Chapter 77

"If you wish to deny this fact, the side that denies it must pay a price that is even greater! So, do you understand?"

These words left Sanemi Shinazugawa and Kyojuro Rengoku unable to refute.

Yet Sanemi Shinazugawa still could not accept it, saying: "I don't understand, Master. If it were a human, letting her live would be one thing, but a demon is simply out of the question!"

Having said that, Sanemi Shinazugawa raised his Nichirin sword and cut a large gash into his own arm, blood flowing freely.

Zero covered his face with a sense of helplessness; it was like this again...

The treatment had been for nothing~

"Master, I will prove what an ugly creature a demon is! My blood is the rarest of rare blood; as long as it is a demon, none can resist the temptation of rare blood."

Immediately, he looked toward Zero.

Zero also knew what he was about to do, and carrying the wooden box, he entered the room where Kagaya Ubuyashiki was located.

"Excuse me."

He placed the box on the ground and opened it.

Nezuko poked her head out of the box, looking around.

Seeing Zero, she excitedly threw herself into his arms, rubbing her head against his chest.

After soothing little Nezuko, he looked at Sanemi Shinazugawa and said: "Demons cannot see the sunlight. Are you sure you want to keep standing there like a fool to prove it?"

Only then did everyone turn their gaze toward Sanemi Shinazugawa.

Sanemi Shinazugawa also felt a bit awkward; he had only been thinking about proving his point and had forgotten about this.

He was standing there foolishly, holding up his arm.

The blood on his arm had long since dried into scabs under the exposure to the sun and the blowing breeze.

"Master, forgive my rudeness!" Sanemi Shinazugawa entered the room and once again used his Nichirin sword to cut a gash into his arm.

He extended his arm in front of little Nezuko.

Little Nezuko, held in Zero's arms, looked blank and adorable. She looked at Sanemi Shinazugawa, then looked up at Zero, not understanding why he was doing this.

"Nezuko!" Tanjiro had just wanted to rush in, but he was held back by Giyu Tomioka, who said: "Trust her!"

"Mr. Tomioka..." He looked at Nezuko again and shouted in his heart: "Nezuko, do your best!"

"Zero, you are holding her; she certainly won't reveal her true nature," Sanemi Shinazugawa said.

"Alright." He set Nezuko down, patted her head, pointed at Sanemi Shinazugawa, and said: "Nezuko, it's up to you."

He then stood to the side.

Although Nezuko did not quite understand, she followed Zero's instructions, went before Sanemi Shinazugawa, and grabbed his hand.

Just as everyone thought she would reveal her true nature, they saw Nezuko place Sanemi Shinazugawa's hand on her own head.

Her eyes curved into crescent shapes.

Nezuko thought that Sanemi Shinazugawa had reached out because he wanted to pat her head.

Furthermore, seeing his injured arm wrapped in his sleeve, she also extended her own arm and placed it on Sanemi Shinazugawa's head to pat him.

It was as if she were saying, "Pat, pat, it doesn't hurt."

Seeing this scene unfold before their eyes, everyone felt it was truly incredible!

Even Kagaya Ubuyashiki felt it was somewhat incredible when he saw it.

Seeing this, Sanemi Shinazugawa seemed to recall his own younger siblings from when he was a child; they had always liked to have him pat their heads.

After finishing all this, Nezuko ran back to Zero's side and wrapped her arms around his waist.

"Under these circumstances, this should prove that Nezuko will not harm humans, right?"

Kagaya Ubuyashiki's voice came, and everyone finally snapped back to reality.

"Tanjiro, even so, there will still be those who harbor dissatisfaction regarding Nezuko's existence. You must go and prove it!"

"From this day forward, Tanjiro and Nezuko will fight as members of the Demon Slayer Corps and offer their strength."

Hearing this voice, Tanjiro hurriedly knelt before Kagaya Ubuyashiki.

"What is this feeling? It's light and airy... Only after hearing his voice did my head become light and airy, an incredible sense of comfort!" Tanjiro thought to himself.

"Defeat the Twelve Kizuki; if you do that, you will be accepted by others, and the weight of Tanjiro's words will also change!"

"Yes! I... Nezuko and I will defeat Muzan Kibutsuji! Nezuko and I will certainly swing our blades to sever the chain of sorrow!"

Tanjiro was full of passion and grand ambitions, feeling as if his body were filled with strength.

But the next words from Kagaya Ubuyashiki and Zero made him want to find a hole to crawl into.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki: "Tanjiro cannot do that yet; first, try defeating one of the Twelve Kizuki before saying such things~"

Zero: "Tanjiro, never mind Muzan Kibutsuji; it seems you aren't even capable of beheading a Lower Rank demon of the Twelve Kizuki yet, are you? Huhu~"

Thump~

"Understood... I... I understand..."

Tanjiro's face turned as red as a monkey's bottom in an instant, and he felt so embarrassed.

