Over more than a year, Lu You had done three things. The first was to improve his strength, and the second was to find out where a few of the Upper Ranks were, to use in laying out his plans.
As for the third... he had not finished it yet.
Now that Shinobu Kocho and Tamayo had come together, the two would probably soon make a breakthrough through their research into Gyutaro's blood.
But the blood of just one Upper Rank was not enough.
Fortunately, he knew the personalities of all the Upper Ranks and some information from the original story. Following those clues, he could soon pinpoint the areas where several demons were active.
Now, he was going to find Upper Rank Five, Gyokko.
He would pick the easiest target first.
With his current strength, dealing with Gyokko would be relatively simple, which was why he had brought Tanjiro along.
He wanted to see whether he could get Tanjiro to awaken the Transparent World.
Naturally, it would be best if Tanjiro could learn the Transparent World during battle. After all, once Tanjiro knew it, he could learn it through him too.
So this battle would not be difficult. In a truly difficult battle, there would be no time to look after anyone else.
"We're going to hunt an Upper Rank now, Tanjiro."
"Huh?! An Upper Rank... yes, understood!"
His expression serious, Tanjiro unconsciously tightened his grip on his Nichirin Blade. Compared with his counterpart in the original story, the current Tanjiro was far stronger. After returning from Mount Natagumo, he had trained desperately and reached the level of Constant Total Concentration Breathing.
If he fought Rui again now, the outcome would be uncertain.
Tanjiro would not ask Lu You why he had brought him along, even if bringing the other Hashira would have been better.
He trusted Lu You absolutely. Lu You would never deceive him.
There had to be some deeper meaning behind Lu You's actions.
Japan, Honshu Island, Tottori Prefecture.
This was a small coastal county, yet it boasted the largest coastal cliff dunes in all of Japan. The fishermen here lived off the sea, leaving early and returning late to fish offshore.
Many small fishing villages dotted the coastline.
On the Uradome Coast, there was one such little fishing village that few people visited. Almost everyone here was a local, and most of the time, they never traveled far.
Only when they regularly needed to take the fish they sold into town did anyone have contact with the outside world.
The sea breeze brushing their faces carried a faint salty tang. Tanjiro gazed at the boundless blue sea with shining eyes.
"Big Brother You, look! It's the sea!"
Tanjiro had always lived inland before and had only heard of the sea through picture books. Even when going on missions, he had never received one near the coast.
The sunlight was gentle, and the waves rolled.
The golden beach was soft and warm.
Lu You smiled and patted Tanjiro's head.
"Once we've dealt with Muzan Kibutsuji, I can bring you, Nezuko, Zenitsu, Boar's Head, and the others to the seaside to have fun."
"Yeah! I can't wait!"
Tanjiro broke into a brilliant smile.
If there were no Muzan Kibutsuji, how wonderful things would be for everyone in the Demon Slayer Corps!
The two walked along the beach toward the towering cliff at the far end of their view. At its foot stood a cluster of crude village houses, while fishing boats rocked in the sea breeze by the shore.
"A village, Big Brother You! Is that where we're headed?"
"Yes and no."
A trace of coldness entered Lu You's eyes.
It was daytime now, and the coastal sunlight was brilliant. Demons would not come out.
"Come on. Let's go into the village."
Once they entered the village, its shabbiness became even more apparent. The fishermen all wore coarse hemp clothing, and their poverty was on par with Tanjiro's back when he still lived on Mount Kumotori.
The houses were all built of wood. Being close to the sea, they suffered heavily from dampness, so rot and mold spread quickly. A faint smell of decay and fish hung in the air.
In front of the cluster of houses, a group of people were drying their nets, with occasional sounds of conversation drifting over.
"Who are you, and what are you doing here?"
Seeing someone approach, a burly fisherman frowned and demanded in a low voice, his expression distinctly unfriendly.
"Alan, what are you doing? Anyone who comes here is a guest. Don't be rude to our guests!"
A stooped, white-haired fisherman emerged from a house and shot the burly man named Alan a fierce glare. Alan sheepishly looked away and went back to drying his net.
"Hello, young men. I'm the village chief, Yamashita Satoshi. You can call me Yamashita.
"We haven't had visitors here in a long time, so the villagers tend to be rather rude to outsiders. I hope you'll forgive them."
Chief Yamashita seemed to be someone who had spent time out in the world. He spoke clearly and reasonably, making it hard to dislike him.
"Chief Yamashita, we're here... on a trip. I heard the coast here is beautiful, a great place to bring your family for a visit."
Lu You told a simple lie.
"I see... yes, quite a few people come here every year. This beach really is beautiful, hahaha.
"Young men, you're our guests. If you get tired and have nowhere to stay, you can spend the night here. The village may be rather shabby, but we have no shortage of simple food and drink."
"Thank you, Chief. That was just what we had in mind. Don't worry, we'll pay."
Lu You responded politely as well. After chatting with the chief for a little while, he took Tanjiro out and really did start wandering around the beach.
"Big Brother You, I don't really understand... what are we doing now?"
"It's a long story... you'll find out soon."
Lu You gently gestured for silence, then headed toward the high coastal cliff. The sea wind howled over it, making their clothes flap.
As far as the eye could see lay boundless blue. The sky was azure, and for a moment, sky and sea seemed to meet at the horizon.
It was quite a breathtaking sight.
The cliff beneath their feet had unusual landforms carved by the sea. The seawater was exceptionally clear, and the rocks had been eroded into caves of all sorts of strange shapes. There were islands not far away, too.
"The scenery really is nice."
Looking thoroughly puzzled, Tanjiro followed Lu You as he walked and stopped along the way. They spent the entire day having fun, returning to the village only after the crimson setting sun sank into the sea.
The shabby village carried a strange fishy smell. The stooped village chief waited for their return with a broad smile, holding an odd pot in his arms.
No matter how one looked at it, it felt strange.
Tanjiro also realized something was wrong. His nose twitched slightly as the stench of a demon wafted toward him.
His right hand went to the hilt of the Nichirin Blade at his waist. He calmed his nerves, his dark red eyes as sharp as blades.
You've grown, Tanjiro. You're no longer that boy who hesitated at the sight of a demon's head.
Watching Tanjiro's response, Lu You felt gratified.
"Lord Gyokko, I've found two servings of food for you."
The old village chief respectfully placed the pot before him, then knelt and bowed toward the sea cliff. Soon, the jade pot began to hum and tremble.
In an instant, the demon wriggling out of it gave off an even more terrifying stench. Tanjiro's expression stiffened.
This smell... it feels like my blood is about to stop flowing. No, it's because I'm afraid. Hold it together! As long as I'm not afraid, it won't hinder my movements! I can still fight!
Fight, fight!
The scar on his forehead looked vivid as Tanjiro breathed deeply. The strange creature in the pot was hideous and revolting, with mouths where his eyes should have been, and an eyeball in his mouth.
Upper Rank Five, Gyokko.
"Oh my, aren't you the Demon Slayer Lord Muzan mentioned? How unusual. How did you find this place?"
Gyokko chuckled, utterly unafraid.
Even if Lu You had killed Gyutaro, he did not believe Lu You could kill him, because he was the best at staying alive out of all the Upper Ranks!
After all, he could teleport between pots.
In other words, he could leave the village in an instant and return to his own lair.
"Tanjiro, go kill him."
"Huh? Me?"
Before you continue