Faint moonlight poured down from the night sky as Kanae Kocho sat quietly on a stone atop the mountain.
Her pale white haori swayed gently in the wind, the butterfly-wing patterns upon it seeming almost alive beneath the moonlight. Butterfly hairpins adorned her long black hair, and the entire girl carried a graceful, gentle beauty that felt almost timeless.
Hearing such a gentle young woman ask him to take good care of her younger sister left Soma momentarily unsure of what to say.
Considering how deeply Shinobu Kocho hated demons, wasn't this practically pushing her own sister into a pit of fire?
If Shinobu ever learned his true identity in the future, she would probably end up blaming her sister instead.
"Once I have time, I'll go visit Miss Shinobu," Soma finally replied with a nod.
Kanae glanced quietly at him before lowering her eyes again and continuing to eat the food in her hands.
After finishing the simple meal Kanae had brought, the two of them began walking together across Mount Fujikasane.
Compared to the mountainside and lower slopes covered in endless wisteria trees, the summit appeared rather barren and desolate.
In the past, many ordinary demons had been released here as part of the Final Selection trial for Demon Slayer swordsmen, but after the last examination, most of the demons had already been killed.
And even if a few still remained, neither Soma nor Kanae had any reason to fear them.
As they walked, Kanae casually asked, "I still don't know your age, actually."
"In my thirties, I suppose," Soma answered casually.
Kanae immediately raised her head to look at him.
Under the dim moonlight, the man's handsome face did not look like someone in his thirties at all. If anything, he seemed closer to his twenties.
She had always assumed Soma was around twenty years old, so hearing that he was over thirty completely exceeded her expectations.
If that was truly his age, then even she should probably be calling him "uncle."
"You really don't look it," Kanae muttered softly.
Soma laughed lightly.
"Really? Hearing that, are you regretting what you said earlier? There's quite a large age gap between me and your sister."
"No." Kanae shook her head immediately.
Aside from the initial surprise, she honestly did not mind much. In fact, after thinking about it more carefully, finding an older man for her sister might not be so bad.
With Shinobu's stubborn personality, someone around her own age would probably have a hard time tolerating her temper and sharp tongue.
Of course, Kanae had only brought it up casually tonight. No one knew what kind of relationship Shinobu and Soma might develop in the future.
Deep down, Kanae still hoped her sister could someday find someone she truly liked, leave the Demon Slayer Corps behind, and live an ordinary, peaceful life.
But considering Shinobu's personality—and the hatred she carried toward demons—that dream felt painfully difficult.
As they continued walking, Kanae suddenly asked softly,
"Do you think we can save all demons?"
"Save?" Soma lifted his eyes slightly.
For most members of the Demon Slayer Corps, the word they used was "eradicate."
"Yes," Kanae replied quietly. "You may think it sounds foolish, but I've always believed demons are tragic creatures. They were once human, yet now they feed on humans and fear the beautiful morning sun."
Her voice carried a faint sadness.
"If we kill a demon, not only do we save the people they would harm in the future, but we also free the demon itself from this endless cycle of tragedy."
Because of those thoughts, even Gyomei Himejima had once struggled to understand her. At times, he had even thought she was joking.
"Miss Kanae is far too gentle," Soma said with a sigh. "If you were an ordinary person, that kindness would truly be admirable. But for a Demon Slayer… that kind of gentleness will only bring about your own death."
"I know."
Kanae lowered her eyes softly.
"Gyomei once told me the same thing. But my sister and I already made a promise long ago—to protect the happiness that still remains in this world and to cut apart the chains of tragedy others create."
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"Even if it costs both our lives, we never intended to regret it."
At this point, Kanae gently pressed her lips together.
"In the past, my sister and I once promised each other that even if it cost us both our lives, it would still be worth it. But now… I've started to regret that."
Her voice became quieter.
"I can accept sacrificing my own life, but I can no longer accept sacrificing my sister's."
Soma remained silent.
"So when it comes to the idea you proposed earlier… I'm afraid I can't do it." Kanae lowered her gaze slightly. "I can't stand by and watch other people's lives be threatened without trying to save them."
Her eyes trembled faintly as old memories surfaced in her mind.
"I still remember when my sister and I were attacked by a demon long ago. At that time, it was Gyomei Himejima who arrived and killed the demon, saving both of us. If he hadn't appeared… my sister and I would have already died in that demon's jaws."
After a brief pause, she continued softly,
"To be honest, there was once a selfish thought deep in my heart. I kept wishing that if Gyomei had arrived just a little earlier… maybe my father and mother would not have been killed by the demon either. Maybe they could have been saved too."
