AUTHOR'S NOTE:-
GET ACCESS TO 40+ CHAPTERS OF THIS NOVEL ON PATREON PLEASE SHOW YOUR SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE ME TO WRITE MORE LINK IN DESCRIPTION, ALSO CHECK OUT "GOKU'S DADDDY" NOVEL WITH 50+ CHAPTERS ON PATREON AND HERE ON WEBNOVEL FOR FREE AS WELL. enjoy the chapter
.
.
.
The sun was rising, orange light slowly chasing away the darkness. The clouds caught the sunlight like a sunset, tinged with red on their white edges. Of course, I couldn't actually see it—this was the author's way of describing it.
Most days were quiet. I had enough supplies to keep myself busy in this boring place. I sat in the back room, legs crossed, reading a red-leather book. I wore sunglasses so dark they reflected light. Even indoors, my eyes were sensitive to sunlight, so I had to wear them.
Why the back room? Because outside, Yoriichi Tsugakuni and Tanjiro were training. They wanted me to stay in view, so… that was that.
"This book finally got updated. Over 100 chapters, 150 million words!" I held the book in one hand and grabbed a snack with the other.
Their training was boring—up at dawn, pause at noon, train again. If I couldn't beat them or outrun them, I wouldn't be here.
Before I knew it, training was done. Lunch time.
Neither Yoriichi nor I went into the kitchen—he wanted to keep an eye on me.
Tanjiro eventually opened the kitchen door with food. They ate, but I had no appetite. Yoriichi hadn't consumed blood for seven days, and now it was nearly ten. Most ordinary demons would have starved by now.
Yoriichi noticed my odd behavior. "What's wrong?" he asked.
I almost said it: "I want to swallow you two… drink your blood…"
I held my tongue.
Lunch ended quickly. I sat back on the stool, book in hand, eyes still on them.
"Coming."
They didn't notice until later. Yoriichi sensed someone approaching, and Tanjiro smelled a special human scent. Both went out to greet the visitor. I stayed behind, peeking through my sunglasses.
A familiar name, a familiar mask, a familiar hat: the swordsmith from the Swordsmith Village, Hotaru no Soto.
"Excuse me… who are you?" Tanjiro asked, cautious. His clothes were human, but strange enough to raise suspicion.
"My name's Kōtsuka. Tanjiro Kamado's sword is ready. I'm here to deliver it."
Only then did Tanjiro realize this was the swordsmith. He tried to invite him in, but Kōtsuka ignored him, muttering to himself.
"Could you come in and continue our discussion?" Yoriichi asked calmly.
The three of them sat upright on the tatami, Tanjiro holding the Nichirin Sword.
"Draw your sword! The Nichirin changes color depending on its owner," Kōtsuka urged. In his eyes, Tanjiro—accepted by someone above the Pillars—would have a fiery red blade.
Tanjiro nodded, slowly drawing the sword. The blade turned black. Yoriichi was slightly stunned. Kōtsuka… well, go watch the anime.
"Hmm… it can't be changed," he muttered.
"Huh? Someone else?" Kōtsuka noticed something in the shadows, following Yoriichi's gaze.
Blood-red eyes. A figure. Despite the delicate appearance, he knew at once—it was a man.
"Who is this?" Kōtsuka asked, confused.
"…Friend," Yoriichi said slowly, eyes slightly darkened, like he'd done something wrong.
Suddenly, a black crow crashed into the house, squawking loudly.
I flicked a melon seed at it—snap! It fell to the ground.
"This… is my crow."
Tanjiro rushed to check. The crow was dizzy but unharmed.
"Ah… Crow, I thought I could get an extra meal tonight~"
Tanjiro and Yoriichi watched Kōtsuka leave. The crow recovered and flew away, cawing.
I groaned, annoyed. The crow's shrieking radiated a deadly aura even Tanjiro could sense from a distance.
"Tanjiro, calm the crow. Or… you'll need a new one." Yoriichi urged him.
