Two days later, Yoriichi and Hiru bid farewell to the Kamado family and left Mount Kumogiri to continue their journey.
Because of the constant overcast skies, Hiru could now sit on Yoriichi's shoulder during the day to breathe in the fresh air—though he no longer needed to breathe at all.
Thanks to Hiru, word of the so-called Puppet Swordsman spread even further. Many had heard of this mysterious swordsman who tirelessly hunted demons—but what became even more famous was that wherever Yoriichi went, the wild beasts of the region soon vanished under his blade.
After all, compared to demons who could only appear at night, wild beasts posed a far greater danger to people's everyday lives.
But with fame came endless trouble.
"You're Tsugikuni Yoriichi, aren't you?"
Yoriichi looked silently at the swordsmen standing before him and nodded.
"How dare you still show your face in front of people!" one of them shouted, eyes blazing with fury. "You betrayed the Demon Slayer Corps! Your brother became a demon! Why haven't you disemboweled yourself to atone for your shame?!"
"I'm sorry for what happened to my brother," Yoriichi replied calmly. This wasn't the first time he'd met swordsmen who took out their anger on him. "I may hunt demons as you do, but I never joined the Demon Slayer Corps."
"Ha! You dare say that while accepting the support of the Kakushi? How shameless can you be?"
"That's why I taught the Hashira the Breathing Styles."
"Don't make me laugh! That was the Hashira's own accomplishment! You really have the nerve to claim credit for something that isn't yours? You're just as filthy on the inside as your brother!"
Inside the box, Hiru pressed his lips tightly together.
[Too much.]
[That was my brother's accomplishment.]
[He never owed them anything!]
[They're the shameless ones!]
[People who judge others without knowing the truth are the real villains!]
[Yes… kill them. Kill them all!]
[No, stop! Don't think like that. Don't let the demon's instincts take over.]
[But… how dare they!]
"There's a demon's scent nearby, Sakurai," one swordsman said.
"Are you stupid? It's daytime—" The man called Sakurai frowned, but his gaze soon shifted toward Yoriichi. "Come to think of it, demons can change their appearance, right? That box of yours looks suspicious."
"Isn't he the brother of that traitor? What if the traitor's hiding inside his box?"
"There's no demonized brother in my box," Yoriichi said quietly, sighing as the swordsmen began to surround him. "Please, don't come any closer. I don't wish to fight."
"So there is a demon in there!" Sakurai snarled, his expression twisting. "I knew it—you're a traitor to humanity too!"
Yoriichi could feel the demon's aura growing stronger from the box behind him, yet his tone remained gentle. "Inside is my younger brother. He's never harmed a human. I keep a close watch on him."
"Bullshit! When demons see humans, it's like dogs seeing filth! No—calling them dogs is too generous!" Sakurai stepped forward, hand on his sword. "Hand over the box!"
Yoriichi felt movement from within. He frowned slightly, resting a hand on the box to calm its occupant, repeating once again, "Hiru has already overcome his desire to eat humans. He's not—"
"Enough! Unless you can defeat us all right now, scum like you—"
Bang!
The box behind Yoriichi burst open. A disheveled, barefoot youth stepped into the sunlight, his demonic features unmistakable. The instant the light touched his skin, it sizzled and seared, exposing raw flesh beneath.
The swordsmen froze as Yoriichi's expression turned to shock. He dropped the box and frantically tore off his outer robe to cover the half-grown demon.
"Hiru, no!"
But before he could reach him, the demonized youth stretched out his hand toward them, fury burning in his voice.
"Blood Demon Art: Painted World Scroll—Stripping!"
Yoriichi had already wrapped Hiru in his coat, shielding him from the light as he held him close. Hearing the invocation, he looked up—only to find the swordsmen collapsed on the ground, alive but unconscious.
He let out a breath of relief, then looked down at Hiru, his voice trembling.
"Have you lost your mind?!"
"They deserved it!" Hiru's skin continued to blister and rot under the sunlight, agony twisting his features, yet he still glared at the fallen swordsmen. "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have just stripped them of their strength! How dare they insult you without knowing anything—"
"I'm talking about you running out into the sunlight!" Yoriichi's breath came raggedly, his eyes red. "Do you realize it's daytime?!"
"I did it for you!" Hiru turned to face him, the scorched flesh already starting to heal. "Why do you never fight back, Brother?!"
"My brother and I became demons by our own choice—it has nothing to do with you!
You left the Tsugikuni household when you were seven for our sake, for peace in the family—you didn't even get to see Mother one last time!
But when Big Brother chose to become a demon, he never once thought about your situation!
So why do you still carry the burden of the Tsugikuni clan? Why do you insist on taking responsibility for the whole world's sins?
Your strength and kindness were never reasons for them to slander you—to defame you—to humiliate you!
Brother, at the very least—"
Plop.
Hiru froze when a tear landed on his face. He looked up to see Yoriichi's cheeks wet with tears.
"...Brother?"
"Hiru, I just don't want to lose anyone else." Yoriichi shielded him from the sun, his voice low but shaking. "I couldn't protect my wife, my family, or my brother… Please, I can't bear to lose anyone else.
If explaining myself, even being misunderstood, can prevent conflict—then that's fine. As long as I don't lose anyone again…"
"...But you're important to me too." Hiru gently wiped the tears from Yoriichi's face, his voice softening. "When I heard them slandering you, I couldn't control the rage inside me.
After becoming a demon, my emotions have been fading. My mind is almost entirely consumed by hunger, except for a few memories from when I was human.
If not for you, I might have lost myself long ago when I first encountered rare blood. But I know you wouldn't want me to become a mindless monster, so I've been doing everything I can to restrain myself—and I've kept resisting."
Yoriichi saw the tears welling in Hiru's eyes and fell silent, unsure what to say.
"Hiru, I—"
"But these people!" Hiru's voice rose again. "They insult you without knowing a thing about you! They blame you for crimes that never existed!
When someone takes their anger out on you, you shouldn't just shoulder it silently and let them vent! You should stand firm and make your position clear—shut them up before they go further!
Otherwise, they'll just keep tearing open your wounds, destroying the people and things you care about!
And then they'll say, 'He doesn't fight back, so he must be guilty!'
Brother, why can't you see your own worth? Why can't you believe in yourself more?"
Hiru's voice broke into a shout.
"When will you understand, Brother? You're just a strong man—not an all-powerful god!"