I don't feel that nervous, judging from the situation, I feel rather lucky.

The fact that he mentioned Muzan's name out of rage and panic, he must have forgotten that he'll immediately die if he even try to spat the demon lord's name.

I waited for him to just hurry up and die like that certain demon who died when she mentioned Muzan's name. But something is wrong, I'm sure of it.

I tried to shrug it off as some sort of dramatic delay, but heck, this is too much of a delay!

Almost twenty seconds passed and he's still normally standing infront of us, all well and alive, as if he didn't push the trigger of death by the mere mention of Muzan. Now how the hell is this possible?

Don't tell me this method doesn't apply in this timeline anymore? Or Muzan still hasn't decided it? No, that's impossible. The demon lord himself is smarter than he looks. But what other explanation could this be!?

I glanced at Agricius to telephatically ask him what was going on, but he only looked back at me with a confused expression.

"Surprised?" The Middle Moon demon broke the silence as the aura around us became suffocating. "You probably thought you had won, but this is where you will really die now, hashira."

I frowned at him, shaking my brain to think about any clues or ideas, until a random thought crossed my mind.

All demons are not allowed to say Muzan's name or else they'll be killed, but what if it were a different case? Judging from the fact that the Middle Moons never existed in the original plot, maybe that's the reason why they are not affected by it?

But surely, they also have his blood. So they should also die by the mention of Muzan. But what is this? Does this demon have plot-armor or something?

Before I can even come back to my senses, I was quickly pulled away by Agricius from the demon's attack. The spot we were in seconds ago looks like it's been burnt by a magma or something.

"What's the plan?" Agricius asked as I managed to balance myself. His red eyes warily stared at the demon infront us who seems to be preparing his next attack.

I sighed. "I don't know. We'll need to hold out and wait for help, or we fight him to the death." Clutching tightly to the hilt of my katana, I focused myself so as not to die in this very moment.

This demon infront of me is no joke. I literally feel chills running down my spine unlike my encounter with a lower moon demon before. Middle moons seems to be the same and equal with the Upper moons, and if they are already this strong, my chances of winning might be a 50-50.

"Tsk!" We both were on the defense as the moon demon decided to attack us without giving any chance for us to fight back. I ended up being in a far distance with Agricius who seems to be pushed back further away from me. Not even his vines could do anything from how strong the demon's flames is!

I could hear my katana almost breaking, making me have a panic attack. "Hold on I still need you." I mumbled to my soon-to-be-broke katana whose barely sturdy in my hands. If it breaks, then it literally means I'm dead.

Like bruh, I just became a hashira and few weeks later I'm dead? Hell no!

Taking deep breaths, I recalled the training I had with Urokodaki-san and the sparring times I had against Sabito. Both of them are hard to approach so I needed to focus on their battle pattern, fighting style, and always be on guard.

I can apply the same thing to this demon. From the way he attacked and separated me from Agricius, it looks like he can't handle a 2v1 much. His target is probably me, that's why he's pushing him away from me so I can't have back-up.

He also looks more experience in long range. He's literally just there near a large tree, using only his Blood Demon Art to fight back. His flames also have such a long range, both offense and defense. That's why I'm having a hard time to approach him.

"Huh, then maybe the only way is..." looking up, I saw that branches of trees, a grin forming in my lips. "...an attack from above him?" Jumping off the ground, I landed and jumped from one branch to another at a fast speed.

As soon as I got near his space, I prepared to strike him. He looks like he's been caught off guard. His flames were also a disadvantage for him, since it also blocked half of his sight and view from the battle. "Surprising." He smirked as he held onto his chopped limb.

I managed to strike him from the shoulder, with his left arm completely sliced off. That should be an achivement, but nope. He regenerated so quickly!

And I didn't bother talking back and have a conversation with him any longer. I need to find away to end this fight or else we'll die!

I suddenly heard a cracking and crawling noise, and I understood that it was Agricius' vines slowly creeping up to surprise-attack the oblivious demon. "Another one?" Surprisingly, he wasn't that oblivious. Before he can even get a hole in his stomach, he burnt the vines so hard it turned into crisp.

