Die surrounded by others!

A deathly silence fell over the scene, broken only by Nezuko's faint growls. Snowflakes fluttered down like willow catkins onto Lu You's shoulders, and he sighed softly.

"You really are... quite a character."

[Your way of handling an eccentric has earned the approval of template-Yuji Itadori. Having met many people with peculiar personalities, he deeply sympathizes. Synchronization Value +3%]

[Congratulations! Your accumulated Synchronization Value has reached 5%. Skill unlocked: Comprehensive Weapon Combat (green)]

[Comprehensive Weapon Combat (green): Yuji Itadori, who has specialized in close combat for 383 years, also has his own unique understanding of weapons. Upon obtaining this skill, you become proficient with all weapons, and your aptitude for learning weapon skills increases by 20%]

No sooner had he finished speaking than the system chimed in his mind, and a vast flood of memories gently surfaced.

They showed a figure practicing with weapons day and night in a small dark room, fighting enemies to the death.

From sabers, spears, swords, and halberds to guns, cannons, and grenades.

He had used them all and practiced with them over and over.

Wait, something strange slipped in there.

Never mind, because memories that never existed have increased!

Shaking his head, Lu You set the memories aside for now and turned toward Tanjiro, who was still holding his sister.

"Are you all right? Don't worry. From his swordsmanship, I can tell this fellow isn't a bad person. Can you tell me what happened?"

Tanjiro was baffled. What did he mean, he could tell someone wasn't a bad person from their swordsmanship? Were there words carved into the blade?

Giyu Tomioka raised an eyebrow too, puzzled.

Could sparring really bring people closer? Perhaps I really should talk swordsmanship with Shinazugawa more often.

Of course they couldn't figure it out. Lu You had simply made it up.

Had Lu You known what Giyu Tomioka was thinking, he would certainly have tried to stop him, because once he started, it wouldn't be an exchange-it would be a provocation...

At Lu You's words, Tanjiro remembered his family's horrific deaths. Tears filled his eyes, and his voice choked up.

"Sir, when I got home, my family had all been killed by a demon. Only my sister-only she survived. Thank you for being willing to help us."

"She didn't survive. Becoming a demon is no different from dying. She's beyond saving."

Giyu Tomioka calmly supplied this timely addition from beside them.

Lu You was speechless.

What a sweet mouth you have. Couldn't you say something nice...? His family was just slaughtered.

When he had watched the anime before, separated by a screen, perhaps he hadn't felt that much sympathy.

But standing here now, seeing Tanjiro in his shabby clothes and Nezuko covered in blood with his own eyes, he finally understood their heartfelt suffering.

Even his own heart grew heavy despite himself.

Although Nezuko would eventually become human again, who besides the siblings themselves could know the suffering along the way?

Perhaps this was what separated a real world from a fictional work.

"Giyu-san, is there really no way to save her?"

"No. The best solution now is to let me kill her before she commits any more wrongs."

Giyu shook his head slightly.

He had seen this sort of thing many times.

If he could have arrived a little sooner, perhaps this tragedy wouldn't have happened...

He unconsciously clenched his fists, veins bulging along his fingers.

At that moment, Tanjiro raised his head resolutely.

"No! Nezuko-she hasn't killed anyone yet! Please, please don't do that! I'll find a way to turn her human again..."

His eyes blurred with tears. He wanted to kneel, but didn't dare let go of his sister.

"Please, please, don't take my family away from me again..."

Sensing Tanjiro's feelings, Nezuko suddenly stopped struggling. Tears even began spilling involuntarily from her pink eyes.

A human tragedy.

It was as though a heartstring had quietly been touched.

Lu You sighed and walked in front of Tanjiro, sheltering them amid the swirling wind and snow.

"If you insist on killing this child, Giyu-san, I'll stop you even if it costs me my life."

[Your protection of "someone who should die" has earned tremendous approval from template-Yuji Itadori, reminding him of his mentor. Synchronization Value +4%]

"...Why?"

"Because... I believe in miracles, I suppose."

"Miracles..."

Giyu Tomioka frowned deeply. Looking at Tanjiro prostrate on the ground, his expression gradually darkened.

"I don't believe in something as illusory as miracles. If you want to protect your family, you have to act.

Don't entrust your resolve to protect your family to someone else's sympathy.

