"So that's how it is. Not only have the injuries in my lungs completely healed, but my whole body feels stronger. It's practically like being reborn."
As Yuko spoke, she showed off her biceps, her gestures animated and expressive.
Still the same as always…
Yoriichi first gave her a relieved smile, then grew serious. "Yuko."
"Hm?"
"Don't let this power go to your head. A demon's strength must be used with caution."
Seeing her brother so serious, Yuko stopped smiling and replied solemnly, "Yes, I know."
Excessive use of demonic power did come with a major problem:
Weakness.
And when a demon became weakened, the craving for food would surge and overwhelm the mind almost instantly.
And demons, in their pursuit of strength, did eat humans.
From any perspective, Yoriichi's concerns were valid.
Michikatsu himself had become a demon in pursuit of power—seeking to surpass Yoriichi—and in doing so, abandoned his humanity.
With Michikatsu as a cautionary tale, of course Yoriichi would be even more attentive to Yuko.
…Though now that the topic was brought up, she was starting to drool a little.
Seeing the line of drool at the corner of her mouth, Yoriichi froze for a moment.
Yuko hurriedly sucked it back in and looked at him dryly.
"Um… brother…"
"Yes?"
"I haven't eaten anything for several days."
"I'll cook you—" Yoriichi started to stand up, then suddenly stopped. "You… what do you eat?"
Yuko stared at him with heated eyes.
Yoriichi: "…"
Yuko clasped her hands together. "Blood! Please, I just need a little blood!"
It had to be said—Michikatsu had taken good care of her.
Afraid she would be too weak after turning into a demon and starve, he even deliberately left Namiko there.
He hadn't even killed her directly—probably afraid she wouldn't have anything fresh to eat.
So there was some influence after all…
Yoriichi lowered his eyes slightly and sighed. "Yuko, we still can't be sure you're different from other demons."
"So from now on, you'll live with me."
At least until he could confirm it with his own eyes.
Yuko blinked, then answered naturally, "It's not like I have anywhere else to go."
"And besides, I'm counting on you to teach me swordsmanship so I can take revenge on Michikatsu."
"That bastard literally grabbed me by the neck and kept asking whether I wanted to become a demon." Yuko's eyes grew dangerous as she growled, "One day, I'll beat him so hard he'll be crawling around looking for his teeth!"
Yoriichi: "…"
…Alright, she really hasn't changed.
Yoriichi picked up the Nichirin blade beside him and drew it.
The motion was small—completely without intent, pressure, or killing aura—yet Yuko stiffened instinctively.
The Muzan cells in her body were reacting again.
Yoriichi didn't pay attention to her flinching. He lightly cut a small wound across his own hand.
"Will this do?"
There is an old saying: Heaven is great, earth is great, but eating is greatest of all.
Yuko's hunger finally pushed aside even the fear from the Muzan cells.
"Yes yes yes!" She nodded vigorously and stepped forward to catch the dripping blood in her palms.
Just as she lowered her head to taste it, she suddenly hesitated.
Yoriichi asked with concern, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Yuko shook her head.
She had just remembered the joke about Yoriichi being the incarnation of the sun god. If she drank the blood of a sun god… wouldn't she get burned to death?
The thought had popped into her mind out of nowhere.
Fortunately, it wasn't that absurd.
The blood tasted delicious—like sweet dew after a long drought.
Of course, it couldn't compare to eating humans, but at least it was something.
Life like this was unbearable—far too painful.
If immortality meant living in this state, she'd rather not have it. Being constantly hungry was torture.
She wondered what Miss Tamayo was doing now.
Yuko recalled that after Yoriichi saved Tamayo, she no longer ate human flesh. When she later met Tanjiro, he couldn't smell the foul stench of humans on her.
It seemed Tamayo survived solely on human blood. And with her profession, it wasn't difficult for her to obtain it.
Should Yuko go and rely on her?
Work for her in exchange for food?
At least Miss Tamayo was a physician—basically within the system.
Certainly better than Yuko, an unemployed drifter mooching off her brother at home.
Sigh…
Yuko sighed.
Yoriichi tilted his head as he watched his sister's constantly shifting expressions. It was unexpectedly adorable.
If one ignored the blood on her hands and mouth, that is.
Yoriichi's blood managed to ease her hunger somewhat, bringing a bit of color back to her face.
Seeing the wound on Yoriichi's wrist, Yuko grinned mischievously.
"Brother, want to see a magic trick?"
"A magic trick?"
Yuko picked up her broken Nichirin blade and sighed. "It's been with me for so many years. What a shame."
Yoriichi replied calmly, "That blade wasn't suited for Snow Breathing anyway."
Yuko nodded. "I know."
Breathing styles pair with specific sword forms, and the sword's shape influences their performance.
This blade was given to her when she first joined the Demon Slayer Corps—before she had mastered Snow Breathing.
It was better suited to the five major breathing styles.
Snow Breathing was derived from Wind and Water, mixed with Thunder, Sun, and others. It was currently one of the most complex breathing styles.
Ordinary blades couldn't support it.
And after Yuko's lungs were damaged, she had stopped going on missions altogether, so there was never a reason to replace the blade.
Thus it had remained with her until now.
Yuko used the broken blade to cut her own wrist. Yoriichi opened his mouth slightly but stopped himself from speaking.
"Brother—your hand."
Obediently, Yoriichi extended it.
Yuko smeared her blood over his wound, and it closed at an alarming speed.
Before his eyes, her own wrist wound had already healed as well. She explained:
"This is my awakened Blood Demon Art."
"It can rapidly heal injuries."
"Even regenerating a severed limb is possible."
There was a faint, quiet pride in her voice.
This power would surely be useful in the future.
If humans could gain the same regeneration as demons, then what advantage would demons have left?
Perhaps it was the unique effect of the Blue Spider Lily… or simply that Michikatsu had injected a large amount of Muzan's blood into her.
Whatever the reason, her demonic recovery—both passive and through her Blood Demon Art—far surpassed ordinary demons.
Seeing the wound vanish, Yoriichi nodded slightly. "It is indeed a powerful ability."
"Right? And that's not all." Yuko dragged her palm across the Nichirin blade, coating it in blood.
The blood spread unnaturally along the blade, dyeing it evenly red.
"My blood can enchant weapons, strengthening the power and range of sword techniques."
It was similar to Michikatsu's Blood Demon Art. Not as convenient, perhaps, but not far off.
More importantly—her ability could be used on others.
She, Tsugikuni Yuko—
a full-support, all-purpose healer!
---
Currently at chapter 162 for advance chapters
https:// ko-fi.com/rabi08