Chapter 47

The Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters was filled with a solemn and sorrowful atmosphere on this day.

White mourning cloth was hung everywhere.

At the Butterfly Mansion, a long table was set up with a row of offerings, and in the very center was a small wooden spirit tablet with 【Grave of Zero Pillar Zero】 written on it.

In front of the small spirit tablet was a folded and repaired black hooded cloak.

Behind it were white wreaths.

In front of the table stood the Nichirin sickle engraved with 【Destroy Demons】.

To the side, Kanae Kocho was wearing white clothes, sobbing from time to time.

Tears slid down her cheeks, and she was very sad.

Shinobu Kocho stood beside Kanae Kocho, constantly comforting her sister, but her own heart was just as heartbroken.

Similarly, the Kamado family stood beside the two sisters.

The remaining nine Pillars stood in two rows in front of the small spirit tablet. (Including the former Flame Pillar)

Kagaya Ubuyashiki and his wife came to the small spirit tablet and bowed three times, then turned to the people behind them and said, "Today is the saddest day for our Demon Slayer Corps. We have lost an important Pillar. He was not only our family but also one of the pillars in our hearts."

"He supported half the sky of the Demon Slayer Corps' intelligence, provided the Demon Slayer Corps with fresh blood, and even more, his slaying of an Upper Rank demon made the gears of fate for the Demon Slayer Corps turn again after a hundred years!"

"He once encountered the Demon King Muzan Kibutsuji, not only saving his family but also boosting the morale of the Demon Slayer Corps to an unprecedented high!"

"He is the Zero Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps—Zero."

"Just a few days ago, he unfortunately fell into Muzan Kibutsuji's base and was tragically killed..."

"Now, I implore my swordsman children to offer our respects, let him rest in peace, and let us all carry his will... and live on!"

After the eulogy, Kagaya Ubuyashiki picked up a white rose in his hand, placed it in front of the small spirit tablet, and bowed again.

Subsequently, the Pillar-level swordsmen also picked up the white roses in their hands, placed them in front of the small spirit tablet, bowed, and then bowed to Kanae Kocho and the Kamado family.

They returned the bows as well.

Next were the nursing staff of the Butterfly Mansion, followed by the swordsmen and the members of the "Kakushi" unit...

Some swordsmen were unable to return for the funeral due to missions, but they also entrusted their friends in the Demon Slayer Corps to offer their respects on their behalf.

After all this was done, they stood in rows again, lowered their heads, and observed a moment of silence...

However, what they didn't notice was that Zero had also rushed back at this moment.

Seeing a group of people standing neatly in a row in the distance, he was initially confused about what was happening, but when he saw the small spirit tablet not far away, he understood what was going on.

"Uh..."

"So, this is my funeral?"

The Kakushi member in the last row heard the voice behind him. When he turned around and looked, his eyes became increasingly terrified, thinking he had seen a ghost.

He was so scared that he collapsed, sitting directly on the ground, and screamed!

"A ghost!!!"

It was this scream that broke the silence at the scene.

"What's going on?"

"Where is the ghost? Could it be that there are already evil demons that can move in the sun?"

"Prepare for battle!!!"

"Damn demon vermin! How dare you come to disturb us at a time like this!"

"Protect the Master, swordsmen below the Pillar level, evacuate all personnel who cannot fight!"

All the Pillar-level swordsmen were on edge, rushing to the front; they had to protect the Master and everyone present!

But when they rushed to the front and saw Zero, they suddenly became wide-eyed and tongue-tied, each of them becoming somewhat sluggish...

As if what was happening before them was too extraordinary...

"Hey, hey, hey! What are you planning to do?! I'm telling you, don't do anything reckless!"

Zero slapped his forehead helplessly. Seeing their stance, each of them was murderous, as if he were some heinous villain.

"Zero, you guy, now you... are you human or a ghost?" Sanemi Shinazugawa asked, but he still maintained his sword-drawing posture.

"Of course I'm human. Don't you see my shadow? Besides, evil demons can't appear in the sun at all, right?!"

Everyone then noticed the elongated shadow cast by the sun at Zero's feet.

And he was right; evil demons indeed could not appear in the sun.

Seeing this, everyone put away their weapons.

But they also had many questions in their hearts: How did Zero escape from Muzan Kibutsuji's base?

