"Did you know? Actually, several hundred years ago in Tokyo, there was once a confrontation between supernatural forces.
It was a showdown between powers representing humanity and non-human forces. Legend has it that their battle even..."
"You've been reading too many novels, dumbass."
"What?! This is what my great-grandfather told me! It's top secret that the vast majority of people in this world don't know!"
"Alright, Agatsuma-kun, stop being so mystical over there. We have a math exam today. Did you review last night?"
"Uh..."
Time came to the twenty-first century.
In this new century, humanity's technological level had made tremendous leaps compared to the previous century.
Human society had entered an unprecedented era of abundance. Although war and famine still existed in every corner of the world, the desire for peaceful development had indeed become the primary aspiration of most nations and peoples.
This was a school route in Tokyo's city district. Several teenagers dressed as high school students were walking together toward their school.
Among them, a short blond-haired boy called "Agatsuma" was earnestly telling his companions the mysterious little story he had supposedly heard from his great-grandfather.
Speaking of this Agatsuma-kun's great-grandfather, he was also quite a famous figure at the school.
Despite being nearly a hundred years old, his footsteps were faster than most young people could manage.
He remembered that last semester, Agatsuma-kun had once overslept and was about to be late.
It was said that his great-grandfather had carried him on his back, and with lightning-fast foot speed, delivered him from home to school in just a few minutes...
How amazing. How could a human run that fast?
Agatsuma-kun must be bragging again.
"Ohhh! Little brats up ahead, make way! My delivery is about to time out!"
A gruff shout suddenly rang out from behind. The few people on the road subconsciously dodged to the side.
They saw a food delivery rider on an electric scooter speeding past them like the wind.
The rider was robustly built, with white spiky hair, looking very much like a delinquent who would block people on the street to ask for money.
"Wasn't that Genya's older brother?"
Looking from afar, Agatsuma-kun suddenly asked.
"Ah, I heard he got into a group fight with students from the neighboring school last year and got expelled.
Now he's working everywhere to save up for Genya's college tuition..."
"No parents, that's how it is."
"If you ask me, he might as well go work as a shrine maiden at that shrine on the next street. He'd probably earn more..."
"Shrine maiden? Can men be shrine maidens?"
"Don't you guys know? That shrine on the next street specializes in male shrine maidens.
I happened to visit once before. Their shrine maiden is a blind, bald giant over two meters tall!
A muscular man who looks like Dong Zhuo, wearing a shrine maiden outfit and sweeping the shrine with a broom—can you imagine that scene?!
Damn! I felt like my eyes were going blind at the time!"
"Uh, that shrine will definitely close down soon..."
"On the contrary, quite a lot of people seem to go there every day..."
"Are they all going to see the giant shrine maiden?"
"Probably, so I think his salary must be pretty high too..."
"The morals of this world are declining..."
As they spoke, the group had already arrived at the school.
"Let's go, math class is first period. The exam starts when class begins..."
"Nooo, I really want to skip..."
"Even if you skip, you'll have to make it up later. Give up, that old witch won't let us off."
The few of them chatted and laughed as they walked into the school, completely unaware that someone was following behind them.
Or rather... two people.
"That person is..."
"It's Zenitsu, the descendant of that blond kid of yours."
Facing the inquiry of Tanjiro's soul beside her, Mitsuba—her hands in her coat pockets—replied with a smile.
"Little one, you had a good friend. Before the decisive battle, you entrusted your family to him, and he truly took good care of them.
To support your large family of younger siblings, he later went to struggle in the film industry.
Although he never became a big star, he did make a name for himself in the end.
My older brother originally wanted to help out your family, but unexpectedly, he turned out to be so capable.
Speaking of which, he did end up together with your younger sister. So, rounding up, that blond kid from just now could actually be considered your descendant."
As Mitsuba spoke, at the school gate, another boy with a rooster-head hairstyle who looked like a delinquent quickly ran over.
He seemed unable to see the two people conversing, running straight past them into the school without turning his head.
"Speaking of which, that Love Hashira who fought Doma with you back then—she didn't actually die either."
Under Tanjiro's curious gaze, Mitsuba continued:
"She was beautiful, so Doma spared her in the end. After that, I believe she went abroad on her own.
Then while traveling around the world, she met a man she liked, and passed away peacefully over a decade ago... How about it? Want me to resurrect her for you?
