Chapter 14: The Kamado Family

Zero returned to the outskirts of the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters in his 【Dark Alloy Armored Tank】. Because the headquarters' location was too secretive, and combined with the dense forest and winding paths, it was unsuitable for the tank to proceed further.

Thus, he stopped at the outskirts, had everyone disembark, and retracted the tank into his nano-space. Afterward, he left the rest to the cleanup crew members, who led them forward with horse-drawn carriages.

After several hours, they finally arrived at the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters. Stepping off the carriage, Zero held the small hands of Niko and Kiriya in his left and right hands respectively as they walked toward the Ubuyashiki estate.

Ubuyashiki Kagaya had been waiting for a long time in the garden cottage. Seeing Zero and his two children, he stood up to welcome them.

"Welcome back. Thank you, Zero."

"You are too kind."

"Zero, your residence has been built. Your messenger crow will lead you there."

"Thank you, my lord. This way, I won't have to continue troubling the staff at the Butterfly Mansion."

"Actually, if you wish to stay at the Butterfly Mansion, I can have arrangements made..."

"No need, my lord, truly no need... hehehe..." Recalling the scene where, after shrinking himself, he was carried back to the Butterfly Mansion by Kochō Kanae, only to be dressed in women's clothing by those two sisters and Kanroji Mitsuri, he immediately felt goosebumps rise all over his body again.

Before leaving the Ubuyashiki estate, Zero was also assigned his own jurisdiction.

Every Pillar had their own area of responsibility, so Zero was no exception.

Of course, Zero naturally had no objections; after all, this allowed him to clear out evil demons while simultaneously collecting more intelligence and information about this Dimensional World.

"Rest for today. In a few days, go and take a look at your assigned region."

However, on the way back, he encountered someone else—or to be precise, an old acquaintance: Rengoku Shinjurō.

He stood there, looking around, as if waiting for someone.

Only when he saw Zero's figure approaching from not far away did he hurry over and shout, "Kid, do you still have that liquor? Sell it to me..."

Before he could finish his sentence, Rengoku Shinjurō felt an extremely piercing killing intent radiating from Zero.

Looking into those scarlet eyes, it was as if he saw countless piles of bones...

But soon, this killing intent faded. Zero had originally wanted to warn him not to call him "kid," as he was a human who had lived for thousands of years.

Being called "kid" by a little brat who hadn't even reached one-thousandth of his own age felt very strange!

But this was understandable; after all, his appearance indeed made it difficult for people to associate his age with his actual look.

The killing intent Rengoku Shinjurō felt just a moment ago was like falling into an ice cellar. By the time he came to his senses, cold sweat had already soaked his back.

"This guy... what exactly has he experienced?! How could he have such intense killing intent?!!" Rengoku Shinjurō thought to himself.

Zero, just like a few days ago, took a bottle of white liquor out from his nano-space and handed it to Rengoku Shinjurō.

"Sorry, I scared you just now! Consider this an apology. Also, my name is Zero."

Handing the liquor to Rengoku Shinjurō, he left without looking back, leaving behind only the still-shocked Rengoku Shinjurō.

By the time Rengoku Shinjurō regained his composure, Zero's figure was nowhere to be seen. He looked at the white liquor in his hand, then at the direction Zero had just left.

"What exactly has he experienced?" This was the only question on Rengoku Shinjurō's mind now...

Arriving at the residence built for him by Ubuyashiki Kagaya, it looked quite large, totaling two floors.

The first floor contained the living room, kitchen, and bathroom, while the second floor had a bedroom, a guest room, and a study.

Coming to the second floor and opening the bedroom window, one could see the large garden in the backyard, complete with a small rockery and a small pond, as well as the distant Butterfly Mansion and the Ubuyashiki estate.

After looking inside and out, he found he didn't quite like the layout, so he decided to renovate it himself. However, he realized this was a major project that he couldn't complete alone.

So, he checked his nano-space to see if there was anything that could help him. After searching for a long time, he finally found something.

【Analyzing... Analysis successful】

【Name: Micro-Construction Robot】

【Introduction: Can build the desired comfortable environment or renovate building styles. This item was created casually by Zero over the course of a month.】

"... Just how many things did I create casually?" Zero thought with some helplessness.

"Let's see if there are any materials in the space..."

He began rummaging through the nano-space to see what materials were needed for the renovation. He didn't know until he looked, but he was shocked to find a huge pile of things in the very corner of the nano-space.

All sorts of golden nanmu, pear wood, and a whole bunch of other timber...

"My god... why is there so much?! What exactly have I been collecting?"

Looking at the piled-up timber, Zero really couldn't remember when he had stored these things in his nano-space.

