Chapter Summaries

Kanao and Inosuke fought the Mechanical Puppet while Tanjiro and Zenitsu watched, and Haruto received drugs from Tamayo. He gave Muichiro the Dream Thief Drug to help him recover his memories, then shared a tender moment with Shinobu.

• Kanao dodged the Mechanical Puppet's attacks and kicked it toward Inosuke, who challenged it with his bare fists and got repeatedly struck.
• Haruto received twelve doses of Demonization Potion, syringes, and three doses of Tamayo's Dream Thief Drug at Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters.
• Haruto found Muichiro behind Gyomei and offered him the Dream Thief Drug to stimulate his lost memories.
• Haruto taught Muichiro how to construct an anchor, then left him asleep in a quiet room at the Butterfly Mansion.
• Haruto explained the drug's ingredients to Shinobu, who declined to use it and wished for everyone to stay safe and healthy.

Muichiro dreamed of his childhood with his twin brother Yuichiro and their clashes over Amane’s offer to join the Demon Slayer Corps. He woke after seven days in the potion-induced dream, but admitted he had forgotten the anchor that was supposed to keep him grounded.

• Muichiro remembered how Yuichiro mocked his dream of becoming a Swordsman and repeatedly rejected Amane’s invitation to join the Demon Slayer Corps.
• Yuichiro splashed rice-washing water over Amane, and Muichiro angrily confronted his brother afterward.
• Yuichiro blamed their parents’ deaths on their recklessness and forbade Muichiro from pursuing his dream, while the brothers argued without fighting.
• Muichiro’s dream turned painful and dark before Haruto helped him wake with medicine after seven days of sleep.
• Haruto asked why Muichiro had not used his anchor, and Muichiro said he had forgotten what he had chosen.

Haruto responded to an urgent demon report in Hirano and found Saori, the woman he had helped years earlier, transformed into a demon calling herself Fisherwoman. She asked him where her husband was, while Haruto recognized a pipe from the ruined town and faced the possibility that Saori had killed its owner.

• Muichiro remembered some of his past after taking the medicine, but Haruto refused to give him another dose because it would harm him.
• Haruto continued training the recovering boys and purging demons from Tokyo until Cang Kong summoned him to Hirano in Chiba Prefecture.
• Haruto found Hirano reduced to ruins and followed the sound of chewing toward a woman singing by the shore.
• Haruto recognized the woman as Saori and found a worker's smoking pipe beneath the seawater at his feet.
• Saori called herself Fisherwoman, said she was waiting for her husband, and asked Haruto where he was.

Haruto encountered Saori, now a demon called the Fisherwoman, and decapitated her after resisting her poisonous Blood Demon Art. Her body did not disintegrate, and a strange face appeared inside her swollen belly, leaving Haruto terrified.

• Haruto confronted the Fisherwoman and learned she still believed her husband would return, unaware that he was dead.
• The Fisherwoman attacked Haruto with her Blood Demon Art, Fish Bubble Cloud, but Haruto resisted the poison and cut off her head.
• The Fisherwoman’s head and body did not disintegrate, and her abdomen began swelling violently.
• A small, dark face appeared through the Fisherwoman’s stretched belly and grinned at Haruto.
• Haruto panicked and unleashed a flurry of slashes while shouting that he had seen a ghost.

Haruto defeated Saori’s headless body, and Rika emerged from the remains as the demon girl called Demon Princess. After hearing about the abuse she and her mother suffered, Haruto acknowledged that their tormentors had been wrong but refused to excuse their killings, and Demon Princess attacked him.

• Haruto unleashed over a hundred slashes, minced Saori’s body, and pushed past the limits of his swordsmanship.
• Demon Princess rose from the remains and revealed her memories of the abuse she and Saori had endured in Hirano.
• Demon Princess explained that Doma, a demon with rainbow-colored eyes, had turned them both into demons.
• Haruto said the villagers had wronged them but refused to apologize for their deaths or let Demon Princess live.
• Demon Princess dropped her helpless act, showed her fangs, and lunged at Haruto.

Haruto defeated the Demon Princess and learned that the Fisherwoman was Saori, who died remembering her human life. Back at the Butterfly Mansion, he learned that Tanjiro, Inosuke, and Zenitsu had gone to the Mugen Train to meet Kyojuro, then rushed after them when a comment warned him to help.

