Namiko

Welcomed warmly by Tanjiro, the two stayed at Tanjiro's home for a few days.

After receiving Tanjiki's warm hospitality, the two of them stayed at his home for several days.

Leaving Tanjiro's home, the two returned to the place of their birth.

After leaving Tanjiki's home, the two returned to the place where they had been born.

The once prosperous Tsugikuni estate had withered away within just a few years after Michikatsu's departure.

The once-prosperous Tsugikuni household had withered within just a few years of Kokushibo's departure.

Hearing from people in the city that after the head of the household, Tsugikuni Michikatsu, abandoned his wife and children to leave, only the frail lady of the house and young children remained, and the estate was soon swallowed up by others.

From the townspeople, they learned that after the head of the Tsugikuni household, Kokushibo, had abandoned his wife and children, only his frail wife and young children had remained. The Tsugikuni household was soon swallowed up by others.

After repeatedly investigating, the siblings learned that Michikatsu's descendants had changed their surname to Tokito to avoid disaster and moved deep into the mountains to make a living by logging.

After repeatedly investigating, the siblings learned that Kokushibo's descendants had changed their name to Tokito to avoid disaster and had moved deep into the mountains, where they made a living cutting wood.

The siblings secretly tracked them down to take a look, and only after confirming they were living without worry did they leave with peace of mind.

The siblings secretly went to see them, and only after confirming that they were living without hardship did they leave with peace of mind.

The two used the reward money earned from slaying demons in recent years to buy a small house in the city, temporarily settling down in their hometown.

In the town, the two used the rewards they had earned from slaying Demons over the years to buy a small house and temporarily settled in their hometown.

Once settled, Yoriichi wrote a letter detailing his battle with Muzan and sent it to the Hashira of Flames in the Demon Slayer Corps, hoping it would provide some help.

After getting settled, Yoriichi wrote to the Demon Slayer Corps' Flame Hashira about his battle with Muzan, hoping they could provide some help.

Although Tamayo had once said that Muzan would probably not show his face again before Yoriichi died,

Although Tamayo had once said that Muzan probably would not show himself again before she died,

Yoriichi still refused to give up, caring for his increasingly ill younger sister while keeping in touch with the Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps and searching for the figure of Kibutsuji Muzan.

Yoriichi still refused to give up. While caring for his increasingly ill sister, he maintained contact with the Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps and searched for Kibutsuji Muzan's whereabouts.

This stay lasted for two years.

They ended up staying there for two years.

In this year, Ikuko was twenty-five years old, and Yoriichi was twenty-six.

That year, Yuko was twenty-five, and Yoriichi was twenty-six.

The law that those who awaken the mark cannot live past twenty-five was broken.

The rule that those who awakened the mark could not live past the age of twenty-five had been broken.

Ikuko was not surprised; just as Michikatsu envied, Yoriichi was always the exception.

Yuko was not surprised. Just as Kokushibo had envied, Yoriichi was always the exception.

Innate marks and acquired marks might have differences in lifespan.

Perhaps there was a difference in lifespan between naturally occurring marks and marks acquired later in life.

As Yoriichi grew to twenty-six and found that he had not died from the mark, he no longer went out openly to search for Muzan's traces.

After Yoriichi reached the age of twenty-six and discovered that he had not died because of the mark, he no longer openly went out in search of Muzan's whereabouts.

Instead, he hid himself away, hoping that Muzan would misjudge the lifespan of the marked swordsmen and appear in this world once again.

Instead, he went into hiding, hoping that Muzan would misjudge the lifespan of marked swordsmen and appear in this world again.

Yet, helpless as it was, Muzan had no other skills, but he was deeply versed in the principle of keeping a low profile, never revealing the slightest trace.

Unfortunately, while Muzan had few other talents, he thoroughly understood the supreme principles of hiding. He never revealed the slightest trace.

As time passed, Ikuko's illness grew heavier and heavier, and the frequency of her coughing up blood also became more frequent.

As time passed, Yuko's illness grew worse, and she coughed up blood more and more frequently.

Taking advantage of Yoriichi going out to find a physician, Ikuko took out an envelope she did not know how long she had prepared. After placing it on the table, she picked up her Nichirin blade and left the house.

While Yoriichi was out searching for a physician, Yuko took out an envelope she had prepared who knew how long ago. After placing it on the table, she picked up her Nichirin Blade and left home.

She did not want to die in front of Yoriichi; it was too unsightly.

