Early the next morning.
Uesugi Sasuke and Tanjiro had not even had time to formally say goodbye to everyone at the Butterfly Mansion before several members of the Kakushi, dressed in black uniforms with cloths covering their faces, appeared silently before them.
The lead Kakushi member spoke in a hoarse voice devoid of emotion.
"By Oyakata-sama's orders, we leave immediately. Put on your blindfolds and plug your ears."
The order allowed no argument.
This was the strictest secrecy protocol, established to protect the Demon Slayer Corps' most important logistical base-the Swordsmith Village.
"Yes! Thank you for your hard work!"
Without any hesitation, Tanjiro obediently accepted the blindfold and earplugs at once. He always held the sincerest respect for those who worked quietly behind the scenes.
Sasuke said nothing. He simply picked up the blindfold in silence and covered those eyes that saw through everything.
The next second, different Kakushi members hoisted the two onto their backs, beginning this peculiar journey.
Tanjiro's world instantly plunged into complete darkness and silence.
He could only feel that he was moving quickly, the wind reduced to a muffled howl in his ears by the earplugs. He knew neither the direction nor the destination and could only entrust himself completely to the person carrying him.
The journey was long and tedious.
He could feel the person carrying him changing at regular intervals.
The first person had a broad back and steady strides, with a faint smell of sweat.
The second seemed somewhat shorter, bounced him around considerably while running, and smelled of medicinal herbs.
The third... the fourth...
They never spoke, merely completing each handoff with precision, like runners in a relay, before continuing to run in silence.
Tanjiro could even smell the changes in the air, from the dust of towns to the fresh