Afterward, his gaze turned to the five 【Micro-Construction Robots】, each only half a meter tall. Zero directly used his 【Analysis Glasses】 to input the program and the style he wanted. Upon receiving the instructions, each robot began to work.

"It will probably take several days to finish. Since that's the case, I might as well go and stroll around the region I'm going to be in charge of."

Just as he was about to leave, Xiao Yue's voice came from not far away.

"Master!"

Xiao Yue flew over quickly and pounced into Zero's arms.

"Master, you're finally back! I missed you so much!"

Looking at Xiao Yue in his arms, Zero was left between laughter and tears.

Only in front of him would she show this kind of childish personality.

Holding her in his hands, he said, "Alright, alright, why are you still acting like a child?"

"Heehee."

"Xiao Yue, I have something I need your help with."

"Mm-hmm, what is it?"

"It's like this..." Zero then told her about his idea to renovate the residence and wanted her to help him check it.

After all, he didn't know how long these robots had been stored away; it would be troublesome if any unexpected situations occurred.

Afterward, he used his 【Analysis Glasses】 to transfer the control authority to Xiao Yue.

"I have already transferred the control authority to you. I'll leave it to you."

"What is this, Master? You're leaving me alone again!" Xiao Yue puffed out her cheeks and said with some dissatisfaction.

"Alright, alright. I promise you that once this is finished, I'll accompany you to go around, okay?"

"Really?"

"Of course!"

After settling the matter, Zero left the Demon Slayer Corps and headed toward his assigned jurisdiction, mounting his motorcycle to begin his journey.

Several days later...

"Run!!! Don't let that demon catch us!"

"This demon slayer is not human at all! It's too terrifying!"

In a forest, two evil demons were running for their lives, looking back at what was behind them from time to time.

Behind them, a person wearing a black cloak and hood, with scarlet light radiating from their eyes, was leaping and moving through the trees, chasing them.

This person was Zero.

He seemed to be intentionally slowing down, neither too slow nor losing them.

"Demon! This guy is a demon!"

Thump!

That figure instantly accelerated, leaped up, and under the moonlight, landed in front of the two demons.

The two demons were so frightened they stopped, looking at the demon slayer in front of them, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.

"Why aren't you running anymore?" His scarlet eyes stared fixedly at the demons in front of him, his voice devoid of any emotion.

Seeing that they couldn't escape, the two demons decided to launch an attack directly; at least this way, they might have a glimmer of a chance to survive.

"Fight him!"

Bang! Bang!

Zero directly drew the 【Dark Alloy Paralysis Gun】 hanging from his leg and fired two shots at them. The two demons were hit and fell to the ground, their bodies twitching incessantly until they finally rolled their eyes and fainted.

Coming before the two demons, he dragged each of them by one leg to a tree facing the sunrise and took a rope from his nano-space to tie them to the tree.

Afterward, he sat on a tree branch, dangling his legs, waiting for the sun to appear...

The sun rose in the east, and the first rays of the morning sun shone down.

Under the sunlight, the two demons were awakened by the burning sensation of the scorching sun, their heart-wrenching screams turning them into ashes under the sun.

It had been four or five days since he arrived at his jurisdiction. In these few days, Zero had cleared out many demons, including these two.

He took out a new notebook and pen to record this event, writing down the address and date.

"Sigh, I didn't expect there to be so many demons in my jurisdiction. I've encountered over a dozen in just four or five days... Well, that's fine. At least I'll have some fun in the coming days! Although it can't compare to those exotic beasts and void insects in the starry sky!"

Putting the notebook and pen back into his nano-space, he continued moving forward.

"Continuing on!"

One day, Zero arrived at a mountain. The forest here looked quite dense, and he could even hear the chirping of birds and insects in the woods.

Closing his eyes in the woods and carefully sensing everything around him, suddenly, a very blurry yet familiar scene appeared in his memory.

Vaguely, he saw a person sitting at the cabin door of a helicopter, manning a machine gun...

The memory was too blurry; he couldn't recall when this happened at all.

And Zero also felt that figure was very familiar, but he just couldn't remember who it was.

Just as Zero was dazed, a little boy walked over from not far away.

The little boy had deep red hair and red eyes, a scar on his left forehead, wore a pair of sun-like hanafuda earrings, and was dressed in a black and green checkered shirt.

He had just finished chopping wood and was preparing to go back when he saw a person in strange clothes standing not far away with their eyes closed, as if sensing something.

Because the cloak hood covered everything, revealing only half the face below the eyes, along with two locks of long white hair on each side, he stepped forward and asked, "Miss, are... are you alright? Are you lost?"