That was, after all, the evil demons' base, which must have gathered all the Upper Rank demons!

With such a powerful lineup, how did he escape?

Could it be that Muzan Kibutsuji sent him away personally?

That was also unlikely!

Just at this moment, a figure flashed by quickly, throwing herself into Zero's arms and hugging him tightly.

Feeling the small, delicate body in his arms, Zero also reached out to hug her, patting her back gently with one hand, and said tenderly, "Sorry, Kanae, I made you worry!"

"I thought... thought... I would never see you again... I was really... so scared..."

Kanae rested her head on Zero's shoulder, her tears wetting his shoulder, her body still trembling slightly, radiating feelings of unease, fear, and sadness.

After comforting Kanae, he lifted her face and wiped away her tears with his thumb.

She looked very haggard now, and her face was a bit thin; it was clear that she had had a very difficult few days.

"It's my fault for making you so uneasy. I will accompany you properly for the next few days to make it up to you. So don't be sad anymore, okay?"

"Mm..."

Although she said that, Kanae still gripped Zero's hand tightly, not daring to let go, for fear that Zero would disappear again the next moment.

"Hey, hey! Zero, you guy, at least read the room! I'm not here to watch you two feed each other dog food!"

Sanemi Shinazugawa spoke up to break the "dog food" atmosphere around Zero and Kanae. Seeing this, Zero turned his head and glared at him fiercely.

The meaning was clear: Isn't it only natural for me to care about my girlfriend?

Sanemi Shinazugawa was so angry he nearly jumped on the spot, just missing the chance to say: Give me back my tears!

"Zero, it's so good that you're okay!"

"Sorry, Master, there is a reason for this. I will explain it to you clearly when I have time."

"Mm, since that is the case, then you should take care of Kanae first. This child was very worried about you."

"I will, it's just... uh... this..."

Zero looked at the scene and felt very awkward.

Well, the person wasn't dead yet, but the funeral had already started!

But what was even more awkward was that he had returned just as the funeral began. This feeling was indescribably strange.

"Pfft!" Mitsuri Kanroji saw Zero's embarrassed look and nearly couldn't help laughing out loud.

Seeing this, Kagaya Ubuyashiki also gave a helpless, bitter smile and said, "Don't worry, we will handle it. You take care of Kanae first."

"Then I'll trouble you... hehe..."

This was truly an awkward funeral.

Without another word, he directly picked Kanae up in his arms in a bridal carry and headed toward his residence.

"Zero... wait... wait a moment! This is... too..." Seeing herself being picked up in a bridal carry again, Kanae felt too shy.

After all, there were many people watching at the scene; it was too shameful to do this in front of so many people.

But Zero didn't think so. She was his girlfriend anyway, and he even thought with a bit of dark humor: Sanemi, let you ruin the atmosphere just now, I'll make you die of envy!

Seeing this, Sanemi Shinazugawa was so angry he gritted his teeth, his hot temper flaring up again!

So he decided that tonight he would go to the area under Zero's jurisdiction and slay all the evil demons there to vent his anger!

He really wanted to know what Zero's expression would be then?!

Hehehe...

"Zero, you forced me to do this!" Sanemi Shinazugawa thought fiercely in his heart.

The Kamado family was also very happy to see Zero return, feeling as if they had found their backbone again.

They had intended to stay and help handle the scene, but at Kagaya Ubuyashiki's request, they took the children back to the residence first.

Kie Kamado: "Then... then the children and I will go back first. Thank you, Master!"

Kagaya Ubuyashiki: "It is fine, I leave Zero and Kanae to you!"

After thanking Kagaya Ubuyashiki, she led Takeo and the others back to Zero's residence.

On the way back to the residence, Zero, holding Kanae, discovered that she had fallen asleep in his arms.

It was understandable; she had become much more haggard over the past few days, and her spirit must have been on the verge of collapse.

Now that she saw he was safe and sound, she naturally relaxed.

"What a little fool," Zero thought.

Returning to the residence and entering his room, he was just about to put her on the bed when he discovered that Xiao Yue was also there.

It was just that her state was not right!

It was as if she had lost her vitality.

"Xiao Yue!"

Zero's nervous mood rose again, and he hurriedly activated the 【Analysis Glasses】 to analyze Xiao Yue's current condition.