That made me gulp the lump on my throat. If that were me, I would have withered in pain.

Jumping backwards to avoid being burnt as well, I took deep breaths again as I held my head. "This needs to stop." Looking around, I can only see dark fogs, my sight became hazy as blood drips down from my head. Wait, blood?

"Huh?"

"Amery!" I glanced towards Agricius whose running towards me, desperately trying to reach out to me. "LOOK OUT!"

My sensitive ears caught a familiar eerie noise as I looked back to see the Middle Moon demon-and another tall, pale, and long haired demon standing behind him.

Before a wave of scorching flames could reach me, a blinding light flashed in my eyes, forcing me to shut them close as I mentally cursed myself.

~*~

The sound of students chattering with their friends while lunch break came echoed in my head. It was so noisy that I decided to put headphones and turn the music into the max level.

Ordinary outcast students like me never have time to make friends-or literally have no friends to begin with. I've been too caught up with the fact that I'm wasting my teen age years just to satisfy my parents' expectations. I always have these books around me to keep on pressuring me to do better.

Not once have I ever been able to have fun.

I chose to eat somewhere quiet, where no other students would be a bother to me. Having a lot of pocket money may be lucky, but not for someone like me who normally doesn't have a huge appetite. I always end up eating light foods even during lunch or breakfast.

This time, I decided to just eat a chocolate bar, sitting on a bench under a certain tree from behind the school. No one was around, so I took the opportunity to stay and rest for a while.

TAK!

The sound of biting my chocolate bar and the music in my headphones were the only thing I hear. I didn't mind the loneliness, the emptiness, or whatever this dipshit feeling is.

I could care less, since I never made an attempt to change my boring life. But I've always thought-would I have been better if I try to end it all?

Just cut ties with my family and live on my own with no more pressure? No more stress? No more restless nights of endless studying? That sounds nice-but impossible in my case. Because I've been too dependent on them, and I don't think I'll even be able to live on my own for long.

But the real problem is: Why the hell am I here in the past again?

I'm certain that I'm in a battle with Agricius against the Middle Moon demon. I'm also in the middle of an existential crisis as to why the demon hasn't died yet! And most certainly, I was about to die while seeing another scary-looking demon! Am I really reminiscing this shitty past of mine in such a situation? But this just feels so....real.

"How do I go back?" I asked myself, surprisingly I really feel normal, as if everything here is ordinary and real. "Or am I really here in the world and I'm just hallucinating about anime?"

With this confusion, I sighed as I roamed my eyes around. Maybe I fainted in battle and now I'm having a terrible flashback of my highschool days. But there was someone who suddenly appeared before me, and that surprised the living daylights out of me.

It was a familiar girl around her age of 8, wearing a red flower-pattern kimono and yellow sash around her waist, her bangs were long that framed her face, her hair reached her waist and it was a bit messy. Her rose-colored eyes that devoid of emotions stared at me with a blank face.

"A-Amery?" I stuttered, feeling a bit weird to see my reincarnated self, or maybe the real Amery, standing infront of me. "Wait, am I dead? What the hell is happening right now?"

"This is your own world, Amery. A world in your headspace." She replied back to me. "Or should I call you, Roxana Amalia Walter." Hearing my full name made me cringe. I really hated hearing my full name, I only liked Amelia since it sounded unique to me.

I closed my eyes as I tried to process what she said. "Okay. So this means this is all in my mind and you are not real. Literally not the real Amery?"

"Absolutely."

"Then what am I even here for?" I asked back, trying to think of a reason as to why I am here. "Does this mean I have something to know or what?"

She looked at me straight in the eyes. "What do you fear the most?"

I blinked my eyes at the sudden question, lowering my chocolate bar as I pondered about the question. "I fear....nothing?"

"Lies." She frowned at me. "We have the same fears, do not lie so blatantly to me." She then snapped her fingers at me. "We both fear death, and abandonment."

