Higashi Nobori Town, inside Fujiya.
Hardy took a small booklet from the hand of a Hidden, who was shrouded head to toe in a black robe.
This was all the recent intelligence on demon activity in the area.
November 28th, Taisho Year 1: The old bachelor Sakano Ryoma, who lived alone on the outskirts of Higashi Nobori Town, disappeared.
December 3rd: The hunter Odashima Tsutomu, who went up the mountain, disappeared.
December 6th...
This small town started experiencing disappearances about half a month ago. In recent days, both the number and frequency of disappearances have increased. When the police searched the mountains, they found bloodstained, torn clothing. The local police reported the case to headquarters, which then handed it over to the Demon Slayer Corps.
"So, this demon has eaten at least six people, hiding in the mountains during the day and coming out to hunt at night. But recently, perhaps due to growing stronger, the attacks have become more frequent—even breaking into people's homes to kill and take victims."
Hardy summarized after reading the dossier.
"It's probably more than six victims,"
the Hidden replied.
"Based on past experience, any demon bold enough to break into town at night and prey on villagers is unlikely to be a low-level demon. This one probably drifted here from elsewhere about half a month ago, and its early attacks were less frequent simply because it wasn't familiar with the area."
"We'll do our best to help you find this demon quickly. If it escapes again..."
Hardy nodded slightly.
"I understand. So the real challenge is finding the demon, right?"
As for whether he could kill it, Hardy didn't see much suspense.
With his current strength, aside from the Twelve Kizuki and the Demon King Muzan, he could easily slay any other demon.
"Leave the rest to me."
Hardy put away the dossier and went to the Higashi Nobori Town police station, showing the credentials Uesugi Sakai had given him.
"Patrol from Shiga Police Headquarters? Inter-district joint investigation?"
The patrol team leader at the station eyed Hardy suspiciously, then glanced at the long sword at his waist.
"Well, whatever you say, just do as I say. After tonight, there won't be any more residents—"
"Alright, what do you propose we do?"
The head inspector asked.
"We'll organize the able-bodied men in town, have the police lead them on patrols at night. If anything unusual is spotted, they'll immediately sound the alarm with gongs and drums. I'll handle the rest."
With no other options, the police had no choice but to comply.
…
…
Night fell, and the lights in Higashi Nobori Town shone brightly. Over a dozen patrol teams, made up of police officers and local young men, roamed the streets.
On the rooftop of a house in the very center of town, Hardy sat cross-legged, eyes closed, his left hand forming a seal as he performed the Wind Sensing Technique.
Without his true body or the DC World avatar's abilities, this was the only way Hardy could sense a wide area.
"Will this really work? In the past, members of the Demon Slayer Corps tried similar tactics, but after making such a commotion, the demons would just go into hiding. In the end, nothing was accomplished, and the townsfolk still had to work during the day—there's no way to keep up this kind of training long term."
A Kakushi, dressed like a beekeeper and holding a lantern, stood in the courtyard and called up to Hardy.
"What I want is for the demon to have no opportunity to strike."
Hardy opened his eyes.
"If you were a demon, and you couldn't find a chance to attack in town, but suddenly discovered a lone person outside the town, what would you do?"
He gave the Kakushi a slight smile.
"Huh? But you're just one person, aren't you?"
"Who says one person can't be used as two?"
On the outskirts of the town, Hardy's shadow clone had used the Transformation Jutsu to disguise itself as a plainly dressed young farm woman, walking alone along a flat path.
Young women—and children—were especially tempting prey for demons.
"Finally, you've come..."
The shadow clone watched as a demon charged toward it, forming hand seals.
"Poof!"
The clone vanished in a puff of white smoke, leaving the demon, who had been drooling moments before, rubbing its eyes in disbelief.
Such a big person—how could she just disappear like that?
The demon went berserk, frantically searching the fields.
"Whoosh!"
Hardy, who had been on a rooftop, instantly disappeared.
"Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash—Sixfold!"
With his left hand forming a seal and his right hand gripping his sword, Hardy became a streak of lightning, darting through the town in a flash.
Among the five major Breathing Styles, Thunder Breathing was the fastest in terms of explosive speed, and the First Form was the quickest of its six techniques.
With the added boost of chakra and the Wind Swift Technique, Hardy's speed wasn't quite as exaggerated as the Flash, but at close range, it was still far beyond what the human eye could follow.
In just over ten seconds, Hardy arrived at the spot where his shadow clone had disappeared.
The demon was still searching for the vanished farm woman.
A second later, the demon's head hit the ground, turning to ash and smoke.
…
…
The day after slaying the demon, Hardy packed his things and set out for Yamanashi Prefecture.
It was already December, and no one knew when Muzan might come for Tanjiro's family.
Strictly speaking, their fate had little to do with Hardy, but he couldn't be sure if his presence would cause a butterfly effect.
What if Tanjiro died at Muzan's hands, or was turned into a demon?
In that case, the Sun Breathing technique would be lost forever.
Although he hadn't made any major changes to the world's course so far, you could never be too careful.
However, just as Hardy reached Saitama Prefecture—separated from Yamanashi by only a single mountain—the thing he most dreaded happened.
Snowflakes drifted down in the night, sparkling and pure under the moonlight.
Hardy's expression darkened.
Without hesitation, he stopped and checked into a Saitama inn.
He didn't know for sure if something happened to the Kamado family during this snowfall, but he wasn't going to take the risk.
What if Muzan was nearby right now?
Even though he'd mastered Wind and Thunder Breathing, Hardy didn't think that was enough.
If something really did happen to Tanjiro, he'd just have to continue down his current path, relying on his true body and the DC World avatar. At the very least, he could train Wind and Thunder Breathing to their limits.
That way, he could at least become a Hashira. And as his chakra grew and he combined it with ninjutsu, maybe—just maybe—he'd stand a chance against Muzan in the future.
"But whatever happens, I really hope my worries are for nothing."
Inside the inn, Hardy sighed, deciding to wait until the snow stopped before moving on.