Chapter 75

On a small path leading to Nata Spider Mountain, three young boys were walking together. If someone were to look closely, they would notice that these three boys were acting rather strangely.

One of the boys with deep red hair was carrying a large wooden box on his back. The other two boys, one bare-chested and wearing a wild boar mask, and the other looking terrified, were almost being dragged along by their companions.

After dealing with the Drum Demon, Tanjiro and his two companions had just left the Demon Slayer Corps' branch when they were informed that they needed to head to Nata Spider Mountain for support.

Moreover, the messenger crow had explicitly stated that this mission was extremely dangerous and required utmost caution.

This time, Tanjiro and his companions' mission was not to exterminate the demons in Spider Mountain but to use their individual strengths to determine the number and location of the demons.

As for the task of dealing with the demons in Spider Mountain, the headquarters had already sent strong reinforcements. Tanjiro and his companions' mission was only reconnaissance.

They were to find the missing Demon Slayer Corps members and rescue them if possible, all while ensuring their own safety.

However, Iwai Zen'itsu, who was always timid, refused to go up the mountain when he heard how dangerous this mission was.

He argued that the mission was to ensure their own safety, and by refusing to go, he was already ensuring his own safety.

So many Demon Slayer Corps members had entered the mountain and never returned. He and Tanjiro, being new to the Demon Slayer Corps, were essentially "newbies." Accepting such a dangerous mission was like walking into a death trap.

"You guys are fine, with your strong abilities, but I'm so weak, I'll be killed for sure..."

Zen'itsu started his usual self-deprecating remarks, saying he could help by keeping watch outside, as he wouldn't be of any use if he went up the mountain.

"Didn't the messenger crow say that the headquarters would send strong reinforcements? So our mission isn't really dangerous," Tanjiro said, looking at Zen'itsu, who was clinging to his leg, with a somewhat helpless expression.

"It can't be safe. Didn't you hear that many Demon Slayer Corps members went in and never came back? Who knows how many and how strong the reinforcements are? If they're not stronger than the demons in Spider Mountain, won't we all be wiped out?"

Zen'itsu had no confidence in the so-called "strong" reinforcements. If the headquarters had really sent strong reinforcements, they wouldn't need the three of them to go on a rescue mission.

Just as Tanjiro was about to argue, a voice came from behind them.

"I can't pretend I didn't hear that. I don't know what kind of demons are in Spider Mountain, but I have confidence in my own abilities."

Hearing this familiar voice, Tanjiro turned around with a look of surprise and saw Yudai smiling at them.

"Sure enough, it's Big Brother Yudai. So the strong reinforcements sent by the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters are Big Brother Yudai?"

Tanjiro, looking like a star-struck fan, asked excitedly. He had always admired Yudai, and after learning the significance of the Pillars from Rengoku, his admiration only grew.

A ninja who doesn't want to be a Hokage is not a good ninja, and a Demon Slayer who doesn't want to be a Pillar is no different from a dead fish.

Yudai became the new Demon Pillar in just one year after joining the Demon Slayer Corps, making him a figure of admiration for many.

Seeing Yudai, Zen'itsu, who had been clinging to Tanjiro's leg, immediately switched his allegiance and clung tightly to Yudai's leg.

Clearly, Zen'itsu could easily tell that Yudai's leg was thicker than Tanjiro's...

Moreover, Zen'itsu's thick skin allowed him to easily forget his previous concerns about the reinforcements not being strong enough. Now, he only wanted the big shot to lead them to victory.

Yudai, seeing Zen'itsu smearing snot and tears on his pants, pushed his head away with a look of disgust, but Zen'itsu clung to Yudai's leg like a piece of chewing gum, refusing to let go.

If it had been a well-endowed young lady, Yudai wouldn't have minded her "death grip," but since it was Zen'itsu, he had no interest at all.

In the end, Tanjiro, unable to bear his friend's embarrassing behavior, finally managed to pull Zen'itsu away.

"You're Iwai Zen'itsu, right? If you really have someone you like, can you protect her in your current state?"

As Yudai said this, he glanced at the box on Tanjiro's back, his meaning clear.

"And you over there, you're Inosuke, right? If I were you, I would hide my fighting spirit and aura from the enemy.

Even the king of the forest knows to hide its presence when hunting prey to ensure a successful strike.

You may have created the Beast Breathing technique, but you haven't grasped the essence of being a beast. If I didn't know you, what do you think I would do with such obvious hostility?"

As Yudai finished speaking, his previously gentle and friendly expression changed, and his eyes, like those of a hawk, fixed on Inosuke, who had been radiating hostility.

A powerful demonic aura burst from Yudai, and although he didn't move, an invisible pressure instantly enveloped the three of them.

The one who felt it most was Inosuke, who was the focus of Yudai's attention.

Unlike Tanjiro's sense of smell and Zen'itsu's hearing, Inosuke's exceptional sixth sense made him highly sensitive to danger.

Holding his dual swords, Inosuke looked at Yudai, but the overwhelming fighting spirit he had felt earlier was now gone.

Having been raised by wild animals, he now experienced the contempt of a creature at the top of the food chain.

His mind tried to command his body to move, but his legs wouldn't obey, trembling uncontrollably.

In Inosuke's eyes, Yudai was no longer the gentle figure he had seen before but a blood-soaked, horned figure with waist-length red hair, like a demon from hell.

The skill of Intimidation not only affects demons but also suppresses the spirit of most beings weaker than Yudai.

The greater the power gap, the more effective the Intimidation. For someone with an exceptional sixth sense like Inosuke, the effect was even more pronounced.