During the fierce battle against the demon, Tanjiro's Nichirin Blade suddenly snapped in two.
That was impossible.
It was a Nichirin Blade — a weapon forged to slay demons.
How could it possibly break?
Even worse, Tanjiro was clearly falling into disadvantage as the fight went on.
His opponent manipulated two razor-sharp threads, weaving them into deadly webs that lunged toward him.
There was no time to dodge.
Damn it!
He knew the threads were unimaginably tough—tough enough to even destroy his blade.
If they struck him directly, he would be cut into pieces.
The next moment
Shhhk!!
Blood splattered in all directions.
Tanjiro's eyes widened in horror.
Because that blood wasn't his own.
A figure had appeared before him.
Nezuko.
Kamado Nezuko — Tanjiro's younger sister.
Once human, now a demon. She usually stayed within the wooden box Tanjiro carried on his back.
Just now, she had leapt out to shield him.
The blood that splashed across the ground was hers.
『Tanjiro』: "Nezuko!!"
He caught her and gently laid her down.
『Tanjiro』: "Nezuko! Nezuko! I'm sorry… your big brother was protected by you again."
He was trembling with worry.
The demon attacking them—Rui—stood trembling as well.
He pointed toward the siblings.
『Rui』: "You… that girl… she's your sister?"
『Tanjiro』: "So what if she is?!"
He had no time to waste on the demon. All his attention was on Nezuko.
Her wounds were deep—so deep they nearly severed her limbs. And they weren't healing.
『Rui』: "Sister… sister…" His voice quivered with excitement.
『Rui』: "Your sister became a demon, yet you two still stay together. She even risked herself to protect you… That's a true bond! I want it… I want that bond!"
Before becoming a demon, Rui had once heard a story
A father who died trying to save his drowning child.
He had thought it beautiful.
After turning into a demon, his obsession with familial bonds only deepened.
Now, seeing Tanjiro and Nezuko, that obsession burned wildly.
『Rui』: "Little brother, let's talk."
He beckoned Tanjiro forward. Despite his childlike appearance, Rui was much older.
『Tanjiro』 frowned. "Talk?"
『Rui』: "Yes. Seeing your bond moved me. I was trembling with emotion… I can hardly put it into words. But… you both must die. That would be tragic, right?"
He paused, then smiled eerily.
『Rui』: "However… there's one way to avoid that tragedy."
『Rui』: "Your sister. Give her to me."
『Rui』: "If you hand her over, I'll spare your life."
『Tanjiro』 felt a surge of dread.
『Tanjiro』: "What do you mean…?"
『Rui』: "I'll make your sister my sister. From today on."
『Tanjiro』's voice rose in fury.
『Tanjiro』: "That's impossible! Nezuko isn't a doll—she has her own will and feelings! She can never become your sister!"
『Rui』 remained calm.
『Rui』: "You needn't worry. I can create bonds. I'm stronger than her. I'll forge a bond through fear, show her the consequences of defiance."
『Tanjiro』 shouted in rage.
『Tanjiro』: "Stop mocking me! That's not a bond — that's chains of terror! That's not what family is!"
『Tanjiro』: "If you don't change your twisted view from the roots, you'll never truly have what you want!"
Rui scowled.
『Rui』: "So noisy. Stop yelling."
『Tanjiro』 stepped out of the woods, steadying his stance.
『Tanjiro』: "I won't hand Nezuko over to someone like you."
『Rui』: "Then I'll just kill you and take her myself."
『Tanjiro』: "Before that happens, I'll cut off your head!"
『Rui』 sneered and brushed aside his bangs, revealing his left eye.
The kanji for Lower Five (下伍) gleamed within it.
『Rui』: "You can try. But I'm one of the Twelve Kizuki. Do you think you can defeat me?"
The Twelve Kizuki — direct subordinates of Muzan Kibutsuji, the progenitor of all demons — were the most powerful among their kind.
『Tanjiro』's mind raced.
His threads are stronger than steel… My blade's already broken… If his neck is even tougher than those threads…
Should I… post a mission in the chat group?
But no—this wasn't yet hopeless. He still had a chance.
As the thought flashed through his mind, Rui launched his attack, seizing Nezuko midair.
