Tanjiro was panicking.
He had learned that Hotaru Haganezuka had spent two entire nights without rest forging him a brand-new Nichirin Blade. The sword had already been dispatched overnight and was expected to arrive at the Butterfly Mansion first thing in the morning.
In order to avoid being chopped to pieces in his sleep, Tanjiro made a firm decision.
He would stay awake all night!
"Don't worry, Kamado boy!" Kyojuro's cheerful voice rang through the room once again. "Mr. Haganezuka isn't really going to kill you! He's only trying to scare you!"
Those words somehow made Tanjiro even more terrified.
He had never smelled such overwhelming killing intent before not from demons, not even from the mysterious Manjushiro.
Mr. Haganezuka genuinely wanted to cut him into tiny pieces.
After the recent battle, Kyojuro remained at the Butterfly Mansion to recover from his injuries alongside Sanemi Shinazugawa, Obanai Iguro, and Mitsuri Kanroji.
Watching the all-too-familiar scene unfold again, Zenitsu silently folded his hands in prayer.
"Please, gods… protect Tanjiro. He has to survive this. And… if he doesn't… I'll take care of Nezuko for him!"
Poor Tanjiro was far too frightened to sleep. Unable to remain indoors, he climbed onto the roof and sat beneath the night sky, staring blankly at the countless stars overhead.
"Tanjiro! I stole us some snacks!"
Inosuke's booming voice echoed across the entire Butterfly Mansion.
Zenitsu immediately regretted bringing him along.
The three of them sat together on the rooftop, sharing the snacks Inosuke had "borrowed" from the kitchen.
"Don't worry!" Inosuke declared confidently, believing Tanjiro's fear stemmed solely from Haganezuka.
"I've already thought of a perfect plan!"
He proudly removed his boar mask.
"Just wear my mask! Then Haganezuka won't recognize you!"
He puffed out his chest proudly, as though he had solved the greatest mystery in history.
Tanjiro could only smile awkwardly.
Inosuke truly was a good person.
Unfortunately…
He simply wasn't very smart.
If hiding behind a boar mask could fool Haganezuka, then the master swordsmith probably wouldn't have survived this long.
"No…"
Tanjiro looked back toward the glittering stars.
"I'm not really worried about that."
A trace of confusion lingered within his eyes.
"I'm still wondering whether what I've been doing is truly right."
"What Mr. Kokushibo said… made sense."
"And Brother Rengoku trusts him completely."
Zenitsu nodded thoughtfully.
"That demon really is different."
"Lady Kanroji said Mr. Kokushibo actually knew Mr. Rengoku ever since he was a child."
"That isn't the kind of relationship you can fake."
While the two discussed these complicated matters, Inosuke quietly reached over…
…and stole both of their remaining sweets.
As expected.
"The thing I'm struggling with most…" Tanjiro continued quietly, "…is whether I'll still be able to raise my sword against every demon without hesitation."
Of course…
Compared to that philosophical dilemma…
He was currently much more concerned about surviving until tomorrow morning.
Meanwhile…
Hotaru Haganezuka raced toward the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters while carrying Tanjiro's newly forged Nichirin Blade.
Behind him, Kozo Kanamori stumbled after him, panting so heavily that he could barely speak.
"W-Wait…"
"S-Slow down…"
"Let me… catch my breath…"
Although both were swordsmiths, Haganezuka's stamina completely overwhelmed Kanamori's.
This time, thanks to Tanjiro's latest "achievement," Haganezuka's fury had reached an unprecedented level.
No one knew whether the swordsman named Kamado Tanjiro would still be alive by sunset.
Thus…
Haganezuka charged ahead with terrifying speed, propelled entirely by murderous determination.
Kanamori, meanwhile, struggled helplessly behind him like a cart with a broken wheel.
The night finally passed.
Tanjiro remained awake until sunrise.
Zenitsu and Inosuke had long since fallen asleep on the rooftop, snoring loudly, while Tanjiro sat alone, his dark circles becoming so severe they looked like carefully painted makeup.
"Mr. Haganezuka…"
"He… probably won't arrive this early…"
"M-Maybe I can sleep for just…"
Before he could finish speaking
An overwhelming killing intent suddenly erupted from below.
It was astonishingly pure.
There was no scent of blood.
No hatred toward humanity.
Only a terrifying obsession directed entirely toward one person.
Tanjiro stiffly lowered his head.
