Chapter 89: What Is Love?

Villa estate.

“Aizoen… really dead?!”

The transformed child, Muzan, sat in the study and, through Aizoen’s final perspective, clearly saw Aizoen overcome decapitation.

I thought this would let me kill everyone present!

But that damn Zero, just a few words, awakened Aizoen’s memories.

In the end, he walked into the sunlight himself, turning to ash beneath it, as if finally freed…

“Aizoen… I never thought you’d sink so low! Useless trash! You actually died!!!”

Tearing!

Enraged, Muzan tore the book in his hands into shreds, his vertical pupils turning blood-red.

Veins bulged on his face, his hatred for Zero reaching its peak!

He longed to eat his flesh, drink his blood—only then could his rage be quelled!

But Muzan knew Zero’s strength all too well.

Recalling those events, it was as if a bucket of ice water had been dumped over him—he deflated.

“Zero, it’s you again, you damned fool! You’ve thwarted my plans time and again… just wait! One day, I’ll seize the secrets hidden in your body!”

Within Infinity Castle.

Kokushibo stood motionless, head tilted upward, eyes tightly shut.

“Aizoen’s… presence… gone… he was defeated…”

“Aizoen… weren’t you supposed to… defeat me… you’d already… overcome decapitation… just one step away from entering the pinnacle of martial arts…”

“And yet you abandoned the pinnacle of martial arts yourself… how utterly weak!!!”

Boom!

From Kokushibo’s core, countless blade auras erupted, instantly reducing all surrounding structures to dust!

At this moment, he showed utter disdain for Aizoen’s performance.

Elsewhere, within the Infinite Temple.

While indulging with his female followers, Douma felt Aizoen’s presence vanish in that instant.

“Huh? Aizoen’s connection disappeared… how pitiful~ His aura suddenly turned strange—was it my imagination?~ Aizoen seems to have become some other kind of creature~”

One of the female followers stepped closer, pressing against him, and asked: “Lord, who is Aizoen?”

“Oh my, Aizoen was my dearest friend~ His death truly saddens me~”

As he spoke, Douma put on a heartbroken expression and shed tears.

“Lord, you clearly care deeply for your friend—don’t be sad~ I’m still here with you.”

“Yes~ I still have this lovely disciple to keep me company~”

The female follower giggled and clung to Douma.

Just as she was about to go further, she suddenly saw everything in the room begin to spin.

She even saw her own headless body…

Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters.

After returning to the Demon Slayer Corps, the wounded were gradually taken to Butterfly House for treatment.

Tanjiro’s injuries were severe—he’d been pierced by a stinger in the abdomen, rupturing blood vessels.

Fortunately, his condition was stable; after surgery, he only needed several months of rest to fully recover.

Rengoku Kyojuro received some treatment at Butterfly House, then returned to the Rengoku household to reassure his father and younger brother.

Rengoku Kyojirou was sweeping at the gate and, seeing his elder brother return unharmed, broke into a wide smile.

“Elder brother, welcome home.”

“Mm, Kyojirou, I’m back! How’s Father?”

“Father is in the backyard.”

“I’ll go see him.”

In the backyard, he found Rengoku Kyojirou sitting alone, gazing at the sky.

“Father, I’m back.”

But Rengoku Kyojirou snapped: “Hmph! Useless! You couldn’t even defeat Upper Rank Three and got wounded! You still haven’t mastered Flame Breathing!”

“Yes, Father! I’ll train harder!”

After speaking, Rengoku Kyojuro left the backyard and returned to his room to rest for a while.

But Rengoku Kyojuro didn’t know that the moment he turned to leave, Rengoku Kyojirou couldn’t hold back his tears.

“You’re back… you’re back…”

Rengoku Kyojirou knew well how strong Upper Rank demons were—without Zero’s help on this mission, he might have…

He had already lost the woman he loved; he couldn’t bear to lose his child too.

“Ruka… Kyojuro… he truly tried his hardest…”

“Zero… thank you…”

The scene returned to Butterfly House.

Mitsuri rushed toward Zero like a newlywed reunited after long separation, leaping onto him and wrapping him in a tight embrace.

