Yuko lowered her eyes slightly, her voice calm. "Are you alright?"
"Yes!" Tanjiro replied, face turning red. He hopped out of her arms, flustered.
"Good. Until you master Constant Total Concentration, whenever you face an opponent of this level, it's best not to force yourself to use the Sun Breathing."
Otherwise, before defeating the enemy, he might put himself in danger instead.
"I understand." Tanjiro looked at the demon's slowly fading remains on the ground, sweating nervously.
As expected of Miss Yuko—she really was incredible.
Yuko nodded lightly and dragged the demon's still-not-fully-dissipated corpse toward the mansion.
Seeing Yuko carrying the body, Yushiro's pupils shrank. This woman was terrifyingly strong.
Tamayo smiled softly. "As expected of Yuko."
With Yuko present, she hadn't felt a single moment of panic since the beginning.
"And Tanjiro too—very reliable."
"N-No…" Tanjiro scratched his head shyly.
Yushiro's expression drained to gray in an instant. It was over. His image in Lady Tamayo's eyes had been utterly ruined.
"Just two small fry," Yuko said casually, handing the corpse to Tamayo.
Tanjiro asked, confused, "Weren't they Twelve Kizuki? The twelve strongest demons?"
"The Twelve Kizuki are divided into Upper and Lower Ranks. Strictly speaking, these two only had the strength of Lower Rank demons—they weren't true members of the Twelve." Yuko pointed at her eyes. "The real Twelve Kizuki have characters engraved in their eyes that mark their rank."
"Once you encounter them, you'll understand immediately."
Tanjiro broke into a cold sweat. Even demons of this level weren't actual Twelve Kizuki…
"And strictly speaking, Lower Ranks are just disposable. Muzan can create them whenever he wants."
If Muzan felt like increasing their numbers, Lower Ranks could fill the streets.
Even among Upper Ranks, aside from the few true prodigies, the lowest ones weren't difficult for Muzan to create either.
Tanjiro's pupils trembled. "The Twelve Kizuki… can be created casually?"
Demons of that level?
Suddenly, he asked, "Then compared to the Twelve Kizuki… who's stronger—the Hashira, or them?"
Yuko was surprised by his question. She thought for a moment. "For Lower Ranks, Hashira can handle them without much trouble."
The Hashira of this generation were especially strong. Even the 'weakest' Hashira, Shinobu, wouldn't struggle too terribly.
"But Upper Ranks… though this may be discouraging, the top three Upper Ranks cannot be defeated by a Hashira alone."
From what she knew, the Flame Hashira died at the hands of Upper Rank Three, 'Akusa'.
And Michikatsu—if he got serious—even multiple Hashira without awakened Marks would be wiped out in the first round.
Tanjiro's breath caught. "How can that be…"
Then that meant Kibutsuji Muzan was unimaginably strong.
Tanjiro clenched his teeth. He had to get stronger—much stronger!
Yuko suddenly called his name. "Tanjiro."
"Miss Yuko?"
She spoke seriously. "Starting tomorrow, I won't be traveling with you. Be careful."
Tanjiro blinked, then bowed deeply. "Of course! Thank you for everything until now!"
Yuko smiled and helped him up. "Take good care of Nezuko."
"Mm!"
When their talk ended, Tamayo said, "Tanjiro, if you encounter any of the Twelve Kizuki, please help me collect their blood."
"I understand." Tanjiro nodded earnestly. He accepted everyone's instructions and requests equally sincerely.
As dawn broke, Tamayo extracted a vial of Nezuko's blood.
Tanjiro let out a sigh of relief after seeing her place the tiny amount into the medical case.
Thank goodness it really was only a little.
Tanjiro tucked Nezuko into her box and hoisted it onto his back. "Well then, Miss Yuko, Miss Tamayo, Mr. Yushiro—we'll be going now."
"Stay safe."
"May fortune bless your blade."
"Hmph."
After Tanjiro left, Yuko stood at the doorway and looked up. "Beautiful sunny day."
Morning light fell on her face. Yushiro, realizing this far too late, twitched violently—his serious expression shattering as he pointed at Yuko in disbelief.
"Aren't you a demon?!"
Yuko turned back and said casually, "Nope. I'm human."
Yushiro froze for a moment, then gnashed his teeth. "You were human this whole time?! And you lied about knowing Lady Tamayo longer than I have—do you even know how many years I've known Lady Tamayo?!"
Yuko was speechless. So he really hadn't recognized her.
She suspected that back when this guy had been lying on the bed, his eyes contained only Tamayo.
"Yuko, don't tease him," Tamayo said with a soft laugh. She explained to Yushiro, "Yuko and I met in the Sengoku era. She's the only demon who ever overcame sunlight."
Yushiro's breath caught. "Then that means…"
Tamayo nodded gently. "Yes—something not even Muzan has accomplished."
Yushiro looked utterly shaken. A demon who overcame the sun—when even Lady Tamayo hadn't achieved it.
Yuko suddenly remembered something. "Speaking of that, this summer I'll try searching for the Blue Spider Lily. You can study it when I find it."
Back then, Tamayo feared that if Yuko died at Muzan's hands, Muzan would extract her memories through her cells. So she never revealed the flower's location to Yuko.
But now things were different. Everything would end in this era.
Tamayo paused, then smiled faintly. "Is it because of that boy?"
"Yes. Tanjiro inherited my brother's Sun Breathing."
Tamayo nodded. "I see."
The memory was distant, but the sword forms the boy used were indeed the same techniques used by that swordsman hundreds of years ago.
Yuko's expression shifted to confusion. "Why aren't you even surprised?"
This was a Sun Breathing user—hello?
The protagonist!
Don't you understand…?
Tamayo's gaze softened, her smile warm. "Because from the very beginning, I have always believed in you, Yuko."
"It has nothing to do with others. I've always believed that you would be the one to defeat Muzan."
"…" Yuko's eyes trembled, her expression wavering.
To be honest, she was moved—really…
If only the murderous aura and jealousy radiating behind Tamayo weren't so overwhelming.
Yushiro glared at her with a monstrous killing intent, teeth bared.
If looks could kill, she'd have died several thousand times by now.
Yuko tugged at the corner of her mouth. "I'll go contact the Ubuyashiki family."
Bringing guests meant notifying the master first.
Leaving just that line, Yuko stepped outside to call the kasugai crow.
Tamayo, puzzled by Yuko's reaction, turned around—
Yushiro was now glowing like warm sunlight, expression soft and gentle.
"Lady Tamayo, I'll pack our things right away."
"…Alright."
Why did something feel… off?
---
Currently at chapter 393 for advance chapters
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