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"Thank god... thank god! Everyone made it! We're all alive!"
Tanjiro rejoined Tengen, and the moment he saw Inosuke and Zenitsu, all three collapsed into each other's arms, sobbing with relief. Nezuko remained cradled against Tanjiro's chest, surrounded by her brother and his friends.
Watching the trio, Tengen couldn't help but smile. He'd originally planned to retire after killing an Upper Rank—figured that would be the perfect exit. Instead, thanks to Kaidō's intervention, not only had they completed the mission, but they'd taken down Upper Rank Six in genuinely flamboyant fashion.
The outcome had exceeded every expectation. And these three kids? They were among the most talented recruits the Corps had ever produced.
"Tengen-sama, we should head back!" Hinatsuru called from behind him.
"Yeah, you're right. Time to go home." He turned to Kaidō. "Hey, come with me! My place has hot springs—seriously flamboyant ones! You'll love it! Hahaha!"
Kaidō started to refuse, but then reconsidered. He didn't have anything pressing lined up, and turning down such generous hospitality felt wrong.
"Can I bring my sister Retsuki?"
"Hahaha! Of course!"
What Kaidō didn't know was that accepting this invitation would become one of his deepest regrets.
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Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters.
"Another Upper Rank defeated. Well done—Kaidō, Tengen, Tanjiro, Zenitsu, Inosuke, Nezuko. Cough, cough..." Kagaya Ubuyashiki's voice trembled with emotion upon hearing Kuroha's report.
"Kagaya, please don't get too excited! You need to rest!" Amane warned.
"I'm fine, Amane. I'm just... overjoyed. The wheels of fate are turning once more! Ever since Kaidō killed Upper Rank Five, we haven't heard a whisper about Upper Ranks. And now—now they've eliminated Upper Rank Six as well."
His blind eyes seemed to stare into a future only he could see. "I believe it won't be long before Muzan Kibutsuji falls beneath Kaidō's blade."
"Amane, please inform the other Hashira. It's time for another meeting."
"Yes, dear."
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Infinity Castle.
Akaza stood in the labyrinthine fortress, staring at the impossible architecture that defied all laws of physics. This was his second summons here—the first had been after Upper Rank Five's death.
His fists clenched involuntarily. "Hope it's Doma who died this time..."
"Oh my, Akaza-dono! That's so hurtful to hear~! I worry about all of you constantly, you know!" Doma materialized behind him like a ghost, one hand landing casually on Akaza's shoulder as if they were best friends.
"Get. Your hand. Off me."
"Hm? What was that?"
WHAM.
Akaza's fist obliterated Doma's jaw in a spray of blood.
"I said—get your hand OFF ME."
"Eek! Akaza-dono is so scary!" Hantengu cowered in a distant corner, trembling violently.
Doma's jaw regenerated instantly. He looked at Akaza with what might have been genuine surprise. "Oh my! Akaza-dono, you've gotten even stronger!"
Akaza ignored him, turning toward Nakime on her elevated platform. "Has Lord Muzan arrived yet? What about Kokushibo?"
"Lord Muzan has not arrived. Kokushibo-sama, however, has been waiting."
"I'm here." The voice came from below—a separate chamber visible through the shifting architecture. Kokushibo stood in the shadows, six eyes glowing faintly.
"Lord Muzan—has arrived!"
Muzan appeared before Nakime, dressed in an immaculate Western suit. The moment he manifested, every Upper Rank dropped to one knee in perfect synchronization.
"Upper Rank Six is dead. Killed by the same demon slayer who eliminated Upper Rank Five."
Muzan's tone was deceptively calm, but fury radiated from every word like heat from molten steel.
"For centuries, the Upper Ranks remained unchanged—the same faces, the same power. But in recent years, everything has shifted. First Upper Rank Five. Now Upper Rank Six."
His voice dropped to something colder than winter. "I have a simple question: Why haven't you found even a single lead on the Blue Spider Lily? Why are demon slayers now capable of killing Upper Ranks? And why—after all this time—does the Ubuyashiki family still draw breath??"
The silence was suffocating.
"But you know what? It doesn't matter anymore. I've stopped expecting anything from you. I'm beginning to question whether you serve any purpose at all."
"Oh, Lord Muzan, such harsh words! Have I ever disappointed you? Well... I suppose I did introduce Gyutaro and Daki, so that's on me. How should I apologize? Should I gouge out my eyeballs and—"
CRACK.
Muzan's backhand sent Doma's head spinning like a top.
"Eek! Lord Muzan is angry!" Hantengu pressed himself into the corner, practically vibrating with terror.