She also gave him two sweet, fragrant face smacks.

“Zero, welcome back! You’re incredible! You’ve slain another Upper Rank demon again!”

“Alright, Mitsuri, get down before you turn me into a widower~”

“Ah~ Sorry sorry, hehe~” Mitsuri playfully stuck out her tongue.

Just as he set Mitsuri down, two more figures lunged at him, hugging him tightly.

“Say, Kanae, Xiao Yue, are you trying to suffocate me?” Zero said, half-laughing, half-exasperated.

Kanae and Xiao Yue exchanged a glance and smiled.

Kanae, Xiao Yue: “Zero/Master, welcome back.”

In that moment of warmth, Zero felt his heart overflow with happiness and replied: “I’m back.”

After chatting with them a while longer, he planned to take Nezuko back to the mansion.

This was Tanjiro’s request—he wanted Nezuko to spend more time with her family, and once he recovered, he’d visit their mother and younger siblings himself.

Passing through Butterfly House’s backyard, he spotted Kanao standing alone beneath a cherry tree.

A gentle breeze blew, scattering cherry petals; Kanao’s figure looked like a butterfly dancing among the blossoms.

But she seemed troubled, clutching the hem of her haori, hesitating.

“Kanao, what are you doing?”

Hearing her name, Kanao turned and saw Zero, stammering: “Zero-nii… I…”

“What’s wrong? Do you have something on your mind? You can tell me.”

Kanao reached for a coin to make a decision, then quickly stopped herself.

As if making a momentous choice, she spoke her heart: “Zero-nii… what is… love?”

“Love? That’s not something you can explain in a few words… How to put it… well, when someone enters your heart, you think of them constantly, always worrying about them.

When you speak to them, your heart races like a startled deer—beating wildly. You hope they’ll come to you, even just to see them makes you happy.

And when you hear they’re in danger, you fear for them, terrified you might never see them again.”

Zero spoke his thoughts in one breath.

Kanao listened, falling into thought.

It really did sound true.

“Wait… Kanao, are you in love with some little boy?” Zero said, incredulous.

Which lucky kid had slipped into Kanao’s heart and made her fall for him?

After thinking for a moment, Zero had three candidates.

Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke.

Zenitsu? Impossible!

That sleazy guy, infatuated with every girl he sees—he couldn’t possibly be it.

But he had to admit, Zenitsu sometimes did show real courage, standing up for friends and girls.

Inosuke? Also impossible!

That brute had a violent temper, often arrogant and always itching to fight.

Still, he was at least a genuinely sincere kid.

That left only one: Tanjiro.

With Tanjiro’s gentle nature, it was entirely possible he’d have entered Kanao’s heart.

After all, Kanae had told him Kanao’s childhood was harsh—she’d grown up in a poor urban family.

From infancy, she endured violent abuse from parents hardened by poverty and despair.

Her traumatic childhood left her utterly incapable of making her own choices.

Even when her stomach growled from hunger, she’d just sit motionless, waiting for someone to tell her what to do…

If Tanjiro truly became close to Kanao, it might be a good thing.

Tanjiro’s gentle nature could balance Kanao’s, helping her escape her childhood shadows sooner.

So Zero teased: “Kanao, do you have someone you like? Let me guess… Tanjiro?”

When it came to Tanjiro, Kanao visibly stirred.

She dared not show it, only lowering her head in silence.

“So it really is him~ Good job, you little brat~ You’ve actually stolen my little cabbage~ Looks like I’ll have to personally train you when I get the chance.”

“N-no… no…”

“What? Isn’t it Tanjiro?”

“Yes…”

Kanao broke into a cold sweat, unsure how to answer.

Zero patted Kanao’s head and said:

“There, there, Kanao, I’m just teasing you~ I’m glad you found someone you like. Tanjiro’s still recovering—when he’s better, go see him.”

“Mm…”

Then, just as Zero was about to leave, Kanao grabbed his hand.

“What’s wrong, Kanao? Is there something else?”

