Can a demon be awakened by familial affection... or rather, by emotion?
This topic has always been open for discussion.
But this situation rarely occurs, making it largely irrelevant for reference.
The only demon in the story whose consciousness was recalled by familial affection is Nezuko.
Furthermore... this is based on the premise that Nezuko likely ingested the blue spider lily by accident.
Even Mizuki, with her modern mindset, had to concede one point.
When dealing with demons, indiscriminate decapitation is the only way.
But... is indiscriminate treatment necessarily correct?
The demon before them exuded a foul stench; he had already consumed humans, yet he still retained a shred of sanity when facing his kin.
The difference between him and Nezuko is that he has already eaten humans.
Whether it is atonement or paying with his life, he should at least be given a chance to choose.
That was what Mizuki thought.
"I know a doctor... she might have a way to control this situation."
With the introduction of advanced scientific technology, medical standards rapidly increased, and the appearance of scientific instruments like microscopes opened the door to a new world of the human body.
For example, cells... Kochou Shinobu's eyelid twitched. She didn't believe any doctor could surpass her in the field of demon research.
She would stake her life on it.
Tears still glistened in Yae's eyes as she asked excitedly, "Father, is there really still hope for my father?"
Before anyone could reply, she knelt down before Mizuki, heavily knocking her head against the snow.
Yae pleaded, "Please... save my father..."
In response, Kochou Shinobu and Giyuu exchanged a glance, and simultaneously charged towards Mizuki.
Mizuki leaned back slightly, dodging their attacks, and as she rose, she stepped onto the demon's back.
Tomioka Giyu and Kochou Shinobu redirected their blades, attempting to force Mizuki away.
However, Mizuki did not retreat in the slightest. She held her sword in her right hand and drew the scabbard with her left, using both to parry the blades of the two Slayers.
Kochou Shinobu's Nichirin Blade was not shaped like an ordinary katana; the blade was hollowed out and incredibly slender.
If not for that, it would have been difficult for a wooden scabbard alone to block a sharp Nichirin Blade.
This place wasn't like a fantasy world where plucking flowers or flying leaves could contend with divine weapons.
The strength of the weapons could not be underestimated.
Even so, the blade striking the scabbard still made Mizuki feel a pang of distress.
It was a relic maintained for hundreds of years; it would be agonizing if it got even a scratch.
Fortunately, the scabbard was wrapped in white cloth, making it less likely to be damaged quickly.
Mizuki exerted a little force, sweeping the two away.
After landing, Kochou Shinobu's figure abruptly transformed into a flying butterfly, rapidly advancing.
On the other side, Giyuu also attacked with his sword.
The combined attacks of the two Pillars were dense, but still appeared slightly immature in Mizuki's eyes. However, she did not defeat them outright, but deliberately exposed a weakness.
Tomioka Giyu's blade severed the demon's arm, and he seized the opportunity to break free from Mizuki's restraint and rushed toward Yae on the side.
Mizuki shouted at Yae, "Use your emotions to call out to him! Whether he can regain consciousness depends on you!"
Mizuki knew very well that facing an out-of-control demon, even a good person like Tomioka Giyu wouldn't hold back.
Stopping them would only add fuel to the fire; these people wouldn't be convinced by force.
The only hope was for the demon to regain self-awareness, specifically an awareness that could restrain its desires.
And if he couldn't be awakened, then there would be no point in saving him.
Hearing Mizuki's words and seeing her father pounce, Yae gritted her teeth, gathered her strength, and grabbed the demon's remaining arm, resulting in a temporary stalemate.
Tears streamed from Yae's eyes: "Father! Please wake up!"
On the other side, the two Pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps acted with almost no communication. Kochou Shinobu pulled back, her sharp blade emitting a faint cold light as she thrust it towards the demon in front of Yae.
"Insect Breathing: Dance of the Bee Sting - True Flutter!"
Being short, she lacked the strength to sever a demon's neck, so she infused her Nichirin Blade with prepared poison; a mere stab was enough to effectively kill a demon.
There was no need to deliberately aim for the neck.
When the tip of the blade was less than ten centimeters from the demon's back, a black sword suddenly flashed, blocking the way.
Clang!
The blade and the tip collided, producing a crisp sound.
Truly fast!
She didn't see it clearly at all.
Kochou Shinobu's expression shifted slightly. She stopped, turning back with a slight deathly smile.
"Tomioka-san, you..."
Her voice caught in her throat.
Tomioka Giyu rose from the snow expressionlessly, brushing the accumulated snow off himself. "What is it?"
Kochou Shinobu turned back to look at Mizuki, the shock in her eyes completely unconcealed.
No matter how you looked at it, it was outrageous.
Facing the combined effort of two Pillars, she was actually so effortless.
Although they only intended to push Mizuki back and did not use powerful Sword Forms, this did not mean they weren't serious.
Kochou Shinobu took a slight breath, a smile on her face. "Mizuki-san, is it alright if that girl gets eaten?"
Mizuki replied flatly, "I can hear that her voice still sounds quite energetic."
Although she had her back to Yae, if she lacked even that level of perception, she shouldn't call herself a swordsman.
A vein bulged on Kochou Shinobu's forehead. "Why does Mizuki-san think a demon can turn back into a human?"
"I didn't say he would turn back into a human; I just said he has a chance to recover his human-era consciousness."
Demons are not without self-awareness; those who have eaten humans gradually regain self-awareness, but their emotions are slowly stripped away, such that even if they recover consciousness, they will have no sympathy for their former relatives and friends, only pouncing like beasts.
It was too absurd.
Kochou Shinobu felt this deep down, yet she couldn't help but want to believe Mizuki.
Mizuki suddenly sidestepped, thrusting the scabbard horizontally between the two Slayers, grabbing the demon by the throat and pulling back the one who was about to bite Yae's shoulder.
Incidentally, she very quickly sliced off the arm he had just finished regenerating, ensuring Yae had the ability to protect herself.
Kochou Shinobu's eyelid twitched lightly. That reaction speed... was incredible.
She sighed and sheathed her Nichirin Blade.
"Mizuki-san, do you intend to just wait like this?"
Mizuki remained silent, merely watching Yae, whose face was washed with tears, repeatedly calling out to her father.
Tomioka Giyu remained silent for a moment, then quietly sheathed his sword too.
Perhaps Yae's calling worked, or perhaps her father's constitution was special... "Ya... Yae..."
That weak voice sounded again, and Mizuki was not the only one who heard it.
Giyuu's calm expression shifted slightly.
Kochou Shinobu was stunned. He had actually recovered.
"Father... Father, have you recovered?" Yae froze for a moment, then became extremely agitated.
"Uh..." The demon released her hand and painfully knelt on the ground.
He was struggling.
Everyone was acutely aware of this.
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