"If you already know, why bother asking me?" I countered, huffing out a sigh of disbelief. "Well, Amery, I have one question. Whether you are real or really not, are you here to go back to your body now that I've made an attempt to change your despicable life?"

The wind blew hard upon us, making me push away the hair that stucked into my face. While she stood still, not minding her hair being blown by the wind. "No."

I gave her the silence treatment to let her explain more. "I have no intention of going back. Not when I'm already dead." The way she answered sounded hard for her. She fears death like me, but now she's dead, I don't know what to say.

"And I am certain not only I, a figment of your imagination, is accepting my fate. So is the real Amery, who would have said the same."

Oh. Right. I almost forgot that everything here is just imagination and not real. But still, from the way she answers, it really seems like she's the real Amery.

I awkwardly scratched the back of my head. "Then, is there any important reason that we are in here?"

"Obviously, I'm here to remind you one thing." She pointed a finger at me, staring at me firmly. "No matter what others say, you're you. Whether as Amalia or Amery, nothing changes the fact that you're still you."

I slowly smiled, feeling content and suddenly relieved. "Well, that's nice to hear. I've been actually thinking whether I actually stole someone else's life and selfishly made it mine."

"No, not at all." Amery replied. "I'm certain you had a lot of regrets in your life here as Amalia."

"Regrets?" I looked down, closing my eyes. "I....suppose I regret something. I wish I took the initiative to change and be better. I should have not died by that accident before. I....hoped I was able to stand up against my controlling parents."

"Now that you've stated it all, do you wish to do something about it?"

Opening my eyes, I looked up to her, surprised to see a different looking girl. Her shoulder-length black hair and dull-gray eyes stared at me. "We regret the same thing. We fear the same thing. What do you wish to do with it?" Surprisingly, the Amery earlier, now looks like the past me, Amalia!

I took a deep breath before responding. "In any normal circumstances, yes. But just like you, I have no intentions to do so." Standing up, I suddenly feel my clothes changed from my school uniform to my demon slayer uniform.

"I regret nothing anymore. If forgiveness is what it all takes, then I forgive my parents, since past is past. And now that you've made it clear that I should accept myself as me, then the burden has been lifted off the shoulder."

The imaginary girl who looks like me, Amalia, only nodded her head as a ghost of a smile appeared in her face. Her eyes gained light as she smiled at me.

"All this seems weird, but I'm thankful. I never knew I have a part of this headspace thingy that can actually help me make sense and realize that I should just be me." I shrugged as I took a seat on the bench again. "I'm curious tho, can I ask something?"

"Go on ahead. But don't expect me to be able to answer correctly."

"About the demon." I hesitated, but decided nothing could go wrong if I just try to ask. "Won't he already die in an instant by the mere mention of...Muzan?"

"Unfortunately, that isn't the case. Things that are not bound to exist doesn't have any reason to dissapear in a method that you are familiar with. They must likely have a different ending. Because they cease to exist in the first place."

Cease to exist? Does that mean they existed only to come to an end or some sort? What the hell is this-are the Middle Moon Demons somewhat like the suicidal troop deployed by Muzan bitch? Maybe. And I guess they became an exemption to that demon lord's rule since they'll die eventually.

Wait, does that mean that I also-oh wait. Maybe not.

So in simpler words: Middle Moon Demons existed, only to die, and used by Muzan for his orders. And they don't die from mentioning his name because, maybe, they never existed in the original. Well, they never did existed in the real plot, so maybe that's also why. But I hope I'm not mistaking it.

"Alright. I guess the Middle Moons are an exemption to that method?"

"Yes. But not so sure. I only answered the same answer that you wanted to hear."

I sighed. "Right. Ofcourse, imagination comes from the mind."

She nodded, then silently looked at me. "One piece of advice, we exist as one. Don't let self-doubt get over you, or else you'll be devoured by the madness inside you."

"Wait, what-" before I could even finish my question, blinding light found its way to my eyes again as I immediately shut them close. Relief dawned on me when I realized that I was able to let go of my past hatred and regrets. This time-I'll have no regrets.

