Five days later, Kanda District, Tokyo.
A youth who resembled Rengoku Kyojuro almost ninety percent opened the door to the room.
"Father, I found some of Mother's belongings while packing."
"Ruka's belongings?"
Rengoku Shinjuro, who had been maintaining his weapon, looked up. "What is it this time?"
"It's a letter."
"A letter? Let me see."
Rengoku Shinjuro set down his weapon.
Because the previous battle had exposed the location of the Rengoku residence, Rengoku Shinjuro had moved to Kanda after packing everything up.
However, perhaps something had stirred in fate, because after moving to Kanda he and Senjuro discovered many of Rengoku Ruka's belongings inside their luggage.
Every time he looked at those belongings, Rengoku Shinjuro would recall the days they had spent together. His previously decadent and dispirited appearance had gradually changed as a result.
[To Rengoku Shinjuro]
He took the letter from Senjuro's hand.
Looking at the familiar handwriting at the beginning, Rengoku Shinjuro fell silent for a moment before continuing to read.
[Shinjuro, by the time you read this letter, I will probably no longer be here.]
[Do not fall into despair because of me. The one I love will always be the man who holds his sword with confidence and smiles without hesitation.]
[After I am gone, I will leave Kyojuro and Senjuro in your care.]
[Kyojuro's personality is exactly like yours when you were young. In the future he will probably follow the path that the Rengoku family has always walked.]
[Before he fully grows up and can take your place, I hope you can...]
...
"Father?"
Seeing Rengoku Shinjuro suddenly begin to cry like a grown man who had lost control of his emotions, Rengoku Senjuro, who had been secretly observing him, felt somewhat at a loss.
"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
"...I'm fine. I just remembered some things from the past."
Rengoku Shinjuro placed the letter down, took a deep breath to steady his emotions, and slowly stood up.
The emotions that had accumulated over the past few days while recalling old memories finally erupted after seeing his wife's final words.
Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Rengoku Shinjuro's expression gradually changed.
At that moment, it felt as though he had returned to that afternoon many years ago when his wife and two children welcomed him home after he had finished slaying demons.
Just then, the scene in his vision changed.
His wife, Rengoku Ruka, slowly walked away, and his eldest son, Rengoku Kyojuro, also departed.
In the once warm and harmonious household, only his second son, Rengoku Senjuro, remained standing beside him.
"I'm sorry, Senjuro."
Looking at the boy standing in front of him, Rengoku Shinjuro raised his hand and gently patted his head.
"I may have to leave you alone to look after the house."
"Father?"
Rengoku Senjuro looked up in confusion.
"Where are you going?"
"I am going to the Demon Slayer Corps to bring your elder brother back."
Rengoku Shinjuro gazed into the distance.
As the sun slowly set, the orange red glow of twilight reflected through the window and into his eyes.
At this moment, only three days remained before the final battle that Cain had mentioned.
Considering that traveling to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters would require time, Rengoku Shinjuro did not delay any longer.
After changing his clothes and equipping his weapon, he bid farewell to Senjuro and departed toward the Demon Slayer Corps.
However, what Rengoku Shinjuro did not know was that shortly after he left home, Senjuro, whom he had told not to wander outside, quietly headed to the next street.
"You made it, Senjuro."
Cain, who had been waiting for news, opened the door to the room.
After inviting Senjuro inside to sit down, he asked,
"How did it go?"
"It was very successful. Father has already set out."
"Hmm? He already left?"
A look of surprise appeared on Cain's face.
Although he had asked Rengoku Kyojuro to help forge the farewell letter in order to reignite Rengoku Shinjuro's fighting spirit, the result seemed almost too effective.
Looking at the dozen or so letters addressed to Rengoku Shinjuro scattered nearby, Cain suddenly felt as though the entire preparation had concluded far sooner than expected.
"Brother Cain, you should also return to the Demon Slayer Corps."
