Chapter 27: Smoking Is Forbidden!

The smile on Shinobu Kocho's face faded away, and she said coldly, "About demons, what do you even know?"

To her, Jotaro looked like a reckless brat who knew nothing, and beyond that, someone extremely rude and terrible.

This guy was like those street punks she had seen in some small towns.

If she had met such a guy two years ago, she would've already stepped up and taught him a lesson without saying a word.

However, after going through certain things, the girl's temperament now seemed much gentler than before.

But this gentleness, just like her smile, was probably something she forced upon herself for certain reasons.

"Jotaro-san! Please, say a few words less."

Tanjiro quickly pulled Jotaro back. He knew Jotaro's temperament well, if someone provoked him, he would never just let it go.

Right now, Shinobu Kocho was the only hope to heal Nezuko. If she got completely enraged, everything would be over.

Kie also hurried to calm Shinobu down, "Please, don't be angry. Jotaro-san just doesn't know how to talk. He really doesn't mean any harm."

Shinobu gave a slight smile and said, "Madam, you don't need to worry. I wouldn't bother getting angry at a delinquent punk."

'Madam?' Kie blinked. 'Am I that old?'

"Jotaro-san! Calm down!" Tanjiro noticed Jotaro's face darken and quickly hugged his waist.

"Yare..."

'This stinky woman!'

Although he smoked, drank, hit teachers, dined and dashed, and fought, earning the label of a delinquent from many people, in reality, he was a good kid.

"Shinobu, I know this matter might violate Corps rules, but this girl's situation is very special." Giyu Tomioka came over and spoke.

"Ah, Tomioka-san, you finally spoke. That truly is a cause for celebration."

Shinobu said with a grim expression, "I don't know what's so special about it. This is just the process every demon goes through."

Giyu said, "I used to think the same, but Nezuko wasn't injured today, it was a few days ago."

Shinobu suddenly turned her head and stared into Giyu's unflinching eyes. "Impossible. Turning into a demon takes only a few hours. Human cells can't withstand the invasion of demon cells. Beyond that limit, the body would die."

Tanjiro said, "Tomioka-san is telling the truth. Nezuko has been in this condition for several days. She's really in pain. Please save her."

If what they said was true, then Nezuko was indeed in a very special condition. Even she had never heard of such a situation before.

"I understand. Let me examine your sister's body."

Shinobu sheathed her slender blade and walked over to the cart. She suppressed her inner discomfort and carefully examined Nezuko's condition.

Undeniably, the girl's body had completely demonized, but the strange thing was, she hadn't woken up. It was as if she were trapped in a deeply painful nightmare.

You have to know that turning from human into demon consumes a huge amount of energy. That's why demons wake up extremely hungry, it's due to this reason. Demons also need energy. The way they replenish it is by eating humans. So once they wake up, whether it's family, friends, or strangers, they'll all be eaten.

At that time, they are like beasts driven by the instinct to survive, completely irrational. Under extreme hunger, they hunt madly.

That's why once you become a demon, your hands will be stained with human lives.

Just like humans, living a lifetime, it's inevitable to be stained with the blood of other creatures.

Humans eat when starving, let alone demons. Moreover, demons don't have as many choices as humans. They can only eat humans.

Even though she inherited her sister's dream, Shinobu didn't really have any hope of realizing it.

"What's wrong with her?" Jotaro, not knowing when, had come beside the cart and asked calmly.

Shinobu glanced at him and said, "I'm not sure. I need a blood sample from her for further research."

She turned around and said to Tanjiro and the others, "Nezuko's condition is indeed strange. I plan to bring her to the Butterfly Mansion."

"However, bringing a demon into a key Demon Slayer Corps facility obviously violates Corps rules. There are many other members there. To avoid attention, cover Nezuko with something first."

"Tomioka-san, please go ahead first and find an excuse to divert the patrolling members."

Giyu Tomioka nodded, "Got it."

After Giyu left, Shinobu said, "Even I'm not confident about Nezuko's situation. So don't get your hopes up. Also, during the treatment process, there's a chance she might wake up."

"If she becomes violent and kills like other demons, I will fulfill my duty. I hope you can understand." She gave everyone a heads-up.

Helping a demon was already against the Demon Slayer Corps' creed. Shinobu was taking great risk to help Nezuko, so Tanjiro and the others couldn't ask too much.

They all nodded in agreement.

"Yare yare…" Jotaro turned around with his back to the cart.

Nezuko's life was finally seeing a glimmer of hope. Next, as long as the Kamado family was settled, he could focus on searching for the demon's trail.

These days, the reason he stayed with the Kamado family was because he couldn't rest easy. Although Giyu said the demon came because of hunger, Jotaro clearly didn't agree with that.

That demon definitely came with a purpose. A hungry demon wouldn't dress so refined and elegant. From its clothes, it was obvious that demon often mingled in upper-class society.

In circles like that, how could there be a shortage of food? As long as you look rich, people who throw themselves at you would be in no short supply.

"Tanjiro, the thing I told you last time, you must remember it."

Jotaro took out a cigarette from his pocket and looked toward the dark forest with his light green eyes.

"After this is over, find somewhere else to settle your family. Don't go back again. I have a hunch that demon will come back."

Just as he bit the cigarette, a flash of silver light passed by, and the cigarette was instantly cut in two.

"In the forest, smoking is forbidden, Jo. Ta. Ro. San." Shinobu smiled brightly at him and said word by word.

Jotaro frowned, looked at her, then took the cigarette from his mouth and put it back into his pocket.

"Yare yare…"

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