Was he just... saving a ghost?
"Why are you protecting her?" Giyu Tomioka asked Tanjiro.
Despite being curious about who the person in front of me was and why they had a knife.
But that attack just now made Tanjiro realize something.
If Nezuko cannot please the person in front of her, he will definitely kill her!
While controlling Nezuko, who was on the verge of going berserk, Tanjiro explained:
"She's my sister! She's my sister!"
Is that your sister?
Giyu frowned slightly, then charged forward again.
Seeing the other party rushing towards him, Tanjiro quickly released Nezuko.
He then immediately knelt down, raised his head, and tried to make a request.
However, what shocked him was...
Nezuko has been captured.
My hands were behind my back, but they were firmly held by the other person.
Wow, so fast! When?
No! Now is not the time to focus on that!
Nezuko!
Tanjiro immediately stood up and wanted to go over.
"Don't move!" Giyu Tomioka said.
"My job is to slay evil spirits! It's obvious."
Giyu turned his head and glanced at Nezuko, who was struggling in his hands.
"Your sister is a demon too, and I'll kill her!"
Tanjiro anxiously began to explain.
"Wait a minute! Nezuko hasn't killed anyone!"
There's another smell in my house, and it's all caused by the person who caused that smell!
It's not Nezuko!
Although I don't know why Nezuko turned out the way she is now!
"The reason is simple," Giyu replied calmly. "If you have demon blood injected into your body, you'll become a demon!"
"That's how cannibals increase their numbers!"
Upon hearing Giyu categorize Nezuko as one of the man-eating demons, Tanjiro angrily exclaimed:
Nezuko would never eat people!
"Heh..." Giyu let out a cold laugh.
"How could you say something like that! Weren't you almost eaten alive by her just now?"
"No!" Tanjiro retorted.
Nezuko will definitely recognize who I am!
I won't let anyone hurt her!
Nezuko will definitely turn back into a human!
I will definitely cure her!
Hearing Tanjiro's unrealistic words, Giyu became even more indifferent.
The Demon Slayer Corps ' historical records and his experiences over the years told him this.
None of what this young man said could come true!
"She's beyond saving! Once she becomes a ghost, she can never turn back into a human!"
"Yes! There must be!" Tanjiro exclaimed. "I'll go find it! I'll definitely find a way to turn Nezuko back into a human!"
Giyu silently raised his Nichirin Blade.
Despite feeling sympathy for the boy's plight.
But as a member of the Demon Slayer Corps, slaying demons is his mission.
Seeing the person in front of him raise their sword, Tanjiro became even more anxious.
Don't kill her!
I can definitely do it!
so...
so..."
Tears streamed down Tanjiro's face as Tanjiro slowly knelt down, his head hitting the ground.
Words tinged with despair echoed through the woods.
Please, don't kill her!
Stop taking my family away!
Please!
Please, please let my sister go!
Please...
Please...
Tanjiro knelt on the ground, repeating it in a low voice over and over again.
Looking at the figure kneeling on the ground in front of him, constantly pleading in a low voice, Giyu felt as if his vision was blurring.
The timid self from many years ago seems to have superimposed itself on the boy before me.
Anger ignited at that moment.
Don't let others hold the power of life and death over you!
Don't pitifully beg others!
If this works!
Your family won't be killed!
The weak who cannot gain the upper hand when plundering or being plundered.
What are you telling me about finding my enemy!
We must find a way to turn my sister back into a human!
How utterly absurd and laughable!
Tanjiro's breath caught in his throat at the angry words, and he looked up, staring blankly at Giyu.
The weak have no right to choose!
Even if I use all my strength!
They can only submit to the strong!
The way to turn your sister back into a human—maybe even the ghosts know!
But do you think those ghosts will listen to your story and tell you the solution?
Similarly, I won't listen to you either!
This is reality!
Ignoring Tanjiro's reaction, Giyu continued:
"Besides.
Why did you let your sister tackle you just now?
Is this what you mean by protecting your sister?
Why don't you swing the axe?
Why kneel down and beg me instead of attacking me?
Giyu raised his sword and pointed it at Tanjiro.
"It's because of your failure that your family was killed! That your sister became a ghost!"
I should have just killed you and your sister with one stroke!
Giyu stood still, silently watching Tanjiro in the distance.
Don't cry!
Don't despair!
That's not what you should be doing right now!
You can't take any more blows from me!
My family was murdered by a ghost! My sister turned into a ghost!
You must be in a lot of pain.
You want to wail and scream, don't you?
I know all of that!
but.
Be angry!
This powerful and pure rage is unforgiving.
It will become the unwavering driving force that propels your limbs in the future.
Fragile resolve
I can neither protect nor heal my sister.
He was even less able to avenge his family.
Giyu spoke to Tanjiro in his heart, or perhaps to his former self.
Seeing that Tanjiro was still kneeling on the spot without reacting, Giyu gently raised his Nichirin Blade.
laugh--!
The Nichirin Blade pierced Nezuko's body, Nezuko let out a painful howl.
"No..."
Tanjiro shouted, disregarding everything else.
He picked up a stone nearby and threw it over.
Giyu lightly raised his Nichirin Blade and used the hilt to block the incoming stone.
My gaze then followed the figure running through the woods.
Whoosh--!
Giyu slightly turned his body and dodged another stone that was coming at him.
She watched quietly as Tanjiro picked up the axe and ran towards her.
They act without thinking, driven solely by emotions, resorting to simplistic attacks.
"How foolish!" Giyu said grimly.
She watched silently as Tanjiro's figure drew closer and closer.
Until it reached him.
The hand holding the Nichirin Blade suddenly raised itself, then brought it down.
Bang!
The hilt of the sword slammed directly into Tanjiro's back.
Tanjiro only had time to let out a cry of pain before collapsing to the ground.
Giyu looked down at Tanjiro with disappointment.
I thought I'd found a promising talent, but it turns out he's just an average person...
wrong!
Giyu seemed to suddenly realize something, and his gaze fell on Tanjiro's hands.
Where is his axe?
A whistling sound came from mid-air.
Giyu quickly raised his head.
He saw an axe spinning rapidly, aimed straight at him.
He tilted his head slightly, dodging the axe that was about to strike him.
He looked down at the boy lying on the ground.
I take back what I just said.
This is a promising talent!
While Giyu was pondering, Nezuko, whom he was holding, saw Tanjiro injured and unconscious.
Its size increased again.
The sudden increase in power prevented Giyu from catching Nezuko immediately.
Nezuko managed to break free.
Nezuko then quickly turned and delivered a side kick.
Bang!
After kicking Giyu away, Nezuko quickly turned and headed straight for Tanjiro.
Upon seeing this, Giyu's pupils contracted slightly as he landed.
Oh no, that boy is going to be eaten!
My calves immediately tensed up.
However, just as he was about to rush over, the scene before him made him stop pushing off with his feet.
Is she... protecting humanity?
Nezuko was seen squatting in front of Tanjiro.
With arms outstretched, facing Giyu, it seemed as if he was protecting the person behind him.
Seemingly realizing that staying put wasn't a solution, Nezuko charged towards Giyu.
Giyu moved through the forest, dodging Nezuko's attacks, his thoughts drifting.
Scenes from many years ago seem to appear before my eyes.
The black-haired boy sat cross-legged in the dimly lit room, presenting his views in the face of the crowd's questions.
"Look at the heart and actions..."
He slowly sheathed his Nichirin Blade, then raised his hand.