cold Cry.
Regret filled her heart.
She forced a small smile toward Murata.
"You're welcome."
Then she immediately ran into the forest after Cold Cry.
Watching the pink-haired girl disappear into the trees, Murata felt incredibly lucky.
Tonight alone, he had been saved twice.
First by Kamado Tanjirou.
And now by this strange Demon Slayer girl.
Looking at the rank badge on her uniform, Murata was surprised.
She was a higher-ranked Demon Slayer.
Were Demon Slayers of that rank really this powerful?
---
Elsewhere in the forest...
Zenitsu continued searching.
After being separated from Tanjirou and Inosuke, he had lost his way completely.
"Tanjirou!"
"Nezuko!"
"Where are you?"
His voice echoed through the dark forest.
Eventually, he reached an unfamiliar clearing.
Under the moonlight, he noticed something strange.
A wooden house was hanging in the air.
Spider threads connected it to the surrounding trees.
A demon with a human head and spider-like body crawled out from the house.
Seeing Zenitsu below, the demon smiled.
Another victim.
---
Zenitsu sat against a tree, exhausted.
"Tanjirou..."
"Nezuko..."
"Where are you?"
"The forest is so big..."
"How am I supposed to find them?"
Suddenly
Pain shot through the back of his hand.
"Ah!"
Zenitsu looked down.
A large wound had appeared.
Blood leaked from the injury.
His expression immediately became miserable.
"Spiders again?!"
A fist-sized spider crawled away into the bushes.
Angry and frightened, Zenitsu grabbed a small stone and threw it.
"Get away!"
"Tanjirou!"
"I've been bitten!"
"Come save me!"
Of course, he knew Tanjirou wasn't nearby.
He was only calling his name to calm himself down.
After resting for a while, Zenitsu prepared to continue searching.
Then
A voice came from behind the tree.
"Hehehe..."
"I'm here to save you."
Zenitsu froze.
"Tanjirou?"
Hope filled his face.
But when he turned around...
A horrifying sight appeared.
A human head attached to a spider's body stared back at him.
"AAAAAH!"
Zenitsu jumped away, his entire body shaking.
The spider demon slowly crawled forward.
"Hehehe..."
"No one who enters Natagumo Mountain leaves alive."
"The Tanjirou you are looking for..."
"He's probably already been eaten by my family."
"And soon..."
"You will be eaten too."
"A demon!"
Zenitsu screamed.
He didn't even hear the rest.
He turned around and ran.
"Don't chase me!"
"Don't chase me!"
"Tanjirou, save me!"
With his eyes shut tight, Zenitsu sprinted blindly.
Behind him, the Spider Demon Brother smiled.
"Stop him."
At his command, dozens of smaller spider creatures emerged from the bushes.
They rushed toward Zenitsu.
But after running several steps...
Zenitsu suddenly stumbled.
His vision became blurry.
His body felt strangely weak.
"W-What?"
"Why..."
"Why can't I stand properly?"
The Spider Demon Brother laughed.
"Hehehe..."
"You idiot."
"Look at the wound on your hand."
Zenitsu slowly looked down.
The spider bite.
It wasn't just a wound.
Something was spreading through his body.
Poison.
The battle had only just begun.
---
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