Tap, tap! ×2
"Hurry, Nezuko!"
At this moment, Tanjiro was pulling his younger sister through the bustling streets of the great city. It wasn't that he had anything urgent to do—he just couldn't handle the overwhelming crowds. The dazzling lights, the noise, the energy—it all pressed in from every direction, suffocating him.
He quickly wrapped his scarf tighter around his head to hide his face and, clutching Nezuko's hand, hurriedly wove through the streets. He ducked into narrow alleys whenever he could, and after several minutes of weaving and running, they finally emerged at the edge of the city's residential district, away from the dense throngs of people.
"Haah... haah..."
He stopped, leaning against a wall and panting heavily.
"Finally... we're out."
He sighed in exhaustion. Behind him, Nezuko still followed obediently, though she was clearly asleep—likely due to her demonic constitution—her eyes closed, yet still walking behind him without protest.
This was the residential area of Asakusa City, a fair distance away from the glittering, colorful shopping district. Even from here, though, the golden radiance of the city lights was visible—almost unreal.
"No wonder they call this the Tokyo Prefecture..."
Tanjiro murmured in awe as he gazed at the shining skyline.
The dirt path here marked the border of the neighborhood. Wooden fences lined both sides, separating homes from the street. Unlike the bustling commercial area, this place was calm—so calm that only the chirping of insects and the faint hum of electric streetlights could be heard. The air was clean, free from the intoxicating smell of alcohol and perfume, allowing him to breathe easy at last.
Gurgle~
His stomach growled loudly, twisting painfully with hunger.
"Ugh..."
He sighed and looked at his sister. Then, taking her hand again, he began walking slowly down the quiet street.
And then—like finding an oasis in a desert—he spotted a small ramen cart illuminated under a streetlight. The stall owner was a bald middle-aged man, sitting casually on a stool with one leg crossed over the other, leisurely puffing on a pipe.
"Haa..."
The smoke he exhaled formed lazy rings that drifted up, blurring the glow of the nearby streetlamp.
"Hmm?"
Hearing approaching footsteps, the man squinted and turned his head curiously. Coming toward him was a young boy wearing a black-and-green checkered haori, followed by a small girl.
"Excuse me... could you make me a bowl of grated yam udon?"
Tanjiro asked, his voice weary as he stopped beside the stall.
"Oh... right away. Please wait a moment."
Realizing it was a customer, the stall owner quickly stubbed out his pipe, stood up, and stepped into the cart to start cooking.
"Thank you..."
Tanjiro sank down onto a nearby stool, utterly drained. The long day's journey had worn him out completely. Following that crow's directions—"southeast, southeast!"—he had traveled the entire day to get here.
He still had some strength earlier, but after that frantic dash through the crowds, it felt like all his energy had evaporated. Truly miserable.
"Haa... I've never been to a place like this before."
He muttered to himself.
"There are just... too many people."
Just thinking back to the scene made his skin crawl.
"... (asleep)"
Beside him, Nezuko remained fast asleep, unmoving. Tanjiro sighed softly. Life was tough—no doubt about it.
"Here you go, sir. Your grated yam udon."
The stall owner lifted the curtain and handed him a steaming bowl of noodles.
"Ah... thank you."
Tanjiro quickly turned and accepted the hot bowl with both hands, bowing slightly in gratitude.
"Haa... haa..."
He set the bowl carefully on his lap, rubbed his cold hands together, and snapped apart his chopsticks. Picking up a bit of egg, he took a bite.
"Mmm~ So good..."
Indeed—this was the reward for a long, exhausting day. His well-earned comfort.
Slurp~!
He drew in a mouthful of noodles. Perfectly authentic flavor.
Then, feeling a sudden urge to drink the broth, he lifted the bowl carefully to his lips to take a sip—when—
"!!"
He dropped it. For some reason, his grip slipped!
Crash!!
The bowl of udon fell to the ground and shattered into pieces, scattering broth and noodles across the dirt.
Clatter!
Tanjiro jumped to his feet, his face instantly pale—his expression one of pure terror, like a lamb cornered by a wolf.
In that instant, Tanjiro caught a scent—one that sent a shiver of terror through his entire body. Just from that smell alone, he could sense how powerful the owner was—unlike any demon he'd ever encountered before. But more importantly... it was a scent he knew all too well.
"That smell...!"
He had smelled it once before—back at home, after his family had been slaughtered. That same, unforgettable stench lingering in the house!
"!!"
Tap, tap!!
His face twisted with fury. Without a second thought, he grabbed his Nichirin Blade from his side and sprinted off, leaving the still-sleeping Nezuko behind. Like a hunting hound, he charged toward the source of the scent!
"This smell... haah... why is it suddenly here?!"
It was in this city—right here, amid the bustling crowds of Asakusa! The demon was hiding among them! Was that monster... actually living here?!
