Chapter 39: Survive

The next day.

Before dawn had fully broken, Zero had already risen early and prepared to leave Narrow Mist Mountain.

Tanjiro also handed Zero a handwritten letter he had written the previous night, asking him to deliver it to his family.

“Big Brother Zero, I’m counting on you.”

“No trouble at all. You do your best too—I’ll think of a way to help you with Nezuko.”

“Yes, thank you, Big Brother Zero.”

“Master Rengoku, thank you for your hospitality last night—the dinner was delicious,” Zero said to Rengoku Kojirou beside Tanjiro.

“If you ever have time, come visit. Also, give my regards to that boy, Tomioka Giyu.”

“Alright, then, goodbye!”

Watching Zero’s figure fade into the distance, Tanjiro waved his hand, resolved to grow stronger.

Rengoku Kojirou: May fortune favor your sword.

…

Arriving at the foot of Narrow Mist Mountain, Zero removed his hooded cloak, took out his motorcycle, and prepared to return to his jurisdiction when he received a message from the Wraith Crow Snow.

“Master, a demon has been devouring people on the northern snow mountain—several villagers have already been killed.”

“I see… Understood.”

As he mounted the motorcycle to head toward Snow’s location, he suddenly remembered something.

He quickly took off his hooded cloak and stored it in the [Nanospace], pulled on a black trench coat, then rode on.

Meanwhile, Tomioka Giyu was also accelerating toward the snow mountain.

Last night, after eliminating a demon that had been devouring a woman, he received a message from his own Wraith Crow.

“Caw! Order! Order! Order to Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen! Proceed to the northern snow mountain! Caw!”

“Several hunters have already been eaten! Eaten by ‘demons’! Caw! Destroy the demons! Destroy the demons!”

…

Northern Relay Station.

Everything was white, snow falling everywhere.

The streets were nearly empty; many hunters carried rifles and moved in groups, as if discussing something.

Near the station, a woman in a kimono, draped in a butterfly-patterned haori, sat at the entrance of a pharmacy, speaking with the shopkeeper.

She was the Demon Slayer Corps’ Insect Pillar—Butterfly Shinobu.

“Man-eating bear? We call it ‘No-Cave Bear’! It’s devoured many hunters.”

“No wonder… I wondered why the station felt so tense.”

“Madam, please take my advice—go home,” the pharmacy owner urged, unwilling to let the woman face danger.

“Thank you for your kindness, but my vacation is rare—I must gather herbs myself… Besides, due to my work, I’m very interested in the bear’s gallbladder! If you have any, please sell it to me!” Butterfly Shinobu smiled cheerfully, though the smile looked deeply calculating.

The pharmacy owner, seeing that smile, felt a bead of sweat form.

As they spoke, voices erupted outside the pharmacy.

A woman with a dog was arguing with several male hunters.

“You went into the mountains alone again!!”

“I didn’t go alone! Taro was with me!”

“Taro’s a dog! Let the authorities handle the grudge!”…

Watching the woman argue with the hunters, Butterfly Shinobu turned to the pharmacy owner. “What’s going on?”

The owner replied: “You mean that girl? Her name is Yae. She’s a hunter, and the daughter of Zao. She witnessed her father and companions devoured by a bear…”

“Since then, except for brief returns to the village for supplies, she’s spent all her time searching the snow mountain for that bear… It’s heartbreaking to watch.”

After failing to win the argument, Yae stormed off, dragging Taro behind her.

Butterfly Shinobu rose and stepped to the pharmacy entrance—then froze in surprise. She saw an old acquaintance: Tomioka Giyu.

Yae, still furious, hadn’t gone far when someone grabbed the barrel of her rifle. Her gaze turned icy.

“Hey… don’t touch someone else’s rifle!” She stepped back with her right leg and swung an elbow backward—but it was effortlessly blocked!

Thwack!

Seeing her elbow blocked, Yae turned around in bewilderment. At her feet, Taro bared his teeth at Tomioka Giyu.

“Who are you?” She didn’t recognize the man behind her.

“You’re Yae, right? I’m Tomioka Giyu of the Demon Slayer Corps. Tell me everything about the demon attack.”

When Giyu said the word “demon,” the nearby hunters looked confused, not understanding him.

“Demon? You’re mistaken! It was a bear! What’s he talking about?”

“Pfft…” Butterfly Shinobu, standing at the pharmacy door, trembled with suppressed laughter at Giyu’s usual demeanor.

