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Chapter 36

I hold my hand over the wound, listening to him.
"Concentrate more. Improve the accuracy of your breathing. Focus on every inch of your body."

I inhale deeper, exhaling slowly and focusing on my wound.
"There are blood vessels. Broken ones."

I shut my eyes, feeling the pain begin to subside.
"Concentrate more."
His voice grew sterner, and the image of every vein in my body grew clearer and clearer, the pool of blood being the focal point.

"That's it. Hemostasis. Stop the bleeding."

He leaned down, pressing his index finger on my forehead. His large eyes bore into mine, and his voice was clear and certain as it echoed in my head.
"Concentrate."

With all my might, I inhaled deeply and forced my own body, a sudden cramp making me gasp and pant, the pain vanished in an instant.
He knelt down by my head, smiling.
"That's it. The bleeding's stopped."

I smile back, a few beads of sweat rolling down my face.

"As long as you master your breathing, you can do things no ordinary person can. That doesn't mean you can do anything, but you'll be stronger than you were yesterday."

I stare up at him in amazement, admiring how even after all this, he's still smiling.
What an incredible person...
"Yeah..."

"Everyone's safe, by the way! A lot of injured, but no deaths! So you can relax, now."

I breathe out in relief, startled by a sudden explosion nearby.
Rengoku moved in front of me, but I managed to get a glimpse of the demon whose eyes read "Upper Moon Three".

A-An Upper Moon?! Why is he here?!
What's going on?

The demon's skin was patterned in thick, dark blue lines, and his hair was a short, bright pink.
He smiled before charging at me with incredible speed, so quick I couldn't even see him.

Rengoku-San struck him with his sword, the heat and brightness of his flames so up-close fascinating me. My heart pounded with incredible speed in my chest, the evil this demon exuded frightening me.

"Nice katana."
The demon spoke, calm as he licked the blood off of his freshly healed wound.

Rengoku's voice grew stern, yet his smile remained as his fiery sword dug into the ground, essentially protecting me.
"Now why would someone as powerful as you attack the wounded first?"

"That's not just anybody you're protecting there, you know."
He chuckled.
"Besides, I thought she might interrupt the conversation I'd like to have with you."

"What conversation? This is our first meeting. I already hate you."
Rengoku stood up, walking a few paces away from me.

The demon chuckled, his confident smile plastered on his face.
"Of course. I also hate weak humans. Just the sight of weakness makes my skin crawl."

"You and I have very different values."

"Allow me to propose something, then. To the girl, too. Are you listening?"

Nodding, I remain quiet, and he continues.

"Why don't you become demons?"