"Do you know why demons can't live in groups? And why demons kill each other?"
"Muzan prevents demons from gathering to attack him. That's why he manipulates you in this way."
Tamayo pressed her advantage, using the Magical Aroma of Daylight to disrupt Yahaba's mind.
"Shut up!" Yahaba roared, enraged.
"He is not the petty person you claim! His power is unparalleled!"
"How dare you ants! Lord Kibutsuji..."
Before he could finish, Yahaba suddenly realized, trying to cover his mouth in terror, but it was too late.
Tamayo calmly declared, "You spoke his name. The curse is about to activate."
Magical Aroma of Daylight diminishes brain function, making it impossible to lie or keep secrets.
At this moment, Yahaba's body suddenly began to tremble violently. Muzan's curse began to activate, intending to destroy Yahaba for leaking information.
"Ahhhhh!"
Yahaba let out a shrill scream as several grotesque large hands tore out from within his body, and his body subsequently collapsed and disintegrated.
Meanwhile, Ryoma had already cornered Susamaru.
Susamaru frantically threw her temari balls, her voice sharp with fear. "Damn it! What kind of monster are you?!"
Ryoma's tone was completely unruffled: "I told you, since you came, don't expect to leave alive."
The moment his words fell, he moved.
Ice Breathing: First Form: Ice Surface Slash!
A seemingly solid ice-blue slash instantly cut through the air, and Susamaru's head flew off, her eyes still filled with disbelief.
"This... this is impossible..."
Susamaru's body slowly turned to ash.
The battle ended, and the courtyard returned to tranquility.
Tanjiro, panting, sheathed his sword, still shaken. "Such strong demons... if not for the help of Tamayo-san and Yushiro..."
Ryoma walked over to Tanjiro, sheathing his sword. "You did very well. But this is just the beginning, these weren't even the Twelve Kizuki. Stronger enemies will come later."
Yushiro quickly walked to Tamayo's side, his expression worried. "Tamayo-sama, we need to move immediately."
Tamayo nodded, then first went to Yahaba's remains and extracted a tube of blood before turning to Ryoma and Tanjiro.
"We must leave this place because it's too close to Muzan. He should already know this location, and it will be very dangerous if we don't hide soon."
"Moreover, even if we intentionally hide, as a doctor, I come into contact with people, and it's inevitable that I'll be discovered as a demon, especially by children and the elderly who are particularly sensitive."
Tamayo paused as she spoke, then looked at Tanjiro with an incredibly solemn gaze. "Tanjiro, let us take care of Nezuko. While I can't guarantee absolute safety, it's more stable than you fighting with her."
Upon hearing this, a flicker of hesitation crossed Tanjiro's mind. Entrusting Nezuko to Tamayo might be a better choice. But Nezuko actively reached out and held his hand, stopping that thought.
Ryoma watched this scene with interest from the side. His gaze, however, flickered towards Yushiro.
He found Yushiro quite amusing. Upon hearing Tamayo suggest taking Nezuko, he resisted and shook his head frantically, yet dared not let Tamayo notice.
Indeed, he was the number one simp in Demon Slayer, even getting jealous of another girl, fearing that Tamayo's attention might be diverted even slightly. But since it was Tamayo who proposed it, he dared not object at all.
At this moment, Tanjiro seemed to sense his sister's thoughts. He tightened his grip on Nezuko's hand, and bowed to Tamayo.
"Tamayo-san, I am very grateful for your kindness. But... we will continue together, we will not be separated, never again."
Tamayo understood Tanjiro's feelings and no longer insisted. "I understand. Then I wish you good fortune in battle."
Tanjiro asked, "What about the blood?"
"I will give you some equipment." Tamayo took out several specially made small bottles.
"These bottles can preserve demon blood. Remember, the more blood from the Twelve Kizuki, the better."
Ryoma took the bottles, looked at them, and then handed them to Tanjiro.
"We understand. Tamayo-san, take care."
Tamayo took something from her bosom and said, "And also, in case of emergency or when you collect blood samples, contact me through this."
Tanjiro solemnly accepted it. "We will definitely collect as much blood from the Twelve Kizuki as possible."
Behind him, Yushiro crossed his arms, turned his head, and said, "Goodbye, we need to erase all traces before leaving, so you two hurry up and go."
"Then Tamayo-san, Yushiro-san, please take good care of yourselves."
Tanjiro bowed to the two demons, then bid farewell and left with Ryoma.
By now, dawn had broken.
The two reorganized their gear, preparing to leave Asakusa.
Although this mission didn't go as expected, they still gained something.
"Ryoma, where are we going next?" Tanjiro asked, carrying the wooden box containing Nezuko on his back.
Ryoma said, "I don't know, but I think the next mission should come soon."
"Now we also have a new goal—collecting the blood of the Twelve Kizuki."
Tanjiro nodded vigorously, his eyes burning with even stronger determination. "Muzan, and the Twelve Kizuki..."
He muttered in a low voice, his tone filled with undisguised anger, "Just you wait, I will find you, and then... defeat you with my own hands."
Just then, Tanjiro's kasugai crow circled overhead, repeatedly cawing in its hoarse voice, "South-east, south-east, south-east, the next destination is south-southeast."
This noisy kasugai crow, which seemed to have no intention of stopping, gave Tanjiro a headache.
Ryoma was assuming that this time he would still be acting together with Tanjiro.
His own kasugai crow also flew over, landing on his shoulder and saying, "Next destination, north-east. Proceed immediately to Mount Natagumo."
Tanjiro was first stunned to hear that their mission locations were different, then he bid Ryoma farewell with a sense of understanding.
"Ryoma, it seems we have to part ways for a while. I wish you good fortune in battle."
"You too, Tanjiro."
Ryoma looked at him, his tone a few shades more serious. "Be careful in everything."
Tanjiro nodded vigorously, and the two waved goodbye, heading in completely opposite directions.
Once on his own, the relaxed expression on Ryoma's face vanished, replaced by a somewhat solemn look.
Natagumo was home to an entire family of five demons, and it was the territory of Rui, the Lower Moon Five.
The Twelve Kizuki, even if only a Lower Moon, had strength far beyond those two imposters from earlier.
He wondered if this time he would go with the first ten-person squad from the original plot, or if that squad had already gone missing... or perhaps he was being sent alone to deal with that demon mountain.
But then again, he wasn't a Hashira, so they shouldn't send him alone, right?