"Achoo!"
With a cute sneeze, the girl covered her mouth and wrinkled her brow, glancing around in confusion.
"That's weird… Why is my nose all itchy all of a sudden…"
This girl was Kochou Shinobu, who, after learning her sister had survived but was gravely injured, rushed to see her.
Of course, she wasn't traveling alone. Ubuyashiki Kagaya had specifically sent someone to accompany her.
"Namu Amida Butsu…"
It was a brawny monk-like man, his spiky black hair bristling, a long scar running across his forehead. His eyes were solid white—marking him as blind—and prayer beads circled his wrists and neck. Underneath his dusty yellow haori inscribed with "Namu Amida Butsu," he wore the black Demon Slayer Corps uniform.
The strongest swordsman of the Corps—the Stone Hashira, Himejima Gyomei—had arrived!
"The temperature's been changing a lot lately, Shinobu. Make sure to stay warm and don't catch a cold."
"It's nothing, really. I don't think it's from getting chilled…"
Shinobu scratched her slightly flushed cheek, thoughtful. "Feels more like… someone was talking about me. Maybe onee-san knows we're almost there and mentioned me."
Filled with anticipation and worry, Shinobu could hardly wait to see her sister again.
After their parents died, Shinobu and Kanae had only each other left—they were one another's last family in this world. When Shinobu learned her sister had nearly died in a chance encounter with Upper Moon Two, it felt as if the sky was collapsing.
Even though the latest message said Kanae had been rescued and was out of immediate danger, Shinobu's anxiety wouldn't subside.
"Thank you, Himejima-san, for coming with me."
"Namu Amida Butsu… There's no need to thank me. This was at Lord Ubuyashiki's request."
Gyomei's voice was gentle and full of compassion. "The master told me: an Upper Moon, unbeaten for centuries, was killed here. Muzan Kibutsuji may try something in response. You wouldn't be safe alone."
"Hm… the more I think about it, the more sense it makes."
When the name "Kibutsuji Muzan" came up, a shadow crossed Shinobu's bright eyes.
Kibutsuji Muzan—who had created countless demons with his own blood over the centuries. As long as he lived, no matter how many demons the Corps killed or how much they sacrificed, it was never enough.
As long as Muzan survived, tragedies born of demons would keep repeating. The bright future the Corps longed for would never arrive.
Most Demon Slayers had suffered at the hands of demons; all their hatred pointed to the source of all that pain—Kibutsuji Muzan.
"Now that Upper Moon Two is dead, what will Muzan do? Send Upper Moon One? Or come himself?"
That was Shinobu's guess, but Gyomei had a different opinion.
"Muzan is extremely cautious. Unless he's certain of victory, he won't show himself. Most likely, he'll send another Upper Moon."
Gyomei knew why Ubuyashiki Kagaya sent him and not another Hashira. Judging by the strength Dōma had shown, no other Hashira besides Gyomei was qualified to face an Upper Moon.
"Upper Moons, huh…"
With a complex expression, Shinobu sighed.
She didn't really understand the differences between the Upper Moons, Lower Moons, and Muzan himself—or rather, even if she did, it didn't matter. Any of them could kill her in an instant.
All she really knew was that her sister was much stronger than her, and yet even Kanae had been utterly defeated in her fight with Upper Moon Two.
There was nothing I could do. Even if onee-san died right before my eyes, I would only be able to watch helplessly… That's just how cruel reality is.
Shinobu glanced up at the sky and murmured, "There's still some time before sunset. We should reach the town where my sister is before dark."
"Stay vigilant, Shinobu."
Gyomei kept his hands folded in prayer, his presence as imposing as a mountain. "In the forest, darkness comes early. Even before sunset, you might run into a demon."
"Yes, Gyomei-san. Thank you for the warning."
With someone like Gyomei in the group, Shinobu really didn't have anything to fear—he could easily wipe out almost any threat.
Shinobu could handle the "worry" part, and Gyomei could handle the "wipe out" part.
But if they encountered something even Gyomei couldn't deal with, someone as weak as her couldn't even buy a second of time.
Still, after Gyomei's reminder, Shinobu maintained her guard—never allowing herself to grow complacent just because a powerhouse was nearby.
She was used to resenting her own weakness in the lonely hours of night, always dreaming of being as strong as her sister or Gyomei, so she could never allow herself to be childish or naïve.
…
The setting sun painted the clouds fiery red, sinking toward the horizon, its last rays a powerless, beautiful struggle.
A cool breeze rustled the treetops, distant mountains shrouded in twilight, their outlines soft and mysterious.
Shinobu and Gyomei arrived at their destination just before sundown.
"No matter how I look at it, this is just an ordinary village…"
As soon as she could see the village from afar, Shinobu began to scrutinize it.
She'd thought a village with someone strong enough to kill Upper Moon Two—without even learning Breathing Techniques—should have some obvious sign of being special.
"Shinobu, mind your manners."
Gyomei's dignity was like an unmovable Buddha, or a mountain to be revered. "The person we are about to meet not only defeated Upper Moon Two, but is also a compassionate healer—a living bodhisattva. Be sure to show proper respect."
"Did Lord Ubuyashiki have any other instructions?" Shinobu asked curiously. "Like, are we supposed to persuade this person to join the Corps? Someone so strong must be a rare asset…"
"The master said not to force the issue. Let things happen naturally."
The Corps wasn't officially recognized, but it was still an upright organization, not some shady group that forced people aboard. The work was dangerous, but the leadership was caring, and the pay was generous—better than many black-hearted companies.
