Haruto woke up at the Butterfly Mansion.
Kochou Shinobu sat by the bed, flipping through medical books, while Genya and Giyuu leaned silently against the wall outside.
Seeing that he had woken up, Shinobu reached out and touched his forehead, letting out a sigh of relief: "The fever has gone down."
Genya and Giyuu came into the room. The former let out a long sigh of relief, while the latter's expression was somewhat grim.
"I sent them to Mt. Sagiri, where Teacher and Makomo are taking care of them now.
Tanjirou wasn't seriously injured, but Nezuko…"
Tomioka Giyuu paused, glancing at Kochou Shinobu beside him: "…Her situation isn't good."
Haruto also fell silent.
Nezuko had been infected with Kibutsuji Muzan's blood and had become a demon, which was why Giyuu didn't even dare to bring them to the Butterfly Mansion.
Because he knew that most swordsmen who came to the Butterfly Mansion were injured from demon slaying, and they would absolutely not let go of a newly transformed demon.
Nezuko's only fate would be to be chopped into mincemeat by a large group of swordsmen at the entrance of the Butterfly Mansion.
Tanjirou would probably go mad then… But if Nezuko started to eat humans, even if Tanjirou went mad, Haruto would draw his sword and personally cut off her head.
Moreover, in such an era, it was possible that he, as a teacher, would be required to commit seppuku because of this incident.
They must send her to Tamayo as quickly as possible. This woman, who had been studying demons for hundreds of years, might have a solution.
After explaining the relevant matters, Giyuu originally wanted to stay and say something more, but Genya tugged at his sleeve and pulled him out of the room.
Giyuu looked at him in confusion: "Your teacher is seriously injured in bed. Don't you need to stay and keep him company?"
"…" His expression was so sincere that Genya couldn't even bring himself to retort.
If he were to linger in the room now… at least three people would want to assassinate him.
It was very quiet inside the room. Kochou Shinobu forced herself to sit for a while, then covered her face with her hands.
"That was… Kibutsuji Muzan."
Tears slid down between her fingers, but she couldn't utter a single word of complaint.
She gently leaned her head against Haruto's body, whispering almost deliriously.
"Next time… let Sora call for me too.
I will help you, I will… stand with you…"
Haruto reached out and gently stroked her hair.
Soon, soon.
The main story has begun, and soon, everything will end.
On Mt. Sagiri, Tanjirou stared blankly at Nezuko, who had fallen into a deep sleep.
"What's with that bamboo muzzle?" Makomo asked, pointing to the bamboo muzzle tied around Nezuko's mouth.
"…Mr. Tomioka gave it to her, worried that Nezuko might bite people."
Although he appeared cold and ruthless, he was actually a kind-hearted person.
Worried that the girl might bite, he carved a bamboo muzzle for her; worried that she might get cold, he even took off his haori and draped it over her.
Mr. Haruto was right, everyone on Mt. Sagiri truly are kind-hearted people.
He remembered when he first arrived at Mt. Sagiri, Mr. Urokodaki, wearing a Tengu mask, asked him a question.
"If your sister eats a human, what will you do?"
Tanjirou couldn't answer. He just shook his head sadly, repeating: "Nezuko won't eat humans…"
"Slap!"
The old man raised his hand and slapped him.
"Remember, if your sister eats a human, you must immediately cut off her head and then commit seppuku!"
Sakonji Urokodaki stared intently at him: "After you commit seppuku, your teacher, the current Star Pillar, will also not escape blame! He will be required to commit seppuku and be expelled from the Demon Slayer Corps!
And Tomioka Giyuu, who brought you back, will also be stripped of his position as Water Pillar and be despised by everyone!"
Tanjirou stared at him blankly, a red Mark appearing on his cheek.
"Everyone is risking their lives and honor to vouch for you and your sister. Do you… understand what that means?"
Tanjirou shivered, his eyes red as he almost roared in response:
"Please rest assured! Nezuko will absolutely never eat humans, never, ever!"
Everyone has gambled so much for you… Nezuko!
You must keep fighting!
You must carry your mother's belief and live on, strong and kind!
...Infinity Castle
Upper Rank Three Akaza suddenly opened his eyes, only to see Nakime's expressionless face.
Infinity Castle… After more than a hundred years, he was summoned to the Infinity Castle once again.
Another twang of the biwa, and he looked up, just in time to see Upper Rank Six, Daki, looking at him.
Her eyes held some doubt, as if she also didn't know why she had been summoned.
Akaza retracted his gaze. Was it a gathering of the Upper Ranks? Was he going to see that annoying guy again… "Nakime."
Daki spoke, but it was as if two voices, one male and one female, spoke at the same time: "Has Muzan-sama arrived?"
Nakime didn't speak, so the two looked up, and among the crisscrossing structures, a strange man was coldly looking at them.
He was dressed like an employee of an international trading company, wearing fashionable clothes and leather shoes, but Akaza and Daki knew his identity the moment they saw those oppressive crimson plum eyes.
"Muzan-sama." The two immediately knelt down.
Only two Upper Rank demons? It seems Muzan-sama must have some work for us.
Muzan was silent for a moment, then first looked at Daki.
"Recently… your strength has grown."
"Thanks to Muzan-sama's concern! Your subordinate has eaten many humans recently!" Daki raised her head, a blush rising on her cheeks.
Akaza noticed that her voice had returned to the charming female voice he remembered; the male voice had disappeared.
"Improving your strength… You truly are diligently following my orders, Daki."
Muzan's figure flickered, silently appearing before them.
He squatted down and gently stroked Daki's head: "So now… you shall receive a reward."
"The heir of the Takanashi Family you've been longing for has appeared in Japan…"
Daki's expression froze, the crimson color instantly draining from her face, leaving her beautiful face deathly pale.
"Guess what, his appearance is simply… just like the Souma-kun you've been longing for."
Muzan's lips curved into a smile: "Exactly the same."
Daki's face changed dramatically, and she lowered her head, trembling.
"What, aren't you happy to hear this news?"
Muzan narrowed his eyes: "That is… Takanashi Souma's grandson."
Daki remained bowed for a long time before squeezing out a male voice from her throat: "As you wish, Muzan-sama."
Muzan's attitude remained gentle: "Killing all the Takanashi, eliminating your inner demons, isn't that your wish… Gyuutarou?"
"…Yes." The male voice replied.
After giving instructions to Daki and Gyuutarou, Muzan turned to look at Akaza.
"How is it going?"
Akaza lowered his head: "I am very sorry, Muzan-sama, there has been no progress."
"Because I am always disappointed, I am not surprised."
"…"
Akaza pressed his body even lower, his pink head touching the floor, unable to say a word.
"While your subordinates are tracking the blue spider lily, go find a young boy with Nichirin flower paper earrings. He has fiery red hair and a Mark on his forehead… Find him, kill him."
Muzan stared at the back of Akaza's head: "Akaza, I like your loyalty, but your abilities… truly displease me."
"Please rest assured…"
Akaza answered in a deep voice.
"I will… personally cut off his head."
...During Japan's Taisho era, an ordinary charcoal-selling boy, Tanjirou, was forced onto the path of demon slaying after his mother was killed and his sister persecuted by an evil demon.
Except for his teacher, Takanashi Haruto, almost no one believed that Japan, which had been persecuted by Kibutsuji Muzan for a millennium, would end this dark era filled with evil demons within a few years.