Chapter 41: Confession

(There’s a hint of dog food here.)

“Zero, can you come with me somewhere?”

After the birthday party ended, Butterfly Kanae helped Zero and Kamado Kotoha tidy up the house.

She stopped Zero alone as they were leaving.

“Where?”

“You’ll find out when you get there.”

Under Kanae’s guidance, they arrived at a dense forest.

Through the forest, they reached a cliff.

From here, the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters could be seen—it was quite vast.

“This is a scenic spot I discovered by chance. Sometimes after missions, I come here.”

Zero looked down from here too; under the moonlight, the view was uniquely beautiful.

The evening breeze stirred Kanae’s hair and the butterfly-patterned haori on her body, and with the bright moon and scattered stars hanging high above, she looked utterly beautiful.

Zero: “It really is beautiful.”

Butterfly Kanae: “Zero… do you think demons and humans can truly coexist?”

These words plunged Zero into thought.

Coexistence between humans and demons?

Zero had never believed such a thing possible—just like the monstrous beasts in the stars, which killed humans on sight and even slaughtered their own kind.

But now, he wasn’t so sure—could demons and humans truly coexist?

Because of Juu Shi , Yuushirou, and Nezuko, he suddenly felt it wasn’t entirely impossible… but would it really happen?

Honestly, demons were once human. If their willpower was strong enough to suppress the urge to devour people, then why not?

Yet in reality, those who became demons always ended up on an irreversible path…

Originally, Zero planned to find a way back home and leave Xiao Yue behind, regardless of this world’s fate.

Now, he felt he had changed…

“Maybe…”

Hearing this, Butterfly Kanae turned her head to look at Zero beside her and smiled faintly.

She turned and placed one hand on Zero’s face.

Zero was startled by Kanae’s action but did not resist.

Butterfly Kanae: “Zero, can you answer me a few questions?”

Zero: “What questions?”

Butterfly Kanae: “Is there someone you love in your heart?”

Zero: “Yes. Her name is Luo Li.”

Butterfly Kanae: “Luo Li… that’s a beautiful name. Where is she now?”

Zero turned and pointed to the sky: “Far away, among the stars.”

Butterfly Kanae: “Is that so… Zero, I…”

Zero: “Kanae, I’m not from this world. I’m not even called Zero—I’ve forgotten my real name and my past. And I… have lived for over two thousand five hundred years, perhaps even longer.”

“Whether you believe it or not, I’m not an ordinary person—but I am still human!”

Butterfly Kanae showed no great shock; she looked into Zero’s eyes and answered seriously: “I believe you.”

“Zero, I…” Butterfly Kanae struggled inwardly. After hearing Zero’s words, she finally made up her mind and spoke the words she had long wanted to say: “Zero, I love you.”

Before Zero could speak, Kanae pressed her finger against his lips, feeling the coolness of her skin and Kanae’s closeness.

“You don’t need to answer me right away. From the moment I first saw you, I knew you were different. I just wanted to tell you my true feelings.”

“I only hope you’ll leave a place for me in your heart, and that when you leave, you’ll remember me—that once, in this world, a girl loved you, and wasn’t just a passing shadow in your life.”

“So, Zero, will you stay with me and walk through the rest of my life in this world?”

Kanae’s words stirred a chord deep within Zero, leaving him Jiujiubunengpingjing .

Seeing Zero motionless, she thought he had rejected her, and her heart ached with sorrow.

Yet she still pretended nothing was wrong, keeping her gentle smile.

She leaned close and kissed him lightly on the lips.

That kiss brought many hazy memories to Zero’s mind.

In those memories, a girl had once said nearly the same words to him.

“Bai Yue, I only hope you remember: in this world, there is still a girl who loves you. Please don’t lose yourself in the darkness…”

He felt the softness of Kanae’s lips and the lingering fragrance.

His heart remained un Pingjing .

After the kiss, Kanae regained her composure and said: “Ah, Mr. Zero, we should head back… ah～”

Before she finished, Zero grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his arms.

He cupped her face with both hands and kissed her deeply.

Boom!

Kanae’s mind went blank, yet her heart overflowed with sweetness.

A tear of happiness slipped from her eye.

She wrapped her arms around Zero’s waist and let him kiss her.

Zero had never kissed a girl before, and his movements were clumsy—but wasn’t Kanae just as inexperienced?

Long moments passed before their lips parted.

A glistening strand of saliva stretched between them.

Kanae’s eyes were hazy, her cheeks flushed red, her ears burning hot!

Both their lips were slightly swollen.

After a long silence, Zero spoke first: “Kanae, if one day I leave… will you come with me?”