She did not want to die in front of Yoriichi. It would be too ugly.

When Yoriichi returned to the house with a physician, all that was left for him was the envelope on the table.

When Yoriichi returned with the physician, the only thing waiting for him was the envelope on the table.

Day and night alternated as Yuko walked numbly along the road. She did not know how much time had passed.

"Grrr~"

A strange sound came from her stomach.

She was hungry.

But she had not brought any provisions with her.

Yuko found a rock and sat down against it.

The afterglow of the setting sun fell across her face, carrying a faint warmth.

She did not know whether another journey awaited her after she fell asleep.

The heavens had already given her one chance, allowing her to experience a mother's care and her elder brother's kindness.

Although she was still somewhat unwilling to accept it, there was nothing she could do.

As the final glimmer of sunlight disappeared, Yuko slowly closed her eyes.

"Miss Yuko? Are you Miss Yuko?"

She did not know how much time had passed when a pleasant voice suddenly called beside her ear.

Did my brother send someone to find me?

Even though I've already come this far.

Yuko's eyelashes trembled, and she slowly opened her eyes.

Standing before her was a girl dressed in the Demon Slayer Corps uniform. She seemed familiar, as if Yuko had seen her somewhere before.

"Who are you?"

The girl crouched down and smiled gently. "Miss Yuko, don't you remember me? Five years ago, you saved my life at a temple in the mountains."

A hazy memory stirred in Yuko's mind, and her eyes cleared slightly.

"You're... Namiko?"

It was the girl who had warmed Yuko with her body heat while they slayed a Demon in the snowy mountains that day.

Seeing that Yuko remembered her, Namiko's lips curled into a delighted smile. "Miss Yuko still remembers me."

"Did you... join the Demon Slayer Corps?"

"Yes. After Miss Yuko saved me five years ago, I kept wanting to repay your kindness." Namiko slowly knelt before Yuko.

"I finally joined the Demon Slayer Corps three years ago. Unfortunately, I learned that Miss Yuko had left the Corps as soon as I joined, so I never got the chance to see you."

"I never expected to meet you here. Have you heard about the evil Demon in the mountains?"

Yuko paused slightly. "The evil Demon in the mountains?"

"Yes. On the mountain behind you, at the home of a samurai lord, the lord's wife and children have been disappearing for no apparent reason for several days."

"Did you receive a mission?"

"Yes."

Yuko lowered her eyes. The Clear World unfolded before her, fully revealing the movement of Namiko's lungs.

Over the past two years, her mastery of the Clear World had grown increasingly proficient, and she could now use it steadily.

This breathing... is the breathing style of Water Breathing.

Water Breathing had the highest compatibility among the Five Great Breathing Styles.

But Namiko's understanding of Water Breathing was extremely shallow. She had not even reached the realm of Constant Reduplication, and her basic application was crude. At this level, she would probably struggle even against an ordinary Demon.

Had the Demon Slayer Corps declined this far after we left?

"Grrr~"

At that moment, an awkward sound rang out.

"..."

Namiko hurriedly rummaged through her pack. "If you don't mind, Miss Yuko, I have some provisions here."

"...Thank you." Yuko did not refuse her kindness. As she ate, she casually asked, "Do you have any information on the evil Demon?"

"Yes. According to the intelligence, the Demon possesses a strange Blood Demon Art. It once made the samurai's wife disappear in full view of everyone."

"It has abducted several people over the past few days, and the samurai has been helpless to stop it."

Yuko nodded slightly. "I'll go with you."

Blood Demon Arts could be considered supernatural abilities possessed by Demons.

Demons of this kind were often stronger than ordinary Demons. Given Namiko's control of her Breathing Technique, she would probably have trouble dealing with it.

"Really? It's wonderful to have your help, Miss Yuko." Namiko let out a long breath and said wistfully, "This is actually my first time going out to hunt Demons alone. To be honest, I've felt rather uncertain this whole time."

Yuko remained silent.

After filling her stomach, Yuko followed Namiko into the mountains.

The sun had already set, leaving only a little afterglow shining in the sky.

After walking uphill along the mountain path for ten minutes, a large estate appeared before them.

From Namiko, Yuko learned that the mountain was the fief of a certain samurai who had once served under the shogun.

When he later retired from the front lines, he had been rewarded with this estate.

Namiko straightened her clothes. "Please wait a moment."

She knocked on the main gate.