Since Yushiro's concealment technique had been discovered by the Temari Demon and the Arrow Demon, it meant one thing—
Kibutsuji Muzan now knew their location.
For Lady Tamayo's safety—and his own—Yushiro decided they needed to relocate immediately.
Thus, they parted ways and each set off on their own path.
"Senior Brother Aoyama, Lady Tamayo will definitely develop a cure to turn demons back into humans, right?" Tanjiro asked on the road.
Now that there was hope for Nezuko, his resolve to slay demons burned stronger than ever.
Aoyama simply gave a faint "Mm."
Whether Nezuko could become human again was never in doubt to him.
Instead, he was wondering—
When would the system's reward, Bewitching Blood Fragrance, come in handy?
A crow swooped down, circling overhead.
It flapped nervously, hesitating to land.
Tanjiro immediately understood.
It was afraid of Aoyama.
Afraid he'd do something to it again.
So Tanjiro extended his arm, allowing the crow to perch there.
"Southeast-southeast! The next mission is southeast-southeast! Hurry and depart!"
Aoyama's eyes drifted toward the crow.
It had been a while since he'd eaten meat.
Grilled crow…
What would that taste like?
He smiled meaningfully at it.
The crow instantly felt its feathers bristle and hurriedly flapped away.
"Senior Brother, you should be nicer to the crow. It works hard delivering messages," Tanjiro said earnestly.
Aoyama raised his eyelids lazily.
"Works hard? What hard work? We do the demon slaying. It just flies over and shouts a place name."
"…That's…"
Tanjiro scratched the back of his head.
Aoyama flicked imaginary dust from his fingers.
"It flies here screeching, and we're supposed to be polite to it? Doesn't that make it look like it's commanding us?"
"Well…"
Aoyama leaned closer, eyes gleaming.
"Tanjiro. Do you want to be ordered around by a bird?"
Tanjiro immediately waved his hands frantically.
"No! Absolutely not! Never!"
Just then—
A commotion erupted ahead.
"Please!!!"
"Please please please please please—!"
"Please marry me! I don't know when I might die, so please marry me!"
"Please! I'm begging you!"
Up ahead, a boy wearing a yellow haori patterned with white triangles was kneeling in the road, desperately clinging to a young girl and begging her to marry him.
The girl trembled in fear, struggling to break free—but couldn't.
Tanjiro froze.
"What… what is going on here?"
Aoyama took one glance.
Ah.
Isn't that Zenitsu Agatsuma?
Crying and wailing while proposing to random girls again.
A small sparrow suddenly landed on Tanjiro's palm, chirping anxiously as if explaining the situation.
Aoyama clasped his hands behind his head, thoroughly entertained as Zenitsu continued spouting shameless pleas.
"Please marry me! There's no one else but you!"
"Please! I'm begging you!"
Tanjiro, understanding the sparrow's chirps, strode forward and grabbed Zenitsu by the collar, yanking him away from the girl.
"What are you doing in the middle of the road?! She clearly doesn't want this! Even your sparrow is worried about you!"
Tears streaming down his face, Zenitsu looked up at Tanjiro and noticed the matching Demon Slayer uniform.
"Huh? That uniform! You're from the Final Selection—!"
Tanjiro was furious.
How could a man force a girl into marriage like this?!
"I don't know you! I don't know someone like you!"
Zenitsu's face turned pale green.
"What?! We've met before! It's your bad memory!"
Tears clung dramatically to his lashes.
From behind, Aoyama called out leisurely,
"Hey, hey, Tanjiro. Don't bully the kid. Think carefully—you do know each other."
Tanjiro paused.
Indeed—
On Mount Fujikasane, there had been a yellow-haired boy like this.
And if he remembered correctly—
His Kasugai crow had been… a sparrow.
Actually, that suited him.
Tanjiro finally released Zenitsu and went to reassure the frightened girl.
The girl thanked Tanjiro repeatedly and hurried away.
Zenitsu sniffled and looked at Aoyama.
"I… I know you too…"
His voice gradually weakened.
On Mount Fujikasane—
That kick.
He would never forget it.
The "hot-blooded guy" who'd been sent flying and stunned into silence.
"Hehe."
Aoyama crouched down in front of Zenitsu with a grin.
"Looks like your memory's pretty good."
The girl was already leaving.
Zenitsu suddenly exploded in panic.
"Hey! Don't interfere! She was going to marry me! She likes me, okay?! Waaaah!"
And just like that—
Their journey gained a new companion.
To Read advanced Chapters, head over to P@treon
patreon.com/DarkVerse146