The pharmacy owner was equally baffled.

“Excuse me… are you… a police officer?” one hunter asked Giyu.

“No. I’m from the Demon Slayer Corps.”

“Demon Slayer Corps? Are you a government official?”

“No. A civilian organization.”

At that moment, one hunter noticed the sword at Giyu’s waist. “Then… what’s the sword for?”

“…” Giyu assumed they wanted him to draw it. He unsheathed his blade, crouched slightly, and placed it on the ground.

“That’s not what I meant…” The hunter was speechless, feeling like he was talking to a wall.

“I’m Tomioka Giyu of the Demon Slayer Corps!”

The hunter could no longer endure it—he decided to summon the authorities.

Another hunter, staring at Giyu’s attire, suddenly shouted: “Ah! I remember! Look at his half-patterned haori! Six months ago, when the charcoal sellers on Cloud Snow Mountain were murdered, the suspect seen nearby wore exactly this!”

“Ah?! No wonder he looks suspicious!”

“They say the charcoal family was rescued by a benefactor—so they’re still alive. Otherwise, they’d be dead too!”

Tomioka Giyu: (?`′?)

“Don’t move!” A hunter pointed his rifle at Giyu, who knelt on the ground.

“Find a rope and tie him up!”

The other hunters quickly bound Giyu tightly.

Butterfly Shinobu stepped out of the pharmacy and walked behind Giyu, poking his back with a finger. “Tomi-oka… Mr. Giyu… What a coincidence meeting you here! Seeing you still as awkward as ever… I’m relieved. Hahaha!”

Giyu turned and saw Shinobu—immediately recalling the incident at Zero’s mansion back at Demon Slayer Corps headquarters.

“Butterfly.”

“Mr. Giyu, if you don’t mind, shall I explain to everyone?” Shinobu held a long, cylindrical bundle in her arms.

“No need. I can handle this myself.”

Shinobu sighed, looking at the tightly bound Giyu. “Tsk tsk tsk… Mr. Giyu, you really need to learn how to communicate. That’s why everyone dislikes you!”

“I… I’m not disliked!” Giyu retorted instantly.

Vrrrrr! Kchhh!

A motorcycle pulled up beside Giyu, Shinobu, and the hunters.

After hours of riding, Zero had finally arrived at the snow mountain—and from afar, he’d already seen the two of them, wondering what they were doing.

“Giyu, Shinobu—what are you doing?”

“Zero, why are you here?” Shinobu asked.

“I received a report of deaths here. I came to investigate and resolve it.”

The hunters had never seen such a strange vehicle, and Zero’s appearance startled them all.

“What kind of vehicle is this? It moves without horses?!”

“Sir, are you… a police officer?” one hunter asked, initially mistaking Zero for a woman—until he noticed his Adam’s apple and voice.

Seeing the gun on Zero’s leg, they assumed he was a police officer—only officers carried such advanced firearms.

Zero was about to say he wasn’t—but seeing Giyu bound by the hunters, he deduced Giyu had once again miscommunicated.

“Giyu, you’re still as clumsy as ever…” Zero mentally grumbled, then went along with the misunderstanding. “Yes. I’m here to investigate. I heard people were killed—can you tell me what happened?”

The hunters exchanged glances, unsure where to begin—except Yae, who grew impatient. “You three—I don’t know who you are. If you’ve got nothing else—”

Before she finished, Yae suddenly felt unwell and collapsed.

“Yae!”

Butterfly Shinobu reacted instantly and caught her.

She noticed Yae’s pale face and elevated body temperature—she was running a fever.

“She’s feverish. We need to get her somewhere to rest. Mr. Giyu, Zero—come help me.”

“Hmm.”

“Got it.”

Then, before the hunters’ stunned eyes, Giyu effortlessly snapped his ropes and helped Shinobu carry Yae into the pharmacy for treatment.

Zero rode his motorcycle to a corner, pretended to park it, then secretly stored it in the [Nanospace] while no one was looking.

…………

Outside the door, a little girl, six or seven years old, played with a puppy. Inside, voices echoed:

‘You taught her how to use a gun?! That’s what Yae said?’

I’ve already scolded her—this isn’t something to joke about! I’ve never heard of a girl becoming a hunter!

