The Asakusa district of Tokyo Prefecture.
Industrial development had already given this city distinct modern characteristics; bright, clear lights turned it into a city that never sleeps.
For Tanjiro, who came from the countryside, it was still too unfamiliar and dazzling, and the bustling, crowded flow of people made him feel cramped and uneasy.
But with his duty to slay demons, Tanjiro could only grip Nezuko's hand tightly, rub his eyes, and charge into this noisy place in one breath.
However, unable to understand the city signs, he could only wander aimlessly through the streets like a headless fly; let alone finding the demon hidden here, he couldn't even find a place to stop and rest for a while.
In the end, he could only flee the main blocks and rest in a sparsely populated alley, where he ordered a bowl of udon at a stall, thinking to fill his starving stomach first.
However, just as the aroma of the noodles wafted into his nose, Tanjiro caught another familiar scent.
It was a scent that had once lingered in his home; even though years had passed, it remained etched in his heart, never forgotten for a moment.
Because that was the scent of Kibutsuji Muzan.
The bowl of noodles in his hand slipped unconsciously as Tanjiro grabbed his nichirin blade and chased after the scent, leaving Nezuko behind.
Just then, a figure arrived at the stall, looked at the sleeping Nezuko, and shouted to the surroundings.
"If nobody wants this little girl, I'm taking her."
The air went quiet for a brief moment.
The bald stall owner poked his head out and said,
"...Cough, young man, kidnapping is a serious crime."
"Just kidding. Give me a bowl of noodles. If they're not good, I'll flip your whole stall."
The corner of Kael's mouth curled up.
Though his smile was charming, it carried a dangerous vibe that made the bald stall owner shiver.
He suspected this person really did want to flip his stall.
Sigh, it's so hard to be a good person.
That little brother with the scar on his head, you better come back and help me protect my stall later.
After a moment, Kael took the noodles, tasted the soup, and nodded.
"Tastes good."
"Phew~."
The bald owner breathed a sigh of relief, only to hear Kael speak again.
"But I don't eat green onions!"
"..."
I knew it!!
Just then, screams from a crowd came from the brightly lit street nearby.
Kael put down his chopsticks and looked to the side.
Nezuko had woken up at some point and was looking at him curiously with her cherry-colored eyes.
"Though her forehead is a bit wide, she'd definitely be cute if she dressed up a little."
Kael's words made the bald owner even more nervous. Could he really have encountered a human trafficker? He was just a noodle seller; he might look tough, but he really didn't know how to fight.
Fortunately, at that moment, the bald owner saw Tanjiro running back from a distance.
"Nezuko, I'm back."
Seeing Nezuko still there, Tanjiro finally let his heart settle.
"Tanjiro."
Hearing his name, Tanjiro was stunned for a moment.
He looked up at Kael, unable to recall ever knowing him, and asked with a slight apology,
"Sorry, do you know me?"
"Yeah, scar on the forehead, wide head, and that haori... it's definitely you. It's been quite a few years since a member using Water Breathing passed the selection."
Kael looked at the somewhat simple-minded boy and pointed out his identity as a member of the Demon Slayer Corps.
"Are you also a senior from the Demon Slayer...?"
Amidst his surprise, Tanjiro's eyes still held some suspicion. Kael's attire didn't look like a member of the Demon Slayer Corps at all; he looked more like a playboy who had just walked out of Kabukicho.
His body carried multiple scents from different women.
Those fair, slender hands didn't look like they had gripped a blade for years.
"In a way."
Kael said, rubbing his chin.
In fact, he had indeed been drinking with others in Kabukicho and happened to see Tanjiro pulling Nezuko through the streets in a panic, so he followed them.
After years of development, Kael had completely monopolized the electronics industry, and his influence had long since permeated the upper levels of the country.
As an emerging capitalist force, he was naturally a thorn in the side of the old established powers, but he was also someone they sought to win over.
Originally, with the support of the Ubuyashiki family, there was no need for Kael to get involved in these political and capital struggles.
But regarding the future direction of this country, he felt it was necessary to take control to prevent it from sliding down the path of militarism, which is why he actively chose to intervene.
It was simply a matter of winning over one group and killing another.
Using capital to coerce politics and eventually replace it.
The major corporations in the Cyber World had already practically demonstrated this; Kael only needed to learn and replicate it.
