Tanjirou hesitated for a long time, but eventually agreed.
He only believed in Tsugikuni Yoriichi.
Although he didn't understand the meaning of Yoriichi's words, for example, pulling a soul from the other shore. But...
This was the only way now.
While Tamayo was also researching turning demons back into humans, after four hundred years, the results were minimal.
He dared not gamble on the probability of a human-transformation drug being developed within the next few decades.
Whew...
Taking a deep breath, he watched Yoriichi draw his Zanpakuto and, to everyone's astonishment, plunge it into Nezuko's chest.
No blood splattered from the wound.
Nezuko's expression was also unusually calm.
It seemed... that the sword didn't exist.
Yet, in his line of sight, the sword clearly existed...
Tanjirou's thoughts were in disarray.
The other Pillars' thoughts were also in disarray.
Only Gyoumei Himejima remained relatively calm.
His pale eyes quietly watched Nezuko.
Unable to see, he could only use his hearing, super-sense, and perception to sense everything.
The so-called super-sense was the sixth sense.
Through his sixth sense, Gyoumei Himejima felt death... pure death.
He couldn't describe this feeling.
It was like the horror when a meteorite fell, very heavy.
So much so that tears flowed uncontrollably.
"Amitabha..."
He pressed his palms together, twirling his prayer beads, his voice sorrowful and mournful.
Not long after, he noticed Nezuko's aura instantly disappear.
—She was dead.
More tears flowed, large as beans, almost soaking his clothes...
Of course, this state didn't last too long.
About three seconds later.
Nezuko's aura gradually returned—the aura of a human.
At the same time, he also sensed the undisguised astonishment of the other Pillars.
Former Flame Pillar Rengoku Shinjuro's flask even clattered to the ground, splattering tiny drops of clear liquor.
Swish.
The atmosphere suddenly solidified.
Without even looking at the flask on the ground, Shinjuro's mouth hung open, his eyes glazed over.
He watched Nezuko's body rapidly regenerate like a demon, yet in a human form, his face filled with disbelief:
"H-how... how is this possible?!"
His voice was a bit stammering.
At that moment, memories flooded his mind like a cold tide.
He seemed to recall something, tidied his clothes, and decisively stood up.
Thump!
"Tsugikuni-senpai!"
His voice was incredibly solemn:
"Forgive my ignorance, but I wish to ask you, can your method of resurrection be used on the deceased?"
Yoriichi slowly turned his head, recognising the person: "You are Shinjuro?"
"Yes, Senpai!"
When he said this, Rengoku Shinjuro didn't feel awkward at all.
Although he was the former Flame Pillar, in his forties, compared to Tsugikuni Yoriichi, he was merely a babbling infant.
If not for the other party's overly youthful appearance, he might have even called him a grand-ancestor.
After all, his own Flame Breathing was taught by him.
"..."
After a moment of silence, seeing Nezuko's consciousness gradually return, Yoriichi asked:
"The deceased person you refer to... it wouldn't be your wife, would it?"
"If it's her, I'm very sorry, but I can use some means to let you meet her."
"This is also what I promised Senjuro earlier."
"Really?" Rengoku Shinjuro's eyes lit up, excitement uncontrollable in his brows.
His body trembled slightly, clearly overjoyed at the prospect of seeing Ruka.
—Rengoku Ruka, Shinjuro's wife, was a wise and strong woman.
It was her death that made Shinjuro realise.
No matter how far he cultivated his Breathing Technique, he couldn't protect the people he cared about, which led to his period of decadence.
However, now, a miracle appeared before him.
Hope reignited in his heart.
...
...
As the atmosphere shifted, Nezuko quickly transformed into a human.
She stood barefoot on the ground, opened her mouth, looked at Tanjirou, her eyes confused, and spoke with some difficulty:
"Bro...ther?"
These two short words immediately made the usually strong Tanjirou cry tears of joy.
