Chapter 75: Return to the Demon Slayer Corps

Natsuki Spider Mountain.

A group of Houqin members wearing masks, their uniforms bearing the character “ Yin ” on the back, were treating the wounded and cleaning up the scene.

Among them, several Hidden Division members were injecting the remaining poisoned swordsmen with the potion prepared by Zero and Butterfly Shinobu.

“I never expected the medicine prepared by Zero Pillar and Butterfly Pillar to work so well! These poisoned swordsmen are already half-recovered in just a short while!” said a male Hidden Division member.

Another female Hidden Division member bandaged a wounded swordsman and said: “Indeed. It seems the medicine was prepared on-site. I heard Zero Pillar has deep medical knowledge, no less than Butterfly Pillar or Flower Pillar.”

“That’s really impressive～ But I also heard Flower Pillar and Love Pillar are both with Zero Pillar—how envious they are!”

“That’s nothing. I heard Zero Pillar went personally to hunt down an Upper Moon demon just to avenge Flower Pillar! How wonderful!”

After bandaging, a paper label reading “TREATMENT COMPLETED” was stuck on top.

“Phew～ All done. Everything went smoothly—now everyone can be treated!”

On the other side.

Two Hidden Division members were surveying the scene and noticed Izo hanging from a tree in the distance.

“What’s this guy? A demon or a human?”

“Probably human… he’s wearing a uniform…” One of them picked up a stick and poked him lightly.

“Oh… he’s wearing a hood—definitely human!”

“Alright, take him away!”

Saying that, they cut his bonds and slung him over their shoulder.

“This guy’s badly injured too!”

“Why was he hung up like this?”

…………

Boom!

Rui was kicked again, crashing into a tree trunk, offering no resistance whatsoever.

Like fish on a chopping block, at their mercy!

Zero walked up to Rui, grabbed his hair, and lifted him up.

At this moment, Rui’s face was bruised and swollen, his clothes soaked in blood.

But as a Lower Moon demon, he would heal himself soon enough!

“So weak.”

Finally, under Rui’s terrified gaze, Zero swung his Nichirin Scythe and beheaded him!

He turned to ash, slowly dispersing into the air, leaving only his bloodstained garment…

“Nezuko, run!”

Behind him came Tanjiro’s shout. Hearing it, Zero thought something else had happened and rushed back.

But when he returned to the previous spot, he saw another scene.

Tomioka Giyuu had Butterfly Shinobu’s head pinned against his waist—the posture…

How to put it?

Like an Ansai waist drum.

“Huh? What’s going on? What happened?” Zero was confused.

Just as he moved to intervene, a small figure sprinted over and launched herself into Zero’s arms.

“Nezuko?!”

…………

Butterfly Shinobu glared furiously at Tomioka Giyuu.

“Mr. Tomioka, why did you stop me? Give me an explanation!”

“You yourself said you can’t get along with demons—that’s why everyone dislikes you!”

Tomioka Giyuu stood before Tanjiro and Nezuko, his expression unchanging, and spoke slowly: “I… am not disliked.”

Butterfly Shinobu: (ー`?′⌒)!!!

Tanjiro: Σ(?﹏?|||)

The scene fell into brief awkwardness—they were clearly not on the same wavelength.

“It seems you’re completely unaware that you’re disliked, Mr. Tomioka, hehe… I suppose I spoke unnecessarily.” Butterfly Shinobu said with a sharp tone.

Tanjiro: (*???)!!

“Can you still move?” Tomioka Giyuu asked Tanjiro behind him.

“Mr. Tomioka…”

“Even if you can’t move, use your willpower to run! Take your sister and flee!”

After weighing his options, Tanjiro tightly hugged Nezuko and rose to his feet, fleeing quickly.

“Sorry. Thank you very much.”

Watching from afar, Butterfly Shinobu continued her sharp remarks: “Mr. Tomioka, you’ve broken the rules! This will only make people dislike you more!”

Tomioka Giyuu remained where he was, holding Butterfly Shinobu back to buy time for Tanjiro.

Eventually, both drew their blades and entered combat.

“So you’re serious now, Mr. Tomioka? I never thought you’d shelter a demon!”

“But do you really think you’ve held me off?”

