On the road to Asakusa, dust billowed into the air.
"Yaaahhh!!
Big brother!
Slow down! Slow down!!"
Zenitsu's scream was stretched long and thin. They were running so fast that the wind pouring into his mouth made the skin on his face flap uncontrollably.
"Shut up, Stripe-itsu!"
Inosuke, running at the very front, didn't even turn his head. The wooden clogs on his feet were moving so fast they were practically throwing off sparks.
He was like the engine of a locomotive, forcibly dragging the two behind him until their afterimages nearly blurred together.
"Asakusa's just ahead!
Get moving, both of you! If we don't make it back to the Bliss Cult for New Year's tonight, you'll answer for it!"
Tanjiro, carrying the box on his back, was clearly struggling too, but he still did his best to keep his breathing steady.
"Inosuke-kun! I know you're eager to get back, but… it looks like your head is smoking!"
"That's steam! It's the symbol of a strong man!"
Inosuke turned back smugly, about to toss out a few taunts—
But in that instant, his gaze swept across Tanjiro's forehead and Zenitsu's neck.
Screech!!
Inosuke slammed on the brakes. His feet plowed two deep furrows into the ground.
The two behind him nearly crashed straight into his back.
"What is it, big brother?!"
Zenitsu nervously drew his sword.
"Is there a demon ahead?"
Inosuke didn't answer.
He stared fixedly at Tanjiro's forehead.
Originally, there had only been an ordinary burn scar there.
But now, that scar had turned a deep crimson, its shape resembling a flame in full blaze.
He turned his head to look at Zenitsu.
On Zenitsu's neck, a golden pattern like a streak of lightning was clearly imprinted on his skin, faintly radiating heat.
A mark.
Inosuke's heart sank.
That was a curse that burned away one's lifespan.
"Hey."
Inosuke's voice was terrifyingly low—the calm before a storm.
"When did you two… get those things on your face and neck?"
"Huh?"
Zenitsu touched his neck, then foolishly pulled out a small bronze mirror to take a look.
"Oh, this? It came out just now. When I heard you'd died, big brother, I panicked, put in a bit too much effort, and—boom."
He even struck a smug pose.
"How is it, big brother? Super cool, right? Feels kind of like a tattoo.
With this, girls are definitely going to like me more!
I'll even have something in common to talk about with Third Uncle!"
Tanjiro also honestly touched his forehead.
"Same for me. When I thought Inosuke-kun was gone, I felt really sad… and really angry too. My body temperature shot up all at once, and then the mark darkened.
And after it appeared… my body feels much lighter. I'm stronger too."
Looking at these two idiots with their innocent expressions, Inosuke was so angry his hands started trembling.
"Cool my ass!!"
He slapped the back of Zenitsu's head, sending the blond staggering mid–self-admiration.
"Who gave you permission to activate that?! Who allowed you to burn your lives away?!"
"Ow! Why'd you hit me?!"
Zenitsu clutched his head, looking wronged.
"Isn't getting stronger a good thing? That way I can protect you, big brother!"
Inosuke looked at Zenitsu's aggrieved eyes, then at the determination in Tanjiro's gaze.
The hand he'd raised refused to come down.
For me…?
Because they thought I was dead.
Because they wanted to avenge me.
So they forcibly broke through the limits of their bodies…
…I wanted to shoulder this curse alone…
You idiots. Are you all lining up to jump into the fire pit one by one?
Inosuke gritted his teeth. He was furious—but beneath it, a warm current stirred in his chest.
"Besides you two… what about the others?"
He asked, clinging to a last shred of hope.
"It's only you two idiots who activated this thing, right?"
Tanjiro thought for a moment, then answered earnestly.
"No. On the battlefield, Miss Kanroji had a clover-shaped mark appear on her neck.
Muichiro-kun also had cloud-like patterns appear on his face.
Everyone became super strong! In an instant, all the demons were wiped out."
Boom.
A bolt of lightning struck straight into Inosuke's skull.
Screwed up.
Completely screwed up.
He'd wanted to change the plot—delay the Infinite Castle battle and help everyone avoid the marks.
And now?
Not only had the marks appeared, they'd appeared in bulk.
At this rate, the rest were probably next.
"AAARGH! I'm so mad!!"
Inosuke grabbed at his hair in frustration.
"You bunch of… idiots!"
Watching Inosuke lose his mind while clearly hurting for them, Tanjiro didn't understand the side effects of the marks—but he could feel Inosuke's concern.
He stepped forward and gently took Inosuke's hand.
