The road south was long and silent.
Sasuke walked at the front, his figure solitary and cold.
Tanjiro followed more than ten meters behind, the atmosphere somewhat awkward.
Several times, he wanted to speak, to ask about that power of flame and lightning.
But whenever he saw Sasuke's unapproachable back, he swallowed all his words again.
This man was strong.
So strong that he felt a trace of fear.
But Tanjiro could smell no evil on him.
Only a loneliness like ice that had endured for ten thousand years.
Sasuke walked quickly.
He only wanted to finish headquarters' mandatory mission as soon as possible, then immediately part ways with this naive boy.
He hated those eyes, so full of curiosity and goodwill when they looked at him.
They reminded him of things he had no need to remember.
The sun rose and set.
When night fell again, they reached a stretch of wilderness.
A lone mansion appeared at the end of the road.
It was an enormous Japanese-style house, steeped in an ominous air.
Even from far away, Tanjiro could smell the thick reek of blood drifting out from within.
And the scent of demons.
"Thump."
A dull drumbeat came from deep within the mansion.
"Thump... thump..."
The drumbeats were neither hurried nor slow, their strange rhythm striking at the heart and causing an inexplicable flutter of dread.
Sasuke stopped.
In his right eye, two black tomoe slowly revolved.
In his vision, the entire mansion was shrouded in chaotic, foul energy.
There was more than one demonic presence.
"There are demons."
Tanjiro caught up as well, covering his nose with a grave expression.
Just then.
They heard muffled sobbing.
In the bushes outside the mansion's entrance, two young children huddled together, trembling.
A boy and a girl.
When Tanjiro saw