A few days ago in Asakusa, Kyoto, Haruto had asked Tamayo a question.
"Does Kibutsuji Muzan have any weaknesses?"
Five hundred years ago, Tamayo was turned into a demon by Muzan, and for over a hundred years after that, she was coerced into staying by Muzan's side, handling his affairs.
To put it in modern terms, Tamayo served as Muzan's personal secretary for over a hundred years.
Therefore, regarding her understanding of Kibutsuji Muzan, Tamayo knew even more than the Ubuyashiki Family, who had been tracking him for many years.
Hearing that name, Tamayo's movements paused: "Weaknesses?
He relentlessly pursues eternal life in this world, so what he fears most is naturally death.
Not being able to drink human blood, sunlight, Wisteria poison—these are all his weaknesses."
Haruto frowned slightly, evidently not having received a satisfactory answer.
"I know what you mean. Kibutsuji Muzan once had someone he feared."
Tamayo seemed to recall a gratifying scene, a vicious smile playing on her lips.
"That swordsman was Yoriichi Tsugikuni, the strongest swordsman I have ever seen in my life.
When we first met, I was still under Kibutsuji Muzan's command, living in a daze under his oppression, killing many people and eating many people.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni stopped Muzan and me in a bamboo forest... Perhaps I wasn't even in his eyes."
Tamayo looked up, a sheen of moisture appearing in her beautiful purple eyes.
But those were not tears of sadness; she bit her lip lightly, speaking with suppressed hatred.
"Yoriichi Tsugikuni cut Muzan in half with a single strike, and the wound caused by the fiery red blade rendered Muzan's self-regeneration useless.
It was the first time I saw terror in his eyes, hahahaha, Kibutsuji Muzan—he probably never imagined he would be treated like a pig on a chopping block!
But Muzan was Muzan after all; he had lived long enough to prepare an escape route for himself.
Just as Yoriichi Tsugikuni was about to decapitate him, he used his final trump card... He took advantage of Yoriichi Tsugikuni's inattention and split his flesh into countless small pieces—scattering in all directions with a bang... Although Yoriichi Tsugikuni swung his nichirin blade in time, he couldn't kill all the pieces simultaneously, allowing Muzan to escape.
After that incident, Kibutsuji Muzan's power dropped to its lowest, and I was able to break free from his control.
From then on, he seemed to vanish from Japan; he was scared witless by Yoriichi Tsugikuni, cowering in the deep mountains and old forests for decades, only reappearing in the human world after the swordsman's death."
This story was the closest Haruto had heard to Yoriichi Tsugikuni's perspective; he recalled what Kagaya Ubuyashiki had said: after Yoriichi Tsugikuni's death, Kibutsuji Muzan led his demons to kill all the successors of Sun Breathing.
Tamayo was right; he was scared witless by Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
"Cough, cough…" Blood spilled from Haruto's mouth, and he eagerly lifted his head to look at Muzan.
After learning that Tanjirou inherited Yoriichi's earrings and very likely inherited Sun Breathing, Haruto had anticipated this day.
What kind of expression would Kibutsuji Muzan have when he saw those paper earrings?
Shock? Surprise? Or bewilderment?
None of the above.
Kibutsuji Muzan held the unconscious Nezuko with one hand, his eyes fixed on Tanjirou. Those blood-red vertical pupils actually began to… tremble!
He was actually afraid!
The vanished bullet comments reappeared, scrolling before his eyes, their words arrogant and their attitude haughty, making Haruto let out a long sigh of relief.
It seems… he might live.
But Kie… what about Kie and Nezuko… [Hi, hi, Muzan, your daddy's here!]
[Muzan is terrified right now, hhh]
[Muzan: Don't come any closer, I'm about to explode!]
[Styling consultant: Michael Jackson]
[Is this a villain? Is this a villain? The protagonist scares away the final BOSS in the opening? How is this anime supposed to continue?]
