"You are leaving?"
A few days later, Oboro climbed Mount Kumotori once more.
There he found Kamado Kanero, now well into his twilight years, and a small, bright‑eyed little boy—the father of Tanjiro Kamado, Tanjuro.
If Oboro had stayed for another twenty years, he might have lived to see the protagonist of Demon Slayer and many other key characters from the original story.
But in truth, the world had changed so drastically that the plot could no longer follow its original course.
Though the Kamado bloodline still bore the fate written in their lineage, the enemy they would eventually face might no longer be Muzan.
Instead, it could just as easily be Doma, Kokushibo, Gyutaro, or one of the surviving Inheritors—provided Muzan fell in battle.
If Muzan won, however, Tanjiro's destiny might not shift too far.
Oboro had promised that should Muzan emerge victorious, he would help him evolve into the Ultimate Life Form—eternally immortal, immune to sunlight, and further empowered by soul force.
With such strength, it would remain a nearly impossible task for the Demon Slayer Corps to ever wipe out demonkind completely.
So now, the fate of the Kamado line could end up bound to any being that rose to the summit of demon power.
And with the conditions for turning humans into demons becoming easier by the day, their numbers swelling to countless millions, and soul power spreading widely throughout the world—Demon Slayer would never return to its old way of life.
Conflict between factions and battles among the strong would become a permanent part of its existence.
The world had successfully risen to the rank of a higher‑level realm—even if it stood at the very bottom of that classification.
The young tree representing the Will of this world was already more than satisfied.
Oboro had agreed to help it for two reasons: first, to avoid unnecessary trouble and prevent the world's will from turning against him; and second, so he could act freely, take everything he desired, and carry out his plans without restraint.
He even suspected that the Kamado family and the Demon Slayer Corps had been able to develop the Aura Conduit and Aura Vortex techniques, and shine so brightly with their resolve, partly thanks to the subtle influence of that very tree.
Most importantly, when he traveled again, the danger of crossing through dimensional barriers would be greatly reduced—lowering the risk of being swept away into spatial rifts or chaotic currents.
After all, mutual benefit was the true foundation of cooperation.
"Yes," Oboro nodded, sipping the tea Tanjuro had served him.
"You won't ever come back?"
The elderly Kanero sensed the truth.
A strange feeling told him that the man before him was about to vanish from this world forever.
Yet logically speaking, at Oboro's level of existence, nothing left in creation should be able to harm him.
Oboro nodded once more.
Young Tanjuro sat quietly, listening to the conversation between his grandfather and the stranger, never interrupting.
Kanero had never revealed Oboro's true identity to his descendants—only telling them he was a trusted old friend, as Oboro himself had requested.
His purpose here was fulfilled. There was no need for the Kamado family to bear any further burdens. All ties of cause and effect between Oboro and their line ended here.
In Oboro's eyes, he was merely a guest from a far‑off place, never truly belonging to this world.
The reason why the Kamado family could still catch glimpses of him in their soul's memories was because, long ago when he first met Kiyoshi, he had deliberately marked his soul—an act meant only to nurture and accelerate the growth of the "seed" he had planted.
It was done without malice, but still with self‑interest, and in the end, it had unintentionally brought misfortune upon that boy.
From now on, neither Tanjuro nor Tanjiro would ever sense Oboro's presence again. Only the memory of Yoriichi Tsugikuni, the originator of Sun Breathing, would remain in their bloodline.
"Where will you go?" Kanero asked, his heart heavy with mixed feelings.
"Home," Oboro replied simply.
---
An hour later, their long conversation came to an end.
Carrying a single special card, Oboro walked slowly down the mountain path, watched by the entire Kamado family.
Before leaving, however, he spoke to Kanero in earnest:
The affection that boy had for me… was the purest kind. No hidden motives, no expectations—only kindness and warmth.
When I first came to Mount Kumotori during the Edo period, my only intention was to use your family for my own goals. Not just him… but you as well.
"This is the real me."
As Kanero listened, he immediately understood which ancestor Oboro was referring to.
A name suddenly rose unbidden in his mind: Kamado Kiyoshi.
The same figure he often saw in his dreams—the boy whose head Oboro had once gently patted.
For a moment, Kanero almost called out to stop him.
Though he had never met that ancestor, something deep within him knew the truth.
"Used?"
Perhaps both Kiyoshi and his father had seen through Oboro's true intentions from the start.
Even Kanero himself could sense that there was always more to Oboro than he showed—one should never underestimate the intuition of the Kamado bloodline.
Yet even knowing he was being used, the family had still welcomed him, accepted him, and willingly let it happen.
That alone spoke volumes.
Sun Breathing, refined and improved, had truly saved their lineage. The warmth in their memories, the feeling of peace lingering in their souls—these could never be faked.
It proved that in those days on the mountain, Oboro had indeed been someone Kiyoshi cherished and wished to be near.
Whatever Oboro did later, at that time, he was worthy of affection.
Realizing this, Kanero held his tongue and let him go.
He suddenly understood why Oboro had told him all this.
It was precisely because the Kamado family had never doubted him, but accepted him with complete sincerity—that honesty was the one thing Oboro found hardest to bear.
And Kanero felt the same way. He knew Oboro came with a purpose, yet it never mattered to him.
"Now I finally understand… why that ancestor liked you so much," Kanero whispered with a soft smile.
"Grandfather… he looks so lonely… does he have no family?"
Little Tanjuro looked up at his grandfather, watching Oboro's figure fade into the distance.
"Of course he does… he's just lost his way for a little while. I'm sure he'll find his way back to them very soon," Kanero replied gently, stroking the boy's hair.
---
Several more days passed.
Deep into the night, in the desolate outskirts of Ueno, the newly formed Twelve Kizuki arrived at the agreed location.
Muzan, however, was nowhere to be seen.
But someone was already waiting there—Kokushibo.
He sat alone on the ground in the dignified posture of a great swordsman, calmly polishing his blade, completely ignoring the newcomers.
The Twelve Kizuki fell into a state of high alert, their faces grim and tense.
Over the years, Kokushibo had slain countless Upper and Lower Ranks. They all knew his terrifying reputation and feared him deeply.
What they did not expect was to find him so calm and composed. Shouldn't he have looked surprised or ready for battle?
He acted as if he had known they were coming all along.
The Twelve Kizuki had been sent here under Muzan's direct command to surround and kill Kokushibo.
But their master had only given them vague instructions, never revealing the whole truth.
Judging by Kokushibo's expression, he had expected them long before they arrived.
"This is just like you, Muzan…"
Kokushibo slowly slid his sword back into its sheath, his voice deep and cold.
In an instant, he understood—Muzan was using them as disposable pawns.
And he himself was certainly hiding nearby, watching from the shadows.
After all this time, Muzan's character had never changed. He trusted no one.
To him, every demon was nothing more than a tool to be used and discarded.
____________________
For more advance chapters visit my patreon
patreon.com/kane45
Tier: 10$ Casual Reader - +20 Advance Chapter
20$ Intermediate Reader - +40 Advance Chapter
40$ Expert Reader - +80 Advance Chapter
Update: "Monday to Friday - Update 3 Chapters a Day"
"Saturday and Sunday - Off"