Thanks to Sumiyoshi's warm hospitality, the two of them stayed in his home for several days.
After leaving his house, they returned to the place where they were born.
Once prosperous and thriving, the Tsugikuni household had fallen into decline in just a few years after Yoriichi left.
From the townspeople, they learned that after the clan head, Tsugikuni Michikatsu, abandoned his wife and children, only the frail mistress of the house and the young children remained. The clan was soon swallowed up by others.
After repeated inquiries, the siblings eventually found out that Michikatsu's descendants had changed their name to Tokito and moved deep into the mountains to avoid calamity, making a living as woodcutters.
The siblings secretly went to check on them. Once they confirmed that the family was living safely, they finally felt at ease and left.
They purchased a small house in town using the rewards they had accumulated over the years for slaying demons, settling temporarily in their homeland.
Once they were settled, Yoriichi wrote a letter detailing his battle with Muzan and sent it to the Flame Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps, hoping it would be of help.
Even though Tamayo had already said that Muzan likely wouldn't show himself again until the moment of Yoriichi's death, Yoriichi still refused to give up. While caring for his increasingly ill sister, he continued corresponding with the Hashira, searching for any sign of Kibutsuji Muzan.
Thus they remained there for two full years.
That year, Yuko was twenty-five, and Yoriichi was twenty-six.
The rule that anyone who awakened their mark could not live past the age of twenty-five had been broken.
Yuko wasn't surprised. Just as Michikatsu had once envied, Yoriichi was always the exception.
Perhaps there was a difference in lifespan between those born with a mark and those who awakened it later.
When Yoriichi reached twenty-six and realized he had not died from the mark, he stopped openly searching for Muzan's whereabouts.
Instead, he hid himself away, hoping Muzan would mistakenly believe marked swordsmen still died young and eventually appear again.
But Muzan, though lacking many abilities, had thoroughly mastered the art of hiding. He never revealed even the slightest trace.
As time passed, Yuko's illness grew more severe. She coughed blood more and more frequently.
While Yoriichi was out seeking a doctor, Yuko took out the envelope she had prepared who-knows-how-long ago. After placing it on the table, she picked up her Nichirin blade and quietly left home.
She didn't want to die in front of Yoriichi. It would be too pitiful a sight.
When Yoriichi returned with the physician, all that awaited him was the envelope on the table.
…
Day turned to night as Yuko walked numbly along the road. She had no idea how much time had passed.
"Grr~"
A small sound came from her stomach.
She was hungry.
But she hadn't brought any food.
Yuko found a rock and leaned against it, sitting down.
The setting sun cast a faint, warm glow over her face.
She didn't know whether there would be another journey after she fell asleep this time.
Heaven had already given her one chance—a chance to feel a mother's care and an older brother's kindness.
Even though she still felt a little unwilling, she could do nothing more.
As the last bit of sunset faded, Yuko slowly closed her eyes.
…
"Miss Yuko? Miss Yuko, is that you?"
She didn't know how much time had passed before a pleasant voice called out to her.
Did her brother send someone to look for her?
She had walked so far already.
Yuko's eyelashes trembled as she slowly opened her eyes.
Before her stood a girl wearing a Demon Slayer Corps uniform. Yuko felt she had seen her somewhere before.
"You are…?"
The girl crouched down with a gentle smile. "Yuko, you don't remember me? Five years ago, you saved my life at the temple in the mountains."
Blurry memories resurfaced, and Yuko's eyes grew a bit clearer.
"You are… Namiko?"
It was the girl who had kept Yuko warm with her own body heat after the battle on the snowy mountain that day.
Seeing that Yuko remembered her, Namiko brightened with a joyful smile. "Miss Yuko still remembers me."
"You… joined the Demon Slayer Corps?"
"Yes. Ever since you saved me five years ago, I've always wanted to repay your kindness." Namiko gracefully kneeled before Yuko.
"I finally joined the Corps three years ago. But when I entered, I learned you had already withdrawn… I never got to see you."
"I didn't expect to meet you here. Did you come because of the demon in the mountains?"
Yuko paused. "A demon in the mountains?"
"Yes. Just up the mountain behind you. In a certain samurai's home—his wife and children have vanished without reason for several days now."
"You received the mission?"
"Yes."
Yuko lowered her gaze slightly, and the transparent world unfolded before her eyes. Namiko's breathing and lung movements were completely visible to her.
In these two years, she had grown increasingly proficient with the Transparent World and could now maintain it steadily.
This breathing… was Water Breathing.
Water Breathing was the most adaptable among the five major styles.
But Namiko's understanding of it wasn't even at the mid-level stage—her usage was extremely rough. At this level, she would struggle even against an ordinary demon.
Had the Demon Slayer Corps fallen this far since they left?
"Grr~"
At that moment, an awkward sound echoed.
"…"
Namiko quickly rummaged through her pack. "If you don't mind, Miss Yuko, I still have some dried rations."
"…Thank you." Yuko didn't refuse her kindness. She ate while casually asking,
"Do you have information on the demon?"
"Yes. Reports say the demon possesses a strange Blood Demon Art and once vanished with the samurai's wife before everyone's eyes."
"It has already abducted several people over the past few days, and the samurai is helpless."
Yuko nodded slightly. "I'll go with you."
Blood Demon Arts could be considered a demon's superpower.
Demons like this were often much stronger than normal. With Namiko's level of breathing technique, she probably wouldn't be able to handle it.
"Really? Thank you so much. I feel a lot more at ease with you helping me." Namiko let out a relieved breath. "This is actually my first time hunting a demon alone… To be honest, I've been nervous the whole time."
Yuko said nothing.
Once she finished eating, she walked into the mountain with Namiko.
The sun had already set, leaving only the last traces of twilight.
After following the mountain path for ten minutes, a large mansion appeared before them.
From Namiko, Yuko learned that this mountain was the domain of a certain samurai who once served under the shogun.
After retiring from the frontlines, he was granted this estate.
Namiko straightened her uniform. "Please wait a moment."
She knocked on the gate.
---
Currently at chapter 78 for advance chapters
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