After helping Dr. Connors—the "Lizard Professor"—restore his arm, Carl returned to Zhang Manyue's dormitory.
He didn't do much afterward, simply rested.
For the next few days, Carl stayed at Zhang Manyue's place to relax.
The drama Zhang Manyue starred in had been met with tremendous success—according to the director, its ratings were on track to break records.
So the crew continued shooting, busy as ever.
Carl accompanied Zhang Manyue to and from the set every day.
At first, some paparazzi tried to follow and snap secret photos.
Because of the drama's popularity, Zhang Manyue's fame had soared overnight.
However, Carl could turn invisible—and even make Zhang Manyue invisible along with him.
Naturally, those reporters couldn't capture a single shot.
───
Meanwhile, in the world of Demon Slayer
Not long ago, Kamado Tanjirō, Agatsuma Zenitsu, and Hashibira Inosuke had been recuperating at a mansion belonging to a family marked with the Wisteria Flower Crest.
Having recently joined the interdimensional chat group—and with Zenitsu and Inosuke by his side—Tanjirō's recovery days were far from dull.
After a period of rest, their wounds had fully healed.
Now, it was time to set off again.
After bidding farewell to the old woman of the Wisteria family, their next destination lay to the northeast—Mount Natagumo.
On the road, Inosuke's lack of common sense made explanations tedious.
As a result, the three argued noisily all the way.
By nightfall, the silhouette of Mount Natagumo loomed ahead.
The towering mountain exuded an oppressive, sinister aura, shrouded in a faint darkness that weighed upon the soul.
『Agatsuma Zenitsu』: "W–Wait!"
Zenitsu suddenly spoke up, voice trembling. 『Agatsuma Zenitsu』: "Can we… can we stop for a second?"
『Kamado Tanjirō』: "Zenitsu?" Tanjirō glanced back curiously. 『Kamado Tanjirō』: "What's wrong?"
『Agatsuma Zenitsu』: "I'm scared!"
Zenitsu abruptly dropped to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably. 『Agatsuma Zenitsu』: "We're almost there, and I'm terrified!"
『Hashibira Inosuke』: "What the hell are you doing sitting there?"
『Hashibira Inosuke』: "You disgust me!"
Wearing his boar mask, Inosuke looked utterly confused, clearly unable to comprehend Zenitsu's behavior.
『Agatsuma Zenitsu』: "Mind your own business!"
『Agatsuma Zenitsu』: "You've got some nerve calling me out, you stupid boar-head!"
『Kamado Tanjirō』: "Uh…"
Tanjirō could only sigh.
He knew Zenitsu was always like this—but he'd been fine the whole journey.
For him to suddenly break down now was… unexpected.
『Agatsuma Zenitsu』: "You guys seriously don't feel anything weird about that mountain up ahead?"
Hearing that, Tanjirō and Inosuke turned toward the distant peak.
The mountain was swallowed by shadow, its presence almost suffocating.
『Kamado Tanjirō』: "Even if it feels unsettling, sitting here won't help anything."
『Hashibira Inosuke』: "Keh! Pathetic."
『Agatsuma Zenitsu』: "I am not pathetic! You guys are the weird ones!"
!!
Suddenly, Tanjirō's expression changed—he caught a strange scent.
『Kamado Tanjirō』: "This smell…"
He turned toward the mountain and dashed ahead.
『Hashibira Inosuke』: "Oi! Tanjirō?"
『Hashibira Inosuke』: "Wait up!"
『Agatsuma Zenitsu』: "Don't leave me behind! Don't leave me alone!"
Zenitsu screamed as he scrambled after them.
Tanjirō and Inosuke soon spotted a figure lying on the ground ahead.
It was a Demon Slayer, dressed in the standard Corps uniform and gripping a katana.
Upon seeing them, the wounded slayer burst into tears.
『Injured Slayer』: "H–Help… me…"
『Kamado Tanjirō』: "A fellow Slayer—something terrible must've happened!"
