Chapter 26 – A Clue
In this world, rumors of man-eating demons occasionally found their way into the whispers of the common folk.
But to most people, they were nothing more than folklore—old legends passed down through generations. Life moved on. Tragedies came and went. Death was simply a part of daily life.
Even if someone truly was devoured by a demon, the news would disappear as quickly as it arrived—buried beneath bigger disasters and more mundane misfortunes.
After all, demons were few in number compared to the human population.
And thanks to the relentless work of the Demon Slayer Corps, many demons were eliminated before they even had the chance to take a single life—cut down by Nichirin Blades before they could act.
That's why—
Most people would live their whole lives without ever encountering a demon.
Like a myth passed down through firelit nights.
Except this myth... was real.
"Demons didn't exist at the start. Everything began with a single being—the very first demon, Kibutsuji Muzan. He's been alive for over a thousand years."
"He's the only creature capable of creating other demons in large numbers. Because of his existence, they continue to roam the earth, preying on humanity for centuries."
Hikaru's voice echoed in the stillness of the room.
Every word rang clearly in the ears of Kamado Tanjiro.
Hikaru kept his gaze on the boy before him. He could see the change gradually forming in Tanjiro's eyes, a clear sign that he was truly absorbing the truth.
But Hikaru didn't try to convince him.
He simply offered the truth—and left the rest to Tanjiro's heart.
After his father, Kamado Tanjuro, passed away, Tanjiro had carried the burden of this family on his own. As the eldest son, he knew what it meant to protect.
It was his father's final wish before passing.
And now, the truth had settled in.
Everything—every tragedy, every consequence—traced back to one name:
Kibutsuji Muzan.
Tanjiro took a deep breath and slowly lifted his head. He looked at Hikaru—not much older than himself—but there was something in his scent, something deeply familiar and powerful.
With his extraordinary sense of smell, Tanjiro could recognize it without doubt.
That scent... it reminded him of his father, especially when he danced beneath the moon in the sacred Hinokami Kagura.
Hikaru took another sip of his tea and waited.
"I..."
Tanjiro finally spoke, his voice trembling slightly.
He knew now—Muzan had marked his family.
Even if they were safe for now, it was only a matter of time before another attack came.
And that meant—
"I want my family to be relocated to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters."
Tanjiro's eyes sharpened.
"And I… want to join the Demon Slayer Corps!"
Hikaru paused mid-movement.
Giyu turned his head in quiet surprise.
"Tanjiro…" Mrs. Kamado whispered in disbelief.
"I thought I explained everything to you," Hikaru said gently, locking eyes with the boy. "Demons… are far stronger than ordinary humans. Our Corps has only around three hundred members, but every year, over a hundred of us are killed."
"This path… is dangerous."
"I know," Tanjiro replied, his voice calm but resolute. "But if I don't stand up to that monster… my siblings will never be free from fear."
He breathed in, steadying himself.
"If we don't fight back… then we'll always be running. Always hunted."
"I'm the eldest son in this family."
"That means… it's my responsibility."
"I won't let my family live the rest of their lives in hiding."
Tanjiro knew exactly what kind of danger he was walking into.
It wasn't that he wasn't afraid.
But—
This was the burden he had chosen to bear. The fate he had chosen to face.
Because he was Kamado Tanjiro.
And behind him stood people he wanted—needed—to protect.
"Idiot," Giyu muttered coldly.
"You don't even know what you're getting into…"
"I don't know everything," Tanjiro admitted. "But I know this—if it's for my family, I'll never regret this choice!"
His eyes were burning with conviction.
And that made Giyu fall silent.
Because that look—
He had seen it before. In the eyes of comrades who had walked the same path, knowing death might greet them at any turn, and still choosing to go on.
Hikaru watched quietly. Inside, something stirred.
Maybe it wasn't destiny that made someone the protagonist of a story.
Maybe… it was the will to protect someone, the belief that you could.
Maybe that alone was enough to turn someone into the hero of their own tale.
And when that truth settled in his heart, when that final illusion shattered—
Something within Hikaru shifted.
A flow of energy surged through him.
Void Breathing—the technique he had forged and honed—had finally pierced the final threshold.
He had reached the true form of Total Concentration Breathing: Constant.
His body now moved in perfect harmony with his breath.
Silently. Without warning.
He had crossed the barrier.
Hikaru narrowed his eyes… and smiled.
This journey—it was exactly like this.
The more you see, the more you come to understand. And only then… do you begin to grow.
"I've seen your resolve, Tanjiro."
"But remember—what lies ahead of you may well be an endless hell."
His voice was soft, but there was no mistaking the weight behind it.
"Tanjiro…"
"Nii-chan!"
Mrs. Kamado and Nezuko called out at once.
But Tanjiro turned to them with a gentle smile.
"Mom… Nezuko, Hanako, Takeo, Shigeru, Rokuta… I'll protect all of you."
"I promised Dad I would."
Mrs. Kamado and Nezuko fell silent.
They couldn't argue.
"…Then I'm entrusting him to you," Hikaru said, turning toward Giyu.
"Take him to join the Demon Slayer Corps."
Giyu blinked. "Why me?"
"Because you're the Water Hashira. You're a senior, aren't you?"
The way Hikaru said it made it clear: I handled the hard part. Now it's your turn.
But a moment later, Hikaru added in a more serious tone, "And besides… doesn't he remind you of someone? Your old master… the previous Water Hashira?"
Giyu scowled but didn't argue.
Because deep down… he'd felt that from the start.
Unlike many of the current Hashira who were trained by former ones, Hikaru had been trained by a former Corps member—strong, yes, but not a Hashira.
And Tanjiro…
Had the same innate talent as Giyu's master once did.
That exceptional sense of smell…
"But we still need someone to escort the Kamado family to headquarters," Hikaru said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
The longer they delayed, the greater the risk.
And Hikaru… hated delaying things that mattered.
However—
To transport civilians to Corps headquarters required high-level authority. That wasn't something just any member could do.
Suddenly, a rhythmic tapping came from the window.
Not the wind—but deliberate.
Hikaru turned his head.
A black crow perched just outside the glass, its eyes glinting sharply.
"It's here," Giyu muttered.
A few seconds later, there was a knock at the door.
"Who's… there?" Mrs. Kamado asked nervously, her voice still carrying the weight of trauma.
"It's me~!" came a cheerful, airy voice from beyond the door.
Hikaru froze for a moment.
He knew that voice.
"Insect Hashira—Shinobu Kocho…"
"Don't worry. She's an ally."
Soon after, the door slid open.
A young woman stepped inside with grace, her haori fluttering lightly behind her. Butterfly ornaments swayed in her hair. Her warm, serene smile filled the room with a spring-like calm.
She stepped in from the snowy night as if untouched by a single speck of dirt.
Like a butterfly drifting among flowers—
Light, and unseen.
Behind her stood another girl, smiling sweetly like a porcelain doll.
It was Kanao Tsuyuri—the successor to the Insect Hashira.
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