Chapter 47

Chapter 62: Embarking on the Journey

Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters.

Butterfly Mansion.

Tanjiro walked along the way back, returning alone to the Butterfly Mansion. The moment he stepped into the courtyard, he saw a petite figure waiting there.

That person was none other than the Insect Hashira, Shinobu Kocho.

When her deep eyes saw Tanjiro, she still wore that unchanging smile, walked straight over, and said with a smile.

"You just left and went to the master's place, didn't you? Did something happen?"

Facing Shinobu Kocho's close, pretty face, Tanjiro blushed slightly and replied, "Yes, tomorrow I'm leaving the headquarters together with Ashura Maru."

Hearing this, Shinobu Kocho's smile froze.

But she quickly recovered, chuckled, and said, "Then why are you in such a tight hurry to leave? Won't you feel lonely leaving your two friends behind?"

Faced with Shinobu Kocho's inquiry, Tanjiro did not hesitate at all, his mouth opening to blurt it out just like that.

"I won't, staying with me is simply too dangerous for them, being able to stay behind is the best thing.

Besides, I also want to get stronger quickly, strong enough to protect everyone!"

This sincere expression made Shinobu Kocho feel a slight sense of approval toward him, but her expression never changed, smiling as usual.

"Your heart is very pure, no wonder you were able to win Ashura Maru's approval..."

As she spoke, she turned her head to look at the pitch-black night straight ahead and continued on her own accord. "However, I still want to entrust my dream to you."

"A dream?"

Tanjiro looked over somewhat confused.

"That is for humans and demons to be able to coexist in peace, I believe you will definitely be able to achieve it in the future." When she heard Shinobu Kocho say such words with a smile.

Tanjiro, standing beside her, sniffed the air and clearly smelled the scent of anger, so he immediately asked with some confusion.

"Are you angry?"

These words were like a sword piercing the heart, directly breaking through the defenses at the bottom of her heart, and this time Shinobu Kocho's smile finally vanished.

Replaced by a hint of sorrow.

"Angry? Perhaps... Maybe ever since my older sister was killed by a demon, I've always been angry... Every time I see someone lose their life to evil demons, my anger grows.

Deep within my heart, there is an unerasable disgust for evil demons, and the other hashira probably share similar feelings to mine..."

She poured out all the emotions that had been suppressed in her heart for a long time in one breath.

After hearing all this, Tanjiro could empathize as well, which was why his own convictions were even firmer now!

"Miss Shinobu, please rest assured, I will definitely make everyone accept Nezuko!"

"Is that so..."

Shinobu Kocho's smile returned once again to its usual appearance.

Meanwhile, Ashura Maru inside the blade, seeing this prime opportunity, reminded Tanjiro as well, Let me use your body to say a few things.

Hearing this, Tanjiro answered without hesitation.

"Okay."

With that, he turned his head and reminded Shinobu Kocho beside him, "Miss Shinobu, Ashura Maru has some things he wants to say to you."

Shinobu Kocho, who had originally planned to leave, sat back down upon hearing this and turned to look.

Only to see that Tanjiro's originally gentle and warm expression suddenly turned cold, meeting those crimson eyes.

It would give someone an inexplicable flutter of the heart.

Fortunately, she still smiled without changing her expression and asked, "Mr. Ashura Maru, what is it that you want to say to me?"

Even Tanjiro, whose body had been taken over, was somewhat curious about what Ashura Maru would say.

And Ashura Maru didn't beat around the bush, going straight to the point. "You can look for Kagaya Ubuyashiki, go to him and search for a demon named Tamayo. Her knowledge in pharmacology far surpasses yours.

The two of you can join forces to research Nezuko's blood. I can feel that Nezuko is different from all those other demons; she is very special!"

"A demon?"

Shinobu Kocho felt some repulsive emotions from the bottom of her heart. After all, Nezuko was one thing because she truly hadn't eaten humans, but who was this Tamayo?

There were many doubts in her mind, but since Ashura Maru had said so, there must be reason in it, so she immediately replied seriously.

"Since it's your request, then I understand. Tomorrow, I will personally go and ask the master."

Upon receiving a positive reply, Ashura Maru released control of the body, but Tanjiro couldn't stay calm.

He couldn't help but pursue the question in his heart.

Ashura Maru, is there really a chance my sister can turn back into a human?

Faced with this anxious inquiry, Ashura Maru only smiled and blandly asked in return.

Who knows?

Night fell.

The two parted ways, and Tanjiro returned to his room, lying on the hospital bed to spend the night in peace.

Until early the next morning.

Ashura Maru inside the blade saw Zenitsu and Inosuke getting up again to run away, and had no choice but to helplessly release demon power.

Condensing a palm, he directly dealt the sleeping Tanjiro a solid slap.

Slap!

