Chapter 345 – 345. Crushing the Water Hashira, Tomioka Giyu! (Subscribe!)
"Want to learn from me?"
Eustass asked.
Tears in his eyes, Tanjiro looked at the big brother in delighted surprise.
With a single move he'd knocked Nezuko out cold.
The once-ferocious Nezuko now lay docile as a kitten, fast asleep.
This big brother—he had to be a legendary hermit expert, right?
The people of the Demon Slayer World did have an upper limit to their physiques.
There was no way around it.
But Eustass could still teach Tanjiro other things.
Swordsmanship.
That too could be passed on.
The Pirate World's sword arts excelled in two ways.
First, the Pirate World's humans had monstrous physiques.
Second, the sword-masters of the Pirate World truly possessed superb swordsmanship.
If Tanjiro devoted himself to Pirate World Kenjutsu, he could definitely grow strong—using blade techniques to, within limits, break past his power ceiling.
"Will… will I be able to protect my sister?"
Tanjiro asked.
"Absolutely."
Eustass nodded.
"Then I'm willing. I don't want to lose any more family!"
Tanjiro declared firmly.
Just as he was about to kneel, Eustass stopped him with a raised hand.
Anime's classic trope—students killing their masters.
Too unlucky… "Just pick up some skills; skip the master-disciple rite."
Eustass said.
(Samantha, Doris: He only refuses because the pupil's not a girl!)
In the distance,
Tomioka Giyu frowned at the scene.
He didn't care whether the newcomer was human or demon.
But tolerating a demon's existence was something no Demon Slayer Corps member could allow.
Tomioka shot forward, gripping his sea-blue nichirin blade in both hands, slashing straight at the demon cradled in the boy's arms.
"Water Breathing, First Form: Surface Slash!"
Whoosh!
The blade seemed to draw a sheet of water as it sped toward Nezuko.
Murderous intent filled Tomioka's face.
He knew this would hurt the boy—Tanjiro and the demonized girl were clearly close.
But as a member of the Demon Slayer Corps,
his duty was to slay demons and protect human lives.
A demon's instinct drives it to devour humans.
It isn't something they can simply resist.
Even humans struggle with self-control.
Let alone demons tormented day and night by the craving for human flesh.
Just as people need food and water,
eating humans
is a demon's survival requirement.
Talking them out of it
sounded absurd.
Clang!
The next instant,
two fingers snapped shut.
Tomioka's eyes bulged, shockwaves racing through his pupils as he stared at Eustass.
He—he had caught Tomioka Giyu's nichirin bladebetween two fingers?
A human?
How could a human do this!?
A demon?
But demons fear nichirin blades, don't they?
"Second Form: Water Wheel!"
Tomioka kicked off a nearby tree; snowflakes cascaded from its branches.
His body began to spin, whipping up water as he prepared to become a spinning waterwheel.
Eustass tightened his fingers, and neither Tomioka nor his blade could execute the technique as intended.
Shock filled Tomioka's face.
Such strength!
Eustass chuckled and released the nichirin blade.
Tomioka swung again, only to be flicked away by two fingers.
Eustass snapped his fingers, flicking Tomioka's nichirin blade.
Even holding back ninety-nine point ninety-nine percent of his power, the casual flick still sent Tomioka and his sword flying.
Eustass helped Tanjiro to his feet and glanced at Nezuko.
Then he looked toward Tomioka, who was standing in the distance.
"This boy—I'm protecting him."
Eustass declared.
"Are you human or demon?"
Tomioka asked, uncertain.
His power was too terrifying—hardly human.
"What else would I be but human? You got a problem with that?"
Eustass glared; cute little brat, but his mouth sure was foul.
"Ah, I see."
Tomioka wanted to apologize, but all that came out was this lukewarm reply—he himself knew such talk would make people hate him sooner or later.
Whoosh!
The next instant,
Tomioka used Breathing Technique, vanishing in a blur as he rushed at Nezuko.
His sea-blue nichirin blade swept in a cold arc.
"My job is to kill demons; I will slay this girl turned demon, no matter what!"
Tomioka stated coldly, flashing forward.
The next moment,
Eustass looked over; Tomioka's face twitched in alarm.
Again Eustass pinched the sea-blue nichirin bladebetween two fingers and flung it aside.
Tomioka was hurled away, but he planted both feet on a tree trunk and charged back, blade howling through the air.
"Third Form: Flowing Dance!"
Tomioka's body flowed like water, weaving through the forest at high speed, leaving after-images as he darted everywhere.
Suddenly he appeared behind Nezuko and slashed down.
Eustass thrust out two fingers, clamping the nichirin blade once more.
Amazement flooded Tomioka—this man's reflexes were insane.
The next instant Eustass flung him away again.
Picking up a nearby branch, Eustass wrapped it in Armament Haki and swept it outward.
The swing was lightning-fast; a cyan slash burst forth, racing toward Tomioka.
Tomioka bent low, narrowly dodging.
The slash barreled on, felling trees—one, two, three… ten, a hundred—until it vanished beyond sight.
Tomioka straightened, staring in horror behind him.
Terrifying!
Breathing Technique? No… Cold sweat trickled down Tomioka's forehead as he gaped at the man.
In Tanjiro's arms,
Nezuko stirred awake.
Tomioka raised his blade at once.
No matter how strong the foe, he would never stop slaying demons!
That was the Demon Slayer Corps!
Seeing the blade pointed her way, Nezuko leapt in front of her brother, baring fangs, pink claws extending as she shielded him.
Surprise crossed Tomioka's face.
In Nezuko he glimpsed the possibility of demons returning to normal.
Should he let them go—or call for backup?
"Let the boy's sister go, how about it?"
Eustass spoke.
He respected these heroes of the Demon Slayer Corpswho fought and died for humanity.
So he was willing to talk.
They were true heroes.
"Fine—but you must guarantee she won't harm humans."
Tomioka considered, then nodded.
[host has defeated the Demon Slayer Corps Water Hashira, Tomioka Giyu!]
[Reward: Strength ×2!]
Chapter 346 – Single-Minded Tanjiro! (Subscribe please!)
"But I have to make sure—are you really human?"
Tomioka Giyu asked.
"I think you've got a problem with me—let's settle this one-on-one!"
Eustass raised a branch, pointing it at Tomioka Giyu and said coldly.
Tomioka Giyu was speechless.
He couldn't win… If the other party wasn't a demon, there was no need to fight.
"I see. All right, then."
Tomioka Giyu finished, glanced at the stubborn boy, and said, "Go find an old man named Urokodaki Sakonji who lives on Sagiri Mountain. Tell him Tomioka Giyu sent you."
"The thick fog is fine for now, but don't take your sister out into the Sun."
With that, Tomioka Giyu vanished in an instant and left.
He hurried down the mountain, looking back once along the way.
"He must be in agony too, with his sister turned into that…"
"Don't cry, don't despair."
"Those aren't things you should do right now."
"I know you can't take another blow—your family murdered, your sister turned into a man-eating demon. It hurts, doesn't it?"
"You want to scream, I know. If only I'd arrived half a day earlier…"
Tomioka Giyu brooded, full of regret.
He was the classic cold-outside, warm-inside type—terrible at voicing concern, all bluntness, yet unable to stop caring inside.
Eustass watched the direction Tomioka Giyu had left.
Tomioka's regret reached Eustass through his Observation Haki.
But to Eustass, Tomioka arriving earlier would've changed nothing.
The one who slaughtered Tanjiro's family and turned Nezuko into a demon was Kibutsuji Muzan.
Had Tomioka come sooner, he'd simply have died sooner.
He couldn't have prevented anything.
Eustass gently rubbed the heads of Tanjiro and Nezuko.