Ah Ge, don’t be too harsh on her. She must be lonely at home all by herself—there aren’t any children her age nearby. She just wants to stay close to you… please try to understand her…

The man listened to his friend’s words, thought for a moment, then turned and walked out of the house. The little girl, hugging her puppy, watched her father approach and felt a flicker of nervousness.

If you don’t study properly, you’ll stop right now!

Upon hearing this, the little girl’s face lit up with joy.

This little girl was Ba Chong.

Years later, little Ba Chong grew up and became a hunter herself.

But one day, when she returned home, she found her door smashed open, flames raging through the entire house, limbs and body parts scattered everywhere, walls and floors soaked in blood, the thick stench of blood filling the air.

This… what on earth… happened? Brother Jicun and Uncle Kuan…

Father… Ba Chong saw her father’s corpse being devoured by a monster—a giant bear…

“Was it a dream?” Ba Chong woke up to find it had all been a dream. She tried to sit up, when a voice came from beside her: “You’re awake!”

She turned her head and saw a beautiful woman pressing her forehead against hers…

“Eh! …Waaahhh!!!”

Ba Chong scrambled out of the blanket, grabbed her rifle, and hid in the corner by the door, shouting: “Y-you… what did you do to me?!”

“Hehehe… you look fine now, that’s wonderful! Uh… please don’t shoot—could you put the gun down?”

“Where… where is this?” Ba Chong looked around. The place felt familiar yet strange—it wasn’t her home.

“This is a herbal shop, little girl. You’ve slept for half a day—you must be exhausted! Hunters often stay in the mountains for days at a time, but with your current condition, revenge is impossible! Drink this medicine first—it’ll restore your strength!”

As she spoke, Butterfly Shinobu brought over a cup of medicine already prepared on the table and handed it to Ba Chong.

Ba Chong took the cup—the liquid inside kept bubbling nonstop, and she could even see the purple fluid churning violently…

“Uh… what’s in this?”

“Don’t ask—just drink it…”

Duang～

Before Butterfly Shinobu could finish, Zero struck her on the head with a palm strike, cutting her off: “Xiao Ren, be serious!”

He turned to Ba Chong: “Don’t worry, little girl—this medicine was carefully prepared by Xiao Ren. It’s perfectly safe.”

“Really…?” Ba Chong was skeptical, but still drank the medicine.

Butterfly Shinobu rubbed her head, glaring fiercely at Zero—this debt won’t go unpaid, not as Butterfly Shinobu…

“Zero, you’re going to regret this. When we get back, I’ll have my sister deal with you, hmph!” Butterfly Shinobu thought darkly.

Tomioka Giyuu sat at the door with tea, staring at the dog named Tai Lang, reaching out to pet it.

“Gulululu!!!” Tai Lang growled a warning—as if telling Tomioka Giyuu not to touch him.

Tomioka Giyuu thought it was just being affectionate, so he reached out anyway—and then…

“Woof!” Tai Lang bit down on Tomioka Giyuu’s hand and shook his head violently.

“Tai Lang, stop!” Ba Chong shouted.

Butterfly Shinobu, unmoved, spoke slowly: “Don’t worry—Fu Gang Yiyong is just like this.”

Zero sighed, covering his face with one hand—was this Fu Gang Yiyong mentally broken? Couldn’t he even feel pain?

Seeing this, Zero gave up and turned to Ba Chong: “Let’s get back to the point, Miss Ba Chong. We’re deeply sorry about your mother… if you can, please tell us anything you know.”

“Yes, Miss Ba Chong,” Butterfly Shinobu added. “According to our intelligence, what attacked you may be a ‘Demon’.”

“Zero, Hu Die—this is my mission. I’ll explain.” Tomioka Giyuu called from the door.

Zero / Butterfly Shinobu: “?□? You have the nerve to say that! Do you even know you were attacked?!”

Tai Lang still had his jaws clamped on Tomioka Giyuu’s head, his front paws resting on his shoulders, swaying back and forth like a pendulum.

Tomioka Giyuu thought it was just playing: “It’s not attacking me—it’s just playing with me!”

Zero / Butterfly Shinobu: “…”

“Enough. Fu Gang, step aside!”

Tomioka Giyuu: (??) Depressed…

Tai Lang: (Bite him to death… bite him to death…)

…

After some conversation, Ba Chong still insisted the creature that killed her family was a bear.

But Zero could tell—she was hiding something. The bear was just an excuse.

There was likely more to it.