The passionate and grand words he had just spoken were extinguished as if a bucket of cold water had been poured directly over them~

The other Hashira-level swordsmen all lowered their heads, their bodies trembling incessantly, barely able to keep from laughing out loud.

Mitsuri Kanroji: No~ no, no~ I can't laugh out loud!

Kyojuro Rengoku: Hmm, I was already mentally prepared~

Tengen Uzui: Truly not flamboyant~

Muichiro Tokito: What are they laughing at?

After a small interlude, Kagaya Ubuyashiki spoke: "The Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps are pillars that stand tall and firm; they have undergone painstaking training to become capable of standing on their own, often wandering on the edge of life and death, only then defeating the Twelve Kizuki.

Precisely because of this, the Hashira can enjoy the highest treatment, so Tanjiro, you must also be mindful of your choice of words."

"Yes, I understand," Tanjiro replied.

"And Sanemi, Obanai, do not always bully the lower-ranking children."

Sanemi/Obanai: "Yes, Master."

"Tanjiro's matter ends here; you may withdraw. Next, it is almost time for the Hashira Meeting."

"Then, let us at the Butterfly Mansion take over Tanjiro Kamado for a while." Shinobu Kocho clapped her hands, and Goto, who had been hiding in a corner, along with another Kakushi member, ran out.

Goto bowed to the Hashira and Kagaya Ubuyashiki, then hurriedly grabbed Tanjiro by the back of his collar and ran off.

"I'm sorry about before!!!"

The other Kakushi member respectfully said to Zero: "Lord Hashira Zero, please hand her over to me."

"Hmm." He lowered his head to soothe Nezuko, pointed at the wooden box, and said: "See you tonight."

Nezuko was also very obedient; she shrank her body, crawled into the wooden box, and the Kakushi member carried the box on his back and left quickly.

Just as everyone was preparing to move to the Butterfly Mansion to begin the Hashira Meeting, Tanjiro turned back and ran back.

Even though the two Kakushi members behind him were punching and kicking him, he remained unmoved.

He hugged a wooden pillar and shouted: "Wait a minute! I'm going to give that hedgehog-head a headbutt! He actually wanted to hurt Nezuko, and he dared to talk about my Mr. Urokodaki like that! Hitting him with my head shouldn't violate corps rules, right..."

"Shut your mouth right now!!!"

"Shut up! Shut your mouth immediately! Let go of your hands quickly!!!"

Just as Muichiro Tokito, who had picked up a small stone, was preparing to teach Tanjiro a painful lesson, he discovered that Zero had appeared behind Tanjiro at some point.

In his hand, he held a strange black object, which was emitting a "zzt-zzt" sound of blue electric arcs.

He pressed it directly against Tanjiro's back.

"I absolutely have to give that hedgehog-head... ahhh... ohhh..." Tanjiro, who had not fully realized the danger, was instantly paralyzed by the electricity!

"Thank you both for your hard work; take him away," Zero said with a smile.

"Yes! Lord Hashira Zero."

Afterward, Goto carried Tanjiro directly on his shoulder and left as if fleeing.

Tanjiro, being carried on the shoulder, just wanted to open his mouth to speak, but was punched in the nose by a Kakushi member.

"Shut your mouth! Don't say another word!"

"Lord Hashira Zero is angry! He has never been angry with us lower-ranking members before!"

"Hashira are all very strong and terrifying existences!"

"I'm almost scared to the point of wetting my pants!"

"Apologize to me! Apologize!!"

Tanjiro: "Sor... sor... ry~"

After Tanjiro and the Kakushi members left, Zero saw the strange looks from the Hashira.

He put the 【Taser】 back into his 【Nano Space】 as if nothing had happened, and said in a very sunny and gentle tone: "Don't worry, this won't cause any harm to the human body~ Of course, if he can't sleep at night, I'd be happy to use this to help him~ Don't be shy with me~"

Certain Hashira-level swordsmen, such as Tengen Uzui, immediately shook their heads to indicate it wasn't necessary, while also wondering if they had offended Zero recently...

Shinobu Kocho was also considering how to apologize to Zero later.

Sanemi Shinazugawa immediately returned his Nichirin sword to its scabbard; although he had a short temper, he was not stupid at all!

Muichiro Tokito casually threw away the small stone in his hand, pretending that nothing had happened.

【What was that bird in the sky called again?】

Now, everyone had recognized another side of Zero's personality: he was just as black-bellied as Shinobu Kocho!

I really don't know who he learned this from...

As for Kanae and Mitsuri Kanroji, they were not worried at all; after all, Zero was their husband.

He was completely thoughtful and doting toward the two of them.

Of course, he was the same toward the family of Kie Kamado.

"Alright, children, let us continue our Hashira Meeting. Zero, please do not frighten my children anymore." Kagaya Ubuyashiki hurriedly spoke to defuse the situation.

"Alright."

