In less than a moment, the group arrived at the city.
The street wasn't wide to begin with, but now it was lined with police, and many areas were blocked off with cordons.
The most cordoned-off area was where the victim had been last night. The blood had dried, but the dark stains were shocking to anyone who saw them.
Tanjiro stared at the scene, his heart heavy. After a pause, he walked up to Yoriichi Tsugikuni and spoke in a quiet voice.
"Master Yoriichi… what will happen to those three people?"
Yoriichi didn't react at first; his calm expression didn't change. After thinking for a moment, he answered.
"Death… or life in prison."
"But… they're innocent!" Tanjiro protested softly. They were clearly being controlled by the demon bugs—they didn't even know what they were doing. Their fate shouldn't be like this.
Yoriichi turned to look at Tanjiro. In his eyes, Tanjiro was a kind, good boy, full of compassion even for demons. But that same kindness, Yoriichi knew, could destroy him someday.
He placed a hand on Tanjiro's shoulder, lowering his gaze. His lips moved slightly, but no sound came out. After a quiet moment, he patted Tanjiro's shoulder and withdrew his hand, then turned and continued walking.
Tanjiro tilted his head, confused. What had his master meant by that gesture?
Just then, a soft, quiet voice reached his ears.
"Except for the Demon Slayer Corps and a few special families, no one believes in demons. And even fewer want to. That's why the Corps isn't recognized by the government. If people don't believe in demons, who would believe that those three were controlled by demon bugs?"
Tanjiro realized Muichiro had silently come up behind him, his eyes focused on Tanjiro's earrings.
"Oh—sorry, I didn't even notice you were there, Muichiro-senpai," Tanjiro said, a little flustered.
"Why don't people believe in demons?" he asked. "Wouldn't it help prevent danger if they did?"
Muichiro's eyes were distant as he replied, "Maybe it's because… those who believed in demons… didn't survive after seeing one."
Tanjiro's heart skipped a beat. He stepped back, staring at Muichiro. "…Why? Why?"
Muichiro's expression darkened. After a long pause, he finally said, "How could an ordinary person, without breathing techniques or training, survive an encounter with a demon?"
He fell silent, lost in the memory for a moment, and his face grew heavy. Then he glanced at Ichiro carrying the unconscious Inosuke and the tension in his shoulders eased. A faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared.
"We're lucky that Mr. Houmiya saved us. Otherwise… one of us would have died."
Hearing that, Tanjiro let go of the questions that had weighed on him. Everyone's fate was different. There was no controlling it—only accepting it.
He sighed, gripping the bandaged box tightly, lifted his head, and continued walking forward.
"Yes… everyone has their own destiny. Muichiro, Ichiro-senpai, the Wind Pillar, and even I… we all have shameful pasts. But we were lucky to meet Mr. Houmiya."
Muichiro, walking behind Tanjiro, felt a quiet relief. After a moment, he turned and followed his brother, helping support the unconscious, boar-masked Inosuke.
Inosuke mumbled groggily, "SO~? (′-i_-｀)"
After a short while, Tanjiro walked up to Yoriichi Tsugikuni and asked,
"Master Yoriichi… where are we heading next?"
Yoriichi looked up at the sky, noticing only a few birds flying.
"I don't know. I'll have to wait for the Crow to assign a new task."
So the group wandered on, unsure of where to go. Hours passed, but no Crow appeared. Eventually, they arrived at a cherry blossom grove.
The trees formed a neat circle around a walkway. At the end stood a villa, three or four stories tall, made of black-and-white wooden boards. It looked like a wealthy family's home. But curiously, there were no signs of strangers nearby, only a strange, sweet fragrance in the air.
"Where… are we?" Yuichiro muttered, puzzled. He had expected a narrow street, not this.
Tsugikuni Yoriichi paused, using the transparent world. He could see inside the villa. Three figures were there—three ghosts.
Suddenly, a teenage voice rang out, angry and suspicious, even tinged with violence:
"Who are you?!"
Before Yoriichi could react, the voice shouted again, louder and angrier:
"Wait! Swordsmen! Are you from the Demon Slayer Corps?! Get out of here!"
Everyone froze. They hadn't done anything, yet they were being scolded. Who could stay calm?
"Hey! We haven't done anything yet! Can't we at least talk?" Muichiro snapped.
"Do I wait until you've done something before I let you stay?" the voice shot back, with reason behind it.
"You!" Muichiro clenched his fists, pulling up his sleeves. If Tanjiro hadn't stopped him, he would have drawn his sword and attacked.
Then came a thud from inside, followed by a calmer, gentler voice:
"Everyone… please don't mind what happened just now. It was my fault for not disciplining him properly. Please, come in."
Everyone except Yuichiro looked skeptical. One moment they were unwelcome, the next, welcomed? Even novels didn't describe him this way.
After a brief pause, Yoriichi stepped forward. The others had no choice but to follow.
As Yoriichi touched the door, it creaked open, revealing a darkness that seemed bottomless—but he stepped inside anyway.
From that darkness, a figure emerged, his face twisted with disgust and anger.
"I don't care whether you live or die. If you disrespect my guest, you won't leave in one piece."
He led them to a room and knocked on the door. A soft voice replied:
"Please, come in."
Inside, a woman in a purple kimono, embroidered with red, yellow, and blue flowers, sat on a stool, preparing tea.
"Please," she said.
Everyone hesitated for a moment, but then Tanjiro spoke, curious.
"Excuse me… have we met before?"
Tamayo smiled warmly.
"Yes… in the city, at night."
Tanjiro's eyes widened as he remembered the faint scent and the vague memory of her from before.
Suddenly, a clanging sound came from where Yoriichi had placed the wooden box. A small figure, sleepy-eyed, with a tiny white cat on his head, woke up.
He stretched and yawned, glancing at the familiar surroundings with a puzzled expression.
"Is it getting dark so soon?"
Everyone's eyes fixed on him, and he realized it.
["Ugh… where am I…?"]
"Lord Yushiro, long time no see," a female voice said. Tamayo looked at him with a gentle smile.
Even Yoriichi and the others looked confused. It seemed these two knew each other.
Nearby, Yushiro, holding a tray of tea, walked reluctantly toward the room.
"Why would Master Tamayo invite them in?" he muttered.
As he approached the door, he caught a familiar scent and shivered.
"This… could it be?"
Without worrying about etiquette, he held the tea tray in one hand and opened the door with the other.
Bang!