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"Dragon Hashira-sama!" The three little helpers spotted him and immediately rushed into his arms.
Looking at the adorable trio, Kaidō felt his heart healing.
"Kiyo, Sumi, Naho—how have you all been?"
"We're great! Dragon Hashira-sama, didn't you say you'd take us flying?"
"Alright, alright! Come with me!"
They headed to the courtyard. Using his psychic power, Kaidō levitated his greatsword.
He settled Kiyo and Sumi onto the blade, then sat between them with Naho in his lap, carefully controlling the sword's flight.
The three girls shrieked with delight as they soared through the air, circling the mansion grounds.
From a second-floor window, Shinobu watched the scene unfold. She turned to Kanae, who was sorting through clothing. "Sister, Kaidō-kun is here!"
"Oh my! He finally came back! Little Shinobu, what do you think about Chiko wearing this outfit?"
"Sister, isn't that a bit too..."
Kanae held up a uniform identical to Kanao Tsuyuri's—except the colors matched her own haori, and the skirt portion seemed... considerably shorter.
Shinobu wanted to stop her sister, but then she remembered these past few days. When Kaidō hadn't visited, they'd been the ones to suffer.
Kanae had made them try on outfit after outfit—first Kanao, then Aoi, and finally even Shinobu herself hadn't escaped her sister's "demonic clutches."
Shinobu had noticed her sister acting... differently lately. This wasn't like the Kanae she knew.
But thinking about the "torture" they'd endured, she decided not to intervene. Better Kaidō suffer alone than all of them together.
'I'm sorry, Kaidō-kun. I'm a victim of circumstances too!' Shinobu thought apologetically.
Mid-flight, Kaidō suddenly felt ice creep up his spine straight to the top of his skull. Something terrible was about to happen—he could feel it.
———————
After playing with the girls for a while, Kaidō landed them safely in the courtyard. He handed them Haganezuka's letter and instructed them to give it to Tanjiro once he woke up.
Then he tried to make his escape. That ominous feeling was intensifying by the second.
Just as he turned to leave, delicate hands pressed down on his shoulders. He knew that touch far too well. His brain temporarily blue-screened.
"Oh my~ Where do you think you're going, Lady Chiko~?"
"I have so many outfits I want you to try on for me! Ufufu~"
Kanae finished speaking and blew a soft breath against his ear.
"( ╥﹏╥ ) I'm doomed. My brain... my brain's... melting!"
She dragged him into the building. Moments later, screams echoed from the second floor.
"NOOOOOOO!"
System: [o((^▽^))o Ah~ Another beautiful day!]
———————
Two Months Later...
"Sumiyoshi, though the paths may differ and eras change, those who pursue the Way will reach the same destination. We may part ways on our journeys, but we'll all arrive at the same place eventually."
"You probably think I'm someone special, but that's not true. I'm just a man who couldn't protect anything. I never accomplished what I was meant to do in this life. I'm worthless—absolutely worthless."
"Please stop! Don't say that about yourself... it's too painful to hear..."
As the man in the dream faded away, Tanjiro's eyes opened. He found himself in a hospital bed, staring at an unfamiliar ceiling. The dream dissolved like morning mist.
"Was that... just a dream?"
CRASH!
At the doorway, Kanao Tsuyuri—who'd been carrying a flower vase—froze at the sight of Tanjiro awake. Her hands went slack. The vase slipped from her grip and shattered on the floor.
She rushed to his bedside and grabbed his hand, concern flooding her features. "You're awake! Thank god! You've been unconscious for two whole months since the battle ended!"
"Two months? Really...?"
"I'm so glad you woke up!"
———————
The Hallway.
A Kakushi member named Goto carried a small plate of sweets toward Tanjiro's room.
"My name is Goto. I'm part of the Demon Slayer Corps' cleanup unit—the Kakushi."
'I'm the guy who appeared at the Hashira meeting when they put Tanjiro on trial. Right now I'm carrying a plate of premium castella cake to that unconscious kid. I'm trying really hard not to eat the whole thing myself.'