Nezuko stared up at him blankly, a little scared.
This big brother had lightly tapped her—and she'd passed out.
"First, bury your family, boy."
Eustass said.
Tanjiro's face was ashen; he nodded.
Not long after.
Snowflakes drifted down.
Amid the snow.
Tanjiro dug a small pit and laid his family to rest.
Nezuko stood behind her brother, watching him in a daze.
Eustass leaned against a tall tree, gazing at the gloomy sky.
He wouldn't regret like Tomioka.
Nor would he lament not waking earlier—after all, he hadn't known he'd wake up having crossed to this exact moment.
This wasn't the Marvel Universe; there was no rewinding time.
The past was past.
People should look forward.
Eustass decided to train Tanjiro into a Master swordsman.
Tanjiro didn't know whether to go to Sagiri Mountain or follow Eustass.
He took his sister's hand, walked up to Eustass, and said respectfully:
"Master, let's go."
"I'm not your Master; I'll only teach you a few trivial things. Call me Mr. Eustass."
With that, Eustass turned and headed down the mountain.
"Uh…"
Tanjiro looked at his teacher. Although the man refused the title, to him he was still his Master.
"Where are we going, Mr. Eustass?"
Tanjiro asked, stumbling over the odd name.
"Sagiri Mountain."
Eustass replied.
"Eh?"
Tanjiro stared at his Master in bewilderment.
His Master was so strong—yet still wanted him to learn from someone else?
"…"
Eustass gave Tanjiro a silent look.
He could teach the boy swordsmanship, make him stronger.
But he had no nichirin blade for demon-slaying, nor did he know any Breathing Technique.
Tanjiro still needed to learn a Breathing Technique and follow the proper steps.
Ahem—and incidentally, he'd pick up a Breathing Technique himself… and grab a nichirin blade… After all, demons are hard to kill.
He had no wish to exhaust himself smashing a demon to pulp.
Too disgusting.
But as a Master, how could he admit he didn't know?
What about face?
Eustass tapped Tanjiro on the head.
"A grown-up's decision—no questions."
"Yes, sir!"
Not long after.
At the foot of a great mountain.
Tanjiro hid Nezuko in a small cave.
"Mr. Eustass, please look after Nezuko for me."
"No problem—bring me back something to eat while you're at it."
Eustass lay down; sunlight spilled onto a patch of ground beside the foot of the mountain.
Basking in the Sun felt rather nice.
Inside the cave.
Nezuko hid, only her little head poking out, pink eyes enviously watching outside.
She couldn't go out.
Instinct told her she feared the Sun.
So jealous~
Big brother who can sunbathe~
"Nezuko, you mustn't run off, and don't be mean to Mr. Eustass, okay?"
After warning his sister, Tanjiro finally left at ease.
Eustass couldn't be bothered wondering what Tanjirowas up to; he'd sunbathe first.
A branch in hand, he kept swinging it back and forth.
Armament Haki coiled around it; the shabby branch became a peerless blade.
Remove the Armament Haki and it was just a shabby branch again.
Soon.
In the grass.
Rustling sounds.
A tusked Boar poked its head out.
Armament Haki wrapped the branch in Eustass's hand and he hurled it instantly.
Thud!
The branch pierced straight through the Boar.
Eustass looked at the Boar in delight.
Breakfast was secured!
Nezuko, hiding in the little cave, stared blankly at the fallen Boar and the branch sticking upright in the ground.
Nezuko: "???"
That's a branch?
…In the fields.
Beside the ridge.
Tanjiro walked slowly, eyeing the basket, straw, and bamboo by the ridge.
He looked around, then hurried toward a distant Farmer.
"Excuse me!"
Could you spare me that basket, some straw, and a bit of bamboo?"
The Farmer turned at the voice and saw the boy.
"Sure, but the basket has a hole."
The Farmer kindly reminded him.
"All right, I'll pay you for them!"
Tanjiro nodded.
"No need for money."
The Farmer waved him off. "It's just a broken basket."
"No, I must pay!"
Tanjiro was too honest.
Taking things without paying felt deeply wrong to him.
No, really, no need."
The Farmer wiped sweat. "The bamboo and straw are yours too."
"I still want to pay!"
"No, don't!"
The Farmer was stunned—where did this stubborn kid come from?
Tanjiro dug out his money, slapped it into the Farmer's hand.
Afraid the man would refuse, he slapped it hard.
"Please count it—it's all I have!"
"Thank you very much!"
Tanjiro hoisted the basket, hugged the bamboo and straw, and ran off happily, thanking him loudly.
The Farmer clutched his aching hand, speechlessly watching the obstinate boy disappear.
"Oww—oww—oww!"
The Farmer yelped in pain.
Chapter 347 – How Strong Can a Human Be? Kicked Dozens of Meters! (Please Subscribe!)
Not long after.
Tanjiro ran back, catching a Rabbit along the way.
He saw Mr. Eustass sitting at the mouth of a small Cave, leaning against a Wild Boar.
Tanjiro glanced at the bunny in his hands—should he just let it go?
Eustass gave the Rabbit a look.
Great—another dish.
And, once again, not long after.
Eustass roasted the Rabbit too.
Tanjiro mended the Basket nearby while Eustass sat at the Cave entrance eating roast Rabbit.
The cuter the Rabbit, the more delicious it smells—cuteness and aroma are directly proportional!
"So you went out to find a Basket."
Eustass asked.
"Mm, yes. Nezuko can't be in the Sun, but I want to travel during the day."
"After thinking it over, I figured I need a Basket with a lid."
Tanjiro replied.
Eustass nodded.
The next instant.
Eustass rummaged in his clothes and pulled out some strands—White Thread imbued with Armament Hakihe'd refined for over a decade.
No, it couldn't be called White Thread anymore.
Just as blades turn black when tempered long enough with Armament Haki,
his threads had become the same sort of existence—Black Thread.
Tough beyond compare, sharp to the extreme.
It could become an invincible shield or a reaper's scythe.
Eustass tossed a coil of Black Thread toward Tanjiro.
In the next moment,
the thread shot over, writhing under his control; it burrowed into the Basket, wrapping it in a black outer shell and weaving a dark lid over the mouth.
Tanjiro stared, stunned.
Eustass crooked a finger; the Black Thread pulled, expanding the Basket slightly outward.
More thread filled the gaps, sealing out any sunlight.
Tanjiro watched in amazement.
"You can weave a Basket just like that, so easily?"
he exclaimed.
"Mm."
Eustass nodded, continuing to eat his roast.
"That's Black Thread. Like a Black Blade, it's the hardest thread in the world."
Eustass said.
"Black Blade? Black Thread?"
Tanjiro looked puzzled.
"Don't bother thinking about it—you'll never make something like this."
Eustass waved a hand; without Haki, Tanjiro couldn't forge such a thing.
As for "Black Thread," it was a name he'd coined himself.
"!"
Gazing at the Black Basket, Tanjiro felt shaken.
The toughest thread in the world?
What an incredibly precious gift!
"Thank you, Master!"
Tanjiro shouted gratefully.
Eustass gave him a sidelong glance.
"It's a present for Nezuko, not for you."
"Then let me thank you on Nezuko's behalf—thank you, Master!"
Eustass waved him off. "I'm not your Master."
"Yes, Mr. Eustass!"
Tanjiro called him "Mr." aloud, but "Master" in his heart.
"All right, eat up and let's set out early."
"Yes, sir!"
…Not long after.
Eustass and Tanjiro set off together again.
They stopped at a farmhouse to ask the way to Sagiri Mountain.
After saying goodbye, they headed toward a distant mountain.
To reach Sagiri Mountain, they first had to cross that peak.
They climbed the slope and passed a lone house.
"The Sun's nearly down; if you don't mind, please rest at our home."
