Chapter 46: The Awkward Funeral

【Name: Sangdao Ciwu Lang—Male】

【Age: Over 70】

【Title: Former Thunder Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps】

【Old Friend: Rintetsu Sajōji】

【Disciples: Kaku Gaku, Azui Zenitsu】

【Breathing Style: Thunder Breathing】

【Biography: Sangdao Ciwu Lang was the former Thunder Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps. At age 35, he fought a powerful demon and severed one of his own legs to survive, later retiring to Taoshan to train students in Thunder Breathing.

He first took Kaku Gaku as his disciple; later, while walking through town, he encountered Zenitsu, who had been swindled by a woman and left in massive debt. He paid off Zenitsu’s debts and brought him to Taoshan to become his disciple.】

“Hmm… so this old man is Sangdao Ciwu Lang… former Thunder Pillar…” Zero thought.

He then scanned the yellow-haired boy’s information again.

【Name: Azui Zenitsu—Male】

【Age: 15】

【Status: Demon Slayer Corps Swordsman (Unassessed)】

【Trainer: Sangdao Ciwu Lang】

【Senior Brother: Kaku Gaku】

【Breathing Style: Thunder Breathing, First Form】

【Special Ability: Hearing】

【Biography: Azui Zenitsu was abandoned by his parents and lived alone in the city for fifteen years. At age fifteen, the girl he secretly loved tricked him out of his money to run away with another man, leaving him deeply in debt.

The former Thunder Pillar, Sangdao Ciwu Lang, happened upon him, immediately recognized his potential, paid off his debts, and brought him to Taoshan to become his disciple.

He is extremely timid and cowardly, constantly believing he is about to die; to avoid dying unmarried, he constantly pesters girls to marry him.

Yet he is kind-hearted and will stand up for friends and girls! He possesses exceptional “hearing,” capable of hearing thoughts and distinguishing human voices from demon voices.】

“Huh? This kid… how to put it… his behavior seems a bit… perverted…”

The 【Analysis Glasses】 displayed the yellow-haired boy’s information, leaving Zero slightly stunned.

If he passed the assessment and joined the Demon Slayer Corps, and then encountered any of the female swordsmen, wouldn’t that be like a wolf among sheep?

But it was only a passing thought—he’d be hunted down if he actually did anything, since every female in the Demon Slayer Corps was no ordinary woman.

Take Kananohu Kurihara, for example. Though she’s always quiet, in battle, only Pillar-level swordsmen can match her.

And Kanzaki Aoi of Butterfly House—though merely a nurse, every patient in her ward fears her.

If Zenitsu ever met Kanzaki Aoi... tsk tsk tsk...

“Then again, Kanami is my lover, and Shinobu is my sister-in-law… so Kananohu Kurihara is also… uh… this family hierarchy feels messy…”

As Zero reviewed the data, the yellow-haired boy and the old man both turned to look at him.

“So beautiful… like a… spirit!”

“Hello, may I ask who you are…”

Before the old man finished speaking, the yellow-haired boy shot forward like lightning, grabbed Zero’s thigh, and sobbed: “Beautiful sister, please marry me! I’m going to die soon! I don’t want to die unmarried! Please help me, grant me this wish—marry me! Waaahhh…”

Clinging to Zero’s leg, he wept and sniveled, smearing snot and tears onto Zero’s pants.

Zero: (〝▼ヘ▼)!!!

Zero, about to rage, considered whether to just cane this kid to death right there?!

Fine, you cling to my leg and cry—but why smear snot on my pants?!

And fine, you’re a kid asking me to marry you—

But even then, I’m a man! You’re proposing to a man?!

As Zero reached for the 【Dark Alloy Paralysis Gun】 strapped to his other leg, the old man swung his cane and cracked the boy’s skull, knocking him unconscious.

Duang!!!

The old man turned to Zero with an apologetic expression: “My apologies—my disciple has caused you trouble.”

Zero, seeing this, could say nothing and replied: “It’s fine. Just tell him to be more careful next time. By the way, do you know Rintetsu Sajōji?”

Upon hearing Rintetsu Sajōji’s name, the old man guessed Zero was also from the Demon Slayer Corps—likely Rintetsu’s adopted son, or at least connected to him.

“Rintetsu Sajōji is my old friend. Are you also a Demon Slayer Corps swordsman?”

