"Get out of the way, please!"
Tanjiro desperately tried to reach his sister, but Urokodaki lost his patience and lightly slashed across Tanjiro's chest.
Tanjiro should not be empathizing with a demon loyal to Muzan.
"Tanjiro, get a hold of yourself. Don't forget who she was serving—"
"Shut up, you bastard!"
Tanjiro's eyes turned red, and Urokodaki was taken aback.
"Why did you do that to Nezuko?! She wasn't even defending herself. Answer me!"
Tanjiro's anger burned toward Urokodaki. His words meant nothing to him anymore, now that his sister had been beheaded before his eyes.
"…You said she wasn't defending herself."
Urokodaki muttered, then paused.
It wasn't Tanjiro's angry outburst that made him stop; it was Tanjiro's words.
"She wasn't defending herself… Yes, she wasn't defending herself. Why is that…?"
Urokodaki's pupils shook. Had he made a hasty decision?
He had lost his impartiality the moment he saw his children's souls being attacked. The thought of killing her had already crossed his mind then.
The fact remained: Tanjiro's sister did not defend herself, not even subconsciously.
That could only mean one thing.
She truly hadn't been trying to hurt his children's souls. Something must have happened that led her to believe Muzan was a good person.
"Tanjiro… you're right. Maybe I made a mistake. I made a grave mistake."
"I was too hasty with my conclusion."
Urokodaki's eyes turned gray. Tanjiro yelled in rage and grabbed him by the collar.
"You beheaded my sister, She's dying! What good is saying that now?!"
Urokodaki opened his mouth to speak, but before he could say anything, another voice sounded from in the distance.
"Tanjiro is right, Demon Slayer. Your apology means nothing after what you did."
Step.
Step.
Everyone at the scene turned around. They saw a man in an impeccable suit walking towards them.
The sheer presence of the man was haunting; everyone felt the oppressive mental pressure of standing before him.
"Who are you… another demon?"
Urokodaki felt his stomach tighten. This demon's mere presence sent shivers down his spine.
He was far stronger than anything he had faced in his entire life as the former Water Hashira.
Which could only mean—
"Are you one of the Upper Moons? No… your eyes don't have any numbers."
Urokodaki muttered in confusion, then his eyes widened behind his mask.
"Wait… are you the Demon King, Muzan? You're the one Giyu wrote about."
He had been skeptical about sightings of Muzan, but this suffocating presence—and the lack of Kizuki markings—could only mean he was the real Demon King.
"Yes. I am the Demon King—the wretched Demon King you speak of."
"Now stand aside. I have to speak with a naïve little demon."
Muzan moved so fast he vanished, reappearing directly in front of Urokodaki. With a single kick to the face, Urokodaki was sent flying.
"Master!"
The ghost children cried out, but Muzan ignored the hazy spirits and gently lifted Nezuko's head into his arms.
"I told you this would happen. Compassion is a good thing, but you are a demon now."
"You must think like a demon, for humans will never think for you."
Nezuko's severed head opened her mouth to speak, but only gurgling sounds escaped.
By now, Tanjiro had managed to crawl over to Nezuko and Muzan.
"Mr. Muzan! I heard from Mister Giyu that demons can heal anything. Please, save my sister!"
Tanjiro begged Muzan; he couldn't bear to see his sister dying like that. Muzan smiled and gently patted Tanjiro's head.
"Stand up. You don't need to bow. Demons can heal, but severing the head with a Nichirin blade kills them without fail."
"There are a few exceptions to this—but Nezuko is not one of them."
"But—"
Muzan gripped Nezuko's head with force, and thorns emerged from his hand, stabbing into her skull.
"I happen to be the Demon King. Giving her the ability to regenerate her head is something I can do."
Squelch.
"There. I've given her more of my blood. Now it depends on her—whether or not she wants to live."
"If she chooses death, then even I cannot save her."
Muzan was worried that she might choose death, due to her belief in humanity having been shattered. But Nezuko was healing at an exaggerated rate.
That alone proved it—she desperately wanted to live. Even with her faith in humanity broken, there was still something she clung to.
Something worth living for.
"Brother!"
"Nezuko!"
As Nezuko leapt forward and wrapped her arms around Tanjiro, Muzan understood what kept her going despite everything. Her desire—her duty—to protect her family.
"I'm sorry, Brother. You got hurt because of me."
Nezuko tearfully caressed Tanjiro's wound. The siblings stood together in silence, apologizing to each other without words.
Then Nezuko spoke, and both of them turned toward Muzan and bowed deeply.
"Thank you very much for saving my sister, Lord Muzan."
Tanjiro's gratitude was earnest.
Nezuko bowed next. Guilt weighed heavily on her mind.
"Master Muzan, I'm sorry. We're in this situation because I ignored your advice and didn't finish my task as soon as possible."
"Because of my selfish desire to keep my humanity, I nearly lost my own life—and could have lost my brother."
Nezuko took a deep breath. Her eyes sharpened, pupils narrowing into slits.
"Please give me another chance. This time, I will think like a demon."
"If that's what I must do to protect my family and serve you, Master Muzan… then I will do it."
Muzan smiled. This incident had shifted Nezuko's perspective significantly—she was now ready to attack humans and decided to think like a demon.
Tanjiro, watching, felt uneasy about his sister's decision. It didn't sit right with him, but he was a practical person.
He knew she couldn't afford to go easy on anyone—at least not unless she turned her back on Muzan and returned home.
Which brought him to his next point: bringing her home. This was the entire reason he had come to Urokodaki—to join the demon slayers, use their resources to locate the demon king Muzan, and bring Nezuko back.
"Lord Muzan, I promise to repay whatever debt we owe you. Could you please let Nezuko come home after that?"
Muzan frowned at the determined Tanjiro, which made Nezuko hold her breath. Then he relaxed—he saw no reason to refuse the request and make Nezuko sad.
She was already a demon loyal to him; all he wanted was her blood once she became immune to sunlight. With a wave of his hand, he appeared generous.
"Very well. If you repay what you owe, and she chooses to return home, she may do so."
By the time Tanjiro earned enough money, she would likely have gained her sunlight immunity.
After that, she'd be of little use to him—but he might as well use this moment to build a good reputation and perhaps recruit Tanjiro into his ranks.
Smiling at the siblings, he turned away.
"Now, excuse me. I have some questions I wish to ask these departed souls."
"They are personal matters, so please take that old unconscious demon slayer and leave."
Tanjiro beamed, bowing deeply in gratitude. He hugged Nezuko tightly and quickly departed, carrying Urokodaki with him.
Muzan and Nezuko then approached the two ghostly demon slayers.
"Now then," Muzan said, his voice calm, "there is something I would like to ask you about life after death."