Setting Out
Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters.
Butterfly Mansion.
Tanjiro walked along the road back, returning to the Butterfly Mansion alone. The moment he stepped into the courtyard, he saw a petite figure waiting there.
It was none other than the Insect Hashira, Shinobu Kocho.
When her deep eyes fell upon Tanjiro, she still wore that unchanging smile as she walked straight over and said with a smile,
"You just went to see the Master, didn't you? Did something happen?"
Faced with Shinobu's lovely face drawing close, Tanjiro answered with a slight blush, "Yes. Tomorrow, I'll be leaving headquarters with Ajuramaru."
At those words, Shinobu's smile froze.
But it quickly returned as she gave an awkward smile. "Then why are you in such a hurry to leave? Won't you be lonely, leaving your two friends behind?"
Faced with Shinobu's question, Tanjiro did not hesitate in the slightest. The words simply spilled from his lips.
"I won't. It's far too dangerous for them to be with me. Being able to stay behind is best for them.
"And I want to become stronger as soon as possible—strong enough to protect everyone!"
That sincere expression earned Tanjiro a measure of Shinobu's approval, though her expression remained unchanged as she smiled as always.
"Your heart is very pure. No wonder you were able to gain Ajuramaru's recognition..."
As she spoke, she turned to look at the dark night ahead and continued on her own, "But I also want to place my dream in your hands."
"A dream?"
Tanjiro looked over, somewhat confused.
"That humans and demons can live together in peace. I believe that one day, you'll be able to make it happen." When Shinobu said those words with a smile on her face,
Tanjiro sniffed lightly beside her and clearly caught the scent of anger. He immediately asked in confusion,
"Are you angry?"
Those words were like a sword through the heart, directly piercing the defenses around her heart. This time, Shinobu's smile finally vanished.
It was replaced by a trace of loneliness.
"Angry? Perhaps... Maybe I've been angry ever since my sister was killed by a demon... Every time I see someone lose their life to a demon, my anger grows.
"Deep down, I have an irrepressible hatred for demons. The other Hashira probably feel much the same way..."
In one breath, she vented all the emotions that had been buried in her heart for so long.
After hearing this, Tanjiro could empathize with her. That was why he was now even more resolute in his beliefs!
"Miss Shinobu, please rest assured. I'll definitely make everyone accept Nezuko!"
"Is that so..."
Shinobu's smile returned to its usual appearance.
Ajuramaru, within the blade, saw this excellent opportunity and reminded Tanjiro, "Let me use your body to say something."
Hearing that, Tanjiro answered without hesitation.
"Okay."
After saying that, he turned to Shinobu beside him and reminded her, "Miss Shinobu, Ajuramaru has something he wants to say to you."
Shinobu, who had just been about to leave, sat back down and turned to look.
The gentle and warm Tanjiro's expression suddenly turned cold, and meeting those crimson eyes gave one an inexplicable sense of dread.
Fortunately, her expression did not change as she smiled and asked, "Mr. Ajuramaru, what did you wish to say to me?"
Even Tanjiro, whose body had been taken over, was curious about what Ajuramaru would say.
Ajuramaru did not beat around the bush and went straight to the point. "You can ask Kagaya Ubuyashiki to help you find a demon named Tamayo. Her knowledge of medicine far surpasses yours.
"The two of you can work together to study Nezuko's blood. I can sense it—Nezuko is different from other demons. She is very special!"
"A demon?"
Shinobu instinctively felt some resistance. Nezuko was one thing, since she truly had not eaten anyone, but who was this Tamayo?
Her mind was full of questions, but since Ajuramaru had said so, he must have had his reasons. She immediately answered seriously.
"Since it is your request, I understand. Tomorrow, I will personally ask the Master about it."
After receiving an affirmative answer, Ajuramaru released control of the body. But Tanjiro could no longer remain calm.
He could not help asking in his heart,
"Ajuramaru, does that mean my sister has a chance of becoming human again?"
Faced with the urgent question, Ajuramaru merely smiled and calmly asked in return,
"Who knows?"
Night fell.
The two went their separate ways. Tanjiro returned to his room and spent the night peacefully lying in his sickbed.
Until the next morning.
Ajuramaru, inside the blade, saw Zenitsu and Inosuke getting up again, preparing to run away. Left with no choice, he released Demon Power.
He condensed a hand and gave the sleeping Tanjiro a hard slap across the face.
Smack!