"Doma. Shut. Up. I have no use for your eyeballs. What I want is information about the Blue Spider Lily—or news that the Ubuyashiki bloodline has been extinguished."
After forcing himself to calm down, Muzan turned to Nakime. "Have you located the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters?"
"My apologies, Lord Muzan. Their headquarters remains too well hidden. However, I have discovered information regarding the swordsmiths' village—where they forge the Nichirin blades."
"Excellent work." Muzan extended his arm, injecting a substantial amount of his blood directly into Nakime's body. "Absorb this completely. Then dedicate every resource to finding their headquarters."
Nakime remained kneeling as Muzan's blood invaded her system, the cellular agony nearly unbearable. Several minutes passed before the integration completed. Muzan observed with satisfaction.
"Once you've confirmed the swordsmiths' village location, send Hantengu to annihilate them."
His smile was predatory. "I want to see the Demon Slayer Corps' faces when they have no more Nichirin blades."
"Send me back."
"Yes, Lord Muzan."
TWANG.
Nakime plucked her biwa string. Muzan vanished.
She looked down at the four remaining Upper Ranks and thought: They're so annoying. When will they leave? I want to go home.
Her expression suggested she might go on strike if they didn't evacuate soon.
After departing the Infinity Castle, Muzan's body trembled slightly.
"That man... those words..."
The memory surfaced unbidden—Yoriichi Tsugikuni's voice echoing across centuries, a wound that had never healed.
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Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters—Butterfly Mansion Meeting.
"That's the situation. I could tell Upper Rank Six was incredibly powerful. Without Kaidō's flamboyant assistance, even if I'd survived, I would've been crippled."
Tengen and Kaidō had returned to headquarters and been summoned immediately to the Butterfly Mansion for a Hashira meeting. The other Hashira had gradually assembled as well.
Tanjiro's trio, having sustained injuries during the battle with Daki, had been carried to the infirmary on stretchers by the Kakushi.
Inosuke and Zenitsu's wounds were relatively minor—rest and recovery would suffice.
Tanjiro's condition was more serious. A massive gash ran from his shoulder to his chest, his wrist had sustained a hairline fracture, and multiple areas of his body bore moderate trauma. Fortunately, timely treatment had prevented deterioration.
"The Kamado siblings and the other two performed admirably as well."
"Of course, this success is entirely thanks to Lady Chiko's flamboyant help! Otherwise, we never would've pulled it off so smoothly!"
"Lady Chiko? Who's that?" The Hashira, Kagaya, and Amane all looked confused.
"Hahaha! Lady Chiko is Kaidō! He infiltrated Kyogoku House in drag and—mmph!" Tengen's explanation was abruptly cut off as Kaidō slapped a hand over his mouth.
"In drag?" Everyone turned to stare at Kaidō. The Kocho sisters' eyes lit up with unholy interest.
"Oh my~ Little Kaidō, I wonder when I'll have the opportunity to witness this for myself? I'm very much looking forward to it. Ufufu~" Kanae's voice carried three parts mischief, three parts flirtation, and four parts genuine anticipation.
"Pfft—no, can't laugh! Can't laugh!" Mitsuri's cheeks puffed out as she desperately tried to contain herself, looking adorable. She was also extremely curious about what Kaidō looked like in women's clothing.
Kaidō felt the floor might as well swallow him whole. His eyes darted around the tatami mat as if searching for an escape hatch.
"Child, what are you looking for?" Kagaya asked curiously.
"He's looking for a hole to crawl into," Shinobu observed matter-of-factly.
"..." Kaidō wanted to die.
"BAHAHAHA! Kid, never thought I'd see you like this! HAHAHA~!" Sanemi's laughter triggered a chain reaction. Soon everyone was chuckling—even the normally stoic members.
Giyu's smile was brief but present—a vast improvement from his usual expressionless demeanor.
Muichiro actually cracked a grin.
The meeting's oppressive atmosphere evaporated entirely.
"Okay, wait. Weren't we supposed to be discussing Upper Ranks? How did this turn into roasting me?" Kaidō rested his chin on one hand, cheeks puffed in mock annoyance.
He wasn't actually upset—just mortified. The fewer people who knew about this, the better. This was officially the most embarrassing thing to happen since joining the Corps.
Still, seeing everyone gathered like this, relaxed and laughing together... it wasn't terrible. He could pretend he wasn't dying inside.
'System, I'm adding this to the list.'
[Host, you wouldn't want to lose the Interdimensional Energy needed to go home, would you?]
'You son of a—'
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