Moonlight spilled down in a pale wash, like a strip of silk draped over Vincent Fox's shoulders.
He sat on the window frame, relaxed and unhurried, looking far too at home for someone who had just appeared out of nowhere.
"Y… you, who are you?!" Lady Tamayo clearly hadn't expected an uninvited guest. She rose on instinct, her nerves snapping taut.
"Vincent Fox," he said calmly. "Just one of the many Demon Slayers out there."
"A Demon Slayer?!"
The moment she heard that, Tamayo's eyes sharpened. Her right hand shifted, nails lengthening into a demon's claw as it climbed toward her left arm, ready to tear skin and unleash her Blood Demon Art.
"Lady Tamayo, don't be so tense," Vincent said, glancing at her hand with quiet precision. "If I meant you harm, I wouldn't show up like this."
That tiny look made her pause. He wasn't guessing, he understood her, maybe even knew her methods. The realization eased her grip by the smallest margin.
"Let me introduce myself properly," Vincent continued. "I'm part of the Ubuyashiki household's Demon Slayer Corps. You can consider me an envoy."
He extended his hand.
Tamayo hesitated, then accepted it and shook.
"How did you find this place?" she asked softly.
In her mind, this hideout was nearly flawless. Aside from Tanjiro, almost no one from the Corps had ever stepped foot here.
"The concealment is brilliant," Vincent said lightly. "Even our Master didn't find this location until his body could barely endure any longer."
"But the Ubuyashiki network is… extensive. First, identify the property's original owner. Then, during the day, trace the 'sight' Yushiro spreads through his talismans."
"It isn't difficult, if you know what you're looking for."
Tamayo's expression froze.
The first part was already unsettling, but manageable. The second part was terrifying.
To catch the visual relay hidden inside those talismans… you'd need perception sharp enough to notice what even she had trained to erase, the stray cat, the quiet dog, even the shift of wind through leaves.
"Don't worry," Vincent added, smiling as if he were talking about the weather. "We didn't do any of that to move against you. And I have no intention of harming you."
His words were calm, but Tamayo's guard stayed up.
"Then… what do you want?" she asked.
Vincent chuckled and shook his head.
"So you still don't trust me. Fair enough. Demons and the Corps have been at each other's throats for centuries."
"Honestly… Tanjiro's warmth is probably the only reason you ever trusted the Corps at all."
Tamayo blinked, utterly lost for a moment.
What was the Ubuyashiki family playing at?
The Corps had hunted demons for generations, and now they were sending someone to talk about cooperation?
"Where is Yushiro?" Tamayo asked, still refusing to be lured by the word "cooperate."
"You don't need to worry about that," Vincent replied. "Listen."
He pointed upward.
Above them was the attic. Tamayo focused, and sure enough, faint footsteps moved overhead.
"Yushiro is safe," Vincent said. "And it's normal he hasn't noticed me."
Then Vincent swung himself inside the room and stood before her, posture respectful, voice steady.
"Now I'll state my purpose clearly."
"You've been researching, so you've already noticed the changes in Nezuko. For Tanjiro, it's good news."
"For Kibutsuji Muzan, it's even better news."
"A demon who can resist sunlight has appeared. Muzan will do absolutely anything to devour Nezuko. That's beyond doubt."
"And since you also want Muzan dead… you don't want to see that happen either."
Vincent paused, letting the weight of it settle, then continued.
"The Demon Slayer Corps has members who study demon physiology. We have our own experience."
"Your research could have enormous impact in the war against Muzan, maybe even decisive impact."
"And that war won't wait long. When it begins, it will be all or nothing."
He drew a slow breath and met Tamayo's eyes directly.
"So… will you help the Demon Slayer Corps destroy Kibutsuji Muzan?"
"Please come with me to the Ubuyashiki estate."
The words were plain.
But inside Tamayo, they hit like thunder.
A full-scale war was coming.
And they were asking a demon… to walk into Demon Slayer headquarters.
She fell silent for a long time, as if weighing every consequence, every risk, every life.
At last, she seemed to reach a decision.
"I will," she said. "But wait until I finish this stage of my experiments."
"I won't hide it from you. I've already developed a medicine that can turn a demon back into a human."
"But it needs time. I have to refine it."
"Agreed," Vincent said without hesitation.
He accepted her condition and had the Ubuyashiki crow deliver the news back to headquarters.
With Yushiro's guidance, Vincent stayed at her estate temporarily.
Meanwhile, the Demon Slayer Corps began receiving Hashira-level training.
"Your hip and leg coordination is very good," Muichiro Tokito said, smiling at Tanjiro in rare approval. "And your muscle control switches smoothly. You've done well."
"You can move on to the next Hashira's guidance."
"I can?" Tanjiro looked almost disbelieving. He asked again and again to confirm.
"Yes," Muichiro said, still smiling. "You've worked hard. You're far stronger than the last time we met."
Tanjiro thanked him earnestly.
And everyone else noticed something shocking.
The Mist Hashira, who was usually cold as stone… was being gentle.
They hurried over, stammering nervously.
"Lord Tokito, then we… we… can we also go to the next Hashira's training…?"
"What are you talking about?" Muichiro's face went instantly blank, his tone turning disgusted. "Once you're done practicing swings, go split posts until you split them apart."
The group froze.
The emotional whiplash was unreal.
After thanking him again, Tanjiro headed to the next training site.
"Long time no see, Tanjiro!" Mitsuri Kanroji greeted him with overflowing warmth.
"Welcome to my home!"
"Long time no see!" Tanjiro beamed back. "You look full of energy, Kanroji. You've recovered really well!"
"You too!" Mitsuri said brightly. "You look even livelier than before!"
Tanjiro sniffed, and a sweet fragrance drifted into his nose.
"Do you keep bees, Kanroji?" he asked, surprised. "I think I smell honey. It smells amazing!"
"Yes!" Mitsuri said proudly. "You noticed?"
Without a hint of formality, she grabbed Tanjiro's hand and led him inside.
"Honey on bread is delicious. Add butter and cheese and it's basically heaven."
"And my pancakes just came out! Let's try them together!"
Tanjiro didn't even know what she was describing, but it sounded delicious.
And Tanjiro was, at heart, a food lover.
He wasn't refusing that.
So while everyone else suffered through brutal training outside, those two sat down and happily ate pancakes.
Everyone else: …This is insane.
We're out here eating bitterness, and he's inside eating sweetness.
Is there any double standard bigger than this?!
----------------------------------------------------
The deeper he goes, the more the truth unravels. Don't wait read ahead and witness Vincent's rise before the world catches up!
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