Chapter 125

“Kanae, where’s Shinobu?”

“She’s hiding…”

“Hiding?”

Zero’s mind flickered with a hint of confusion—just now, it was Nezuko who was afraid and hid away.

Now there was another: Butterfly Shinobu.

Something felt off, but he couldn’t say exactly what.

He sighed and shook his head, deciding it was just his overthinking.

Then, he retrieved a prepared file from the [Nanospace] and handed it to Tanjiro.

“Tanjiro, take this.”

Tanjiro took the file, puzzled, and asked, “Zero-brother? What is this?”

“It’s information about Izo’s origins. I’ve investigated it for him—I’ll need your help later.”

Zero had originally planned to give it directly to Izo, but Izo could barely read beyond his own name.

He couldn’t even write his name, and often mispronounced others’.

Hearing this, Tanjiro immediately understood what Zero wanted him to do.

All feasts must end. After handing over the file, Zero boarded the flying disc with Kanae and the others, waving farewell to everyone.

On the [Nirvana], a blue light descended, drawing the flying disc upward as Zero gazed down at the crowds below—each figure shrinking in his vision.

The Ubuyashiki family, the Kamado family, the Rengoku family, Kanao Tsuyuri, Inosuke Hashibira, Zenitsu Agatsuma, Shinobu Kocho, the three Butterfly House girls, the Munetsugu brothers, Gyomei Himejima, Tomioka Giyu, Muichiro Tokito, Kyojuro Rengoku, Akaza, Tengen Uzui and his three wives, Kagaya Ubuyashiki, Sojiro Kagemitsu, the Hidden Division members, the Blacksmith Village chief and villagers, and dozens of other Demon Slayers…

After the flying disc docked with the [Nirvana], Zero entered the cockpit, stepped onto the main console, and issued commands to the screen: “All units, report status.”

“Quantum engine: nominal.”

“Quantum thrusters: nominal.”

“Defense system: nominal.”

“Plasma shield: nominal.”

“Wing system: nominal.”

“Power system: nominal.”

“Charging system: nominal.”

After the reports, Zero operated the screen again.

【Nirvana charging…】

【60%… 80%… 100%】

【Charging complete】

BOOM!

A violent roar erupted as a beam of energy shot from the [Nirvana]’s bow, warping the surrounding space as if an invisible hand sought to tear it apart.

Then, winds churned, lightning cracked, and a blue vortex in the sky expanded visibly before their eyes.

“Activate [Plasma Shield].”

The [Nirvana] was engulfed in flame-like energy; its engines and thrusters roared as it surged into the blue vortex.

Moments later, the [Nirvana] and the vortex vanished from the sky, leaving everything as it had been—as if nothing had ever happened.

Everyone stood frozen, unable to leave, a hollow ache settling in their chests.

Zero said he’d return to visit when the chance came—but when would that be?

Ten years? Twenty years? Or… never?

After the [Nirvana] departed, Tanjiro couldn’t help asking: “Mother, is Nezuko… really hiding?”

Kamado Kie shook her head and smiled: “She’s gone to pursue her own happiness.”

Pursue happiness?

Tanjiro was utterly baffled.

A sudden thought flashed through his mind—if that were true, then Nezuko must now be…

“Mother, is Nezuko… not by any chance…”

Kie said nothing, only smiled and nodded.

Though he didn’t understand why she’d done it, all he could do now was silently wish her well.

And Tanjiro believed deep down—Nezuko would live well, and happily, from now on.

…………

Inside the spacetime tunnel.

【Estimated arrival time: 1 hour】

After setting the route and destination, he let go of the controls, leaving it to autopilot. As he watched the arrival time on the screen, Zero’s heart swelled not just with anticipation and excitement for home—but also with sweetness and warmth.

At that moment, Luo Li reached from behind, wrapping her arms around him, resting her chin on his shoulder, and smiling: “You’ve worked hard.”

“For me, you’re the one who’s worked hardest.”

“Really…” The words slipped into Luo Li’s ears, sparking a mischievous thought.

Without warning, she opened her mouth and gently bit his earlobe.

“Amm～”

“Eh?～ N-no?～”

Zero let out a strange cry, immediately clapping a hand over his mouth, his ears burning red.

But Luo Li had no intention of letting him off. She released his ear, pinched his chin, and smirked: “Kanae and Xiao Yue were right—how was that? My pure～ innocent～ little～ virgin～”

!!!!

Zero stiffly turned his neck, staring at Luo Li’s face—still wearing that sly, wicked smile.

Behind her, Kanae and Mitsuri shook like leaves, clearly struggling to suppress their laughter, terrified they’d burst out laughing.

Xiao Yue peeked from Kanae’s pocket, her tiny hand covering her mouth as she grinned like a doting aunt.

Below the main console, Bai Yun and the others kept their eyes fixed on the screen, not turning around—but their raised ears and trembling bodies betrayed them: they’d clearly stumbled upon something huge.

Luo Li laughed harder at Zero’s embarrassment, released his chin, and teased: “Alright, alright, I won’t tease you anymore.”

Zero took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down—but the memory of the sound he’d made brought back the black history of his cross-dressing mission in the Flower District, and his face flushed crimson again.

Feeling utterly awkward, he scrambled for an excuse: “Cough… I’m… hungry. I’ll go get something to eat.”

He hurried off the main console and left the cockpit.

The moment Zero stepped out, laughter erupted inside the cockpit.

…………

“This really is…” Zero chuckled helplessly, but the feeling wasn’t unpleasant—he’d changed so much.

He entered the food storage room, about to grab something, when he heard a faint rustle from behind a shelf. He moved closer to investigate.

At the corner of the shelf, food lay scattered on the floor—but all packaging remained intact.

Rustle… rustle…

As Zero puzzled over it, he saw movement inside a nearby cardboard box.

“Could it be… Star-Stealth Beast?”

Star-Stealth Beast: a small alien creature born from the Void Mother Worm, roughly the size of a young adult.

Weak in power, but it can mask its aura and camouflage its body like active camouflage, rendering it invisible to the naked eye.

Its body carries an extremely lethal toxin—once injected into a human or ingested via contaminated food, the victim turns to blood within three minutes.

Zero slowly retreated backward, keeping distance, drew the [Dark Alloy Paralysis Gun] from his thigh, and sent a message to his crew via [Analysis Glasses]:

【Star-Stealth Beast detected in food storage room—hurry!】

…………