Noticing the strange look on Yuki's face, Tamayo couldn't help but ask:
"Mr. Yuki, is there something wrong with this address?"
Yuki waved his hand dismissively.
"No, nothing's wrong. I just suddenly remembered something."
Tamayo didn't press further. Instead, she turned her head and softly called out a few times.
A moment later, a cat's meow echoed through the room.
"Meow!"
Under Yuki's gaze, a small cat with black, white, and yellow fur suddenly materialized from thin air.
A talisman hung around the cat's neck, and a small pouch was strapped to its back.
Tamayo picked up the cat and smiled at Yuki. "This is my pet cat, Chachamaru. It possesses Yushiro's Blood Demon Art, making it invisible until it meows. However, it will disappear after its second meow."
The moment Yuki saw Chachamaru, he understood Tamayo's intentions.
As expected, Tamayo turned and retrieved a wooden box. Opening it, she revealed a dagger with a hollowed-out hilt and tiny tubes running through its blade.
"This is another of Yushiro's creations—a self-collecting blood-sampling dagger. Mr. Yuki, I have a request for you. When you encounter Demons in the future, I hope you'll use this dagger to collect their blood after slaying them. Using the dagger will automatically summon Chachamaru to your side."
"When the time comes, simply place the small knife into the pouch behind Chachamaru's back, and the blood sample will be delivered to me."
Yuki nodded and pocketed the knife.
He was about to leave when he suddenly paused.
Pointing to the Demon Slayer Mark on his forehead, Yuki asked, "Speaking of which, do you know anything about the Demon Slayer Mark?"
Tamayo looked momentarily confused. "Are you referring to the mark on your forehead?"
So Tamayo wasn't aware of the Demon Slayer Mark's existence?
That made sense. In the original story, she had dedicated herself to researching a cure to turn demons back into humans, collaborating with Shinobu to develop poisons targeting Doma and later, medications against Muzan.
Tamayo had never had the opportunity to study the Demon Slayer Mark.
Realizing this, Yuki carefully explained the Demon Slayer Mark's nature to Tamayo, also expressing his concerns:
"The Demon Slayer Mark is like a resonance. Once one swordsman awakens it, others will gradually awaken their own marks as well."
"I... was born with the mark, so it doesn't affect me much."
"But I worry that if I remain in the Demon Slayer Corps, I'll cause other swordsmen to awaken their marks."
"It's said that any swordsman who awakens the Demon Slayer Mark after birth will not live past the age of 25..."
Yuki was not one to hoard knowledge.
Moreover, defeating Muzan and his demons was not a task he could accomplish alone or immediately.
Teaching the Demon Slayer Corps the Transparent World and Crimson Blade techniques had long been on his agenda.
However, whether to impart the Demon Slayer Mark remained a matter of constant deliberation.
He knew full well that even if he told the Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen that awakening the Mark would doom them to die before 25, they would not hesitate for a moment if it meant eradicating demons.
Tamayo picked up a fresh syringe, sterilized it, and said, "I understand your concerns. However, for research purposes, I need to draw some blood from you."
Yuki extended his arm as Tamayo drew his blood. As she worked, she murmured, "I apologize for asking again, but is there something wrong with the address I wrote down?"
Yuki shook his head, his composure cracking slightly. "You'll find out soon enough."
...
Murata gripped his Nichirin Blade tightly, his face pale with terror as he stared at the hulking, horned Demon before him.
After days of investigation with Tomioka, they had finally discovered this strange mansion.
But the moment they entered, Murata realized he had become separated from Tomioka.
Then, he encountered a Demon crawling on the ground, its long tongue darting out like a whip.
While dodging the Demon's tongue attacks, Murata inadvertently stumbled into a corridor.
And when he looked up, he found himself face-to-face with this towering Demon!
Bang!
The towering Demon slammed its palm down at Murata.
Murata narrowly dodged the strike, but heard the Demon snarl, "You dodged? You're quite the spirited human."
Gritting his teeth, Murata raised his Nichirin Blade and slashed at the Demon.
He clearly saw his blade nearly sever the Demon's arm, yet the blade became firmly lodged in the flesh.
The towering Demon flicked its arm like swatting a fly.
The immense force sent Murata flying backward, even shattering a sliding door.
"Murata, are you alright?"
Hearing Tomioka's voice was like hearing divine music to Murata.
"I... I think I'm still okay..."
Murata checked himself again.
True, he was sore, but there were no serious injuries.
He instinctively turned to look at Tomioka and saw a Demon with drums embedded in its body standing before him.
Murata's pupils constricted.
Though he only caught a glimpse, he clearly saw words written on the Demon's eyeballs.
Murata couldn't understand why there was a cross-shaped scar on the demon's eyeball.
But the words "Lower Moon Six" undoubtedly confirmed the demon's identity!
Murata's heart leaped into his throat.
The drum-embedded demon stared intently at the Nichirin Blade in Tomioka Giyū's hand.
"Engraved with 'Demon Slayer'? I didn't expect a brat like you to be a Pillar."
"If I devour you, I'll gain even greater power and prove my worth to that master!"
"Pillar strength is troublesome, but if it's just you alone..."
Before he could finish, a deafening crash shattered the wall outside the room.
A whirlwind of blades, like a meat grinder, tore through the wall in an instant.
Murata's eyes widened in shock.
Through the swirling dust, he saw Sanemi standing with his sword raised, glaring furiously at the demon.
The drum-embedded demon's eyes widened as he saw the Nichirin Blade in Sanemi's hand, also engraved with "Demon Slayer."
"Two... two Pillars?"
Immediately afterward, a loud and hearty voice boomed:
"Oh! Giyu, you're here too!"
Though Kyojuro hadn't drawn his sword, the demon clearly recognized the haori he wore.
The demon's voice trembled:
"T-three Pillars?!"