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Chapter 14

○ Chapter 14 : ○
○ "Nichirin Blade." ○

《•|•-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-•|•》
1st Person POV

On my fifth day of wandering in this dreadful forest, I spot familiar footprints in the ground, following them quickly but silently to the source.

And my suspicions were correct, seeing Tanjiro fast asleep under a tree. He's hurt and beaten up, but he's alive, and I found him again!

I tear up, so thankful to see him again after we've been separated in this dangerous place.
I noticed my staff resting my his side, his hands tightly holding on to it.

I let him rest, moving by his side, able to finally rest in peace. I use my coat as a pillow, and easily fall asleep by his side.

Tanjiro had truly become like family to me. Despite being the same age, he felt like an older brother, who worried and cared about me like his own family.

Finally flooded with relief, I'm able to sleep peacefully until the night.

《•|•-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-•|•》

When I woke up, the sun hadn't even settled and I felt a tight warmth surround me, recognizing Tanjiro as the figure that held me. His worry had become tangible, and I smile and return the hug, hearing him sniffle.

"I was so worried about you, Y/N! Are you okay? Did you get hurt?"

I chuckle and pat his back, smiling to calm him down.
"I'm okay, I'm okay, Tanjiro. You don't look so good, though."

He ignores his own wounds and still insists on making sure I'm okay. We eventually catch up, and once nightfall came, we fought, and eventually, survived our week.

Tired, but alive, we found our way toward the safety of the purple wisteria, comforted by the sight of it.

"Wisteria..."
Tanjiro breathed out in relief, closing his eyes as he enjoyed the peace.

"We made it."
I smile and walk with him again.

Once we pass through to the place we entered from, we can see everyone else who survived these seven days.

The number was staggering. We had started out with over twenty children, and now, we were just five...

We were all mostly bandaged up and dirty, but I couldn't believe this is what came of everyone... dozens must've lost their lives, eaten by a demon...

Poor souls...

I shake my head and look around, observing everyone who did make it through the week.
A boy with a striking shade of blonde hair was terrified, shaking as he kept repeating :

"I'm gonna die... I'm done for... I've survived for now, but soon... dead..."

Or different variations of those three lines. Poor guy must've faced some tough demons to be this scared.

Behind him, a girl wearing pink silently watched the butterfly that sat on her hand, a gentle smile on her face as she seemed the most unharmed, and by far the calmest.