A young man stood at the gate, smiling.
"Traveling at night, you might run into demons. Why not stay and be our guests?"
An older man stepped out, also smiling.
"Well…"
Tanjiro glanced reluctantly at the mountain path—they were almost over.
"We'll rest for the night, then."
Eustass said.
Tanjiro nodded; there was no choice.
The Yamakami family invited Eustass and Tanjiro inside.
Tanjiro didn't dare let his sister crawl out of the Black Basket, afraid of scaring them.
Nezuco wouldn't cause trouble anyway; she curled up inside, sound asleep, regaining her strength.
Eustass sat quietly, sensing the mountain.
In a Cave nearby lurked a demon's aura.
That Cave wasn't far away.
He strongly suspected that once night fell, the demon would attack this household.
This family was named Yamakami—
the husband, Yamagami Toru; the wife, Yamakami Nanako.
They were warm, honest folk who welcomed the travelers with genuine kindness.
Only the husband's name felt slightly off—one syllable shy of sharing a name with a certain future "shotgun man."
Eustass ate while chatting with them.
Yamagami Toru was simple and genuinely hospitable.
He warned them over dinner never to walk at night—beware of demons or wild Beasts.
Just then—
"Crash!"
A window suddenly shattered.
Night wind burst in,
snuffing the candle.
The room plunged into gloom.
A figure shot through the opening, lunging for Yamagami Toru.
The family screamed.
Nezuko bashed open the Basket lid and leapt out, shielding her brother.
Eustass rose and instantly appeared across the room.
He lifted a leg and smashed his heel into the intruding demon's jaw.
"Gah!"
The Grass-Green-Haired Demon was sent flying.
He crashed through the door and tumbled across the yard.
"Tch!"
The demon sneered. "He's only human—how strong could he be?"
He stood, about to charge back and slaughter them all.
The next instant—
his vision blurred.
A tall figure flashed in front of him.
The demon's eyes bulged in shock.
How could anyone move that fast!? A Demon Slayer Corps member?
But this speed was insane!
"You're weak."
Eustass stared at the demon, infuriating it.
"Ha!? You dare belittle—"
Before it could finish—"this great me,"
Eustass seized it by the throat.
"Shut up."
he said coldly.
A mere wisp of Killing Intent made the demon tremble in terror.
"Such an evil aura—you've eaten plenty of humans."
Eustass said with revulsion. "Then die."
He instantly hurled the demon skyward.
The demon shot upward, soaring dozens of meters.
Tanjiro and Yamagami Toru, who'd rushed to the door, were dumbstruck.
Tossing someone that high was absurd!
Eustass raised a finger toward the sky.
The next moment,
countless White Threads burst forth.
They streaked into the night, instantly enveloping the demon.
Eustass stepped back under the eaves.
The next instant,
under the silver Moonlight, the White Threads began slicing the demon apart.
"Pfft, pfft, pfft…"
Chapter 348 – Astonishing Speed; Urokodaki Sakonji Is Shocked! (Subscribe, please!)
Urokodaki Sakonji, wearing his "simp" mask, happened to pass by.
He tilted his head to look at the sky.
A demon had been punched into the air.
"So strong…"
Urokodaki stared at the height the demon reached. Could a normal human really do that?
Or were two demons fighting each other?
In the next instant,
under the silver moonlight,
thousands of White Threads glinted coldly, surrounding the demon in mid-air.
"Pfft-pfft-pfft!"
Thousands of White Threads instantly shredded the demon's body.
Urokodaki leapt aside in haste.
A rain of tiny pieces clattered down.
Without a nichirin blade, killing a demon is tough.
But if you blast him into smithereens,
you can finish him off.
Urokodaki's pupils quaked as he watched.
Who on earth…?
Tomioka Giyu had never mentioned Eustass possessing such power, so Urokodaki never considered him.
"Terrifying guy!"
Urokodaki stared skyward in shock as the blood-stained threads vanished one by one.
"Killing a demon with controlled threads—what a unique ability."
He thought to himself.
Urokodaki arrived at the house on the mountain; seeing everyone safe, he exhaled in relief.
He looked at three unfamiliar figures beneath the eaves.
A short red-haired boy,
a long-haired demon girl with adorable pink eyes, pink kimono, black haori, and a bamboo muzzle,
and a towering, black-haired man packed with lean muscle.
"I am Urokodaki Sakonji. Tomioka Giyu's referral—the red-haired lad, correct?"
The masked old man spoke, eyeing Tanjiro.
"Yes, sir!"
Tanjiro nodded hurriedly.
"Then this must be the mysterious powerhouse Tomioka said far surpasses him?"
the elder asked.
Eustass gave a calm nod.
"Are you a foreigner?"
Urokodaki asked curiously.
Eustass certainly didn't dress like a local.
Nor did he have local height.
Though he'd never told Tomioka his name,
his clothes and stature gave him away.
"Mm."
Eustass nodded, glancing skyward.
Urokodaki, Tanjiro, Nezuko, and Mr. Yamagami all followed his gaze.
Was something up there?
'No reward? How weak.'
Eustass stared upward, surprised.
Lowering his head, he found everyone still looking skyward.
"What are you all looking at?"
"What are you looking at?"
They asked, puzzled; they'd thought something incredible was up there.
After all, Eustass was so strong.
"The moon's beautiful tonight."
Eustass said.
Everyone petrified.
That's what you were watching!?
Eustass patted Tanjiro's shoulder, hands in pockets, and walked down the steps.
He strode toward Urokodaki,
stopping beside him.
"I'm Eustass. You handle the Breathing Technique; I'll teach the swordsmanship."
With that, he passed by Urokodaki.
Urokodaki nodded, then looked to Tanjiro.
"Follow me."
He turned and ran.
Tanjiro hurried after.
Urokodaki wanted to test the boy's stamina.
Tanjiro helped Nezuko into the black basket, hoisted it, and waved goodbye to Mr. Yamagami as he ran.
"Tanjiro, if your sister devours a human, what will you do?"
After running a while, Urokodaki slowed and whispered.
Tanjiro fell silent.
He didn't know how to answer.
He ran on, brooding.
Panicking, he scanned for Master Eustass.
But Eustass was far faster and long gone.
Tanjiro could get no answer from him.
In the distance,
at the foot of Sagiri Mountain,
Eustass stood.
He'd arrived ahead of schedule.
As for guiding Tanjiro on the "human vs. demon" dilemma,
Eustass had no intention of interfering much.
Tanjiro was responsible and kind.
Eustass felt no need to shape the boy's ideals.
Doing so would only hurt him.
His own morally gray nature didn't suit Tanjiro.
Eustass climbed the mountain,
reached a small hut,
opened the door,
stepped inside, found the tatami, and lay down to sleep.
Not long after,
dawn's first light appeared.
Tanjiro, carrying his sister, ran all night to Sagiri Mountain.
Exhausted, he looked at Mr. Urokodaki.
During the run, when he'd given no answer, Urokodaki had slapped him and said,
if his sister harmed an innocent,
he must do two things.
Kill her,
then take his own life to accompany her.
To travel with a demon sister demanded that resolve.
It sounded cruel,
yet for humanity's survival it was necessary.
For the sake of the race, sacrifice is unavoidable,
however tragic.
The Demon Slayer Corps are warriors who've abandoned their lives to fight for mankind.
After running the whole night, Tanjiro finally reached Sagiri with Urokodaki.
"Th-this… proves I'm worthy, right?"
On his knees, panting, he stared at Urokodaki's back.
Urokodaki opened the door, silently glancing at the still-sleeping Eustass inside.
Tanjiro peeked in, stunned to see his master asleep.
When had he arrived!?
Unbelievably fast!