There was meaning behind her words—Tomioka Giyuu sensed something was off.

He turned his head and saw another figure lurking in the forest, chasing Tanjiro.

“I’m done playing with you. Goodbye!” As soon as she spoke, Butterfly Shinobu vanished in a flash, leaping away.

Under the moonlight, she fluttered like a butterfly.

Tomioka Giyuu immediately chased after her and grabbed her.

Both landed, and as Butterfly Shinobu tried to resist, Tomioka Giyuu pinned her waist in the Ansai waist drum posture.

“Mr. Tomioka, what do you mean? I attacked legitimately to kill demons, but you broke the rules—don’t you have anything to say?”

Tomioka Giyuu remained silent, expressionless, as if deep in thought.

“Say something! Do you think silence will let you get away with this?! This is your final warning, Mr. Tomioka!!”

Finally, Tomioka Giyuu spoke slowly: “It started two years ago… back then, I…”

“Are you kidding me, Mr. Tomioka?!” Butterfly Shinobu interrupted him.

She demanded angrily: “Are you trying to stall me with this nonsense? Or… are you still bitter about me saying you’re disliked?!”

“Σ(?︵?) I… I’m not disliked!”

“Then explain clearly what’s going on—or I’ll have my brother-in-law talk to you!”

“…”

…………

Tanjiro carried Nezuko, picked up a wooden crate nearby, and fled quickly.

Even with excruciating pain, he didn’t stop.

But then—

A figure leapt down from a tree and stamped on Tanjiro’s back.

Already exhausted and at his limit, Tanjiro couldn’t withstand the blow and collapsed.

As he fell, Nezuko was thrown from his arms.

Kanao Tsuyuri landed before Nezuko, raised her Nichirin Blade, and prepared to kill her.

Tanjiro recognized the woman as a female Swordsmanship Corps member wearing a white haori.

Seeing the danger, with his last ounce of strength, he reached out and grabbed her haori, then yanked hard!

Due to the momentum, Kanao Tsuyuri toppled backward and landed squarely on Tanjiro’s back.

“Nezuko, run!”

Tanjiro shouted at the fallen Nezuko.

“Get up and run! Don’t let them catch you! Hurry…”

Boom!

Before he finished speaking, Kanao Tsuyuri lifted her foot and kicked the back of Tanjiro’s head with her heel.

The kick knocked Tanjiro unconscious, nearly giving him a concussion.

His chin slammed into the ground again, causing secondary injury.

Nezuko rose and sprinted forward.

Kanao Tsuyuri climbed off Tanjiro and continued chasing.

As the distance closed, she swung her Nichirin Blade toward Nezuko’s neck.

But at the instant the blade was about to strike, Nezuko shrank instantly, regressing into the form of a three- or four-year-old child, and kept running.

“Shrunk… turned into a child?” Her eyes filled with disbelief.

Taking advantage of Kanao Tsuyuri’s stunned pause, the miniature Nezuko scampered on her tiny legs, bouncing as she ran, putting some distance between them.

Seeing this, Kanao Tsuyuri continued chasing.

Though agile, Nezuko’s shortened legs meant her pace was slow.

She was quickly caught up again.

Kanao Tsuyuri swung rapidly; the miniature Nezuko dodged by hopping up and down.

Watching Nezuko only running away without launching any attack, Kanao Tsuyuri felt a flicker of doubt.

But none of that mattered anymore—her orders were simple: sever the demon’s neck.

Just as she prepared to move, Nezuko suddenly changed direction.

She kept running, now from another angle.

When Nezuko spotted a figure in the distance, she launched herself into his arms.

“Nezuko?!”

“(*^▃^*) Waaah~” Nezuko nuzzled against Zero, beaming with joy.

Seeing Zero, Kanao stopped in her tracks, standing right before him.

He glanced between Nezuko and Kanao, then at the distant figures of Tomioka Giyu and Kocho Shinobu…

After sorting his thoughts, he had already guessed what was going on.

“Kanao, leave this to me!”

Kanao nodded, sheathing her Nichirin Blade.

He handed Nezuko to Kanao and said, “Take care of her. Don’t worry—she won’t harm anyone.”

“Nezuko, be good, okay?”