A crisp and pleasant sound rang out, and Tanjiro snapped awake from his dream in a daze, then looked around in confusion and said.

"What happened?"

The words had just fallen.

He saw Zenitsu and the other guy, who wanted to run away, while Ashura Maru's displeased voice rang in his mind as well, The two of them want to run, go say goodbye before leaving.

"Thank you, Ashura Maru."

After Tanjiro skillfully expressed his thanks, he immediately stopped Zenitsu and Inosuke, who were standing there awkwardly, and said gently.

"I'm going to leave first to hunt evil demons next, please take care of both of you."

"Huh?! Are you leaving right now?" Zenitsu looked over in disbelief.

On the other hand, Inosuke breathed heavily and shouted, "Then let's go together, let's go hunt evil demons together!"

"I can't, going with me is simply too dangerous..." Tanjiro firmly refused the suggestion and said a proper goodbye to the two of them.

Then he got up, packed his things, and walked out of the mansion alone with two sharp blades strapped to his waist and a wooden box on his back.

Outside the mansion gates.

Sanemi Shinazugawa was leaning against the wall, having waited here for a long time. When he saw Tanjiro's figure, he pulled a fox mask out from behind him and tossed it over casually.

"Wear this mask from now on, and you also need to take off that pair of hanafuda earrings. It's getting late.

We should get going too."

With that, he walked ahead without looking back.

Gazing at his back, Tanjiro looked at the fox mask in his hand and tucked it into his bosom, casually taking off the hanafuda earrings from his ears as well.

"Thank you very much, Mr. Sanemi."

The two of them embarked on the journey together, and high in the dark sky, a Kasugai Crow soared, opening its beak to cry out, "North-northwest, north-northwest, someone has gone missing over there..."

Chapter 63: The Hunt Begins!

Amidst the crow's calls.

The figures of the two drifted farther and farther away.

Tokyo.

Shinjuku District.

On the outskirts of this bustling city, a young girl wearing a kimono was walking home alone.

The streets were sparsely populated.

Yet thinking that she was about to arrive home soon, the girl quickened her pace, unable to help whispering softly to herself.

"It seems someone has gone missing around here again recently. If it weren't for my date with Tanaka-kun, I wouldn't be coming home this late. It should be fine, though..."

The words had just fallen.

A sturdy palm had already covered her mouth from behind, preventing her from making any sound and leaving her able to emit only some faint whimpers.

Behind her, under the moonlight.

A hideous-looking evil demon was sticking out its tongue to lick the side of the girl's face, smiling seductively. "Walking home alone so late at night? Looks like I'll have to teach you a lesson..."

As he spoke, his other hand wrapped around the girl's waist and abdomen, dragging them toward a gloomy alley nearby.

During the drag, he continued to jeer.

"How do you think I should start savoring you? When it comes to young girls, I suppose one should eat the internal organs first. Let me tell you..."

His mouth pressed close to the girl's ear, laughing wildly.

"A young girl's liver is truly delicious, especially after it's cut open, and you can watch me savor your liver..."

The girl was already on the verge of despair by this moment, her body trembling incessantly from the intense terror.

Yet right inside this alley.

Just as the evil demon pinned her to the ground and opened its blood-red mouth, preparing to tear into the girl and enjoy a meal.

At the entrance of the alley.

A figure wearing a fox mask appeared.

The newcomer was none other than Tanjiro, who had hurried over. He drew Ashura Maru from his waist and quickly stepped forward.

The blade blossomed with torrents.

"Water Breathing — Third Form — Flowing Dance!"

Leaping forward, he slashed out with a single blade.

In the terrified gaze of the girl, the evil demon didn't even have a chance to react, having only just turned its head around.

"I hate it most when people interrupt me while I'm eating! Looks like you've got a death wish, then let's die together..."

The words were cut short.

A figure holding a blade blooming with flowing water swept past, and in contrast.

The evil demon's head instantly detached from its body, sent flying straight away and rolling onto the ground before it even realized.

That its own head had been severed.

Then, along with its body, it rapidly turned to ash and dissipated.

Without looking back, Tanjiro arrived before the girl, sheathed his blade, knelt down to extend a hand toward the shaken girl, and smiled gently.

"It's already fine, are you hurt anywhere?"

Hearing this, the shaken girl finally came back to her senses, and what met her eyes was a young man wearing a fox mask.

Facing that hand suspended in mid-air, she hurriedly reached out and grasped it. With lingering terror still in her eyes, she stammered.

"Th-thank you..."

Facing the gratitude, Tanjiro pulled her up firmly from the ground, then replied in a gentle tone, "You're welcome, please be sure to be careful from now on, and don't walk alone at night."

These gentle words brought peace of mind.

The girl looked at the fox mask, and couldn't help but be curious about the face hidden behind it, though she was even more curious to ask than that.

"Was that thing just now... human?"

She wasn't entirely certain.