Not long after,
Tanjiro slowly emerged from his thoughts.
Inside the room, only Ubuyashiki Kagaya and Tanjiro remained.
"Master Ubuyashiki, where did Brother Yohan go?" Tanjiro looked around, realizing that Yohan had already disappeared.
"Tanjiro, Yohan has already returned to the Butterfly Estate," Kagaya said with a gentle smile. "But I have a question for you—are you willing to join the Demon Slayer Corps?"
"Yes, I am. I want to join."
Tanjiro had already made up his mind back in the Swordsmith Village. So when Kagaya formally extended the invitation, he accepted without hesitation.
"Then, no need to call me 'Master Ubuyashiki' anymore. From now on, just call me 'Master' like the others."
Kagaya was very pleased with Tanjiro's answer. A successor to Sun Breathing, now willing to join the Demon Slayer Corps—nothing could make him happier.
"Tanjiro, I plan to send you to Mt. Sagiri."
"Mt. Sagiri?" Tanjiro blinked in surprise.
"Our Demon Slayer Corps is primarily made up of demon slayers, of course. But we also have swordsmiths, Butterfly Estate members, and cultivators," Kagaya explained.
"And cultivators are responsible for training newcomers like you."
"The one at Mt. Sagiri can't teach you Sun Breathing, but I will send a letter explaining your situation. I trust you'll gain a solid foundation there."
"I don't really understand much about this, Master. I'll just follow your arrangements."
Tanjiro nodded firmly. He didn't fully grasp all the details Kagaya mentioned, but he understood one thing—this was a path to becoming stronger.
A path to gaining the strength to protect his family.
He looked down at his hands, remembering the reason he chose to join the Demon Slayer Corps in the first place.
"Then depart as soon as you're ready, Tanjiro."
"Yes, Master!"
Once Tanjiro's arrangements were settled, Kagaya returned to rest. His health was getting worse by the day, and it was only because of the hope Sun Breathing brought that he had insisted on spending this much time today.
….
Tanjiro soon returned home to the town where his family now lived.
"Mom, I'm back!"
"Tanjiro, where did you go today?" his mother asked, curious.
"Mom, Nezuko, I have something to tell you."
Tanjiro knew he was about to leave. Before he left, he had to make sure his family understood—he couldn't just vanish without a word.
But now that the family had truly settled in this town, and life was no longer as harsh as it once was in the mountains, Tanjiro felt more at ease about leaving.
"Today..."
Tanjiro explained his decision to join the Demon Slayer Corps and the conversation he had with Master Ubuyashiki.
"So you're going away to train, big brother?"
Nezuko looked at Tanjiro with an unusually serious expression. She knew her brother wasn't the kind of person to pursue strength blindly.
"Yeah, Nezuko. After I leave, I'm counting on you to help take care of our younger siblings."
Tanjiro believed in his decision—and in his family's ability to understand and support him.
"If this is what you've chosen, then go for it, Tanjiro," their mother Kie said without hesitation.
"Don't worry about the family. Just focus on staying safe."
She turned toward the house. "Nezuko, come help me prepare your brother's travel bag."
As a mother, Kie understood her eldest son better than anyone.
Once he had made up his mind, there was no stopping him.
All she could do was pray that he would return safely.
That night, dinner at the Kamado house was unusually lavish.
The little ones were thrilled and kept asking if the family had struck it rich.
Kie didn't respond—she just smiled quietly.
The next morning,
"Mom, Nezuko..."
"I'm heading off now," Tanjiro said, his eyes already turning red.
"Go on then, and don't forget to write home," Kie replied gently.
"Come back soon, big brother!" Nezuko called out, her own eyes welling up with tears.
They stood at the gate, watching his figure slowly disappear into the distance.
Kie turned and walked back inside. She needed a moment to herself.
But Nezuko remained at the gate, staring long in the direction her brother had gone.
"Big brother... just wait. When you come back, I'll surprise you in a big way."
….
"You want to learn how to fight demons too?"
At the Butterfly Estate, Yohan stared in astonishment at the girl standing in front of him—Nezuko.
Originally, Nezuko didn't even know where the Butterfly Estate was.
But she somehow managed to track down a Demon Slayer who had once been assigned to their town and had them deliver a letter to Yohan.
When Yohan first received the letter, he had been confused as to who would write to him.
But once he opened it, he was shocked to find that it was from Nezuko.
"Yes, my brother went off to train, and I want to train too."
"So you came looking for me?" Yohan asked.
"Mm. I think you're really strong, Brother Yohan. And..."
"And what?"
"...nothing! Just, please train me!"
If Tanjiro hadn't decided to join the Demon Slayer Corps, Nezuko might not have made up her mind so quickly either.
But after hearing her brother speak that day, she knew.
He was going to try protecting the family all on his own again.
Back in the mountains, she had no way of helping him—but now, she refused to let him carry the burden alone.
Besides... if she got stronger, maybe she could stand closer to Brother Yohan, too.
Nervously, Nezuko looked at Yohan, unsure if he would agree.
Seeing her determination, Yohan nodded.
"Alright then, Nezuko. From now on, come train with me here at the Butterfly Estate."