"Please."
"Then I won't be polite."
"Oh, of course, of course."
"Thank you for the meal."
If not for the half-cup of blood on the table, the two people seated would have truly resembled companions toasting each other.
The small wound on Haruto's arm, where blood had been drawn, stopped bleeding quickly, and with a wipe of his thumb, not even a scar remained.
His Breathing Technique was already very proficient; such a wound would self-heal in minutes for him.
Tamayo no longer stood on ceremony, picked up the teacup in front of her, and, shielding her face with her sleeve, drank the blood in the cup in one gulp.
It was Haruto's first time seeing a powerful Demon eat in front of him, and he was still a bit nervous.
Demons over 400 years old should be able to control their desires very well. Haruto didn't want to be chatting and laughing with Tamayo one second and then have to draw his sword against her the next.
Moreover, there wasn't just Tamayo the Demon here; Yushiro was also standing nearby, watching menacingly.
Haruto believed that if Tamayo lost control, Yushiro would rush forward and, first, give him a big slap.
The master and disciple watched the beautiful woman intently, seeing her gently place the teacup on the table, seeing her veins crawl up her neck, and then slowly recede.
Throughout, Tamayo did not make a single sound, as if what she had drunk was not a cup of human blood capable of arousing a Demon's nature, but an ordinary cup of oolong tea.
What's going on? It seems there's nothing special about it, after all.
Haruto was a little disappointed.
After all, no matter how old they are, everyone always hopes to be different from ordinary people.
Even if this "difference" brings no benefits whatsoever.
Tamayo stared at Haruto for a long time without saying a word.
She watched him until Haruto's whole body was covered in goosebumps, and Yushiro was already preparing to sharpen his knife, before she picked up a clean napkin, wiped the corners of her mouth, and spoke in a soft, low voice.
"It tastes like chicken skewers."
"That's right! I just ate a lot of them!" Haruto nodded: "Wow, that's amazing, you can taste that?"
"I just felt a leap in time and space."
Haruto froze, raising an eyebrow in disbelief: "Time and space?"
Tamayo gently massaged her temples with her slender, fair fingers: "Even now, these fragments are still crashing around in my mind."
"I just changed clothes, sat by the door waiting for you all to come in, had Chachamaru go pick you up, and the earliest was seeing a patient this morning... After drinking that bowl of blood, all these memory fragments are swirling around in my mind.
Or perhaps not just memory fragments; it's as if I'm sitting in my current position watching another me do these things."
Haruto pressed his lips together tightly, saying nothing. He felt very guilty but couldn't show it on his face.
What Tamayo said coincided infinitely, to some extent, with the biggest golden finger on him.
Could the time reversal after death also manifest in blood?
"This might be a completely new constitution. I have never seen such a record in historical texts."
Tamayo closed her eyes, trying to sort out her chaotic thoughts, but failed.
"Hmm... the memory fragments are very clear, as if I truly experienced it again." She held her forehead, her eyebrows slightly furrowed: "But no matter how clear, I'm just an observer. I tried to modify it... for example, not letting Chachamaru go, letting Yushiro—ah, it failed."
She opened her eyes and said uncertainly: "Perhaps the amount of blood was too little, or perhaps it can only recall but not interfere."
She looked at Haruto's slightly nervous eyes and Yushiro's worried expression, and chuckled softly: "In any case, if facing a Demon who consumes the enemy's blood, such blood might have an unexpected effect.
But at the same time, it will bring you great danger. For example, just now, in an instant, I thought..."
Tamayo's lips curved into a smile, and she spoke evil words in a soft, gentle voice: "If I drain your blood, can I reverse time? Even if only as an observer, to accompany the person I wish to accompany as they grow up would be a beautiful thing."
Haruto leaned back: "Sister, even if you suck me dry, time won't reverse four or five hundred years!"
Hearing Tamayo's words, the effect of the blood and the golden finger were still far apart, and his heart slowly returned to his stomach.
So the Yamai he killed last time was also because he consumed his blood—and a large amount of it—which caused his thoughts to regress?
Unable to concentrate on the battle, was that why Haruto "easily" cut off his head?
Wow... Haruto broke out in a cold sweat.
It was also fortunate that he encountered Yamai; if he had encountered another Demon who didn't fight by consuming blood, he might have to taste death again and then endlessly respawn.
But, on the other hand... did he indeed slay Yamai by his own ability?
So, do I deserve this Pillar position or not?
While Haruto was stroking his chin in thought, Tamayo finally metabolized the effects the blood had brought her.
"What a novel experience, like living an extra day."
She raised the syringe in her hand again and smiled: "Do you mind if I keep a sample for drug research? Perhaps, besides the weakening agent for Kibutsuji Muzan, I could also develop a new agent that enhances the constitution of Demon Slayer Swordsmen."
Knowing that Tamayo was Kagaya Ubuyashiki's hidden partner, Haruto had no reason to refuse her request, and besides, taking a little blood was effortless for a Breathing Technique Swordsman.
After donating a full tube of blood, Haruto sat cross-legged on the side, eating tonkatsu.
This was something Tamayo had just sent Yushiro to buy; that guy was a two-faced individual, agreeing very readily to Tamayo but almost wanting to throw the tonkatsu in Haruto's face after buying it.
Haruto crunched on the tonkatsu, watching as Tamayo and Genya switched roles.
"Lady Tamayo, please let me do it!"
Yushiro's expression was urgent, and he glared fiercely at Genya: "How can you harm your beautiful and noble body for such a thing?"
"Yushiro, you are not strong enough yet." Tamayo shook her head, then grasped her own fair little finger and, expressionless, forcefully bent it back.
Her lower eyelid trembled slightly, indicating that no matter how strong a Demon was, damaging their body would still cause pain.
Genya's rooster-like hair twitched as he watched Tamayo take a deep breath and place the broken finger in front of him.
Another finger grew back where Tamayo's wound had been. She wiped away the bloodstain with a tissue, then chuckled:
"Try it. It should taste good."
Hmm... Although that is indeed the operational procedure, the visual impact of this scene is too strong.
Look, Genya's face is already turning pale.