He ran as fast as his legs could carry him, retracing his steps back toward the commercial district.
Dashing through narrow residential paths and dark alleyways, he finally emerged once again into the flood of humanity—bright lights flashing, noise crashing against his ears. The dazzling cityscape blurred his vision, forcing him to squint.
"!"
But he didn't care. He pressed forward, pushing against the flow of people, following that trail. The scent grew stronger.
Closer.
Almost there.
I'm going to see you...!
Pushing through the dense crowd, he finally saw it—the source of that stench. A man wearing a western suit and a wide-brimmed hat, walking casually ahead with the crowd, his back turned.
Muzan Kibutsuji!
Clack!!
Tanjiro's hand shot forward, gripping the man's shoulder.
For a moment, time itself seemed to freeze.
"..."
Tanjiro didn't move, his breath caught in his throat.
"Hm?"
The man halted his steps. Slowly, he turned his head just enough for his crimson eyes to glance at the hand resting on his shoulder. Then, he turned a little more, meeting the boy's gaze.
Tanjiro's instinct screamed—he reached for his sword, ready to draw—but then—
"Papa?"
"!!"
The sound of a child's innocent voice froze him in place.
Papa?!
The man turned fully around, revealing a little girl nestled in his arms.
"Papa, what's wrong?"
"It's nothing... there's no problem."
The man's voice was calm, even gentle, his crimson eyes hidden under the shadow of his hat, gleaming faintly.
He's... pretending to live as a human?!
The realization struck Tanjiro like lightning, shattering everything he thought he knew. His hand trembled violently on his sword hilt.
"Is there something you need from me?"
The man asked politely, his gaze briefly flicking down to the Hanafuda earrings on Tanjiro's ears—only for a split second.
Those earrings...
His eyes grew colder, ever so slightly.
"You look rather nervous..."
"!!"
Tanjiro stumbled back half a step, trying to steady his shaking hand and prepare himself—but the next instant, what happened before his eyes would once again defy all reason.
Tap, tap...
"What's wrong, dear? Did something happen?"
At that moment, a well-dressed woman approached the two men, glancing between her husband and the boy before her in confusion.
"Mom!"
The little girl in the man's arms called out happily, and the woman smiled gently at her daughter.
"Haah... haah..."
Tanjiro struggled to steady his breathing, one hand covering his mouth while the other clenched the fabric over his chest. His eyes glared furiously at the man before him.
The woman and the little girl—they smelled human. Did they not know who Kibutsuji truly was? Were they being deceived? Threatened? Or... did this woman know what he was and chose to let him live freely among them?
"Do you know him?"
The woman turned to Muzan, puzzled.
"I don't. I can't seem to recall."
The man—Muzan Kibutsuji—narrowed his crimson eyes slightly as he looked at Tanjiro. He had clearly recognized something... but said nothing.
"Or perhaps... he's simply mistaken me for someone else."
As he spoke, Muzan's blood-red gaze briefly shifted toward a nearby couple walking past. In a single motion, his lowered hand sprouted razor-sharp nails.
"..."
In an instant, beneath the cover of the woman and girl's sightlines, he moved—swift and silent. His clawed fingers slashed across the back of the passing husband's neck. The entire motion took less than a second. No one even realized what had happened; the crowd continued flowing as if nothing had occurred.
"!!"
But Tanjiro saw it. He turned sharply toward the man who had been struck—
"Guh—ahhh!!"
The man clutched the back of his neck and fell to his knees in agony, his scream piercing the night.
"Honey! What's wrong?!"
His wife, startled and terrified, rushed to his side, trying to help him.
But the wound on his neck writhed unnaturally, as if something was crawling beneath his skin. Blood poured freely from the gash.
"Honey?!"
Panicking, she shook him frantically—but he couldn't lift his head. The veins around his neck bulged grotesquely, spreading up toward his face. His once-human eyes turned blood-red, their whites drowning in crimson. The transformation was complete—the gaze of a demon.
By now, the surrounding people had noticed the chaos. One by one, they stopped and stared.
"Get away from him!!"
Tanjiro shouted, ignoring Muzan for the moment. That man—he was about to—!!
"Eh?"
The woman blinked in confusion—and then—
ROAR!!!
The man—no, the demon—sprang up, jaws opening wide like a serpent's maw. He sank his teeth deep into the woman's shoulder.
Bshh!
A spray of blood burst forth.
"AAAHHHH—!!!"
The scream that tore from her throat was filled with agony and terror. It sent a shock through everyone nearby. People began to panic.
"Run! Run!"
"What's happening?!"
"He's biting someone!"
"No way!!"
The once-bustling street dissolved into chaos. People screamed, shoved, and scattered in all directions.
"Let's go."
Muzan spoke calmly, unfazed, and turned to leave.
"Eh... okay."
The woman beside him—his "wife"—hesitated only briefly before following.
"Wait!! Damn it!!"