…………

"Is anyone there?" The Kakushi member carrying Tanjiro arrived at the Butterfly Mansion and shouted toward the inside.

Seeing no response, he had no choice but to leave the house and walk around to look.

Arriving at the courtyard, he saw Kanao Tsuyuri standing at the edge of a small pond, with several butterflies fluttering around her.

"That person seems to be a 【Tsuguko】; her name is... Lady Kanao Tsuyuri."

"What is a 【Tsuguko】?" Tanjiro asked.

"A Tsuguko refers to a member personally trained by a Hashira. Unless one possesses exceptionally outstanding talent, an ordinary person would not be chosen," Goto explained.

But Tanjiro saw her face and felt as if he had seen her somewhere before?

Only later did he remember that she was a teammate who had participated in the Fujikasane Mountain selection during the same period as him.

If he had noticed who had kicked him in the head last night, he wouldn't have thought that way.

"Hello, we are here under the orders of Lady Kocho. May we enter the house?" Goto asked.

Kanao Tsuyuri did not speak, maintaining a smile the entire time.

"Um... may we enter the house...?" For a moment, Goto was also a bit unsure.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?!" Amidst the hesitation, a particularly loud voice came from behind.

Looking back, it was a girl wearing nursing attire with her hair in twin tails.

A nurse at the Butterfly Mansion—Aoi Kanzaki.

"No... um... we are here under the orders of Lady Kocho..."

"Are you from the 【Kakushi】? There are injured people here, please come this way!"

Aoi Kanzaki appeared in front of them from behind, moving so fast that it was impossible to see clearly.

"So fast..."

Following Aoi Kanzaki, they arrived at the ward.

Outside the ward, Tanjiro could already hear the sounds of loud crying and commotion coming from inside.

Just by hearing the voice, he knew it was Zenitsu.

"Five times?! Drink it five times a day? And drink this kind of medicine for three consecutive months?!"

"Ahhhhh!!! No! Help me ahhhhh!!!!"

Hearing this sound, Aoi Kanzaki rushed into the ward in a rage and roared: "So noisy! Be quiet! How many times have I told you, if you don't drink your medicine obediently, I'll tie you up! Honestly..."

Afterward, Aoi Kanzaki left without looking back to check on other patients.

Zenitsu was so frightened by the roar that he shrank into his quilt and sobbed, not daring to show his head.

"Zenitsu..."

Hearing this familiar voice, Zenitsu poked his head out and discovered it was Tanjiro.

"Are you okay? Why are you injured? You went into the mountain...?"

"Tanjiro... uwa!!! Listen to me, I was bitten by a stinky spider and got poisoned... I... I... that girl just now was so scary..."

"Hmm?" Aoi Kanzaki, who hadn't gone far, turned back and glared at Zenitsu.

Zenitsu shivered at the look.

"Zenitsu, where is Inosuke? And Mr. Murata?"

"I don't know about Murata, but Inosuke is right next door," Zenitsu said, pointing to the bed next to him, where Inosuke was wearing his boar mask.

"Inosuke?! I'm so glad you're okay too!"

Inosuke did not respond; he was in a dejected mood, lying quietly on the hospital bed.

It was just that it couldn't be seen because he was wearing his mask.

Goto: "Hey! Don't wipe your snot on me, you jerk!!"

After the battle at Mount Natagumo, Tanjiro and his group had all suffered varying degrees of injuries.

Tanjiro: Abrasions on his face, legs, arms, and other areas, as well as muscle damage and strains.

Zenitsu: The most serious condition; his hands and feet had atrophied and shortened, he was paralyzed, and his left hand was spasming.

Inosuke: Damage to his throat and vocal cords, and multiple fractures throughout his body.

Nezuko... severe sleep deprivation.

…………

Night fell.

After the Hashira Meeting at the Butterfly Mansion concluded, Zero came to the ward where Tanjiro and the others were staying to visit them.

"Good evening, Tanjiro."

"Big Brother Zero, good evening. Why are you here?"

"I've come to pick up Nezuko to reunite with your family. You can come too once you've recovered from your injuries."

"Is that so? Thank you, Big Brother Zero."

Zenitsu looked at Zero, and then remembered the person who had saved him last night.

Their figures overlapped completely, and he was suddenly struck by a sense of dejection.

"Why isn't it a girl? It would be so nice if it were a girl..." Zenitsu said in a low voice.

But how could Zero not hear him?

So, he instructed Aoi Kanzaki, who was behind him changing medicine for other patients: "Aoi, double the dosage of Zenitsu's medicine."

"Yes, Lord Hashira Zero." Aoi Kanzaki couldn't help but blush slightly upon hearing Zero's voice.

"Eh? Uwaaaaa! No! Big Brother Zero, I was wrong! That medicine is really bitter..."

"So noisy, be quiet!" Aoi Kanzaki shouted.

Afterward, he chatted with Tanjiro for a few more sentences, then carried the wooden box back to his own mansion.

…………