Ba Chong’s gaze accidentally met Zero’s—she flinched, unable to hold eye contact, and turned her head away.

“I see. If it’s confirmed to be a bear… then it’s not the target we’re looking for…” Butterfly Shinobu said without hesitation, as if accepting Ba Chong’s story.

“Satisfied? But I have a question now—what exactly are these ‘demons’ you speak of? And who are you people?” Ba Chong had been a hunter for years—she sensed these two, and the man at the door, were far from ordinary.

So she still kept some caution.

Zero: “You two talk. I’ll go help Yiyong.”

He stood up and walked to the door. If this kept up, Fu Gang Yiyong wouldn’t just have a bloody head—he might catch rabies from Tai Lang…

…and then he’d be dead. Though that’s probably impossible…

“Suck suck suck…”

Tai Lang released his grip on Tomioka Giyuu’s head, turned to Zero, and tilted his head.

Zero walked up to Tai Lang, reached out, and began petting his head.

“Woof woof!” Tai Lang seemed to love it—grinning, tongue lolling, tail wagging.

Then he rolled onto his back, exposing his belly—clearly asking for more pets. He was a completely different dog from before.

The person might not be real—but the dog probably is.

Fu Gang Yiyong, seeing this, tried to reach out and pet Tai Lang’s belly—only for Tai Lang to immediately snarl, baring his teeth and growling “Gulululu” again.

Hurt inside, Fu Gang Yiyong quietly returned to his seat and resumed drinking tea…

Inside the room, Butterfly Shinobu answered Ba Chong’s earlier question.

“Demons are monsters that eat human flesh and drink human blood! They’re intelligent, able to hide skillfully. They possess incredible vitality—even if they lose limbs or are gutted, they regenerate instantly!”

“They fear only sunlight and a special blade called the Nichirin Blade. And you must sever their heads with this blade—or nothing else matters!”

“The organization formed by hunters who master demon-slaying techniques and kill demons in secret—that’s the Demon Slayer Corps!”

Ba Chong listened to Butterfly Shinobu’s explanation, fell into brief thought, then asked: “Demon Slayer Corps… you kill any demon you see?”

Butterfly Shinobu: “Don’t make us sound like executioners. We only kill evil demons! As for evil demons, I won’t show mercy. If an evil demon has never eaten a single human and chooses to starve to death, I’ll care for it as my sister would—with the gentlest method to let it die peacefully!”

Outside, Zero, petting Tai Lang, sighed inwardly. If she knew about Nezuko, she might truly do that.

After all, Butterfly Shinobu’s personality differed from Butterfly Kanae. If it were Butterfly Kanae, she might have pursued the ideal of coexistence between demons and humans.

But that was far too gentle—it would only harm Butterfly Kanae herself. And Butterfly Shinobu… Zero made a bold guess: if Butterfly Kanae died, with Butterfly Shinobu’s devotion to her sister, she might become her—doing everything exactly as her sister would… probably…

Fu Gang Yiyong listened to the conversation inside, sipping tea in silence.

The herbal shop owner’s wife was sweating: This man doesn’t say a word…

Then Butterfly Shinobu continued: “But it seems we’ve made a mistake. If you’d like, the three of us could help you hunt the bear…”

“No need. I’m a hunter—I’ll avenge my family myself. Sorry to trouble you.” Ba Chong cut her off, packed her things, put on her coat, and prepared to head back into the mountains.

“Tai Lang, let’s go.”

Tai Lang, hearing Ba Chong call him, licked Zero’s hand, stood up, and left reluctantly.

But at that moment, Fu Gang Yiyong stood up and blocked Ba Chong’s path: “It’s best not to go out at night.”

Ba Chong: “There are no demons here! What’s wrong with me hunting a bear as a hunter?!”

Fu Gang Yiyong: “If you’re truly seeking revenge, why go alone into the mountains? Are you hiding something?”

Ba Chong, her inner thoughts exposed, snapped angrily: “I’m sick of this! Get out of my way!!!”

“…I’ve never seen a demon return to being human.”

One sentence silenced Ba Chong. She stepped around Fu Gang Yiyong and left the herbal shop.

With a heavy heart, she walked alone down the snow-covered street, leading Tai Lang toward the forest.

Ba Chong didn’t notice—a drone was following her through the air behind her.

It was Zero’s precaution—he had retrieved the drone from the Nanospace and trailed her without her knowledge.

