Kamado Kie stood at the doorway, her red-rimmed eyes filled with confusion as she looked at the group Tanjiro had brought home.
Aside from the girl wearing the mask, every one of them looked fierce and intimidating.
Inside the house, Hanako and Shigeru—who had been crying moments ago—had even stopped, frightened by the oppressive presence of these strangers.
Only little Rokuta, cradled in Nezuko's arms and still too young to understand anything, let out cheerful little giggles.
"Kie, these are my friends. They just came by to pay their respects and have a look around. Don't pay them any mind, and don't worry," Saburo said as he stepped forward to explain.
Furukawa Hiroshi nodded as well. "We apologize for showing up so suddenly. We don't mean to intrude, but there are a few things we'd like to ask."
"Go ahead."
Kie clutched her clothes tightly, unable to hide the tension and worry on her face.
Furukawa Hiroshi noticed it but didn't know what to do about it.
People like them—demon slayers—lived constantly on the edge of life and death. The fierce aura they carried was simply part of the job.
In fact, this was one of the reasons many members of the Demon Slayer Corps could never return to normal lives.
After spending so long walking the thin line between survival and death, they could no longer live like ordinary people.
Almost every swordsman carried some kind of psychological scar.
That was why so many of them ended up with… rather strange personalities.
"Recently," Furukawa Hiroshi asked, trying to soften his tone, "has anyone come to your house at night? Or have you noticed anything unusual happening nearby?"
Even though he had already asked Tanjiro earlier, he still needed to confirm it with the family.
"No one has come to our house at night these past few days," Kie replied nervously. "And nothing unusual has happened nearby."
While he questioned her, several of the swordsmen had already spread out, quietly inspecting the surroundings in hopes of finding some kind of clue.
But before long, they all returned, shaking their heads.
Watching their movements, worry flickered in Kie's eyes.
Tanjiro had quietly moved to stand beside his family at some point, his hand almost brushing against the handle of the axe leaning beside the stacked firewood.
"Please don't worry, ma'am," Makomo said gently from the side. "Everyone here is a good person."
Kie looked at the fox mask covering Makomo's face and could only manage a strained smile in response.
"Does your home have a cellar?" Furukawa Hiroshi asked. "Or any particularly dark places?"
"Yes… we have a cellar for storing food," Kie replied anxiously. "And there's also the place where we burn wood to make charcoal…"
"Could you show us?"
Furukawa Hiroshi tried his best to keep his voice calm and reassuring.
"Of course."
After she led them to the cellar, one of the swordsmen gripped the hilt of his Nichirin Sword and walked toward the darkness with a serious expression.
The atmosphere suddenly grew tense.
Under that heavy silence, Kie instinctively pulled the children behind her.
Tanjiro tightened his grip around the handle of his axe.
Even though Grandpa Saburo had said these people weren't bad…
With the way they looked now—so fierce and imposing—
Were they really not dangerous?
Soon, the swordsman who had gone into the cellar came back out.
He shook his head at Hiroshi.
…
After that, they checked several other dark corners of the house.
Still, they found nothing.
No bones from human victims. No traces of demons feeding.
Everything appeared completely normal.
There was no sign that a demon had been active here.
"I'm very sorry for the disturbance."
Furukawa Hiroshi bowed slightly to Kie.
Then he took out some money from his pocket and placed it on the table.
"We heard about what happened to your family. Please accept our condolences. We couldn't offer much help… but this is a small gesture. Please take it."
The other swordsmen also began taking out money from their pockets.
As demon slayers who constantly risked their lives, the members of the Demon Slayer Corps were paid quite generously by the Ubuyashiki family.
Most of them weren't lacking in money.
Before long, quite a large sum had been placed on the table.
"This… this really isn't necessary…"
Kie hurried forward, trying to return the money to them.
"We've already disturbed you long enough," Furukawa Hiroshi said with a slight bow. "We still have other matters to attend to, so we won't stay any longer."
Before Kamado Kie could return the money, he had already called for his companions and turned to leave.
Watching Furukawa Hiroshi and the others walk away, Kie turned toward Saburo.
"Who… exactly are those people?"
"They're all friends of mine," Saburo replied with a wry smile. "They're not bad people. They just look a little fierce."
He sighed softly.
It was clear that their presence had made Kie uneasy. But that was only natural. The family had just lost the pillar that supported their household. Without a man in the house, how could she possibly feel secure?
"Grandpa Saburo," Tanjiro asked as he set down the axe and walked over, "what do they actually do?"
