Chapter 34: Urgent Help |
"M-m-monster!" the leader hissed, his voice trembling with terror.
He was strong, of course—he wouldn't be leading a criminal gang otherwise—but he didn't even come close to the creature standing before him in human skin!
It felt as though a terrifying beast was lurking beneath the fragile exterior of this young girl!
Reeling back in fright and gasping for air, the leader bolted into the street, his men scrambling after him in a blind panic.
Once the intruders had vanished, Mitsuri slowly lowered her shattered staff. Her chest heaved, not from the exertion of the fight, but from the weight of the leader's final cry and the terrified looks of the others.
The girl bit her lip and stole a cautious glance at Yeruashi, dreading that she might see that same expression in his eyes—the same look the fleeing bandits had worn.
She had occasionally shown glimpses of her extraordinary strength during their daily life together, but never so overtly. Now, she truly did seem like a monster, just as the gang leader had screamed...
And yet.
When she turned her head, she met Yeruashi's tender gaze.
Mitsuri's heart melted instantly. The warmth of his words washed away her anxiety, and a sweet, relieved smile spread across her face.
"Oh... of course not!" she chirped, nodding vigorously.
"I'm glad," Yeruashi replied with a warm smile before turning to the wounded man nearby. "Go on now, get back to your bed and rest easy. We’ll let you go once your condition improves."
"Ah... yes, yes, right away!" the patient stammered, still reeling from the shock. He hobbled back toward the ward, whispering as he passed the couple, "Thank you... thank you both."
"Think nothing of it; it’s our job," the doctor replied, shaking his head.
With a grateful nod, the patient disappeared back into the room.
Only Mitsuri and Yeruashi remained in the courtyard.
The girl didn't even think about tending to the patient; from start to finish, her eyes never left her husband's face. Mitsuri’s large, pistachio-colored eyes shimmered like precious gems.
"Darling... let’s get some rest too," she said softly, setting aside the broken staff and wrapping a slender arm around him.
"Hah, what a restless night this is turning out to be!" Yeruashi chuckled, shaking his head. He looked away from the girl—whose gaze practically shouted her affection—and toward the entrance of the hospital courtyard.
This caught Mitsuri off guard, but by the time she turned around, her eyes fell upon a man rushing in.
He wore a distinctive black uniform with a white belt and silver buttons, though it lacked any specific insignia.
The attire was different from that of the Phantom Head gang, but what truly stood out was the blade at his hip and the bleeding gash on his shoulder. The sharp tang of blood hung heavy in the air.
Whoosh!
Mitsuri lunged forward, spreading her arms wide. Her first instinct was to shield her husband, as the newcomer's black clothing was similar to the uniforms worn by the gang members.
"Do you need help?" Yeruashi said, placing a steadying hand on his wife's shoulder as he calmly stepped forward to address the man.
Mitsuri was in the dark, but he recognized the uniform at a glance.
It was the standard attire of the Demon Slayer Corps!
A wounded Demon Slayer stood before them!
"Forgive me for disturbing you so late at night, but please, help my companion! I'll manage somehow, but he'll die without immediate medical attention!" the Demon Slayer cried out, dropping to his knees and slamming his forehead against the ground, heedless of his own bleeding wound.
"Ah..." Mitsuri's mouth hung open for a moment before she snapped back to her senses. "Your wound... what are you doing!" she exclaimed.
"I'll get the medical kit," Yeruashi said, moving without a second's delay.
"Thank you! Thank you so much!" The startled Demon Slayer bowed his head to the floor again. He hadn't expected the doctor to agree so readily, especially without asking a single question.
"Where did you get a wound like this, and what happened to your friend? Did you get into a fight too?" Mitsuri asked, her curiosity piqued as she began to wrap the man’s shoulder with some nearby gauze.
Yeruashi had agreed to help without hesitation due to the urgency, but she couldn't stay silent. To Mitsuri, her husband's safety was far more important than any professional duty.
"Well, it's... um..." the Demon Slayer faltered.
The organization's affairs were kept strictly confidential so that ordinary people remained unaware of the existence of demons. In truth, he never would have sought help here if the situation hadn't been so dire.
Despite his fame as a physician, Yeruashi was still considered a regular civilian who should not be embroiled in incidents involving demons. Such a thing went against the organization's core principles.
"Hmm..." Mitsuri's brow furrowed at the patient's stuttering. A sense of unease gnawed at her heart, and she turned to her husband as he returned. "Darling, if he won't tell us what happened, maybe we should..."
"A life is at stake. We can find out everything once we're there," Yeruashi said, shaking his head.
"Alright..." the girl sighed helplessly. Knowing her husband's character too well to argue, she instead reached into a corner of the courtyard and grabbed a heavy cleaver used for chopping medicinal herbs.
She would protect her husband no matter what.
Mitsuri's gaze burned with fierce determination.
"Lead the way," Yeruashi said calmly.
The Demon Slayer responded with another quick bow, then scrambled to his feet and hurried out into the night.