“I…”

“I know what you’re worried about—it’s your sister, Shinobu, right? I can take her with us, or I can bring you back to visit her.”

Kanae could no longer hold back her joy: “I will!”

She embraced Zero again, resting her head on his shoulder.

They felt each other’s warmth, heartbeats, and body scent.

Snap!

Just as they shared this tender moment, a branch snapped nearby.

They turned to see a figure fleeing in panic.

They both recognized that silhouette.

Kanroji Mitsuri!

“How did Mitsuri end up here? Did she see everything just now?” Kanae looked as if caught in the act, flustered.

“It’s fine. This isn’t something shameful.”

Kanae snapped out of it, realizing she had been overly tense.

“You’re right… hehe～”

Seeing Kanae act like this again, Zero couldn’t help but smile wryly as he gently wiped the tear from her eye.

“Let’s go. We should return.”

“Mm.”

Hand in hand, they left the forest.

…

Kanroji Mitsuri fled the scene in disarray, her heart in turmoil—she had seen everything.

Earlier, after Kanae’s birthday party ended, she had returned, intending to speak to Zero alone, and happened upon Kanae and Zero.

Driven by curiosity, she quietly followed them, wanting to find out what was happening.

She overheard their conversation and learned some of Zero’s secrets.

She had never imagined Zero had lived so long!

Yet his appearance gave no hint of it.

Still, Mitsuri desperately wanted to know how Zero felt about her.

Then she saw Kanae kiss Zero—of her own accord.

As she prepared to slip away quietly, she accidentally stepped on a dry branch.

Turning back and seeing they had noticed her, she panicked and fled the forest as if chased.

When Mitsuri returned to the Demon Slayer Corps, she went alone to her quarters.

Her expression was like that of someone heartbroken.

“Mr. Zero…”

Mitsuri joined the Demon Slayer Corps to find a husband stronger than herself who wouldn’t despise her.

But now…

Seeing Kanae and Zero together, she felt something she couldn’t name—as if she had lost something precious…

…

Zero delivered Butterfly Shinobu to the Butterfly House, then returned to his residence under her lingering gaze.

Her eyes never left Zero’s receding figure, not even noticing the two standing behind her: Butterfly Shinobu and Kanao Tsuyuri.

“Sister?”

“Huh? …Shinobu? Kanao? When did you get here?”

Butterfly Shinobu gave her sister a weary glance, sensing she had changed—as if her heart had just stirred with first love.

And it seemed something joyful had happened to her.

“Sister, Kanao and I have been standing here for a long time. We called you several times and you didn’t respond.”

“Oh my, I’m so sorry! Hehe~”

Seeing her sister once again try to dodge the question with childish cuteness, Butterfly Shinobu rolled her eyes and said: “Sister, don’t think you can sweet-talk your way out of this! I’m not a child anymore. Tell me honestly—what happened to make you so distracted?”

“Nothing at all, little sister. I’ve always been like this. You’re imagining things~”

“Hehe~ Sister, you’re still refusing to confess, huh? I know your weakness, you know~ Hehe…” Butterfly Shinobu, seeing her sister still wouldn’t speak, slowly extended her “evil” hands toward her.

Seeing this, Butterfly Shinobu immediately crossed her arms over her chest to shield herself, then turned and sprinted into her room.

“Sister, you won’t escape tonight!”

Seeing this, Butterfly Shinobu quickly chased after her.

Leaving Kanao Tsuyuri standing at the door, bewildered in the wind…

Not long after, sounds emanating from Butterfly Shinobu’s room stirred vivid imaginations.

“Huh?~ Little sister… Hahaha… You… you’re too gentle…!”

“Will you tell me now?”

“I… I won’t tell… Hahaha… Don’t… don’t tickle there… It’s… it’s too ticklish…”

“If you don’t tell me, I won’t stop!”

“No… Hahaha… It’s too ticklish… Ahahaha…”

“Hehe~ Sister, I didn’t know you were this sensitive!”

“Don’t… don’t tickle me… Hahaha…”

“Then tell me the truth!”

“No… I won’t tell… Hahaha… Where are you putting your hand… Ah~?”

“Sister, I didn’t know you were this… well-endowed…”

“Nooo~…”

That night, some patients in the Butterfly House heard those sounds and endured a torturous night…

…

The next day.

Zero rose early, preparing to patrol his assigned territory.

Unexpectedly, along a bamboo grove, he encountered Shinobu’s brother, Mitsuri Kanroji.

In his hands were two wooden swords—as if he had been waiting there for a long time.

“Zero!”

“Mitsuri, what do you want?”

“Come with me. I have something to say to you!”