"Haah…"
Eustass yawned awake. "Morning, you two."
He stepped outside, ducking beneath the low doorframe.
"Sir, when did you get here?"
Tanjiro asked eagerly.
"Let me think…"
Eustass stretched luxuriously in the warm sunrise.
Urokodaki exhaled, relieved to see him basking in the Sun.
"The moment you two set off."
With that, he walked away, leaving Tanjiro and Urokodaki frozen.
Urokodaki was dumbstruck.
Too fast!
Absurdly fast!
Had Eustass not been sunbathing, Urokodaki would've thought him a mighty demon.
He could only regard him as a once-in-a-millennium monster.
Watching the rising Sun, he decided to test Tanjiro with trap-dodging that night.
Chapter 349 – Teaching Tanjiro! (Subscribe, please!)
The days passed one by one.
Tanjiro settled into Urokodaki Sakonji's home and began his long training.
Trap drills, sword drills… Eustass had fought through several Worlds for hundreds of years; the experience he'd accumulated was, for Tanjiro, an inexhaustible treasure.
At first Tanjiro was flung by traps and cut to pieces by Eustass's swordsmanship.
Later he often dodged the traps—yet was still cut to pieces by Eustass's swordsmanship.
Eventually he could run while slashing every trap hurled at him, and then… still be cut to pieces by Master Eustass's swordsmanship. Progress—huge progress!
Urokodaki Sakonji: "…"
Watching Tanjiro dropped by a casual pommel-strike from Eustass, Urokodaki felt the boy was simply tragic.
"Thank you, sir—I've learned this lesson by heart!"
Tanjiro shouted, fired up.
Every session with Master Eustass felt like a step forward.
Every time he made mistakes and patched his weaknesses.
"Stand up. Continue."
Eustass said coldly.
"Yes, sir!"
Tanjiro scrambled up, raised his sword, eyes locked on the blade in Eustass's hand.
That black blade—at last he was seeing the "sturdiest sword" Master Eustass had spoken of.
A famed katana: ama-no-habakiri.
Not long after…
Eustass flicked Tanjiro's sword aside and rapped him to the ground with the spine of his own.
He was already holding back greatly, not even using Observation or Armament Haki.
Yet even so, Tanjiro kept losing… which was only natural.
Learning meant taking beatings and harvesting experience.
Tempering the mind while forging technique.
What true swordsman escapes setbacks?
Step by step, overcome obstacles, climb toward the summit of swordsmanship.
Tenacity—an absolute prerequisite for a swordmaster.
A little later…
Tanjiro stood before Urokodaki Sakonji.
Ready for the next phase of training.
"From now on, I will teach you the Breathing Techniques—Total Concentration Breathing."
Urokodaki spoke.
"Total Concentration Breathing?"
Tanjiro asked curiously.
"Exactly."
Urokodaki nodded.
"I will pass on to you all Ten Forms of Water Breathing."
He looked at Tanjiro.
"Imagine sending oxygen into every cell; focus on long, steady breaths. This boosts recovery and sharpens the mind…"
"Upper body relaxed…"
"Lower body firm and still…"
"Good—breathe!"
Following Urokodaki's instructions, Tanjiro began to practice.
Seated nearby, Eustass used Observation Haki to sense the old man's breathing pattern.
He tried learning it himself.
Since he'd come to the Demon Slayer World, why not experience its unique power?
Consider it sampling a different World's strength.
Eustass mastered the technique in moments—simple stuff, especially with top-grade Observation Haki letting him trace every internal shift.
Afternoon.
Urokodaki kicked Tanjiro off the top of a waterfall.
He claimed it would help him grasp Water Breathing.
Smack—
Tanjiro landed on the river's surface.
Drifting like a dead fish.
Enjoying the cascade-shower below, Eustass scrubbed himself while watching the boy float past.
Not long after…
Under the falls, Tanjiro roared, stubbornly bracing against the torrent.
"Aaaaahhh!"
"Nezuko!"
"I am water!"
Chanting his sister's name, he fought on for her sake—
Yet the crushing sheet of water slowly forced him down.
Soaking his feet and sunning himself on the bank, Eustassglanced at his foolish disciple.
The kid sure was giving it everything.
He sighed.
Having lost so much, how could he not give everything?
Now Tanjiro had only Nezuko left.
He couldn't lose his sister again.
Since arriving at Urokodaki's home, Nezuko had fallen into a deep slumber.
Thus Tanjiro could devote more time to training, growing ever stronger.
That night…
At Urokodaki's house…
Tanjiro scooped rice and hurriedly offered the bowl to Master Eustass.
Then he served Master Urokodaki.
"Master, why won't Nezuko wake up?"
Tanjiro gazed anxiously at his sleeping sister in the next room.
Her unending sleep worried him sick.
"I… I'll find a Doctor to examine her soon."
Urokodaki said.
Though Nezuko was a demon, under Tanjiro's watch she'd endured the wildest, most blood-thirsty stage without harming anyone.
And the boy was truly good-natured.
He was willing to help.
"No need."
Eustass waved. "An ordinary Doctor won't understand a demon's body."
The two fell silent; it made perfect sense.
"Nezuko refuses human flesh, so she's out of energy. Sleeping lets her recover strength slowly."
Eustass explained.
"I see."
Tanjiro nodded, looking at his sister—relieved she was all right.
As long as she was safe.
One year later…
Urokodaki had nothing left to teach.
He led Tanjiro to a rope-encircled boulder: split it, and he could enter Final Selection.
With that, Urokodaki walked away.
"Can rock even be cut?"
Then Tanjiro recalled Master Eustass felling a hundred trees with one slash.
Clenching his fist, he resolved to cleave it.
He couldn't disgrace his master!
One day he'd cut something far greater!
He never realized he and Master Eustass weren't even from the same World.
Meanwhile…
Outside Urokodaki's house…
Eustass had set up a grill by the doorway.
Season of swirling snow.
Barbecue beneath the eaves—life's little bliss.
Urokodaki returned, silently eyeing Eustass.
In weather like this, still in the mood to eat?
Splitting that boulder was, to them, a foregone conclusion.
Yet once he did…
Tanjiro would head to Final Selection, perhaps join the Demon Slayer Corps.
From then on, danger would shadow his every step.
Chapter 350 – Eustass' nichirin blade! (Please Subscribe!)
"Aren't you worried about that boy's future?"
Urokodaki Sakonji asked, puzzled.
Eustass sat under the eaves, turning the grilled meat.
He glanced up at Urokodaki, somewhat baffled—worried? Worried about what?
"Ah, once I've cut down every demon, that kid won't have anything to worry about, right?"
Eustass replied.
Urokodaki: "???"
What kind of Gojo Satoru move is this!
"Your blade should be ready soon, but… aren't you going to meet our lord?"
Urokodaki asked.
"He's your lord, not mine."
Eustass said flatly.
He was strong enough that if that sickly Ubuyashiki dared claim him, he wouldn't mind wiping out the Demon Slayer Corps and the entire Ubuyashiki clan along with it.
A modern man like him, forced into master-servant nonsense—especially when his fists were the biggest—was just asking for a beating.
Eustass would wipe out demons; the Corps would lend aid. That was business. He'd never call anyone "lord."
He admitted the Demon Slayer Corps were heroes.
But their hierarchy was ridiculously rigid.
Hand a traveler a sword, offer a little help, and he's supposed to kneel and shout "My Lord"?
Pathetic.
Exterminating demons was the Ubuyashiki family's own mess; they were the ones who desperately needed it cleaned up.
"Hmm."
Urokodaki gave a small nod.
"By the way, when did you learn Water Breathing?"
Urokodaki asked.
"Right while you were teaching Tanjiro."
Eustass answered.
Urokodaki froze.