Although Arasaka Tower might not rise in this world, Sakuragi Tower already truly existed.
The tallest corporate building in Tokyo today was Kael's Sakuragi Group.
What Tanjiro didn't know was that the Sakuragi logos he saw on shop buildings along the way actually represented the properties of the Sakuragi Group.
Buying up all of Tokyo was not an exaggerated figure of speech, but a development plan that Kael was currently realizing.
When the clothes the army wore were from the Sakuragi Group's textile industry and the weapons in their hands were from the Sakuragi Group's military industry, the greatest significance of the so-called Emperor would merely be his face printed on a one-yen note.
"So you all know each other."
The bald owner wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"Give Tanjiro two bowls of udon."
Kael took out a banknote to pay for the noodles.
"Senior, just now..."
Tanjiro wanted to explain the situation he had just encountered, but Kael waved his hand to interrupt him.
"No rush, eat your fill first before we talk."
"Oh."
Tanjiro was completely obedient; for some reason, he felt that facing Kael, he couldn't find any initiative at all, as if it were only natural to follow the other person's lead.
Seeing Kael's attention constantly lingering on Nezuko, Tanjiro felt the udon in his bowl didn't taste as good anymore.
If Kael really was a senior in the Demon Slayer Corps, that might not be good news.
What if Nezuko's identity was recognized?
One must know, Mr. Giyu and the others had repeatedly ordered that Nezuko's true identity must not be exposed.
Seeing Tanjiro's distracted manner, the bald owner had a lot of complaints; this kind of eating attitude was practically the greatest insult to a chef.
However, with Kael standing there, he really didn't dare say anything.
"Full?"
After a while, Kael asked, and Tanjiro nodded at the words.
"Then come with me."
"Eh, Senior, where are we going?"
Tanjiro saw Kael take Nezuko's hand, and his expression immediately became tense.
"You'll know once you come with me."
Kael didn't answer, and seeing this, Tanjiro could only follow; there was no other way, since Nezuko was now in the other's hands.
The key was that Nezuko didn't resist at all.
Before long, the three of them arrived at a quiet, deserted alley.
At the end of this alley was a villa hidden by illusions; this was exactly where Lady Tamayo lived in seclusion.
Tanjiro caught a familiar scent here.
The owner of this scent had helped him just now, otherwise he would currently be behind bars.
Before he could react, a young man—no, a young demon—came rushing out with a scream, looking exactly like a house dog whose territory had been violated, baring his teeth and barking.
Though it wasn't very polite to describe him that way, that was the impression he gave Tanjiro.
However, for some reason, seeing the other person's fierce, teeth-baring appearance, Tanjiro felt he was strangely pitiful, like a beaten dog.
"You again!!"
"Yo, I'm here to see Tamayo. Please step aside."
Kael didn't mind Yushiro's resistance; on the contrary, he raised a hand in greeting.
"The Lady doesn't want to see you, get lost already!"
The veins on Yushiro's forehead bulged in frustration.
Kael didn't care about Yushiro's shouting; sometimes his presence actually added some fun, as it was quite interesting to see a demon lose his cool.
"Did you not hear what I said?!"
Although Yushiro shouted loudly, he had no intention of making a move; he even kept what he considered a safe distance from Kael at all times.
Mainly because he had been taught a lesson just a few days ago, and seeing Kael now, his neck was still in instinctive phantom pain.
Having one's head plucked off and used as a ball was not a pleasant or novel experience; it would leave a trauma, okay?
"Lady Tamayo, you're out."
Kael's sudden sentence distracted Yushiro, and by the time he reacted, it was too late; the other had already pushed the door open and entered.
Seeing this, Tanjiro could only give an apologetic look and follow him inside.
"Aaaaaah!!"
Yushiro stood there in impotent rage.
Tamayo was currently treating a lady who had been bitten.
When Kael came to her side, Tamayo didn't even look up, and with great tacit understanding, she handed over the sutures, acting as an assistant.
It was clear that the relationship between the two was faintly unusual, as if it were about to break through some boundary.
However, for Tanjiro, who had been single until now, this was a bit difficult to interpret.
With Tamayo present, no matter how unwilling Yushiro was, he could only bite his lip and keep his mouth shut.
Soon, Kael finished suturing the wound on the lady's shoulder and bandaged it well with gauze.
Watching this scene, Tanjiro had too many doubts that needed to be resolved.
