Flap flap…
"Caw—!!"
The crow that had barely escaped from Mount Natagumo flew frantically toward the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters, looking utterly ragged. Its once sleek black feathers were now patchy and torn—likely from scraping against branches during its desperate flight. At this point, it resembled more of a half-bald eagle than a crow.
"Come here. You've done well to make it back," Kagaya Ubuyashiki said softly, extending his pale hand. The crow landed weakly upon it, trembling. With gentle care, Kagaya stroked its ragged feathers, his voice tender and calm.
"Ha… ha…!"
The crow continued gasping for breath, its small body quivering as though it had seen something terrifying. Sweat—almost human-like—beaded on its featherless forehead, and its beak hung slightly open.
"What is the situation over there?" Kagaya asked quietly.
"Ha… ha… they're… all dead… by those strange spider webs… it's… bad… caw…" the crow panted between words, voice weak and broken.
"I see… so my children have met a tragic end," Kagaya murmured, his expression calm, though his blind eyes reflected faint sorrow.
Beside him stood two young, white-haired twin girls with doll-like faces. They watched him—and the crow—with quiet, expressionless eyes, motionless as porcelain figures.
Overhead, the clouds began to drift away, revealing a full moon that bathed the courtyard in pale light. The silver radiance cast a soft, melancholic glow upon the trio.
"If that's the case… it's possible a member of the 'Twelve Kizuki' is there," Kagaya said at last.
"…Master." ×2
The twin attendants turned toward him simultaneously.
"Mm. It seems we have no choice but to send a Hashira this time," Kagaya replied calmly.
"Giyu, Shinobu."
He did not turn around, simply speaking their names in a gentle tone.
The two figures he called to were kneeling silently behind him within the darkened hall. The moonlight did not reach inside; their forms were cloaked in shadow, exuding an aura of quiet mystery.
"Yes, Master." ×2
Both Shinobu and the male swordsman beside her—Tomioka Giyu—responded in unison.
"Master, it appears Miss Raiden has already reached Mount Natagumo," one of the twin attendants reported, glancing up at the moon with narrowed eyes.
"Good. Right on time. Shinobu," Kagaya said, his tone as serene as ever.
"Yes, Master," Shinobu answered, raising her gaze to him.
"She came at our invitation, after all. She's our guest—and you're on good terms with her. Go meet her there and assist as needed. Be respectful."
"As you command."
Shinobu smiled faintly and bowed deeply.
"It's thanks to you, Shinobu, that she agreed to join us," Kagaya said with gentle praise, turning slightly toward her.
"You flatter me, Master. I merely mentioned it in passing—her decision to act was entirely her own," Shinobu replied humbly. In truth, she was sincerely relieved that Raiden had come. In such a chaotic age filled with demons, knowing Raiden often wandered alone had always worried her. Now that she would be under their watch—even if temporarily—Shinobu felt more at ease. Even if Raiden chose to leave later, at least she would know where she went.
"…"
Beside her, Tomioka Giyu turned his head slightly, his calm blue eyes betraying a hint of curiosity. He couldn't understand why both Shinobu and the Master placed such faith in this woman named Raiden.
"Master…" he began quietly.
"Hmm? Do you have a question, Giyu?" Kagaya asked in his usual gentle tone.
"Do you truly intend to grant her the title of Hashira immediately?" he asked.
"Yes. I understand your concern, Giyu," Kagaya said softly, "but I can assure you—she is more than qualified to bear that title."
Purely by strength alone.
"…Understood," Giyu said finally, no longer questioning. He was not the type to argue. Since the Master had made his decision, there was nothing more to be said. Now, it was only a matter of seeing the results.
"Alright, you two—set out at once. Ah… and don't forget to bring the Kakushi."
The Kakushi were the Demon Slayer Corps' support division, responsible for logistics, cleanup, and medical assistance. Part of that group operated under Shinobu's supervision.
"Yes, Master." ×2
Slide…
After answering in unison, the two quietly rose, exited the room, and slid the screen door shut behind them. They stepped out into the dimly lit hallway beyond.
Because it was nighttime, the corridors of Headquarters were steeped in deep shadows. Only faint streaks of moonlight filtered through the windows, casting pale silver hues along the walls. The air itself seemed to shimmer faintly, cold and serene, painted by the moon's melancholy glow.
Tap… tap…
Giyu rose to his feet, glancing toward the woman before him as she adjusted her blade back at her waist.
"Why did you recommend her to the Master?" he asked. This wasn't something she usually did—so what made this time different?
