As Kokushibou's last remnants vanished from everyone's sight, all those present let out a collective sigh of relief.
They had won!
They had slain Upper Rank One!
Uzui Tengen knelt, a small, relaxed smile on his face, having just thought he was about to make a flashy exit.
Fortunately, they had passed through the danger unscathed.
Now, only Upper Moon Four should be left in the Infinity Castle.
According to the Kasugai Crow's message, Yoizumi and Kyoujurou had defeated Upper Moon Three, which surely must have been a flashy battle too!
Now, the most important thing was to find Muzan!
With trembling fingers, Uzui Tengen pulled a blood-stained onigiri from his pocket; it was already misshapen from the battle, and he lowered his head to take a bite.
Heh... his wives' cooking was truly delicious.
Going back like this, they would probably cry and make a fuss again. Uzui Tengen's head ached just thinking about it, but there was nothing he could do; after all, he was a flashy handsome man.
Reassuring his wives was something he had to do.
"Genya!" Sanemi glared fiercely at Genya's current state, his fists clenched tight. Suddenly, Sanemi raised his hand, and Genya instinctively closed his eyes, but the imagined pain didn't come. Instead, his left shoulder sank...
Shinazugawa Genya's eyelashes trembled, and he cautiously opened his eyes, disbelief in them. Sanemi's face softened, and he gently patted his brother's shoulder.
"Well done, Genya."
Genya opened his mouth, tears flowing from his demonized eyes. He choked up, bending over with a trembling body, apologizing repeatedly to his brother.
"I'm sorry, Big Brother!"
"Big Brother was clearly protecting us, yet I said such things."
"I've always caused you trouble, I'm sorry!"
"I'm sorry! Big Brother! Please forgive me!"
Sanemi looked at Genya; he hadn't truly looked at his brother like this in a long time. His hand rested on Genya's shoulder, and without realizing it, Genya's shoulders seemed as broad as his own.
He had also grown taller than him... Facing Genya's repeated apologies, Sanemi lowered his hand and turned his head away, a very awkward tone in his voice.
"When did I ever blame you?!"
"Don't try to pin that on me!"
"What's a grown man crying for? It's embarrassing!"
Genya looked up blankly, seeing his brother's cold face turned away, and broke into a smile through his tears.
Yes... because his brother was the gentlest person in the world... Hmm... and...
Genya swallowed, retreating backward. Under Sanemi's confused gaze, he moved away from Sanemi.
"Sorry, Big Brother, your blood is still too much for me..."
"ꐦ!" Sanemi's eyes widened, and he angrily slapped Genya's head.
"If you dare to eat even one human, I'll be the first to kill you!"
On the other side.
Muichiro, exhausted, fell to his knees, barely able to support himself with his hand on his nichirin blade to keep from collapsing.
He had won...
"Muichiro, are you alright?" Silver, Muichiro's Kasugai Crow, anxiously asked, her eyes teary.
Freeing a hand, Muichiro touched Silver's head, forcing a faint smile on his pale face, and comforted her.
"I'm... fine, Silver."
"Don't... worry."
Clutching his bleeding stomach, Muichiro panted with difficulty, his consciousness blurring. His nichirin blade clanged to the ground, and Muichiro collapsed onto the floor.
His mint-green eyes, with their unclear vision, gazed at an unknown spot. In his fading consciousness, Muichiro whispered.
"Master..."
"Did I... respond well... to you?"
"..."
Silver's frantic voice echoed in his ears. Muichiro slowly closed his eyes. When he opened them again, large ginkgo leaves drifted down from above. Muichiro looked up, perplexed.
He reached out and caught a ginkgo leaf, a hint of nostalgia appearing in his mint-green eyes.
He used to run and play under ginkgo trees with his brother often.
Had he... died?
Sighing softly, Muichiro's face showed a lonely smile. Didn't they say that when people die, they reunite with their families?
Where were his father, mother, and brother?
Why hadn't they appeared?
Or... were they angry with him?
Because he had forgotten them.
Muichiro's eyes reddened, and he slowly tightened his palm. Ginkgo leaves continuously drifted down from above, and the wind scattered his long black hair, obstructing his vision.
"Muichiro!"
A voice suddenly came from behind him. This familiar voice made Muichiro abruptly look up, turning to look behind him in disbelief.
Yuichiro stood not far away, his eyes filled with tears, looking disappointed.
"Big Brother!" Muichiro cried out, his voice choked, and he was about to run towards him, but Yuichiro sharply called out.
"Stop! Don't come over!"
His feet felt rooted to the ground. Muichiro tried to move but couldn't budge. He anxiously pounded his legs.
What was happening?
Big Brother was right in front of him!
Why couldn't he get closer?
"Muichiro, don't come over!" Yuichiro cried, "Go back! You're not welcome here!"
"Big Brother, are you angry with me?"
"I'm sorry!"
"Please... please don't hate me!"
Muichiro stretched out his hand towards Yuichiro. A distance of a few meters now became an uncrossable chasm for Muichiro.
Yuichiro, with tear-filled eyes, looked at his brother, who had grown taller than him. Muichiro was only 14; he would grow even taller and live a long life.
"Muichiro, I don't hate you. Go back now..."
"Muichiro, come back when you've lived a full life..."
His brother's figure and voice began to blur. Muichiro tried hard to resist the urge to close his eyes, but in the next second, a cold face appeared before him.
It was Giyu Tomioka.
"...Not dead, huh..." Giyu Tomioka said calmly, while Silver, who was beside him, pecked his head.
"What do you mean?! Muichiro won't die!"
Clutching his head, Giyu Tomioka looked helpless as he placed the empty healing potion by his side. He had thought Muichiro was dead.
After all, his breathing had stopped.
Well, it was good that he was alright.
Muichiro raised a hand to wipe away the tears from his eyes, then closed them briefly.
"Thank you, Mr. Tomioka."
..."Caw ~ Caw ~"
"Upper Rank One annihilated!"
"Sanemi Shinazugawa, Genya Shinazugawa, Uzui Tengen, Giyu Tomioka, Muichiro!"
"Upper Rank One ~ annihilated!"
Yoizumi and the others, who were still approaching Muzan's location, heard the message from the Kasugai Crow but did not stop.
"Hmm! That's great!" Kyojuro Rengoku exclaimed loudly.
How amazing!
Tanjirou sighed inwardly, everyone was working so hard!
He had to do his best too!
Yoizumi stared at the constantly shifting architecture before him, his expression unchanged upon hearing the news.
Everyone is alright...
"Now, only Upper Moon Four, who controls this Infinity Castle, and the Demon King remain," Shinobu said softly.
"Mm," Yoizumi replied.
Shinobu glanced at Yoizumi beside her, lowering her gaze.
The final battle was about to begin...
------------------------
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