Chapter 79: Eating Melon and Watching the Show

Time flew by like a white steed flashing past a crack, and another two months had passed.

After finishing his patrol of his own area, Zero hurried back early.

Passing by the Butterfly Mansion, a sudden gust of wind swept past his side.

Before he could get a clear look, it had already vanished.

"Huh? What was that thing that just ran past?"

Whoooosh...!!!

Another gust swept past, and he even heard someone shouting something like "Help!"

Before Zero could think further, the figure in the not-far distance suddenly stopped, doubled back, and came up to Zero.

Without a word, he snatched the Nichirin scythe from Zero's hands and inspected it carefully from head to toe.

Only then did Zero see clearly who had come.

Haganezuka Hotaru.

Seeing that the Nichirin scythe had no damage whatsoever, Haganezuka contentedly stuffed it back into Zero's arms.

Then he continued his pursuit, cleaver in hand.

"So... the one being chased just now must have been Tanjiro, right?" Zero thought.

He vaguely remembered that Tanjiro's Nichirin blade had been broken during the fight against Lower Moon Five on Mount Natagumo...

"Sorry! Sorry!! I'm really sorry!!!!! Ahhhhhhh!!! Help!!" Tanjiro shouted as he ran.

However, Haganezuka behind him couldn't care less, chasing after Tanjiro with a cleaver and a body full of grievances.

"How dare you break my blade! I'll kill you!!"

Haganezuka looked utterly relentless, as if he couldn't dispel the grudge in his heart without giving Tanjiro a good beating!

After running another lap around the Butterfly Mansion, Tanjiro suddenly noticed Zero not far ahead.

He called out: "Big Brother Zero! Help!!"

But Tanjiro didn't dare stop — the moment he did, Haganezuka would surely teach him a lesson!

Zero pinched his chin in thought, then turned and entered the Butterfly Mansion.

In no time at all, he appeared on the Butterfly Mansion's wall.

He sat up there, legs dangling.

A large watermelon cut in half was cradled in his arms, and he ate with a spoon while watching the show.

The head may be severed, the blood may flow, but the melon-eating must not stop!

Even after living for several thousand years, he still kept the mindset of eating melon and watching the drama.

However, not long after he started eating his melon, another person appeared beside the wall.

His face wore a fire-man mask similar to Haganezuka's, and he too cradled half a large watermelon in his arms.

On his back he also carried two large wooden boxes.

"Hello, Master Zero."

"Hello, and you are?" Zero didn't recognize the person before him, but out of politeness he still offered a greeting.

"My name is Tie Tie Xuesen, the swordsmith responsible for forging blades for Master Inosuke."

"I see, pleased to meet you."

"Master Zero, I've also heard about you, and thank you for letting our Swordsmith Village once again witness the legendary crimson blade! The village chief asked us to pass along a message — if you have the time, please be sure to visit our Swordsmith Village as a guest! We are very grateful for the information you provided."

A few years earlier, Haganezuka had delivered the Nichirin scythe to Zero.

At that time, Zero had activated the Crimson Blade, which delighted Haganezuka — at last he had seen the legendary crimson blade once more.

Upon returning to the Swordsmith Village, he reported this matter to the village chief.

The village chief was also greatly shocked upon hearing it.

Later, the news was passed on to Haganezuka, Tie Tie Xuesen, and the other swordsmiths.

They were told that if they ever met the Pillar "Zero" of the Demon Slayer Corps in the future, they must be sure to invite him to the Swordsmith Village as a guest.

After all, Zero had fulfilled the lifelong wish that the swordsmiths had always cherished.

"You're too kind. If I get the chance, I'll definitely go!"

After chatting for a little while, the two continued eating their melons.

And so, Tanjiro was chased by Haganezuka for over an hour, and Zero finished several watermelons in his arms.

……

Several hours later, Tanjiro and Inosuke saw Haganezuka and Tie Tie Xuesen off.

Except that Tie Tie Xuesen was also very angry as he left.

For no other reason than that Inosuke had smashed several gashes into the Nichirin twin blades he had forged with a rock.

With no choice, Tanjiro had to keep apologizing to Tie Tie Xuesen on Inosuke's behalf, and only then did Tie Tie Xuesen relent.