Zero answered: “I am the Zero Pillar. Last night, I encountered an unexpected situation and ended up here by accident.”

“So you’re the Zero Pillar! The one who slew Upper Moons and fought Kokushibo! Hahaha, I never thought I’d have the honor to meet you!”

“You know me?”

“No, I don’t. But the Lord once had a Messenger Crow deliver your deeds to all trainers. I planned to visit you when I had time, but circumstances delayed me.

Oh, by the way, I am Sangdao Ciwu Lang, former Thunder Pillar, now a Thunder Breathing trainer. And… ah… this is my second disciple, Azui Zenitsu. Please forgive his earlier behavior.”

Zero waved his hand, indicating it was no issue.

“Zero Pillar…”

“Just call me Zero.”

“Hahaha, then I shall not refuse your kindness, Zero. Would you care to come inside for a rest?”

“Then I shall trouble you.”

“Not at all, hahaha…”

With that, Sangdao Ciwu Lang dragged Zenitsu by the back of his robe and led Zero back to the Taoshan house.

“Zero, you said last night you encountered an unexpected situation—what happened?”

“I met Upper One. We fought. I accidentally fell into Kokushibo’s stronghold.”

“Ah… so you fell into Kokushibo’s stronghold… Kokushibo’s stronghold?!!”

Only now did Sangdao Ciwu Lang register what Zero had said—he staggered, nearly falling, and his grip on Zenitsu’s robe loosened.

Zenitsu’s head struck the ground again, slipping into secondary unconsciousness…

“Y-you… you didn’t… you didn’t do anything to Kokushibo, right? No, no—did Kokushibo do anything to you…?” Sangdao Ciwu Lang stammered; the weight of this news was overwhelming.

His breathing quickened. After forcing himself to calm, he rephrased: “Did Kokushibo hurt you? Are you injured? Do you need help?”

Zero said nothing—only smiled faintly.

Sangdao Ciwu Lang realized his mistake, embarrassed: “Of course—you’re standing here. How could anything be wrong? I was hasty. Forgive me, hahaha…”

“No matter. I may need to rest here for a day to reorganize my gear. Then I’ll return to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters and report this. Thank you for your hospitality, Sangdao-san.”

“Of course! It’s my honor! Hahaha…”

(Azui Zenitsu: Unconscious…)

…

Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters, Zero’s residence.

Much time had passed since news of Zero’s fall into Kokushibo’s stronghold—his fate still unknown.

Kananami Kanami sat at the table in Zero’s room, recalling the past, stroking the bracelet on her wrist, and finally broke down, weeping uncontrollably onto the desk.

Xiao Yue lay on the bed, eyes tightly shut.

At first, she refused to believe the news. Then, overwhelmed, her mind activated its protective mechanism, plunging her into “sleep.”

Now, a full day and night had passed. The search teams had returned.

At the scene, they found only the scythe engraved with “Demon Annihilation,” a torn black hooded cloak, and…

A large pool of blood.

Seeing this, Kananami Kanami had no choice but to accept the truth.

A heavy, suffocating silence fell over the entire Demon Slayer Corps headquarters…

It was decided: the day after tomorrow, a funeral would be held for Zero—not only for him, but to comfort everyone in the headquarters.

“Zero… you promised me you’d stay with me forever… why did you leave me first…? Waaah… why… why…? Waaahhh…”

Kananami Kanami wept bitterly at the desk. Outside the door, the Kamado family stood in silent grief.

"Zero... child... why didn't you think of yourself more?" Kamado Kōshi whispered, tears streaming down her face as she covered her mouth and sobbed quietly.

Takeo, Shigeru, and Hana, holding Rokuta, stood silently beside them, tears falling, hearts heavy.

To this family, Zero was both benefactor and kin.

When kin is gone, the pain is unbearable.

Kanroji Mitsuri arrived at Zero’s residence. From downstairs, she heard the sounds from above—but dared not enter.

Her heart ached. She had planned to speak with Kanami first, then find Zero—but that night, she received the Messenger Crow Snow’s message…

“Zero-san…”

…

Taoshan.

“Zero… Zero-nii, you’re a Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps, right?”

After regaining consciousness and learning Zero was male, Zenitsu became furious, shouting: “Why aren’t you a woman?! Then I could’ve married you!”

