[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-this-pillar-in-demon-slayer-is-extremely-strong-":3,"chapter-this-pillar-in-demon-slayer-is-extremely-strong--this-pillar-in-demon-slayer-is-extremely-strong--chapter-64":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","This Pillar in Demon Slayer Is Extremely Strong but Overly Cautious",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2335990,4566,"Chapter 64: Blown Up—and Did My Memory Return?","this-pillar-in-demon-slayer-is-extremely-strong--chapter-64",64,"\u003Cp>“Mitsuri, what happened?” Kanao leaned half out of the second-floor window, calling out to Mitsuri in the backyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had been organizing the intelligence Zero had just gathered in her room when she heard a sharp “whoosh,” as if something had been launched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kanao… I… I…” Mitsuri, shaken by what had just occurred, couldn’t find the words to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing she couldn’t explain anything, Kanao came downstairs and went to the backyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, she calmed Mitsuri down, then asked her to recount everything that had just happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After listening carefully, Kanao understood: Mitsuri had accidentally triggered Zero’s weapon, firing off a missile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kanao sighed and gently tapped Mitsuri’s forehead with her finger: “You, of all people—can’t you be more careful?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“S-sorry…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, alright, let’s go check quickly—hopefully no one’s hurt! Otherwise, given Zero’s personality, he’ll probably claim it was his fault.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No! No way! This is my fault—I won’t let him take the blame!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, she grabbed Kanao’s hand and rushed toward the direction Zero had run off to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sky was still as blue as ever, the river still as clear and transparent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gentle murmur of the flowing water brought peace to the mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shinobu Kocho sat beside a tree, gazing up at the sky, his mind still shrouded in fog—he remembered nothing of his past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What shape is that cloud in the sky?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stared blankly at the white clouds drifting overhead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, a tiny speck of light appeared in the sky—caught by Shinobu’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A meteor’s coming that way… strange? Why would a meteor appear during the day?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shinobu Kocho watched the “meteor” hurtling toward him, curious why one would appear in daylight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the “meteor” drew nearer, it seemed destined to land right where he sat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instinctively sensing the threat from the incoming “meteor,” his body reacted—dodging to the side!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he avoided direct impact, the missile’s speed outpaced him; when it struck the ground, the explosion’s shockwave flung him backward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He crashed into a tree trunk, his head striking hard—blood seeped from a wound, trickling down his face and dripping onto the earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Added to that, the blast’s air pressure had turned his hair into a wild explosion, and the smoke had blackened him completely…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He rose from the ground, knelt beside the tree, mouth slightly open as he exhaled a wisp of black smoke, then looked up at the sky again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What was that just now? Did I just get blown into the air?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where did the meteor go?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“God… Buddha… please… save my younger brother…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When… when was this memory? Why does it feel so familiar?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fragments of memory flashed through Shinobu Kocho’s mind, yet remained chaotic—unable to make out the blurred face within them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My younger brother… unlike me… he’s a kind-hearted child… he wanted to help others… it was I who held him back… I’m the bad one…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who is this person? Who… why does he look… exactly like me…??”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If punishment from heaven must come… let it fall on me alone…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why… why do I feel so sad? Damn it! My head… it hurts!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know… the ‘nothing’ in ‘Kocho’ isn’t the nothing of incompetence… it’s…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zero arrived at the same moment. He’d assumed no one was hurt—but seeing the man spitting smoke, with wild hair and charred skin, his lips twitched slightly…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh… damn, someone really got hurt…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He resolved at once: he’d take full blame for this. He wouldn’t let Mitsuri be blamed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eh… AAAAAHHH!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shinobu Kocho clutched his head, groaning in pain as if enduring unbearable torment!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zero rushed forward, concerned: “Kocho, what’s wrong? Don’t scare me like this!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I… I think I remembered something… but it’s vague—just scattered fragments…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zero knew Shinobu Kocho had lost his memory, but he hadn’t expected that the accidental detonation of a small missile would somehow trigger partial memory recovery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blown up—and his memory returned?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it wasn’t full recovery—only fragments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, relatively speaking, it was a good start.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the immediate priority was to take Shinobu Kocho to Butterfly House for a checkup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If there were serious aftereffects, it would be disastrous!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kocho, let me take you to Butterfly House for an examination.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, he helped Shinobu Kocho to his feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Zero.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you for helping me recover some memories—even if incomplete, you’ve already returned something important to me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“N-no problem… heh… heh…” Zero’s lips twitched—being thanked after blowing someone up felt utterly bizarre.