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Advance chapter in PATREON
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"Are you here just to find a ghost? Do you want to be eaten by me?"
The ghost placed the blood-stained corpse on the ground and walked toward Sam Miller and Makomo. His blood-soaked fangs gleamed menacingly in the moonlight.
The creature's blood-red eyes locked onto Makomo.
Although her fox mask concealed her face, it was clear from her posture and presence that she was a delicate and beautiful girl. Of course, beauty mattered little when it came to food.
What truly captivated the ghost was how tender her body looked.
Her pale skin glowed like porcelain under the moonlight, smooth and soft — like fine silk.
Such tender flesh... the meat will be soft and juicy...
The ghost licked his lips greedily, already savoring the thought.
"Let me eat you... I'll savor every bite," he sneered, baring his sharp teeth.
"It's really a ghost that doesn't know its place," Sam muttered.
In that moment, the ghost's information appeared before Sam's golden eyes beneath his bamboo hat:
Name: Ryota Jiang
Ghost Level: Elementary Ghost (Primary Ghost, Evolving Ghost, Lower Rank, Upper Rank, Ancestor of Ghosts)
Abilities: Immortality (Weakened)
Weaknesses: Photophobia, Wisteria, Curse (from Muzan Kibutsuji), Nichirin Blades
Seeing the details, Sam's expression turned indifferent.
An ordinary ghost with no abilities... disappointing.
"You take care of it," Sam said, stepping back. A ghost without abilities didn't interest him.
"Got it."
Makomo nodded, her excitement barely hidden behind her mask.
This was her first real fight with a ghost.
Her gaze settled on the enemy.
The ghost wore torn, ragged clothing, and its thick, muscular body seemed unnaturally strong. Its limbs resembled thick pillars, giving it an intimidating presence.
"I will kill you," Makomo said softly.
"Roar!"
The ghost couldn't hold back any longer. His craving for Makomo's flesh overwhelmed him. He lunged forward like a wild beast.
Despite her nerves — this being her first real fight — Makomo kept calm. She sidestepped his charge with effortless grace.
As the ghost stumbled past her, Makomo lifted her foot and, with a light kick, sent the monster sprawling to the ground.
"Bah... Bah..."
The ghost spat dirt from its mouth as it scrambled to its feet.
"You brat..."
Infuriated, the ghost charged again.
But once more, Makomo danced away, narrowly avoiding the attack. Her Nichirin Blade flashed, slicing a deep gash across the ghost's arm.
"Ahhh!"
The ghost howled in pain.
"Damn it! Stop dodging! Let me rip you apart!" he bellowed.
From a distance, Sam watched with a faint smile.
This ghost is a fool.
It still couldn't grasp the situation — too slow, too weak.
While Makomo lacked brute strength, her agility was remarkable. Even her senior, Tanjiro, struggled to match her speed. Sam himself wasn't sure if he could outperform her in that regard.
"Alright, you've practiced enough," Sam called out. "Finish it, Makomo — don't waste too much time."
"Okay."
Makomo nodded.
Her hair danced in the wind, and under the faint moonlight, her figure seemed almost ethereal.
She stepped lightly on the ground, her hand resting on her sword's hilt.
"Water Breathing... Third Form... Flowing Dance."
With a soft murmur, Makomo's figure blurred as she moved. Her steps were so fast, only faint afterimages remained in her wake.
"So fast!"
The ghost barely managed to utter the words before a curved arc of silver flashed across his neck.
His body froze.
His head tumbled from his shoulders.
Makomo calmly sheathed her sword and turned to Sam.
"All done, Sam."
She lifted her fox mask and smiled sweetly.
Behind her, the ghost's headless body dissolved into black smoke, vanishing along with the foul stench it left behind.
"Well done," Sam praised.
While the ghost had been weak, Makomo's swift and clean kill showed her growing skill. She was already far stronger than most novice Demon Slayers.
Hearing Sam's compliment, Makomo's smile widened, her eyes curving into happy crescents.
"Let's bury the dead," Sam said, glancing at the torn body that the ghost had dragged earlier.
The smile faded from Makomo's face. Lowering her head slightly, she murmured, "I'm... I'm sorry I'm late."
Sam stepped forward and gently patted her head with a smile.
"This isn't something you could have prevented."
They weren't gods — they couldn't predict everything.
Before long, a few small mounds of freshly piled earth stood in the clearing.
"Rest in peace," Sam murmured quietly.
"May they find peace in the afterlife..." Makomo whispered, her hands pressed together in prayer.
"Let's go," Sam said softly once Makomo finished her prayer.
Makomo nodded and followed closely behind him, glancing at his back.
"Um... Sam?"
Sam turned his head slightly, his golden eyes curious.
"What is it?"
"Can I ask... how did you become a ghost?"
"Mr. Urokodaki said that ghosts are created when humans are infected with Muzan Kibutsuji's blood."
Sam paused. "Yeah... that's how it usually happens."
"Sam... was it like that for you too?" Makomo asked softly.
Sam fell silent. Of course, his situation was different — but he didn't want to explain.
Makomo, however, had already drawn her own conclusion.
"That Kibutsuji Muzan... he's horrible! One day, I'll make him pay for what he did — turning someone like you into a ghost!"
Her fists clenched tightly, her face full of anger.
How could anyone do something so cruel to Sam?
Sam chuckled softly. Without warning, he reached over and lifted Makomo's fox mask.
"Huh?"
Makomo blinked in confusion as Sam placed her mask on top of her head, revealing her delicate face.
Before she could react, Sam reached out and pinched her soft cheeks, pulling them outward like dough.
Her round eyes widened in shock.
"Alright, let's go," Sam said with a grin, giving her a light pat on the shoulder before walking ahead.
Makomo froze, still stunned. Moments later, she hurried after him, her face flushed red.
"Sam, you... you..."
Makomo wanted to scold him — pinching a girl's face like that was unacceptable!
But she didn't want to yell too harshly... what if she scared him away?
So, instead, she puffed up her cheeks and shouted:
"Sam, you... bully!"
"Yeah, I know."
Sam turned and gave her a calm, teasing look. "I bullied you. What now?"
Makomo's face flushed even redder.
"You... you're impossible!" she huffed, stomping after him.