The headless demon—bare-chested, massive, wielding two scythe-like blades strapped to its arms—was the Spider Mother's deadliest weapon.
Its one clear vulnerability lay in its neck; ordinary demon slayers would typically aim to sever the head. But this demon had none, presenting a baffling challenge even for the most skilled.
And despite its colossal size, the headless demon moved unnaturally fast. The Spider Mother's silk threads, normally used to control and restrain, didn't seem to impede it at all.
She launched attack after attack, controlling the monster with meticulous precision. In her mind, victory was still possible. If she could just hold out until her "family" arrived, perhaps together they could overwhelm this intruder.
But… would her family even come to her aid?
The thought made her shiver. Timid by nature, she held the role of "mother" in the spider family, yet she had never been treated like one. If they discovered she had failed to defeat the invader, the punishment would be brutal.
The Spider Mother wavered, caught between wishing for rescue and fearing it. She wanted to survive, yet the prospect of her family's wrath terrified her.
But Ren Kuroda's actions made all her fears irrelevant.
Her so-called trump card—the headless demon—was formidable for anyone else. To Ren, it wasn't even a third-rate opponent.
Charging toward him, the demon swung its scythe-like weapons with terrifying force. In an instant, before it even touched him, Ren's blade cut through its torso, splitting the headless creature in two. Blood sprayed through the air.
Ren appeared motionless, calm as ever, but his strike had already landed. His speed was impossible to perceive. The Spider Mother, witnessing her most powerful servant die in a single instant, crumpled to the ground in despair.
Even the headless demon, her prized weapon, had been obliterated before she could intervene. She doubted she could survive against this swordsman.
"To die like this… maybe it's not so bad," she whispered to herself, voice trembling. "At least I won't have to suffer anymore. What are real families like? They shouldn't be like us… right?"
Five demons inhabited Mount Natagumo, forming a twisted "family." But it was a farce: hypocrisy ruled, and no one shared any true bonds. The Spider Mother was the "mother," yet she endured constant abuse from the "father" figure. Even her "children" bullied and beat her.
She longed to sever this false family bond but had no choice.
The one orchestrating the cruelty was Rui, the youngest of the spider family and one of the legendary Twelve Demon Moons. He had transformed them into spider-like demons, binding them to his so-called "family game."
Rui's power was undeniable. Resistance meant death.
Some of the family enjoyed the twisted arrangement, but not her. She had always been the target of their torment. And now, staring at the swordsman who had slain her strongest guardian in a heartbeat, dying cleanly didn't seem like the worst fate.
"I want to feel the warm sunlight again…" she murmured. Once, she had been an ordinary girl, free to feel the sun on her skin. Now, as a demon, even that simple pleasure was denied.
She closed her eyes, waiting for Ren to deliver the final blow.
But nothing came. No pain, no slash, no blood.
Opening her eyes, she saw him standing calmly in front of her.
"You mentioned the 'Twelve Demon Moons,' right?" Ren said, voice cool, almost teasing. "That means there really are Twelve Moon-level beings in this mountain. How about a deal? Interested in becoming one of my hundred demons? Lead me to the Twelve Moons, and I might let you go."
The Spider Mother's jaw dropped. Slumped on the ground, she looked up at him in shock.
A Demon Slayer Corps member… had chosen to spare a demon's life? And more than that, he wanted to recruit her?
It was incomprehensible. Could such a human even exist?
And yet, it made sense. With his strength, killing her would have been effortless. There was no reason to negotiate—he didn't need to.
Still, she hesitated. Even if she agreed, would the Demon Slayer Corps allow someone like her to live? Could a demon truly coexist by his side without turning on him once hunger struck?
Ren seemed to read her thoughts.
"I know what you're worried about," he said. "It's not uncommon for demon slayers to work alongside demons. There's even someone in the mountains right now who carries his sister around all day. While I don't expect you can suppress your hunger like he does, I can adjust you. You'll be able to enjoy sunlight and eat normal food without losing control."
The Spider Mother's eyes widened in disbelief. Nothing about this was what she had ever imagined.