Once the crow was settled, the purpose of the visit became clear. "Quack! Tanjiro Kamado! The Sun Blade is ready! We leave tomorrow! Quack! Ghost hunting!"
"I say… no need to sleep together every night. Fifteen days is enough." I sat on the stool, book closed, watching Yoriichi eat. Tanjiro was already washing dishes.
Yoriichi paused, hand on the Sun Blade. "Yes, but…"
Even without words, his actions said it all.
"You… aren't going back to the Demon Slayer Corps?" I asked, dodging the question.
"I can go anytime, or not. That's what my lord said."
I glanced at a wooden box made of light spruce. Sunlight couldn't get in, it was sturdy, coated with rock varnish.
"For Nezuko… but a bit big," I murmured.
"What's this?"
"You'll see tomorrow."
Yoriichi cleaned up and went into the kitchen with Tanjiro. Finally, I relaxed. I'd been on edge every day, constantly watched. Now… I could breathe a little.
Suddenly, the kitchen door opened. Half of Yoriichi appeared.
"Come in."
I knew it. If he didn't look at me, I'd explode.
"It's not necessary."
"It is."
Late at night, I couldn't break the habit. Hands and feet on Yoriichi's body before bed. This time, it was better—he only turned sideways and rested his hand on me.
Nezuko, Tanjiro, and I slept. Only Yoriichi remained awake.
He moved slowly, careful not to wake me. Glancing at the roof, then at me, he cut his wrist, letting blood flow. He gently fed some to me. I reacted in my sleep, tongue flicking, but I couldn't move.
Yoriichi noticed incomplete drips, adjusted carefully, and finally stopped. He wiped my lips, tidied himself, and went back to sleep.
I woke in the middle of the night, surprised. Something in my mouth. Chewed.
"The taste of blood…"
I looked at Yoriichi's scarred wrist. Hand on it. "Heal."
A faint red light emerged from my palm, covering only the wound. Less than three seconds—healed.
I whispered to him:
"Your blood… it's warm…"
Covered my head with the quilt, finally asleep.
Morning. Tanjiro and Yoriichi dressed. Tanjiro wore his Demon Slayer uniform and haori. I sat at the table in sunglasses, watching. Nezuko woke, lay on my legs.
"You woke up on time. About to go in the box~"
I teased her, smiling. Her touch was soft.
Yoriichi brought the wooden box, placing it in the center. Another smaller box inside.
"Two boxes?" I froze, looking at Yoriichi.
"Go inside. I'm leaving on a mission with Tanjiro."
"What? Are you crazy? Are you sure?"
"In this life, I'll watch over you until I die."
Step by step, Yoriichi forced me to the larger box.
"Shrink, or I'll break your bones and cram you in."
I had no choice. I shrank, climbed in.
Yoriichi closed the lid, checking carefully, then relaxed, a small smile.
Outside, Tanjiro murmured:
"Master Yoriichi… seems like you're… smiling?"
He placed Nezuko in the smaller box.
Inside, I thought about my future, hopeless. "Looks like the good days are over."
Everyone had seen swordsmen leading demons, but never one leading the Demon King itself to fight. That was him this time.
Like in the comics, the first mission was against a swamp demon, and now he was facing Tanjiro.
I was lying on Yoriichi Tsugakuni's head in the form of a young child, one hand supporting my face, the other popping melon seeds into my mouth, watching the fight.
"Wow, I didn't expect you to be this good at teaching," I said.
"Ah," Yoriichi replied quietly.
We were chatting when Tanjiro's battle ended.
"Go to hell! Go to hell!"
The swamp demon slashed with its claws, aiming at Tanjiro, but he simply stepped back, dodging every strike without a scratch.
"The Hinokami Kagura—Dance of the Fire God," Tanjiro breathed out, flames erupting around his Nichirin Sword. He leapt forward, aiming for the demon's neck.
But the swamp demon ducked just in time, diving underground to avoid the blow.
Tanjiro paused, scanning the area, closing his eyes to focus his sense of smell and detect the demon's position.