"…Would you like to know~?" Shinobu asked lightly, glancing at him as she fastened her sword, then continued walking past him with a faint smile.
"You don't have to tell me," he said simply, following after her. The two walked quietly through the corridor, their footsteps echoing faintly in the moonlit stillness.
"She's important… to us," Shinobu said softly, her voice calm but filled with quiet conviction.
"…Important? To us?" Giyu echoed, narrowing his eyes slightly, his tone skeptical.
"Yes. To us," she replied firmly.
"…What do you mean by that?" he asked again.
Tap… tap…
Shinobu stopped walking, prompting him to halt as well. The corridor fell silent once more—so still that not even the sound of insects could be heard.
She stood directly in a patch of moonlight, the pale glow illuminating her delicate face, making her features appear almost translucent. Turning slightly to the side, her usual soft smile vanished, replaced by a rare seriousness.
"I believe… she has the power to change the course of the era," Shinobu said quietly, her voice as clear as a spring.
"…!"
Giyu's eyes widened briefly, then settled again.
"On what grounds?" he asked calmly.
"None," Shinobu answered simply.
"…"
He fell silent.
"I have no proof. It's just my intuition," she said after a pause, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"Intuition?"
"Yes… intuition. She's different. I can't explain it, but if we lose her… I feel like we'd lose something precious," Shinobu said softly, her eyes drifting toward the distant moonlight.
"Something precious?"
"Yes. I don't know exactly what… it's vague. But I'm certain my choice isn't wrong," she replied, then resumed walking forward.
"What kind of person is she?" Giyu asked as he followed beside her.
"I've spent about a year with her… She's kind. Sometimes a little absent-minded, very cute—like a child. But when she's serious, she radiates a sort of magnetic charm. It's… hard to describe," Shinobu said with a small, warm smile.
"You rarely speak of anyone that way," Giyu remarked flatly, glancing at her.
"Maybe so… but perhaps that's exactly what makes her special. Don't you think, Giyu-san?" Shinobu replied, her eyes soft but knowing.
"…Let's hope so," he murmured, narrowing his eyes slightly.
Let's hope she can live up to their expectations.
...
Tap tap… ×2
Their footsteps echoed through the dark forest. The young girl was being gently led by the woman ahead of her, hand in hand. Though she was terrified, the moment their hands touched, a strange sense of calm washed over her. Perhaps that was simply this woman's natural charm.
The Shogun moved carefully, holding the girl's hand while scanning their surroundings with her naginata at the ready. Mount Natagumo lived up to its name—spiders and webs were everywhere. Even the tree bark glistened faintly with threads. She didn't mind much herself, but she worried the girl behind her might—such things could easily make anyone's skin crawl.
Crack…
"Ah~!"
Perhaps out of nervousness, the girl tripped over a fallen branch and let out a small, startled yelp.
"!"
The Shogun immediately turned and caught her before she could fall, steadying her. After helping her upright, she casually brushed some dirt from the girl's dusty clothes.
"S-sorry, Miss… I—" the girl stammered, looking ashamed.
"It's fine. Just stay close to me," the Shogun said softly, taking her hand again and continuing forward.
"O-okay…"
Her gentleness shone through—making the young girl's admiration for her grow even stronger.
"Why did you join the Demon Slayer Corps?"
After walking for a while, the Shogun broke the silence. Her tone was light, meant to ease the tension.
"Eh? Because… my village was often attacked by demons. Every time they came, people got hurt. One time… my mother was also…"
Her voice trembled as she tightened her grip on the Shogun's hand.
"For your village—and your mother?" the Shogun asked.
"…Mm." The girl nodded faintly. "But… I'm still so weak. I get scared when I see demons. Sometimes, I can't even lift my sword."
"But you passed the Final Selection, didn't you?" the Shogun asked, glancing back at her.
"…Yes."
"Then that alone proves your courage. Ordinary people wouldn't even dare to dream of joining the Corps. It's a dangerous life," she said calmly, her words warm and reassuring.
"Miss…"
The girl's voice was quiet, touched.
"You've done well already. But remember—no matter how strong or brave you become, your life comes first. Lose that, and you lose everything. Understood?"
"Yes… I understand."
"Miss…"
"Mm?"
The Shogun didn't turn around, only gave a soft hum in response.
"Are you part of the Demon Slayer Corps?" the girl asked.
"…Not exactly," the Shogun answered vaguely.
"Oh… I see." The girl lowered her gaze, slightly disappointed.
Rustle…
As they talked, they finally emerged from the dense woods into a clearing. But this open space was even more grotesque than the forest before.