If you want, I can immediately make her a student at this school as well."
"No, there's no need. Kanroji-senpai died a natural death. I think she wouldn't want..."
"Alright then. As for the others—your Flame Hashira senpai, for example, is a third-year student at this school. Recently, he seems to have started dating a girl.
Also, those three Water Hashira—the three of them are still childhood friends. Hmm... I have a feeling they're going to end up in a love triangle later. Truly something to look forward to.
Ah, and that little snake—a gloomy shut-in, but his grades are quite good. I hope he can transition from a gloomy character to a cheerful one soon."
As Mitsuba spoke, she plucked at the red causal threads in her hand one by one, continuously sharing information with Tanjiro beside her.
Watching this scene, Tanjiro was filled with awe.
No distance limitation, usable at will... Had Mitsuba's Blood Demon Art already grown this powerful?
"Miss Mitsuba, have you overcome sunlight now?"
Suddenly, Tanjiro asked curiously.
"Hmm? Yes, I overcame it decades ago. On the morning after the decisive battle back then, Shinobu found the Blue Spider Lily.
Not just sunlight—even the need to consume humans was overcome.
After several hundred years, I can finally eat normal food again. It really wasn't easy."
After saying this, feeling there was nothing more to say, Mitsuba suddenly turned to look at Tanjiro beside her and smiled:
"Alright, I feel like I've said about enough. Little one, as the final thing I promised you back then, it's time for me to send you to reincarnation."
"Wait! Miss Mitsuba! I have one more thing I want to ask you!"
Tanjiro hurriedly stopped her, then somewhat bashfully asked:
"Just... could you tell me why you were willing to agree to my request back then..."
At the end of that decisive battle nearly a hundred years ago, although Tanjiro had spoken those words, he actually had no confidence that Mitsuba would agree. It was merely a desperate attempt in his moment of despair.
"Because I'm soft-hearted."
To this, Mitsuba gave her answer in a calm tone.
"I just can't stand seeing people crying and begging before me. Every time I see it, it reminds me of my past self, and I can't help but want to help them. The reason is that simple.
Of course, there's also the fact that for me now, this is indeed a very trivial matter."
Raising her hand, looking at the numerous causal threads spreading out from her palm, Mitsuba slowly said:
"Since that night, at the moment when the morning sunlight rose, I suddenly discovered that my Blood Demon Art had become incredibly powerful.
Not only were all distance limitations completely removed, but what I could accomplish was also far, far more than in the past.
Tanjiro, it's difficult for me to describe the power I now wield in detailed words.
But you can simply understand it as: I have now reached the realm where my words become law.
As long as it's something I want, something I can comprehend, I can do anything.
In essence, you can view me as... a god walking among mortals in this human world.
Alright, alright, enough of these meaningless things for you."
Suddenly realizing she had gone off-topic, Mitsuba withdrew her hand, smiled, and gently pushed Tanjiro's shoulder, sending him into the school before her.
"Young man, enjoy your new life well."
"Whoa!"
Stumbling in his steps, by the time Tanjiro regained his footing, he subconsciously looked behind him.
"Huh?"
The school gate behind him was completely empty. Not a single person.
But for some reason, a trace of doubt lingered in Tanjiro's heart.
He instinctively felt that there should have been someone standing here just now...
But who could it be?
Strange, why couldn't he remember at all...
Speaking of which, what was he doing here...
"Hey, Tanjiro, what are you spacing out for?"
Just as Tanjiro was puzzled, a voice suddenly rang out beside him.
He turned to look and saw a handsome youth his age.
He remembered—the boy's name was Tokito Muichiro. He was his classmate and friend.
"We have a math exam in first period today. Don't tell me you forgot to review and want to skip school and go home."
As Muichiro said this, he turned and walked straight toward the school building.
"How could that be! I seriously reviewed last night! It's just..."
Catching up to Muichiro's pace, Tanjiro hurriedly defended himself.
Subconsciously, he looked back once more at the empty space behind him, his face full of confusion.
"It's just that I always feel like I suddenly forgot something..."
"Oh, amnesia too? Did you read too many light novels last night? Tomorrow are you going to get reincarnated in another world?"
Muichiro mocked without mercy, a bit of a sharp tongue.
"No! I'm serious!"
"Alright, focus on preparing for the exam. Even if you can escape to another world, that old witch won't let you off."
(The End)