Kanae lowered her head in shame.
"At that time, I truly wished he had come sooner. If he had… perhaps my parents would still be alive today. I know thoughts like that are wrong. I know I shouldn't ask more from the person who saved us, but… those feelings really did exist in my heart."
Soma could understand her feelings.
"Now that I have some strength of my own," Kanae continued softly, "I can't bring myself to ignore people whose lives are in danger. Every time I see something like that, I remember the despair I felt back then."
Her voice carried faint sorrow.
"At that time, I desperately wished help would arrive faster. Whenever I remember that feeling, I simply can't stay still and do nothing."
Soma nodded as he looked toward the dark night sky. "There are many people in the Demon Slayer Corps who think the same way you do. A lot of swordsmen probably won't choose to hide themselves. They'll still continue traveling everywhere to hunt demons and protect people."
Then he let out a faint sigh.
"But if they do that… while some people may be saved, even more swordsmen will die."
"There's no helping it."
Kanae lifted her head as well, quietly gazing at the pitch-black sky above.
"The moment everyone joined the Demon Slayer Corps, they already made that choice."
Then, after a moment of silence, she smiled faintly.
"I really hope the day comes when demons are finally eradicated. If that happens… then maybe sorrow will finally stop continuing in this world."
...
After wandering around the mountain for a while longer, Soma and Kanae eventually parted ways.
Kanae had not chosen to fully obey the decision made during the Hashira meeting. She still intended to continue hunting demons and protecting people across the country.
Many swordsmen had made the same choice as her.
But in this era, where demons had become increasingly violent, casualties would only grow higher than in the past. Death could come at any moment.
To be honest, Soma felt deeply shaken by the spirit embodied by the Demon Slayer Corps—but that was all.
He walked alone toward his residence. Occasionally, a breeze would sweep past, carrying scattered wisteria petals down to the ground.
The lights inside the residence still glowed softly.
A young girl stood outside holding a lantern in her hands. She wore a neatly fitted kimono, her delicate face illuminated by the faint light, making her pale skin appear even fairer beneath the darkness.
She looked to be in her early teens, at the age where a girl's youthful beauty was beginning to bloom. As she stood there, her slender legs were unconsciously held tightly together with nervous tension.
The moment she saw Soma return, Hinaki Ubuyashiki immediately walked toward him with light, cheerful steps.
"You're back."
"Mm."
"I noticed you didn't bring any spare clothes with you when you arrived," Hinaki said softly. "So I specially prepared a few sets for you. I'm not sure if they'll fit properly though."
Only then did Soma notice the clean clothes she was carrying in her arms.
"Thank you," Soma nodded in thanks.
"I'll guide you back, since it's already dark," the girl said softly as she walked ahead carrying the lantern, her footsteps light and graceful.
In truth, with Soma's eyesight, he had no need for a lantern at all. Even most Demon Slayer swordsmen could move clearly enough under the faint moonlight.
Still, since it was Hinaki's kindness, refusing would only feel rude.
...
After entering the residence and sliding open the door, Hinaki Ubuyashiki followed Soma inside.
She first placed the clean spare clothes neatly beside the bed before finally straightening herself. With her small hands resting lightly before her stomach, she bowed politely.
"It's already very late, so please make sure to rest properly."
"I will," Soma nodded. Looking at the young girl's slightly pale complexion and recalling the tragedies her family had recently endured, he hesitated briefly before murmuring softly, "Please accept my condolences."
Her father had perished in a massive explosion only a short while ago; her heart must currently be drowning in immense sorrow.
"I am fine," Hinaki bit her lip gently.
"Compared to me, everyone else should be taking better care of themselves instead. What everyone in the Demon Slayer Corps carries… compared to that, my pain is nothing."
"If it hurts too much, then you can cry," Soma said quietly.
"I won't cry."
Her voice carried faint sorrow, but also stubborn determination.
"I only lost my father. In the Demon Slayer Corps, there are countless swordsmen who've lost far more than I have."
She lowered her eyes slightly.
"As a daughter of the Ubuyashiki family… how could I cry?"
Looking at the stubborn girl before him, Soma found himself unable to say any further words of comfort.
Hinaki gave another polite bow before leaving the room.
Soma quietly watched her figure disappear before washing up briefly and returning to bed to rest.
...
The next day.
After saying goodbye to Kiriya Ubuyashiki, Soma left Mount Fujikasane and prepared to visit the injured Shinobu Kocho.
The place where Shinobu was recovering lay deep within a distant mountain region, quite far from Mount Fujikasane itself.
Soma was not in any particular hurry, so he traveled at a leisurely pace.