A crisp sound rang out as Tanjiro jolted awake from his dream. He then looked around in confusion and asked,
"What happened?"
The moment he spoke,
He saw Zenitsu and Inosuke trying to flee, while Ajuramaru's displeased voice rang in their minds. "Those two want to run. Say goodbye before you leave."
"Thank you, Ajuramaru."
After thanking him with practiced ease, Tanjiro immediately stopped the embarrassed Zenitsu and Inosuke and spoke gently.
"I'll be leaving first to hunt demons. Please take care of yourselves."
"Huh?! You're leaving now?" Zenitsu looked over in disbelief.
In contrast, Inosuke panted heavily and shouted, "Then let's go together! Let's hunt demons together!"
"No. It's far too dangerous to come with me..." Tanjiro firmly rejected the suggestion and properly bid the two farewell.
He then got up and packed his things. With two sharp blades at his waist and a wooden box on his back, he walked out of the estate alone.
Outside the estate.
Sanemi Shinazugawa leaned against the wall, having waited there for quite some time. When he saw Tanjiro, he took out a fox mask from behind his back and casually tossed it over.
"Wear this mask from now on. And take off those hanafuda earrings of yours too. It's getting late.
"It's time for us to leave."
With that, he walked ahead without looking back.
Watching his retreating figure, Tanjiro put the fox mask in his clothes and removed the hanafuda earrings from his ears as well.
"Thank you very much, Mr. Sanemi."
The two set out together. A black Kasugai Crow soared through the sky, opening its beak to call, "North-northwest, north-northwest! Someone has gone missing there..."
The Hunt Begins!
Under the crow's calls.
The figures of the two gradually disappeared into the distance.
Tokyo.
Shinjuku District.
On the outskirts of the bustling city, a young woman in a kimono walked home alone.
There was scarcely anyone on the street.
But knowing she would soon be home, the girl quickened her pace and could not help muttering softly,
"People have been disappearing around here lately. If I hadn't been on a date with Tanaka, I wouldn't have come home so late. It should be fine, right...?"
The moment she finished speaking,
A broad hand covered her mouth from behind, preventing her from making any sound. All she could manage were faint whimpers.
Behind her, under the moonlight,
A vicious-looking demon stretched out its tongue and licked the girl's cheek, smiling wickedly. "Out alone so late instead of going home? Looks like I need to teach you a lesson..."
As it spoke, its other hand wrapped around her waist and dragged her toward a dark alley nearby.
While dragging her along, it sneered,
"How should I start tasting you? For a young girl, I should eat the organs first, right? Let me tell you..."
Its mouth pressed close to the girl's ear, its grin wildly arrogant. "A young girl's liver is delicious. Especially after I dig it out—you'll get to watch me eat your liver..."
The girl was on the verge of despair. Her body began trembling uncontrollably from overwhelming fear.
But inside that alley,
The demon pinned her to the ground, opened its bloody maw, and prepared to tear into her and enjoy its meal.
At the entrance of the alley,
A figure wearing a fox mask appeared.
It was Tanjiro, who had arrived while traveling. He drew Ajuramaru from his waist and quickly stepped forward.
A rushing current bloomed along the blade.
Water Breathing—Third Form—Flowing Dance!
He leaped forward and slashed.
Before the terrified girl's eyes, the demon did not even have a chance to react. It had only just turned its head.
"I hate it most when someone interrupts me while I'm eating! You must be tired of living, so die with—"
Before it could finish,
A figure flashed past with a blade gleaming with flowing water. At the same time,
The demon's head instantly separated from its body, flying through the air and rolling to the ground before it could even realize
That its head had been cut off.
Then, along with its body, it quickly turned to ash and scattered away.
Tanjiro, meanwhile, walked to the girl without looking back. He sheathed his sword, bent down, and extended a hand toward the still-shaken girl with a gentle smile.
"It's all right now. Are you hurt anywhere?"
Hearing that, the frightened girl finally came back to her senses. Before her stood a boy wearing a fox mask.
Facing the hand suspended before her, she hurriedly reached out and grasped it. Fear still lingered in her eyes as she trembled and said,
"Th... thank you..."
In response to her thanks, Tanjiro pulled her up from the ground and answered gently, "No need to thank me. Please be careful in the future. Don't walk alone at night."
Those gentle words put her at ease.
The girl looked at the fox mask and could not help wondering what he looked like beneath it. But more than that, she asked curiously,
"Was that thing just now... a person?"
She was not quite sure.
Before you continue