…

Inside the herbal shop, Butterfly Shinobu took off her butterfly haori and kimono, replacing them with her Demon Slayer Corps uniform.

Tomioka Giyuu waited at the door. Zero used his [Analytical Glasses] to control the drone and monitor Ba Chong’s current situation.

“Tomioka, Zero—do you know the ‘Caveless Bear’?” Butterfly Shinobu asked from inside, still changing clothes.

Fu Gang Yiyong: “Caveless Bear?”

Zero: “A Caveless Bear is one that cannot find a den, cannot hibernate. A pitiful beast, homeless and alone, wandering the winter mountains.”

Whoosh!

The door slid open. Butterfly Shinobu stepped out, now dressed in her uniform, holding a Nichirin Blade wrapped in a long cloth.

“Zero is right. If things continue like this, she won’t find redemption.”

“Let’s go, Yiyong, Xiao Ren. Let’s hope this time, Ba Chong finally sees the truth!”

…

Ba Chong arrived at her former home—now a ruin. From the debris, she pulled out a piece of torn cloth, stained with a trace of blood.

She held the cloth fragment before Tai Lang: “Tai Lang, remember this scent. It’s cold now, but I’m counting on you.”

Woof!

Taro sniffed the scraps of fabric, then began searching through the mountains.

Snow fell heavily, the cold wind blowing through.

Yae placed her hands before her mouth, exhaling warm breath, following behind Taro.

Unconsciously, memories of hunting with her father as a child surfaced in her mind.

‘The bear is full of treasures—bear meat, bear hide, bear gallbladder, bear fat… This is the mountain’s bounty!’…

‘Yae, our hunter’s life is given by the mountain. Since we’ve taken a life, we must live even harder!’

…

Woof! Woof! Woof!!

Taro seemed to have found something, barking loudly in the distance, breaking Yae’s thoughts.

‘Taro?!’ Yae heard the cry, grabbed her hunting rifle from behind her, and quickened her pace!

Bang!

Suddenly, a gunshot rang out, and Taro let out a heart-wrenching cry—until even that sound vanished!

‘Gunshot? Where from?! Could there be others?!’ Yae didn’t understand, and sped up.

When she reached a small hill, she saw a ‘person’ in the distance… or rather, a demon.

That demon was Zao, transformed from Yae’s father…

At that moment, he was gnawing on a dog’s leg—clearly part of Taro’s body.

‘At least, I’ve never seen a demon revert to human form!’

The words Fukui Yoshiyuki had spoken to her before she left flashed through her mind.

‘So… he really became a demon… Father…’

Memories unfolded like a revolving lantern in her mind…

The so-called ‘Caveless Bear’ had merely been Yae’s lie—she had desperately hoped she’d misseen it.

She had wanted to ask her father why he did this! Why he became a demon!

‘I’m sorry, Taro… Seeing you eaten gave me the resolve! I don’t know who fired that shot, but from now on, it’s my turn!’

She raised her rifle, took two deep breaths, aimed at the demon’s head, and pulled the trigger!

Click!

Bang!

Splat!

The demon’s head exploded instantly, blood spraying out as it collapsed onto the snow.

Yae thought it was over—but the demon didn’t die as expected.

The demon’s head regenerated rapidly, crawling toward Yae at incredible speed.

She raised her rifle again, reloaded, and aimed!

Why become a demon?

Why eat everyone?

Why?! Why on earth?!

Why…

Roar!

She never fired the second shot—the demon lunged, pinning Yae to the ground!

Seeing this, Yae shoved her rifle horizontally before her, jamming it into the demon’s mouth to block its attack—but she herself was immobilized.

The demon’s teeth bit into the rifle’s bolt and chamber, blood oozing out and staining it.

Seeing her father in this state, Yae’s heart ached, tears streaming down her face.

‘Father… why… why back then… didn’t you eat me too…’

‘Yae… Yae…’ The demon mumbled her name. Yae froze—her resistance weakened.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Footsteps crunched through snow nearby; a sword slash swept across, severing one of the demon’s arms.

‘Aaaah!!’ The demon screamed in pain and recoiled to the side.

The newcomer was Fukui Yoshiyuki and Kotohira Shinobu; Zero had already parted from them earlier, seemingly off on some task.

Kotohira Shinobu: ‘What a coincidence, Miss Yae!’

Yae: ‘!!!’