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why was I just blown up? I remember a meteor flying toward me…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh great—he was back to his old self again…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kanao and Mitsuri arrived at the same time, seeing Zero supporting Shinobu Kocho—clearly, someone had been hit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just them—several other Pillar Swordsmen arrived simultaneously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The explosion had been loud enough for most of the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters to hear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few stayed to guard Ubuyashiki Kagaya; the rest rushed over to investigate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Muichiro Tokito: “What the hell are you up to now?! What happened to Kocho?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shinobu: “Brother-in-law, what did you do this time?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tengen Uzui: “Oho! What a magnificent explosion!”…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh… sorry, I was adjusting my weapon and accidentally triggered the switch—fired a small missile that hit Kocho. I’ll take full responsibility.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zero chose to shoulder all blame for the incident himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No… it’s not true! This was my fault! I caused this! It’s my mistake—please don’t blame Zero!” Mitsuri spoke up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She bowed deeply to Shinobu Kocho at ninety degrees: “I’m sorry—I made you like this. Please don’t blame Zero either.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knew Zero was protecting her, but she refused to let him bear every burden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One person’s mistake, one person’s responsibility—she understood that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shinobu Kocho merely shook his head—he felt no serious injury—and signaled it was fine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing it wasn’t serious, the others departed; Shinobu Kocho was carried off to Butterfly House by Tengen Uzui, tucked under his arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before leaving, Muichiro Tokito shot Zero a venomous glare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn it, they’re showing off again!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zero ignored him completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn it! Just wait! Tonight I’ll wipe out every demon in your territory—see how you catch any then!” Muichiro Tokito thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zero, I’m sorry!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mitsuri stood like a child who’d done something wrong, unable to raise her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kanao and Zero exchanged glances—her eyes silently told him: comfort Mitsuri.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she left, giving Zero and Mitsuri the rest of the time alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mitsuri.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Zero call her, she looked up into his gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zero cupped Mitsuri’s face and kissed her lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mmm~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long moment, their lips parted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mitsuri’s face was crimson—so red it could drip!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if ready to burst into water!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fool, you don’t need to apologize—I’d never blame you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course. Come on, let’s go back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mmm~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saimu Mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After completing the Fujiyama Trials, Tanjiro returned to Saimu Mountain at dusk, having spent a full day traveling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Nezuko, who had been asleep for over two years, finally awoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The siblings embraced, weeping together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hashibira Rengoku, seeing Tanjiro still alive, stepped forward and hugged them both—tears dripped from his mask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afterwards, Tanjiro told Hashibira Rengoku about the Hand Demon in Fujiyama.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hashibira Rengoku never imagined that, because of his own actions, the demon he’d captured had hidden within Fujiyama and undergone such a drastic transformation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was because of my mask that many disciples lost their lives!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing that Tanjiro had slain the Hand Demon, he felt a sense of relief, yet he was filled with deep guilt over the dead disciples…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tanjiro spent the entire day recuperating at Higurashi Mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day, he intended to go to the summit to tell Sengoku and Shinobu that he had become a Demon Slayer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he did not see them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This left Tanjiro feeling disappointed…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after watching Tanjiro’s figure fade into the distance did Sengoku and Shinobu reappear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aren’t we going to see him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’ll understand!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fifteen days later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On this day, a visitor arrived at Higurashi Mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wore a wide-brimmed hat like an inverted washbasin, adorned all around with wind chimes, and carried a large wooden box wrapped in cloth strips on his back as he slowly approached the small house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tanjiro stood at the door to greet him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m Koyuri, a bladesmith come to deliver a sword to Kamado Tanjiro.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m Kamado Tanjiro. Please come in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Koyuri ignored Tanjiro’s words, crouched down, and removed the large wooden box from his back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spoke to himself: “This is the Nichirin Blade, forged by me. Its material comes from sand iron and ore atop the highest mountain nearest the sun!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Scarlet Iron Sand and Scarlet Iron Ore absorb sunlight! Mount Taiyo is a mountain bathed in sunlight year-round, never raining, never clouded…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Koyuri spoke, he opened the box; Tanjiro could only sigh helplessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still the same man who never listens,” thought Rengoku Saigetsu, sitting inside the house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, Koyuri lifted his head, revealing the Fire Demon mask beneath his hat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What… what a strange mask!” Tanjiro was startled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh~ You’re the Child of the Scarlet Flame! How auspicious!