Reaching Tanjiro's door, he found shattered ceramic and water pooling across the floor.
Seeing Kanao sitting beside the bed, he sighed internally. 'Could've at least cleaned up the mess...'
After gathering the broken pieces with a bucket and cloth, he set the sweets on the bedside table. "I'm leaving the cake here. If it starts going bad, feel free to eat it..."
"Th-thank you..."
"...Wait, he's conscious?? Why are you sitting there like a statue instead of telling someone??" Realizing Tanjiro was awake, Goto immediately berated Kanao for not notifying anyone. He rushed to the doorway and shouted down the hall: "Kiyo! Sumi! Naho! Aoi! Tanjiro's awake!!"
The Butterfly Mansion's medical staff hurried over, relief and joy evident on their faces.
Kaidō arrived moments later. Seeing Tanjiro conscious brought a genuine smile to his face.
"Tanjiro, you're finally awake!"
"Thank you, Kaidō-san... Wait, why are you dressed like that?"
Kaidō stood before him wearing an orange kimono decorated with lily patterns, paired with loose green pants.
As for why? Shinobu had grown tired of being "tortured" by her sister and had resorted to tricking Kaidō into returning to the Butterfly Mansion.
Every staff member—including Shinobu, Kanao, and the helpers—had fallen victim to Kanae's "demonic clutches" at some point.
"That's... better left unasked. You've been out for two months. Rest up for now—we'll talk more once you've recovered."
"Okay..." The moment he finished speaking, Tanjiro drifted back to sleep.
"Shh. Let's quietly leave so he can rest properly."
"Yes, Dragon Hashira-sama."
———————
After regaining consciousness, Tanjiro spent another week recuperating before fully recovering. Then he began physical rehabilitation training.
Having been bedridden so long, his body felt stiff and uncooperative—like his limbs wouldn't straighten properly.
Mid-training, something occurred to him. "By the way, did a swordsmith deliver my new blade while I was unconscious?"
"Um... your sword? Right, your sword!"
"Haganezuka-san sent a letter to the Dragon Hashira! He told us to give it to you once you woke up."
"Do you... want to read it?"
They handed him the letter. The moment Tanjiro saw its contents, ice flooded his veins.
[NO SWORD FOR YOU. UNFORGIVABLE.]
[I'M GOING TO KILL YOU. UNFORGIVABLE! UNFORGIVABLE!]
[UNFORGIVABLE! WAIT FOR ME TO FIND YOU!]
Reading those words, Tanjiro could practically feel Haganezuka's murderous intent radiating through the paper, along with his seething rage.
"((╥﹏╥)|||) Shit... this is bad! And this time only the blade got damaged! Last time I actually broke the sword!"
Tanjiro's mind flooded with traumatic memories of being chased by an enraged Haganezuka after breaking his previous blade. The experience remained vivid even now.
"Swords breaking is pretty common in our line of work... but Haganezuka-san has a difficult personality. Maybe visiting the village and apologizing in person would help?"
"Wait, I can actually go there?"
———————
That Evening.
"Tomorrow Tanjiro leaves for the Swordsmith Village. I'm going with him. If I stay here any longer, I'm going to..."
Kaidō shuddered, remembering the past two months of being repeatedly lured to the Butterfly Mansion. Goosebumps erupted across his skin.
It wasn't just the mental torture—he'd lost his dignity, and his IQ felt like it had been beaten into submission.
For some inexplicable reason, whenever he crossdressed, he regressed into acting like a child—crying, throwing tantrums, the whole nine yards.
"I should ask the Master for permission. The Butterfly Mansion has become too terrifying! Why did the Kanae-nee I admired turn into... this? (╥_╥)"
"Kaidō." Obanai Iguro's voice came from behind him.
"Oh, Obanai. What's up?"
"I need a favor. Mitsuri went to the Swordsmith Village. I'd like you to go there too—protect her for me."
