Yuko lost.
She was not a genius born with the Transparent World like Yoriichi, nor had she received systematic training like Michikatsu.
As a girl, there was no chance their father would permit her to practice swordsmanship.
Most of her time had been consumed by music, calligraphy, and etiquette—leaving her very little spare time for herself.
Her sword training had been little more than fumbling through the dark, trying to learn by imitation. Fake skill meets real skill—of course she lost almost immediately.
Michikatsu didn't hurt her; instead, he tied her up.
"You remember this, Michikatsu! You'd better pray I never get the chance to escape!"
"Call me Brother." Michikatsu calmly corrected her address, unmoved.
He carried her back to her room and ordered strict supervision.
Yuko was still waiting for another chance to run, but she didn't expect that the next day Michikatsu would appear in full armor with a troop of men—ready to escort her to the General's residence.
Yuko was forced into a palanquin. The type used in this era of the Warring States… honestly, Yuko didn't even know how to describe it. It looked more like a dog cage or pig cage than anything dignified.
A pole was set on top, and beneath it hung a tiny box-like compartment where a person sat.
She had no idea why anyone would design something so ridiculous. It really did feel like being carried in a pig basket.
Were the nobles here all mentally unwell?
Yuko resisted with everything she had, but Michikatsu still escorted her as though he were transporting a criminal.
"Tsugikuni Michikatsu! This is selling your own sister! I condemn you from the highest moral ground!"
Yuko shouted and cursed, but no matter how wildly she raged, Michikatsu remained unmoved.
Partly because he couldn't understand the strange, nonsensical things she yelled.
And partly because, to him, marrying the General's son was an enormous blessing—something countless people could only dream of.
He felt zero guilt about "selling" his sister.
Realizing she couldn't get through to him, Yuko leaned back inside the palanquin, closed her eyes, and conserved her energy, quietly waiting for an opportunity to escape.
Travel in ancient times was extremely inconvenient; even walking through mountain paths for an entire day barely covered a few miles.
As dusk fell, Michikatsu lifted his hand.
"We'll set camp here."
"Yes, sir."
The subordinates got to work and quickly lit a campfire.
Michikatsu brought some dry rations to the palanquin.
"Eat something."
Yuko snatched the food with a scowl. "Lemon spirit! I'll remember this!"
Michikatsu silently stared at her. This sister of his was always saying strange incomprehensible things.
Seeing that she wasn't trying to stage a hunger strike, he stopped worrying.
Her ropes were tied loosely enough that she could still eat.
Yuko looked up at the sky, the moon hidden behind dark clouds, and silently prayed.
Boss… boss…
It's night. Come out and bask in the moonlight.
As if answering her prayer, a figure suddenly flashed between the trees, moving at incredible speed. It lunged at one of the men, dragging him into the woods.
"Ah—!"
A scream erupted—followed by the sound of bones being crushed and something being devoured.
Only then did Michikatsu snap back to awareness.
"Enemy attack!"
Everyone drew their blades, scanning the darkness.
Cold sweat formed on Yuko's forehead.
You actually came!
Whatever that was, it was definitely not an animal.
"Hehehe~"
A chilling giggle echoed through the dark.
Michikatsu raised a torch with one hand, gripping his blade with the other.
When the firelight finally fell upon the source—
The figure revealed a form no human should possess.
What… what is that thing?!
Michikatsu's pupils shrank sharply.
Though the battle between humans and demons is the central theme of Demon Slayer, even by the start of the main story, demons were rare—far less common than modern traffic accidents.
Thus, even Tsugikuni Michikatsu had never actually encountered one, only heard of them in folklore.
He always assumed it was fiction.
Until now.
The demon—covered in horns—had blood smeared across its mouth and was chewing on one of his men's arms as casually as if eating a chicken wing.
A shiver rippled through the group; some men's legs trembled uncontrollably.
This was fear imprinted in the instinct of all living things.
Michikatsu barked, "Do not be afraid!"
"Nothing but tricks and illusions!"
With that, he charged.
But the demon seemed to know better than to attack the strongest opponent. It retreated into darkness—
And then screams broke out one after another.
Michikatsu swung his torch wildly, trying to track the demon's movements.
Night crippled the human senses, and with the demon's terrifying speed, the men could do nothing but scream as limbs were torn apart.
This was no ordinary demon.
Yuko broke into a cold sweat. Taking advantage of the demon's disinterest in her, she grabbed a fallen samurai blade and cut herself free.
Soon, the dozens of men were gone—leaving only Michikatsu desperately holding on.
This demon was far stronger than normal—it must have eaten many humans.
But thanks to Michikatsu's exceptional swordsmanship, he managed to slice off its arm.
Before he could breathe in relief, the demon's arm regenerated.
Michikatsu's eyes narrowed, and he immediately followed with another strike—decapitating it.
Just as he relaxed, the impossible happened: the demon casually lifted its severed head with both hands and placed it back on its neck.
Michikatsu's breath froze.
The demon looked delighted by his reaction. Grinning wildly, it charged.
Yuko, now freed, saw the scene and hesitated.
She didn't know if she had changed the storyline—but if Michikatsu died here, it might actually be better for him… and for others.
However—
"Tch…"
She clicked her tongue in irritation and rushed forward with the blade.
He might be her cheap older brother, but she couldn't be that heartless.
Besides, if Michikatsu died, she likely wouldn't escape either.
Trying to outrun a demon at night was suicide.
As Michikatsu froze in shock from the demon's regeneration, the creature was already upon him. Its claw-like nails swung toward his torso.
Yuko lunged forward, stabbing the demon's wrist and pinning it against a tree.
"Decapitation doesn't kill it! We have to immobilize it until sunrise!"
The demon's fury ignited. Its fingernails on the other hand extended like claws and slashed toward her.
Michikatsu snapped out of his daze at Yuko's shout and quickly moved to pin the demon's other wrist.
For a moment, the two siblings and the demon were locked in a stalemate.
Yuko's arms trembled violently from the demon's strength. She was simply too weak.
Veins bulged across the demon's face. It grinned, baring its teeth.
"Blood Demon Art…"
Almost instantly, its body began to glow red.
Michikatsu frowned—an ominous feeling rising.
Yuko's pupils contracted. "Move—!"
BOOM!
A massive shockwave blasted them both off their feet, slamming them into a tree.
Yuko scrambled up first, baring her teeth.
"Damn it, your armor is way too hard—!"
Her back hurt like crazy.
Michikatsu let out a muffled groan but didn't respond.
After all—someone's full body weight had just slammed straight into him.