The literal meaning of the word "splendor" could be broken down into "abundance" and "brilliance."
"Abundance" referred to lush vegetation and great numbers, emphasizing vigorous life and sheer density.
"Brilliance" referred to flowers in full bloom, dazzling to behold, emphasizing visual beauty and subjective or objective preciousness.
To Kanzaki Kumo, splendor meant towering buildings, glittering nightlife, things filled with money and technology-the greatest material abundance the present world could achieve.
Because he had witnessed even greater prosperity in his previous life, his mind instinctively turned in that direction whenever the word came up. He even felt that the so-called splendor this world displayed fell far short of what he envisioned.
But to Nezuko, the splendor of this world-or rather, the splendor within her world-held a different meaning.
Nezuko had planned the rest of their journey.
First, they took the train back the way they had come, then transferred to the station closest to Mount Kumotori.
After getting off, they browsed around the city and bought some novel trinkets rarely seen in the town below the mountain, then returned to Mount Kumotori together.
By the time they reached the Kamado Family home, the evening clouds had painted the horizon fiery red, and even the slightly yellowing leaves on the mountain seemed to glow in the setting sun.
Tanjiro had just picked up his younger siblings from school and was playing with them in the yard.
When he saw Nezuko and Kanzaki Kumo arrive, he greeted them with a smile.
The other little ones had already crowded around Kanzaki Kumo, calling "Brother-in-law!" over and over.
Over the past few years, Kanzaki Kumo had often accompanied Nezuko back to the Kamado Family home, and those visits had taught the little ones something: as long as they called him "Brother-in-law," they would get