•Last Ray Of Hope•

𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐓𝐞𝐧; "𝐀 𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧"

We had returned to the demon that had attacked us alongside Tanjiro and Nezuko. The demon was already unconscious, completely defenseless. There was no better moment to kill it. However, Tanjiro, had taken it upon himself to end the demon's life, though he wasn't doing a very good job of it. He was trembling almost uncontrollably. Tanjiro stood frozen in front of the demon with a small knife in his hand. Should I laugh at the fact that the knife was far from enough to kill the demon? Or that Tanjiro's soul was too merciful to take its life? I couldn't decide. To me, it was certainly a ridiculous sight. 

Outside of myself, I was sure Tanjiro didn't appreciate the situation either. Every so often, he glanced at me and gestured toward the demon with a sideways look. His face was painted with a horrified expression so extreme it was almost nauseating. Ridiculous. He didn't look scared when he ran at the demon's headless body, tackling it off a cliff to stop it earlier. But now? Now he was scared? 

  -Why are you hesitating? It nearly killed all of us. Finish it. 

 I said coldly. Tanjiro gulped audibly, but all he did was turn back to the demon, wearing the same fearful expression. Slowly, he began to approach the demon, his breathing erratic and uncontrolled. It almost looked like he was on the verge of a panic attack. For the first time, the situation began to make me uneasy. Perhaps I should step in instead.

TANJIRO'S PERSPECTIVE

I have to kill it. If I don't, it'll go after more people. I have to do something. I have to stay calm. No matter what, I can't let it live after everything that's happened. After all the lives it's taken...

The closer I got to the demon with the knife in my hand, the more my nerves tightened. Suddenly, I felt a touch on my shoulder. I flinched, but at the same time, I felt a strange sense of relief. My focus shifted away from the demon I had to kill. Turning around slowly, I found myself face-to-face with a man wearing a tengu mask. The mask made my heart race even faster. Who wears a mask like that?

When I glanced at Hirae, I saw her staring at the man with an expression of shock. Not fear, like me. Just shock, and that struck me as odd. Fear would've made more sense. Yet there she was, glaring at the man in bewilderment.

-You won't finish the job with something like that

the masked man said. Hirae scoffed and rolled her eyes.

-Someone had to say it.

I turned to her in astonishment. For a moment, all my emotions swirled together uncontrollably. Anger—mild, but still anger—rose to the surface.

-And you didn't tell me?! What were you thinking?

I snapped at her.

-You'd figure it out eventually. The easy way or the hard way,

she replied with infuriating indifference.

-What?!

Her tone was nonchalant as if she didn't care. I couldn't tell if she was trying to protect us or just waiting for an excuse to get rid of us. Still, I was sure she didn't want us dead. From her, I sensed a deep sense of responsibility—a strange contradiction to her aloofness. She took this task seriously, but she didn't seem to care much about the other details. If the demon hadn't died, I was certain she would've killed it herself to prevent it from harming us. It's just... she's too indifferent.

I turned to the masked man and asked him,

-How can I finish it off?

The man gave me a simple yet scornful answer, as if he couldn't believe I hadn't figured it out on my own.

-Don't ask anyone. Can't you think for yourself?

If stabbing doesn't work... I have to crush its head, I thought. I grabbed the nearest rock and approached the demon once again. But I froze, unable to move. The eyes watching me didn't help my nerves at all. Standing there with the rock in my hand, I was paralyzed once more.

The demon began to stir. As it regained consciousness and noticed us, it lashed out, its claws flailing wildly as it screamed nonsensical threats.

-Damn it! I'll kill you! I'll tear you apart! Get over here! I can't come to you, so you come to me!

I'd wasted too much time. The sun was beginning to rise, though the demon hadn't realized it yet. Suddenly, I felt someone behind me. It was Hirae. A strange, strong scent emanated from her, like she was preparing to shoulder a heavy responsibility. She placed a hand on my shoulder, her eyes fixed coldly on the demon. Her gaze was icy, her expression unreadable. Maybe it was because she wasn't feeling anything at all. But why? Why couldn't she feel anything? Why did she act like it was necessary for her to be this way? As if she had lost most of her emotions a long time ago...

-It's okay... I will handle it,

she said as she stepped in front of me.

Then she added

-But no matter what, if the demon in front of you has harmed the people you call 'family,' you don't have to show it kindness. You don't have to feel mercy. They, Tanjiro... they are monsters who have destroyed countless lives. They don't deserve mercy because they showed none when they brutally killed your family. They didn't care about the screams. They didn't hesitate when they turned your sister into one of them.

Hirae paused for a moment, lost in thought. I didn't know what she was thinking, but I could tell it was about herself. About why she hated demons so deeply. Tears welled in my eyes. Her words were harsh but true.

-Blood Demon Art: Demon Fire,

she declared.

In her hand, she conjured something resembling a long needle, blazing with fire. The demon's eyes widened in terror. It was petrified.

-Y-YOU! IT'S YOU! Y-YOU... OUR MASTER WON'T LET YOU LIVE! YOUR LIFE WILL END THE MOMENT HE FINDS OUT YOU'RE ALIVE! YOU'LL DIE, JUST LIKE YOUR FAM-

Hirae didn't let it finish. She rolled her eyes, though I could feel the anger simmering beneath her calm facade. She hurled the fiery needle at the demon, and it pierced through its head. The demon erupted in flames, its terrified screams echoing as it turned to ash.

Hirae's expression didn't waver, but... she was smiling. A chilling, unsettling smile. It was the kind of smile that made me feel the destruction within her, like a ticking time bomb. One that could go off at any moment.