"Nezuko, stay here and cooperate with Takeru's treatment. Onii-chan will be back soon. Inosuke, let's go." Deciding, Tanjiro quickly grabbed the still-dazed Inosuke and ran forward.
"Wait, Tanjiro." Seeing Tanjiro about to leave, Takeru called out to him again.
"What is it?" Hearing Takeru's words, Tanjiro paused and looked at him questioningly.
"There are still survivors one kilometer ahead. Give them this to drink." Then, tossing over four bottles of potion produced by Healing Slimes, Takeru spoke calmly to Tanjiro.
"Yes, I understand." Catching the potion Takeru threw, hearing his words, Tanjiro quickly nodded and carefully tucked the potion into his chest.
Then, he again dragged Inosuke forward. The whole action was smooth. Only Inosuke looked completely confused.
Seeing Tanjiro leave, Nezuko reached out her hand, clearly unwilling to be apart.
"Don't worry, your brother will be absolutely fine. Now, let's start the treatment." Looking at Nezuko's expression, Takeru spoke softly.
"Hmm~ hmm." Hearing this, after hesitating for a while, Nezuko thought of Tanjiro's parting words and nodded to Takeru.
Then, Takeru snapped his fingers, and a house quickly rose. Takeru led the stunned Nezuko inside.
Rikka, though surprised, quickly followed.
Seeing the interior, which was almost identical to a real-world house, Rikka was amazed at her first experience of Takeru's ability.
Touching the sofa, she felt its softness... it was no different from a real one.
"Alright, Nezuko, lie down here." Pointing to the sofa in the living room, Takeru spoke to Nezuko.
Hearing this, Nezuko nodded with surprise and lay down on the sofa.
Seeing her lie down, Takeru sat before her, his expression becoming serious. He placed his hand on her head and began releasing healing and purification spells.
The dual magic quickly took effect on Nezuko.
Because of the purification, Nezuko, as a Demon, showed a pained expression. However, the healing spell alleviated her pain. But it was still an unpleasant sensation.
Takeru, sensing Nezuko's reactions, kept his expression unchanged. He used telekinesis to restrain her, preventing any rampage. He also adjusted the intensity of the purification.
After all, if he released his top-tier purification at full power, it could indeed completely remove Muzan's curses, but it might also directly vaporize Nezuko.
"Takeru, is she alright?" Seeing Nezuko's painful expression, Rikka asked nervously.
"Don't worry. The curses are being removed. But because she has been a Demon for over two years, although she broke free from Muzan's control through willpower, the curses have penetrated deeper into her body. Also, after becoming a Demon, her body has been greatly transformed." Hearing Rikka's words, Takeru explained softly.
"By the way, Takeru, who is this Kibutsuji Muzan you keep mentioning?" Hearing Takeru's words, Rikka asked blankly.
"Uh, Kibutsuji Muzan is the progenitor Demon of this world. He basically controls the life and death of all Demons here. He is powerful, but actually a coward, and also an extremely despicable person."
Hearing that Rikka didn't know Muzan, Takeru realized. Indeed, Rikka and the others didn't know the story. Getting information about Muzan wasn't easy, especially since their last trip to the previous Demon Slayer Mission World was only three days.
"A coward?" Hearing this, Rikka showed a curious expression.
"Yes, you'll find out later." Hearing Rikka's words, Takeru said calmly.
While answering Rikka's questions, Takeru began gradually strengthening the purification spell he was releasing.
As the demonized cells reverted to normal cells and the curses completely dissipated, Nezuko fully transformed back into a human.
Seeing Nezuko fall into a deep sleep, Takeru removed the bamboo muzzle from her mouth.
Having reverted to human, Nezuko naturally lost her Demon's powers and abilities. One gains, one loses. But since this was Tanjiro and Nezuko's choice, Takeru had nothing to say.
Although she had lost the cuteness of being a small Demon, Nezuko now had a mature and gentle temperament, looking very beautiful.
"Is she cured?" Looking at Nezuko, still sleeping, Rikka asked curiously.
"Yes. The demonized cells and curses have been completely removed. A little more rest and she'll be fine." Hearing Rikka's question, Takeru nodded affirmatively.
On the other side, Tanjiro and Inosuke quickly advanced. Further ahead, they encountered more Demon Slayer Corps' members.
But here, four out of five people were already on the ground. The other girl, a young woman, was crying beside her teammates.
They had also been controlled, but the residual effect of Takeru's attack earlier had cut the threads wrapping them. Also, the freezing ability had frozen the spiders within a kilometer, completely freeing them from manipulation.
"Are you alright?" Looking at the girl, who still seemed somewhat alert, Tanjiro quickly asked.
"Please, save her! I didn't mean to!" Hearing Tanjiro's voice, the girl turned her head, tears quickly falling.
She was holding another girl. But compared to the seated girl, the one she held was constantly bleeding. Clearly, she was in an extremely dangerous state.
"Don't be nervous. I can save her." Seeing the girl's current state, Tanjiro quickly took out the potion from his chest, went to the still-bleeding girl, and carefully poured it into her mouth.
As the potion entered the girl's mouth, it turned into life energy, quickly repairing her injuries. Soon, her wounds were completely healed. Her breathing became steady, and she fell into a deep sleep.
Seeing this, the girl who had been pleading, and Tanjiro who had helped administer the medicine, were stunned. Tanjiro himself hadn't expected the potion's energy to be this strong.
But Tanjiro quickly reacted. He quickly checked the other three. Finding two also in a dying state, without much thought, he gave them the healing potion. The last person was already completely dead.
"Damn it." Looking at the corpse, Tanjiro was a bit angry, slapping the frozen ground.
"I'm sorry." Hearing Tanjiro's words, the girl lowered her head, tears falling uncontrollably.
"Sigh. This isn't your fault. You're quite injured too, right? Drink this." Hearing this, Tanjiro sighed and handed the last bottle of potion to the girl.
"How can I accept such a precious thing..." Looking at the potion Tanjiro offered, the girl prepared to refuse.
"I'm sorry, we still have a mission. We need to go ahead. They're in your care." Without letting the girl say more, Tanjiro again grabbed Inosuke and continued forward.
The girl looked at Tanjiro's departing figure, then at the potion in her hand, falling silent.
'Thank you.' Saying silently in her heart, she used the potion. Her arm and leg quickly recovered.
She hadn't seemed seriously injured, but her left arm and right leg were actually fractured. It's only because of her guilt that had made her endure the pain.
Now, with Tanjiro's help, saving three teammates, and his concern for her, she pursed her lips, staring deeply at Tanjiro's retreating back, wanting to etch his image forever in her heart.
Leaving the Demon Slayer Corps' members, they continued forward. Soon, they left the frozen area.
Arriving here, due to the changing wind direction, Tanjiro could already smell the Demon's scent with his nose.
"Two scents. Let's go, Inosuke!" Sensing a Demon ahead, Tanjiro shouted loudly to Inosuke.