Kanao held Nezuko close. Though she didn’t fully understand, she nodded obediently.

Then Zero walked up to Tomioka Giyu and Kocho Shinobu and said, “Come on, you two—how long are you going to keep this up?!”

Both immediately stepped apart.

Shinobu saw Nezuko in Kanao’s arms and shouted, “Kanao! Kill that demon right now!”

But Zero told Kanao, “Kanao, don’t hurt her.”

Kanao was utterly confused—she didn’t know who to obey.

One was her second sister. The other was her brother-in-law, almost like a real brother.

To act was wrong. Not to act was wrong too.

“Brother-in-law, are you also planning to shelter this demon?”

“No. There’s a reason. I’ll explain everything later. Just remember—she won’t harm anyone.”

“Is that so… Since she hasn’t harmed any humans, then…” Shinobu paused, slowly drawing her Nichirin Blade. “Then I’ll use my sister’s method—the gentlest way—to let her die.”

Zero snatched Shinobu’s Nichirin Blade away. “No!!”

“Aaaah! Stupid brother-in-law, you’re bullying me too! I’ll bite you to death!”

Shinobu lunged at Zero, opening her mouth to bite his neck.

But Zero swiftly reversed his grip and pinned her down.

The position—

Just now it was Ansai Waist Drum. Now it was Ansai Waist Drum again—except Zero was the one doing it.

“Shinobu, you’re getting even more mischievous~ Hehe~”

“B-Brother-in-law, w-what are you doing?! I-I’m warning you! I’ll tell my sister about this!”

“Do you think?”

Slap!

A palm struck Shinobu’s rear—but he held back his strength.

After all, she was his little sister-in-law.

“Aaaah! B-Brother-in-law… I’m sorry… don’t hit my butt anymore… Aaaah!!!”

Tomioka Giyu / Kanao: Σ(?△?)?

Little Nezuko: (⊙▃⊙)???

Moments later, Shinobu sat against a tree, hands clutching her backside, glaring at Zero with deep embarrassment.

She thought: Stupid brother-in-law, this isn’t over.

At that moment, several Messenger Crows flew down, bearing orders from the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters.

“Order! Order! Gaaah! Headquarters order!”

“Capture Tanjiro and Nezuko, the demon girl! Bring them back to headquarters! Gaaah!”

“Tanjiro: wears a green checkered haori, scar on forehead! Demon girl Nezuko: bites a green mouthpiece, wears a pink-checkered kimono! Gaaah!”

Kanao looked at the little Nezuko in her arms and asked, “Are you Nezuko?”

Seeing this, the three Pillars regrouped, preparing to return to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters.

“Shinobu, can you move?”

Shinobu turned her head away, refusing to speak.

“Get on. I’ll carry you. Sorry about earlier.”

Zero squatted before Shinobu, offering his back.

Though annoyed and embarrassed, Shinobu didn’t refuse.

Besides, he hadn’t used much force—she could still walk. But then again…

Since her brother-in-law was so eager to help, how could she refuse such kindness?

Fine. She’d reluctantly accept it.

Consider it payment for him bullying her earlier!

Why waste free transportation? Only a fool would refuse!

Thus, Zero carried Shinobu on his back and headed first toward the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters.

Kanao placed Nezuko back into her wooden box, then ordered the Hidden Division members to clean up the battlefield.

Two Hidden Division members, following the Crows’ instructions, found Tanjiro.

“Green checkered haori—he must be Tanjiro. Tie him up.”

“Is his jawbone broken?”

“It’s hard to tie him up…” Still, the Hidden Division member twisted Tanjiro’s arms behind his back and bound them.

On the other side, Agatsuma Zenitsu, wrapped like a mummy with only his eyes exposed, watched the efficient cleanup and thought: These people are clearly extraordinary!

Especially when he saw Kanao Tsuyuri—he felt he’d seen her before.

After thinking hard, he remembered: she was his teammate from the same Final Selection at Mount Fujikawa.

But his mind kept returning to the angel who had saved him.

“Who was that person? Why does she feel so familiar? Like I’ve met her before?” Zenitsu wondered.

The sun rose in the east.

Sunlight bathed the Spider Mountain of Tana.

“Daybreak…”

………