Kill, and kill, and kill.
I severed the necks of demons, one after another.
While low-level demons appeared without end, neither powerful demons like Upper Rank Zero nor Muzan himself showed their faces.
Just in case, I searched for those with an aptitude for Moon Breathing or Sun Breathing.
I attended the Hashira Meetings, keeping a close eye on the current state of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Time flowed by without incident.
And then, when about nine months had passed.
"Waaaaah—!"
A new life was born.
The child of Uta and Yoriichi. It appeared the babe was a son.
As Uta's month grew near and labor began, Uzui rushed over to assist her, and the delivery was completed successfully.
The boy's face resembled Yoriichi, while his hair was as black as Uta's. Perhaps he was not a natural-born Mark-bearer like Yoriichi, as no Mark could be seen upon his face.
Yoriichi received the child carefully from Uzui. He cradled the infant as if handling a toy that might break at the slightest touch, gently stroking him.
Then, uncharacteristic of his usual self, he smiled even as tears began to stream down his face.
'The Yoriichi in that prophecy... who lost his pregnant wife and the child in her womb to a demon at the age of seventeen... and stayed still for ten days, simply clutching their corpses...'
That was the Yoriichi described in the Master's vision of causality.
However, the Yoriichi here had met a fate entirely opposite to that prophecy.
Yoriichi was holding someone just as the prophecy foretold, but the man before me held a living child in his arms.
Uta was lying down just as the prophecy foretold, but she had not reached the end of her life; she was merely resting, exhausted after bringing a child into this world.
And their child, though held in Yoriichi's arms like in the prophecy, was not a cold corpse but a heart beating strong, accompanied by a healthy cry.
Causality had been twisted and warped as far as it could go, but is that not a wonderful thing?
"Congratulations, Yoriichi."
"Thank you, Brother."
It was rare to see Yoriichi shed such tears.
Holding his child in his arms, Yoriichi approached me.
"Brother, would you be willing to grant him a name?"
I looked at him with a surprised expression.
"Hmm? Is that all right? You could simply name him yourself, Yoriichi."
"It is thanks to you, Brother, that I have come this far and can hold my child in my arms. Therefore, I wish for you to name him."
Hmm, is that so?
"Very well. I shall give him a name that commands respect."
A name... Ichiro, meaning 'first son' or 'a man'... no, is that too lackluster? How about Ichigo, with the meaning of 'protecting one thing'...?
"Would you like to hold him, Brother?"
Hmm?
While I was deep in thought about the name, Yoriichi suddenly held the baby out to me with great care.
I gently received my brother's child.
The weight of the baby was light. Incredibly so.
Was the weight of a life truly this light?
Or was it that I had grown so strong?
A small, fragile life that felt as though it might break if I applied even a bit too much strength.
It was hard to believe that such a tiny, delicate thing was the offspring of that Yoriichi.
Thinking back, this was the first time I had faced an infant since Yoriichi himself was a newborn.
It was also the first time I had ever held one.
I gazed at Yoriichi's crying child and thought.
Even if I find it pitiable that he is born into a world infested with demons, the birth of a single life is a grand blessing.
Since he is Yoriichi's child, it is a foregone conclusion that his talent will be extraordinary.
But since he has been born, I would prefer him to live an ordinary life rather than one like ours.
He could become a demon slayer, or he could become a farmer.
He could be a warrior, or perhaps a pharmacist.
Even if he was born with the Transparent World and Sun Breathing like Yoriichi, and even if he could turn a Nichirin Blade bright red just by gripping it...
I would wish for you to live however your heart desires.
That is the wish of your uncle.
"The child's hands are adorable. Hands that wander here and there, searching for someone. Let us hold those wandering hands, leading him forward to the ends of the world."
"Brother?"
"Tsugikuni Asahi. Let us call him Asahi, meaning the 'Morning Sun.' The sun always rises again, and the morning is the start of a day when that sun ascends. It contains my hope that he will open a new beginning while carrying on our legacy. What do you think? Do you like it?"
I carefully handed the child back to Yoriichi.
Yoriichi took the child back and smiled radiantly.
"I like it very much, Brother."
Uta also received the child from Yoriichi, cradling him and stroking his head as tears fell from her eyes.
Yoriichi watched them, gently stroking the babe once more. He chuckled softly and then stepped back to my side.
"Brother."
"Yeah."
Yoriichi spoke quietly.
"Everything in this world is beautiful. I believe that simply being born into such a world is happiness enough."
Suddenly, he's saying something so sentimental. Though, I feel like I've heard him say something similar before.
"Brother."
"Indeed."
"Thank you."
Yoriichi looked me straight in the eye and laughed brightly.
It was a smile I could say was the brightest I had ever seen on his face.
I had never seen such a brilliant laugh.
Yoriichi had reached a different conclusion than the Yoriichi of the prophecy.
No, we haven't reached the very end yet, so I don't know what the final outcome will be.
Even so, it is certain that we have taken a path distinctly different from the prophecy the Master spoke of.
The Yoriichi of the prophecy lost Uta and Asahi while he was still in the womb; he joined the Demon Slayer Corps for revenge, but the elder brother who joined with him voluntarily became a demon out of fear of a short life and murdered the Master.
It's not like the sibling was forced; he voluntarily became a demon and deserted? And if that wasn't enough, he beheaded the Master, the head of the entire Corps?
This is the Sengoku period. It's as clear as day that the Demon Slayer Corps would have held Yoriichi accountable for his brother's crimes through guilt by association.
Seppuku or execution—expulsion would be the best-case scenario.
I wonder if amnesty was possible because of his contribution to passing down the Breathing Styles, but even if it were, they wouldn't have looked upon Yoriichi with kindness.
The 'me' in that prophecy was a real piece of work.
Just how much chaos did that bastard sow before deserting?
If he was going to turn into a demon, he should have just run away quietly. To kill the Master just to prove his loyalty?
He would have known full well that Yoriichi would be blamed, yet he did it anyway? That's not being stubborn; that's just being an idiot.
Did he just want to screw over his remaining younger brother?
Thinking about it now, what a wretched life the 'you' in that prophecy must have led.
The 'you' in that prophecy might not have been saved, but I hope that the 'you' here can be happy.
This isn't because I'm afraid or anything; it's my sincere feeling as an elder brother.
@@@
The reason I was able to come this far.
The reason I could hold this child in my arms.
It is all because my brother acted as my guide.
I do not know if I could have ever made it here without him.
Brother.
The world is beautiful, and I believe that simply being born into it is a blessing.
But being born as your younger brother, meeting Uzui, and living this life with Uta—I truly believe this life is the pinnacle of happiness.
"Yoriichi."
Brother chuckled softly.
"There is no such thing as destiny for us. Only those overwhelmed by ignorance and fear lose their footing and fall into the torrential stream called 'fate.' It is not thanks to me that you reached this point."
Clenching his fist, he gave my chest a light thump.
"This is purely the result of your own hard work. So, be proud. For you are by no means a person without value."
No, Brother.
I am certain of it.
Even if this is the result of my own efforts.
Without you, I would never have been able to reach it.
So.
Thank you. Brother.
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