The Eternal Paradise Faith.
Upper Rank 2, Douma's location had been found so quickly!
It was evening, exactly 6:09 pm.
Not even a full day had passed, yet the Intelligence department of the Corps had located the cult in such a short time.
As soon as Shiori, the Kasugai crow, informed her master Tanjiro about the news and the location, he dropped everything and rushed toward the laboratory.
"They… found it?" Shinobu mumbled in a daze, her face expressionless.
A second later, her gaze sharpened with complete seriousness. She closed the notebook she had been writing in and began sorting out the most potent Wisteria Extract she had prepared and collected for the Twelve Kizuki. Her small body moved with swift precision as her purple eyes flickered with shock.
The location was real. It was actually real!
All this time she had harbored zero expectations that the Eternal Paradise Faith could possibly be true. Given her character, she would never believe an Upper Rank demon's words, not on her life. How could she? They were heartless monsters who existed only to destroy people's happiness and lives, driven by their daily frenzy of devouring human flesh. Knowing that, how could she possibly believe a wretched creature would betray its own kind and reveal another demon's hideout to a human—the very prey they hunted?
It was too stupid. Too ridiculous.
And yet the reality struck her like a blow and shattered her disbelief.
There really was a cult called Eternal Paradise Faith, just over 200 kilometres away, within the boundaries of Nagoya!
What the hell… too unbelievable.
Within a minute Shinobu had readied herself. She nodded at Tanjiro and followed him. "Oyakata-sama told you to handle this however you like?"
As they walked out of the lab, Tanjiro let Shiori settle on his shoulder before answering. "Yup. I'm in charge. I can bring along whoever I want to that place." He winked at her. "Should I bring the entire Corps for this? All Hashira lining up for one mission would be awesome. Hah…"
Laughing softly, he noticed Shinobu rolling her eyes at his stupid joke.
Shiori pecked his head lightly. "No need! Tanjiro's more than capable enough to beat that demon's ass, caw!"
"Is that so." He showed a faint smile.
Watching the two of them, Shinobu's tensed body finally loosened. She realized why he was saying such an idiotic thing. 'He's really…'
She steadied her breathing and mind, purging every trace of anxiety.
"Thank you…" she whispered, her voice soft and soothing.
Tanjiro heard it. Wearing a confused expression, he asked, "For what?"
"… Nothing. Let's hurry." Releasing an obvious sigh, Shinobu entered the mansion to inform the others of their sudden departure.
Standing still for a moment, Tanjiro chuckled in his mind. "What about my suggestion though?"
Perched on his shoulder, Shiori looked at the human boy strangely. 'He was really considering that…?'
A few minutes later~
"Onii-chan, come back to us safe, okay…" Holding her brother's hands, Nezuko said. Her face showed clear reluctance at watching him leave for yet another dangerous mission when just yesterday he had fought a powerful demon with his life on the line.
Since she had only seen Kibutsuji Muzan in his demon form and still considered him an ordinary demon, she was genuinely worried that those so-called Upper Rank demons must be overwhelmingly strong.
Patting Nezuko's head and also his other siblings who had surrounded him with nervous expressions, he replied confidently. "Relax. I'll be back before sunrise. Just trust your Onii-chan."
They nodded one by one, though worry still lingered in their eyes. The trauma from the first demon they had encountered back home was very hard to shake off. They were still terrified just thinking about it. What if they lost their brother one day? How would they live without their big brother? Were they wrong for living normal, safe lives while their Onii-chan risked his very life for everyone? The guilt and self-loathing weighed heavily on them.
Perceiving their emotions, Tanjiro's lips twitched. He gave their heads a light chop. "Go help Aoi if you're so free. Once I'm back, if I hear you haven't slept before midnight, you know what will happen…" With curled lips, his eyes glinted coldly.
'Ah…' They immediately hid behind Aoi, who gave Tanjiro an understanding nod and led his siblings inside, followed by Sumi, Kiyo, and Naho, who flashed him cheerful and confident smiles.