‘Shinobu, look after her. I’ll handle this,’ Fukui Yoshiyuki said, expressionless as always.

‘Fukui-san, let me do it—I’ve just developed a new poison. It’ll let him die without pain!’

‘No!’ Fukui Yoshiyuki raised his Nichirin blade, ready to strike—when Yae shouted: ‘Wait… wait!’

‘Why wait? You know perfectly well—he’s already a monster! A demon! Yae, face reality! He’s no longer your father!’

With that, Fukui Yoshiyuki charged forward—the demon had fully regenerated.

A fleshy axe grew from its arm, swung swiftly toward him.

Fukui Yoshiyuki didn’t dodge—he raised his blade to block.

But it was a feint. As he blocked the axe, the demon struck again—a sharp bone spike erupted from its elbow, aimed straight at Fukui’s neck.

Fukui’s eyes turned icy—he unleashed his sword technique.

Water Breathing. Fourth Form: Striking Tide!

A series of attacks like tidal waves—his Nichirin blade slashed upward, severing the demon’s arm and shoulder. He stepped forward, flashed behind the demon, and decapitated it in one motion.

As the demon’s head tumbled through the air, it caught sight of its daughter—and remembered the past.

It spoke one last phrase to Yae, heard by Fukui Yoshiyuki.

‘It’s over… finally over…’ Yae watched her demon father be slain, vanishing from this world.

She took off her boot, picked up her rifle, pressed the barrel against her chin, curled her toes around the trigger, preparing to kill herself.

She muttered: ‘I can finally be free…’

‘Shinobu!’ Fukui shouted. Shinobu reacted instantly—but it was already too late.

Click!

Her toe pulled the trigger—but the rifle didn’t fire.

Shinobu lunged and tackled Yae to the ground.

‘Heh… heh… why…? Why now…? I’ve taken such good care of it… Let me die… heh…’ Yae couldn’t accept it.

‘Miss Yae…’

‘Leave me alone! My father became a man-eating demon! Taro and everyone are gone… I’ve lost everyone! I have nothing left!… You could never understand!! Just leave me alone!’

Fukui Yoshiyuki walked over from afar and said only one thing to Yae: ‘There’s a message… meant for you… “Live.”’

Yae: ‘…heh… what are you talking about… I don’t believe that nonsense…’

Fukui Yoshiyuki: ‘Believe it or not—it’s none of my concern. Shinobu, let’s go.’

As they left, Shinobu said to Yae: ‘Miss Yae, please be strong.’

No sooner had she spoken than a dog’s bark echoed from afar.

Woof! Woof!!

It was Taro—he hadn’t died, but had lost one front paw; the wound had been treated and bandaged.

Yae: ‘Taro…’

Woof!

Taro hobbled over on three legs, collapsing into Yae’s arms.

Yae was stunned—she didn’t understand what was happening.

‘Could it be…?’ She turned her gaze to the direction they’d come from—a young man with white hair in a black trench coat approached. It was Zero.

‘You saved Taro, didn’t you? And that gunshot—you fired it, didn’t you?’ Yae asked.

Zero merely nodded, then turned and walked away.

‘Miss Yae, live.’

Watching the three depart, Yae clutched Taro and finally broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.

Taro sensed his master’s sorrow, licked her face with his tongue—as if comforting her.

In truth, Zero had parted from Fukui and Shinobu to treat Taro’s wound.

Earlier, the demon had bitten off one of Taro’s forelegs. Zero had used a drone to switch from high-explosive rounds to paralyzing rounds, striking the demon and temporarily immobilizing it.

He then seized the moment to rescue Taro. Though Taro lost a leg, his life was saved.

But he hadn’t killed the demon—he kept it alive so Yae would face reality, and stop running from it.

Zero himself didn’t understand why he did this. Perhaps something had changed him…

What followed was what Yae had done—shooting the demon in the head…

Yae cried for a while, then calmed down.

She picked up her rifle, wondering why it had failed—then saw a thick clump of dried blood caked on the bolt.

‘So… it was Father’s blood… dried here…’

‘There’s a message…’

‘…meant for you…’

“Since taking a life… huh…”

“Miss Yaeko, please be strong!”

“Miss Yaeko, survive!”

“Thank you all—Mr. Tomioka, Miss Kotoha, Mr. Zero… and thank you… Father…”

The sun rose in the east, illuminating the entire forested mountain.

