Demon Slayer : LEveLing uP

[Sakura's POV]

After another grueling night of missions, I finally had a moment to rest. Being a demon slayer is exhausting, and sometimes I wonder if I'm truly cut out for it. I try my best, but these missions feel so overwhelming at times.

I can't help but think about that one mission I did with Ishida. His presence was reassuring, and I miss it. I wish I could be as strong and confident as he is. It's been so long since we last worked together, and I worry that when we meet again, I'll still need him to protect me. I hope I can hold my own and not be a burden.

Returning to the demon slayer headquarters, the first thing I did was check on Kazuki. He's still injured, but they say he might be fit for missions by tomorrow or the next day. I care about him and want him to get better, but I can't shake this feeling of jealousy. Both Ishida and Kazuki seem so capable, and I often feel like I'm just trailing behind.

I want to support them and be a valuable part of the team, but sometimes I wonder if I'll ever be good enough.

"Good morning, Sakura-san!" the familiar chorus of three little voices greeted me. Sumi, Kiyo, and Naho always managed to say it in perfect sync whenever I visited, and it was undeniably adorable.

"Good morning!" I replied, trying to match their enthusiasm. It was a bit of a challenge, given how tired I felt, but their cheerfulness was infectious.

"Are you here to meet Kazuki-kun, Sakura-san?" asked Aoi Kanzaki as she appeared from behind the trio. Aoi was another acquaintance from the Butterfly Mansion, and while I respected her skills, our interactions were complicated.

I glanced past the three girls and nodded at Aoi. I couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy, seeing how competent and straightforward she was. Her directness often rubbed me the wrong way, making me feel inadequate in comparison. But at the same time, I admired her for it.

"Yes, I wanted to see how he's doing," I replied softly, trying to keep my voice steady.

Aoi nodded, her expression as unreadable as ever. "He's doing better. Hopefully, he'll be back on his feet soon."

I tried to smile, though the insecurity lingered. "That's good to hear," I said, wishing I could express myself with the same confidence and assurance that seemed to come so naturally to others around me.

I made my way to Kazuki's room, feeling a mix of anticipation and nervousness. The hallways of the headquarters were quiet, allowing my thoughts to wander back to that mission with Ishida. His strength was inspiring, but also a reminder of how far I still had to go.

Entering Kazuki's room, I was greeted with his usual warm smile. "Hey, Sakura," he said, his voice lifting my spirits despite the fatigue weighing on me.

"Hi, Kazuki," I replied, managing a small smile of my own. Being around him always had a way of making things feel a bit brighter.

"You look like you need a break," he remarked, his tone light and teasing, though with genuine concern in his eyes.

I shrugged, trying to play it off. "I could say the same for you. I just wanted to see how you were doing."

Kazuki chuckled softly, a sound that was both comforting and reassuring. "I'm getting there, thanks to all the visits. They really help."

His words made my heart flutter slightly, a feeling that was both comforting and confusing. "I'm glad," I said, feeling a warmth in his presence that I couldn't quite explain.

As we talked, I couldn't help but notice the ease with which he carried himself, despite everything. It made me wish I could be as confident and capable.

"Have you seen Ishida lately? I was wondering if he stopped by."

Kazuki shook his head, a hint of disappointment in his eyes. "No, I haven't seen him since our last mission together, the one where I got injured."

I nodded, understanding his sentiment. "Same here. It's been a while. He's always so focused on the missions, isn't he?"

"Yeah, that's Ishida for you," Kazuki said with a small chuckle. "He's probably off training or on another mission."

We exchanged a knowing look, both aware of Ishida's relentless drive. Then, the conversation shifted naturally to our own experiences.

"How's your recovery going?" I asked, genuinely curious and concerned.

"Better each day," Kazuki replied, a note of optimism in his voice. "The healers here are amazing. I should be back on my feet soon, hopefully joining the missions again."

"That's good to hear," I said, feeling a sense of relief.

Kazuki gave a lopsided grin, his usual charm evident. "Well, I'll be back soon enough to keep you company. And I'm sure you'll handle things just fine until then."

We chatted a bit longer about the missions, sharing stories and small laughs, the conversation flowing easily between us.

Afterwards, the conversation, I left and got back to my own room at the demon slayer corpse's headquarter.

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Chapter 0049.1

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[Enemies Defeated : 15/15

[Exp. 1,500 Received]

The fourth floor is finished now.

Honestly, there wasn't much of a difference between the demons on the third floor and those on the fourth. They pretty much looked the same and were about the same strength. So, it didn't take too long to beat the demons here.

But this time, for the first time in the whole quest, I actually lost some health on this floor.

[FATIGUE: 10/100]

[HP: 605/610]

[MP: 530/580]

It was just 5 HP, but it still stings a bit because I got careless and got hit. My fatigue is also at its highest so far in this quest. I really need to be more cautious from now on.

There are only two floors left before I reach the top. I'm super excited to see what's waiting for me up there. But first, I need to handle the challenges on the fifth and sixth floors.

After taking a short break on the fourth floor, I headed toward the stairs that the system revealed, leading up to the fifth floor.

I walked up the stairs slowly, taking it one step at a time. There was no rush since there wasn't any time limit, so I could relax and focus on finishing the quest peacefully.

At least, that's what I was thinking just a moment ago.

Out of nowhere, a sound made me freeze in place. As I paused to listen more closely, I realized it was the loud cry of a child.

Hearing a child crying instantly brought back memories of the day I finished the final selection for the Demon Slayer Corps. On my way home, I had heard the same kind of crying coming from the forest.

"Could it really be...!?"

As soon as that thought crossed my mind, I picked up the pace, turning my walk into a run to reach the next floor as quickly as possible.

Thanks to the speed, it didn't take long before I found myself on the fifth floor.

What I saw in front of me was shocking and terrifying. There were bodies lying on the ground—three of them—and amidst them was a child. It was the same child from the family I had saved during that mission.

"But... What's happening? Why are they here? And why are they dead!?" I wondered, feeling a mix of confusion and dread.

When I had seen her below, she was in the same state, covered in blood.

"You are pathetic!"

The words came from a demon standing next to the fallen family.

[Level: Unknown]

Even though the level was marked as unknown, I recognized the demon right away. She was the same one I had faced and defeated during a mission near my home.

"Why... What are you doing here!?"

The shock and astonishment hit me so hard that I could barely speak clearly. But...

"You are pathetic. You think you can protect everyone? Well, I killed this family to show you that you can't. You're not good enough, and a pathetic fool like you should die, just like these people here," the demon taunted.

I was stunned, unable to respond to her words. I couldn't understand why she was saying these things. What did she mean by all this? Why was she doing this?

The demon let out a loud laugh and then vanished into thin air. Just like that, after saying those haunting words without a hint of explanation, she was gone.

"What the hell is going on!?" I yelled in a mix of anger and frustration.

Suddenly, the three bodies on the floor disappeared right before my eyes. In their place stood demons—the very same demons I had defeated during the mission when I saved this family.

Why can't I ever seem to protect anyone? Is she right about me? Am I truly that pathetic? No matter how hard I try, it always feels like I'm failing. What if I'm just not meant for this?

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End of Chapter 0049.1