Higashikuze Akiho's very existence was thought to be taboo among demons and humans alike: she was a half-demon, the first of her kind. But being taken in and rasied by a former pillar with a strong sense of justice and a hatred for Kibutsuji Muzan...
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第四十一话
Harada moved swiftly across the ruined hallways. His mask was fluttering to the beat of his heavy breathing; it had been a nonstop search mission with his team to find injured and fallen slayers. The talisman he had on his head—given to him by a peculiar demon slayer named 'Yushiro'—helped him stay hidden from the demons.
There was just two hours before dawn, but even two hours was a long time.
The group of slayers he helped earlier were headed straight to the demon progenitor. All of the Pillars were there now, too. They were engaged in the last intense battle.
How many more will have to fall before Muzan is dead?
Focusing back to the task at hand, he fanned out with his team to check for any signs of life in the area. Something in his gut twisted as his eyes landed on a familiar red haori covering someone nearby—it was the Mist Pillar, but he knew the owner of the haori.
Don't tell me...
Akiho's body was draped protectively over another slayer. Their uniforms were soaked through, their limbs tangled in a way that made them look almost peaceful. The blood had stopped flowing on the two visibly large gashes on the girl's back, a sure indicator that she had passed since her heart probably stopped pumping.
Harada knelt slowly with a sigh.
"Out of all the times you caused trouble..." he murmured as he set a hand on the girl with a silent prayer. You had a good heart, kid. Everyone in the Corps could see that. Thank you for fighting for us.
There was a faint pulse beneath his fingertips. Startled, Harada hovered a finger under her nose.
"She's breathing..." he blinked incredulously.
His eyes flitted over the girl one more time to make sure he wasn't hallucinating, and then he saw the faint rise and fall of Genya's chest as well.
"Both of them are still alive!" he shouted at the others with relieved joy. "Quickly, bring some more supp—"
A deep, thunderous rumble suddenly rippled through the fortress. Harada froze mid-command. The walls around him groaned like an ancient beast disturbed from sleep, and a loud crack echoed above his head.
"...What the hell was that?" one of the kakushi whispered.
"The fortress..." another shouted. "It's collapsing!"
"Hang on to them!" Harada barked, lifting Akiho on his back as the others quickly went to work and did the same with Genya and Muichirou. "Brace yourselves, we're being expelled!"