"Sure. I was already planning to ask the Master for permission to visit anyway."
"Thanks."
"Don't mention it. We're family. Just remember to give me candy at your wedding."
"Deal."
———————
After parting with Obanai, Kaidō headed to the Ubuyashiki estate to explain his intentions.
Kagaya seemed puzzled at first—until Amane whispered something in his ear. Understanding dawned, and he immediately approved the trip. Besides, Kaidō hadn't had any missions lately anyway.
...
The Next Day.
"Hello, Dragon Hashira-sama. I'm the guide assigned to escort you to the Swordsmith Village."
The guide meeting Kaidō was a woman.
"Thank you for doing this!"
"It's no trouble. For security reasons, we guides aren't supposed to share our names, but please take care of me! Also, you'll need to wear this blindfold."
The Kakushi guide produced a white cloth.
"The Swordsmith Village's location is highly classified. This is to prevent demon attacks."
"Understood. I appreciate your diligence." Kaidō tied the blindfold over his eyes.
The guide hoisted him onto her back and began moving.
As she traveled, she caught occasional whiffs of a pleasant scent drifting from behind her.
'His body is so small and light... and he smells nice too. So this is the Dragon Hashira??' she thought.
After roughly an hour, another guide appeared for the handoff. Just before the exchange, Kaidō pulled a small box of sweets from his pocket—purchased from the System Lifestyle Shop—and offered it to the woman who'd been carrying him.
"Here, for you. Thanks for your hard work!"
"Thank you, Dragon Hashira-sama!"
She accepted the gift gratefully and watched them depart.
"The Dragon Hashira really is as approachable as the rumors say!"
The pattern repeated—every hour or so, a new guide took over. Routes and personnel changed frequently, with Kasugai Crows providing directions. Even the crows were swapped regularly, all to protect the village's location.
At every handoff, Kaidō gave each guide a box of treats as thanks.
"The Dragon Hashira is so kind! Just like that swordsman named Tanjiro—so gentle!"
"Yeah, I thought the same thing."
After cycling through eight or nine guides, they finally reached the Swordsmith Village.
"Dragon Hashira-sama, we've arrived. Let me remove your blindfold."
The cloth came away, revealing a spectacular vista of traditional buildings nestled among mountains and forests.
Seeing the Swordsmith Village for the first time, Kaidō found it even more impressive than the manga had depicted.
"So this is the Swordsmith Village? It's incredible! Oh, here—these are for you. Thanks for everything!"
"Thank you, Dragon Hashira-sama! Someone will show you around the village from here. I'll take my leave now."
The guide departed happily with her gift.
———————
Inside the Village Chief's Residence.
"Hello. I'm the village chief—Tecchin Tecchikawahara. Pleased to meet you."
"Nice to meet you! I'm Tanjiro Kamado."
"What a polite young man! Here, have some konpeitō!" The diminutive chief produced colorful sugar candies.
"Ah, thank you, sir!"
"By the way, do you know where Haganezuka-san went?" Tanjiro asked between bites.
"You mean Hotaru? That boy's had a temper since childhood—always throwing tantrums and running off on his own. I apologize on his behalf!"
"No, no! This is my fault. If I hadn't damaged the sword he forged, he wouldn't be so upset..."
"Village Chief, another Hashira from the Demon Slayer Corps has arrived! I brought him to meet you!" A villager called from the entrance.
"Oh? Please, show him in!"
"Hashira-sama, you may enter!"
"Thank you! Hello, Chief... Oh, Tanjiro! You're here too!"
The newcomer was Kaidō.
"Ah, Kaidō-san! Chief, this is my older brother—he's incredibly strong."
"Please, sit!"
"Thank you, sir!"
"You seem like a fine young man as well! Here, have some konpeitō!" The chief somehow produced another massive plate of sugar candies and offered it to Kaidō.
Kaidō accepted with thanks and began munching the sweets while listening to Tanjiro and the chief's conversation.
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