“Zero-nii… thank you…”

Zero pulled Kanao into his arms and comforted her: “You should thank yourself. You made your own choice—that’s already a great effort.”

Zero’s embrace gave Kanao the warmth of being protected and cared for by an older brother.

Finally, as she bid Zero farewell, Kanao paused, then firmly walked to Tanjiro’s ward to visit him.

Not long after, Shinobu’s scream rang out from the room: “Aaaahhh! Tanjiro, you bastard! Letting Zero-nii take care of Nezuko is one thing, but you… you… APOLOGIZE! CUT YOURSELF OPEN AND APOLOGIZE!”

Seeing the fury in Shinobu’s eyes, Tanjiro hurried to explain: “No no… it’s not like that, Shinobu, let me explain—Kanao… she’s…”

“I don’t care! It’s not fair! Aaaahhh!!” Shinobu began thrashing and rolling on the floor.

“Shut up!!!”

Duang!!!

Shinkai Aoi delivered Shinobu a thunderous knuckle bash, instantly silencing him and leaving him dazed in the corner.

Meanwhile, Kanao, sitting beside Tanjiro’s bed, exhaled in relief—Shinobu was so loud~

She couldn’t even properly watch Tanjiro.

In the blink of an eye, a month passed.

After a month of rest, Tanjiro felt his body had nearly recovered and decided to take a walk.

But as soon as he stepped outside Butterfly House, he encountered someone.

The man had two gleaming, razor-sharp kitchen knives tied to his head, and held two more in his hands!

At that moment, his entire body radiated murderous intent, as if he had transformed into a Special-Rank Cursed Spirit.

“Nn-nn-nn-nn-nn-nn!!”

“Σ(?д?|||) Steel Tomb-sensei!!”

“You… again… broke my knives… Huh! Huh! What the hell are you thinking, you bastard?! You deserve to die! I’ll kill you, aaaaahhh!!”

“Sorry sorry I’m so sorry! Aaaahhh! Help me, aaaaahhh!!”

“Die die die! Bastard! Even that person never broke my knives—yet you broke them twice! Stop right there, aaaaahhh! I’ll kill you!!”

And so, Tanjiro once again fled under Steel Tomb Hana’s relentless pursuit!

Coincidentally, Zero had just completed his mission and was returning.

As he passed Butterfly House, two gusts of wind swept past him.

“Huh? What’s going on? Hmm? Where’s my scythe?” Zero’s head filled with question marks.

Whirr~ Whirr~

Two more gusts passed—and the Sun Wheel Scythe returned to Zero’s hands.

And the scene felt strangely familiar to him.

Had he seen this somewhere before?

As the saying goes:

Love is like a tornado—after it passes, you’re left dazed.

Just now, two gusts swept by, his scythe vanished mysteriously, and now it was back in his hands.

“Sorry sorry I’m really sorry!”

“You broke my knives?! I’ll kill you! Aaaahhhhh!”

Hearing the voice, Zero paused for 2.5 seconds.

He decided…

To turn around, return to Butterfly House, sit on the wall, and eat a watermelon split in half with a spoon, watching the show.

This time, Tanjiro was chased by Steel Tomb Hana for a full day.

From morning to noon, then noon to sunset.

Zero had already finished several watermelons.

Finally, Zero somehow produced a large pile of Mitarashi dango, which distracted Steel Tomb Hana.

Only then did Tanjiro escape death.

“I… I’m saved…” Tanjiro hid nearby, gasping for breath, his legs trembling.

“Tanjiro, you’re impressive~ You managed to run this long under Steel Tomb Hana’s chase~” Zero teased.

“Zero-nii, don’t mock me—I nearly died…” Tanjiro smiled weakly.

“Alright, get used to it.”

“You look mostly recovered. Next, we’ll begin physical function recovery training—except this time, I’ll be the one running it.”

“Huh?”

Suddenly, Tanjiro felt a bad premonition.

He sensed that Zero-nii’s “physical function recovery training” sounded terrifying…

“I must be overthinking it. Zero-nii is such a gentle person—how could it possibly be that scary…” Tanjiro reassured himself.