• Haruto severed the Demon Princess’s hand, dodged her Blood Demon Art, and killed her with his sword.
• The Fisherwoman recognized Haruto as Mr. Haruto and asked whether a demon had killed her husband, Yūki, before she died.
• Haruto returned to the Butterfly Mansion and found Kanao alone in the courtyard.
• Kanao told Haruto that Tanjiro, Inosuke, and Zenitsu had left for the Mugen Train to meet the Flame Hashira.
• After a scrolling comment urged him to help Kyojuro, Haruto ran toward the train.

Haruto reached the station where the Mugen Train incidents had occurred and learned that Kyojuro had recently bought all the bento there. As Haruto stopped to eat, a fleeing demon raced toward the station, and Haruto caught it by the head.

• Haruto arrived at the station before dawn after traveling through the night and recalled the disappearances aboard the Mugen Train.
• Haruto bought ten beef hot pot bento boxes from an elderly woman and her granddaughter, who told him that a red-and-yellow-haired swordsman had bought all their bento hours earlier.
• Haruto realized the swordsman was probably Kyojuro and learned that he had warned the women a demon might be nearby.
• Haruto sensed a demon rushing toward the station and caught it by the head before it could enter.

Haruto and Kyojuro defeated a foul demon outside the station, and Kyojuro spoke with a grandmother who had known his father, Shinjuro. The two shared breakfast before Kyojuro loudly announced that he had eaten five bentos.

• Haruto held the foul demon while Kyojuro explained it had attacked an injured woman and was probably unrelated to the Mugen Train incident.
• The foul demon tore its own skull apart and rushed toward the station, hoping to take Afu hostage, but Kyojuro beheaded it as she opened the door.
• Afu screamed, and the elderly woman pulled her close while Kyojuro reassured them; Haruto left to eat his bento.
• Kyojuro told Haruto that the elderly woman had met Shinjuro and had compared Kyojuro to his father, which made him happy.
• Haruto gave Kyojuro three bentos, and Kyojuro ate them before shouting, "Five ants!"

Haruto and Kyojuro boarded the Mugen Train to hunt the demon responsible for its deaths, while three new recruits also sneaked aboard. Haruto sensed a demon on the moving train and prepared to face the suspected Upper Rank Three, Akaza.

• Haruto and Kyojuro decided to wait for the Mugen Train demon, and Haruto said he would stay out of the fight if it was only a Lower Rank so the current members could gain experience.
• When the train resumed service despite the unresolved deaths, Haruto condemned the authorities and challenged Kyojuro to race to its next station.
• Kyojuro stopped to help Xiao Fu and her grandmother with their bento boxes while Haruto ran ahead.
• Tanjiro and two other boys arrived at the station, and the boar-headed boy attacked the train before the patrol chased them away.
• Haruto waited on the train roof as the scrolling comments hinted at a new season, then the three boys sneaked aboard after dark.
• As the train set off, Haruto sensed a demon aboard and prepared to conceal the presence of two Hashira while gambling that he could kill Akaza.

Haruto fought Upper Rank Three Akaza after Akaza arrived at the Mugen Train, while Tanjiro, Inosuke, Kyojuro, and Zenitsu battled Enmu and protected the passengers. Akaza healed from Haruto’s strike and tried to recruit him as a demon, then attacked again.

• Haruto watched Enmu explain his dream-entering ropes while Kyojuro and the boys slept, and Tanjiro’s shout signaled that they had awakened.
• Enmu merged with the Mugen Train, prompting Tanjiro and Inosuke to attack outside while Kyojuro and Zenitsu defended the passengers inside.
• A pale-faced boy ordered Akaza to deal with the Demon Slayers, and Haruto sensed the Upper Rank demon approaching.
• Haruto launched a surprise attack on Akaza, who countered with Destructive Death: Annihilation Style and quickly regenerated his injured hand.
• Akaza praised Haruto’s swordsmanship and invited him to become a demon, but Haruto mentioned Doma’s earlier attempt.
• Akaza struck at Haruto again with a scorching punch.

Haruto fought Akaza, whose Compass Needle let him track the swordsman’s movements, and struggled to overcome the demon’s strength and resilience. Haruto landed a surprise injection, but Akaza realized that the cracking sound came from Haruto’s broken arm.

