After the mission ended, the five returned to headquarters—
but this time, things were different.
This time, the three juniors were escorted back like heroes.
Butterfly Mansion — Infirmary
"Umu! These are the badges of a true man!"
Rengoku Kyojuro stood by the hospital bed, a huge apple in hand, crunching away as he boomed loud enough to shatter glass, enthusiastically recounting Inosuke's heroic deeds to the gathered Kakushi members and nurses.
"Look at these scars! Look at these broken ribs!
This is proof that he fought Upper Rank Five alone!"
"At that critical moment, it was Inosuke boy who discovered the Upper Rank and engaged him in a life-and-death battle all by himself, buying us precious time!
Even after being gravely injured, he still shouted that his life was worthless and told us to retreat!"
"Absolutely flamboyant!"
Uzui Tengen sat on the windowsill with one leg crossed over the other, casually toying with a gemstone.
"Though this kid is usually greedy, conceited, and not too bright, the brilliance he showed this time outshines even my diamonds!
He alone forced Upper Rank Five into a corner!"
On the hospital bed—
Inosuke, wrapped up like a mummy, lay there with half-lidded eyes, enjoying peeled apple slices fed to him by Tanjiro.
In truth, his injuries had mostly healed on the way back.
That didn't stop him from enjoying this treatment.
"Cough… cough…"
Inosuke put on a weak act and coughed twice.
"It's… it's not that exaggerated. This young master just… did what needed to be done.
Cough… another piece of apple, please."
Aoi Kanzaki, eyes red, fed him while wiping away tears.
"Inosuke-kun, stop talking and eat more. I won't scold you anymore.
If you want to sneak food from the kitchen, just do it."
In the corner, Zenitsu watched the idolized Inosuke with a complicated expression.
Biting a handkerchief, he twisted with envy.
"Damn it… I want to be fed apples too! I want to be praised by the Hashira!
Tanjiro, you're feeding me later too!"
Tanjiro, however, looked sincerely moved.
"Zenitsu, don't be jealous! Inosuke-kun almost died! We should learn from him!"
Just then, a Kasugai Crow flew in and landed on the bedside cabinet.
"Order! Order! Caw!"
"Regarding the Yoshiwara campaign and the defeat of Upper Rank Five—merit rewards! Caw!"
The room fell silent.
"Kamado Tanjiro! Agatsuma Zenitsu!
Assisted the Hashira in killing an Upper Rank, outstanding performance!
Rank promoted to Kanoe!"
"Yes! I ranked up!"
Zenitsu revived on the spot.
"Does Kanoe mean higher pay? I can buy Nezuko-chan new clothes!"
"Hashibira Inosuke!"
The crow paused, as if choosing its words carefully.
"Single-handedly restrained an Upper Rank!
Created a killing opportunity for the Hashira!
Heavily wounded yet unyielding!
Meritorious in protecting comrades!
Special promotion to Tei rank!"
"And! By special approval of the Master—
All three receive one month of paid leave!
All medical expenses waived!
Additionally, Hashibira Inosuke is awarded one hundred premium tempura vouchers!"
"Te—Tei rank?!"
Zenitsu's jaw hit the floor.
The Demon Slayer Corps' hierarchy was strict—
Kinoe, Kinoe, Hinoe, Tei, Tsuchinoe, Kanoe, Shinoto, Mitsunoto, Mizunoto.
They'd been at the very bottom, Mizunoto, and now skipped all the way to Tei?!
"Heh heh heh…"
The mummy on the bed let out a smug laugh.
Inosuke suddenly sat up, snapping several bandages.
He grabbed the crow, pointed at Zenitsu and Tanjiro, and laughed arrogantly.
"Did you hear that?! Zenitsu! Gonpachiro!"
"From today on, call me Officer! Call me Boss too!
Salute when you see me!
Disobey, and I'll dock your pay using my Tei-rank authority!"
"One hundred tempura vouchers! Hahahaha!"
Looking at the idiot standing on the bed with hands on his hips, Rengoku and Uzui exchanged helpless smiles.
