Chapter 8 — The Second Lottery Draw!
Giyu Tomioka turned to look at Ken, his gaze falling on Ryūjin Jakka, its hilt wreathed in flames.
"Do you know what you're doing? You're only harming him. A demon is a demon."
"Of course I know. But… there are things that can… transcend a demon's beastly nature… transcend so-called hunger."
Ken panted heavily, sweat pouring down his face.
"I believe in Tanjiro… and I believe in Nezuko."
He stopped the incantation, and the flames along Ryūjin Jakka's blade gradually faded.
Without Ryūjin Jakka's assistance, Ken wouldn't have even been able to use Shikai during his earlier battle with Kibutsuji Muzan.
Now, he had only uttered half of the release chant, and more than half of his stamina had already been drained. The fact that he was still standing with his sword in hand was sheer force of will.
"Believe in them—and believe in me. Give them a little time."
Giyu looked at Ken. His reason told him he should immediately go inside and stop Tanjiro from doing something foolish.
A demon is a demon. It can never turn back into a human!
Yet for some reason, he had a faint premonition that Ken might be right…
Giyu stood outside in silence. Ken sheathed his blade and collapsed to the ground, finally unable to hold on any longer.
From the kitchen came Nezuko's beast-like growls, Tanjiro's tear-choked pleas, and the dull thuds of bodies rolling and colliding.
"I'm sorry, Nezuko! I'm sorry! I couldn't save Mother, I couldn't save everyone—I'm sorry!"
"So please, don't become a demon! You're the only family I have left! Nezuko, hang in there! Hold on to yourself—don't give up!"
"Nezuko!!!"
More than ten minutes later…
Tanjiro emerged from the kitchen holding Nezuko's hand. Nezuko had a bamboo tube clenched in her mouth, secured by a strip of cloth tied behind her head.
Seeing Giyu waiting outside, Tanjiro bowed deeply with Nezuko.
"Thank you!"
Giyu watched everything expressionlessly, though inside his heart was in turmoil.
"The one you should thank isn't me. It's him." Giyu pointed at Ken.
"If he hadn't stopped me, I would have only fulfilled my duty as a Demon Slayer—slaying a demon."
"Heh, no need to thank me either. I owe you a life, Tanjiro. Consider this half repaid. One more time, and we'll be even." Ken grinned.
"So what do you plan to do next?" Giyu asked Tanjiro.
"I want… revenge! I want revenge against Kibutsuji Muzan!" Flames burned fiercely in Tanjiro's eyes.
"With you? You couldn't even protect your own sister—what right do you have to speak of revenge?"
"Without strength, you won't even have the chance to survive against demons. The weak are plundered by the strong. Your prayers, your pleas—they won't hear them."
"And don't expect someone like this to always step forward and help you. The weak have no place in this world. Don't hand your life and death over to others."
"If you want to protect your sister from being executed by other Demon Slayers, if you want to avenge your family, if you want to survive in this world where the strong prey upon the weak—then become stronger."
"No one will always be there for you. You must shoulder everything yourself."
Giyu stared directly at Tanjiro, whose face gradually turned pale, pressing him relentlessly.
Ken: Perfect. Giyu's finished his speech—ready to exit the stage!!!
"I…" Tanjiro staggered back a few steps, clearly shaken to his core.
The next moment, he dropped into a formal dogeza.
"Please tell me how to become stronger!!!"
Giyu looked at Tanjiro and thought of his own master: Sakonji Urokodaki, the former Water Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps, now a cultivator.
"Go visit the old man named Sakonji Urokodaki who lives at the foot of Mount Sagiri. Just tell him you were sent by Giyu Tomioka."
"Mind if I join him? I also want to join the Demon Slayer Corps." Ken raised his hand.
"You?"
Giyu looked at Ken, his brows tightly furrowed. Earlier, he had thought Ken was merely an ordinary person who liked to boast. But now, that no longer seemed to be the case.
This man likely carried far more secrets than he had imagined…
Would letting someone like him join the Demon Slayer Corps be a good thing—or a bad one?
"…Suit yourself."
"But before you set out for Mount Sagiri, I still need to test your sister's condition."
"A demon's cunning and ability to disguise itself is beyond your imagination. I must ensure your sister is truly under control…"
......
"Brother Ken, are you really coming with me to Mount Sagiri?"
"Of course! My dream is to become a Demon Slayer and kill demons every day!"
If I don't kill demons, what am I supposed to use for lottery draws?
"Then let's work hard together! Let's join the Demon Slayer Corps and become powerful swordsmen like Mr. Giyu!"
After confirming through his tests that Nezuko was indeed different from ordinary demons, Giyu finally felt reassured and departed for the post town to carry out his mission.
Tanjiro, after paying respects at the graves of his mother and siblings, set off down the mountain with Nezuko and Ken—two humans and one demon.
Before leaving, Giyu specifically reminded Tanjiro that Nezuko must not be exposed to sunlight.
For that reason, Tanjiro went to considerable effort to build a wooden box large enough to hold Nezuko.
But when the shrunken, adorable mini-Nezuko appeared before him, Tanjiro was dumbfounded.
The large box was dismantled and replaced with a smaller, more compact one that was easier to carry.
Tanjiro carried the box on his back. Ken also carried a box, though his contained no mini-Nezuko—only food, clothing, and money.
After all, the body Ken had transmigrated into belonged to a wandering orphan who had nothing.
The two descended the mountain, first stopping by Grandpa Saburo's house to explain the situation and bid farewell.
After hearing Tanjiro's account, the old man let out a long sigh.
"You two children have truly suffered."
"Go ahead and study under a master with peace of mind. I'll tell the townspeople that you've moved away."
"Thank you, Grandpa Saburo!" ×2
After expressing their thanks, they were about to depart when the old man called them back.
"Take this money and food with you. This is all I can do to help."
Tanjiro was about to refuse, but Ken moved faster.
He accepted the food—he couldn't afford to lack food right now—but declined the money.
If it were up to Tanjiro, he probably wouldn't have taken anything at all.
The guy looked honest and easygoing, but at certain times he could be incredibly stubborn, absolutely unwilling to owe others favors or money.
"Stop dawdling. Let's go! Mount Sagiri isn't close."
"But—"
"If you don't hurry, I'm leaving without you."
"Ah—Brother Ken, wait!"
The two walked along the rural paths, asking passersby for directions to Mount Sagiri as they went.
At night, with no shelter from wind or rain, they barely managed to find an abandoned cave to stay in.
Tanjiro went out to gather firewood, leaving Ken alone to watch over Nezuko and their belongings.
"Finally have time to do a lottery draw!"
"System, I want to draw!" Ken silently called out in his heart.