• Haruto freed his Nichirin Blade from Akaza’s grip by twisting the demon’s arm, then resumed their fight.
• Akaza urged Haruto to become a demon, but Haruto rejected his contempt for fragile human life.
• Akaza activated Destruction Formation: Compass Needle and clashed with Haruto’s Star Breathing techniques.
• Akaza kicked Haruto in the chest, but Haruto slipped behind him and launched Moon-Banishment.
• Akaza used Compass Needle to anticipate Haruto’s left hand and block it, but Haruto pierced his neck with a concealed object.
• Akaza heard a bone break and realized Haruto had broken his arm.

Haruto injected Akaza with the last dose of Dream Thief Drug and tried to behead him while Akaza relived his memories as Hakuji, but Akaza broke free and nearly killed Haruto. Kyojuro arrived in time to save him, and the two faced Akaza together.

• Haruto injected Akaza with the Dream Thief Drug, then treated his bleeding arm while Akaza struggled with flickering visions.
• Akaza relived Hakuji's memories of meeting Koyuki and promising to marry her and protect her.
• Haruto attacked Akaza while he was absorbed in his memories, but Akaza instinctively blocked the sword with his palm.
• Haruto used Star Breathing, Ninth Form: Moon-Banishment, but Akaza snapped awake and launched a deadly attack.
• Kyojuro pulled Haruto out of danger and countered Akaza with Flame Breathing, Fourth Form: Flourishing Flame Whirlwind.

Haruto and Kyojuro fought Akaza as the demon struggled with memories of his human life and Koyuki. Kyojuro stood against Akaza to protect those nearby while Haruto, badly injured, prepared to fight with his Transparent World perception.

• Kyojuro checked on Haruto, then attacked Akaza as the demon demanded to know whose memories he had seen.
• Haruto pierced Akaza and told him the memories belonged to his human self, revealing fragments of his life as Hakuji and his promise to Koyuki.
• Akaza recovered, became enraged by the memories, and attacked Kyojuro while Haruto studied his movements.
• Kyojuro used Flame Breathing, Fifth Form: Flame Tiger, and declared that protecting people was his duty and that humans would never become demons.
• Haruto opened his blue eyes and began seeing the world transparently.

Haruto and Kyojuro fought Akaza, whose memories began resurfacing as Muzan’s command and the Dream Thief Drug stirred his past. Akaza hesitated before Koyuki’s plea, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Haruto entered the Transparent World and used it to approach Akaza unseen, but Akaza caught his blade and revealed that Muzan had warned the demons about the ability.
• Haruto struck Akaza’s neck from the opposite side, but Akaza snapped his Nichirin Blade; the broken blade remained lodged in Akaza’s neck as Kyojuro continued attacking.
• Muzan ordered Akaza to kill Haruto, and the command triggered rapid heartbeats that stirred Akaza’s buried memories.
• Koyuki appeared to Akaza and questioned why he needed to grow stronger and obey Muzan, while the Hashira pressed their attack.
• Koyuki reminded Akaza that he belonged to his father, the Soryu Dojo, and her, then asked him to take her to see the fireworks again.

Akaza’s attacks weakened as dawn approached, and he left the fight after Haruto stabbed him, escaping into the mountain forest. Haruto and Kyojuro survived but were badly wounded, and the Kakushi rushed to treat them.

• Akaza recalled Koyuki and fireworks, then stepped away from Haruto and Kyojuro as the sun neared the horizon.
• Haruto drove his broken Nichirin Blade into Akaza’s body when the demon let his guard down.
• Kyojuro challenged Akaza, but Akaza punched past Haruto and fled into the mountain forest with the blade still lodged in him.
• Kyojuro and Haruto collapsed from their injuries as Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke came over to them.
• The Kasugai birds flew off to report the battle, and Kakushi members arrived to treat the injured Hashira and Haruto.

Haruto was taken to the Butterfly Mansion after the battle, while Akaza returned to Muzan and was brutally punished for failing to kill the Swordsmen. Muzan spared him, and Akaza chose to go watch fireworks with Koyuki that night.