Yaeko felt the warm sunlight, her hair disheveled, tears still clinging to her corners.

She found a better spot and built a wooden tablet for her father.

At this moment, she understood what she must do.

She slung her hunting rifle over her back, cradled the injured Taro in her arms, and said: “Taro, let’s go home! Otherwise, others will worry!”

“Woof, woof!” Taro wagged his tail, tongue lolling, equally delighted.

She cast one final glance at her father’s wooden tablet, turned away, and under the sun’s glow, her figure stretched long behind her…

…

Zero and his group left the forest and returned to the inn.

They found a guesthouse, secured their rooms, and began to rest.

Tomioka Giyuu lay on the tatami, staring at the ceiling, recalling the words his mentor, Rengoku Saengi, had spoken to him as a child:

“Don’t waver, Giyuu.”

“Water Breathing is a defense that can counter all attacks! To reach the pinnacle, you must resolve to maintain your breath from start to finish…”

“If you wish to become the strongest swordsman of the Demon Slayer Corps, if you wish to become a Pillar, hold onto this heart!”

“Like water’s surface—remain unruffled!”

…

Night fell.

Before setting out, the three visited a restaurant to eat.

“Hehe~ Hmm… Mr. Tomioka, you’ve changed!” Kotoha said, eating noodles.

“I also think Giyuu has changed…” Zero agreed.

Tomioka Giyuu was puzzled—why were they saying this?

Tomioka Giyuu: “Changed? How?”

Kotoha: “Hmm… I can’t quite put my finger on it. I always thought you were cold to the core… But the way you spoke to Miss Yaeko—that was your own way of showing care. I truly learned something! Hahaha!”

Zero: “I think it’s more than that… Your way of speaking is gentler now, isn’t it? Probably because of Tanjiro, Giyuu?”

These words made Tomioka Giyuu recall again his encounter with Tanjiro, his family, and Nezuko, turned into a demon.

“Nezuko is different! She won’t eat people!”

That boy… his family had been slaughtered by demons!

His family survived thanks to Zero’s timely rescue, but his sister became a demon!

Even Tomioka Giyuu wondered whether his judgment back then had been right.

“No matter what happens, my heart will not waver. We are the eleven strongest swordsmen! As our name implies, we are the ‘Pillars’ who slay demons!”

“Precisely because we bear something to uphold, we are Pillars!”

These words left Kotoha utterly baffled—she couldn’t believe such things were coming from Tomioka Giyuu’s mouth!

Zero’s thoughts were much the same as Tomioka Giyuu’s: if comparing the Pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps to the Twelve Kizuki, it was this:

【The Pillar stands firm, holding up the heavens!】

【The string snaps, then is replaced!】

And his own codename, Zero, had a reason.

Zero could not remember his name or his past, but he always remembered the meaning of Zero.

After he officially became a Time Patrol Officer, the original Zero stepped down and passed the title to Zero.

The original Zero had once told Zero: Zero means beginning from nothing. The past becomes history; the present is the start of a new history! All things in the world begin from zero!

Zero had drifted into this alternate world through a time tunnel—thus, his life here would begin from zero.

(Rem: Staring~)

(Author: Cough… Sorry, crossover slip!)

“Customer, your udon is ready! Please enjoy.” The owner placed a bowl of udon before Zero. Zero thanked him and began to eat.

“No matter what happens, I will not waver!” Tomioka Giyuu declared firmly.

“Sir, your salmon and radish is ready! Please enjoy!” The owner placed the dish before Tomioka Giyuu. Seeing the salmon and radish, his heart swelled with delight—and his resolve wavered.

His own words moments ago felt like a slap across the face.

Zero / Kotoha: “Didn’t you say you wouldn’t waver…?”

Munch munch!

Salmon and radish was Tomioka Giyuu’s favorite dish. At the sight of this delicacy, he broke into his strange smile, devouring it loudly and without dignity, shocking the owner, Zero, and Kotoha!

Zero: ⊙﹏⊙∥

Kotoha: ∑(??д??lll)

Tomioka Giyuu: “What’s wrong?”

Kotoha: “Nothing… it’s just… I’ve never seen Mr. Tomioka smile before… it’s…”

Zero: “Uh… could you please not look at us while eating…? Please…”

Owner: ?(?'?'??)?

…………

【Tomioka Giyuu: I’m not disliked!】

Tomioka Giyuu: I’m not disliked