Without a head to lead it, Sato Takeichiro's body stopped struggling and, with one sweep of the cold wind, crumbled into ash.
Demons are already "dead things." What is there to say about dying twice?
Total dispersal is their true end.
A pity—an experience pack, gone just like that.
Roy was less pleased than he expected.
Thankfully, his panel chimed in—[Combat EXP +10]—which brightened him a little.
"Brother, he just... died like that?" Tanjiro finally dared to slip out from behind the tree.
The kid's head is hard, but he isn't stupid; he knows his own limits. With strength this meager he'd only drag Roy down, so he stayed put like he was told.
Roy finished tidying the spoils and dumped all twelve new points into Dark Step. Only then did he glance at Tanjiro and say, annoyed, "What, you wanted a turn fighting him?"
Tanjiro flinched and waved both hands.
He'd seen the demon's power firsthand. Without Roy, he'd be as unfortunate as that half-eaten woodcutter.
Still—
"I also want to fight with you, Brother."
Head lowered, Tanjiro snuck a look at Roy from the corner of his eye and spoke carefully.
The asking and the hunger in that voice made Roy pause.
Right—Tanjiro is the eldest in the original story, the pillar of the house, the one his siblings lean on.
So he must be strong. He must grow wings broad enough to shield his family.
He can't stand weakness. That's his core.
Roy rubbed Tanjiro's head. "Same kind of little brother, but you're not like some people."
"You mean the brother in your dream?"
"Mm."
"What's his name?"
"Illumi."
"Illumi..." Tanjiro repeated, then said firmly, "He must admire you a lot, Brother."
Roy snorted. If that guy doesn't stab me in the back, that's mercy.
He flicked Tanjiro's forehead with a sharp knuckle. "Mother let you come to ask questions?"
"Shut up. Work."
"Oh..." Tanjiro clutched his head, aggrieved.
They shouldered the basket, took the hoe, and headed for the open-air coal seam deeper in the forest.
Live off the mountain, live off the sea. A forest that's big and ancient hides plenty of treasure.
Within half a day, after a short loop with Tanjiro, both baskets were full of coal.
It was three in the afternoon, about an hour until sunset. Making use of the time, Roy tossed Tanjiro two rice balls and took a few sips of hot tea himself.
He pushed off and vaulted into a tall tree.
Smooth, fluid movement. Tanjiro watched with open envy.
'Did he get even faster?' he wondered, gnawing on a rice ball, head tipped back.
Thanks to Sato Takeichiro, leveling Dark Step had indeed lightened Roy's body. He snapped off a twig, held it lightly, invoked Gyo, and scanned for game. With enhanced sight he picked up two clumps of "aura."
Whoosh. Whoosh.
Twigs flew like lightning.
Two sharp cries.
The moving "aura" froze at once. Tanjiro understood, sprinted over, and came back with a pheasant in each hand.
"Brother, pheasants!" he cheered. "Perfect for Father and Nezuko."
Roy said nothing, vaulted deeper into the woods, and returned with a roe deer slung in one hand.
"Whoa..." Tanjiro circled it, wide-eyed.
It was his first time seeing this not-quite-a-deer animal. He stared, entranced—so he didn't notice Roy casually toss the roe, neck already snapped, at his feet before vanishing again.
Ten minutes later, a harsh howl split the trees.
Tanjiro turned toward the sound. Roy reappeared, dragging a wild boar.
The foolish kid gaped, blinking hard to check he wasn't imagining things...
Only when Roy patted him did he snap out of it.
"Getting late. Pack up."
Roy flicked the boar up onto his shoulder, bent to hoist the coal basket, grabbed the roe, and handed the hoe and both pheasants to Tanjiro.
Roy took the lead, heading out of the woods the way they'd come.
These days, demons prowl and beasts rule. As Koizumi Shinzaburo at the foot of the mountain says, no one goes out at night—so there are no hunters.
Game overran the forest. The animals were bold. Roy profited.
'Too bad I only know Gyo, not En. With En, hunting would be child's play.'
But no rush. You eat one bite at a time, walk one step at a time. For now, mastering Sun Breathing and hardening his body came first.
His long, dark-crimson hair swayed in the wind. A smaller version of him followed behind. They strolled through the snowy country, chasing the falling glow of sunset, leaving two faint lines of tracks among the trees.
Tanjiro lagged. Maybe the load weighed him down, or maybe the man-eating demon had shaken his worldview.
Roy didn't speak, and neither did he, until a distant thread of cooking smoke came into view.
Then he took two big steps to catch up and said, firm, "Brother, I want you to teach me."
"Teach you what?"
"You know—hey... ha..."
He swung a pheasant like a sword.
The feathers nearly poked Roy in the face. Roy rolled his eyes.
"Fine. I get it. You're a handful."
"Heh-heh..."
Tanjiro scratched the back of his head. The pheasant slipped—"thud"—to the ground.
Roy's foot met his backside. He hobbled up to Kie, Tanjuro, and the kids.
"I'm back!"
"Where's Brother?"
"Behind..."
Tanjiro handed the pheasants to Kie, kicked off his shoes, and went up to the veranda.
With him out of the way, Roy appeared—roe in one hand, a basket of coal on his back, and a fat boar over his shoulder. He stomped the snow from his boots and swung the boar down to the floor.
He smiled. "I'm back."
The Kamados: "..."
All eyes wide.
Just like Tanjiro an hour earlier.