In the hidden blacksmith village, nestled deep in the mountains, warm steam rose gently into the sky from a secluded hot spring pool.
"Big Sis Kanae, your skin is so beautiful!" Mitsuri Kanroji's eyes sparkled with admiration as she gazed at Kanae's skin, glowing like warm ivory under the caress of the mineral-rich waters.
Nezuko, the youngest among them, didn't say much—true to her quiet nature—but eagerly nodded in agreement by her side.
"K-Kanroji, Nezuko… you two…!"
Kanae Kocho's face turned crimson as she shrank back into the water. In the Demon Slayer Corps, she was usually surrounded by men, and when she did bathe, it was only ever with her younger sister. Having two girls ogling her under the fog of steam like this was a brand-new, overwhelming experience.
Just as she awkwardly tried to shift the subject, her eyes drifted—almost involuntarily—toward Kanroji's chest… then turned to glance at Nezuko's.
Wait… since when were young girls this well developed?!
Kanae felt her heart tremble as she stared at the soft outlines barely obscured by the fog. She lowered her gaze to herself.
She had… lost. Completely and utterly defeated.
"Take this!!" Mitsuri suddenly scooped up a handful of steaming water and flung it playfully at Kanae.
"You little imp, Kanroji—!"
"Water fight! It's on!"
"Nezuko, don't think you're escaping either!"
And just like that, the tranquil hot spring turned into a lively battlefield of splashes and laughter. For a brief moment, Kanae Kocho shed the heavy mantle of being both a Pillar and a big sister—she was just a girl, laughing and playing with friends.
….
Elsewhere in the same mountain village, at another spring-fed pool for men—
Only two figures shared the water: Yohan and Tanjiro.
Yohan leaned lazily against a smooth stone at the pool's edge, arms draped over the rim, eyes closed as he soaked in the serenity of the forested mountains. The gentle bubbling of the water blended with the distant chirping of cicadas. It was almost meditative.
How much longer could peace like this last?
He knew in his bones—this was just the calm before the storm.
Once Tamayo and Shinobu completed their research and perfected the demon-transforming antidote… the final battle would come.
And right now, his power still wasn't enough to guarantee victory against Muzan Kibutsuji.
Muzan's infamous escape move—the one where he exploded himself into nearly 1800 tiny fragments of flesh—was not something Yohan had a good counter to.
That wasn't something you could block or tank. Not yet.
No, he needed to activate more quests. Find more plot characters. Unlock more power.
As for training in breathing techniques? Heh. Forget it. That was not his strong suit.
Defense… defense was where he excelled.
"Yohan… what exactly are demons?" Tanjiro's voice finally broke the silence.
He'd been quietly soaking for a long time. Out of respect, he hadn't wanted to disturb Yohan, who seemed deep in thought with his eyes closed. But once Yohan stirred and opened his eyes, Tanjiro couldn't hold back his question any longer.
"Demons, huh?"
Yohan's voice was low, calm.
"They're tragic beings that can only live in the dark. They feed on humans. That's what keeps them alive."
"Eat… humans?"
Tanjiro's eyes widened in disbelief. "They really eat people?"
"Yes," Yohan said grimly. "A lot of people. Kanae's parents… they were killed by demons."
Tanjiro's expression darkened. He valued family above all else. The very thought of losing loved ones to something like that… it shook him to his core.
"Yohan, do you… do you have a way to fight them?"
"Of course. Not just me—everyone in the Demon Slayer Corps works hard to kill demons."
Tanjiro clenched his fists under the water. "Then… can you teach me too? How to fight demons?"
That caught Yohan off guard.
"You sure about that, Tanjiro? Once you take that path, there's no turning back."
Yohan had considered the possibility that Tanjiro might eventually join the Corps, likely swayed by Kagaya Ubuyashiki. But he hadn't expected the boy to bring it up first—of his own will.
"What's your reason?" Yohan asked quietly.
"I want to protect my family," Tanjiro said, eyes burning with sincerity. "Dad's gone now. I'm the eldest son. I didn't even know demons existed before—but now I do. And if that's the case, then I have to get strong. I have to protect the people I love."
He added with a sheepish grin, "Besides… I heard the Corps offers decent pay, right?"
Yohan was stunned.
In his previous life, Tanjiro took this path to avenge his family. But in this life… it was to protect them.
And that small difference—that single word—carried an entirely different kind of power.
This version of Tanjiro, driven not by grief but by love, was no weaker. If anything, he might become even stronger.
"Alright," Yohan said at last. "If that's your decision, I'll make the introduction when the time comes."
"Thank you, Yohan!" Tanjiro beamed, bowing gratefully.
He had no idea of the hellish training that awaited him.
The Pillars would not go easy on him.
Yohan could already picture him getting tossed around like a ragdoll.
Poor innocent fool…
Tanjiro suddenly shivered, rubbing the back of his neck. "Huh? Why do I feel a chill even though the water's hot…"
Yohan smirked and said nothing.
….
As dusk settled over the village—
Fresh from the soothing waters, everyone felt invigorated. Their skin glowed, and appetites flared. The dinner table was nearly cleaned bare.
While the others watched Mitsuri devour a mountain of rice, a man wearing a blacksmith's mask walked in and approached Yohan.
"Yohan-sama, the Village Chief asked me to relay a message. He remembered something after returning home."
"Oh?"
"He recalled that a few blacksmith families in the village might still possess heirlooms—artifacts passed down from their ancestors. But the Chief doesn't have any records about them. If you want them, you'll have to investigate personally."
Heirlooms. Ancient techniques. That sparked something in Yohan's memory.
Had he… seen this scenario before?
He murmured to himself:
"Artifacts… blades… refining technique…"
And then it hit him.
That's it.
He finally understood what he needed to find.