"Do you want to live?"
"Even if you are no longer human, if things continue this way, you will eventually leave this world."
"But life without being human will be harsh and painful."
...
Tamayo could see Yushiro's desire to live—that was why she said those words.
'If only I could spend the rest of my life with this woman…'
Such a thought took root in Yushiro's heart, and so he agreed without the slightest hesitation.
Tamayo removed the cloth from his forehead and said, "Then please wait one more day. I'll return tomorrow night."
Turning someone into a demon was not that simple.
In essence, aside from Muzan, no demon possessed the ability to create others—to turn humans into demons.
It wasn't that they didn't want to, nor that Muzan forbade it.
They simply couldn't.
The reason Kokushibo had been able to turn Yuko into a demon was because he injected the blood of Muzan that flowed within his own body into hers.
Otherwise, back then, Yuko would have tried to persuade them to turn Yoriichi into a demon as well.
If that had happened, the boss wouldn't have had any fun left.
...
On the way back, Yuko sighed. "If I had met you first back then, Tamayo, I would've agreed without hesitation too."
The reason she had rejected Kokushibo wasn't because she feared becoming a demon—but because she feared Muzan discovering her thoughts and memories.
Tamayo looked slightly surprised. "I always thought you were the type who hated evil with a passion."
Yuko shrugged. "But there's no need to throw away one's own life, is there? I was only in my early twenties back then—just a few years older than Yushiro. That would've been dying young."
Tamayo was silent for a moment. "That child… is already thirty-five years old."
"Thirty-five, huh… that really is—" Yuko's voice suddenly cut off as her shock spiked, "Thirty-five?!"
"You mean that kid's current age?!"
Tamayo smiled helplessly.
As a physician, knowing her patient's age was only natural.
Yuko was completely numb.
You were telling her that that little shota-looking kid… was actually thirty-five years old?
Who could possibly tell?!
Tamayo smiled and continued the earlier topic. "Turning someone into a demon still requires proper experimentation. Even if you had met me back then, it wouldn't have worked immediately."
"Are you confident?" Yuko asked.
"Yes."
...
The next evening.
Yuko finished packing and prepared to depart, while Tamayo also headed out with her medicine case.
Tamayo said, "Let's part ways here."
Yuko gazed at the stars lighting up the night sky, then drew in a deep breath. "All these years… thank you for taking such good care of me."
Though they addressed each other as equals, Tamayo was actually several hundred years older than her.
All these years, she had cared for Yuko much like an elder sister would.
Tamayo froze briefly, then the corners of her lips curved into a beautiful smile.
"I should be the one saying that. Without you, I'd probably still be lost even now."
As their parting approached, Yuko also felt a quiet sadness.
"This farewell… who knows how long it'll be before we meet again."
Given their respective identities, they were destined not to remain in the same place for long.
Parting meant losing contact.
Tamayo smiled gently. "As long as we continue striving toward our shared goal of defeating Muzan, we will meet again someday."
She understood Yuko's reluctance—because she felt the same way.
Then Tamayo's expression turned solemn. "May your blade know victory wherever you tread."
Yuko smiled. "Then I'll accept your blessing."
We'll meet again… in the Taishō era.
Yuko pressed down on her bamboo hat and turned away.
Tamayo watched her slender figure disappear into the distance, then slowly withdrew her gaze.
Yoriichi… it was thanks to your younger sister that I found clarity once more and saw hope again.
Even after agreeing to help future generations defeat Muzan, Tamayo had still been lost in uncertainty.
To her, Yoriichi had been like a divine emissary sent by heaven to slay Muzan—if even he had failed, how could future generations possibly succeed?
Meeting Yuko allowed her to regain her faith.
Yuko might not be as powerful as Yoriichi, but her unbreakable heart gave Tamayo courage—and trust.
They would eventually destroy Muzan. Of that, Tamayo was now firmly convinced.
...
Perhaps because of what happened yesterday, the slums were strangely empty—no vagrants in sight.
Even the Demon Slayer swordsman from before was gone, likely having already left.
Yuko arrived at the family's door and gently knocked.
"Who is it?" came a weary male voice from inside.
The one who opened the door was the same short-tempered man from yesterday.
But now, his hair had turned completely white, and his face looked aged by several more years.
Overnight, his hair had gone white.
"It's you…" The man froze briefly, hesitated, then stepped aside. "Come in."
"Sorry to intrude." Yuko gave a small nod and entered.
The house was small—the kitchen and sleeping area were cramped together.
The woman was boiling water and cooking. With her keen sense of smell, Yuko detected the faint scent of wild vegetables.
When she noticed Yuko, the woman paused.
She lifted the food and placed it on the table.
"Would the guest like to eat with us?"
Yuko looked at the woman's face, which had aged noticeably overnight, and shook her head.
It was clear that the relationship between the couple had improved. Kyoko's efforts had not been in vain.
But the pain of losing their daughter was not something that could be healed so easily.
After a moment of silence, the man spoke. "You came to ask about the Eternal Paradise Cult, didn't you?"
He wasn't a fool.
"Yes," Yuko said plainly. "I want to know where their headquarters are."
"Or rather—where Doma is."
...
The man suddenly dropped to his knees and slammed his head against the floor.
The woman followed suit and knelt beside him.
"You—"
"Kyoko died because of me, her father. I know that well," the man said, his voice breaking with tears.
"But I thought… I thought she would have no worries about food or clothing there—that's why I sent her away…"
His hands clawed at the ground, his fingers scraping until they bled.
"I beg you… please behead the evil demon who killed Kyoko!"
"Everything I own—I'll give it all to you!"
The woman remained kneeling in silence, but her stance spoke louder than words.
A subtle change passed through Yuko's expression. After a moment of silence, she let out a long breath and said calmly,
"I'm sorry…"
"I cannot grant that request just yet."
The man's trembling body froze.
"But I promise you this—one day, I will personally cut off his head and send him to hell."
"…Thank you." The man's body slowly curled inward.
Demon Slayer is a hot-blooded story.
But at the same time, it is an imperfect one.
A story that ends with plot-driven deaths forces Yuko to stay wary of even the smallest possible change.
Doma… cannot die yet.
---
Currently at chapter 291 for advance chapters
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