Dusk deepened. Though the crimson sun had not yet set, the silver moon was already rising.
Households were lighting their lamps; even if people didn't believe in demons, they'd still avoid being out after dark.
"Gyomei-san, do you know where the person taking care of onee-san lives?"
Uncertain of Kanae's whereabouts, Shinobu asked Gyomei, but he shook his head.
"Looks like we'll need to ask a villager, then. Shouldn't be too hard, right? Onee-san's appearance is pretty unique…"
They only knew that Kanae had been rescued at death's door, so they didn't know what her savior looked like. Their best bet was to find someone familiar with Kanae.
But before they could approach a villager, the person they were looking for found them first.
"Shinobu!"
A voice, brimming with joy but laced with anxiety, called out to Shinobu.
"Onee-san!"
That familiar figure running over—Shinobu's worries finally began to ease.
She wanted to go up and hug the person most important to her, but was stopped by Kanae, who grabbed her shoulders, a face full of agitation.
"Why are you here?! No, wait… That's not it. In any case—just leave! Get out of here, now!"
"Huh?"
Shinobu's mind froze at her sister's strange words, as if she could see a little spinning "loading" circle above her head.
"What are you saying, onee-san? It's nearly dark—where are we supposed to go?"
"Anywhere's fine! Just get as far from the village as you can!"
Kanae spun Shinobu around by the shoulders and tried to push her away in a panic. "Go! Or it'll be too late!"
"Why are you trying to chase us off all of a sudden?!"
Sensing something wrong, Shinobu dodged Kanae's shoving and stared her sister down, brows knitted. "Is it… Did Lord Ubuyashiki's guess come true? Did Muzan move this quickly? Just tell us, onee-san!"
Shinobu seized Kanae's arm, her voice shaking with anger. "Gyomei-san is right here! If Muzan did anything, tell us!"
Hearing Shinobu's outburst, Kanae seemed to finally notice Gyomei beside her.
"G-Gyomei-san, you're here too?"
"Namu Amida Butsu…"
Gyomei's fingers pressed his prayer beads, his brows furrowed as his deep voice grew stern—like a wrathful guardian statue. "Kanae, what's going on here? Did Muzan really make a move? And what about the one who killed Upper Moon Two?"
"Um… Well, how should I put this…"
Facing the respected Gyomei, Kanae suddenly became tongue-tied, her hands fidgeting uncertainly.
"No, you're mistaken. This has nothing to do with Muzan… Just trust me, please! I'm doing this for your own good! Please, just leave this village—if you wait, it'll be too late!"
Gyomei's brows shot up. From Kanae's words, it really didn't sound like Muzan was involved, but her panic was so odd, he wasn't sure what to make of it.
Suddenly, Gyomei's expression changed drastically.
He had been blind since a childhood illness, but it never seemed to affect his daily life—he could walk normally, and even people who'd tried to trip him maliciously would find themselves flattened instead. Some suspected he was faking his blindness.
But while his eyes saw nothing, his "heart's eye" perceived far more than ordinary sight.
And right now, he "saw" it.
The wind's flow changed, as if a rushing river had hit an unyielding wall.
A terrifying sense of pressure, thick enough to freeze the air itself, appeared behind him and Shinobu, creeping closer.
"Shinobu!"
A flash of crimson appeared in the darkness. A hand darted out, grabbing at Shinobu, who hadn't noticed a thing.
BANG!
Suddenly, Gyomei leapt behind her, making Shinobu cry out in fear.
"Gyomei-san!"
"Stay back!"
Gyomei's rock-solid arms, honed by years of training, now bulged with veins from the effort. He was genuinely surprised—the strength pressing against his arms was far beyond his expectations.
He couldn't sense any malice or killing intent, but the oppressive feeling made his hair stand on end, as if he stood beneath a waterfall that could shatter stone.
As he strained to block that hand, a low, calm female voice rang out clearly in his ear.
"You… Are you also trying to interfere with my treatment?"
"!!!"
In the next instant, the balance shattered.
That slender, muscle-less arm, with overwhelming force, flung Gyomei away as if he weighed nothing.
"Gyomei-san!"
Shinobu's voice trembled with worry.
Landing on his feet, Gyomei slid a few paces across the ground, his face a storm of confusion and disbelief.
All these years of relentless training, and… he'd just lost in a contest of raw strength?
And judging by the voice—his opponent was a young woman?
A demon? No… The sun wasn't fully down, and demons feared sunlight. It couldn't be.
He wasn't the only one bewildered—Shinobu was even more so.
Because the person who had knocked Gyomei back had appeared before her at a speed she couldn't even follow, reaching for her once again.
"Wah!"
"Shinobu!"
Seeing her in danger, Gyomei snatched up his "nichirin blade."
Although called a "blade," it was actually a massive axe and a spiked flail, joined by a thick iron chain. It looked impossibly heavy—hard to imagine anyone wielding such a thing.
With each breath, explosive power surged through Gyomei's body. The heavy flail now seemed almost weightless as he spun it, whipping up a violent gale.
Just then, the woman who'd seized Shinobu seemed drawn by Gyomei's breathing technique, and turned her attention his way.
But the cold, solid weapon brought Gyomei no comfort. His tense legs seemed about to crack the earth, and he knew his next move would be a thunderous strike.
But at that very moment, Kanae rushed between the two, stopping what was about to become a battle.
"Wait! This is a misunderstanding!"