The Demon Slayer Corps had finally entered a rare period of recovery and reprieve.
After the devastating encounter on Mount Natagumo, seven of the Nine Hashira had suffered varying degrees of injury, leaving only the Stone Hashira, Gyomei Himejima, fully capable of active deployment.
Even so, the Butterfly Mansion remained in constant motion, as Shinobu Kocho personally oversaw treatment and recovery for all survivors.
Among the injured, the surprisingly least affected was Kyojuro Rengoku, the Flame Hashira, who had faced Kokushibo head-on during the battle.
His survival alone was already considered an extraordinary outcome, and none of the Hashira questioned it Kokushibo's brief restraint had likely been the only reason he remained alive.
Tanjiro Kamado and his companions, though exhausted, were among the least severely injured and recovered far more quickly than expected.
Inosuke Hashibira was the first to regain full mobility.
The very next morning, he was already standing on Tanjiro's bed, proudly declaring victory over his own recovery.
"I'M THE STRONGEST! I'M COMPLETELY FINE NOW!"
Tanjiro Kamado let out a tired smile, not engaging in the argument.
"Yes, yes… Inosuke is amazing," he replied gently.
Immediately, Inosuke's chest puffed out beneath the boar mask in triumph.
"ZENITSU! SAY IT! I'M THE STRONGEST!"
Zenitsu Agatsuma, still wrapped in bandages, turned his head weakly.
"…Just go away…"
At that moment, Shinobu Kocho entered the room with a medical report in hand.
"Zenitsu's injuries were not caused by demons," she said calmly. "They are blunt-force trauma."
The entire room slowly turned toward Inosuke.
A brief silence followed.
Inosuke froze.
Then
He smashed through the window and escaped into the garden.
"…Energetic as always," Shinobu remarked without changing expression, moving on to Giyu Tomioka's examination.
At that moment, voices were heard outside the room.
"Brother!"
Shinazugawa Genya had arrived.
Sanemi Shinazugawa immediately stiffened the moment he sensed his presence.
"Why are you here?" Sanemi's tone was sharp and hostile. "Someone like you doesn't belong in the Demon Slayer Corps."
The room fell silent.
Most of the Hashira did not understand the hostility.
Only Giyu Tomioka remained expressionless, silently observing.
Genya lowered his head.
"I… I just wanted to "
"Get out," Sanemi cut him off immediately, turning his face away.
Genya hesitated, then silently withdrew, carrying the food he had brought.
Mitsuri Kanroji frowned. "That was a bit too harsh, wasn't it?"
Sanemi said nothing.
Kyojuro Rengoku spoke firmly instead.
"Shinazugawa, family is not something to be treated so coldly. You should apologize once you recover."
"Apologize?" Sanemi snapped. "He has no right to be here."
Yet beneath his anger, Tanjiro's heightened sense of smell detected something else entirely.
Pain. Fear. And desperation hidden beneath rage.
But Tanjiro said nothing.
The atmosphere shifted again as another group entered the Butterfly Mansion.
"Tengen-sama!"
Suma, one of Tengen Uzui's wives, rushed in and immediately latched onto him.
"Ugh Suma, wait !"
Tengen Uzui coughed lightly, still recovering from injuries sustained during the battle.
Shinobu Kocho's medical check was interrupted as the trio of wives fussed over him.
Makio immediately objected to Shinobu's assessment.
"Don't underestimate him!"
Hinatsuru calmly distributed food to the others.
"Please eat. You all must be exhausted."
Zenitsu, watching the scene, froze in disbelief.
"…Three wives…?"
His expression darkened instantly.
Jealousy overtook rational thought.
Meanwhile, Inosuke having escaped through the garden attempted to sneak into the kitchen for food.
Inside, Aoi Kanzaki noticed him immediately.
"Thief!"
"I'M NOT A THIEF!"
Inosuke grabbed food and bolted before anyone could stop him.
Kanao Tsuyuri quietly watched him leave, tilting her head slightly as if analyzing an unknown phenomenon.
Despite the chaos, a brief calm returned to the Demon Slayer Corps.
However, that peace did not extend beyond their borders.
Unknown Village A New PresenceIn a remote village far from the Corps, a young girl appeared alone.
Her gaze was empty. Her clothes were worn and unfamiliar.
The villagers paid her little attention at first; such occurrences were not unheard of in troubled times.
An elderly woman eventually took her in.
"You don't have a name? Then I'll call you something gentle," the old woman said kindly.
The girl nodded quietly.
She began living in the village, learning to farm, weave straw, and assist in daily chores.
She adapted quickly too quickly.
Yet something about her remained unnatural.
She never grew tired.
She never felt full.
And sometimes, she would pause… as if listening to an instinct no one else could hear.
At night, when alone, she whispered softly:
"Family…"
She did not know what the word truly meant.
Only that something deep within her body rejected it… and something deeper still demanded she obey.
In the distant mountains, strange disappearances had begun.
Reports of "insect-like demons" and missing travelers spread quietly through nearby towns.
The Demon Slayer Corps had not yet received formal confirmation.
But the calm was beginning to fracture once again.
Advanced are Available on Patreon!
We are currently at Chapter 116 on Patreon!
Join now:
Patreon.com/HACKDWORLD