"Ask whatever you want to ask."
Kael washed the blood from his hands, took the towel handed to him by Tamayo and wiped them; looking at his posture, one who didn't know would think he was the master of this place.
In fact, this villa really was an asset under Kael's name.
"Um, who exactly are you?"
Tanjiro moved his lips and squeezed out such a question.
"This is Lady Tamayo; as you can see, she is a demon who has broken free from Kibutsuji Muzan's curse."
Kael looked at Tamayo and finally introduced himself.
"As for me, I'm like Kagaya's real older brother from different parents; you can just call me Mr. Sakuragi."
"Eh?!!"
Tanjiro's eyes widened; although he hadn't met Ubuyashiki Kagaya himself yet, he had heard the name of the Master of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Wait, how can they be real brothers with different parents? This relationship made his scalp feel a bit itchy.
"Don't overthink it; normally, just respect and love me as you would your Master."
Kael smiled and patted Tanjiro's shoulder.
"Okay!"
Tanjiro responded instinctively, but immediately realized something.
Wait, on what basis?
However, looking at Kael's gentle and calm gaze, Tanjiro couldn't bring himself to voice the doubt in his heart.
"Kael, stop teasing the child."
Tamayo spoke up at this moment.
"Alright, alright, whatever you say."
Kael's tone carried a bit of doting.
Seeing these two standing side by side, for some reason Tanjiro thought of his parents.
"Crack!"
Who ground their teeth to pieces?
After a round of communication, Tanjiro also gained a general understanding of the current situation.
Since he had been traveling with Nezuko all along, accepting a demon like Tamayo who had broken free from the curse was naturally not difficult.
At the same time, Tanjiro also informed Kael in detail about his encounter and what he had seen.
"You actually saw Kibutsuji Muzan?"
Kael gave Tanjiro a deep look.
"Yes... I'm ashamed, I didn't manage to seize the chance to slay him."
Tanjiro's expression was full of self-reproach.
"Don't make me laugh; you should be lucky just to be alive."
Yushiro mocked with disdain.
Although these words sounded harsh, they were indeed the truth.
It was just that Kibutsuji Muzan had chickened out at the time and didn't dare to personally attack Tanjiro; otherwise, there wouldn't be any story after that.
Thinking about it from Kibutsuji Muzan's perspective, it really was quite a terrifying thing.
You're walking along the street perfectly fine when suddenly a guy with marks on his forehead and hanafuda earrings grabs your shoulder, looking like he's about to draw his sword; it's already considered composed enough that he didn't dive straight into the dirt.
One must know that the psychological trauma Yoriichi Tsugikuni left on Kibutsuji Muzan still flows in its blood today, and has not been worn away even after hundreds of years.
"Yushiro."
Lady Tamayo's tone became a bit heavier.
It was really inappropriate to mock the determination and hatred of a boy seeking revenge.
"I'm sorry, Lady Tamayo."
Yushiro apologized in fear upon hearing this.
"Since you've seen Kibutsuji Muzan, it means the safety here can no longer be guaranteed; you should leave with me, Tamayo."
Kael said in a serious tone.
Tanjiro suddenly felt the air become a few degrees heavier, and he started to mutter in his heart.
Mr. Sakuragi's aura seems even scarier than his teacher's.
Even Yushiro didn't dare to interject at this time.
Tamayo didn't say anything; she had long been clear about Kael's feelings for her, after all, he had bluntly written those blush-inducing words in their correspondence.
She likewise couldn't deny the stirrings in her own heart.
It was only because of her identity and experiences that it was hard for Tamayo to accept this emotion; it wasn't that she hadn't tried to refuse, but it hadn't had any effect at all.
Kael had just barged into Tamayo's heart and life so unreasonably, and he didn't plan on leaving.
This left Tamayo helpless while also unable to suppress her emotional instincts, and in the end, she could only drift with the flow in a sort of self-abandonment.
"Then I'll have to trouble you again."
Tamayo sighed softly in her heart.
"There's no need to talk about trouble between us."
As Kael spoke, he placed his hand over Tamayo's cold hand, and the warmth of his palm immediately enveloped it, spreading and reaching the tip of Tamayo's heart.
"Crack crack!!"
Tanjiro lowered his head, not daring to look at this intimate scene, and turned to look at Yushiro in confusion at the strange sound.