Upon hearing Horitake's words, Tanjiro felt the final piece of the puzzle click into place, confirming his darkest suspicions.
A profound sense of loneliness washed over the boy.
"So... that's what it was," Tanjiro murmured, his voice trembling. "I never imagined Sabito and Makomo were already dead. To think that I was being helped by them all this time... that the ones who stayed by my side and guided me were actually..."
Tanjiro's heart was a storm of conflicting emotions. It was a heavy, suffocating mix—predominantly grief, colored by a deep, lingering melancholy.
Horitake reached out and placed a steadying hand on Tanjiro's shoulder, his voice gentle and grounding.
"Tanjiro, there's no need to be so consumed by sorrow. The final destination for every soul is the same, isn't it?" Horitake sighed softly. "Sabito and Makomo have been here on Mount Sagiri for a very long time. As two of Sakonji Urokodaki's most beloved disciples, even in death, they worried for him. They stayed on this mountain simply to keep him company."
He paused, looking at the mist-covered trees. "Until I brought you and Nezuko here. Before I left back then, I saw them through my spiritual vision. I asked them to look after you. I didn't expect them to stay with you for so long, or to go to such lengths. Truly... I am deeply grateful to Sabito and Makomo."
Tanjiro's expression grew even more complex. "So that's how it started... they were by my side from the very beginning."
Suddenly, Tanjiro's gaze sharpened, turning toward Horitake with a sudden, burning intensity.
"Horitake-senpai, what exactly happened to them? How did they die? Please... tell me the truth!"
Horitake met Tanjiro's eyes, searching his expression before asking, "Tanjiro, are you certain you want to know? It is a tragedy."
"Sabito and Makomo helped me so much," Tanjiro insisted, his resolve unwavering. "I need to know what happened to them!"
Horitake looked at the boy's stubborn expression and realized there was no dissuading him. This was Tanjiro's nature—kind, empathetic, and headstrong. Despite the hardships he had endured, he possessed a profound capacity for compassion toward others.
Gazing in the direction where Sabito and Makomo had vanished, Horitake let his mind drift back to the history involving the two of them and Giyu Tomioka. A faint sense of melancholy touched his own heart as he began to speak.
"It happened... a long time ago. At that time, Sabito and Giyu Tomioka were still very young. Both had been taken in and raised by Urokodaki-san..."
Slowly and deliberately, Horitake recounted everything he knew. He laid out the past, the bond between the boys, and the events of that fateful selection.
As the full story unfolded, Tanjiro's sorrow deepened, but it was quickly joined by a cold, sharp anger.
"I see... They lost their lives during the Final Selection!?"
Seeing the fire in Tanjiro's eyes, Horitake asked, "Yes, that is what happened. The Final Selection on Mount Fujikasane is incredibly dangerous, infested with demons of all sizes and strengths. Tanjiro, now that you know what happened to Sabito and Makomo, do you still intend to go?"
Tanjiro's reaction was exactly as Horitake expected. The boy didn't shrink back; instead, he seemed to catch fire, his determination forged into something unbreakable by his righteous fury.
"Horitake-senpai, of course I'm going!" Tanjiro declared. "To find a way to turn Nezuko back into a human, to ensure no one else suffers at the hands of demons, and to avenge Sabito and Makomo—I must participate in the Final Selection!"
Horitake nodded in approval. "Good spirit! To walk into the tiger's den knowing full well the danger... that is a level of courage not many possess."
He paused, his tone shifting to something more somber. "However, Tanjiro, while I understand your urgency and your feelings... and while I believe you have a great chance of passing the selection with your current strength... you won't be able to avenge Sabito and Makomo."
"Why?" Tanjiro asked, his voice panicked. "Why can't I avenge them? Is it because I'm not strong enough? I can train harder! I'll do whatever it takes!"
Horitake shook his head, a trace of apology in his eyes.
"It's not that. It's not what you think. It's because the demon responsible for killing Sabito and Makomo... is already dead. I killed it."
Tanjiro's eyes widened, a sudden sense of emptiness washing over him. "What...? You... you already killed it, Horitake-senpai?"
"Yes. I stood out during the Final Selection two years ago. I encountered that demon during my trial. To prevent it from devouring anyone else, I cut it down then and there."
A flicker of disappointment crossed Tanjiro's face. "I see... So you've already avenged them."
Horitake patted Tanjiro's shoulder, feeling a bit guilty. "I'm sorry for stealing your prey. To be honest, when I faced that demon, I hesitated for a moment. I wondered if I should leave it for you to finish later."
He sighed. "But I decided against it. If I had left that demon alive just for the sake of your revenge, and it went on to kill even one more person, the blood would be on my hands. I couldn't allow that."
Tanjiro, being the deeply rational and kind soul he was, nodded in agreement. "You're right, Horitake-senpai. You did the right thing. A demon that cruel and detestable shouldn't be allowed to live a second longer than necessary. It's better that it was dealt with early."
He looked down at his hands. "I just... I feel a bit restless. Sabito and Makomo did so much for me, yet I can't do anything for them in return. I feel so apologetic... I didn't even get to say thank you properly before they left."
Horitake spoke softly, his voice a comforting balm. "Life is rarely perfect, Tanjiro. It is said that eight or nine times out of ten, things don't go as planned. But for Sabito and Makomo, returning to the cycle of reincarnation is their true destination. You shouldn't grieve too much; you should offer them your blessings instead."
Tanjiro nodded, rubbing his face and forcing himself to clear the fog of sadness. He took a deep breath to steady himself.
"You're right, Horitake-senpai. This is their true peace. At least when they left, they looked happy... satisfied. They didn't leave with regrets. That's a good thing, isn't it?"
After a few more moments of quiet comfort, Tanjiro's confusion and listlessness finally began to fade.
"So, Tanjiro, is it settled? You are definitely participating in this Final Selection?"
"Yes! I will definitely take part!"
"Good. The reason I came to Mount Sagiri was partly to see Nezuko, and partly to discuss your participation in the Selection. This doesn't just involve you; we need to report this to Urokodaki-san as well."
With that, Horitake began walking toward the familiar small hut.
"Come on. Let's go visit Urokodaki-san. I have a lot to discuss with him. Besides, I need to check on Nezuko. If my intuition is correct, she should be waking up very soon."
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