Chapter 66 – Soul Fragments, The End of the Trial
In the end, Tanjiro never did swing his sword at his father.
But he found another way to pass the trial.
And because of that, Tanjuro Kamado, whose soul had long been bound to this world, was finally able to let go of the burdens holding him back.
Maybe one day, Tanjiro would still remember him.
But that memory would no longer weigh on his heart.
"May you find peace… wherever you are now."
Hikaru whispered softly.
Though the trial had ended, Tanjiro hadn't awakened yet.
Because in that final moment—just before his father vanished—Tanjuro had left something behind.
A memory.
A gift.
—The complete form and true essence of Hinokami Kagura.
Tanjiro had trained in it before. But back then, Tanjuro was already frail and sick, and Tanjiro had never been able to fully grasp its secrets.
Now… it was time.
And Hikaru watched everything unfold with his own eyes.
The final legacy of Yoriichi Tsugikuni, once entrusted to the Kamado family, had now been passed on in full.
The night remained deep and quiet.
Tanjiro had made it.
And the others… were growing in their own ways.
— — —
Somewhere in the forest, a boy in a yellow kimono dashed like lightning between the trees. Sparks of electricity crackled around his body as he moved.
His once-nervous face now carried a fierce focus—one that bordered on terrifying.
Agatsuma Zenitsu.
He looked like a coward.
But he was the chosen disciple of the former Thunder Hashira.
And though he lacked natural talent—
Even though he couldn't master all the forms of Thunder Breathing his grandfather had taught him—
He clung to one thing.
One move.
One slash.
A single strike that held back everything—his emotions, his courage, his doubts.
Because of that, he always wanted to run away in the face of danger.
And yet… that very strike became the purest embodiment of Thunder Breathing.
Total commitment in a single moment.
Perfection born from absolute focus.
The art of thunder itself—fleeting, blinding, and devastating.
And when Zenitsu's consciousness dipped…
A different side of him emerged.
Stronger.
Faster.
Deadlier.
Zenitsu was beginning to realize the presence of that self within him.
— — —
Meanwhile, Inosuke faced everything in the only way he knew how.
Headfirst.
Charging like the wild beast he was—just as recklessly as the forest had raised him.
And yet, through that chaotic style, something became clear.
He could see his weaknesses more sharply than anyone else.
— — —
The most complicated of them all, though… was Kanao Tsuyuri.
"That girl…"
Hikaru turned his head toward her.
From the very beginning, Kanao had only taken a few steps forward, flipped her coin, and then stood completely still—frozen in place.
Like a doll waiting for a command.
"What exactly did Shinobu teach her…?"
Hikaru let out a soft sigh, rubbing his temple.
Out of everyone here, Kanao was technically the most skilled.
But emotionally… she was the most fragile.
If she didn't receive orders, she left her decisions up to a coin toss.
She had no will of her own.
No direction.
"If that's the case…"
Hikaru's eyes narrowed.
"It might be time I tweak this trial a little."
But just before he acted—
The mist around them stirred.
And before Kanao… someone appeared.
A gentle breeze carried a scattering of petals, and from them… a woman slowly emerged.
She had long, flowing black hair, wore the standard Demon Slayer Corps uniform, and a butterfly-patterned haori nearly identical to Shinobu Kocho's.
A dark violet butterfly ornament rested on the side of her hair.
Her features were soft, her eyes calm, her lips curled in a warm smile—like morning sunlight filtering through clouds.
It was—
"Kanae Kocho…"
Hikaru froze.
So she had been watching too… from beyond the veil.
But shouldn't she be guiding her sister, Shinobu?
Why appear before Kanao instead?
Even if their bond was close, like that of real sisters… Shinobu was Kanae's biological sibling.
Still…
"Spirits that remain in this world… don't just linger because they can't let go."
"Sometimes, it's because someone else can't bear to let them go."
A soft voice rode the wind, echoing in his mind.
Souls like Kanae's needed a tether—some emotional chain—to keep them bound to this world.
As long as that chain remained, they could appear before those whose hearts were still attached to them.
Because these weren't complete spirits—only fragments of souls, born from memory and longing.
"So that's how it is…"
Hikaru nodded quietly.
But he didn't interfere.
He simply watched.
Watched as Kanae reached out her hand—
And watched as Kanao's expression finally changed. Her lips trembled.
"Kanao, from now on… live for yourself."
Those were the words Kanae had always said to her.
Kanao, once sold off by her parents and abused as a child, had been rescued by Kanae and Shinobu.
Since then, she had followed them blindly.
To her, Kanae was everything.
Her one light in a world of darkness.
"Live… for your own sake."
That message had been etched into her soul.
But she had never truly understood what it meant.
She simply held onto the words—deep inside—until they became a voice in her dreams.
Especially after Kanae passed away.
And now… she heard them again.
This time—from Kanae herself.
"Kanae… nee-san…"
Kanao whispered, voice quivering.
"Remember this feeling, Kanao. Remember this wish."
Kanae gazed at her with endless gentleness.
"Live… for yourself."
The mist stirred again.
The hand she almost grasped faded into fluttering petals.
But something had taken root in Kanao's heart.
A tremble.
A desire.
For the first time…
She understood what it meant to live.
— — —
And at that very moment—
Hikaru narrowed his eyes.
The mist before him thinned.
And he saw it.
Kanao tossed her coin to the ground.
But this time… she didn't look at the result.
Instead, she drew her sword.
And stepped forward.
With a blooming slash, she cut straight through the dense mist ahead.
— — —
There was a heavy thud.
A massive tree collapsed.
In the distance, Inosuke howled in triumph.
"I won!!"
Lightning surged.
Zenitsu cut through the underbrush with stunning speed and precision.
Tanjiro, on the other hand, swung his blade down and cleaved a huge round boulder clean in two.
From afar, the first rays of dawn painted the sky.
Silver light began to spill through the fog.
"Mmm…"
Nezuko stirred gently, awakening in the embrace of the morning sun.
Her eyes fluttered open—and the first thing she saw was Tanjiro and the others standing nearby.
She quickly sat up, the sunlight warming her cheeks.
"Congratulations, everyone."
Hikaru nodded softly, then rose to his feet.
"The trial is over."
The moment he said those words—
"I-It's finally over!!"
Zenitsu shouted with joy, jumping high into the air.
Watching them, Hikaru let out a quiet chuckle.
Though he had acted as their mentor during this trial… the growth he gained from all of this was no less than what his students had experienced.
In fact…
Perhaps it was even greater.
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