"Then this is where we part, Asuka."
Outside the infirmary, Shinobu Kocho smiled as she bid him farewell. As a Hashira, she had many duties to attend to.
She handed him a gourd flask, her voice as gentle as ever.
"There's some pain-relieving medicine inside. I hope it helps. But try not to push yourself so hard next time."
"Thank you for your concern. I'll be careful… Safe travels, Hashira."
"Oh my, no need to be so formal. Just call me Shinobu-senpai. Well then, until next time."
With that, she drifted away like a butterfly carried by a soft breeze, vanishing beyond the doorway.
After Shinobu left, Asuka briefly checked on Asano Mori's condition, then prepared to depart as well.
Counting it up, this mission had taken him from south to north and lasted more than half a month. It was about time he returned.
Unlike other Demon Slayers, he would carry out orders when they came, but when there were none, he wouldn't patrol around everywhere like Shinsuke. It was better to head back to Hayama and lie low.
"Asuka-san! Your sword!"
"Hm… hm?"
While packing his belongings and putting on his new uniform, Asuka turned in confusion and accepted the long sword Yuka handed him.
"Why is there only one?"
"Huh? Th-this… this is the only one that was delivered! Was the other one left behind?!" Yuka stammered nervously, anxiously searching around the room.
She might not understand the finer details of slaying demons, but she knew how important those blades were to a Demon Slayer. Losing one would be a serious matter.
Asuka weighed the sword in his hand. It felt familiar, yet strangely unfamiliar at the same time.
The scabbard and the cord on the hilt belonged to Nugata… but this wind-spiral tsuba… wasn't this my Nichirin Blade?
He drew the blade, his gaze sharpening.
The colorless steel gleamed brightly. It was undoubtedly a Nichirin Blade, yet within it surged a resonance that echoed with his very soul.
"Nugata?"
He pulled the sword fully free. The blade hummed on its own, as if answering his whisper.
"You… devoured the Nichirin Blade?"
It sounded absurd, but that was his first instinct.
Gently stroking the blade, he confirmed that whether it was the aura within or the unique spiritual pressure it contained, it was unquestionably his Asauchi.
He never expected that this fellow would merge with the Nichirin Blade into one.
Was that a good thing? Would the properties of the Nichirin Blade still function? Would it devour other weapons in the future?
"I'm so sorry… Asuka-san… I really…"
"It's fine, Yuka. I was mistaken."
Interrupting her frantic searching, Asuka met her puzzled gaze and silently sheathed the blade.
"Thank you for taking care of me. I'm setting off."
"Huh? So suddenly? Aren't you going to keep looking…? Asuka-san, won't you rest a few more days?"
He said nothing more. The corner of his brand-new ash-white haori fluttered lightly in the wind.
Just as he had arrived in Sendai in haste, he departed just as swiftly.
Walking alone along the old southern road, several more days passed.
Most of the time he camped in the wilderness. Occasionally, when passing through sparsely populated villages, he would rest by an empty wall, watching the sallow, emaciated townsfolk. From time to time, he thought back on what he had seen during his journey north.
He remembered the words he had heard in the bookshop and couldn't help thinking that perhaps it was this very world that allowed so many demons to run rampant.
If all demons were killed, wouldn't that solve it? Fewer innocent people would die. The world would become clean again…
No… after some thought, he felt that wasn't entirely true.
Demons were detestable, but like wolves devouring sheep, it was simply predation between two species.
Perhaps it would be the Demon Slayer Corps. Perhaps someone else in the future. One day, these creatures would be wiped out.
But when he thought of those who cooperated with demons, Asuka felt that humans devouring humans might be even more terrifying. At least he had no idea how to solve that.
Several evenings later, his steps halted before an old tree at a crossroads.
The wind swept across cracked field ridges, over dried irrigation channels, spiraling before striking the ancient trunk.
Within a hollow between the roots, two small figures huddled together under a tattered quilt whose original color could no longer be discerned.
The older one, perhaps seven or eight, awkwardly broke apart half of a hardened cake in his hands and fed it to the smaller child nestled against him.
Asuka's gaze lingered briefly on the pale, bluish little face. Then he took out a few rice cakes wrapped in oil paper from his robe.
He ate a portion himself, then silently placed the remaining larger half at the edge of the torn quilt.
The older child suddenly looked up, panic instantly filling his eyes. He instinctively shielded the smaller one tighter, like a startled little beast.
But Asuka said nothing. After setting down the food, he turned and walked away.
"Th-thank you, sir!" the child's tearful voice called out from behind, but his steps did not pause.
'Whether it's Rukongai or the human world, neither is fit for people to live in…' he thought.
Caw—!!!
As he continued forward, a dark figure descended from the sky with a piercing cry.
Without even looking, Asuka knew it was a Kasugai Crow.
"Emergency order! Emergency order!"
"Corps Member Nanajūhachi Asuka! Directive delivered!"
"Southwest! Southwest! Mount Natagumo!"
"Multiple demons are gathering! Proceed immediately to investigate!"
"Repeat: Mount Natagumo! Proceed immediately!"
After delivering the order, the Kasugai Crow did not depart at once as usual. Instead, it added a few extra words.
"Asuka! More than ten members have already received this mission. Exercise extreme caution!"
"I understand. Thank you."
Caw—!!
With a powerful beat of its wings, the crow shot upward, disappearing into the sky.
Mount Natagumo… Asuka knew the place.
Traveling north from Hayama to Sendai, one inevitably passed through the Azuma Mountain Range, an unbroken stretch of mountains.
As someone who knew nothing about this country, Asuka had studied the map for a long time before setting out and had asked Kenichi about how to pronounce many of the place names.
On the western foothills of the Azuma Mountains lay Mount Natagumo.
It was said that numerous species of venomous spiders lived there year-round. A bite from certain rare types could even turn a person into a spider.
He hadn't expected demons to be involved.
Without further thought, he adjusted his direction and headed southwest toward Mount Natagumo.
Three days later, after climbing over a hill thick with twisted branches and dense forest, his view suddenly opened.
Before him stood a towering mountain shrouded in heavy mist, steeped in malicious gloom.
"So this is Mount Natagumo?"
He tightened his grip on his new Asauchi at his waist and slowly released his spiritual pressure, probing toward the mountain's base.
Cold. Bloody. Uneasy. Fearful.
Though still far away, the fluctuating spiritual pressures emanating from within the mountain made it clear there was more than one presence inside.
Or more than one demon.
"What an oppressive feeling… more dangerous than that Lower Rank Two. Could it be an Upper Rank?" Asuka was uncertain, feeling a hint of tension for the first time.
His battle with Lower Rank Two had already shown him his limits. If he encountered an Upper Rank now, could he win?
"I'll take a look first. After all, the mission is only an investigation…"
Taking a deep breath, Asuka dashed toward the darkened mountain.
At the same time, on the other side of the mountain, three noisy figures appeared at its base.
"Wait! I said wait a second!!"
"What's wrong, Zenitsu? Why are you crouching there?"
"It's so scary—!!! This mountain feels terrifying!!! Can't you feel it?!!!"
"What a useless coward! Fishcake Gonpachiro! Let's charge in!!"