An amused Tanjiro then turned to Mitsuri and Nayuta. Neither wore worried expressions like his siblings. The former had a bright smile on her pretty face, while the latter showed a carefree look.
"Well then." He waved his hand.
"Ah, I want headpats too!" Mitsuri pouted cutely.
Nayuta gave her a strange look. 'You're four years older than him…'
Hearing that, Tanjiro almost tripped over his own foot. 'You want what?'
But seeing the determined look in her eyes, he smiled wryly and patted her head too. "Yosh yosh. Eat plenty, recover your body, and we'll train a lot tomorrow too, hm."
Enjoying the warm sensation on her head, Mitsuri hummed happily. "Mm."
After he finished, he gave a sulking Nayuta a playful ruffle on her hair. "Ugh, my hair…"
"Hehe." Watching the two, Mitsuri giggled.
Glancing at the living girl who was supposed to be dead, Tanjiro spoke. "Your breathing's unstable."
To his surprise, she was practicing Total Concentration Breathing even now. If she engraved Constant into her lungs and maintained it all the time, her physical progress and other training would improve dramatically!
Fixing her breathing quickly, she gave him a hidden cheeky smile, as if saying you're not the only genius here.
"Nayuta-chan, you're still doing it, eh?" Mitsuri asked her. The two busied themselves talking.
Tanjiro ignored them and noticed that Shinobu had finally convinced Kanao to stay at home.
The girl had wanted to come along to avenge Kanae's death, of course. But because she had no experience fighting demons and still hadn't mastered Constant, Shinobu was firmly against the idea.
He looked at little Kanao, who was only slightly smaller than Shinobu and had hair with pink tips, and spoke to her softly. "Your sister is strong, Kanao. Have faith in her."
Hearing his voice, Kanao's purple eyes flickered and she ultimately nodded.
"And I'm with her anyway. There's no need to worry." He reassured her.
Shinobu wanted to say something but couldn't think of anything that would preserve her own dignity without undermining the Supreme Commander's.
She sighed inwardly. 'If we really get that demon, I…'
With their goodbyes done, Tanjiro and Shinobu left the Butterfly Mansion like a gust of wind.
Shinobu's speed was fast, but Tanjiro was faster, so he slowed his pace to match hers and preserve her strength for the battle. It wasn't his battle anyway. Shinobu was out for revenge; he was only there to support her. Even Shinobu herself knew she was no match for an Upper Moon. She only chose to engage because he would be there for her. What she wanted was Upper Moon Two's head; she didn't mind the process.
"Let's make a plan…" Tanjiro said. Shinobu nodded. "I was thinking the same."
Only half an hour later did he realize what he had forgotten.
'Crap… My plan to visit the Entertainment District got ruined. No, wait, I can just finish both tonight…'
…
Back at the Butterfly Mansion.
Nayuta released a heavy sigh as she gazed at the cloudless night sky in silence.
'I wanted to go too… But I can't leave this body, ah… Tanjiro will keep Shinobu safe, so I'm not worried. Plus, he has that frightening sword and magical beans too…'
While thinking, she somehow recalled those rainbow-colored eyes of the demon who killed her in her previous life, and giggled unknowingly. 'That apathetic demon has no idea what's coming his way…'
"Moh, I really wanted to see him die before my eyes… What a waste." Muttering so, she stopped her thoughts and returned to practicing Constant.
Her dedication to saving people in the future was on another level, and it kept her going.
…
Ubuyashiki Manor.
Despite realizing day by day that the color of the world was slowly fading from his working eye, Kagaya remained calm and accepted it without sadness or grief.
He was a dying man; visibility meant nothing to him.
Sipping his tea slowly, he felt relieved. Even though a battle between Tanjiro and an Upper Moon would break out tonight, his heart beat steadily.
His spirit was more relaxed than ever.
"I have a feeling Tanjiro will surprise us once more." He murmured to himself with a smile, his sixth sense giving positive responses.
~~~~~
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