Chapter 37 – The Essence of Being Human
What had just happened…
Was nothing more than a troublesome ability.
But in truth—
The moment Hikaru moved forward…
The instant he activated Mirror Flower, Water Moon…
Even before he drew his blade…
The outcome had already been decided.
With his refined mastery over Anti-Demon techniques, Hikaru had shaken the Lower Rank Demon's mind—casting it into an illusion without it even realizing.
All it struck…
Was a shadow.
Hikaru casually dusted off his shoulder.
Even now—not a single drop of blood stained him.
"…Why did you help us?"
Tamayo finally broke the silence. Her voice was soft, but her eyes held genuine confusion.
Hikaru didn't answer.
Instead, he turned slightly, gaze shifting toward the distance.
"This isn't the place to talk," he said calmly. "We should leave. Now."
The fight had been quick—yes.
But it had stirred up more than enough noise.
And this place… wasn't far from the heart of Tokyo.
It wouldn't be strange if other beings had taken notice.
In short—this area was no longer safe.
Tamayo seemed to understand that as well. She nodded gently.
Meanwhile, Yushiro scowled and looked away with a frustrated grunt.
He clearly didn't like Hikaru, though his reason for it was vague at best.
Like a child angry without knowing why.
— — —
They didn't flee far from Tokyo.
In fact, they returned to the city center.
The reason behind that decision—
"If Muzan Kibutsuji has already found traces of your whereabouts and sent a Lower Moon to hunt you down," Hikaru explained, "then it's possible he'll send even stronger demons once he learns his underling was killed."
"If we run, we'll only keep getting chased."
"But if we go back to the center—ironically, that might be the safest place."
"It's a classic strategy—hiding under the light."
Those were Hikaru's words.
Tamayo had no idea how he knew so much. But…
The more she thought about it, the more sense it made.
And after seeing what he was capable of, she didn't ask any more questions.
Someone like him—if he really intended to harm her—wouldn't have gone this far just to save them.
— — —
Tokyo.
In a quiet corner of the city.
Nestled within a narrow alley, a traditional Japanese house stood quietly behind wooden walls and a small garden.
Soft lantern light painted the room with a gentle amber glow.
Tamayo returned with a cup of hot tea and placed it before Hikaru.
Then, with graceful movements, she sat across from him.
"Cheh…"
Yushiro clicked his tongue from the side of the room, visibly annoyed at the peaceful scene.
Sure, they'd been badly wounded earlier.
But for demons, as long as they didn't die, recovery was only a matter of time.
Now, they were fully healed.
Hikaru lifted the cup, inhaled the delicate aroma, and took a slow sip.
The tea spread gently across his tongue—faint bitterness at first, followed by a quiet sweetness at the end.
"…Good tea."
He spoke simply.
"Thank you. I'm glad it suits your taste," Tamayo replied with a warm, refined smile.
She exuded the air of a woman who had lived for centuries—graceful, serene, elegant.
"You must be wondering why I helped you," Hikaru said, eyes fixed on the two of them.
Tamayo gave a small nod. "I am."
It was a fair question.
After all… they were demons.
And Hikaru was a Demon Slayer.
They stood on opposite sides of this war.
"We are demons. And you… you are a Demon Slayer," Tamayo said softly.
Yushiro's expression hardened immediately.
Not because he hated being called a demon.
But because he couldn't stand Tamayo showing softness toward someone they had just met.
His gaze locked on Hikaru, tense, ready to strike at even the slightest provocation.
He didn't care about the gap in their strength.
Even if it was foolish—he would protect her.
"…A demon, huh?"
Hikaru looked up, his eyes catching the glow of the hanging lantern above.
For a moment, he considered saying something poetic.
Something like "It doesn't matter if you're human or demon."
But just before the words left his mouth—they felt… empty.
Meaningless.
Because of course it mattered.
Demons who slaughtered humans without mercy, tore apart bodies, devoured flesh—
They were enemies. Always.
So then, why?
Why did he save these two?
Was it simply because he knew their role in the story?
Because they were important in defeating Kibutsuji Muzan?
No.
Hikaru knew very well by now—this wasn't some story.
This was reality.
The memories of his past life—if they even existed—weren't enough to guide him like a script.
And yet… he had helped them anyway.
So why?
"…Because I wanted to," Hikaru answered quietly.
"I just… felt like it was the right thing to do."
No grand reason.
No noble cause.
Sometimes, humans don't need big reasons to act.
They just… feel it.
A quiet pull in the heart.
Not because they want to be praised.
Not because they want to be heroes.
But simply because—they choose to.
"…Of course," Hikaru added, voice sharpening slightly, "if you do anything I don't like after this—"
"I won't hesitate to kill you."
He said it with a smile.
But there was no lie behind those words.
It was both a warning and a promise.
Power wasn't just for protection—it was a boundary.
Yushiro's body tensed.
He moved to attack.
But Tamayo stood suddenly, stopping him with one hand.
Yushiro froze, confused by her reaction.
"Tamayo-sama…?"
The woman simply bowed her head to Hikaru.
"…Thank you. For your help."
Hikaru merely shook his head and took another sip of tea.
Tamayo understood.
Hikaru's words weren't a threat born of malice—but of honesty.
And of trust.
If he truly intended to kill them, he would have done it already.
Instead, he gave a warning.
Which meant—he had acknowledged something.
That Tamayo and Yushiro were different from other demons.
He didn't see them as monsters.
And in that moment, something shifted in Hikaru's heart as well.
He knew Tamayo was a demon.
But she had kept her consciousness.
She had restrained her hunger.
She had worked tirelessly… to become human again.
She had chosen her own path—
"The difference between humans and demons… isn't about appearance. Or even strength."
"It's about…"
"…the heart."
"The heart that remembers who it is."
"The heart that can resist its urges."
"The heart that—even with great power—chooses not to use it to hurt the weak."
"That… is what makes someone human."
Hikaru finished the last of his tea, letting its warmth settle in his chest.
He set the cup down.
And turned to Tamayo, his gaze softening.
Then, in a calm, sincere voice—
"…I'd like to work with you."
"And I hope… your strength can support mine."
"In fighting…"
"…and ultimately—erasing Kibutsuji Muzan from this world."
That was the reason Hikaru had stepped in from the beginning.
And it would never change.
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