Urokodaki couldn't figure out how Horitake knew about Nezuko, but he soon let it go, following the pair to the cabin.
Tanjiro led Horitake to Urokodaki's cabin, entering the room where Nezuko slept. To let Horitake see clearly, Tanjiro lit the room's lamp.
Nezuko was as beautiful and gentle as ever, eyes closed, a bamboo gag in her mouth, sleeping peacefully under her blanket.
Horitake sat beside her, noting her fair skin and smooth hair. Even in her deep sleep, Tanjiro had clearly cared for her meticulously.
As the lamp glowed, Urokodaki entered the room.
Tanjiro sat close to Horitake, asking anxiously,
"Senior Horitake, how's Nezuko?"
"Don't rush, Tanjiro. Let me take a closer look…"
Horitake activated his spiritual vision to examine Nezuko's condition.
To his surprise, the first thing he saw wasn't her physical state but the Kamado family—eight of them!
Eight? Weren't Tanjiro and Nezuko the only ones left?
Don't forget—Horitake's spiritual vision could see souls!
Around Nezuko, aside from himself and Tanjiro, sat Nezuko's father, mother, three younger brothers, and younger sister!
All in soul form!
Indeed, after their deaths, the Kamado family hadn't reincarnated but remained, guarding Tanjiro and Nezuko.
This explained why, in the original story, their family appeared in their minds during moments of peril, aiding them.
They'd never left, staying by the siblings' side!
Now, the entire family, big and small, surrounded Nezuko, their expressions fraught with worry, clearly concerned about her condition.
Awkwardly, Horitake was the only outsider in their circle.
The entire Kamado family, minus Nezuko, stared at him expectantly, hoping he could explain her sleep and cure her.
Good grief—seven pairs of eyes, brimming with anticipation, fixed on him. The pressure was immense.
If Horitake's relationship with Nezuko were merely that of a senior to a junior or a doctor to a patient, it'd be manageable.
But he saw her as his future wife!
This meeting with the Kamado family felt abrupt, to say the least.
What was this? An early meeting with his future in-laws, three brothers-in-law, and sister-in-law?
The pressure was overwhelming, and Horitake squirmed uncomfortably.
He couldn't play dumb—his startled expression betrayed him. While Tanjiro's younger siblings were oblivious, his parents immediately realized Horitake could see them!
Tanjiro's mother, Kie Kamado, gasped, hand over her mouth.
Tanjiro's father, Tanjuro Kamado, was not only surprised but scrutinizing, as if sensing Horitake's less-than-pure intentions toward his daughter. His expression was stern, eyes wary.
In both his lives, Horitake had never faced such a situation!
And Tanjuro Kamado was a master of the Transparent World! If he were alive, Horitake might not even beat him!
A formidable father-in-law—best not to cross!
Question: I accidentally met my future father-in-law, and he's not thrilled with me. What do I do? Urgent, waiting online!
Thankfully, Kie Kamado came to his rescue. The gentle woman tugged Tanjuro's sleeve, softly chiding,
"Darling…"
Tanjuro's wary scrutiny eased, though only slightly.
Of course, as souls, even if Kie spoke, Tanjiro couldn't hear.
Horitake sat rigidly by Nezuko, sweating, helpless. He clasped his hands and bowed to the circle around her.
Tanjiro, puzzled, asked,
"Senior, what are you…?"
Horitake couldn't reveal the truth—it'd distract Tanjiro—so he fibbed,
"I'm praying, hoping the gods and Buddhas bless me to figure out Nezuko's condition."
Tanjiro, confused, said,
"Oh… so you believe in gods, Senior Horitake?"
"Well, gods exist if you believe, and don't if you don't."
Brushing Tanjiro off with a vague reply, Horitake got to work, lowering his head to examine Nezuko with his spiritual vision.
And indeed, he noticed something.
As he knew, Nezuko was reshaping her body through sleep, relying on rest instead of eating humans to recover energy.
But there was more—something intriguing!
Focusing intently, he pushed his spiritual vision further.
A faint black aura flowed within Nezuko's body.
It felt familiar, as if he'd seen it before.
Right—Yaozora!
Horitake realized this black aura resembled the one at the brow of the Demon Slayer Corps' leader, Ubuyashiki Yaozora!
Could this be another of Muzan Kibutsuji's curses!?
What was this curse? Why did Nezuko have it? Did all demons carry it!?
This startling discovery sent Horitake's mind into chaos.
He raised his head, rubbing his brow, deactivating his spiritual vision to rest his eyes and calm himself.
But his weary posture alarmed Tanjiro, like a patient seeing a doctor sigh after reviewing their scans.
Tanjiro panicked.
"S-Senior Horitake! How's Nezuko? She's not…?"
"Hm? No, no! It's not what you think. In fact, Nezuko's in good shape. I'm like this because I found something else about her—something important that needs careful study."
"Is… that so? Senior Horitake, don't comfort me. If something's wrong, just tell me. I… I can handle it!"
Horitake, exasperated, snapped,
"What are you thinking? Nezuko's fine! Quiet down, I need to keep looking!"
He reactivated his spiritual vision, focusing on Nezuko's condition.
It was definitely a curse.
Now, the key was figuring out what it was.
Horitake began to reason.
It was likely a curse all demons shared, not unique to Nezuko.
What kind of curse affected all demons?
The need to eat humans? Fear of sunlight?
No, those were more like biological traits, explainable by science, not curses.
Suddenly, it hit him!
Muzan Kibutsuji could control every demon. If close enough, he could read their thoughts.
And when a demon died, their final visions could transmit to Muzan's mind, letting him see what they saw!
That couldn't be explained by science!
Could this black aura, this curse, be Muzan's means of controlling demons!?
---------------------------------------------------------
🚀 Want more?
📖 Read 10+ chapters ahead & unlock exclusive stories only on Patreon!
💖 Support me here: patreon.com/DaoistRoeoNQ
🔓 Always ahead of public release — some tales stay Patreon-only.
✨ Your support means the world, but just having you here already makes me grateful!