Without hesitation, Tanjirō ran over.
Inosuke followed without a word.
『Agatsuma Zenitsu』: "W–Wait! Hold on!"
But the other two ignored him.
As Tanjirō reached the fallen Slayer, the man suddenly lifted off the ground—
as if pulled by invisible threads—and vanished into the forest.
『Injured Slayer』: "I… I've been caught too! Help me!"
!!
Zenitsu froze, his face turning pale as death.
A wave of blood stench swept through the air.
Tanjirō's sharp nose caught it instantly—there was no doubt, the man had already been killed.
Clenching his fists, Tanjirō's eyes hardened.
『Kamado Tanjirō』: "I'm going in."
『Hashibira Inosuke』: "Hmph. I'll go first!"
Inosuke shoved Tanjirō aside, swaggering forward. 『Hashibira Inosuke』: "You can follow behind and tremble all you want."
Gripping his twin blades, he muttered, 『Hashibira Inosuke』: "Tch… my stomach's growling…"
From behind, Zenitsu sat on the ground, shivering. 『Agatsuma Zenitsu』: "Y–You mean 'raring to go,' not hungry, idiot…"
『Hashibira Inosuke』: "HAHA! Let's GO!"
With a wild yell, Inosuke charged into the forest.
Tanjirō followed close behind.
Zenitsu, meanwhile, stayed where he was, trembling.
Not far into the woods, the two discovered spider webs hanging everywhere.
『Hashibira Inosuke』: "Damn webs are all over the place! So annoying!"
『Kamado Tanjirō』: "Yeah…"
Then, Tanjirō suddenly spoke up. 『Kamado Tanjirō』: "Hey, Inosuke."
『Hashibira Inosuke』: "What?"
『Kamado Tanjirō』: "Thanks."
『Hashibira Inosuke』: "Huh?"
Tanjirō smiled softly. 『Kamado Tanjirō』: "I feel a lot calmer knowing you're with me."
『Kamado Tanjirō』: "There's something twisted and evil on this mountain—it's terrifying."
『Kamado Tanjirō』: "So… thank you."
『Hashibira Inosuke』: "O-oh…"
Inosuke blinked, remembering the old woman's words back at the Wisteria estate. Something stirred faintly in his chest.
『Kamado Tanjirō』: "Inosuke."
Tanjirō gestured forward.
Inosuke looked up—and spotted another Demon Slayer ahead.
『Kamado Tanjirō』: "Let's go."
The two ran forward.
『Kamado Tanjirō』: "We're here to assist! I'm Kamado Tanjirō, rank Mizunoto!"
『Wounded Slayer』: "Mizunoto…? Why not a Hashira?"
『Wounded Slayer』: "It's useless—no matter how many Mizunoto you send, it's meaningless!"
The Demon Slayer Corps ranks were divided into ten levels—Kinoe, Kinoto, Hinoe, Hinoto, Tsuchinoe, Tsuchinoto, Kanoe, Kanoto, Mizoe, Mizunoto.
Tanjirō, having only recently passed the Final Selection, was still the lowest rank—Mizunoto.
The "Hashira" the man referred to were the Corps' nine elite pillars—the strongest swordsmen who formed the backbone of the organization.
This mission had already claimed many lives.
So it was no surprise the man despaired upon learning Tanjirō's rank.
Suddenly—Bang!
Inosuke punched the man square in the face.
『Hashibira Inosuke』: "Shut it, you whiner."
Grabbing the man by the hair, he roared, 『Hashibira Inosuke』: "If anyone here's meaningless, it's YOU!"
『Hashibira Inosuke』: "Now quit whining and explain what's going on, you weakling!"
『Wounded Slayer』: "T–The Kasugai crow said there were ten of us sent in… but once we entered the mountain, everyone started… attacking each other…"
While Tanjirō was processing this, several more Demon Slayers appeared in the forest—approaching them with eerie, lifeless eyes.