"The Kasugai Crow has returned with a message. The team sent to search Mount Natagumo has been nearly wiped out. Before that, they had already sent word of discovering a demon, so more slayers are still rushing there—but this is not an opponent they can handle right now, because the demon entrenched there is at least one of the Twelve Kizuki, and multiple demons have been sighted."
Kagaya Ubuyashiki's expression was grave, mixed with a hint of sorrow, clearly pained by the casualties among the slayers this time.
"Mount Natagumo?"
"Mr. Makoto, you know of it?"
Makoto Suzuki's face also grew somber.
"A message came in earlier that it needed to be investigated, so I didn't pay it much mind. I never thought it would lead to such consequences—I request permission to go to Mount Natagumo."
"This is also what I wanted to ask of you. Shinobu, this time I hope you can go with Mr. Makoto, because there seems to be a demon there that uses poison. I believe if you are present, many unnecessary casualties can be avoided."
Shinobu Kocho smiled and nodded.
"It's been a long time since I've encountered a demon that uses poison. Please leave this one to me."
"The situation is urgent. Mount Natagumo is not close, so we cannot go by horse."
So the Demon Slayer Corps has a super-fast travel system?
Makoto Suzuki blinked in anticipation.
"—So we're taking a train?"
"Have you never been on a train, Mr. Suzuki?"
Shinobu Kocho, accompanied by a young girl, asked with curiosity.
"This is indeed my first time on a train of this era."
Makoto Suzuki boarded the car with curiosity. Departing this time, besides Makoto Suzuki, Shinobu Kocho, and her Tsuguko, Kanao Tsuyuri, were a large number of non-combatant Kakushi members, as well as medical and treatment supplies. It was a large-scale operation.
Considering the scale and the need for secrecy, the Demon Slayer Corps had chartered two freight cars, one at the front and one at the back. However, the interiors had already been prepared, filled with soft, dry straw and laid with bedding.
"Mr. Suzuki."
"What is it?"
"This is the car for the female slayers."
"Ah, my apologies."
Makoto Suzuki immediately jumped down. He knew there was a reason all the bedding was pink.
The group traveled by train for a full day before arriving near Mount Natagumo.
"Mr. Suzuki and I will go ahead to support the battlefield. The rest of you, maintain formation and advance—Kanao, you stay behind and protect them as they move forward."
Shinobu Kocho methodically arranged the battle plan.
"Actually, I can go on ahead by myself. Miss Kocho, you can lead the main force. After all, we're facing one of the Twelve Kizuki, and multiple demons at that. We can't rule out the possibility of there being several Twelve Kizuki members."
Makoto Suzuki said with a righteous expression.
—The truth was, he didn't want anyone stealing his kill.
Hearing his words, Shinobu Kocho hesitated. The Master had her accompany him out of concern that Makoto Suzuki might fall victim to poison, but his point was valid. Although Kanao Tsuyuri was excellent, she stood no chance of winning against one of the Twelve Kizuki at her current level.
"Then it's settled. I am a Hashira, after all. I have some command authority."
The man sent the Kasugai Crow in his hand into the sky, and instantly vanished from everyone's sight.
"Wait—"
Before Shinobu Kocho could finish, Makoto Suzuki's figure had already disappeared. She could only sigh and decide to report to the Master later that Makoto Suzuki didn't seem to like fighting alongside others. Then, she began organizing the main force to advance toward Mount Natagumo.
As he neared Mount Natagumo, the overwhelming, foul demonic aura made Makoto Suzuki frown. It meant the entire mountain had become a den of evil, and the number of people devoured by the demons here was already incalculable.
At this thought, Makoto Suzuki's gaze grew colder, and his pace quickened.
Reaching the outskirts of the forest, Makoto Suzuki pinpointed the location of the auras and immediately headed toward the nearest one.
Just ahead. Its body is a bit larger than a normal demon's, but...
Why is it holding a person with a boar's head?
Inosuke Hashibira felt like he was really going to die this time. He had never seen such a terrifying demon. He had been able to cut it before, but it had somehow evolved by molting and had even shattered his Nichirin Blades!
But the force gripping his head suddenly vanished.
His eyes widened. Through his blood-soaked vision, past the disintegrating demon, he saw that man.
Makoto Suzuki had deliberately left the head relatively intact. This demon's physical strength was comparable to the previous Lower Rank Six, so he wanted to see its number.
"Whoa, why so many eyes?!"
The man lost his composure for a moment and kicked the head away.
"What was that! What technique was that! Hey! Fight me! This great lord has to prove he's the strongest!"
Inosuke shouted excitedly. Makoto Suzuki glanced at him and retracted the hand he was about to use to knock him out.
With his injuries, if he were knocked unconscious, he would probably bleed to death before Shinobu Kocho and the others arrived.
"Hey! Did you hear me! Stone-faced guy!"
But when he looked again, the man was gone.
"Huh? Where'd he go?"
Makoto Suzuki had no time to babysit. There were no other demons nearby. Once that guy couldn't see him and his adrenaline wore off, his wounds would probably immobilize him. There were more demon heads waiting for him to collect.
He looked ahead, his face illuminated by a sudden blaze of fire.
Within the sea of flames, a young boy with earrings was swinging a broken blade, launching a final, fatal strike against the demon before him!
Makoto Suzuki suddenly froze—that sword strike... that was not Water Breathing at all!
Tanjiro Kamado, could it be that you are truly the successor to the Sun Breathing style?
After severing the demon's head, the boy had lost all his strength and collapsed, but he didn't hit the ground.
Who is it?
"Breathe slowly, Tanjiro. Your body is on the verge of collapse, but don't fall unconscious. Use your breathing style to slowly control your body."
That voice... so familiar...
Tanjiro only felt his body being lifted into the air and then set down again. This time, the scent filling his nostrils was that of his sister.
Nezuko is safe too... That's great.
But the mixed scents actually reminded Tanjiro Kamado of something. This feeling, like lying with Nezuko under a sun-warmed blanket...
"Mr.... Suzuki?"
"It's me. Don't talk, keep breathing."
Tanjiro took deep breaths, but a sudden scent made his blood run cold.
"Mr. Suzuki—a demon!"
Huh? Why did the scent disappear again?
_____
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