Tsugikuni Yuko

It no longer mattered what Tsugikuni Yuko had been called in her previous life, because in this life, her name was Tsugikuni Yuko.

As the eldest daughter of the Tsugikuni family, she had two older twin brothers.

The eldest was Tsugikuni Kokushibo, and the second was Tsugikuni Yoriichi.

That was right—she had transmigrated.

She had transmigrated into the world of Pillar Destruction... Demon Slayer.

The immense popularity of Demon Slayer in her previous life meant that even Tsugikuni Yuko, who did not follow the anime, would occasionally come across related videos. She had eventually fallen into the series because of its exquisite effects and art style.

However...

She had probably arrived too early.

Yuko had only watched one season of the anime and had merely come across videos about Yoriichi from time to time on short-video platforms.

The most famous line was, of course—What do you think life is?

But if she remembered correctly, her cheap second brother, Tsugikuni Yoriichi, was the ceiling of power in Demon Slayer.

He should have lived several hundred years before the story began.

So the question was, how could she survive until the story started?

"Sigh." With a wooden flute hanging around her neck, Yuko propped her cheeks up with both hands and sat on the steps, her face filled with worry. She watched her eldest brother, Tsugikuni Kokushibo, swing a wooden sword as he fought their teacher below, her little feet unconsciously swinging back and forth.

"Yuko, you shouldn't sit like that. Keep your posture proper."

Her mother Akino's voice came from behind her. Yuko turned around and saw her second brother, Tsugikuni Yoriichi, walking over while clinging to Akino like a spoiled child.

"Mother." Yuko hurriedly changed from her slouched position into the kneeling posture she still had not grown accustomed to.

In her previous life, her mother had been a lazy gambler who had squandered the family's assets and cared nothing for the family. She had been the sort of person Yuko found difficult to respect or love.

As a result, Yuko was completely helpless against the overly gentle Akino.

After sitting upright, Yuko breathed a sigh of relief. She raised a hand toward her second brother, who was nestled beside their mother, and greeted him, "Yo, Yoriichi."

Who would have thought that the legendary ceiling of combat power had been such a clingy child when he was young?

The moment she finished speaking, Akino rapped her knuckles against Yuko's head. "How many times have I told you? Call him Brother!"

"Hi, Brother." Yuko rubbed her aching head, failing to notice the flicker of pain between Akino's brows.

Their mother Akino was a gentle person, but whenever she lost her temper, she was terrifyingly frightening.

Faced with his unruly little sister, Yoriichi merely smiled gently.

His gentle mother and brother, along with his adorable little sister, were Yoriichi's most precious treasures.

Yoriichi helped their mother Akino sit beneath the covered walkway, with Yuko accompanying her.

He went to stand beside his elder brother Kokushibo and watch.

The teacher instructing Kokushibo in swordsmanship was one of their father's retainers. When he saw Yoriichi standing quietly to the side, he handed him a wooden sword and smilingly invited him to give it a try.

Kokushibo, exhausted and drenched in sweat, his entire body aching from being struck by their father's retainer, finally got a moment to rest.

"Mother, Yuko." He came beneath the walkway and looked up at his mother and sister.

"Brother~" Yuko greeted him with a smile before turning her focused gaze back toward the training ground.

Kokushibo's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. He turned to look, not believing that his weak younger brother could last more than a few exchanges against the man.

After all, despite having such talent and working so hard, Kokushibo had never once defeated their father's retainer.

Yet, to everyone present's astonishment, Yoriichi, who had only learned how to hold a sword from their father's retainer, launched an attack with the speed of a gale and knocked down the towering adult in the blink of an eye.

Kokushibo's eyes held nothing but shock. Akino's small mouth hung slightly open in surprise. Only Yuko wore an expression that said, Just as I thought.

As expected of the ceiling—at seven years old, he already possessed unimaginable strength.

Unlike everyone else, Yoriichi stared blankly at the bamboo sword in his hand.

I hate the feeling of striking someone's flesh.

Yoriichi tossed aside the bamboo sword and sat back down on the walkway.