"Looks like his spirits are high," Uzui shrugged.
"In that case, we should report back to the Master.
Rest well, hero boy."
Infinity Castle
A realm without end, where up and down were reversed.
Kibutsuji Muzan sat alone in a chamber filled with reagents, the air stifling.
Gyokko was dead.
Upper Rank Five was vacant.
Ordinarily, Muzan should have been furious—
cultivating an Upper Rank took centuries.
Yet now, his mood was strangely calm—
even expectant.
He read the detailed intelligence report on the Yoshiwara battle, pieced together from Gyokko's final memories and Daki's account.
"Gyokko was a waste, but his death had value."
Muzan's long fingers tapped the table.
"He used his life to complete the final piece of Inosuke's bitter-meat scheme."
"Now that child is a Tei-rank Demon Slayer, regarded as a lifesaver by two Hashira.
That blind fool Ubuyashiki is probably grooming him as a future Hashira already."
A cold smile curled on Muzan's lips.
"What a perfect infiltrator.
Bearing my blood, wielding a Nichirin Blade, slaying demons, protecting humans…"
"When the final battle comes…
when everyone believes he is the savior—
he will turn his blade at the last moment…"
Just imagining it filled Muzan with long-lost delight.
"Nakime."
Strum.
With a biwa note, the one-eyed demon Nakime appeared.
"Pass down the order.
Upper Rank Five will remain vacant. No need to promote trash."
"That seat… I'm reserving it for Inosuke."
"When he's done playing in the Demon Slayer Corps, when he's hollowed that organization out from within…
I'll bring him back to sit upon it."
"A supreme Upper Rank who wields both Breathing Techniques and Blood Demon Arts…
Heh. Yoriichi Tsugikuni—
your legacy will ultimately become mine."
"Another Kokushibo, perhaps?"
Back at the Butterfly Mansion
Late at night.
Inosuke had gained rank and tempura vouchers, but he noticed something off about his second lackey.
Normally, Zenitsu would already be whining about Nezuko or screaming in pain.
But tonight, he sat alone in the corridor, gazing at the moon—quiet, no snot bubble in sight.
"Hey, Zenitsu."
Inosuke plopped down beside him, still holding a half-eaten apple.
"What are you doing? Acting deep?
Trying to attract Nezuko's attention like this?
Useless. She's my lackey—only if I allow it can she be with you."
Zenitsu didn't explode as usual.
He just sighed, burying his head in his knees.
"Boss…"
His voice was muffled.
"I… I miss my grandpa."
"Your grandpa?" Inosuke tilted his head.
"That master of yours who looks like a thunder god?"
"Yeah."
Zenitsu sniffed.
"These last few times… I almost died.
At that moment, I really wanted to go back and see him.
He always calls me trash and hits me with his cane…
but I miss his rice balls."
"And now… I'm Kanoe.
Not as good as you, but still a promotion.
I want to tell him I didn't disgrace him."
Inosuke chewed his apple, looking at the blond boy who was usually cowardly yet surprisingly reliable when it mattered.
He felt it wasn't a big deal—
but now he was the boss.
And a boss looked after his men.
"Tch. That's it?"
He finished the apple in a few bites and tossed the core into the yard, earning a glare from a passing Aoi.
Standing up, he stretched toward the moon.
"Perfect timing. That sickly Master gave us a month off.
If I stay here smelling medicine all day, my nose will stop working."
Inosuke grabbed Zenitsu by the back of his collar and hauled him up.
"Let's go, Zenitsu."
"Huh? W-where?" Zenitsu blinked.
"Dumb question! Your place, of course!"
Inosuke's multicolored eyes gleamed.
"This young master is Tei rank now—and rich!
We'll go inspect that place called Momoyama.
I want to see what kind of old man could raise a crybaby like you!"
"Pack your bags! We leave tomorrow morning!
This trip—
this young master pays for everything!"
Zenitsu stared at him, tears flooding out.
"Waaah! Boss, you're amazing! You're a god! You're a living Bodhisattva!"
"Get lost! Don't wipe your snot on me! Disgusting!"
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