The entire area was covered in thick spider webs. Hanging from them were countless human-like forms—half-human, half-spider abominations. Some were wrapped completely in webbing, their bodies mid-transformation: arms twisted into sharp claws, faces distorted, surrounded by swarms of small spiders dripping sticky, vile fluid.
"Ugh~"
The girl quickly clapped a hand over her mouth, retreating behind the Shogun, fighting the urge to vomit. She recognized some of the corpses—they were fellow Demon Slayers she had come with.
"…"
The Shogun narrowed her eyes. At the center of the webbed space hung a house—suspended upside down, tilted and warped in a surreal, nightmarish way.
Rustle, rustle! ×N
The small spiders that had been crawling over the corpses turned their attention to the two new arrivals, their many eyes gleaming hungrily as they swarmed forward.
"Hehehe~ Hahahaha~! Visitors, at last."
A shrill voice echoed from the hanging house above. Moments later, a massive spider with a human face crawled out from within.
"Ah!"
The young girl let out a frightened cry and quickly buried her face against the Shogun's back, trembling uncontrollably. The Shogun, however, showed no reaction—her expression calm, her eyes coldly fixed on the grotesque creature.
So this was a demon too? Its appearance was certainly… unique, on par with some of the strangest monsters she'd seen before.
The spider's body was covered in fine, bristling hairs, its human face that of a white-haired man grinning wickedly—a repulsive sneer twisting his lips.
"Don't be scared~! Let me turn you two into spiders as well, hahaha~!"
He laughed maniacally, his tone dripping with glee. "Once the poison takes hold, watching two lovely women like you slowly turn into spiders will be so enchanting! Seeing those beautiful faces rot away and molt into monsters! Isn't that exciting?!"
Crash!
As soon as he spoke, his claws lashed forward—and dozens of grotesque spiders lunged at them from all directions.
The Shogun swept her gaze over their approach, calculating every angle. In an instant, she enveloped the girl behind her within a shimmering barrier of lightning.
Crackle!Buzz!
Thunder erupted around her body as violet energy surged outward, shaking the very ground. Stones lifted from the soil, the air crackled with static.
BOOM!
A deafening blast followed. Within a second, every spider within range had been charred black, their bodies bursting apart with pops and hissing sparks. The acrid stench of burnt flesh filled the clearing.
The Shogun hadn't even moved her hand—she merely stood still, eyes locked on the creature above.
"Wh—What the hell?! You—what are you?!" the spider demon stammered in horror. Though its face was already white, it somehow looked even paler.
That power—! It wasn't a Breathing Technique… but it was clearly lightning-based. What was she?
Just one strike… and his entire swarm was gone?
"Do you have any last words?" the Shogun asked, her voice calm and cold.
"…Huh?" he blurted out stupidly.
"…So that's your last word, then?"
The world seemed to slow.
The woman on the ground blurred into a streak of violet lightning, her form twisting into the shape of a dragon made of thunder. She launched upward, slicing through the air faster than the eye could follow.
Crackle!!
"!!"
The spider's eyes widened in disbelief. No way… she—
Shatter!
Time resumed.
The Shogun now stood behind him, having passed through his line of sight in an instant. The air where she moved glowed faintly, marked by trails of violet light.
Hum~
A faint gleam of purple traced across the spider demon's neck.
Tap, tap…
She landed gracefully atop the tilted house, her naginata held loosely in one hand. Standing tall against the backdrop of the full moon, she crossed one leg behind the other and flicked her kimono sleeve with effortless poise—a flawless finishing stance.
Slash!
At that motion, the spider demon's head separated cleanly from its body, tumbling to the ground below.
"T-this woman… she's… too… fast…! Ugh… I'm sorry, Father…"
His voice faltered into nothing as both head and body dissolved into ash.
"Miss… that was… amazing! You're incredible///!!"
The girl below was blushing furiously, eyes shining with admiration as she stared up at the moonlit figure—a breathtaking warrior wrapped in elegance and lightning. She looked utterly love-struck.
"Oh my~ looks like I'm late to the party~?"
A light, melodic voice drifted from behind. Another slender, violet-clad figure descended gracefully like a butterfly, landing softly on the roof beside the Shogun.
"…Shinobu?"
The Shogun turned her head slightly, recognizing the familiar voice.
"It's me~ Long time no see, Shogun~?" Shinobu said with a playful wink, her tone teasing—as if it hadn't been just a few days since they last met.
—And as she looked at the woman before her, standing proud with her naginata beneath the moonlight, Shinobu couldn't help but think with quiet awe: She's as dazzling as ever.