But inwardly he was still very angry.

"Yo, Tanjiro, looks like you've recovered pretty well! Your spirits don't seem bad either!" Zero appeared behind Tanjiro and Inosuke.

"Big Brother Zero!" Tanjiro turned his head and cried out in surprise, then gave a helpless bitter smile: "Big Brother Zero, please don't tease me — I almost died…"

Inosuke: So fast! When did he appear behind me?!

"Don't worry, Tanjiro. Don't be fooled by how Haganezuka looks — he's actually just a sharp-tongued but soft-hearted person."

"R-really? Is that really true?" Tanjiro was a little doubtful, but still chose to believe it, because his nose had smelled it out too.

While the two were talking, Inosuke left first.

The moment he saw Zero, he still felt an inexplicable pressure.

"Ah, right, Big Brother Zero, there's something I want to ask you."

"What is it?"

"Excuse me, have you heard of 【Hinokami Kagura】?"

"Mm, I know. What about it?"

"Actually, when I was fighting the Lower Moon demon on Mt. Natagumo, I recalled what my father once said, and I used Hinokami Kagura in the battle…"

After that, Tanjiro recounted the experience of fighting Lower Moon Five on Mt. Natagumo several months earlier.

Zero listened while thinking.

"Tanjiro, can you demonstrate 【Hinokami Kagura】 for me? There's something I need to confirm!"

"Eh? I can, but using Hinokami Kagura also has side effects."

"You only need to demonstrate the movements; you don't need to perform the Breathing Technique to show it."

"I see. Alright, I understand, Big Brother Zero."

Returning to the Butterfly Mansion, they arrived at the rear courtyard.

Tanjiro took a wooden sword and began performing every movement of the Hinokami Kagura dance from beginning to end, demonstrating it carefully.

Zero activated 【Analysis Glasses】 and began analyzing whether this 【Hinokami Kagura Dance】 was truly as he had initially guessed.

After quite a while, Tanjiro finished performing the Hinokami Kagura dance.

Although he said he didn't need to use the Breathing Technique, his lungs were still somewhat burning at this moment, as if being roasted over a fire.

His clothes were also soaked with sweat from his back.

"Huff, huff… Big Brother Zero… how did it go…?" Tanjiro asked.

【Analyzing…?】

【Estimated time: 5 minutes】

Looking at the information transmitted by 【Analysis Glasses】, Zero said, "Tanjiro, I need some time to investigate. I'll give you an answer tomorrow!"

"Is that so? Then I'll trouble you, Big Brother Zero!"

"Mm, then you go rest well first and recover your body."

"Yes, Big Brother Zero."

…………

Zero returned to his own residence. The moment he opened his room, two figures pounced onto him.

"Master, you're back!"

"Mwu~"

"Mm, I'm back, but… why is Nezuko here?"

The little Nezuko in his arms was affectionately nuzzling against his chest, showing a sweet smile.

"A few days before you went on patrol, Tanjiro brought her over. He said he wanted little Nezuko to spend more time with family."

"I see."

Thinking about it, it made sense — the Tanjiro siblings hadn't had a proper family reunion in several years.

Therefore, he also expressed his approval of such an arrangement.

Afterwards, he placed little Nezuko on the bed to play with Xiao Bai Yue.

He went to the desk himself, took out a notebook and pen, and began recording 【Hinokami Kagura Dance】.

【Analyzing… Analysis successful】

【Hinokami Kagura Dance】

【Original Name: Sun Breathing】

【Information: Hinokami Kagura, also known as Sun Breathing; hundreds of years ago, the original Breathing swordsman "Yoriichi Tsugikuni" participated in the encirclement of Muzan, but the betrayal of his elder brother Michikatsu Tsugikuni caused the entire operation to fail, and Muzan later escaped without a trace.】

After this, Yoriichi Tsugikuni was expelled from the Demon Slayer Corps, but Yoriichi Tsugikuni did not give up his resolve to destroy Kibutsuji Muzan!

In order to find Kibutsuji Muzan and personally destroy him, Yoriichi Tsugikuni traveled everywhere tracking Muzan's whereabouts. During this pursuit, Yoriichi Tsugikuni rescued the "Tanjuro Kamado" family, who made a living selling charcoal, from the hands of a demon.