[Muzan isn't afraid of Tanjirou; he's just afraid of Tanjirou's paper earrings, okay?]
[Have to say, Muzan is truly trashy, but he's also truly handsome.]
[Hey, you in front, you look at those two arms and tell me he's handsome?]
[Those arms are so thick, one big slap would shatter a head…]
Takeo bravely looked over from the woods, Nezuko… Nezuko!
Nezuko was in his hands!
Tanjirou's eyes were bloodshot. He rushed towards Kibutsuji Muzan, raising his nichirin blade high.
No matter who you are, whether god or demon.
Give me back my sister—
Give her back to me!!!
To Tomioka Giyu's astonished gaze, this demon progenitor, who had nearly killed both him and Haruto, hesitantly threw the unconscious girl towards Tanjirou!
Tanjirou leaped forward to catch the girl, and Kibutsuji Muzan… disappeared without a word, as if fleeing, into the dawning light!
[Giyuu is shocked!]
[Funny face!]
[Watching the first episode, I thought the Water Pillar had a lively personality, but turns out he's a natural airhead hhh]
[Isn't he the final BOSS? Why did he run?]
[Because he saw Daddy's keepsake, hahahaha!]
[The first episode immediately established Muzan's trashy demon image.]
Ah… he really wouldn't die.
Haruto thought this, feeling his eyelids growing heavier and heavier.
Blood loss and exhaustion surged over him, making it difficult to lean on Giyuu any longer, and he slumped weakly to the ground.
Giyuu quickly reached out an arm to catch him, carrying him on his back.
Tanjirou frantically hugged Nezuko, large tears rolling down his cheeks: "Nezuko… Nezuko still has a fever, I, I need to take her to a doctor…"
"No."
"…What?"
Giyuu hitched himself up, allowing Haruto to lie more comfortably and steadily on his back.
He turned around, a streak of blood escaping from the corner of his mouth, breaking the indifference on his face: "No."
Giyuu looked at the girl in Tanjirou's arms. He had heard the name Nezuko from Haruto; she seemed to be a well-behaved and adorable child.
But… "You are also a prospective swordsman; you should know she is turning into a demon."
Giyuu supported Haruto on his back with one hand and raised his nichirin blade with the other.
On the blade, the words 'Destroyer of Demons' gleamed with a merciless yet helpless light.
"I hope you haven't forgotten the work of the Demon Slayer Corps; slaying every demon is our duty."
Tanjirou lowered his head to look at his sister. Nezuko's forehead was covered in bulging veins; she was trembling, slowly waking up.
When she woke up, what would she become? Would she still recognize her older brother, younger brother, and younger sister?
"But, but Nezuko hasn't eaten anyone, and she won't eat anyone…"
Tanjirou held Nezuko, trembling, and took two steps forward: "Tomioka-san…"
"Your teacher is currently undergoing a life-or-death trial." Tomioka Giyu said with a cold face: "I need to take him to the Butterfly Mansion immediately, so please, stop talking so much."
The white-haired swordsman, whose head rested on his shoulder, suddenly sighed wearily: "Giyuu…"
"Haruto?"
"…Your heart… is clearly so soft, so why are the words you speak so cold and hard?"
There was no further response for a while.
Giyuu paused and turned his head; this time, Haruto had truly passed out.
Daylight broke, but the sun could not penetrate the thick clouds to shine upon the mountain forest.
Nezuko woke up and was attempting to attack Tanjirou.
Giyuu did not help; he watched Tanjirou stuff the scabbard into the demon girl's mouth, crying and calling her name.
Until… tears fell from the demon girl's eyes.
Giyuu felt the back of his haori become damp; it must have been blood seeping from Haruto's abdominal wound, and there was no more time to waste.
He heard himself sigh.
"Tanjirou, tie up your sister…"
The Kamado boy looked up with tear-filled eyes, hearing the young Pillar say,
"I will notify the Kakushi to take your family… for burial.
Now, take your sister… and come with me."