Without waiting for Zero’s response, he led him straight to an open clearing.

“Fight me! Pillars are allowed to spar!” He tossed one of the wooden swords to Zero.

Zero caught it instinctively, puzzled by his intent.

Before he could ask why, Mitsuri’s attack came.

Wind Breathing. First Form: Dust Whirlwind Slash!

In an instant, Mitsuri closed the distance at high speed, leaving behind rotating wind blades capable of slicing the ground clean.

At the very moment Mitsuri’s strike neared, Zero stepped back a fraction and sidestepped the attack.

He then swung his wooden sword horizontally, striking directly at Mitsuri’s waist.

Mitsuri’s face twisted in fury, instantly shifting his stance, twisting his body low to the ground to evade the blow.

He then pushed off with one hand, launching a spinning kick straight at Zero.

As a master of Wind Breathing, Mitsuri could wrap the wind blades generated by his technique around his limbs as martial arts, and even a graze could cut the skin.

But to Zero, this meant nothing.

His mechanical left hand shot out, gripping Mitsuri’s ankle and blocking the kick.

Then, with a sudden surge of force, he flung Mitsuri away.

Zero followed immediately, swinging his wooden sword upward in a direct strike!

Wind Breathing. Second Form: Claw Claws: Kōkufū!

After landing, Mitsuri swung his wooden sword, unleashing four claw-shaped wind blades capable of slicing through blades.

Whoosh!

Zero’s figure vanished before his eyes, leaving only four claw marks on the ground.

Suddenly, a powerful sword aura appeared behind him—Mitsuri had no time to dodge and activated another technique.

Wind Breathing. Fourth Form: Rising Sandstorm!

Mitsuri spun around, swinging his wooden sword upward to release five wind blades.

Zero bent his body backward ninety degrees to evade, but Mitsuri’s attacks came in relentless succession, leaving no opening.

Wind Breathing. Eighth Form: First Blazing Wind Slash!

With blinding speed, he rushed forward, spinning his blade in a full circle around himself, summoning a powerful spiral of wind.

The technique was formidable—but his opponent was Zero.

At the instant Mitsuri was about to unleash the technique, Zero leaped backward, creating a small gap.

Then, with a powerful push from his legs, he charged forward again!

Before Mitsuri could activate another technique, Zero was already before him, striking the back of his knee, elbow, and shoulder blade three times with the tip of his wooden sword.

The three impacts rendered half of Mitsuri’s body numb, as if paralyzed.

Before he could process it, Zero’s next attack came.

A knee strike sent Mitsuri flying into the air.

Helpless, Mitsuri forced himself to drag his body, using his other hand to activate another technique.

Wind Breathing. Fifth Form: Autumn Wind Descending the Mountain!

This was a wide-area technique: Mitsuri swung his free hand overhead, summoning a massive rotating wind blade around himself.

But due to the temporary paralysis of half his body, the technique’s power was drastically reduced.

Seeing this, Zero slid along the ground, executing a low sweep to reach Mitsuri’s landing point.

He planted his hands on the ground, pushed up, then wrapped his legs around Mitsuri’s waist and slammed him hard onto the earth.

Mitsuri, now incapacitated, could no longer continue the sparring.

The numbness in half his body had already begun to fade.

Recalling the battle, Mitsuri could not believe he had lost.

Over the years, he had pushed himself through brutal training—not just physical conditioning, but also relentless practice of his Breathing Style and sword techniques.

All to one day defeat Zero.

Even if he couldn’t win, he at least wanted to fight him to a draw.

But now, he had been utterly defeated, with no chance to counter. He couldn’t understand—how could Zero possess such vast combat experience and skill?!

“Tch. I lost.” Mitsuri, though hot-tempered, was honest—he admitted defeat when he lost.

Besides, he had clearly felt that Zero hadn’t even used his full strength.

Zero said nothing, only walked up to him and extended his hand.

Mitsuri took Zero’s hand and stood up. “Take good care of Shinobu. She’s a wonderful girl. Don’t betray her—or I’ll kill you.”

Hearing this, Zero understood why Mitsuri had challenged him—it was because of Butterfly Shinobu.

It seemed Mitsuri deeply cared for her, though it was clearly one-sided.

“I don’t need you to tell me. I swear on my life—I will treat her well.”

“Tch. Get lost! Annoying bastard, don’t interfere with my training anymore!”

Yet Zero could tell—he simply wanted to be alone.

As he left, he patted Mitsuri’s shoulder, then walked away without looking back.

Watching Zero’s retreating figure, then gazing at the sky, Mitsuri thought: Shinobu, I wish you happiness!

“Zero, one day, I will defeat you!”

…