Standing beneath the roof…
…was Hotaru Haganezuka.
Their eyes met.
Several large kitchen knives were tucked into his belt, while he gripped two freshly sharpened blades in both hands.
Behind him…
Tanjiro almost imagined the terrifying image of a gigantic Hannya spirit glaring down upon him.
No…
That wasn't a Hannya.
That was simply Haganezuka's murderous aura taking physical form.
At that moment, the utterly exhausted Kanamori finally crawled his way over.
Barely able to lift his head, he shouted with the last of his strength,
"Run…!"
Before the final syllable even left his mouth
Haganezuka exploded into motion.
Tanjiro screamed and immediately leapt from the rooftop before sprinting away as fast as his legs could carry him.
Behind him, Haganezuka chased relentlessly.
Even beneath his mask, tears streamed down his face.
"You promised me…"
"You promised you wouldn't break another sword!!"
"And now you've gone and LOST IT!!"
With a furious roar, Haganezuka swung both blades.
Tanjiro barely dodged.
"Mr. Haganezuka!"
"This really wasn't my fault!"
"A demon stole it!"
But Haganezuka was far too furious to listen.
"Prepare yourself!"
"A swordsman who can't protect his own Nichirin Blade deserves punishment!"
Really…
Who would ever believe that?
A demon stealing a Nichirin Blade?
That sounded about as ridiculous as hearing that a vampire had stolen someone's garlic collection or deliberately gone sunbathing at noon.
Of course…
Haganezuka himself had completely forgotten that years ago he had forged a Nichirin Blade for Kokushibo.
And Kokushibo had forgotten as well.
That forgotten blade was still lying somewhere among the clutter inside Kokushibo's residence.
Thus began another legendary chase.
Tanjiro fled for his life.
Haganezuka pursued him with terrifying determination.
Inside the Butterfly Mansion…
The recovering Hashira quietly gathered at the windows to watch the spectacle unfold.
Their expressions were strangely familiar.
Kyojuro laughed heartily.
"Do your best, Kamado boy!!"
Even Sanemi couldn't help smirking slightly.
Meanwhile…
Zenitsu and Inosuke continued sleeping peacefully on the rooftop.
Neither of them noticed Tanjiro's desperate screams echoing throughout the entire estate.
What dependable companions…
The chase continued from sunrise until nearly noon.
By then, Tanjiro was gasping for air.
Ironically…
Running for hours under constant pursuit had greatly improved the efficiency of his Total Concentration Breathing.
Haganezuka finally slowed his pace.
Still radiating terrifying killing intent, he walked toward Tanjiro one deliberate step at a time.
"So…"
"You've finally stopped running."
"You ungrateful brat who doesn't cherish his sword."
Tanjiro bent over, completely exhausted.
"Mr… Haganezuka…"
"I-I'm… truly… sorry…"
"But…"
"My Nichirin Blade…"
"It really was taken away by an incredibly powerful demon."
Just then
Kanamori finally recovered enough strength to catch up.
He hurriedly grabbed Haganezuka's arm.
"You fool!"
"Have you forgotten the Chief's orders?"
"The Swordsmith Village absolutely cannot become responsible for killing a Demon Slayer Corps swordsman!"
If Haganezuka actually succeeded…
Muzan and the Manjushiro would probably applaud him.
At that moment, Kanao Tsuyuri quietly approached.
She had just returned after buying fresh mitarashi dango.
Without saying a word, she held the skewers out toward Haganezuka.
Although still furious…
There were two things Haganezuka believed should never be neglected.
Forging swords…
And delicious food.
He let out a cold snort.
Maintaining his proud demeanor, he accepted the dumplings before silently walking back toward the Butterfly Mansion.
Only then did Tanjiro finally realize…
He had survived.
The overwhelming relief caused all the strength to leave his body.
He collapsed forward
Straight into Kanao's arms.
Kanao instantly blushed bright red.
Completely flustered, she froze in place.
Fortunately, Kanamori hurried over and helped support the exhausted Tanjiro before escorting him back to his room.
At almost the same moment…
Zenitsu and Inosuke finally woke up on the rooftop.
Hearing faint screams in the distance, both of them immediately jumped to their feet.
"Don't worry, Tanjiro!"
"We're coming to save you!"
What loyal friends.
Of course…
If Tanjiro had actually depended on those two for rescue…
The most likely outcome would have been them arriving just in time to attend his funeral.
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