I stayed at Urokodaki's place for several days. Wrote and sent out several letters.
One was sent to Kagaya. Gave him a heads-up. Also let him pick a time to slowly tell the other Pillars.
After all, Giyuu's eloquence was quite worrying. I really didn't feel comfortable letting him explain to the other Pillars.
The other letters were sent to Sabito and Tamayo respectively. The former was to tell those two kids to relax—Giyuu didn't need to be punished.
The latter was to tell Tamayo my discovery. Nezuko's existence was very special. Different from both my and Tamayo's situations.
After receiving the letter, Tamayo was also very interested in this matter.
Because Nezuko was still sleeping, couldn't rashly conduct research on her. She only asked me to observe more.
After Nezuko awakened, if Tanjiro agreed, she wanted to see these siblings with her own eyes.
Sabito's reaction was very straightforward. He took time to run straight back to Sagiri Mountain. Put on his senior disciple airs. Spent all day there teaching on behalf of his master.
Seeing him return alone, I asked where those two who were inseparable from him had gone.
Sabito touched his nose: "Giyuu has a mission. Can't get away. Ritsuka is still angry. Went to Master Himejima's territory to carry out missions."
Tsk tsk tsk. Not being a Pillar was great—could run all over territories. Unlike Giyuu who could only patrol his own territory every day. Never-ending work every day.
I suspected they considered this point back then. That's why they refused to become Pillars no matter what.
I wrote a letter to Ritsuka. The reply came from Gyomei.
He said he was conducting circuit training. Simply put, patrolling his territory. Rooting out demons hidden among people. To temper his will, couldn't use transportation like trains. Relied entirely on walking.
Therefore this activity would take him two or three months. And Ritsuka was training with him. Wouldn't return in the short term.
Sabito didn't mind. He got addicted to being a senior disciple. Spent all day tormenting Tanjiro. Tormented quite happily.
Even designated a boulder taller than a person. Said to Tanjiro—when he could split this boulder, only then would he graduate.
That day Tanjiro walked back with a dazed expression. As soon as he returned, drilled into Nezuko's room.
I went over for a glance. Saw him stroking his sister's head while muttering things like "Nezuko, your brother will work hard," "Don't worry, no matter what difficulties, your brother will overcome them," "Will definitely find a way to cure you."
I turned back and elbowed Sabito. Right in the abdomen. Warned him not to bully Tanjiro too much. This wasn't Giyuu after all.
Huh? Did I just say something really harsh?
Whatever. Never mind.
Sabito exaggeratedly made a grimacing expression. As if I really seriously injured him.
Then he returned to seriousness and said: "Don't worry. I'm doing this for his own good. That child's path is far more arduous than ours. If he can't hone his skills to perfection, it'll be very hard to survive."
Since he had it figured out, I didn't say more.
Seeing there was nothing else here, prepared to leave. Just made an agreement with Tanjiro—when Nezuko awakened, write to tell me.
Tanjiro readily agreed. Also enthusiastically prepared provisions for me. Made a full box of rice balls for me to eat on the road.
His cooking was so delicious! Culinary skills could compete with Amane's!
I happily ate rice balls while traveling. Hadn't yet decided where to wander. Daifuku brought a letter. Frantically swooped at my face.
Which unlucky kid wrote me a letter? So urgent!
Oh, Ritsuka.
Then no surprise.
I puzzled, opened the letter to read. Wanted to know what trouble the brat caused now. Saw her say in the letter in panic—encountered something very frightening.
A human ate a demon!
I rubbed my eyes. Confirmed I wasn't hallucinating. Then continued reading.
She and Gyomei met that strange boy midway.
After discerning their identities, the boy rushed up to request joining the Demon Slayer Corps.
Gyomei's judgment was so sharp. Probably already stepped into that transparent world when I didn't know. Flatly refused the boy. Said his constitution wasn't suitable for practicing Breathing Styles.
The words were somewhat cruel. But sometimes lacking talent wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
Who knew that boy was somewhat stubborn. Kept following behind them. Seemed determined to persist. Hoped to someday move Gyomei.
Gyomei ignored him. Ritsuka told me—he planned to let the boy personally witness this world's cruelty. After calming down, persuade him to go back.
But didn't expect this boy also wasn't ordinary. After Ritsuka and Gyomei were surrounded by demons, he actually rushed out on his own. Bit a demon's arm. Bit its flesh and swallowed it.
Then something that shocked Ritsuka happened. That boy's body also showed demon-like changes... But he still retained reason. Could use his transformation to fight.
After they eliminated all the demons, the boy actually returned to human appearance.
Gyomei changed his mind. Didn't chase him away anymore. But also didn't take him as a disciple.
Ritsuka quite frantically wrote me a letter. Said a whole bunch about one thing—she feared this child ate demons and ate himself into abnormality.
Actually I felt she should write to Kanae instead. What use was finding me?
But thinking again—the kid trusted me so much. I couldn't pretend I didn't see it.
Just so happened they'd already finished training and returned. I'd go directly to Gyomei's dojo to check the situation.
Just reached the mountains. Saw a boy sitting under a waterfall. While shivering from cold, while gritting his teeth enduring the water pressure sitting there loudly chanting sutras.
Though spring had already arrived, the mountain temperature was originally low. The power of late spring cold wasn't weak at all.
Ritsuka sat on the shore and built a fire. Every quarter hour would call him out to warm up.
Seeing me arrive, she threw the branch in her hand. Turned and shouted: "Genya, take a break. Come over."
That child was very obedient. Immediately walked out from under the waterfall. Bare upper body.
Seeing me and Ritsuka, his face flushed red at once.
Especially when Ritsuka handed him a towel to dry off. His face reddened even more. Lips mumbled: "Th-thank you..."
He nimbly draped the towel on. Wrapped tightly before sitting by the fire to warm up. Only then had leisure to observe me, this outsider.
I was also observing his features. Though the waterfall diluted his scent, combined with this familiar face—what couldn't I guess?
"Your surname is Shinazugawa?" I asked. "What is Shinazugawa Sanemi to you?"
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