The sound of crying echoed through the empty mountains.
[Ding!]
A cold, mechanical voice—long absent—sounded once more in Inosuke's mind.
[System has detected that the host's actions have caused a major deviation from the original storyline.]
[Congratulations, Host, on obtaining the hidden achievement: "The bright future I can't see; the winding road I can't finish walking."]
[Congratulations, Host, on obtaining the unique title: "Beautiful, Strong, and Tragic · The Villain's Destiny."]
[Title Bonus: None.]
[System Message: Since you have chosen your own path, grit your teeth—and keep walking it.]
Inosuke's sobbing came to an abrupt stop.
He sniffed, dazed, listening to the voice in his head.
"Can't see the bright future… can't finish the winding road?
Beautiful, strong, and tragic? The villain's destiny?"
"Heh…"
Inosuke suddenly laughed.
"What a load of crap.
If you want to comfort me, just say so—why bother giving me some stupid title?"
He was already used to this unreliable system.
Inosuke reached up and wiped his face hard.
If the Demon Slayer Corps couldn't accept him, then fine—he wouldn't stay.
"Get up! Stop crying!"
Inosuke stood and grabbed Tanjiro and Zenitsu, yanking them up from the ground, one in each hand.
"All you ever do is cry!
You're embarrassing the hell out of me!"
His mouth was harsh, but his hands were gentle—brushing the dirt from Tanjiro's knees, straightening Zenitsu's crooked collar.
"Let's go.
Back to the Eternal Paradise Cult.
There's good food there, new clothes, and people who treat us like treasures."
...
Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters
Tomioka Giyu was gone.
Everyone else remained locked in deathly silence.
Only Shinazugawa Sanemi still stood in the courtyard.
His face was smeared with blood, fists clenched, body trembling—whether from rage or from a fear he couldn't put into words, even he didn't know.
Then, from the corner of his eye, he saw Genya still kneeling on the ground.
Seeing the little brother he had tried so desperately to drive away—to protect—witnessing his most humiliating moment…
A nameless, vicious fire mixed with shame surged straight to Sanemi's head.
"Hey…"
Sanemi strode over and grabbed Genya by the collar, hauling him up.
"What are you doing here?!
Who told you to come?!"
Genya flinched, tears still streaming.
"B-Brother… I came to report my mission…"
"Report a mission?!"
Sanemi roared.
"Who told you to come?! Who let you see this?!
Get lost!
Why are you still here?!
Trying to make a mess like those three bastards did?!"
Maybe it was the humiliation from moments ago.
Maybe he truly didn't want his brother dragged into this mire.
Sanemi chose the cruelest way to push away the only family he had left.
"Get out!! Don't ever show your face in front of me again!!"
He raised his hand—about to strike again.
Genya froze.
He looked at his brother's ferocious face, his heart splitting apart.
"So… you still won't forgive me?
Brother… do you really hate me that much?"
Smack!!
A sharp slap rang out.
Rengoku Kyojuro's hand knocked Sanemi's arm aside.
"Enough!!!"
The usually warm, boisterous Rengoku was furious.
He stood in front of Genya, staring Sanemi down.
"How much longer are you going to keep acting like this?!
You already drove Inosuke and the others away—
now you're trying to push your own little brother away too?!
Do you only feel satisfied after you've driven away everyone who wants to get close to you? Everyone who cares about you?!"
"I…"
Sanemi froze.
The other Hashira all looked over.
Only Kanroji Mitsuri turned her head away—she couldn't bear to look at him.
Those gazes…
"Enough. Disperse."
Ubuyashiki Kagaya's exhausted voice sounded.
Supported by his wife, he turned toward the inner chambers.
"Everything that happened today… is my responsibility.
I will find a way… to make amends to Tomioka, and to Inosuke and those children.
But for now… let everyone calm down."
The Master left.
One by one, the Hashira departed.
Only Sanemi remained, standing alone in the courtyard.
Rengoku sighed and patted Genya's shoulder.
"Come on. I'll walk you out."
Genya kept looking back, step after step, at that lonely figure in the courtyard—until, finally, he followed Rengoku away, crying.
The vast courtyard was left with only Shinazugawa Sanemi.
The wind swept through, stirring dust from the ground.
The wounds on his face burned—but not nearly as much as the pain in his heart.
Sanemi stood there blankly, staring at his calloused hands.
"Did I… do something wrong?"
"I did it for the Demon Slayer Corps…
I did it to kill demons…
That kid was raised by a demon… I drew my blade… was that wrong?"
Why?
Why did Giyu hit me?
Why did Genya cry and beg me?
Why does it feel like… everyone's disappointed?
Sanemi's legs gave out. He dropped to his knees.
He remembered the look in Inosuke's eyes when that boy had pinned him down and beaten him.
He remembered Tanjiro and Zenitsu—
those two idiots who, without hesitation, plunged syringes into their own necks just to prove Inosuke's innocence.