To repay Yoriichi Tsugikuni for saving his life, Tanjuro invited him to stay at his home.

Later, during their conversation, Yoriichi Tsugikuni expressed regret for not having killed Kibutsuji Muzan with his own hands back then, and intended to entrust his hope to his juniors, but he never found a successor who satisfied him.

After understanding Yoriichi Tsugikuni's thoughts, Tanjuro Kamado said he was willing to pass down "Sun Breathing" and the "Hanafuda Earrings," even though he was merely a charcoal seller with no ability to use swordsmanship, he still wanted to pass on this hope.

After recognizing Tanjuro's resolve, Yoriichi Tsugikuni taught all his skills to Tanjuro. Once Tanjuro had comprehended them, Yoriichi Tsugikuni gave his earrings as a token to Tanjuro, and set off once more to continue his unfinished mission.

Through generations of inheritance, Sun Breathing was also renamed Hinokami Kagura and continued to be passed down. The kagura dance passed down through the generations of the Kamado family is a dance offered to pray for peace and safety to "Lord of Fire."】

"I see… since that's the case, then it should be fine now…"

He then entered a command into 【Analysis Glasses】.

【Search "Sun Breathing"】

【Searching… Search successful】

【Sun Breathing】

【Founder: Yoriichi Tsugikuni】

【Derived Breathing Techniques: Moon, Stone, Water, Thunder, Flame, Wind】

【Sun Breathing Forms: Dance, Clear Blue Sky, Raging Sun, Setting Sun, Burning Bones, Sunflower Thrust, Sun Halo Dragon, Whirlwind, Setting Sun Transformation, Beneficent Radiance, Flame Dance】

【Note: Because Sun Breathing is overly powerful, performing it produces a scorching heat like the blazing sun, and therefore places strict demands on one's spiritual power and physique.】

"Mm…" Looking at this data, Zero always felt that this 【Hinokami Kagura】, that is, 【Sun Breathing】, didn't seem that simple.

There seemed to be… some other meaning within.

Moreover, Zero even guessed that the forms of 【Sun Breathing】 were not as simple as 【Analysis Glasses】 introduced.

At the very least, not twelve forms.

The reason he thought so also had its cause.

For example, 【First Form: Round Dance】 and 【Twelfth Form: Flame Dance】; the homophones of these two techniques are nearly identical, and judging by the forms, they seem capable of linking together.

"Wait, linking..."

A scene suddenly appeared in his mind; he combined these techniques with the movements Tanjiro had just performed and demonstrated them over and over in his mind.

He opened a fresh page in his notebook and wrote down every movement of 【Sun Breathing】.

"Round Dance... Flame Dance... beginning and end echoing each other, naturally connecting... Could it be..."

Zero guessed that Sun Breathing had a Thirteenth Form.

The reason for this guess was entirely that, from the First Form to the Twelfth Form, if performed continuously, they could completely form a cycle and be released in a continuous sequence.

Furthermore, he remembered that Tanjiro had once told him that his father, namely Kamado Tanjuro, could dance the Hinokami Kagura for several days straight during heavy snow.

He had also told him that as long as one breathed correctly, one could do many things ordinary people could not.

Thus, it could be inferred that performing the First Form through the Twelfth Form continuously formed a cycle, which was the so-called Thirteenth Form!

Presumably, Tanjiro's father was able to dance the Hinokami Kagura for several days straight in the snowing winter precisely because of this, combined with the Breathing Method.

"I never expected there to be so many subtleties in this... Truly, the world is vast and full of wonders... However, the Land of the Rising Sun isn't that big, is it..."

"But, why do the techniques of Water Breathing feel somewhat similar to Sun Breathing?"

Regarding 【Water Breathing】, Zero had analyzed it long ago, and now, seeing 【Sun Breathing】, he discovered that some techniques were somewhat identical.

For instance, First Form: Water Surface Slash was much like Round Dance.

Also, Second Form: Water Wheel and Third Form: Flowing Dance were somewhat similar to Flame Wheel and Sun Halo Dragon: Head Dance.