He stared at Eustass, stunned.
Picking it up on the spot—utterly absurd.
A crisp bell-like jingle drifted over.
A man trudged through the snow, head lowered, a Mother Box wrapped in cloth on his back, a haori over his shoulders, a conical hat on his head.
The hat-and-Hyottoko-masked man approached slowly.
"I'm Haganezuka. I've brought Eustass Mola's blade."
Eustass looked up. "I'm Eustass. Care for a cup of hot tea?"
Haganezuka studied him.
Strange name… Because Eustass' power was off the charts, Ubuyashiki had decided to gift him a nichirin bladeeven if he never joined the Corps.
After all, a human stronger than the Hashira themselves…
…was worth befriending.
A single sword could add a monster fighter to the demon-slaying ranks.
So, after Water Hashira Tomioka Giyu and Urokodaki reported Eustass' ferocity…
…they'd hauled crates of raw ore for him to choose from, ready to forge a personal nichirin blade.
"This is the nichirin blade."
Haganezuka spun around and sat in the snow.
He reverently lifted a wooden box from its cloth wrapping.
Setting the Mother Box across his lap, eyes for nothing but the sword.
Eustass watched him in silence.
This Haganezuka must truly love blades.
"A sword I forged myself."
"The ore comes from Scarlet Sand Iron and Scarlet Orefound on the Sun-kissed highest peaks."
"Thus the blade can absorb sunlight."
Seated in the snow, Haganezuka cradled the sword and rattled off details.
Eustass listened attentively.
Haganezuka glanced at him, leaning closer.
So this was the rumored swordsman who thrashed the Water Hashira and felled a hundred trees in a single swing?
Apart from being ridiculously tall, he looked ordinary—black hair, no flashy "retro-visual-kei" style. How boringly unique!
Unacceptable!
Way too individualistic!
"Let's head inside—draw the blade, let's see its color!"
Haganezuka urged, practically bouncing.
He itched to know what hue the great swordsman's Nichirin would take.
Eustass glanced at the black blade, ama-no-habakiri, at his hip. Changing colors sounded fun… but…
If his Nichirin took on one color, yet constant Haki infusion turned it into an indestructible black blade…
…what color would it end up?
A short while later.
Eustass sat inside the house.
Across from him, Urokodaki and Haganezuki—one in a Tengu Mask, one in a Hyottoko—watched eagerly.
"Draw it, draw it! Let's see the color!"
"nichirin blades are also called 'color-changing blades'!"
Haganezuka flapped his hands like happy fish.
Eustass eyed the sword, silently praying: anything but plain black…
In the next instant.
He drew the Nichirin.
Held it upright before him.
All three stared at the hilt.
Cyan crept from the edge until the entire blade shimmered turquoise.
The same hue as Eustass' flying slash.
Within the cyan, faint white ripple-lines danced—
—like his Ito-Ito strings, yet also like wind.
"Beautiful!"
Haganezuka exclaimed.
"Mm."
Urokodaki nodded.
"Urokodaki Sakonji."
Eustass spoke, eyes still on the blade.
"Speak."
Urokodaki answered.
"Tanjiro's in your hands. I'm off to test this edge on a few demons."
Eustass said.
He'd come to this World for one thing: battle.
A year teaching the boy was enough.
Now it was time to move.
"Shall Headquarters assign you a Kasugai Crow?"
Urokodaki asked.
Eustass waved the idea away.
He had no need.
With the power to hear all living things, he could chat with every creature along the road.
Between them and his Observation Haki, sniffing out demons would be child's play.
"Then Tanjiro and Nezuko are yours to watch. I'm leaving."
He sheathed the sword.
True to his word, he left.
Eustass thanked Haganezuka and stepped outside.
Snatching the grilled meat, he took a bite and strode away from Urokodaki's home.
Not long after.
Evening fell.
Tanjiro returned for dinner.
But Master Eustass was nowhere to be found.
"He's gone."
Urokodaki said, setting out the dishes.
"Master… left?"
Tanjiro hurried to the doorway.
"Yes. He is the strongest man I've ever known; nothing in this World can hinder his stride."
Kneeling opposite, Urokodaki looked at him. "Catching up to him will be… almost impossible."
Chapter 351 – A Whole Family of Demons Welcomes You… for Dinner! Wiped Out in One Pot! (Subscribe, please!)
Under the thick night sky,
snow whirled through the air.
The cold wind howled.
On a small mountain dense with forest,
the crunch of boots pressing into snow echoed softly.
Wrapped in a voluminous fur cloak, a wide sedge hat on his head and two long blades at his waist, Eustasswalked slowly through the snowy peaks.
It had been two days since he left Sagiri Mountain.
This was an unnamed hill a few dozen miles away.
The forest was deep and gloomy, the light dim.
From time to time a beast's roar rang out.
Eustass made his way down the mountain and arrived at the foot.
Not far away a single house glowed faintly, its light driving back the darkness of night—warm and inviting.
Eustass released his Observation Haki and scanned the path ahead.
Several demon auras drifted from the house, reeking of rot—
clearly demons that had claimed many human lives.
Eustass walked straight to the door and tapped lightly.
Creak…
The door swung slowly open.
An Old Woman peered out, smiling through narrowed eyes, pleasantly surprised—such a big piece of meat… "A traveler? Come in, quickly—the wind and snow are bitter. Warm yourself inside."
She spoke with a kindly smile.
"Grandma, is it a guest? Hurry in—dinner's almost ready!"
A long-haired girl popped her head out, beaming.
"Thank you."
Feigning innocence, Eustass stepped inside.
Whatever—fill the stomach first.
He'd deal with these demons in a bit.
In the outer room,
several Young Men sat, greeting him with enthusiastic smiles.
They glanced at the nichirin blades at his waist.
Eustass sneered inwardly—bold little things!
They weren't even afraid of the nichirin blades.
"Young man, where are you from?"
the Old Woman asked.
"From the sky."
Eustass joked—half truth, half jest.
He had literally fallen from beyond this World.
"Haha, such a joker. Just a moment—Marina's nearly finished cooking."
The Old Woman sat, licking her lips as she eyed him.
"On a cold night like this, a hot bowl of dinner is pure bliss."
One of the men chuckled.
"My Grandson speaks true, haha!"
The Old Woman nodded, then gave Eustass another hungry glance.
Eustass was speechless.
They weren't even pretending anymore.
Soon,
Marina carried the food in.
Eustass tested it with an invisible Nanowire.
The rice was drugged; the dishes weren't.
Fair enough—
he could stick to the side dishes.
They would still restore a bit of stamina.
He ate dinner together with the demon family.
The more he ate only vegetables, the more frantic they became—
Why won't he touch the rice?!
"Young man, vegetables alone won't fill you,"
the Old Woman said kindly, eyeing him again.
For some reason he looked delicious; devouring him would make them stronger—
strong enough, perhaps, to surpass that scumbag boss Kibutsuji Muzan.
"Ah, I've a strange habit—I don't like rice. How about you give me all the vegetables and you eat the rice plain?"
Eustass studied the demons who pretended to eat but swallowed nothing.
"Bastard! Is that any way for a guest to behave?"
A Burly Man opposite slammed the table. "Eat the rice—and apologize to Grandma!"
Eustass watched them with amusement.
They froze.
So he knew the rice was poisoned.
They exchanged glances and reached a silent accord.
The next instant the whole demon family lunged.
"Let's eat him!" xN
Even the Old Woman and little Marina swelled, muscles bulging grotesquely.
Eustass sighed and snapped his fingers.
Countless threads appeared, binding the demons and dragging them out into the snow.
He kept eating his vegetables.
One thread coiled around the nichirin blade.