That kind of trust…
"…Ah…"
Sanemi covered his face, a sob escaping.
When he drew his blade, beneath the rage…
was there also a trace of jealousy?
Jealousy that Inosuke had so many people willing to die for him.
Jealousy of that pure, unwavering bond.
And he himself… had personally pushed his only brother farther and farther away.
"Kanae…"
Sanemi whispered the name in agony.
That gentle woman.
Kanae had died at the hands of Upper Rank Two.
The moment he learned that Inosuke was Doma's adopted son, his reason completely shattered.
Just like Shinobu, he had vented his hatred for the murderer onto an innocent child.
"Did I… destroy everything?
Was it my impulsiveness… that drove them away?"
"Wuuuh… aaaaah!!"
In the empty courtyard, he finally broke.
Curled up on the ground, clutching his head, he cried under the sunlight like a child who had lost everything.
"I'm sorry…
I'm sorry…"
Those belated apologies scattered into the wind—never reaching that boy again.
Perhaps no one was truly wrong.
Because of their positions.
Because of hatred.
Just as Inosuke had said—
everyone had their own burdens.
...
Eternal Paradise Cult
Here, everything was steeped in warm, bustling activity.
Many days had passed since Doma and Kotoha's great breakdown.
Now, Doma wanted to live every single day like a festival.
"Hey, be careful! That one's expensive!"
Inside the main hall, wooden crates of all sizes were stacked everywhere.
Doma bustled about like a nouveau riche, directing the followers as they carried things in.
This was the Taisho era.
Western goods had just begun flowing into Japan—rare and costly.
But who was Doma?
Unlike Akaza, he had never worried about money.
"I hear human children love these novel little things~"
Holding a long shopping list, Doma cheerfully checked items off.
"Inosuke and the others really liked their New Year's gifts last time—
I should prepare more~"
"And this is for Inosuke and them!"
He pointed at a black suit and leather shoes.
"My son and his idiot friends will look absolutely handsome in these!"
"And this is for Kotoha-chan!"
A brand-new gramophone, along with stacks of vinyl records.
"Kotoha-chan loves singing—she can even learn foreign songs with this~"
"And these are for Daki and Gyutaro!"
Several crates of top-grade French red wine, and glittering diamond necklaces.
"Girls should be raised lavishly~
As for big brother… I hear red wine's good for the skin!"
"And for Lord Akaza…"
Doma took out a pair of boxing gloves.
"I heard Westerners fight with these?
I don't think they're very useful, but at least that idiot can be fashionable~"
Finally, Doma's gaze fell on Kaigaku's hands.
There lay a delicate pocket watch.
"Um… Lord Cult Leader, where should this go?"
Kaigaku, helping carry boxes, stared at the pile of goods and swallowed hard.
Doma turned, smiling brightly.
"On your own hand.
That's yours.
I bought that pocket watch especially for you~
Very stylish.
You should thank Inosuke properly—
he specifically told me you've been performing well lately."
Kaigaku froze.
Holding the box, his eyes instantly reddened.
"Thank you… Young Lord… Lord Cult Leader…"
He lowered his head, voice thick with emotion.
"Oh, right, right! The most important thing!"
Doma clapped excitedly.
Several followers wheeled in a few brand-new bicycles.
"Ta-da! Bicycles!
Inosuke's definitely never played with these!
We can all ride together~
I'll carry Kotoha-chan!
Inosuke can take those two brats!"
Imagining the whole family cycling together, Doma laughed like a child.
Kotoha stood to the side, looking at the room full of foreign goods, at her busy, foolish husband.
She walked over, gently linking her arm through his, resting her head on his shoulder.
"Lord Doma… if you buy this much, Inosuke will scold you for wasting money."
"It's fine if he scolds me~"
Doma nuzzled her hair, his eyes impossibly gentle.
"As long as he comes back…
as long as he can be happy… what does money matter?"
Daki and Gyutaro crowded around the goods, poking this and examining that.
"Wow! Brother, look! This gramophone spins!
Mei… that one doesn't look edible…"
Suddenly—
Bang!!
A loud crash.
The gate—always under repair, always breaking again—was kicked open.
Three ragged boys stood at the entrance.
Inosuke was at the front.
Tear tracks streaked his face.
The hall fell instantly silent.
Doma's shopping list slipped from his hand.
Kotoha covered her mouth.
Daki jumped.
Kaigaku nearly dropped the box on his foot.
The next second—
"Inosuke!!!"
Everyone moved at once.
Doma spread his arms wide.
Kotoha lifted her skirts and ran.
Daki lashed out her sashes.
Even Kaigaku took several steps forward.
Standing amid the dazzling foreign goods, they smiled at the three battered children at the door—
the brightest, warmest smiles in the world.
"Welcome home!!!"
Inosuke's tears burst free again.
He didn't wipe them away.
He grinned—an uglier smile than crying.
"…Yeah. I'm home."
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