Snow fell gently across the estate.
Soft white flakes drifted from the gray winter sky, blanketing rooftops, trees, and stone pathways in pristine white.
Tanjiro was the first to awaken and notice the snowfall.
His eyes lit up.
"It's snowing!"
He immediately hurried over and shook Zenitsu and Inosuke awake.
Zenitsu rubbed his eyes sleepily, letting out a long yawn.
"Snow…?"
"What's so exciting about snow?"
Inosuke, however, reacted completely differently.
The self-proclaimed King of the Mountains instantly became alert.
His years surviving in the wilderness had taught him never to lower his guard during winter.
He narrowed his eyes suspiciously at the snow-covered landscape.
For all he knew, a dangerous predator could burst from beneath a snowdrift at any moment.
Meanwhile, the girls from the Butterfly Mansion gradually woke as well.
Kanao.
Aoi Kanzaki.
Naho.
Kiyo.
Sumi.
The moment they saw the fresh snowfall, they immediately began discussing what kind of snowman they wanted to build.
Laughter soon echoed throughout the estate.
Not long afterward, everyone gathered within the spacious courtyard of the Ubuyashiki Estate.
Although Kagaya Ubuyashiki's residence was elegant rather than extravagant, its broad courtyard provided more than enough room for everyone to enjoy themselves.
Before the children could begin building snowmen
The residents of the Infinity Castle also arrived.
Kokushibo quietly observed everyone preparing the snow before speaking in his usual calm voice.
"Instead of building snowmen…"
"Why not have a snowball fight?"
The very first person to raise his hand enthusiastically was Doma.
"As expected of Lord Kokushibo!"
"That sounds wonderful!"
Kyojuro Rengoku immediately nodded with his usual radiant smile.
"A splendid idea!"
"I wholeheartedly agree!"
Seeing two people support the proposal so quickly, the others naturally had little reason to object.
Thus…
The suggestion was unanimously accepted.
Muzan Kibutsuji merely rolled her eyes.
"What a childish group."
With that, she calmly entered the house alongside Kotoha.
Inside already sat Kagaya Ubuyashiki, Amane Ubuyashiki, Tamayo, and Yushiro, quietly enjoying hot tea while watching everyone outside through the open veranda.
Muzan and Kotoha gracefully took their seats.
Kagaya smiled warmly.
"Yushiro."
"Aren't you going outside to play as well?"
Yushiro immediately shook his head.
"I'll remain with Lady Tamayo."
Before he could continue
Tamayo smiled gently.
"Yushiro."
"You should go."
"I'd like to see your heroic side today."
The effect was instantaneous.
Yushiro shot to his feet.
"I-I'll definitely show Lady Tamayo my finest performance!"
At that very moment…
He felt capable of taking on everyone outside by himself.
Watching him rush away so enthusiastically…
Everyone inside quietly chuckled.
Tamayo covered her mouth with an amused smile.
Muzan smirked.
"So…"
"I didn't expect you liked this sort of… older woman romance."
The peculiar phrase had recently been taught to her by Kokushibo.
Tamayo immediately smiled back.
"Speaking of that…"
"Lord Muzan and Mr. Kokushibo fit that description far better."
"After all…"
"You've known each other for several centuries."
Muzan's smile froze.
She gave a soft snort and deliberately looked away.
She had absolutely no intention of continuing that conversation.
Outside…
The participants quickly divided into two camps.
On one side stood the Demon Slayer Corps.
On the other stood the Twelve Kizuki and their allies.
For several minutes…
Both sides argued over where Yushiro belonged.
Since he was technically a demon…
He was ultimately assigned to the Twelve Kizuki's team.
As everyone would soon discover…
That distinction would become utterly meaningless.
Kagaya smiled gently.
"Begin."
Instantly
The battle erupted.
Tanjiro took the initiative.
He packed a snowball tightly and hurled it toward Kokushibo.
Unfortunately…
Against someone capable of using the Transparent World, surprise attacks were completely ineffective.
Kokushibo casually tilted his head.
The snowball missed.
Without changing expression, he casually formed another snowball.
With one effortless throw
Thump.
The projectile struck…
Zenitsu.
Poor Zenitsu had done absolutely nothing.
He had simply become collateral damage.
Elsewhere…
Susamaru grinned mischievously.
Using her extraordinary coordination, she rapidly threw six snowballs simultaneously.
Each one curved through the air.
Almost as though guided by invisible hands.
Thump!
Shinobu Kocho was hit.
Thump!
Nezuko was hit.
Thump!
Kanae Kocho was hit.
Thump!
Mitsuri Kanroji was hit.
And poor Giyu Tomioka…
Was struck twice.
Instantly
The atmosphere changed.
Zenitsu erupted first.
"HEY!"
Sanemi clenched his fists.
Obanai narrowed his mismatched eyes.
Even Giyu looked slightly displeased.
Though no one could tell whether he was upset about being hit…
Or because Shinobu had laughed.
Susamaru suddenly realized…
She had attracted everyone's attention.
"Uh-oh…"
Even with six arms…
She found herself desperately retreating beneath an endless barrage of snowballs.
"Help!"
Seeing one of their own under siege
The Twelve Kizuki immediately united.
Gyutaro and Daki leaped forward to shield her.
Rui quietly stretched countless spider threads across the battlefield.
Within moments…
Dozens of snowballs were suspended inside the web.
"Fire."
The web snapped.
An entire volley launched toward the Demon Slayer Corps.
Snow filled the air like a blizzard.
Sanemi finally lost his patience.
"This is ridiculous!"
He crouched down and packed together a snowball nearly as large as his torso.
His powerful grip compressed it into solid ice.
