Chapter 40 – Time Stop, Then Fluid Transmission (Patreon)

"Big sister, do you want some candy?"

The moment she saw the sho[t]a, Kanae Kocho's heart sank. Watching the car drive away, her emotions grew heavy. Hadn't the people inside noticed the sho[t]a had gotten out on his own?

She could barely hold her own against the Upper Rank before her. Adding a child to the mix...

This was almost certainly a death sentence.

"Oh, Hunter-san, I did give you a chance, you know!" The ash-haired demon with rainbow-patterned eyes and the words "Upper Rank Two" carved into them wore a delighted smile across his face.

His gaze shifted from the departing car to the sho[t]a beside Kanae, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. "Now then, how will you protect this little brat, Hunter-san?"

Kanae clenched her teeth and quickly scooped the sho[t]a up into her arms.

That childish, almost milky voice... those innocent, beautiful eyes... that handsome, delicate face...

Kanae was reminded of her past with her younger sister Shinobu. Her once-happy family had been shattered by a demon attack, leaving both parents dead and only her and Shinobu to rely on each other in this world. The pain of losing loved ones was still fresh in her memory—and it was precisely why she had joined the Demon Slayer Corps.

She was prepared to sacrifice herself to protect others' happiness.

"This child is still so young. His future should be bright and warm. I will not let him die here!"

Despite the excruciating pain from multiple broken ribs and damaged internal organs, Kanae erupted with terrifying speed, shattering the pavement beneath her feet as she chased after the black car. She would send this child back!

But the Upper Rank's figure instantly appeared before her, blocking her path.

"Hunter-san, your chance has already passed!" Upper Rank Two's voice rose with amusement. "Don't worry—I don't like eating men. So before I devour you completely, I'll kill this brat right before your eyes!"

To him, this was nothing more than a game of cat and mouse.

Kanae ignored him, her body constantly shifting as she searched for an opening to break past the Upper Rank.

"Big sister, have a piece of candy. It's really sweet!"

The sho[t]a in her arms seemed completely unaware of the danger they were in. His innocent eyes stared straight at her as he raised the lollipop from his mouth, holding it right up to her lips.

Not wanting to disappoint such a well-behaved, adorable little boy, Kanae instinctively parted her lips and took the lollipop into her mouth.

A faint lime flavor...

"Mmm..."

So sweet!

Kanae's eyes widened slightly. The moment the lollipop entered her mouth, she felt some of her pain diminish.

Boom!

The pavement exploded beneath her feet as her speed surged once more.

Seeing this, Upper Rank Two's smirk deepened. "Finally going all out, are you? Then I'll kill this brat first!"

In an instant, he appeared before Kanae. Even her life-or-death burst of speed was nothing in his eyes.

"Blood Demon Art—Wisteria Lotus Vine!"

Ice lotuses materialized in the air, thorny ice vines shooting out from within them to ensnare Kanae. She twisted and dodged, her Nichirin blade flashing as she cut through, but she could only sever one or two vines at a time.

Her broken body, with the sho[t]a still clutched in her arms, left her unable to fight effectively.

"I'm sorry, Shinobu..." Kanae whispered softly, Shinobu's face surfacing in her mind.

Then the sho[t]a's voice came again. "Big sister, is the candy sweet?"

Kanae looked down in surprise. The boy's jewel-like eyes shone with sincerity as they met hers.

"Sweet..." she answered instinctively. The sweetness of the lollipop flowed down her throat, clearing her mind somewhat. "Very sweet," she confirmed.

Then Kanae saw the most unforgettable smile she had ever witnessed.

"That's good..."

Before the words faded, time began to freeze.

Everything was frozen in place.

During the time stop, anyone in contact with Shiraishi Kouma could ignore ability gaps and clearly perceive physical sensations.

After a momentary pause, Kanae's perception returned.

"Time... has stopped?" The thought sent waves of shock through her mind. Then she sensed the sho[t]a leaving her arms.

"No—it's too dangerous!" she tried to stop him, reaching out to pull him back, but her body wouldn't budge.

"That's right... time is stopped..."

By the time she processed this, Kouma had already left her embrace, and her Nichirin blade had been taken from her hands. Her consciousness again fell into the frozen stillness.

When Kanae next perceived the flow of time, the ice vines had all been severed.

Doma's head had been cut off.

"What... happened?" Doma stared, his rainbow-hued eyes filled with disbelief. He hadn't sensed anything. He was just... killed?

"What did that brat do?"

His severed head rolled to the ground, slowly dissolving, but his gaze remained fixed on the sho[t]a holding the Nichirin blade until his head vanished completely.

Kouma returned the blade to Kanae, who stared at him with wide eyes. "If you ever want candy again, big sister, just come find me."

Hearing the sho[t]a's earnest words, Kanae's expression softened. "Big sister's body won't last much longer... I won't be able to eat your candy again..."

Her voice was calm and gentle. She knew her condition well—countless internal and external injuries, no chance of survival even if rushed to a hospital. She didn't want to lie to this little boy, making a promise she could never keep.

But the sho[t]a kept staring straight into her eyes. "Would you still want to eat it in the future?"

Kanae parted her lips slightly. The lime sweetness still lingered on her tongue, though the pain in her body was growing sharper.

"Yes..." she said softly.

The sho[t]a smiled in satisfaction. "Then you'll definitely be able to eat it again someday."

Kouma picked Kanae up and carried her behind some trees in the park. As she wondered what he was doing, she saw him bite his lip hard, drawing blood.

"Little one, you—mmph!"

Before she could finish, her mouth was suddenly covered. Kanae's eyes flew wide as a wave of weakness washed over her body.

The blood from the sho[t]a's lips flowed into her throat, and Kanae could clearly sense her body beginning to heal.

Kouma observed Kanae's recovery progress. Soon, he reached a conclusion: to save her, saliva and blood alone wouldn't be nearly enough.

"It looks like I'll need the real thing—actual fluid transmission..."

...

Meanwhile, Shinobu Kocho, who had been on another mission, suddenly received a message from her sister. Her face went pale.

"Sis—wait for me!"

The girl's figure leaped between buildings, racing toward her sister's location.

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