Mizuki knelt on the spot, clasped her hands together, closed her eyes slightly, and bowed her head.
Although she called it a memorial, she didn't really have anything to say.
Muzan was still roaming freely in the world. After defeating Muzan, she would return to renovate this place.
Nezuko thoughtfully knelt beside Mizuki, clasped her hands, and offered a devout prayer.
After the memorial, Mizuki began looking for a place near Tanjirou's house to hide for the night.
Compared to centuries ago, this place had changed significantly, but the most suitable hiding spot was still the patch of woods in front of the house.
It was currently winter, and with the cover of snow, hiding in the ground made detection nearly impossible.
If she were facing an astute Swordsman like Yoriichi, she might be noticed.
But all Muzan possessed were absolute stats; he didn't have the keen perception of danger that a qualified Swordsman or Warrior would have.
As long as she concealed her presence well, Muzan shouldn't be able to find anything.
Moreover, although Mizuki wasn't confident in defeating Muzan, she was somewhat confident in escaping from him.
Seeing her burying her entire body in the snow, Nezuko couldn't help but worry, "Won't you catch a cold?"
Mizuki stood up from the snow and smiled, "No, I won't. I've practiced martial arts year-round; this cold is nothing."
On the contrary, having adapted to her Demon body, she now preferred this cold environment over the scorching summer.
In this cold environment, the power of her Sword Forms received a significant boost.
This was also why Mizuki was confident in moving around right under Muzan's nose.
She was completely in her element.
Although Nezuko was still somewhat worried, seeing Mizuki lying in the snow for so long without even shivering made her believe her words.
Time quietly slipped into the evening, and Nezuko brought out two bowls of food.
"Yuko-san, dinner is ready."
"Ah, I know."
Mizuki was surveying the situation outside and felt a little helpless when she heard Nezuko's voice.
She had already told Nezuko not to cook for her, but Nezuko insisted that one needed a full stomach to have the strength to fight, giving Mizuki no chance to refuse or explain.
Nezuko's cooking skills were excellent, and the food looked very appealing.
In this era, children from poor families mature early. When Mizuki was Nezuko's age, she hadn't even cooked a meal.
Mizuki ate a little, something she only learned after meeting Tamayo.
Demons cannot eat human food; it makes it difficult for them to swallow.
However, after becoming a Demon, Mizuki could reluctantly eat cooked human food, which might have something to do with her constitution.
A constitution capable of skillfully switching between the Five Great Breathing Styles is not simple.
There are quite a few Swordsmen in the Demon Slayer Corps who practice multiple Breathing Techniques, especially those with Derived Breathing Styles, who usually know some basic ones, but they cannot switch between them freely during combat.
But Mizuki can.
After dinner, Mizuki noticed Nezuko's worried expression and was somewhat moved.
That was natural; anyone would be afraid.
Yet, she couldn't say any words of comfort.
Because deep down, Mizuki was more supportive of Nezuko becoming a Demon.
It wasn't just about adding a combatant; Nezuko was half the protagonist, and she was likely to play a crucial role in the final battle.
Mizuki apologized internally, said goodbye to Nezuko, and left the house.
She felt like a despicable person. It was like this before—deceiving Michikatsu, knowing his fate but choosing to conceal it.
It was the same now; her words sounded better than her actions.
She wasn't a dazzling sun like Yoriichi, nor was she the moon or a star... perhaps describing her as the bottom of a swamp would be more fitting... Mizuki found a hidden spot in the snowy woods, lay down, and covered her entire body. The icy snow slightly calmed her restless heart.
Mizuki calmed her mind... Late at night, a man wearing a black trench coat appeared at Tanjirou's doorway.
In the snowy woods of the late night, a pair of eyes was fixed intently on that figure.
The figure was not robust; in fact, he looked somewhat thin.
But... what terrifying vitality... This was the first time Mizuki had seen Muzan in person.
Under the Transparent World, Muzan's physical structure had nowhere to hide.
The powerful body, composed of five brains and seven hearts, possessed a terrifying vitality that was like a raging, active volcano, ready to erupt at any moment.
She had already overcome the weakness to sunlight, but in terms of physical fitness, even her peak state after Demonization was far less vigorous.
That was to be expected. She had only overcome the sun, but Muzan... he was the Demon King.
The source of all Demons in the world.
This was a monster no single person could defeat... Mizuki knew this clearly.
In terms of life level alone, Muzan had completely surpassed humanity.
If Yoriichi was likened to a highly skilled gamer, then Muzan was a High-Spending Whale with godly equipment and maxed-out stats.
His base stats were completely on a different level from everyone else's.
To be honest, it was precisely because his individual strength was too great that even an idiot like Muzan could throw the world into chaos.
In any other Shonen Manga, he would be an unqualified villain.
He lacked the necessary vision and intelligence expected of a villain.
He was a pure Stat Monster.
Muzan walked toward the house door. Mizuki held her breath, and the fingers beneath the snow slowly moved to the hilt of her sword.
At this distance, if Muzan took any action against Nezuko that was outside the plan, she was confident she could arrive instantly.
Muzan politely knocked on the door.
"Um, who is it?" Nezuko's slightly nervous voice came from inside the house.
The door opened.
Muzan had no intention of talking to her. He glanced around and let out a soft sound of surprise, "Only one person?"
"Um..."
Muzan withdrew his scrutinizing gaze, and his red eyes looked at Nezuko without a trace of emotion.
"If there's only one person, I must carefully nurture her."
Mizuki sighed in relief, and her fingers on the sword hilt involuntarily relaxed.
This wasn't some kind of conspiracy theory.
"...What?" Nezuko was so nervous she didn't dare breathe.
Muzan said nothing more. His arm transformed into a long whip and injected blood into Nezuko's body.
A moment later, Muzan looked coldly at Nezuko, who had collapsed on the floor.
"She couldn't handle just this small amount of blood. It seems Demons who can overcome the sun are not easily created."
Muzan did not notice anyone secretly observing him. Just as Mizuki suspected, he did not possess the keen senses expected of a Warrior; he was merely an ordinary person with maxed-out stats.
After confirming Muzan had left, Mizuki quickly rose from the snow and ran into the house.
Nezuko was lying in a pool of blood by the doorway.
Mizuki stepped forward to examine her. Nezuko was unconscious, but the wounds on her body were slowly healing.
Success... Muzan turns humans into Demons to create one that can overcome the sun. Most humans who die at his hands are actually those who cannot withstand his blood, rather than those killed directly by his attacks.
This was also why Mizuki dared to let Nezuko face Muzan alone, although... this wasn't something to be proud of... If only she could be stronger... Nezuko was currently transforming into a Demon.
The time it takes to turn into a Demon is related to one's own strength. It took her a full three days to become a Demon.
As for Nezuko, Tanjirou would return the next morning.
Just one night.
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