If I truly intended to kill your sister, he couldn't stop me, much less you.

You're begging because you have no power!

Demons might know a way to save your sister, but do you expect them to pity you?

Don't grovel and plead!!!

Pick up your weapon and show me your resolve!"

Giyu Tomioka drew a deep breath and rebuked him heatedly, as though something had caught in his throat.

Stunned by Giyu's outburst, Tanjiro's face froze, his pupils trembling.

"I understand..."

With tears in his eyes, he looked at Lu You. "Sir, I'm sorry for the trouble, but please look after my sister."

Tanjiro now trusted Lu You completely.

Lu You's arrival had been more than help in his hour of need; it had been a ray of light cast into his darkest, most hopeless moment.

Knowing Giyu had already softened, Lu You breathed a sigh of relief, nodded with a smile, then picked Nezuko up.

Nezuko struggled fiercely, roaring like a wild beast, but she had only just become a demon, and her strength was nowhere near what it would be in the future.

Just ten minutes later.

Tanjiro and Nezuko were already lying on the ground. Lu You draped his black outer robe over them to shield them from the snow, then stood and looked at Giyu Tomioka, who was questioning everything he knew.

He smiled. "Love is amazing, isn't it?"

Just moments earlier, Tanjiro's keen combat instincts had surprised the Water Hashira.

And Nezuko, whom Lu You had deliberately released, had not attacked Tanjiro despite being a demon. Instead, she had protected him.

Although both had been defeated instantly, they had indeed shaken Giyu Tomioka.

Perhaps these siblings really could accomplish something.

"Do you know the legends of man-eating demons?"

Giyu Tomioka's pale blue eyes suddenly turned toward Lu You, who was leaning against the roots of a tree.

"No. But although I don't know, I'm no fool. This girl is one of those man-eating demons you're talking about, right?"

"Yes. The unfortunate people infected with demon blood become demons that lose their reason, emerge at night, and feed on humans.

It was because of their rampages that the Demon Slayer Corps came into being. Every night, Demon Slayers fight demons to the death. It's continued for a thousand years."

Lu You listened carefully.

This was the broad backdrop of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. As an anime enthusiast in his previous life, he naturally knew the general plot, but had long forgotten the specific details.

"Demons have immortal bodies. Only sunlight and Nichirin Blades, which contain the power of the sun, can destroy them."

Giyu Tomioka raised his hand, holding his Nichirin Blade horizontally. Its tranquil, deep-blue patterns were exquisite. About seventy-three centimeters long, it was straight and slender, its edge gleaming sharply.

"So, what are you trying to tell me by explaining all this?" Lu You watched the unusually talkative Giyu Tomioka with interest.

This was a rare sight.

"Lu You, join the Demon Slayer Corps."

Giyu looked at Lu You with utter seriousness, his expression solemn, and slowly sheathed his Nichirin Blade with a soft ring.

"Giyu-san, why do you think I'd be willing to join such a dangerous organization? I don't have any reason I must kill demons, do I?"

Lu You extended a hand to catch the featherlike crystalline snowflakes. The chill of their melting seeped into his fingertips as he smiled at Giyu Tomioka and replied.

"Because you're a kind person. You're willing to protect the weak, and you possess rare talent. You could become a very strong swordsman..."

Giyu Tomioka slowly bowed, making his earnest request.

Compared with a useless swordsman like me, the Demon Slayer Corps needs your strength more...

Just like Sabito. If Sabito were still alive, he would certainly do better than me.

Of course, he only thought these words silently.

Lu You shook his head and helped Giyu straighten up.

"Giyu-san, what's your dream?"

"I just... have a reason I must stay alive."

"I see... You have a story of your own too. Then let me tell you what my dream is.

Me, I think that if life must end in death, then it should be lived with worth. At least, when a person reaches the moment before his death, he won't regret having accomplished nothing."

At the very least, he should die surrounded by others.

[Ding! Your words have deeply moved template-Yuji Itadori. He profoundly agrees. Synchronization Value +10%]

[Congratulations! Your accumulated Synchronization Value has reached 20%. Your template-Yuji Itadori has specially added a critical reward bonus...

Congratulations! You have successfully unlocked the skills: Reverse Cursed Technique (blue), Malevolent Shrine (blue)]

"So, I accept."