Chapter 33: Returning to the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters

Night.

After calming the children, Kotohiru Kamado stayed by their side.

The events of last night were still fresh in memory; just thinking of the consequences filled her with dread. Without Zero, her entire family might have been wiped out.

Watching the children sleep peacefully, she gradually drifted into slumber, while Zero kept watch outside the inner room.

For caution, Zero released twenty [Destroyer Mini UAVs] from his [Nanospace] to patrol the surroundings.

He sat cross-legged on the tatami, one arm folded across his chest, the other holding his chin as he repeatedly reviewed the information on Muzan Kibutsuji displayed on his [Analytical Glasses].

Especially Muzan Kibutsuji’s weapons: the stinger whips and tube whips.

He had faced them before—faster than any afterimage, tearing through air to create sonic booms, with an exceptionally wide attack range.

They were also coated in deadly poison. Could the Demon Slayer Corps’ Pillars possibly stand against such a creature?

Moreover, Muzan Kibutsuji possessed far more tricks than these.

If all the Demon Slayer Corps’ Pillars encountered Muzan Kibutsuji, they’d likely be annihilated before even getting close.

“Sigh… For this world, Muzan Kibutsuji is an insurmountable force! Except for Kyojuro Rengoku…”

“But it’s thanks to Muzan Kibutsuji’s utterly clueless intellect that he lacks ambition! Otherwise, why not just assassinate the Emperor of this tiny nation, take the throne himself, and send men to find the Blue Bianhua ?”

Thinking of this, Zero felt certain his earlier guess about Muzan Kibutsuji’s low intelligence was 100% correct.

If Muzan Kibutsuji knew this, he might sit in deep thought, wondering why he’d never considered such a plan himself…

He stopped overthinking, took out the two slightly damaged [Dark Alloy Cross Floating Cannons], inserted [Energy Crystals], and activated the auto-repair protocol.

Inside the room.

When Nezuko woke, she found Zero gone. Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she got up from bed and walked toward the door to the outer room.

Kotohiru Kamado seemed to wake too. Opening her eyes, she saw Nezuko leaving the room and quietly followed, curious.

Rustling.

Zero, checking the cross floating cannons, heard the dragging sound of fabric behind him. He turned—Nezuko was there.

She crept up behind him like a little kitten.

She patted his leg, as if giving some silent signal.

Zero sighed with a faint smile—Nezuko loved having him give her a knee pillow.

He adjusted his posture, straightening his legs into an L-shape. Nezuko’s eyes curved into crescents as she lay down, her head resting on the base of his thighs.

She kicked her legs playfully in the air, just like a child.

“Nezuko, you can’t do that~ Put your legs down, or you’ll expose yourself!”

“(*^▃^*)”

This scene stirred a faint, blurry memory in Zero’s mind.

A child lying on a woman’s lap, same knee pillow—fuzzy, yet warm.

“What… when was this memory from? Why can’t I recall it? What exactly… did I forget?” Zero thought.

Kotohiru Kamado, watching from the corner as Nezuko came to find Zero, relaxed and returned to the room to care for the children.

The next day.

Before dawn, Kotohiru Kamado and Takeo and the others had packed everything and prepared to depart with Zero.

Tanjiro had prepared a bamboo basket, reweaving the frame with fresh bamboo strips and lining the inside with thick cloth—to make it comfortable for Nezuko.

It would also block sunlight from reaching her.

He carried the basket to Nezuko, who hid in the room’s corner, and said: “Nezuko, can you get inside? Zero’s taking all of us away!”

“I’m taking you to Higurashi Mountain. Can you get in here?”

He pointed to the basket, signaling her to hide inside.

She seemed to understand, stepped out from the corner, and crawled in—but her body was too large to fit.

“It won’t fit… Right, Nezuko’s grown up now. She’s no longer a little girl,” Tanjiro thought.

Zero walked in at that moment, saw Nezuko half-in the basket, and asked curiously: “Tanjiro, what are you doing?”