And Seventh Form: Drop Ripple Thrust was much the same as Hua Yang Thrust, and so on.

"How interesting. Could these two Breathing Methods be used in combination... No, water is soft yet can be hard; Sun Breathing, when performed, is as scorching as fire. Water can overcome fire, but fire can also overcome water.

Tanjiro said that using Hinokami Kagura had severe side effects after ending... But if he were to blend the two, could the side effects be reduced?

Would the attack be stronger than Water Breathing, and the stamina more enduring than Hinokami Kagura?! If so, perhaps this could compensate for Tanjiro's lack of proficiency with Hinokami Kagura?!"

Thinking this, he recorded all the information in his notebook.

Afterwards, he took out a fresh sheet of white paper and selected a portion of what he had just written to record there.

He also recorded his own idea of combining Water Breathing and Hinokami Kagura.

He would give it all to Tanjiro tomorrow.

"I hope this can help you..."

Having finished all this, he stretched.

At some point, Nezuko had appeared between Zero's legs under the table, poking her head out with a dazed expression to look at him.

"Nezuko, how did you get here! Where is Xiao Bai Yue?" He hurriedly picked Nezuko up and held her in his arms.

"Master, I am here... Save me!!!"

"Uh... this..."

Zero discovered that Xiao Bai Yue had been tied up by Nezuko into a small dumpling and stuffed into her own chest, with only a tiny head sticking out.

Moreover, the position she was stuffed into was right inside Nezuko's chest.

"Why are you here?"

"Waaah... Master, little Nezuko treated me like a toy..."

"... You really had a hard time, Xiao Bai Yue."

Nezuko looked at Zero with an innocent expression, then reached her hand into the clothes on her chest and pulled Xiao Bai Yue out.

Actually, this was not Nezuko's fault; sometimes, seeing Xiao Bai Yue like to stay in the pockets on Zero's clothes, she thought Xiao Bai Yue was afraid of the cold, so she imitated Zero by doing this.

Zero smiled helplessly, took Xiao Bai Yue, untied the ropes on her body, and placed her on his shoulder.

Kamado Kui Zhi, standing at the door with a plate of late-night snacks, saw all this and quietly turned to leave.

One month later.

Zero returned to the Demon Slayer Corps from the Rengoku family.

After organizing the data and information he needed, he went to the Rengoku family and spoke with Rengoku Shinjuro for a while about his views on Sun Breathing.

At first, Rengoku Shinjuro was very angry, believing that all Breathing Methods were merely following in the footsteps of Sun Breathing.

No matter how strong they were, they could not compare to the Original Breathing: Sun Breathing.

But Zero placed a few sheets of paper in front of Rengoku Shinjuro.

These contained some information he had investigated, selecting and recording the more important parts.

As for whether to read them or not?

That was Rengoku Shinjuro's business; Zero would not interfere too much.

Not long after Zero left, Rengoku Shinjuro hesitated for a moment, then picked up those few sheets of paper and read them through...

On the way back, Zero happened to meet Rengoku Kyojuro and went up to greet him.

"Kyojuro, how have you been lately?"

"Mm, Zero, long time no see!"

"Going on a mission again?"

"Yes, I just received the latest intelligence; the swordsmen sent there all suffered severe injuries! Several have also lost contact..."

Speaking of this, Rengoku Kyojuro paused, then continued: "Not only that, it also involved over forty ordinary civilians; we cannot let this go! And this time, it is very possible that it is an Upper Rank Demon!"

"Is that so?" Hearing Rengoku Kyojuro's account of this matter, Zero fell into thought.

The swordsmen sent were at least under his own examination supervision, considered a relatively elite group.

If such a lineup could be severely injured or even killed by demons, then it really could be the Twelve Kizuki.

It really could be, as Rengoku Kyojuro said, an Upper Rank Demon level!

"Since that's the case, you must be careful!"

"Don't worry, I will definitely protect everyone well, hahahaha!!!!"

Under Zero's gaze, Rengoku Kyojurou turned and left with a dashing flourish.

"……Forget it, let me finish patrolling my own area first, then head over to Kyojurou's place to check things out together. I just have a feeling his mission this time is going to be very dangerous!"

…………