Saburo scratched his head slightly.
"Well… how should I put it? They're people who walk the night roads and protect others. They're good people."
His aged face carried a trace of respect and admiration.
Tanjiro raised his head, watching the group disappear down the snowy path.
Then he turned back to Saburo.
"Are they really demon slayers?"
"Ha… maybe," Saburo replied vaguely.
Seeing Kie glance over as well, he shook his head and sighed.
"Let's focus on taking care of Tanjuro's matters first. Have you prepared the coffin yet…?"
Tanjiro had still been a little curious about the strangers.
But the moment Saburo mentioned his father again, that curiosity quickly faded.
...
Meanwhile, Makomo and Furukawa Hiroshi's group were walking along a mountain path deep in the forest.
When they reached the top of a slope, everyone finally stopped.
"Although we still haven't found that last demon," Furukawa Hiroshi said with a sigh, turning back toward the others, "which is regrettable—and frankly frustrating—this mission has to end here."
He looked at the exhausted faces around him.
"Everyone can finally get some proper rest."
The swordsmen all showed relieved expressions.
This demon-hunting mission had been the longest one they'd ever taken on, and the most exhausting as well.
Altogether, they had killed four demons. Even with one still unaccounted for, it was already the highest number they had ever slain in a single operation.
Now that it was over, everyone could finally relax.
"In a few days," Furukawa Hiroshi added with a hearty grin, "I'll contact Lord Kyojuro. When the time comes, we'll all get together for a meal."
The group perked up immediately, excitement appearing on their tired faces.
Seeing that reaction made Furukawa Hiroshi smile as well.
But when his gaze shifted to the masked girl standing quietly nearby, his expression softened slightly.
"Our mission here is finished," he said to her. "What are your plans? Going back to Mount Sagiri?"
"Yes," Makomo replied, brushing a strand of hair away from her ear. "I've already been away for quite some time."
Furukawa Hiroshi fell silent for a moment.
Then he forced a cheerful smile.
"When I settle on a date for that dinner with Lord Kyojuro, I'll let you know. If you're free… you can come join us."
"Alright." Makomo nodded beneath the mask.
Furukawa Hiroshi opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something else.
But before he could, Makomo turned toward him. The bright eyes behind the mask caught him off guard.
"These past days… thank you for taking care of me," the girl said softly, bowing slightly. "I've learned a lot from all of you."
"What are you saying?" one of the swordsmen immediately replied with a laugh. "It's Miss Makomo who helped us the most."
"Yes, exactly. If it weren't for Miss Makomo, this demon-hunting trip would've been far more difficult."
…
The swordsmen all waved their hands modestly.
After chatting for a few more moments, the atmosphere gradually turned a little heavy. Though none of them said it outright, everyone knew it was time to part ways.
A gentle breeze passed through the mountains, stirring strands of hair in the air.
Makomo bowed slightly to the group.
"I'll be going now. I wish you all victory in your battles."
"And we wish Miss Makomo success in passing the Final Selection at Mount Fujikasane next year."
"Thank you." Makomo nodded.
With a light step of her toes, her figure drifted away like a falling leaf, quickly disappearing down the mountain path.
Furukawa Hiroshi stood atop a slab of green stone, silently watching the slender figure fade into the distance.
Even after she was gone, he remained standing there for a long time.
"Captain… why didn't you say it just now?" one of the swordsmen asked as he walked over. "You might've had a chance."
They had been hunting demons together for quite a while. As companions who had fought side by side day and night, it was impossible not to notice that their leader treated Miss Makomo a little differently.
"People like us…" Furukawa Hiroshi said quietly, shaking his head. "We're not really in a position to think about things like that."
"But Miss Makomo is a swordsman too," another one muttered. "How is she any different from us?"
Furukawa Hiroshi lifted his eyes slightly.
For a moment, a spark of hope flashed across his expression—only to dim again just as quickly.
"But who knows what she thinks…"
"Captain, if you don't say anything, how will you ever know?" another swordsman said, rolling his eyes. "Girls have to be pursued, you know. If you sit around waiting for them to make the first move, the opportunity will be long gone."
He snorted.
Their leader could cut down demons without hesitation—but when it came to matters of the heart, he suddenly became as indecisive as a nervous rookie.
Furukawa Hiroshi opened his mouth, about to respond.
But then his gaze suddenly froze.
On the distant mountainside—
A girl's figure was bending down among the flowers, holding a small basket as she picked blossoms one by one.
And that silhouette…
felt strangely familiar.
...
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