Setting Off for Mount Sagiri X Minamino Hirotomo's Repayment

Electric shocks can be adjusted by voltage to determine the current passing through a human body.

But there was absolutely no restraint in Silva's whip.

How much force he used when lashing someone, and whether he employed "Nen" or not, remained an unknown.

"As long as he's happy." Roy's tone was somewhat drained.

They were all stubborn people; none would bow to the other. That was the Zoldyck way—a house full of mules.

Gotoh had never been one to meddle, so he could only do his best to manage the young master's logistics, ensuring he wouldn't have to worry about trivial matters and lose his focus.

"Dong..." The wooden grandfather clock in the corner chimed, reminding Roy that there was less than an hour until bedtime.

After Gotoh finished attending to Roy's medicinal bath and carried away his discarded clothes, Roy called out to him just as he was closing the bedroom door.

"Two things..."

"First, book me appointments with several renowned specialists in pulmonary diseases..."

"Second, gather information on 'Conjuration' type Nen users. It would be best if there are records of them using 'Anti-Conjuration' methods... I need to consult them about something..."

Roy had not forgotten Tanjuro's condition, and the first solution that came to his mind was...

Using "Anti-Conjuration" means to send medicine from the real world into the Demon Slayer world.

He reached out to touch his hanafuda earrings, but grasped at empty air...

Only then did he remember that he hadn't "entered the dream" yet, nor had he developed a way to manifest items from the Cognitive World into the real world.

"The first task is easy." Gotoh pondered for a moment, chin in hand, and replied: "The Department of Respiratory Medicine at the Republic of Padokea's capital hospital is very famous. As long as you are willing to spend the money, you can book an appointment with a highly skilled expert."

"As for searching for 'Conjuration' type Nen users..."

Gotoh spread his hands helplessly: "Young Master, you know as well as I do that I do not have the authorization to access the intelligence agency."

Roy was well aware that the Zoldyck family had their own exclusive intelligence agency...

Not just Gotoh, but even he or Illumi could not mobilize any intelligence personnel without Silva's authorization, let alone search for information on specific "Conjuration" type Nen users.

"I understand." Roy didn't make things difficult for Gotoh; he told him to close the door and threw himself onto the soft, large bed.

There were still nearly two years left before Tanjuro passed away. It wasn't long, but it wasn't short either; there would always be a way.

At the very worst, Roy had considered that once he fully mastered Sun Breathing and learned some basic "Nen" techniques, he would go and attempt the "Hunter Exam."

Once he passed the "Hunter Exam" and obtained a "Hunter License," he could log into the Hunter Association's private network and use the association's power to search for well-known "Conjuration" type Nen users.

When that time came, some problems would be solved easily.

"Rustle..." The evening breeze lifted a corner of the curtain, revealing the Snow Walk resting on the sword rack.

Moonlight spilled through the clean glass window onto Roy's face...

The young man lay with his hands crossed over his lower abdomen, eyes closed peacefully.

The familiar sensation of falling washed over him...

Passing through the colorful tunnel, he arrived once again at his Sea of Cognition.

Roy walked barefoot into the sea, letting the waves soak his pant legs. He gazed into the distance, trying to empty his mind. A minute later, he reached out and pushed open the door to the Demon Slayer world.

"Nii-san~"

The north wind howled...

Tanjiro, having just run out of the shrine to take a leak, walked back in shivering, wrapped in a blanket. Passing the campfire, he gave Roy a gentle nudge.

Compared to Roy, who slept until dawn, Tanjiro had two dark circles under his eyes. He looked at him with admiration, clearly not expecting that after everything they had been through the night before, he could still sleep so soundly... He was indeed his Nii-san, born with a big heart.

"There's a cloth bundle under the hoe; there are dumplings inside. Take a few out and roast them."

While the fire hadn't died out yet, Roy went outside to grab a handful of snow to wash his face. When he returned, he pulled a water flask from his chest and opened the stopper.

Seeing this, Tanjiro invited himself over. He sat down next to Roy while heating the dumplings, just to sponge off some "Qi."

The foolish little brother clearly didn't understand the principle that curiosity killed the cat, and Roy couldn't be bothered to deal with him, so he opened a few more aura nodes to inject more "Nen" into the flask.

White smoke curled up... Minamino Hirotomo poked half his body out of the flask and bowed to Roy.

Seeing the rest of his body attached to the flask like flowing smoke, Tanjiro leaned in curiously: "Mister, are you alright?"

As a result...

He received a backhanded chop to the head from Roy and retreated to the side, clutching his head in grievance.

"Forgive my brother's rashness, please don't mind him." Roy smiled apologetically at Minamino Hirotomo: "If you have nothing else, Mister, let's set off once we've eaten the dumplings."

Minamino Hirotomo looked at Tanjiro with a smile. The little guy's aggrieved look was somewhat like his own precious daughter, though he was a bit older—he might even be a spoiled brat.

He shook his head immediately and said: "I wouldn't dare trouble Lord Eiichiro. I do have a small matter, however; if Lord Eiichiro is interested, you could go and look for it."

Minamino Hirotomo began to recount...

"When that evil demon was chasing me, he knocked my basket aside."

"If it's not too much trouble for Lord Eiichiro, you could go and look for it."

"Inside are the gifts I bought for my family and some silver coins."

"When the time comes, all the silver shall belong to Lord Eiichiro, as repayment for the kindness of avenging me and seeking my family..."

"That's simple enough." Roy glared at Tanjiro. "Did you hear that? When we head down the mountain later, sniff carefully."

Tanjiro let out an "oh," peeled a few dumplings to eat with Roy, and soon shouldered his basket to leave the shrine, finding Minamino Hirotomo's basket under a pine tree.

Inside were scattered fabrics, a bamboo horse, and documents. In the snow nearby, some snacks were also discovered, though they were mostly buried by the heavy snowfall, with only faint corners visible.

"Those are indeed my belongings. The fabric was to be made into clothes for my wife and mother, the bamboo horse and snacks were bought for my daughter, and my name is on the travel documents. As for the remaining silver, Lord Eiichiro, please take it."

Roy dug a single copper coin out of the snow and tucked it into his pocket, then had Tanjiro wrap up the rest and stuff it back into Minamino Hirotomo's basket.

Minamino Hirotomo froze for a moment, his mouth opening as if he wanted to say something.

But he saw Roy reach out, grab the basket, and head toward Mount Sagiri without looking back...

"In this day and age, a man is the pillar of his household."

"You're dead, so you don't have to worry about anything, but your family still needs to eat, don't they?"

"Leaving a bit more silver will help them get by..."

"That's right, Uncle. Leave more money so you can buy your daughter some candy." Tanjiro followed closely behind, poking his head out to smile at Minamino Hirotomo.

Minamino Hirotomo let out a long sigh and bowed his head until his forehead touched the ground.

He did not know whether to consider himself lucky or unfortunate, only that his heart felt warm, and he felt a deeper attachment to this world than ever before.

Until...

They arrived at the foot of Mount Sagiri and saw a village in the distance.

Hearing a familiar child's voice, that feeling became particularly intense...

"Mommy, when is Daddy coming home?"