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m sorry, but I’m the son of Tanjuro and Kuei— not the Child of the Scarlet Flame.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You misunderstand me. Your eyes and hair are red; children born to families working with fire with such features are considered an omen of good fortune!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Koyuri poked Tanjiro’s face twice with one finger, then leaned into the house and called to Rengoku Saigetsu: “Given this, the blade will likely turn red too—don’t you think, Saigetsu?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rengoku Saigetsu: “Hmm… probably…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tanjiro: “Is that even a thing? I’ve never heard of it before…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Koyuri entered the house, handed Tanjiro the Nichirin Blade, and eagerly awaited its color change!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said with great anticipation: “The Nichirin Blade is also called the Color-Changing Blade! Quick! Let me see if yours turns red too—like that person’s red?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, Tanjiro slowly drew the Nichirin Blade and held it in his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the gaze of the three, the blade began to change color—blackness spread from the tsuba to the tip, gradually engulfing the entire blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Koyuri: “BLACK?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rengoku Saigetsu: “Extremely black…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tanjiro: “Huh? Is there something wrong with it turning black? Is it unlucky?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rengoku Saigetsu: “No, it’s not what you think—black Nichirin Blades are exceedingly rare… hmm… I’ve never seen one myself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite this, Koyuri exploded, lunging forward and tackling Tanjiro in a full nelson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He roared: “Why is your Nichirin Blade black?! Damn it! I thought I’d see the legendary red blade again! That man made his blade red—why can’t yours?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ow! Ow! Calm down! How old are you?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thirty-seven! Do you have a problem with that?! Why isn’t your blade the same red as his?! I’m furious! Damn it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Koyuri! Please ease up! Ow! Ow!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet as the two bickered, Tanjiro’s Murasame flew in through the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had come to deliver a mission.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gaaah! Kamado Tanjiro, proceed immediately to the northwestern town! Hunt the demon! This is your first assignment!! Be careful!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In the northwestern town, young girls vanish mysteriously every night! Go at once! Go at once!! Gaaah!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, the two ceased their squabbling. Tanjiro now understood the mission’s gravity and immediately began preparing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before leaving, Koyuri still wore a furious expression and warned Tanjiro not to damage the blade—or he’d never forgive him!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After seeing Koyuri off, Tanjiro donned the Demon Slayer uniform, pulling on the black-and-green checkered haori.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rengoku Saigetsu explained to Tanjiro the properties of the Demon Slayer uniform and the Nichirin Blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Black Nichirin Blades are exceedingly rare; it is said that swordsmen wielding them never rise to prominence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tanjiro replied: “I don’t know how things are in the Demon Slayer Corps, but no matter what, I’ll turn Nezuko back into a human!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tanjiro, there’s something I must tell you: One demon can turn humans into demons—the progenitor of all demons, Muzan Kibutsuji!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Over a thousand years ago, he was the first to become a demon. He is the enemy who nearly killed your family. I believe he may know how to restore your sister to humanity!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tanjiro thought for a moment and asked: “Has anyone ever seen him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes! Not only has someone seen him—they fought him! They once infiltrated Muzan’s stronghold and battled all Twelve Kizuki, surviving unharmed!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, before joining the Demon Slayer Corps, he slew two Lower Moon demons; shortly after joining, he single-handedly became the first to slay an Upper Moon demon, lifting the Corps’ morale to unprecedented heights. But all this is far beyond your current level.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These words stirred Tanjiro’s memory of what Zero had said half a month ago, after the Mount Fujikawa trial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Rengoku, that person… is he Zero?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Zero, the Demon Slayer Corps’ Pillar—Zero.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It really is Zero!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tanjiro, take this,” said Rengoku Saigetsu, handing Tanjiro a specially crafted wooden box.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is for carrying your sister during the day. It’s made from lightweight Mokunin wood, and its entire surface is coated with Iwaura lacquer—greatly increasing its hardness!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tanjiro lifted it and felt how light it was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So light, Master Rengoku!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then carried the box to Nezuko’s side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nezuko, can you get in? Shrink your body and crawl inside this box?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nezuko poked her head out from under the covers, shrank herself, and crawled into the box—perfectly fitting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything prepared, he strapped the box to his back, gripped the Nichirin Blade, turned, and waved goodbye to Rengoku Saigetsu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He set off for the town the Murasame had named, beginning his first mission.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hunt the demons!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>",2250,"2026-06-20T21:22:22.338Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","7d60d78adf6d1b95cddd0d5916f1a6b73665a403ebf0e731328d1b57d760f494","this-pillar-in-demon-slayer-is-extremely-strong--chapter-65","this-pillar-in-demon-slayer-is-extremely-strong--chapter-63",128,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthis-pillar-in-demon-slayer-is-extremely-strong--cover.jpg"]