With every muscle in his body tensing
He hurled it directly toward Kokushibo.
The massive projectile roared through the air.
Before it could arrive
Another snowball intercepted it.
Boom!
The enormous sphere exploded into countless flakes.
The Gyutaro siblings burst into laughter.
Nearby…
Daki gracefully manipulated her obi sash to gather enormous quantities of snow before launching them toward Tengen Uzui.
Naturally…
Tengen refused to be outdone.
"How flashy!"
He counterattacked together with Makio, Suma, and Hinatsuru.
Not far away…
Gyokko attempted to emerge from one of his porcelain pots.
Unfortunately…
Muichiro Tokito calmly walked over.
Then quietly packed snow into the opening.
More snow.
And more.
Soon…
The pot was completely stuffed.
Gyokko's muffled protests echoed from inside.
Since everyone had agreed not to use lethal attacks…
Hantengu fared even worse.
The tiny demon was quickly buried beneath an enormous mound of snow.
Only frantic squeaking revealed his location.
Once the Demon Slayer Corps began incorporating their Breathing Techniques into throwing snowballs…
The demons naturally refused to lose.
Akaza activated his Compass Needle.
Every trace of hostile intent became perfectly clear.
Snowballs from Kyojuro…
Tanjiro…
And Giyu…
All appeared to move in slow motion before him.
He effortlessly dodged them.
Caught them.
Then threw them straight back.
Meanwhile…
Kokushibo exchanged an astonishing barrage with Sanemi, Gyomei, and Genya.
Sanemi's attacks were fierce.
Genya supported from the side.
But the true monster was Gyomei Himejima.
Possessing overwhelming physical strength and access to the Transparent World, Gyomei packed dense snowballs with incredible speed.
The exchange between him and Kokushibo resembled two siege weapons bombarding each other.
Elsewhere…
Doma single-handedly occupied nearly everyone from the Butterfly Mansion.
Shinobu.
Kanae.
Kanao.
And even Inosuke.
Smiling brightly
He gently waved his folding fans.
Instantly, countless perfectly spherical ice balls materialized.
Then flew toward them.
"…Isn't that cheating?!"
Shinobu protested.
Doma merely laughed.
"They're still snowballs."
"They're simply… frozen."
Fortunately…
Kanae, Shinobu, and Kanao moved with extraordinary agility.
Almost every projectile missed.
Poor Inosuke…
Wasn't nearly so fortunate.
Nearly every snowball struck him directly.
Inosuke stood frozen.
His eyes watered.
Then
He burst into tears.
Ever since reuniting with his mother, Kotoha…
The emotional wounds buried deep within his childhood had slowly begun healing.
As a result…
He cried far more easily than before.
Still sobbing…
He ran straight into the house.
"Dad bullied me!"
Doma blinked.
Then immediately hurried after him.
"I-I didn't mean it like that!"
Inside the house…
Kotoha looked both amused and helpless.
The battlefield outside instantly became even more chaotic.
Without Doma's support…
The remaining Lower Rank demons found themselves overwhelmed.
Zenitsu fought alongside Nezuko and the Butterfly Mansion girls.
Together…
They relentlessly pelted the Lower Moons with snowballs.
For perhaps the first time in his life…
Zenitsu actually looked heroic.
Nearby…
Mitsuri lifted an enormous snowball.
One she and Obanai had carefully rolled together moments earlier.
Despite her delicate appearance…
Her monstrous physical strength allowed her to hurl it effortlessly.
Unfortunately…
Her aim was less impressive.
Boom!
The gigantic snowball exploded across the courtyard.
Everyone nearby
Human and demon alike
Was buried beneath snow.
Then…
Yushiro finally entered the battlefield.
Laughing triumphantly
He grabbed an entire wooden basin filled with snow.
Without hesitation…
He flung every bit of it over everyone present.
Friend.
Enemy.
It made no difference.
Unfortunately…
He immediately slipped on the icy ground.
Crash!
Silence.
Then…
Every eye slowly turned toward him.
"…Uh."
The next moment
The battle transformed into…
Everyone versus Yushiro.
Snow flew everywhere.
"Who stuffed snow down my collar?!"
Tengen shouted.
"Kanao!"
"Stop teaming up with your sister!"
Shinobu protested while laughing.
Nearby…
Giyu quietly stood alone.
Snowballs somehow continued missing him.
"…I'm…"
"…not disliked."
No one knew whether to comfort him or keep throwing snow.
Zenitsu spread his arms dramatically before Nezuko.
"I'll protect you!"
Thump!
A snowball hit his face.
Then another.
Then another.
Before long…
The entire battlefield dissolved into complete chaos.
Breathing Techniques were subtly woven into movements.
Moon Breathing.
Flame Breathing.
Water Breathing.
Wind Breathing.
Snowstorms erupted throughout the courtyard.
The once peaceful estate now resembled a battlefield.
Inside the house…
Kotoha gently comforted the still-sniffling Inosuke.
Across from them…
Doma scratched the back of his head with an embarrassed smile.
"Alright…"
"I know I was wrong."
He crouched beside Inosuke.
"Can you forgive your father this once?"
Inosuke glanced toward his mother.
After receiving an encouraging nod…
He finally gave a reluctant one of his own.
"Hmph."
"Just this once."
Doma smiled brightly.
Meanwhile…
Deep within the Infinity Castle…
Nakime quietly continued maintaining the castle's endless corridors.
Nearby…
Enmu sat diligently reading Kyogai's treasured manuscript with complete concentration.
And in another chamber…
Kyogai himself remained tirelessly at work.
Brush in hand.
He continued writing the next volume of his manuscript without pause.
The pages kept turning.
The story…
Continued.
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