Yuko lost.
She was not a genius like Yoriichi, born with the See-Through World and a Demon Slayer Mark, nor had she undergone systematic training like Michikatsu.
As a girl, it was impossible for her to get her father's permission to practice swordsmanship.
Most of her time was spent on the arts—playing the zither, Go, calligraphy, and painting—leaving her little free time.
Her training in swordsmanship was merely a trial-and-error process; when her amateur moves met the real thing, she unsurprisingly lost quickly.
Michikatsu did not harm her; instead, he tied her up.
She cursed, saying, "Michikatsu! Mark my words! You better not let me find a chance to escape, you brat!"
"Call me Elder Brother." Michikatsu merely corrected Yuko's address calmly, completely unmoved.
Michikatsu brought her back to the room and ordered strict surveillance.
Yuko still wanted to find an opportunity to escape, but unexpectedly, the next day Michikatsu put on his armor and took a group of people, intending to send her to the Shogun's residence.
Yuko was taken to the palanquin. The palanquins of the Sengoku Period were similar to... Yuko found it hard to describe. She felt they resembled some kind of... dog cage or pig cage.
The carrying pole was on top, and a small, box-like square was suspended underneath, where the person sat.
She didn't know why it was designed so bizarrely, like carrying a pig cage.
Are the nobles around here all mentally ill?
Yuko was highly resistant, but Michikatsu forced her into the palanquin as if she were a criminal being escorted.
"Tsuneguni IwaKatsu! You are selling your sister! I stand on the moral high ground of humanitarianism and strongly condemn you!"
Yuko screamed curses, but no matter how wildly she ranted, Michikatsu remained unmoved.
For one thing, he couldn't understand Yuko's nonsensical insults.
For another, in Michikatsu's view, marrying the Shogun's son was Yuko's good fortune—something countless others wouldn't dare dream of.
He felt absolutely no guilt about selling his sister.
Realizing she couldn't reason with him, Yuko simply leaned back in the palanquin, closed her eyes to rest, and waited for a chance to escape.
Travel in ancient times was inconvenient, and walking through the mountains and forests for a whole day covered only a few miles.
As dusk approached, Michikatsu raised his hand, signaling everyone to stop.
"Let's set up camp here."
"Yes."
The subordinates quickly got to work, setting up the bonfire in no time.
Michikatsu took the rations and approached the palanquin.
"Eat something."
Yuko angrily took the rations: "Lemon Spirit! You mark my words!"
Michikatsu thought his sister was always strange, constantly saying things he couldn't understand.
Having no intention of humoring Yuko, and seeing that she wasn't going to starve herself or cause trouble, Michikatsu stopped worrying.
The ropes binding Yuko's hands were tied loosely enough that they didn't interfere with eating.
She looked at the dark clouds obscuring the moon and secretly prayed.
Trash Boss, Trash Boss.
It's nighttime, come out and sunbathe under the moonlight.
Yuko's prayer seemed to be answered. A figure suddenly flashed through the woods, lunging at one of the subordinates with extreme speed and tackling him into the adjacent forest.
"Ah~"
A scream was accompanied by the sound of grinding bones and swallowing.
Only then did Michikatsu suddenly react.
"Enemy attack!"
Everyone drew their long swords, vigilant of their surroundings.
Cold sweat beaded on Yuko's temples.
You actually showed up!
This commotion couldn't possibly be caused by a wild beast!
"Hehehe~" A chilling laugh echoed from the darkness.
Michikatsu picked up a torch with one hand, holding it toward the source of the sound, and gripped his katana tightly with the other.
However, just as he was on guard and ready to strike, the torchlight revealed a sight that...
...was absolutely not human.
What in the world is that thing!
Michikatsu's eyes narrowed sharply.
Although the battle between Demons and humans is the main theme of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, even when the main story begins, Demons are not common.
At the very least, they are less likely to be encountered than car accidents in modern travel.
Therefore, even Tsuneguni IwaKatsu had never truly encountered one, only hearing about them in folk tales and stories.
He had always believed they were fake.
Until now.
The Demon, covered in horns, had a smear of fresh red blood on its mouth, and was holding the arm of his subordinate, tearing at it as if leisurely eating a chicken wing.
A chill rose in everyone's hearts, and some even found their legs trembling.
This was a fear etched into the biological instinct.
Michikatsu shouted sternly, "Don't let them scare you!"
"Stop playing tricks!"
After speaking, he drew his long sword and attacked proactively.
However, the Demon seemed to know that one should pick on the weak, and actively retreated, hiding in the darkness.
Then... screams rang out one after another. Michikatsu frantically waved the torch, trying to catch sight of the opponent's movements.
The limitations of the night were too great for humans, and the Demon's speed was simply too fast. Michikatsu could only hear the subordinates' screams and see limbs flying everywhere.
This is not an ordinary Demon.
Yuko was drenched in cold sweat. Taking advantage of the Demon not focusing its attention on her, she quickly picked up the katana lying nearby and cut the ropes binding her hands and feet.
On the other side, the dozens-strong escort team was now reduced to Michikatsu struggling to hold on.
The strength of this Demon was extraordinary; it had likely devoured many people.
But under Michikatsu's superior swordsmanship, its arm was quickly severed.
However, before Michikatsu could breathe a sigh of relief, the Demon's arm slowly regenerated.
Michikatsu's eyes narrowed, and he reacted instantly, following up with another strike, severing the Demon's head.
Just as Michikatsu exhaled, a situation he couldn't comprehend occurred right before his eyes: the Demon actually reached out with both hands, caught its head, and placed it back onto its body.
Michikatsu's breath hitched, and his pupils trembled violently.
The Demon seemed pleased with his expression, grinned arrogantly, and charged toward Michikatsu.
After Yuko broke free from her restraints, she looked at the distant battle, feeling a moment of hesitation.
She didn't know if she had altered the plot, but if Michikatsu died here, it might be considered a good thing for him... and for everyone else.
But... "Tsk..."
Yuko clicked her tongue in annoyance, grabbed the katana, and charged forward.
After all, he was her cheap older brother; she couldn't be that heartless.
Moreover, given the current situation, if Michikatsu died, she probably wouldn't be able to escape either.
Trying to outrun a Demon in the dark was tantamount to suicide.
In the instant Michikatsu was stunned by the Demon surviving decapitation, the Demon had already rushed in front of him, and its claw-like nails were about to slice Michikatsu's body.
Yuko swiftly stepped forward, stabbed the Demon's wrist with her sword, pinning it to the tree, and shouted, "It won't die even if its head is cut off! We have to pin it down until the sun rises!"
Hearing Yuko's words, the Demon's ferocity was ignited. The fingernails on its other hand extended like talons and swung toward her.
Michikatsu also snapped out of his daze upon hearing Yuko's voice, reacting instantly to pin the Demon's other wrist with his sword. The two humans and the Demon were locked in a stalemate.
Yuko's arm trembled continuously due to the Demon's violent struggles; her strength was too little.
Veins bulged on the Demon's cheeks. It grinned at the siblings, saying, "Blood Demon Art..."
Almost simultaneously, the Demon's body suddenly emitted a red light.
Michikatsu frowned slightly, a bad premonition rising within him.
Yuko's pupils contracted sharply. "Quickly..."
Boom!
A massive impact sent both siblings flying, knocking them against a tree.
Yuko quickly scrambled up, baring her teeth: "Big Bro, your armor is so hard."
It made her back ache.
Michikatsu grunted and ignored her; someone's entire weight had been dumped on him.