“Ah, Zero, I want Nezuko to hide inside so I can carry her to Higurashi Mountain. I want to travel during the day to get there faster.”

“I see.”

Looking at Nezuko, Zero suddenly remembered she could grow larger—could she also shrink?

“Tanjiro, leave it to me.”

“Okay.”

Zero crouched down, patted Nezuko’s back, and said: “Nezuko, can you shrink? Like yesterday—after you grew big, you could shrink again?”

Hearing this, Nezuko seemed to understand. Slowly, her limbs shrank, her body contracted, until she was the size of a child.

“She really shrunk!” Tanjiro exclaimed. “Amazing, Nezuko, you’re incredible!”

“Alright, Tanjiro, take Nezuko. I’ll escort you partway, but after that, you’re on your own. Don’t worry—I’ll arrange for your family’s safety.”

“Yes, thank you, Zero!”

Not long after, Zero led the Kamado family on a several-hour journey from Yunxue Mountain down to its base, then retrieved the [Dark Alloy Armored Vehicle].

With a thunderous “Boom!”, the colossal vehicle appeared, startling Tanjiro and the others.

Nearby residents, startled by the noise, came out to investigate.

They saw the white behemoth standing silently, radiating an aura of lethal intensity that kept them from approaching.

“Tanjiro, are you… leaving?” an old man who knew him called out.

“Yes, something happened—we must go, but I’m sure we’ll return soon!”

“Then be careful on your journey. If you need anything, just tell us.”

“Yes, Tanjiro, you’ve always helped us. If you need anything, say the word.”

Neighbors spoke up one after another—they had all benefited from Tanjiro’s kindness, and now they wanted to help him in return.

“Thank you, everyone!”

Zero opened the rear hatch and let the Kamado family board.

Takeo and the others stared in awe at the interior décor, touching and examining everything as if discovering a new continent.

“Just sit here. I’m up front. If you need anything, call out—I’ll hear you.”

Kotohiru Kamado: “Thank you, child.”

After the Kamado family entered and the hatch closed, Zero took the driver’s seat, started the vehicle, and set course for the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters.

The surrounding residents stepped aside to let the behemoth pass.

Watching the vehicle fade into the distance, the townsfolk sighed.

“It seems Tanjiro’s family has met a benefactor!”

“Indeed!”

“Pity the boy lost his father so young. Those children have suffered.”

…

After half a day’s drive, Zero stopped the vehicle at a fork in the road.

He got out, opened the rear hatch, and said: “Tanjiro, I can only take you this far. From here, cross the mountain ahead and you’ll reach Higurashi Mountain.”

“Thank you, Zero. I entrust my family to you.”

“Tanjiro, this may sound rude, but I hope you learn not to be too kind. Not all demons will pity you. When you must act, don’t hesitate. Understood?”

Kindness isn’t wrong in this world—but excessive kindness can trap you in impossible dilemmas.

Zero didn’t want Tanjiro to be destroyed by his own compassion.

“Yes, I understand, Zero. Thank you.”

“Good. Then we part here. Take care of Nezuko.”

“I will.”

“Hmm.”

Takeo and the others stepped out of the rear compartment and bid Tanjiro farewell one by one.

“Brother, be careful on the road!”

“Yes, brother, stay safe. We entrust Nezuko to you!”

“Tanjiro, if things become unbearable, come back. Your father is gone. I can’t lose any of you.”

…………

After saying goodbye to his family, Tanjiro stood still and waved toward the distant armored vehicle, then turned to continue his journey to Higurashi Mountain.

Zero drove on toward the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters, watching Tanjiro’s figure shrink in the side mirror. It was his choice—Zero wouldn’t interfere.

And this was Tanjiro’s first step toward growth. No one is born with an easy path—only through hardship do you truly understand how difficult the road ahead will be.

“Tanjiro, we’ll meet again! Next time, I hope you’ve become a Demon Slayer capable of standing alone!” Zero thought.

After hours of bumpy travel, they reached the outer perimeter of the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters before nightfall.

