Lucas was in a great mood.
After all, he had just acquired the Blood Demon Art—his most coveted reward. The other items he obtained from the demon Yahaba were little more than junk. But that was fine. With this one draw, getting the ability he wanted most was luck enough.
Good fortune has a way of lifting a person's spirits, and Lucas was no exception. A wide, genuine smile spread across his face, radiant and cheerful.
But behind him, Tamayo and Yushiro did not share his joy. Quite the opposite.
To them, his bright smile was more terrifying than the gaze of a predator.
Yushiro's expression tightened with barely contained hostility. He stood beside Tamayo, his hand hovering over the pocket where he stored his defensive tools. His eyes carried the kind of bravery reserved for people staring down death itself.
Lucas had casually brought up the idea of "making friends" with Miss Tamayo earlier. At the time, Yushiro hadn't paid much attention to it.
But now? After seeing what happened to Suzamaru and Yahaba, that so-called friendship sounded more like a death sentence in disguise.
To Yushiro, Lucas had become a terrifying enigma—someone who slaughtered demons under the pretense of friendship. A smiling, friendly butcher.
Tamayo was no less wary.
Although Lucas had helped her by defeating the Handball Demon and Arrow Demon, his overwhelming strength made her uneasy. It was hard to tell whether he was truly a friend... or just another threat.
Tamayo's hands, hidden within her long sleeves, quietly clenched around a small vial.
It was a special reagent she had crafted—her secret weapon against Muzan Kibutsuji. She never thought she'd have to consider using it against a human. And yet, here she was.
Her body tensed as Lucas took a step forward.
He hadn't expected this kind of reaction at all.
"Miss Tamayo," Lucas said gently, hands raised in a non-threatening gesture. "I really just want to be friends with you."
"Miss Tamayo, don't believe him!" Yushiro shouted, stepping in front of her like a loyal guard dog. "He said the same thing to those other demons before slaughtering them!"
Lucas's left eye twitched. "You little..."
He almost pulled out his blade right then and there. How dare this brat compare those twisted demons to Miss Tamayo?
Tamayo placed a calming hand on Yushiro's shoulder and took a deep breath. Her voice was calm but firm.
"Mr. Lucas," she said, "thank you for extending friendship to someone like me... a demon. But the reason I still exist is because Muzan lives. I have no wish to make enemies, but I also cannot trust you. Please leave."
Tamayo had agreed to befriend Tanjiro because his sister, Nezuko, was also a demon. Tanjiro's kindness and compassion had earned her trust.
But Lucas was different.
He was far too powerful. Someone like him could never be swayed by mere words.
Lucas wasn't discouraged. Instead, he offered another olive branch.
"Miss Tamayo," he said softly, "I know what you're working on. I can help you."
Tamayo frowned. Help her? How?
To defeat Muzan, she needed to reverse the demon transformation—turn a demon back into a human. This required Muzan's own blood, or at least the blood of the Twelve Kizuki, his elite demons.
Could Lucas really offer that?
He seemed strong, but she suspected he was only at the level of a Lower Moon at best.
As for the Upper Moons—those monsters had killed nearly a hundred Hashira over the centuries. Even the Demon Slayer Corps had failed to bring them down. What could Lucas possibly do?
Before she could reject his offer, Lucas snapped his fingers.
Tamayo's eyes widened as she suddenly realized something was wrong.
She tried to speak... but no sound came out of her mouth.
Her voice had vanished.
Startled, she looked at Lucas, and her pupils contracted sharply.
The air around him shimmered with blood-tinged energy.
The aura... it was unmistakable.
Blood Demon Art.
Lucas was using Blood Demon Art.
Tamayo's mind reeled. How? Was he a demon after all?
But no—she quickly dismissed the thought. The aura of a demon was distinct, unmistakable. She would've recognized it immediately if Lucas were one of them.
And yet... how could a human use Blood Demon Art?
Tamayo had lived for hundreds of years, studied demons with unmatched dedication—and not once had she encountered anything like this.
Tanjiro and Zenitsu, standing nearby, also noticed the sudden shift in atmosphere.
Tanjiro narrowed his eyes. "Could it be... Mr. Lucas is a demon?"
He sniffed the air instinctively.
But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't detect the scent of a demon. Lucas still smelled like a regular human.
Zenitsu, meanwhile, panicked.
But instead of stepping back, he edged closer to Lucas, as if to protect him.
Even if Lucas is a demon... he's still Lucas.
No matter what he was, Zenitsu wanted to stay by his side.
Lucas met Tamayo's gaze calmly.
"Now, Miss Tamayo... do you still think I can't help you?"
Tamayo hesitated. She had never seen anyone like Lucas. A human who could use Blood Demon Art?
The blood of someone like him—if made into a reagent—could be the missing piece in her research.
Maybe... just maybe... this was the key to defeating Muzan.
She had waited centuries for a chance like this. If Lucas truly wanted to help, she couldn't let this opportunity slip by.
Even if it was risky. Even if he had other motives.
"What... what do you want from me?" Tamayo asked, her voice quiet.
Lucas offered a faint smile. "I already told you. I just want to be friends."
Tamayo studied his expression.
It was too sincere. Could it really be that simple?
Surely he knew she wanted his blood. He had figured out her secret research. He had to know the value of his abilities.
And yet... all he asked for was friendship?
She lowered her sleeves and gave him a graceful bow.
"I would be honored to become friends with you, Mr. Lucas."
[Bite!]
[Successfully added Tamayo as a friend!]
[Detected: Intimacy level between Tamayo and the host is "acquaintance." Granting random reward…]
[Skill Acquired: Blood Demon Art – Bewitching Vision and Dream Fragrance (Mastery)]
[Would you like to fuse the skill now?]
[No]
Lucas exhaled softly, a hint of disappointment in his eyes.
He had hoped to draw White Day Magic Fragrance, the most advanced version of Tamayo's abilities.
Still, the Dream Fragrance wasn't bad. A little underwhelming, perhaps, but still a solid reward.
Then his gaze shifted to Yushiro, who was still standing in front of Tamayo protectively.
Lucas grinned slightly.
"And you? Would you like to be my friend?"
Yushiro froze.
Tamayo's hand tightened on his shoulder, urging him gently.
Reluctantly, Yushiro nodded.
"…Fine."
[Bite!]
[Successfully added Yushiro as a friend!]
[Detected: Yushiro has a close bond with Tamayo. Granting random reward…]
[Reward: Qualification – Medium]
[Would you like to fuse Qualification: Medium now?]
Lucas's eye twitched.
"…Seriously?"
His hand tightened instinctively around his sword.
"Medium qualification"? That's it?!
This brat caused all that trouble, insulted him to his face, and then didn't even provide a decent reward?
Not even a dog would want a reward like this!
Yushiro instinctively stepped back. Had he heard the soft sound of a blade sliding from its sheath just now?
Lucas had been all smiles when Tamayo accepted friendship... but was now gripping his sword after Yushiro did?
What the hell was going on?
Was this... how they played "friends" these days?
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