In the next instant the blade flashed from its sheath unaided,
a clear ring of steel slicing the air.
A streak of green light punched through the wall and shot toward the demons in the snow.
Under Eustass's remote control it slashed—
"What?!"
The old demon woman stared in shock as the nichirin blade flew at her.
They had planned to play the welcoming host, drug him, and if that failed overwhelm him together—
but never imagined they'd be the ones served up.
This man could manipulate a blade like this?!
Still inside eating vegetables, yet the sword was outside cleaving at them.
They were only a common demon family, devoid of any Blood Demon Art.
Usually they tricked travelers, drugged them at dinner, or simply ganged up on them.
This time they kicked an iron wall—
pure recklessness.
A flash of green light—
the nichirin blade swept past and beheaded the Old Woman on the spot.
Her head rolled across the snow; her body crumbled to ash and vanished.
Guided by its wire the blade darted among the remaining demons,
cutting them down one after another,
each dissolving into ash.
Eustass finished the food inside, sensed the area—safe; every demon was gone.
He lay down on the floor to rest.
These demons were too weak to give him any rewards,
but he would still kill them.
Simple: they had murdered people.
Though Eustass walked a gray line between right and wrong,
when it came to the greater cause of race and civilization he knew where he stood.
Man-eating demons must be exterminated—
no mercy, no sympathy.
…Winter passed; spring arrived.
The snow melted away.
Gentle spring breezes blew.
Eustass walked through the fields beneath bright sunshine. A little bird fluttered overhead, chirping words only he could understand:
"Over there—over there!"
He looked up, laughing, and offered his hand.
The sparrow swooped down, landed, and pecked at the food in his palm.
Chapter 352 – Listening to All Things to Find Demons: Kibutsuji Muzan Flees in Terror! (Subscribe, please!)
Thanks to Eustass's ability to Listen to All Things, he could hear the voices of small animals and understand what they were saying.
So, along the way, Eustass began trying to communicate and interact with the creatures.
They could help him, giving him some assistance in tracking demons.
Eustass walked into a Small Town.
There was a demon in this town.
The stench was absolutely foul!
A quick sense told him the creature had harmed many people.
Eustass found a restaurant, sat down, and ordered a huge spread of dishes.
Eat first.
The owner stared at the mountain of food Eustass had ordered, stunned.
"Kid, you sure can pack it away!"
But one look at Eustass's outrageous two-meter-plus height and the owner relaxed.
"Tall and hungry—nothing wrong with that."
Eustass polished off the meal, placed the money on the table, and stood to leave.
In truth, he didn't have any local currency.
However, he had killed a few demons along the way.
He'd looted plenty of cash from their corpses.
Getting rich thanks to demon bros—what a sponsor!
Eustass exited the restaurant.
Then stepped onto the street.
He strolled leisurely toward the spot where the demon's aura was thickest.
Demon scent filled the streets, but his Observation Hakipinpointed the exact hiding place—the densest concentration.
As he walked, he kept buying snacks.
Might as well be sightseeing.
He wasn't in a hurry to kill the demon.
The thing here was just a weakling.
He could lop its head off without effort.
Cutting down a daylight-crippled demon in broad daylight felt too boring.
Where was the fun in that?
He ambled along, munching nonstop, never letting the snacks stop flowing.
Yet no matter how much he ate, his stomach never growled.
Until dusk approached.
Only then did he unhurriedly arrive at the Abandoned House where the demon hid.
Skewer in hand, he took casual bites, looking relaxed as he stared ahead.
He waited until the Sun had fully set and twilight blanketed the land.
Only then did the demon appear.
Three Purple-Haired Demons with horns, crimson eyes, and ashen faces emerged in different directions, shooting Eustass looks of disdain.
"Clack-clack-clack~!"
One demon ground its fangs, baring them at Eustass's back.
"A mere man—tastes awful. Beat it while you can!"
Another Purple-Haired Demon spoke coldly, glaring at Eustass.
"Tch, you've been lurking around here trying to kill us? Not so easy!"
A third identical Purple-Haired Demon appeared in front of Eustass, voice icy.
Aside from their horns, the three demons looked exactly the same.
Only half their bodies showed above ground; a shadowy layer lay beneath them.
A Blood Demon Art that let them hide within Shadows.
Eustass smiled at the trio.
"Clack-clack!"
"Damn you!"
"How dare you look down on us!"
The three demons roared in anger.
Eustass watched them howl at him one after another.
In the next instant—
Eustass vanished.
As the Shadow crept up the wall, the clack-clacking Purple-Haired Demon frantically looked around.
"Whoosh!"
Eustass reappeared beside the wall, cyan nichirin bladesweeping in a single slash.
Before the Purple-Haired Demon could react, one of them was cut down.
"Clack-clack~!"
A purple head hit the ground and rolled.
It glared at Eustass, teeth clacking.
The head began turning to ash bit by bit.
The remaining two stared in horror, faces full of terror.
In the next instant—
They tried to dive into the Shadows.
Eustass used Soru twice in rapid succession; cyan light flashed twice as two more strikes fell.
"Pfft! Pfft!"
Before the demons could fully enter the Shadows, Eustass cut them down.
Both bodies began crumbling into ash.
Eustass sheathed his blade and walked away.
Not long after, a lovey-dovey couple strolled past.
"Have you heard? There's a rumor that any woman walking here at night ends up mysteriously disappearing."
"Eek—keep scaring me like that and I won't come out with you anymore!"
"Sorry, sorry~!"
The pair laughed and chatted as they passed.
They had no idea…
Had no one slain that demon today, not just that girl who'd walked by—
countless other girls would have suffered before the Demon Slayer Corps could arrive.
Several days later.
Asakusa, Tokyo Prefecture.
Eustass wore a Western suit, the black blade ama-no-habakiri at his waist alongside the nichirin blade.
Amid the bustling streets…
Eustass strolled slowly; every two steps a dozen eyes turned his way.
There was no helping it—
his height and outfit were far too eye-catching.
At over two meters tall, in this era where Neon was full of short folk…
his stature was simply absurd.
Even in the Western World he'd count as very tall.
Yet here he was in a suit with two formal swords hanging at his waist—
an utterly bizarre look.
Walking along, snack in hand, Eustass sighed.
He still hadn't sensed Kibutsuji Muzan's aura.
Had the guy fled—or had he simply come at the wrong time?
Before long…
he left the busy streets behind and found a quiet lane.
He sat beside a small cart—what the Neons called a Yatai.
"One Udon, please."
Eustass took a seat and spoke.
The bald owner answered at once, looking up at his customer.
The owner tilted his head back—so tall… Eustass caught the look; he'd seen plenty of "rare-animal" stares along the way.
Over two meters in this era of Neon—hard not to draw eyes.
But what could he do? Was he supposed to shrink just to fit in after transmigrating here?
Eustass lifted his gaze to the night sky.
Still no sign of Kibutsuji Muzan.
Several Sparrows and quite a few Crows fluttered over.
They circled Eustass, chirping and cawing nonstop.
"No luck."
"Can't find him!"
"We asked all the nearby friends—nothing!"
"Should we search more carefully?"
The birds fluttered around him, speaking in haste.
"No need—everyone rest for now."
Eustass murmured, pulling some food from his pocket.
The little birds swooped onto the bench and pecked happily.
The owner, busy cooking, hadn't quite caught the words.
He stared in surprise:
"Sir, the animals really love you."
"Do they? Haha."
Eustass answered with a smile.
Chapter 353: 353. Beheading the Former Lower Moon Six, Kyōgai! (Subscribe!)
Eustass slurped his udon in silence, eyes fixed on the night.
Looks like Kibutsuji Muzan has learned of his existence through some demon.
He could only take it step by step and hunt for Kibutsuji Muzan's shadow.