• Haruto was carried to the Butterfly Mansion, where Shinobu treated his broken arm and gave him medicine that put him to sleep.
• Akaza questioned whether Koyuki was a shadow of his heart or a demon before Muzan summoned him to the Infinity Castle.
• Muzan pierced Akaza with black thorns and berated him for failing to kill the Swordsmen.
• Muzan read Akaza’s memories, learned that a Swordsman’s drug had restored his past, and eased his anger without killing him.
• Akaza regenerated and asked Koyuki to go watch the fireworks with him that night.

After recovering from their battle injuries, Kyojuro returned to his duties while Haruto resumed training the young swordsmen at the Butterfly Mansion. Haruto received a new Nichirin Blade from Hotaru Haganezuka, who chased him around the courtyard before calming down over dango.

• Kyojuro recovered first and said he would visit his mother's grave before returning to his patrol district, while Haruto continued healing from his broken arm.
• Kyojuro told Tanjiro that Sun Breathing users were said to have forehead scars from birth, leaving Tanjiro discouraged because his scar had not been there since birth.
• Haruto trained the young swordsmen with a Mechanical Puppet imitating Akaza and Doma, and learned that Genya would join them after completing his mission.
• Haruto realized he had forgotten that his blade was broken, and Hotaru Haganezuka arrived, chased him around the courtyard with kitchen knives, and stopped after Aoi offered him mitarashi dango.
• Haruto drew his replacement Nichirin Blade, which turned blue-purple, and Hotaru Haganezuka explained that he had studied Yoriichi Type Zero's blade to develop its forging method.

Haruto recovered from his injuries and prepared to begin rehabilitation while reflecting on Zenitsu’s troubled relationship with his senior, Kaigaku. Elsewhere, Muzan questioned Akaza’s recent behavior and ordered Daki and Gyutaro to kill the Takanashi Family swordsman.

• Zenitsu told Haruto and the others that Kaigaku had blamed him for intervening when other swordsmen mocked Kaigaku’s inability to learn Thunder Breathing’s First Form.
• By February, Haruto’s injuries had mostly healed, and he received letters from Master Goto and Senjuro before Shinobu set his rehabilitation plan.
• Muzan complained that Akaza had been slacking off and asked Nakime where Daki was.
• Daki returned to her room in Yoshiwara, where Gyutaro reminded her to tolerate a wealthy customer while they built their funds and connections.
• Daki asked whether the Takanashi Family swordsman had to die, and Gyutaro confirmed that Muzan wanted him dead.

After completing his rehabilitation, Haruto returned to work and received a mission to investigate demons in the Yoshiwara Entertainment District. He agreed to cooperate with Tengen Uzui to eliminate the suspected demon Daki, whose feud with the Takanashi Family had lasted generations.

• Haruto finished waterfall training and arrived at Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters after Kagaya summoned him.
• Haruto noticed a wary visitor leaving Kagaya's room, and Kagaya claimed the man was a contractor hired to repair his house.
• Kagaya showed Haruto intelligence about disappearances and deaths in Yoshiwara, gathered by Tengen Uzui and his three wives.
• Kagaya suspected that Daki was behind the reports and asked Haruto to work with Tengen on the mission.
• Haruto accepted the assignment, saying he wanted to end Daki's threat and the Takanashi Family's blood feud.

Tengen Uzui explained his investigation into courtesans disappearing from Yoshiwara and laid out a plan to infiltrate the Entertainment District. He intended to draw attention in public while Haruto searched for the demon, and the group ended with Zenitsu protesting Uzui’s role.

• Tengen Uzui joined dinner at the Butterfly Mansion and told the others that his three wives, Makio, Suma, and Hinatsuru, had gone ahead to Yoshiwara.
• Zenitsu erupted in disbelief over Uzui having three wives, and Uzui slapped him before Tanjiro and Genya restrained him.
• Tengen Uzui reported that his wives had found courtesans disappearing without taking their money or belongings.
• Tengen Uzui proposed recruiting female Corps members to join his wives undercover, but Haruto rejected Kanao, Aoi Kanzaki, Kiyo, Sumi, and Naho for the mission.
• Tengen Uzui planned to enter the Entertainment District openly to draw attention while Haruto searched for the demon, and he refused Zenitsu’s offer to take the public role.
• Tanjiro asked what the Yoshiwara Pleasure District was, Inosuke joked that it sold flowers, and Genya stormed out after insisting he knew nothing about it.