"It's okay, Inosuke-kun.
No matter what price we pay… as long as you're back, as long as we're all together, it's worth it."
Inosuke froze for a moment, then lightly shook his hand free.
"Tch. Cut it with the sentimental crap.
Let's go. Asakusa."
What's done is done.
All I can do now is pin my hopes on Tamayo's medical skills—and that unreliable system of mine…
Half an hour later.
The bustling streets of Asakusa.
With the New Year approaching, the place was packed with people.
"We're here."
Standing at the street entrance and looking at the dazzling array of shops, Inosuke's mood improved a little.
"Listen up. We're going back to the Bliss Cult for the New Year. Even though my mom doesn't lack anything, as juniors we still need to bring some gifts."
"Especially you, Stripe-itsu. You've got to buy one for your idiot senior too."
"Oh! Got it!"
Zenitsu nodded repeatedly.
"Alright, go buy."
Inosuke waved his hand.
"Get some good food, some fabric, and some toys."
However—
Tanjiro and Zenitsu just stood there, staring at each other. Neither of them moved.
The expressions on their faces shifted from awkward, to embarrassed, and finally to guilty.
"What is it?"
Inosuke frowned.
"Go on."
Zenitsu shrank his neck, poking his two index fingers together.
"Um… big brother… we… don't have any money."
"Hah?!"
Inosuke's eyes went wide.
"No money? Don't joke with me!"
"What about the allowance I usually give you? That was several hundred gold ryō!"
"You follow me around every day. I pay for everything you spend.
How did you even manage to blow through it all?!
Even if you were eating gold, you couldn't eat that much!"
Tanjiro lowered his head, his face red like a tomato, and stammered,
"W-we… spent it."
"Spent it where?!!!"
Inosuke roared.
Zenitsu squeezed his eyes shut, steeled himself, and shouted,
"We bought a coffin!!!"
Inosuke: "...?"
Zenitsu put on a funeral face and started counting on his fingers.
"Because we thought you were dead, big brother…"
"So we wanted to give you the most magnificent funeral possible."
"So… at the best coffin shop, we ordered a diamond-inlaid golden nanmu wood coffin… that alone was five hundred gold ryō."
"And we bought a full hundred bolts of the most expensive white silk to wrap up the Butterfly Mansion… another three hundred."
"And then there was spirit money, candles, and the deposit for hiring monks to chant sutras…"
Tanjiro added,
"We left in such a hurry earlier, and were too busy being happy… we forgot to ask for a refund. And… it was only a deposit. The shop owner said deposits aren't refundable."
Dead silence.
Inosuke's face changed at a visible speed—from pale, to pink, to deep red, and finally completely overheated.
Mark — Activate!
White steam started rising from the top of his head.
"I wanted to refund it too…"
Zenitsu muttered weakly.
"But the owner said it was for the dead, so it couldn't be returned…"
"You two… BIG! IDIOTS!!"
Boom! Inosuke finally exploded.
He launched two kicks, perfectly landing on their butts and sending the two spendthrifts flying five meters away.
"That was my money!!"
"You used my money to buy me a coffin?!"
"And it was diamond-inlaid?! I'm already dead—what do I need to look that fancy for?!
Am I being buried for some trashy scumbag cult ritual?!"
"I'm so mad! I'm going to die of anger!!"
Inosuke paced in circles like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
So that touching reunion back at the Butterfly Mansion had been backed by the sound of his money shattering?!
"Big brother… we were wrong…"
Zenitsu fled in a panic, clutching his head.
"Hah… hah…"
Inosuke took several deep breaths, forcing himself to calm down.
Can't get mad. If I ruin my health, no one's paying me back.
The money's gone, but I can always ask Dad for more. The important business can't be delayed.
With a dark expression, he pulled out another large handful of gold ryō from his clothes.
This was what he'd just shamelessly extorted from Rengoku Kyojuro before leaving.
"Take it!"
Inosuke slammed the money into Zenitsu's hands.
"Last time! Go buy the gifts!"
"If you dare buy any more spirit money or candles… I'll stuff both of you into that diamond-studded coffin and bury you myself!!"
"Yes!! Mission guaranteed!!"
The two felt as if they'd been granted amnesty. They grabbed the money and ran, afraid they'd be too slow.
Watching their retreating backs, Inosuke shook his head helplessly.
"They really never give me any peace…"
He straightened his clothes, glanced around to make sure no one was watching, then turned and slipped into a dark, narrow alley.
That was the hidden passage leading to Tamayo's clinic.
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