Neon isn't that big; with Observation Haki and the ability to hear all things, Eustass would find him.
No matter how Kibutsuji Muzan hides, he can't escape the chase.
Unless, like certain Vampires, he hides in a coffin and sails across the ocean to a larger continent.
Eustass waited in Tokyo for several days.
Kibutsuji Muzan truly did not return.
Left with no choice, Eustass left Tokyo.
He headed southeast.
Out of Tokyo.
Deep into the mountains.
Before a log cabin wrapped in dense forest.
A sparrow circled overhead:
"Right here, right here, a demon's nearby!"
"Got it, take a rest."
Eustass set some food aside and watched the little sparrow land and peck at it.
He gently rubbed its tiny head.
Then he rose and walked toward the cabin.
"D-don't go in, waaah!"
From the corner, behind a big tree,
a Little Girl in a pink kimono sobbed at Eustass.
Eustass glanced back.
He'd already sensed the child's presence.
"Stay here."
Eustass told her.
"Big brother, don't go in—that house eats people!"
the Little Girl cried.
Eustass walked over and gently patted her head.
"Scared?"
"Mm-hmm!"
"Close your eyes and count to sixty; it'll all be over."
Eustass said.
The Little Girl nodded quickly and shut her eyes.
Just as Eustass turned to slay the demon, she clutched his clothes.
"Don't go—you'll die; no one ever comes out alive!"
Eustass chuckled, patted her hand, then strode into the cabin.
With a crisp drumbeat—"Dong!"—the scene changed.
Eustass pulled the sliding door shut; the forest vanished, replaced by a room.
A Blood Demon Art that swaps rooms with drumbeats?
Eustass understood.
He released Observation Haki, covering the entire mountain.
Every room, every presence—he memorized them all.
In the next instant the drum sounded again.
In another room sat Kyōgai, former Lower Moon Six of the Twelve Kizuki, the Drum Demon.
He perked up, sensing an especially enticing scent.
He felt that eating this person would let him surpass Lord Kibutsuji Muzan in a flash.
(Kibutsuji Muzan: No idea why I'm on the run, huh?)
But small fry like him rarely think; desire for power eclipses reason.
Kibutsuji Muzan, however, had learned of Eustassthrough other demons.
Having lived a thousand years, he was cautious to the core.
Cowardly and terrified of death, he hated any hint he looked sick or near death.
After a millennium he still clung to immortality.
Demons like Kyōgai were merely tools to find the Blue Spider Lily.
Kyōgai, once Lower Moon Six, had been stripped of his rank when his strength hit its limit.
"Boom-boom-boom!" Kyōgai pounded the drums embedded in his body.
Each beat rotated the rooms, even flipping them upside-down, and launched slicing attacks.
In an instant he shifted a room above him.
Excited, he looked up, ready to ambush whoever fell.
"Dong!" He struck the drum.
Several claw-like slashes shot upward.
The sliding door opened; Eustass dropped as the room flipped.
With a casual slap he batted the slashes aside.
Kyōgai: "???"
A human swatted his attack away—unbelievable!
Eustass plummeted, drawing his nichirin blade in a downward cleave.
Kyōgai darted into another room, drumming frantically to distance himself.
Using future sight, Eustass foresaw the move.
Countless White Threads shot out, piercing walls and wrapping Kyōgai.
Panicked, Kyōgai slashed at the threads, but Haki-coated strands were unbreakable.
"Impossible!"
"Rapid Drumbeat!" he roared, arms blurring as he pounded faster.
Rooms spun wildly yet the threads held; Kyōgai was dragged toward Eustass, crashing through walls.
Desperate slashes only sparked uselessly.
Kyōgai despaired—this man was too strong!
With a bang the threads slammed him at Eustass's feet.
Eustass looked down; Kyōgai stared up in terror.
"Die."
The blade flashed—Eustass showed no mercy.
Once a demon has killed the innocent, death is the price.
The world is full of the pitiful; letting one hurt others to salve his pain is inexcusable.
Kyōgai's head rolled, coming to rest beside shelves of books.
"After becoming a demon… I forgot my original purpose… death will end the pain…"
A tear slipped from Kyōgai's eye; the head crumbled to ash.
The single tear hit the floor.
Eustass left the room, found an imprisoned boy, and led him out.
Outside, the Little Girl and the boy called each other's names and ran into an embrace.
After her brother was taken the night before, the Little Girl had followed the blood trail.
Eustass glanced at them, turned back, and raised his blade.
With a thud he stabbed through another demon—there had been two more hiding while humans cowered inside.
Chapter 354 – House of Purple Wisteria! (Please subscribe!)
A demon cowered inside the house, waiting for Eustass to leave.
It had no choice.
The man was simply too powerful.
The demon and its companion didn't dare provoke him.
Never in its wildest dreams did it expect—
Eustass had already sensed its presence.
He stepped in and slashed it in a single stroke.
The demon hiding behind the wall stared at the nichirin blade that pierced the wood and then its body.
It rasped once and began crumbling to ash.
Eustass glanced at the other room and flung the nichirin blade like a javelin.
The fat demon in the next room shrieked and tried to dodge.
In the next instant—
Guided by White Thread, the blade thudded into its flesh.
The obese demon howled as its body turned to ash.
Only then did Eustass walk out.
[host defeated former Lower-Rank Six: Kyōgai!]
[Reward: Speed ×2!]
Eustass sighed—sure enough, the demon had been pitifully weak.
It hadn't even qualified to grant any charge points.
As for the other two demons—
They were even worse.
They hadn't triggered the most basic reward.
Clearly, the more Worlds he visited, the pickier the system became.
Eustass stepped outside and glanced at the two children waiting there.
After a brief exchange, he understood everything.
Last night the boy had been dragged away by Kyōgai.
The Little Girl was his sister.
She'd followed her brother's blood trail all the way… "Go home now, and don't run around at night."
Eustass walked over and rubbed their heads.
The two nodded and followed him down the mountain.
Not far away,
a small bird fluttered over, landed on the boy's hand, and hopped about, coaxing a smile from the child who'd just escaped death.
Eustass led the pair downhill.
Then he parted ways with them.
Eustass headed toward Urokodaki Sakonji, who had pointed him to the nearest House of Purple Wisteria.
Legend said the family running the House had once been saved by the Demon Slayer Corps.
Ever since, they provided free lodging, food, clothing, and medical care to passing slayers.
All gratis—not a single coin asked.
Eustass arrived at the House of Purple Wisteria.
He stood at the gate and surveyed the place.
The air carried the faint, sweet scent of wisteria blossoms.
A moment later,
an old woman stepped out and bowed respectfully to him.
"Are you a demon slayer? Please, come in."
She glanced at the nichirin blade at his waist; though he didn't wear the Corps uniform, she still welcomed him courteously.
Anyone who fought to exterminate demons deserved a hero's courtesy, she believed.
Even if the man himself didn't consider himself a hero, he had protected humans.
She would honor him for that.
That attitude put certain ungrateful wretches in Marvel to shame.
Whether or not someone chooses to be a hero is their own business—but you don't bite the hand that feeds you. That was exactly why Eustass refused the role in the Marvel Universe.
"Hero" in Marvel? Not even a dog would take the job.
Heroes aren't suckers, yet Earth's people in the Marvel Universe treat them exactly like that.
Eustass followed the old woman inside. Thanks to the wisteria, demons loathed the place and stayed away.
It was perfect for slayers to rest and recover.
He stepped into the courtyard.
The old lady moved so spryly it was hard to believe; he wondered how she kept fit.
She knelt opposite him in one room. "Here are fresh clothes for you."
Moments later,
she whisked to another room and knelt again. "Your meal is served—please enjoy."
