Passing through layers of concealment and illusions,
a residence appeared in Inosuke's line of sight.
"Who's there?!"
A hostile young voice rang out.
Yushiro stood guard at the entrance, glaring fiercely at the uninvited guest.
Inosuke didn't even spare him a glance. He simply waved his hand.
"Move aside, green-haired turtle.
I'm here to see Auntie Tamayo."
"A–Auntie?!!"
Yushiro instantly exploded. Veins bulged on his forehead.
"It's you, you bastard! The bastard who dares call Lady Tamayo 'auntie'!
She's an eternally beautiful maiden! I'll kill you!!"
"Yushiro, stand down."
A gentle, elegant voice came from inside the house.
Tamayo slowly stepped out. When she saw the cocky-looking boy at the door, a flicker of surprise crossed her eyes.
"You are… that child from that day?
Your aura… has changed."
Inosuke shoved aside the hopping-mad Yushiro and swaggered inside, plopping down on a sofa he found comfortable.
"Long time no see, Auntie Tamayo.
Let's skip the catching up—I'm on a tight schedule."
Inosuke's eyes snapped open.
A glassy, lapis-colored light instantly illuminated the dim room.
Upper Rank — Five.
Yushiro sucked in a sharp breath, instinctively positioning himself in front of Tamayo.
"Upper Rank?!"
Tamayo, however, was unusually calm. She studied Inosuke's demon eyes, then his body, which still retained human characteristics.
"I see… so you succeeded.
You retained human consciousness while possessing the power of an Upper Rank.
How did you do it? Muzan… didn't control you?"
"I've got my methods."
Inosuke tapped his temple, then casually rolled up his sleeve, revealing his pale arm.
"Auntie, I want to make a deal with you."
"I'll provide you with my blood—Upper Rank Five's blood.
And not just that…"
He grinned.
"…the blood of a demon who can walk in the sunlight."
Tamayo's eyes, usually so tranquil, contracted violently for the first time.
"You said… sunlight?"
"That's right."
Inosuke bared his teeth.
"I get five minutes a day where I can fully demonize and completely ignore sunlight."
"I'm pretty sure there's something strange inside my body. I want you to help me figure it out."
"And while you're at it… I want to know just how far this body of mine can go."
Clever as he was, Inosuke had decided it was time to squeeze some real value out of his system.
Tamayo wasted no words.
As a physician and researcher, she had no intention of wasting time when faced with a specimen that could overturn all existing knowledge.
Blood draw.
Testing.
Microscopic observation.
Half an hour later.
Tamayo held a report in her hands—and they were trembling slightly.
Yushiro had never seen Lady Tamayo so shaken.
"This is… unbelievable…"
She looked at Inosuke, her gaze impossibly complex.
"Inside your body… it's practically a miniature battlefield."
"Muzan's cells are extremely tyrannical. They're trying to devour you, but—"
Tamayo pointed at the data on the report.
"There's an extraordinarily pure cold energy that has sealed most of Muzan's cells into a dormant state."
"And there's another force…"
She hesitated.
"That should be the power of the sun."
Inosuke nodded.
"More or less."
"This sun-aspected power is constantly purifying and restructuring the awakened demon cells."
Tamayo took a deep breath and delivered a shocking conclusion.
"Those purified cells… retain a demon's regenerative ability and monstrous strength, yet they've lost their weakness to sunlight."
"Inosuke-kun… if every cell in your body completes this transformation…"
"You will become… a perfect life-form… surpassing Muzan himself."
"Perfect life-form?"
Inosuke stroked his chin.
"Sounds pretty good."
At that, Tamayo retrieved an exquisite wooden box from a cabinet behind her.
Opening it revealed ten neatly arranged syringes, each glowing with a faint violet light.
"This is the result of my research using the blood you left behind earlier, combined with wisteria poison."
"It's not as powerful as your current blood, but it's still astonishing."
She picked up one syringe, her expression grave.
"This is a semi-demonization serum."
"For a short time, it can grant an ordinary human a demon's regenerative ability and physical power—about five minutes."
"Used for emergency treatment, healing severe injuries, or even turning the tables in a hopeless situation… it's nothing short of a miracle drug."
Inosuke's eyes lit up.
This stuff was amazing!
With this, if Tanjiro and the others got hurt in the future, one injection and they'd be jumping around again.
"But!"
Tamayo's tone sharpened, her gaze turning severe.
"The side effects are very clear."
"First: after injection, the user must absolutely not come into contact with sunlight, or they will disintegrate into ash just like a demon."
"Second: trace amounts of Muzan's cells will remain in the body. Although they'll be suppressed by your antibodies, if this is used long-term or in large quantities…"
"That person… truly will become a demon."
Inosuke took the box, his expression turning serious.
A double-edged sword.
"I understand."
He closed the box and slung it onto his back.
"I'll use it sparingly. Unless it's absolutely unavoidable, I won't take it out."
"Thanks, Auntie."
Inosuke stood up and waved as he prepared to leave.
"Oh, right. Next time we meet, I'll bring you something even better."
"You bastard! Don't call Lady Tamayo 'Auntie'!!"
Yushiro roared from behind.
Inosuke didn't even look back. He made a face and vanished from the two demons' sight.
Tamayo gazed at the now-empty doorway. After a long moment, a gentle smile bloomed on her face.
"What an extraordinary child…"
On the streets of Asakusa.
"Big brother! You're finally back!"
Zenitsu and Tanjiro stood under a streetlamp, laden with bags, having waited until their eyes nearly went dry.
They were carrying all sorts of strange toys, bolts of fabric, and several boxes of high-end sweets.
"What'd you buy?"
Inosuke leaned over to rummage through the bags.
"The best silk for Aunt Kotoha!"
"The finest tea for Lord Doma!"
"The most expensive rouge for Lady Daki!"
"And wrist guards for Third Uncle!"
"Not bad, not bad."
Inosuke nodded in satisfaction.
"At least you've got some conscience."
By now, the sky was turning fish-belly white with dawn.
Lanterns along the street were beginning to light up, filling the air with the atmosphere of the New Year.
Snowflakes started to drift down.
"Alright!"
Inosuke swept his arm wide.
"Minions!"
"Set off!"
"Our destination—
the Mansei Bliss Cult!"
"Going home… to celebrate the New Year!!"
"Yeah!!!"
Three boys, and a girl inside a box, set off on their journey home beneath the falling snow.
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