But he soon calmed down. Seeing this, Sangdao Ciwu Lang quietly removed his cane from Zenitsu’s head and went to prepare lunch.

“Yes, what is it?” Zero sat at the table inside the Taoshan house, using the 【Analysis Glasses】 to inspect his gear as he answered Zenitsu.

He also wrote down notes from the events in the Infinite Castle.

“Zero-nii, since you’re a Pillar, please ask Grandpa to stop training me! It’s terrifying! Even if I join the Demon Slayer Corps as a demon hunter, I’ll die soon anyway…”

“Zenitsu!!”

Zero snapped. Zenitsu instantly fell silent, trembling, head bowed, eyes fixed on his toes.

“Zenitsu, are you afraid of death?”

“I… am… yes…”

Seeing this, Zero sighed helplessly; he could tell Zenitsu was a capable person, with no lack of talent.

Through the [Analytical Glasses], he learned Zenitsu was also deeply kind, willing to stand up for girls and friends!

But now, his personality seemed otherwise…

It was as if he lacked confidence in everything he did…

“Zenitsu, I can see you’re strong too— you just lack confidence. If you believe in yourself, you can do things others cannot!”

“But I’m truly useless. I’ve only mastered First Form of Thunder Breathing. My senior learned all the other forms—and even became a Demon Slayer…”

“Zenitsu, you keep saying you’re useless. Then tell me— where exactly are you useless? So what if you only know First Form of Thunder Breathing? Look at me—I don’t even know any Breathing Style, yet here I am: a Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps!”

Seeing Zenitsu still standing there, head bowed, unmoved, Zero let out a faint sigh—he had no more solutions.

He turned to resume his tasks, when suddenly a flash of insight struck his mind.

He asked Zenitsu: “Zenitsu, tell me— what kind of person is your senior, Kyojuro?”

“My senior has great talent—he’s incredibly strong. He knows every form of Thunder Breathing except First Form! Sometimes he looks down on me, but I want to work hard, prove myself to him, fight beside him…”

Hearing this, Zero fell into deep thought…

Somewhere deep inside, he felt Kyojuro was more complicated than he seemed—but he couldn’t say exactly how.

And there was a strange sense of familiarity, as if he’d met this Kyojuro before…

But no matter how hard he thought, he couldn’t recall—so he gave up.

“Zenitsu, I won’t give you any help. No one’s path is smooth. Some things you must experience yourself to grow. You only lack confidence. If you rely too much on others, you’ll truly be worthless!”

“But…”

“No ‘buts,’ Zenitsu! You only lack confidence—you’ll understand!”

Zenitsu’s personality and behavior reminded Zero of Tanjiro. Though some aspects were opposite, there was no denying these two boys possessed something extraordinary.

“Zenitsu, there are many beautiful, lovely girls in the Demon Slayer Corps~ If you become a Demon Slayer…”

“Huh? R-really?… Like you?” Before Zero finished speaking, Zenitsu blurted out excitedly, his face lighting up with a gentle, hopeful smile.

“Uh…” Zero was speechless—mention girls, and Zenitsu instantly reverted to his usual self…

Fine, I’ll take back what I just said. Pretend I never said it…

The next day.

After preparing everything, Zero prepared to return to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters. Before leaving, he waved goodbye to Sangdao Ciwulang and Zenitsu, who had a roasted chestnut on his head.

Zero didn’t want to return here—last night, Zenitsu had kept pestering him, asking what the Demon Slayer girls were like.

Whether he could find one willing to marry him, and so on.

It drove him to despair…

Helplessly, he turned his palm into a blade and struck Zenitsu’s nape, knocking him unconscious—finally granting him peace.

But the next morning, for some reason, Zenitsu had fallen asleep hugging him.

He tolerated that for now—but while sleeping, Zenitsu mumbled things like “so soft, so fragrant.”

In anger, Zero gave him a direct roasted chestnut to the head.

That’s how the earlier scene came to be…

Zero now wondered—had Zenitsu been single so long he’d start chasing men too?

He spent another day traveling back to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters.

But when he saw the headquarters draped in white silk banners, he froze—completely bewildered, unable to comprehend what had happened.

Whose funeral was this?

Curious, he stepped forward to investigate—and was left speechless.

“So… this is my funeral?!”

One of the Hidden Division members in the back row felt someone behind him—he turned around and screamed!

“A ghost!!!”

…