Rengoku Senjuro spoke again.
"According to what you told me earlier, once Father leaves, the location of the Ubuyashiki Residence will soon be exposed."
"If we waste too much time here, something unexpected might happen."
"You're right. It is time for me to leave as well."
Cain took out a map and a stack of talismans from his robe.
"Take these with you."
Rengoku Senjuro looked confused.
"This is...?"
Cain explained calmly.
"After your father leaves, your home will no longer be safe."
"These talismans originate from someone's Blood Demon Art. They can conceal your presence and hide your figure."
"After I leave, take these talismans and follow the directions on the map to reach the Demon Slayer Corps' stronghold."
"I understand."
Rengoku Senjuro nodded.
After accepting the talismans and the map, he bowed respectfully to the young man in front of him.
"Brother Cain, please take care of Father and Brother Kyojuro."
...
Infinity Castle.
Nakime slowly opened her eyes, her mood unusually cheerful.
Rengoku Shinjuro had finally regained his fighting spirit.
To reignite that spirit, she had exhausted herself during the past several days.
Not only did she have to control her clones carefully to avoid Rengoku Shinjuro's activity areas and prevent being discovered,
she also had to search tirelessly for Rengoku Ruka's belongings and deliberately place them in locations where they would be easily noticed.
After five full days of effort, she had finally succeeded in reigniting his will to fight and making him take up his blade once again.
Duang.
The clear sound of a plucked string echoed as Nakime's figure flickered and appeared deep within the Infinity Castle.
"Lord Muzan, I have succeeded."
"Well done."
Muzan, who had been idly waiting, opened his eyes and immediately understood the situation through his mind reading ability.
"Summon Kokushibo and the others."
"Yes."
Nakime plucked the strings of her biwa again, and soon the remaining three Upper Moons were summoned into the Infinity Castle.
Compared with Hantengu and Akaza, Kokushibo, as Upper Rank One, showed far less restraint.
Under everyone's gaze, he walked directly toward Muzan and asked calmly,
"Is there something you require?"
"The final piece of the puzzle has finally been found."
Muzan rose from his chair as a terrifying aura slowly emanated from his body.
"Tonight, we will launch a full assault against the Demon Slayer Corps."
...
Time passed, and night soon fell.
After half a day of travel, Rengoku Shinjuro finally returned to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters after a long absence.
Walking along the familiar paths, he arrived at the Ubuyashiki Residence and met with Ubuyashiki Kagaya.
"It has been a long time, Shinjuro."
Ubuyashiki Kagaya spoke gently.
"How have you been recently? Is Senjuro doing well?"
"Everything is fine."
"That is good."
Ubuyashiki Kagaya nodded slightly.
Seeing his calm demeanor, a trace of confusion appeared on Rengoku Shinjuro's face.
"Master, aren't you going to ask why I have returned here?"
"The moment you arrived with your Nichirin Blade, the answer was already obvious."
A faint smile appeared on Ubuyashiki Kagaya's face.
"Welcome back to the Demon Slayer Corps, Shinjuro."
"Master, I..."
Rengoku Shinjuro hesitated, wanting to say something.
However, at that exact moment, a terrifying aura suddenly enveloped the entire Ubuyashiki Residence.
"Hmm?"
Rengoku Shinjuro's body stiffened instantly and his expression turned serious.
Although he did not yet understand what was happening, he could clearly sense an overwhelming killing intent within that aura.
"Master, please remain here for a moment. I will go outside and investigate."
"Remain calm, Shinjuro."
Ubuyashiki Kagaya slowly stood up.
Compared to the original story, his body had not yet deteriorated to the point of collapse.
Even without assistance he could still walk normally, although his pace was somewhat slow.
"Come. Let us go meet our guest together."
"Guest?"
"Yes. A guest whom the Demon Slayer Corps has been searching for tirelessly for hundreds of years."