Her claws struck him, but he bound her with threads and hung her high above. Blood dripped steadily to the ground.
『Tanjiro』 charged forward, clashing desperately, yet Rui's strength was overwhelming. His blade struck Rui's neck—but failed to cut through.
Desperation fueled him.
Memories of his father teaching him the Hinokami Kagura, the Dance of the Fire God, resurfaced.
Combining that breath technique with Nezuko's Blood Demon Art, he finally decapitated Rui.
But Tanjiro's body was in agony.
He had sustained heavy injuries, and the forced breathing shift left his body screaming in pain and dizziness.
Still, he crawled toward Nezuko
Then froze.
He couldn't smell the scent of a demon turning to ash.
That could only mean
He's not dead!
『Tanjiro』: "But I clearly cut off his head!"
『Rui』: "Did you think you'd won?" His voice was calm.
『Rui』: "How pitiful. I cut off my own head with my threads before you did. That way, I wouldn't die."
『Rui』: "Enough. I'll kill you both now."
『Tanjiro』's body refused to move.
Stand up… please, stand up!
Realizing he couldn't, he reached instead for the chat group interface.
[Head Pillar Tanjiro]: Everyone… please, I need your help.
[Head Pillar Tanjiro]: My sister and I have encountered a demon. I'm gravely injured.
[Head Pillar Tanjiro]: Please, someone help us defeat it—and heal my sister's wounds. I'm willing to offer all my points as payment.
『Tanjiro』 exhaled in relief when the system notification appeared.
He had spent days chatting with members of the group—learning that points could be exchanged for help through missions.
But this was his first time actually posting one, and the urgency made his hands tremble.
[What If My Little Sister Is a Chuunibyou]: Oh? Another mission?
[Shirley]: Yup. Looks like it's from the newbie this time.
[Passing Kamen Rider]: I'd like to go… but healing injuries isn't really my thing.
[Pink-Haired Container]: You could always tag along for free points.
[Passing Kamen Rider]: …You've got a point.
[Head Pillar Tanjiro]: Everyone, please hurry—it's urgent!
[Passing Kamen Rider]: @Man of Humanity — Superman-san, we've got trouble!
[Man of Humanity]: OK.
Demon Slayer World
Rui held his own severed head in his hands, glaring at the motionless boy before him.
『Rui』: "Why aren't you running? Given up already?"
『Tanjiro』 could only grit his teeth.
Then—
A calm, amused voice spoke behind Rui.
『???』: "Is that so?"
『Rui』 spun around
A black-haired man stood there, smiling faintly.
Carl.
『Rui』 frowned. "Who are you?"
『Carl』: "The one who'll kill you."
『Rui』 chuckled coldly.
『Rui』: "Even that boy over there couldn't kill me. You think you can?"
『Carl』 smiled. "Yes."
Before Rui could react, beams of red light burst from Carl's eyes.
Fwoosh!
Rui didn't even have time to scream before he was vaporized by the sheer heat.
Even in death, he didn't understand what had happened.
On the other side, Tanjiro called out weakly
『Tanjiro』: "Superman-san! Demons can only be killed with Nichirin Blades, otherwise—"
But when he looked up, Rui was already gone.
The place where he'd stood was scorched clean.
『Tanjiro』: "Wh-what… what was that?"
He stared, dumbfounded.
No Nichirin Blade. No sunlight.
And yet one of the Twelve Kizuki—Lower Five—had been obliterated in an instant.
Could it be a trick?
Tanjiro sniffed the air carefully.
No scent of a demon.
Rui was truly gone.
One of the Twelve Kizuki… just like that?!
『Tanjiro』 was shaken to the core.
So this was the man the others spoke of in awe
[Man of Humanity], Carl.
He had heard stories about him in the chat group:
Resurrecting humans, slaying demon gods, annihilating tens of thousands of divine beings in an instant.
Now, seeing it for himself, Tanjiro was convinced
Carl was even stronger than the rumors said.
The foe Tanjiro had risked everything to defeat
a monster he couldn't overcome no matter how hard he fought
had been erased with a single glance.
『Tanjiro』 could only stare in awe.
Just then, the familiar chime of a system notification echoed.