Hearing this voice, Zero opened his eyes and took off the cloak hood, only to find a little brat standing in front of him. Confused, he looked left and right, not knowing who he was calling.

Feeling somewhat baffled, Zero pointed a finger at himself and asked, "Little kid, are you calling me?"

Hearing the voice, the little boy realized he had misunderstood that the person in front of him was not a woman, but a man.

He hurriedly apologized and explained, "Ah, sorry, sir. You look like a girl, so I thought... I'm really sorry!"

Although Zero was somewhat speechless, the other party hadn't done anything wrong, so he waved his hand to indicate it was fine.

"Um, sir, are you lost? Do you need my help? Ah, right, my name is Kamado Tanjirō. What's your name?" Tanjirō introduced himself.

"My name is Zero. Also, I'm not lost, just walking around casually, strolling... Hmm? Kamado Tanjirō? Kamado..."

Hearing Tanjirō's name, Zero suddenly remembered something; it seemed he had seen this surname somewhere before.

"Mr. Zero? Are you alright?"

"You said your name is Kamado Tanjirō?"

"Yes, you can just call me Tanjirō; everyone calls me that. Mr. Zero, it's getting dark now. If you don't mind, you can stay at my house for the night, and it won't be too late to leave tomorrow."

Zero had intended to refuse, but just now he remembered where he had seen the surname 【Kamado】, and he also had some questions he wanted to ask Tanjirō, so he accepted.

"Then I'll be troubling you, Tanjirō. Also, you can just call me Zero."

"Then I'll call you Big Brother Zero. It's no trouble at all. I think my mother, sister, and younger siblings will be very happy to have a guest at home."

Hearing this form of address, Zero wanted to refuse, but since it was the other party's good intention, he simply accepted it.

"Alright, that's fine."

"Then Big Brother Zero, come with me. I'll take you back to meet my family."

Just like that, Zero and Tanjirō walked and chatted, heading toward where Tanjirō lived.

"Tanjirō, you trust me so easily. Aren't you afraid I'm a bad person?"

"No, I can smell it. Big Brother Zero, you are not a bad person."

"Smell?"

"Yes, my sense of smell is very sensitive. I can distinguish people and their emotions through scent."

"So that's how it is. You're really amazing!"

"Hehehe, it's nothing." Hearing Zero praise him, Tanjirō scratched the back of his head, somewhat embarrassed.

While the two were chatting, Zero also used his 【Analysis Glasses】 to analyze Tanjirō's information.

【Name: Kamado Tanjirō — Male】

【Age: 12 years old】

【Father: Kamado Tanjūrō (Deceased)】

【Mother: Kamado Kie】

【Family: Kamado Nezuko, Kamado Takeo, Kamado Shigeru, Kamado Hanako, Kamado Rokuta】

【Abilities: Sense of smell, headbutt】

【Character Information: Honest, kind, and gentle, values family, a serious and stubborn eldest son with a sense of responsibility.

Not good at lying; his expression becomes very strange when he lies. On the other hand, he is very stubborn and would never allow himself to owe others favors or money. A deep sister-complex.

His sensitive sense of smell can distinguish people's emotions and aura. His forehead is as hard as iron! His mother once used her forehead to knock out a wild boar several times larger than herself when Tanjirō was young!】

【Note: This person knows the Hinokami Kagura dance passed down through generations of his family!】

Seeing the information in front, Zero almost couldn't help but laugh out loud. He didn't expect Tanjirō's mother to be so powerful, and that Tanjirō had inherited his mother's "true teachings" of the iron-head technique.

"Big Brother Zero, what is this? And why is your left hand different from ours?" Tanjirō pointed to the blue 【Analysis Glasses】 hanging in front of Zero's left eye and his mechanical left hand.

"This is my 【Analysis Glasses】, which can analyze all kinds of data."

"Analysis Glasses? Data? What is that?" Tanjirō didn't quite understand what Zero was talking about.

"For example, it's just like your nose; it can analyze people's emotions and scents."

"So that's how it is. What a magical thing!"

"As for my left hand, it was bitten off when I was fighting a monster."

Hearing this, Tanjirō felt a bit guilty, feeling that he had brought up Zero's sad past: "I'm sorry, Big Brother Zero."

"It's fine, I don't take it to heart. Even if it were someone else, I would answer the same, so you don't need to apologize."

Not long after, Tanjirō brought Zero to his home.

It was a small wooden house, and there were several children playing in front of the door, looking very happy.

"I'm home!"

"Big Brother, welcome back. Who is this beautiful sister?" A cute little girl with long hair, wearing a pink kimono and a black haori over it, walked over. Seeing the extremely exquisite girl behind Tanjirō, she was somewhat confused.

