"My children, I have a feeling that Muzan Kibutsuji has already set his sights on Nezuko."
Sitting beneath the eaves, Kagaya Ubuyashiki spoke softly. "Protect Nezuko. She will be his target from now on."
Everyone present voiced their agreement.
"As for the new Netherworld Hashira, he is very strong. I believe he will be all right." Kagaya Ubuyashiki turned toward the several people wearing worried expressions and spoke again.
"Don't worry, Oyakata-sama! We've made progress during this time too! We will protect you!" Kyojuro Rengoku declared loudly.
"Our research is almost finished. If Muzan comes, it should work on him." Remembering the results she and Tamayo had achieved, Shinobu Kocho felt a little more confident.
"I see..." Kagaya Ubuyashiki looked somber.
"I have a feeling... Muzan Kibutsuji will be here soon... very soon..."
"Whaaaat?! Something happened to him? That bizarre yet ridiculously powerful senior of ours actually met with disaster?"
"Big Brother is missing? How could something so absurd happen?! He must be secretly working on something huge!!"
"That's what the report says, but I believe my senior will be all right too."
At Ye Chen's base, the three little ones, who had just recovered, gathered together.
Beside them, Nezuko was resting with her eyes closed.
Xiao Hua quietly licked a paw nearby, while Redhelm sat in the courtyard outside, silently munching on the feed Ye Chen had left behind.
"Come to think of it, we got a lot stronger back then, but I don't feel that way anymore." Zenitsu Agatsuma rubbed his arm. "My whole body was tingling, and there was this strange feeling right here on my arm. Oh, right! Tanjiro, the scar on your forehead seemed to turn into some weird mark back then."
"Really?" Tanjiro touched his forehead, puzzled. But as he recalled what had