Ignoring how Nezuko had become human, Tanjirou stepped forward and tightly embraced her.
Immediately.
"Waaah!!"
Tears of happiness streamed down like a broken dam, freely soaking both their clothes.
An incredibly complex emotion suddenly permeated the air.
Seeing her brother lose his composure, Nezuko couldn't help but purse her lips and gently pat Tanjirou's back.
As a sister, she was about to say something.
The next second.
Activating the ability of karma flame, Yoriichi also allowed them to see their respective relatives...
Nezuko's expression suddenly froze, her gaze fixed on the space behind Tanjirou, as if she had seen something incomprehensible.
For a moment, the sorrowful atmosphere in the room grew even denser.
The Pillars stood there, mouths agape in a daze, the successive changes numbing their minds.
However, Yoriichi's next words suddenly brought them back to their senses.
He looked at Yūichirō Tokitō:
"Yūichirō Tokitō."
"Do you know from whom your surname originates?"
"You possess the bloodline of my elder brother, Tsugikuni Michikatsu."
"Now... Kokushibou, who was Tsugikuni Michikatsu 's alias, is dead, and all of the past has vanished into thin air."
"But Kibutsuji Muzan has not yet died."
"As my grand-nephew, are you willing to inherit my legacy?"
"What?" Yūichirō Tokitō didn't speak, but the other Pillars exclaimed in surprise.
Uzui Tengen recovered, striking what he considered a cool pose, his voice filled with disbelief:
"This Tokito kid actually has your bloodline?"
"Flashy! Absolutely flashy!"
He covered one eye with a hand, lowering his head, unsure how to precisely describe the situation.
Wordless, he could only use some empty words to describe it.
Kanroji Mitsuri, meanwhile, thought how amazing it was, her two hands tightly clasped together.
This scene was noticed by Obanai Iguro, who looked down, finally understanding the reason for Yūichirō Tokitō's exceptional talent.
The Pillars' thoughts varied, and it was a long time after Yoriichi's words fell that Yūichirō Tokitō reacted, letting out an "Eh?"
He blinked his bewildered eyes; his dark Demon Slayer uniform combined with his dark hair gave him a somewhat cold demeanour.
Yūichirō Tokitō tried hard to recall Tsugikuni Yoriichi's words, but for some reason, he just couldn't remember.
His mental state seemed to have some issues.
And at this moment, Kagaya Ubuyashiki slowly recounted Yūichirō Tokitō's past experiences.
To summarise it in one sentence.
It was—he was severely injured by a demon, causing him to lose all his memories, all his emotions, and even forget his former family.
Sometimes, words he heard would be forgotten as soon as he turned away, because he simply didn't care about his surroundings.
Regarding this situation, Yoriichi nodded slightly:
"So that's it..."
"Is that why the two souls beside him are so dim?"
"I understand."
He raised his Zanpakuto again.
Then.
Under the bewildered gazes of the Pillars, Yūichirō Tokitō suddenly shed tears...
His tears dripped down his cheeks onto the ground, his hands reaching forward as if trying to grasp or embrace something.
"Ah!"
Not far away, Shinazugawa Sanemi watched this scene, his head about to explode.
He had a million questions in his heart, yet no one could answer him.
Anxious, he shouted:
"Damn it! Are they all crazy?"
"What exactly did they see?"
"How can you bring people back from the dead?!"
"Are you a god? No, impossible, I don't believe in gods! If there were a god, why didn't you hear my prayers back then!"
His tone was somewhat urgent, and even more inexplicable.
However, through the souls behind him, Yoriichi understood the meaning of his words...
His family had died tragically at the hands of demons; at that time, he most likely prayed to a deity, but it failed...
To this, Yoriichi shook his head:
"They merely saw their deceased relatives, Shinazugawa; if you wish, you can too."
"I am not a god, yet I am a god; I am a Shinigami."
"Responsible for guiding departed souls."