"No, Nezuko, he's a man! His name is Zero, and I met him on the way back." Tanjirō hurriedly explained to Nezuko, then turned to apologize to Zero: "Sorry, Big Brother Zero, this is my sister Nezuko. She didn't mean it that way, it's just..."

"It's fine, Tanjirō. Hello, Nezuko, my name is Zero. Sorry for the intrusion."

"Hello, my name is Kamado Nezuko. Sorry, I thought you were a... a girl just now."

"Many people think so, so don't worry about it. And..." As he spoke, Zero walked up to Nezuko and reached out to pat her head: "And, you are very cute too."

"Mm~" Hearing someone praise her as cute, Nezuko immediately blushed, not knowing what to do.

"Big Brother Zero, these are my younger brothers and sister: Takeo, Shigeru, Hanako, and Rokuta."

A little boy walked up to Zero's side, tugged on his pant leg, and stretched out his hands, indicating he wanted a hug. He was Tanjirō's youngest brother—Rokuta.

Seeing such a cute child, Zero picked him up and gently pinched his little face.

"Rokuta, you can't be so impolite." Nezuko hurriedly said.

"It's fine."

"Tanjirō, you're back. Who is this?" A woman walked out from the house wearing a full-body apron, her hair tied up with a white cloth. She had purple eyes and a beauty mark under the corner of her mouth.

Such a face looked particularly virtuous and gentle.

"Yes, Mother. I'm home. This is Zero. I met him on the way back. It's getting dark, so I asked him to stay at our house."

"Hello, my name is Kamado Kie, their mother. You really are a beautiful little girl."

Hearing this, Zero's mouth twitched slightly.

Nezuko: "Mother, this brother is a man."

"A boy?" Kamado Kie only then noticed Zero's Adam's apple. She didn't expect she had mistaken him for a girl just now.

"It's fine, I'm already used to it."

"Hurry inside and sit down. We're just about to finish preparing dinner."

"Sorry for the intrusion."

Just like that, Zero, holding Rokuta, followed Kamado Kie and her children into the house.

Looking at everything around the house, although simple, it was small but complete, and he felt a sense of warmth.

The inside of the house was kept clean and tidy.

Through the conversation just now, it was clear that although this family lived somewhat poorly, they were very kind.

Kie: "Sorry, child, the house is a bit simple, please don't mind."

Zero: "It's fine. This home looks very warm. I like this feeling very much. It's been a long time since I've felt this way..."

Tanjirō: "Big Brother Zero, you go sit in the inner room first. Mother, Nezuko, and I will prepare dinner."

Zero: "Thank you all."

Kie: "Don't be polite. You can treat this as your own home."

"Thank you."

Zero held Rokuta and the remaining three children as they went to the inner room. Looking at the four children in front of him and in his arms, he couldn't help but smile.

"Ah, beautiful brother, you look so good when you smile." Hanako said.

"Really? You are also very cute, Hanako." He reached out and patted Hanako's head.

"Right, since it's our first meeting, I also have some gifts for you."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zero took out some pastries from his nano-space. These were gifts from several families he had saved from demons a few days ago.

He had intended to keep them in his nano-space and eat them with Xiao Yue after returning to the Demon Slayer Corps, but now, seeing this group of cute little brats, giving them directly was also a good choice.

"Wow! Beautiful brother, how did you do that? You were actually able to conjure up so many!"

"These pastries are for you."

Even so, they didn't reach out to take them.

"What's wrong?"

"Big Brother, Big Sister, and Mother have said that we cannot take things from others." Takeo, who was on the side, said.

Hearing this, Zero smiled slightly: "What a group of obedient, good children. It's fine, take them and eat. I'll explain it to them later."

"Thank you, Big Brother Zero."

Seeing them accept his pastries, he also felt very happy in his heart. They were so pure and innocent.

Afterward, he unwrapped another small package of pastries and broke off a small piece to feed Rokuta.

"Takeo, Shigeru, Hanako, Rokuta, how could you do this?" Nezuko entered the room and saw this scene, somewhat reproachfully.

"Alright, it's fine. This is a gift I gave them, don't blame them."

"But..."

"It's fine. The children are growing, so they should eat more good things to supplement their nutrition."

"Alright, thank you, Big Brother Zero. You guys, hurry up and thank Big Brother Zero."

"Thank you, Big Brother Zero." The other children said in unison.

"Eat quickly, so you can grow up fast! Nezuko, you should eat some too! There's a portion for you, your brother, and your mother."

"Thank you, Big Brother Zero." ===== CHAPTER 15 =====