Kokushibo finally recovered from his shock and sat down beside Yoriichi, hurriedly asking, "How did you do that?"

Yoriichi lowered his eyelids and quietly replied, "When he was preparing to attack, his lungs would inevitably move violently. As long as you clearly observed the direction of his bones, the contraction of his muscles, and the flow of his blood, it was enough."

"..."

Yoriichi's words left Kokushibo dumbfounded. He could not understand what his younger brother was talking about at all.

Akino's eyes flickered slightly.

This child Yoriichi can see the gods with his eyes.

Yuko's eyes shone even brighter. She knew about this!

The highest realm of swordsmanship—or rather, martial arts.

The Clear World!

It granted one the ability to see an enemy's weaknesses and attack movements while concealing one's own presence.

It was like having X-ray vision.

"Let's stop talking about swordsmanship. I'd rather play sugoroku and fly kites with Brother and Yuko."

Yoriichi had once wished to become the second-strongest warrior in the country, but the discomfort of striking another person's body had made him abandon that wish completely.

Kokushibo lowered his head, his hands resting on his thighs clenching in secret.

Yuko jokingly patted him on the shoulder and said in an old-fashioned tone, "Stop keeping your nerves taut all day. Relax your body once in a while."

Kokushibo slapped her hand away without the slightest courtesy. He did not even say goodbye to their mother before silently leaving.

Yuko let out a long breath.

I knew it.

Yuko had not known much about the later developments of the main story before transmigrating, but she had seen Yoriichi's elder brother in short-video edits. He had become the strongest demon under Demon King Muzan.

Upper Rank One, Kokushibo.

As for the "six-eyed lemon," as the netizens had called him, she had not understood it at the time. But now, she seemed to understand it a little.

Good. She absolutely had to correct this boy's twisted mentality!

Yuko believed she could do it. Come on, she had at least been an adult university student in her previous life.

How hard could it be to teach a child?

However, before she could correct Kokushibo's personality,

a short while later, one night.

"Yuko."

Yoriichi's voice startled the sleeping Yuko awake. She opened the door and rubbed her sleepy eyes.

"What's wrong, Yoriichi?" Yuko looked at him while yawning. "Are you scared to go to the bathroom alone?"

Faced with his unruly little sister, Yoriichi's expression remained as calm as ever, but this time, it seemed to contain a trace of sadness.

"Mother has passed away."

"Huh?" Yuko woke up completely.

Akino...

Yuko opened and closed her mouth, unable to say anything for a moment.

"You can ask Mother's attendants about the details," Yoriichi said quietly. "I'm going to say goodbye to Brother now."

"Say goodbye?"

"I'm leaving for the temple."

Only then did Yuko notice the travel bag placed beside Yoriichi.

Their father was superstitious. Yoriichi had been born a twin with an ugly birthmark, and their father had never valued him. If not for their mother Akino's protection, Yoriichi would have been killed by their father at birth.

By comparison, the difference in treatment between Yoriichi and Kokushibo was no less than that between master and servant.

From food, clothing, housing, and transportation to education, the two lived in entirely different worlds.

And as the one who had been abandoned, Yoriichi had to go to a temple when he turned ten.

To become a monk.

But... Yoriichi and Kokushibo were only seven years old now.

Yuko was only six.

Yuko suddenly remembered the scene of Yoriichi defeating their father's retainer.

Their father needed an heir capable of taking over as the pillar of the family. The immense talent Yoriichi had displayed had already reversed his and Kokushibo's positions.

Had Yoriichi chosen to enter the temple early so that he would not affect Kokushibo?

While Yuko stood there in a daze, Yoriichi said, "Yuko, I'm leaving."

"Take good care of yourself."

With that, Yoriichi picked up his travel bag and prepared to leave.

"Wait." Yuko spoke instinctively.

Yoriichi paused and looked back at her.

When it was time for Yuko to speak, her mind went completely blank. She did not know what to say.

Should I ask him to stay?

A seven-year-old child...

But Yoriichi could already defeat adults. He was countless times stronger than her.

In response to his silent sister, Yoriichi offered a gentle smile.