Chapter 38 – Tamayo's Past
—Erasing Kibutsuji Muzan.
The moment those words left Hikaru's lips, Tamayo froze.
There was no greater enemy to her than that man.
Yes—
Even though she was now a demon. Even though she had become what she was due to the blood Muzan gave her…
Still, that man was her enemy. One she longed to destroy—no matter what it took.
But Tamayo also knew all too well… just how powerful Kibutsuji Muzan truly was.
The only real chance to kill him had passed centuries ago—during the Sengoku era, when a certain swordsman first appeared wielding Sun Breathing.
That moment… was long gone, never to return.
Her body trembled faintly.
Tamayo looked at the young man before her—the one who had just spoken those heavy words.
She knew Hikaru was among the strongest swordsmen in the Demon Slayer Corps—on par with the Hashira. But…
There was no way.
There was no way anyone could go up against Kibutsuji Muzan.
"…I know I'm not strong enough to defeat Muzan. Not yet."
Hikaru, sensing the reaction in Tamayo's eyes, easily read her thoughts.
But he wasn't offended.
Because… she wasn't wrong.
"But just because I can't now… doesn't mean I never will," he added calmly.
His gaze was steady. Firm. Unwavering.
The present may be lacking—but the future still held possibilities.
Tamayo stared at him, lips parting with a deep sigh and a bitter smile. "…Forgive me. I got emotional."
"Your heart was shaken," Hikaru replied with a gentle smile.
Tamayo had lived for hundreds of years. She should've had far greater composure.
But the attack earlier…
That Lower Moon Demon, sent by Muzan himself—it had rattled her. Stirred up fears she thought she'd buried long ago.
That was…
A real threat to her life.
Had Hikaru not arrived in time, she would've already been captured—dragged back into Muzan's clutches.
But he had.
And now… she was still alive. Still free.
She'd escaped—again.
Taking in a deep breath, Tamayo calmed her heart.
But she didn't speak right away.
She simply watched Hikaru in silence—observing the unwavering fire in his eyes.
Across the room, Yushiro stood tense, arms crossed, frustration written across his face.
But even he understood the weight of this moment.
Hikaru didn't rush her.
He sipped his tea slowly, waiting with quiet patience.
And in that silence… Tamayo remembered.
—Her past.
A past that stretched across centuries.
Like many demons, Tamayo had once been an ordinary human.
It was an era of chaos and war.
She had been a physician—born into a family of healers. But fate played cruel tricks on her. She was stricken by a terminal illness, her days numbered.
Desperate to survive—to live long enough to see her child grow—
That was when he appeared.
Kibutsuji Muzan.
He promised eternal life.
And Tamayo… accepted his blood.
She became a demon.
But not long after, she lost control.
Consumed by the bloodlust she couldn't suppress—she slaughtered her husband.
And killed her own child.
When her senses returned…
All that remained were mangled limbs… and pools of blood.
Pain? Regret? Or maybe… hatred?
Tamayo no longer remembered what emotion first surfaced.
But she could never forget her husband's face—strong, dependable, never once faltering.
Nor could she forget her child's innocent smile—so small, so pure.
And most of all—
She could never forget the vow born from that tragedy:
To kill Muzan.
She had spiraled into despair. But eventually, she rose again.
She infiltrated Muzan's inner circle.
Became a spy, waiting for the perfect chance to strike.
But… she failed.
Her one and only chance came centuries later.
When a swordsman named Yoriichi Tsugikuni—the first wielder of Sun Breathing—appeared and nearly destroyed Kibutsuji Muzan.
"That was the moment Muzan suffered the deepest wound of his life," Tamayo said quietly. "After that, his grip over the demons began to weaken. And it was then… that I finally escaped his control."
"Since then, I've modified my body extensively. I can now survive on just a tiny amount of blood—without ever needing to consume human flesh."
"I'm no longer under Muzan's watch or influence."
But after those words, she exhaled slowly.
"…Unfortunately, that was our only true chance to kill him."
"Since then… no one's been able to push him to that brink again."
Her gaze turned toward Hikaru, flickering beneath the warm lantern light.
Though her voice remained calm, Hikaru could feel the weight behind every word.
This world was full of tragedies like that.
Most demons… eventually succumbed. Lost to madness, driven by hunger—until they were finally hunted down and slain by the Corps.
But Tamayo was different.
She'd reclaimed her identity.
Fought back against the curse.
Hikaru had no idea how much she'd endured to reach this point.
But he could feel it.
Behind her gentle expression… was an unthinkable burden.
The room fell into silence again.
Yushiro clenched his fists tightly.
He knew everything Tamayo had endured.
And he also knew…
There was nothing he could do… but watch.
After a moment, Hikaru let out a quiet breath and looked toward the window.
"…I've seen Kibutsuji Muzan. With my own eyes."
His voice shattered the silence.
Moonlight filtered through the trees in the small garden outside, casting faint, trembling shadows on the floor.
The air seemed to still.
"…You've seen him?" Tamayo's eyes sharpened.
She needed to know if this was truth—or just empty bravado.
But Hikaru's eyes…
Held nothing but sincerity.
"Yes. I've seen him. That's why I know exactly how terrifying his power is. And that's why…"
"…I'm not joking around."
Each word was steady.
Clear.
"Whether or not I succeed doesn't matter right now. What matters is this—my desire to erase Kibutsuji Muzan from this world… is stronger than anyone's."
That wasn't just conviction.
It was truth.
Because only by killing Muzan could Hikaru complete his primary quest.
Only then… would he be able to leave this world.
Only then… could he go back.
Back to where he truly belonged.
To the home he had lost.
"…Of course, I won't force you," Hikaru added. "If you refuse, I'll walk away. I won't push my goals onto you."
His voice was firm.
He wasn't a saint.
He had his own ambitions.
But he also had principles—and he followed them.
Tamayo saw it.
The fire.
In his eyes, she saw the blaze of purpose.
"…Then tell me. What is it that you want from me?"
Tamayo finally spoke.
And with those words—
She chose to stand by Hikaru's side.
She chose… to believe.
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