Her speed was simply astonishing.
She seemed to flicker from room to room like a ghost; for a second he thought Kyōgai had revived.
Even the trio from the original story had joked about the old woman's speed.
Eustess changed into clean garments.
Clearly the Ubuyashiki family had notified every House of Purple Wisteria to tailor clothes for his frame in advance.
He sat down to dinner.
The House knew its business: the spread laid out for him was lavish.
Three entire tables groaned under dishes.
The old woman sent his travel-stained suit off to be laundered.
After so many days on the road, the clothes badly needed a wash; wearing them any longer would be unbearable.
She handed the suit to her granddaughter for laundering.
The girl stared wide-eyed at the Western-style outfit.
Foreigners had already come to Nippon in this era.
Most folk still wore kimono, but they recognized a suit.
One this huge, though, was downright absurd.
"Granny, is this really a normal person's size?"
the astonished girl asked.
"Oh my, yes. Our guest is extraordinarily tall—clearly a mighty demon slayer."
the old woman replied with a smile.
Before long,
someone ran in to report that Eustass had emptied all three tables—and was still hungry. The old woman and her granddaughter were dumbstruck.
How could anyone eat that much?
She hurriedly ordered more food prepared.
Curious, the granddaughter sneaked over to peek.
She saw him finish three full tables of food without his stomach bulging even a finger's width.
It left her utterly stunned.
Was he even human?
If not for demons hating wisteria, she'd have sworn a demon sat inside.
"Any sake?"
Eustass called from his seat.
The girl looked around—was he talking to her?
She'd been hiding behind the door.
Impressive; he'd still sensed her.
"Right away, sir—please wait a moment."
...Supper ended.
Eustass had polished off six tables of dishes.
Of course, it wasn't as outrageous as it sounded.
He'd only eaten to about thirty percent full.
After all, the Pirate World set a high bar for appetite; Sea Beasts were huge, and he was used to gnawing on an entire carcass.
Just as he prepared to rest, the old woman brought in a Doctor.
She feared he might have hidden injuries.
According to the Demon Slayer Corps' information,
Eustass had plummeted from the sky at sunset and landed in front of Saburō's door.
They worried the fall might have harmed him.
After all, they'd finally found someone who might be able to kill Kibutsuji Muzan.
They couldn't afford to let anything happen to him.
Chapter 355 – Lower Rank Five: Rui! (Subscribe, please!)
Several days later.
Eustass repacked his luggage at the Wisteria House and set off again.
He headed straight northeast.
The small animals he'd chatted with had, in turn, picked up news from other creatures far away.
They'd learned of a spot where demons gathered.
So he kept traveling northeast.
Eustass arrived at the foot of a mountain as dusk was falling.
His Observation Haki told him the mountain reeked of demon.
Just then—
Footsteps sounded behind him.
"Wait up, guys—can't you wait for me?"
"Zenitsu, what's wrong?"
"I'm scared!"
Hearing the voices, Eustass turned to look.
A red-haired boy stared in puzzlement at a blond youth, while beside him a boar-masked teen did the same.
These three—
Red-haired Kamado Tanjiro,
blond Agatsuma Zenitsu,
and the boar-masked—actually super-cute—Hashibira Inosuke.
Because Eustass had taken out Kyōgai early, their assignments had shifted, yet fate still threw them together.
They'd now been ordered here to exterminate demons.
Zenitsu, however, was being a hopeless coward.
He crouched on the ground, pale with terror, staring at his companions.
Suddenly he glanced past them into the distance.
A two-metre-tall swordsman stood watching them.
Zenitsu could tell by sound whether someone was a demon.
Clearly this man wasn't.
"Huh? Who's that?"
Zenitsu asked, puzzled.
Eustass wasn't wearing a Demon Slayer uniform, so Zenitsu hadn't recognized him.
"Hm?"
Tanjiro and Inosuke turned around.
Tanjiro's eyes widened.
"Master Eustass!"
"Sir!"
Tanjiro shouted excitedly.
"Are you here on a mission too?"
Eustass looked at them.
Honestly, he felt Tanjiro didn't need to push himself as in the original story.
In the end, every strong demon would fall to Eustass's blade anyway.
Rather than fight desperately, awaken the Demon Slayer Mark and die before twenty-five,
Tanjiro might as well slice a couple of small fry for catharsis,
then leave the real monsters to Eustass and live his own life.
"Yes, we got orders to come here."
Tanjiro nodded happily.
"Stay close to me."
With that, Eustass turned and walked on.
He'd toss Tanjiro a small-fry demon later.
Anything remotely strong, he'd kill himself.
"Alright!"
Tanjiro beamed as he followed beside him.
Inosuke gave the tall man a curious look and tagged along.
Zenitsu remained squatting, small and pitiful, watching them leave.
He, Agatsuma Zenitsu, suffered from a disease: terror whenever near demons.
Much like Usopp's "can't-go-ashore" sickness.
"Hey—don't leave me behind!"
"Wait, you guys!"
Zenitsu wailed, tears streaming.
Yet no matter how he cried, he wouldn't move.
Then he pictured Tanjiro carrying Nezuko up the mountain.
Feeling he couldn't abandon them, he scrambled after them.
Eustass glanced back at the scurrying Zenitsu,
then ignored him and continued uphill.
Zenitsu's Thunder Breathing while asleep did look cool,
but cowardice was still cowardice.
It made him slightly annoying.
Eustass ignored Zenitsu and kept climbing.
On the way,
they met a Demon Slayer squad that had been investigating for days.
Spider threads had taken control of them,
and they were slaughtering one another.
White Threads condensed in Eustass's hand, slicing every thread above the controlled slayers in an instant.
He stood watching the collapsed corpsmen.
Then he released his Observation Haki,
scanning every presence throughout the forest.
He found the one pulling the spider threads.
In the next instant—
Eustass stopped in place.
The others looked at him, puzzled.
Eustass raised his right palm toward the sky.
"Playing with threads? Let's see whether your Blood Demon Art or mine is stronger."
Countless White Threads burst from his palm, shooting skyward.
They pierced the forest canopy and soared high above.
A moment later the threads exploded outward, raining down to anchor themselves around the mountain's base.
Thwip! Thwip! Thwip!"
Endless strands kept falling,
forming a white Birdcage that sealed the entire mountain.
"W-what is this?!"
Tanjiro asked, stunned.
"Birdcage."
Eustass answered and strode forward.
Several slayers, turned puppets by the thread Blood Demon Art, staggered toward him with nichirin blades raised.
They slashed at him in unison.
Eustass sidestepped instantly.
Strands from the Birdcage rained down, severing the spider threads on the controlled slayers.
The Demon Slayers collapsed, powerless.
They'd been sent in recent days as a small unit to hunt demons.
Unfortunately, they were no match for Lower Rank Five, Rui.
They hadn't even met the real target; his fake "family" had blocked the path and turned them into puppets.
"Tanjiro, there's a small fry over there—go handle it."
Eustass pointed into the distance.
"Leave the rest to me."
Smiling, he slowly drew his nichirin blade.
The cyan blade glinted coldly in the moonlight, its white hamon lines chilling to behold.
Eustass strode toward the strongest presence—toward Lower Rank Five, Rui, ready to cut him down.
"Got it!"
Tanjiro nodded, drew his sword, and ran in the direction Eustass had indicated without looking back.
Inosuke dashed after him, as if racing for the opponent.
Zenitsu looked at Eustass, then at the backs of Tanjiroand Inosuke,
torn over whom to follow.
By the time he realized Eustass, Tanjiro, and Inosuke had all left, it was too late.
"Aaaah, don't leave me alone!"
Zenitsu screamed in terror.
His vision went black and he collapsed.
His blond hair drifted in the breeze.
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