"Found you…"
The demon suddenly burst from the wall, claws and mouth wide open, rushing at Tanjiro.
I thought it would hit, but Tanjiro had already anticipated it. He planted his sword into the ground, kicked off it to jump high, and the swamp demon missed entirely, unable to use any Blood Demon Art. It crashed face-first onto the ground.
Tanjiro gave it a solid strike to the back of the head—Boom!—driving it into the earth. The demon's neck was barely half a meter from the blade. Tanjiro seized the handle and decapitated it.
First mission complete.
The swamp demon's body dissolved as the sun rose. I returned to the box while Tanjiro locked the chain on his sword.
Sunlight touched his face. He clasped his hands, silently praying for the demon's next life. He stood calmly, no joy, no excitement. Then determination—and a hint of anger—appeared on his face.
"Kibutsuji Muzan… I will never… let you get away…" he thought, clenching his fists.
I put those thoughts aside; I wasn't strong enough yet.
Tanjiro sheathed his Nichirin Sword, picked up the wooden box, and walked beside Yoriichi out of the place.
Night fell over the city. Tanjiro stared at the buildings, lost in thought. Yoriichi looked up blankly at the skyscrapers, eyes full of wisdom.
"Hey, hide the swords! You want to spend your life in jail? You get one meal a day!"
I appeared behind them, wearing black wide-leg pants, a white shirt, and a gold-embroidered haori.
They realized they couldn't carry swords here and quickly hid theirs under their haori.
"Fan Gong… you know this city. What do we do next?" Tanjiro asked.
I sighed, resting my hands on their shoulders, pushing them into the busy streets.
"Go eat first. You haven't eaten in almost a day."
Of course, that wasn't entirely true.
I need to refill my melon seeds and nuts… I thought.
I dragged them to a restaurant. As soon as we sat, the waiter came.
"Gentlemen, what would you like to order?"
I looked at them. They understood.
Tanjiro muttered softly, embarrassed, "That… toon sprouts…"
Yoriichi said, "…anything is fine."
"Gone?" I asked.
They nodded. Fine, I'd pick.
"Uh… two plates of toon sprouts, one serving udon, one plate tempura, one serving oden, one serving instant noodles, one plate watermelon, three 500ml Cokes, and a plate of konpeito…" I glanced at the "unlimited rice" sign and stopped ordering.
"Excuse me, do you have coffee?"
"Sold out," the waiter replied.
"Oh… never mind." I sighed, glancing at Yoriichi.
"Come with me to buy it."
"?"
"What, you won't let me out of your sight. Come along."
Yoriichi stood, nodding, and we left.
As we walked, I noticed two familiar figures in Demon Slayer Corps uniforms. No haori.
"Huh? Demon Slayer uniforms… who are they?"
Yoriichi glanced and immediately recognized them, but stayed silent.
The two men noticed our gaze. Almost identical—one with a dull look, the other more brotherly.
The Tokito brothers…? How are they here?
Both had long black hair with mint-green tips and matching mint-green eyes.
"Muichiro?!" Tanjiro and I said in unison. Neither touched the Sun Blade hidden at their waists.
Yoriichi quietly explained, "The Water Pillar and Wind Pillar said so."
The coffee was ready. 150 yen. Muichiro paid quickly, Yoriichi followed.
The four of them fell into silence, standing in two pairs.
…They're 14, yet not even as tall as a green onion… I thought.
I broke the silence. "Let's go somewhere else to talk."
Everyone followed me back to the hotel.
At the restaurant, I asked what they liked to eat and served more dishes. Four idiots together—they could even play mahjong with cards.
I learned the brothers were on a three-day sightseeing trip, given leave by Ubuyashiki Kagaya.
Tokito Muichiro had become a pillar, using Mist Breathing derived from Wind Breathing. Tokito Ichiro used Wind Breathing, a Class A rank, just below the Pillars.
I picked up a piece of watermelon, glanced at the money in my haori, thinking:
"Kokushibo will need to bring smaller denominations next time… too much trouble otherwise."