Tanjiro glanced in Muzan's direction, wanting to chase him—but seeing the demonized man attacking civilians, he grit his teeth and turned back instead, rushing toward the scene.
Just a few seconds earlier—
"AAAHHHH—!!!"
A woman's terrified scream echoed through the night streets, loud enough to reach even a certain ramen shop.
"!" ×2
The two women sitting inside—mother and daughter, having just finished their meal and chatting idly—heard it clearly.
They immediately grew serious, both turning toward the shop entrance.
"Did you hear that, Shogun?"
Ei asked softly.
"Mm..."
The Shogun nodded, scanning the restaurant. The other customers had also looked toward the sound—proof that it wasn't just their imagination.
"Ei..."
The Shogun glanced toward Ei, giving her a subtle signal.
Seeing it, Ei immediately stood and stepped aside to let her out.
Once outside the booth, the Shogun handed Ei their coin pouch without a word, then hurried toward the street.
"..."
Ei frowned in worry as she watched her daughter run off. She quickly grabbed a few bills from the pouch—estimating what seemed right—and left them on the table, not even bothering to wait for change before dashing after her.
The Shogun emerged from the restaurant and scanned the street. Chaos had already erupted. Crowds of terrified people were screaming and running in every direction.
Tap, tap!
"Shogun!"
Ei called out as she caught up beside her, her eyes sweeping over the panicking crowd.
"Did you pay?"
The Shogun asked quickly.
"I... paid what I guessed. Didn't wait for change."
Ei replied, sounding a little sheepish.
"Never mind. The crowd's fleeing that way."
With that, the Shogun grabbed her mother's hand, intending to run straight into the chaos—but then—
Vmm~
Ei's body dissolved into shimmering particles of light, merging into the Shogun's form. The younger woman froze momentarily as she felt her mother's essence fill her.
[Let's go. This way's more efficient.]
Ei's voice echoed softly in her mind.
"Haa... you never change."
The Shogun sighed, then took off at full speed—against the fleeing tide of civilians.
People bumped into her shoulders as she pushed through, her movements fluid and quick as she avoided collisions, her eyes scanning for the source of the disturbance.
After about a minute, she found it.
There—a young man was pinning something to the ground. No... someone—a demon. The creature writhed and snarled beneath him, its mouth stuffed with what looked like a ball of cloth, drool spilling from the corners of its lips. It looked almost pitiful—like a starving beast deprived of food.
Why would a demon appear in such a place? Most wouldn't dare venture into a city this populated.
The civilians nearby had stopped fleeing. Many now stood at a distance, gawking, pointing, whispering—some had likely already gone to call the police.
"Haa..."
She sighed softly and stepped closer, slipping past the gathered crowd until she reached the young man's side. Her elegant form instantly drew attention from onlookers.
"Mmrrhh!! Aahhh!!"
The restrained demon struggled violently beneath Tanjiro's hold, thrashing like a wild animal. The Shogun knelt gracefully before it, lowering herself until her violet eyes met its crazed, drooling face.
"Why is there a demon here?"
She asked quietly, not even looking up.
"It's... Muzan Kibutsuji! He turned a normal person into a demon! That guy was human just a moment ago!"
Tanjiro replied breathlessly.
"?"
Hearing the familiar voice, she lifted her gaze slightly—recognizing the young man immediately. It was the same boy who had taken part in the Demon Slayer exam a few days ago. What was his name again... Tan... something?
"It's you again... Tan... Tanrō?"
"No—it's Tanjiro! Wait—Raiden-san?!"
Tanjiro froze, realizing who stood before him. What were the odds? To meet her again here of all places—it almost felt like fate! Was she also on a mission like him?
...This boy...
Ei narrowed her eyes from within the Shogun's consciousness. Is he interested in my daughter? Every time he sees her, his eyes light up like that.
"Raiden-san, could you please hold this guy down for me? I'll be right back!"
Tanjiro said quickly, trusting her to restrain the demon while he took off running—straight in the direction Muzan had gone, ignoring the staring crowd.
"...?"
The Shogun blinked, momentarily confused by his sudden departure. But feeling the demon struggling beneath her, she sighed and focused again, tightening her hold to keep it from harming anyone.
"Haa... stay still."
She pressed her hand down firmly, her calm presence enough to subdue the creature's thrashing. She could sense the faint traces of corruption spreading through its body—it had only just turned. There might still be a way to purify it.
Meanwhile—
"Haah! Haah! MUZAN KIBUTSUJI!!!"
Tanjiro sprinted through the streets, shouting the demon's name with every breath. People stared in alarm, some recoiling, others simply ignoring him amid the chaos.
But no matter how loud he called, there was no reply. Muzan was gone.
"Damn it!!"
He panted heavily, scanning the crowded street with burning frustration. The man who had murdered his family—the origin of all demons—had escaped him once again.
That coward...!