"For Water Hashira, Giyu Tomioka. Urgent Message."
"Head over to the Kamado family's house on the mountaintop, about 15 km west of Mt. Sagiri. The kasugai crow will tell you its exact location."
"There has been a demon attack."
"Don't underestimate the enemy; be careful."
"Go quickly."
After finishing the letter, Urokodaki tied the letter to the leg of the kasugai crow and released it.
"Caw! Caw!"
The crow flapped its wings and gradually disappeared into the dark night.
Urokodaki contemplates whether he makes the right choices.
'Hopefully, Giyu can arrive in time.'
Logically, he was the most suitable and closest person to go and check the Kamado family house.
The location disclosed by Kie in their conversation proved that.
However,
Urokodaki turned his head to look at his small house. Where he spent the night alone was now brightened with children's activity.
'Kamado-san will most likely want me to protect his family for the time being.'
Then, he looked at Kie, who was standing beside him and watching him draft the letter that he sends with the crow.
"I have already notified the swordsman mentioned by your husband, Tomioka Giyu."
"He's going to help Kamado-san, so don't worry." Urokodaki said, in the gentlest tone possible, to try to comfort Kie.
"Yes..." Kie nodded and didn't say anything more, her head lowered as if she was secretly praying for the safety of her husband. Her expression was hidden in the shadows.
Although he said what he said, Urokodaki still felt heavy in his heart.
He knew that, by the time Giyu arrived at the house, it would be at the crack of dawn.
At that time, everything will be over.
...
...
On the road leading to the mountain of Kamado's house.
There's a string of messy footprints deeply embedded in the snow.
The owner of the footprints seemed to be rolling and crawling in the smooth snow, leaving a hideous mark.
Crunch! Crunch!
The sound of snow being stepped on kept coming.
"Ha... ha..."
Tanjiro was running frantically through the snow, his breath erratic due to his imagination going wild.
Trees flashed from his visions.
White mist exhaled from his mouth.
The snow was so deep that each step required a lot more effort to put one leg in front of the other.
His steps grew heavier and heavier as cold and fatigue sapped away his strength. Tanjiro could hardly feel his legs now.
The cold wind stings his lungs. His throat dries. His eyes trembled from the fear of the monster coming to his house.
"Everyone, is everyone okay?"
"The blood on that thing... no, not yet!"
"Faster! Faster!" Tanjiro gritted his teeth and ran even harder.
...
...
The moonlight fell from the sky, gently shining on the woodhouse on the top of the mountain. The snow on the roof reflected back the moonlight.
The charcoal kiln had just been extinguished, with only the last wisp of black smoke remaining.
There's light inside the house, and the warmth is transmitted through the frosted windows, dispelling the cold in the room.
The dim yellow light of the bonfire contrasted elegantly with the pale snow outside.
"I've finally arrived."
~Snap.~
"Hm?"
The figure in the black suit stopped not far from the house. His hair slightly curled, and he patted his shoulders to clear off the snow and then tidied his tie.
"What? Only one person?" Muzan frowned slightly, seemingly dissatisfied with his findings, clicking his tongue.
His vertical pupils were hidden under the brim of his hat as he glanced around, hoping to see other presences.
Even from far away, Muzan could tell that there is only one human aura active inside the house.
However, there was a positive to his venture.
He was right that the people who lived in the mountain were different from those who lived in the towns.
Although it felt like the person's aura was similar to those annoying swordsmen who used breathing techniques.
This one is different.
To the point that it gives Muzan a sense of familiarity.
It is worth mentioning that Muzan can feel the changes in human breathing techniques through his powerful perception ability.
But he can never sense the strength of that person.
During the Warring States period, Muzan thought Yoriichi was just an ordinary swordsman who happened to use a breathing technique.
Oh, how wrong he was.
"Hmph." Muzan shook off the memory. He didn't like being reminded of his mortality.
Still, a swordsman turning into a demon is much more interesting than a normal human.
The initial strength of a demon is determined by how strong they were when they were human.
The strength of many swordsmen in the Demon Slayer Corps was nowhere near even the Lower Moons, let alone enough to hope to breathe the same air as Muzan himself.
So the opportunity to test these experiments is very rare.
"What should I do..." Muzan hummed, his hand on his chin, and tapped it lightly. As if he was about to hand out the last beautiful flowers called 'nightmares' to pedestrians.
"I have to be careful since I only have one chance..."
"Don't want the experiments to end early..."
Muzan sighed in helplessness at this dilemma, but the corner of his mouth twitched slightly upward.
"After all, my blood is too precious to waste meaninglessly~ 🎶"
~Sreek~
Muzan walked on the snow; his black leather shoes magically didn't sink in.
His plum-colored eyes are menacing, and muscle veins pop out of his hand as the nails turn black and elongated, becoming sharper and sharper.
The moonlight reflected on the nails as he raised his hand to break down the door in a casual strike of his might.
But then, he stopped.
"Oh, right."
Muzan retracted his hand into a knocking motion and proceeded to knock lightly on the door.
~Knock.~ x2
"You should always knock before entering someone else's house."
"Don't want to appear rude."
Muzan didn't have to wait long, as the occupants of the house seemed to sense his arrival.
~Creak... bang.~
A figure stood before Muzan. The bright moon shone on the two of them as Muzan finally took in the appearance of the man in front of him.
His expressions slowly changed from curiosity and amusement into abject horror.
'Fuck!'