Ubuyashiki Kagaya raised his hand and slid open the shoji door in front of him.
In the next moment, the courtyard scenery entered Rengoku Shinjuro's sight.
At the entrance of the courtyard stood a man wearing a white suit who slowly walked toward them.
With his hands in his pockets, his scarlet pupils reflected the figure of Ubuyashiki Kagaya as a terrifying killing intent emanated from him.
"This is our first meeting, Kibutsuji Muzan."
Ubuyashiki Kagaya smiled calmly.
"I am the current head of the Ubuyashiki family, Ubuyashiki Kagaya."
"How unsightly."
Muzan stopped walking as his gaze swept across Ubuyashiki Kagaya's face.
Corroded by the hereditary curse, Ubuyashiki Kagaya's face appeared ruined and grotesque.
"For someone like you to serve as the head of the Ubuyashiki Clan... it seems the Ubuyashiki family has truly fallen."
"Fallen? No, you are mistaken."
Ubuyashiki Kagaya calmly replied.
Despite being an ordinary human, he showed no trace of fear while standing face to face with Muzan.
"The Ubuyashiki Clan has never fallen."
"Even after a thousand years, I still carry the will of the Ubuyashiki family."
"The fact that you have appeared here today is itself proof of our relentless efforts."
After saying this, Ubuyashiki Kagaya paused and glanced toward a nearby corner.
"Cain, do it."
There is someone else?
Muzan, who had not sensed anyone nearby, was momentarily stunned and instinctively followed Ubuyashiki Kagaya's gaze.
But in the next instant, a dangerous aura erupted behind him.
"You are even easier to deceive than I expected."
A calm and mocking voice sounded.
Along with it came a slash as fast as lightning.
Ssh.
A sharp tearing sound echoed.
By the time Muzan reacted, his head had already been severed and sent flying into the air.
Not only that, but immediately after Muzan's head was cut off, several figures appeared out of thin air around him, talismans attached to their bodies while they held their weapons.
Amid the crisscrossing flashes of blades, Muzan's body was sliced with dozens of wounds. A mysterious toxin spread rapidly through the wounds and entered his body, suppressing his regenerative ability.
"Damn you! All of you!"
Muzan's head regenerated instantly.
Looking at Tomioka Giyu and the others surrounding him, whose bodies now radiated the aura of demons as they continued their relentless assault,
he no longer had the luxury of mockery and quickly attempted to mobilize the power within his body to activate a Blood Demon Art.
However, at that moment Cain appeared before him once again.
A flash of the blade.
Muzan's limbs were severed instantly.
At the same time, the unknown toxin within his body spread at an even more alarming speed.
Under the combined effects of Cain's attack and the toxin, Muzan's body stiffened just as he attempted to launch a counterattack. The Blood Demon Art he had begun to form collapsed immediately.
"The toxin is working!"
Noticing the effect, Kochō Kanae, who was participating in the pincer attack, immediately shouted a warning.
Encouraged by her words, Tomioka Giyu and the others increased their attack speed by another thirty percent.
"Damn it! All of you deserve to die!"
With his counterattack interrupted, Muzan's expression twisted further as fury filled his mind.
He fixed his gaze on the black haired youth standing not far away.
"I will tear you into a thousand pieces. I will make you understand the consequences of provoking me."
"Don't worry. You will not have the chance."
As if he had already anticipated what would happen next, Cain calmly returned his Nichirin Blade to its sheath.
With a sudden movement, he appeared beside Kochō Shinobu, who was standing in a corner beside several large boxes.
"Everyone, execute Plan B."
Duang.
As if responding to Cain's command, the clear sound of a biwa echoed across the courtyard at the exact moment his voice fell.
In the next instant, the entrance to the Infinity Castle opened beneath everyone's feet.
T/N- Just like i said I'll update 3 chapters today, the last one would be uploaded in few hours.
BTW, we have reached 1k collections, hell yeah.
...
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