Along the way, he wandered through various places, quietly taking in the scenery from different regions.
Whenever he passed through villages and towns, he could hear more and more people talking openly about demons.
That surprised him slightly.
In the past, discussions like this were extremely rare. News regarding demons had always been deliberately suppressed, and with Demon Slayer swordsmen constantly hunting demons, the true number of casualties caused by demons had remained relatively limited.
As a result, the impact on ordinary people had never grown too large.
But now, more and more people were discussing demons openly…
It was clear that the situation was gradually approaching the edge of complete collapse.
This probably was not what Muzan Kibutsuji had wanted either.
For a very long time, Muzan had actually kept the activity of demons under strict control.
Of course, it was not out of kindness.
He simply feared demons growing too powerful, and even more than that, he feared the possibility of demons uniting against him. Even if the chances of such a thing happening were extremely small, Muzan would still suppress any possibility before it could even begin.
He was an unbelievably cautious demon.
As Soma passed through several towns, he also saw many buildings that had been destroyed. After asking around a little, he learned that they had all been safe houses belonging to families connected to the wisteria crest.
Across the country, many of the wisteria family residences had already been attacked and ruined. Aside from the assault that happened on the night of the great explosion, demons had begun deliberately targeting them again and again afterward.
And it was not only demons involved.
Followers of the Eternal Paradise Faith had also started attacking the wisteria families.
Soma knew a little about the Eternal Paradise Faith. Its leader was none other than Doma, Upper Rank Two of the Twelve Kizuki, the Ice Demon.
Even now, the Demon Slayer Corps still did not know this information.
Once he returned, he could inform Kiriya Ubuyashiki about it and perhaps arrange an operation to hunt Doma down.
If they could kill an Upper Rank demon like Doma, it would greatly raise the morale of the Demon Slayer Corps in its current state.
...
After traveling for about half a day, Soma passed through a small town and stopped before a residence marked with the symbol of the wisteria crest.
With so many wisteria safe houses across the country already destroyed, seeing one still standing honestly surprised him a little.
Beside the residence was a small vegetable garden where an elderly woman with a bent back was quietly tending the soil. The moment she noticed him, she immediately put down her work and warmly invited him inside to rest.
"I'm sorry for disturbing you," Soma said politely.
"There's no need to apologize," the old woman replied with a smile as she shook her head. "Compared to everything you swordsmen do, all we provide is a place to rest. It's nothing worth mentioning."
She warmly prepared tea for him.
Inside the residence, aside from Soma himself, there were several injured Demon Slayers recovering there as well. After briefly introducing themselves, the moment they heard his name, respect immediately appeared on their faces.
Although Soma had not personally slain a large number of demons, his reputation within the Demon Slayer Corps had already become quite high.
Not even considering the inheritance of the Bright Red Nichirin Sword, the Demon Slayer Mark, and Sun Breathing, simply his presence during the Mount Fujikasane Final Selection had already made that examination produce the highest number of surviving recruits in years.
"So you're the one I've heard about," the elderly woman said with sincere admiration. "You really are incredible."
Listening to her praise and feeling the genuine respect from the injured swordsmen around him, Soma fell silent for a moment.
Compared to the Demon Slayers who fought demons to protect others without hesitation, even willing to sacrifice their own lives, he did not possess such noble resolve.
Truthfully, he did not care very much about the deaths of strangers.
Or perhaps it was more accurate to say that he simply never carried those things in his heart.
In many ways, he was not truly the kind of demon slayer they believed him to be.
After drinking some tea, resting for a short while, and chatting with everyone for a bit longer, Soma eventually prepared to leave.
"Thank you for your hospitality."
He stood and bowed politely to the old woman and the others.
"You're leaving already?" the old woman asked reluctantly as she gently held onto his hand.
"I should continue on my way," Soma replied with a shake of his head.
The old woman said nothing more. Instead, she turned and went inside the house before returning with a small travel pack.
"I prepared some food and water," she said warmly. "You can take them for the road…"
"Thank you."
Soma lowered himself in thanks.
His feelings were strangely complicated, though he said nothing more before turning to leave.
"May fortune favor you in battle."
Standing beneath the blooming wisteria tree outside the residence, the elderly woman placed one hand before her stomach and bowed gently toward his departing figure.
Every Demon Slayer who came here heard those same words before leaving.
Deep in her heart, she always hoped they would return again someday.
But for many swordsmen, after meeting them once…
there would never be another chance.
...
Read Advanced Chapters on : www.patreon.com/c/ReadJin
~ Every 200 PS = Bonus Chapter!
~ Push the Story forward with your [Power Stones]