【Analyzing... Analysis successful】

【Status: Protection mechanism automatically activated, requires energy re-injection to restart.】

"Phew... you scared me! It's good that you're okay, Xiao Yue, otherwise I... sigh..."

He placed Kanae, who was in his arms, on the bed and covered her with the quilt so she could have a good sleep.

He then carefully held Xiao Yue in his palm, used the 【Analysis Glasses】 to connect to Xiao Yue's brain system, and projected the data into the void.

He performed a series of operations on the projection screen in the void, then took several 【Energy Crystals】 from the 【Nano Space】 and placed them on the table.

Immediately after, he clicked a few times on the projection screen, and the small hair buns on both sides of Xiao Yue's head opened, extending several tiny wires that connected to the 【Energy Crystals】 to begin absorbing energy.

"Xiao Yue, you are also a little fool! But you have also changed a lot..."

After waiting for more than ten minutes, the energy in the 【Energy Crystals】 was completely absorbed.

Xiao Yue's eyes opened at this moment, and strings of data information flowed continuously through her blue pupils.

【Restarting...】

【Restart successful】

"Xiao Yue, do you feel better?"

Hearing this voice, Xiao Yue looked up and saw her master, unable to suppress the impulse in her heart any longer, and flew directly into Zero's arms.

"Master... I thought you... you... sob, sob, sob... I thought you were going to leave me all alone... I thought I would never see you again... I was really scared... sob, sob, sob..."

"Alright, alright, good child, don't cry. It's my fault for making you worry along with me."

He took Xiao Yue off his chest, held her in his palm, and stroked her head with his finger to comfort her.

Suddenly, Zero noticed something: Xiao Yue was actually crying!

Xiao Yue was a high-precision robot; it was already shocking enough that she had developed self-awareness, but now she could actually cry?!

"Xiao Yue, why... are you crying? What is going on?"

"Master, Xiao Yue doesn't know what's going on either. A few days ago, when I heard the news that you had died, I don't know why, but my heart felt especially painful, as if... as if my heart had been pierced through...

Then I felt that my face was a bit wet, and it was only then that I discovered I could cry! It had never happened before."

Xiao Yue's words were difficult for Zero to understand; he didn't know if it was a good thing or a bad thing...

He had just checked her with the 【Analysis Glasses】, and everything was normal, but this matter... was indeed difficult to understand...

"Forget it, this doesn't seem to be a bad thing. As long as you are okay, Xiao Yue! You have finally developed your own emotions."

"Really, Master? You won't blame me?"

"Silly child, why would I blame you? You should get some good rest now too."

"Mm-hmm."

After saying this, she flew to the bed and lay down beside Kanae Kocho to rest with her.

The Kamado family also rushed back at this time, but seeing Kanae lying on the bed, they did not enter the room to disturb them.

In this house, the fact that Zero was still alive was more important to their family than anything else.

"Mm..." Kanae let out a soft moan on the bed, as if she had dreamed of something terrible, her brows furrowed tightly.

"Zero... no... don't leave me..."

Seeing this, Zero came to the bedside, took one of Kanae's hands, and said softly, "Don't be afraid, I'm here, I won't leave you."

Perhaps feeling the sense of security from Zero's palm, the tense expression on Kanae's face relaxed, and she smiled and fell asleep peacefully.

"What a little fool!"

He lay by the bedside, holding Kanae's small hand to his face, feeling the warmth from the back of her hand, and accompanied her just like that.

Looking at Kanae's delicate and slightly haggard face, he also slowly drifted into dreamland.

Happy Mini-Theater:

One day, an XX reader came to the Infinity Castle, holding a microphone to interview Muzan Kibutsuji, who had turned into a woman, and the Upper Rank demons.

XX reader: Hello, Scum Boss...

Muzan Kibutsuji: Huh?!

XX reader: Sorry, it slipped out. May I ask why you sent Zero out of the Infinity Castle?

Muzan Kibutsuji: Get out, get out, get out! If I didn't send him away, my Infinity Castle would be gone... I've never been so humiliated! Damn it!

Nakime: I was blown up several times...

Akaza: That guy is a strong one. When can he come back to the Infinity Castle for another fight?

Upper Rank One, Two, Four, Six: Get out!

Muzan Kibutsuji: Find the author and bring him to me, let's see how I drain him dry!

Author:?????????? Damn it...