~*~

I stared at the gloomy sky and green leaves of trees above me, before glancing up at Agricius who worriedly gazed down at me. "Hey! Are you awake now?"

"...yesn't?" I almost mentally slapped myself from the stupid response I've given him. "I mean, yes, but at the time, I'm not."

"Well, that's weird." He squinted his eyes with confusion, but decided to let it go. "We're lucky we were saved on time."

My forehead creased as I looked up to him, ignoring the pain in my bandaged forehead. "Saved? By who?"

Agricius looks hesitant at first, but soon replied. "Another demon. That long-haired, tall and pale demon."

Silence. I closed my eyes as I tried to think of a reason why another demon helped me, then I recalled something. "How am I wounded so far? Was I burnt or something, or did that demon took the hit?"

"I managed to pull you out." He replied with a shrug. "Seriously, I thought you were gonna die. The only wound you have right now is the graze in your forehead."

"Ah, right. Is it better now? It was bleeding terribly earlier that I can't believe it was just a graze."

He nodded. "Yep. I did some first aid, buuuut." Shutting his mouth, I looked up to him again, confused.

"But?"

"....well, I tore a piece of cloth from your haori to use as bandage for your forehead. I need something to wrap it up and stop the bleeding so..." his red eyes averted elsewhere, making me laugh at him. "Hey! I went all through that trouble and you'll just laugh at me?"

I sighed as I reached out to his head to pat it, making him pout. "Dude, you did great. I just find it funny as to why you seem scared about my haori."

"I thought you were going on a rampage about it." He explains, closing his eyes as he leaned his back on a tree. "I wonder who that demon is."

"Me too." I replied as I comfortably used his lap as a pillow. Before I can even drift to sleep again, I heard a familiar eerie noise again. "Wait a minute." I tried to stand up and sit straight, surprising him from my sudden action.

"What are you-"

"Ssh!" I hushed him, silencing him immediately. "Don't you hear it?"

His red eyes roamed around the forest. "No. Are you hearing something?"

"It's the same thing I heard when that demon you told me who saved us appeared." I told him, chills ran down my spine again. "Seriously, you can't hear or sense anything?"

If what I think is right, that demon who saved us must be the same demon whom I'm hearing this eerie noise! And that eerie feeling as well. I was already very much certain it wasn't Muzan since they both have different vibes. One is intense and suffocating with such murder intent, and the other is just pure malice, madness, and somewhat mysterious.

"We're not safe here. We need to go and look for the others."

I stood up, dusting my haori, before looking back at the younger demon. "And this is a problem. If the others learned that another demon killed another demon, they'll end up questioning us more about it. Or most likely think that the certain demon could be you."

Agricius frowned. "Wait, why me?"

"Because they don't know you yet." I replied, crossing my arms. "I have an idea. Let's take this opportunity for you to be introduced as my apprentice."

He thought about it for a moment before nodding his head. "Sure. Then that means I'll have to act like I helped out to kill the demon instead of telling them that another demon killed him?"

"Well, that's nice but I guess in this state?" Pointing at my bandaged head, I sighed. "Maybe it's better to say that you got to kill the demon and not just helped in killing the demon."

"...alright."

I smiled. "Nice. But if you did killed the demon, how will they believe it if you don't have any katana?" We stared at each others for a moment before he grinned at me.

"Simple," he snapped his fingers and he twisted the vines, cutting it before molding it into a familiar blade. "I can also be creative." He then grabbed the simply and swiftly molded almost-looking nichirin blade with a sheath, putting it on his waist. "Problem solved."

I blinked my eyes before sighing in relief. If he weren't here, I might have really died already. "You've got a nice Blood demon art. Is it mostly just vines?"

"There's plenty of them. My favorite is bella donna." He casually replied, making me narrow my eyes at him. "Don't get me wrong. It's just that, bella donna is the most useful to me. Mostly, my demon art comes from different plants where poisons come from."

"Ah, I think I remember