Though the journey was long, the armored vehicle’s design ensured no discomfort for those in the rear compartment.

“Auntie Kotohiru, we’ve arrived. Get out.”

After everyone disembarked, Zero retracted the armored vehicle into his [Nanospace]. From here, only the Demon Slayer Corps’ Hidden Division could guide them.

After several detours, multiple changes of carriage, they finally reached the headquarters. Zero then led the Kamado family to his residence.

“Wow! Zero, is this your home? It’s so big!” Hana stared at the living room’s furnishings, eyes sparkling.

They also caught a faint, unique fragrance that eased their tense nerves from the long day.

“Master, you’re back! Who are these people?” Xiao Yue heard the voices downstairs and knew Zero had returned; she flew down immediately and found he had brought several others with him.

“Yes, I’m back, Xiao Yue. Aunt Kujira, this is my sister, Xiao Yue. Due to special circumstances, I shrank her.”

“Xiao Yue, this is Aunt Kujira. The rest are her children. This matter is complicated—I’ll explain it to you later.”

The group stared in astonishment at the tiny doll, especially since she could fly.

“Yes, I understand, Master. Oh, by the way, the Lord said he hopes you’ll visit him once you return.”

“Alright, I know.”

After settling Kujira and the others, Zero headed to the Ubuyashiki estate to meet Ubuyashiki Kagaya.

Originally, Kujira had refused to stay here, fearing she would trouble Zero, and asked him to find a small house for them instead.

But Zero told her the estate would be under her care from now on—laundry, cooking, everything—as payment for her stay.

He also urged her and the children, including Takeo, to feel at home and not hold back.

Kujira finally accepted.

Before leaving, Zero asked Xiao Yue to explain everything about the estate and how to use the household appliances to Kujira.

As for the rooms, the main bedroom was reserved for them—it was spacious enough for the whole family to sleep together without crowding.

He arrived at the Ubuyashiki estate.

Ubuyashiki Kagaya and his wife, Ubuyashiki Amane, had already been waiting for him in the courtyard.

Tea and snacks had been prepared.

“Zero, welcome back! Please sit.”

“Thank you.” Zero sat across from Ubuyashiki Kagaya and took a small sip of tea.

“Zero, for tomorrow’s Pillar Meeting, I hope you will reveal what you know about Muzan Kibutsuji.”

“Yes, I intended to say the same. I also have another matter to discuss—I ask you to keep it secret.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“This concerns Koyoharu Nezuko…”

Zero then recounted everything: his encounter with Muzan Kibutsuji, and how Koyoharu Nezuko had become a demon and broken free from Muzan’s control.

Ubuyashiki Kagaya listened intently, but when he and Ubuyashiki Amane heard Zero confirm Muzan’s existence, they were stunned.

More astonishing still was that Zero had fought Muzan Kibutsuji, not only driven him back, but emerged completely unharmed.

“That’s how it happened. I can assure you—Muzan Kibutsuji is incredibly strong. Excluding myself, if you sent every Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps to fight him, they would all die.”

“Moreover, I suspect that during the Sengoku period, one of the original Swordsmen turned into a demon—he is very likely Upper Moon One. His power is unfathomable, perhaps second only to Muzan Kibutsuji.”

Ubuyashiki Kagaya fell into deep thought as he listened to Zero’s report.

“Zero, do you have a plan? This is the first time Muzan has revealed himself—I want to seize this chance.”

“Not yet. But I believe Muzan will appear again. So, don’t worry.”

“Why are you so certain Muzan will return?”

Zero smiled faintly, set his teacup on the table, and said: “Intuition. Just like your Ubuyashiki family’s ability to foresee the future, isn’t it?”

“I understand, Zero. Then I leave tomorrow’s Pillar Meeting to you.”

“Yes, I should return to prepare. But for tomorrow’s Pillar Meeting, I won’t reveal Nezuko’s situation—so…”

“Of course. The decision is yours.”

“Thank you.”

“No, I should thank you—for setting fate’s gears turning once more.”

“Then I’ll take my leave.”

………