"Ah, Big Brother has been gone down the mountain for so long. He's still not back yet."
"Hanako, you're being too impatient. The snow is going to be very heavy tonight; Tanjiro will definitely stay over in town."
"Is that so? Then tomorrow I'm going to make Big Brother tell me even more interesting stories."
"Ah, that's so unfair! I want some too!"
High in the mountains, a family was gathered in their small home, huddled around the hearth for warmth. They were a family of charcoal burners, struggling to maintain their livelihood after the passing of their father, leaving only a mother and her children to carry on.
Today, the eldest son, Tanjiro Kamado, had gone down the mountain to sell charcoal despite the worsening blizzard. His younger siblings were a bit grumpy that he hadn't returned by nightfall, but their mother, Kie Kamado, had explained the situation, and they eventually tucked themselves into their futons to sleep.
Watching her children settle down so obediently, Kie felt a sense of profound peace. Their life was physically demanding and thin on wealth, but at least they were happy. As long as they supported one another, they could overcome any hardship the mountains threw at them.
"Tanjiro, you can go back once the snow stops in the morning."
"But, Old Man Saburo... how could there be demons?"
Having just finished dinner, Tanjiro looked at the elderly man before him with a look of genuine confusion. Saburo had insisted on keeping him for the night because "demons come out after dark," a concept that Tanjiro found utterly nonsensical.
He had lived on this mountain for his entire life, and he had never once seen a demon at night. Weren't those just stories parents used to scare children into behaving?
'Oh, I get it. Old Man Saburo must just be lonely living here all by himself.'
Tanjiro lightly punched his palm as he "decoded" the old man's underlying motive. Saburo had lived in this isolated spot for years; it was only natural that he'd want someone to talk to every now and then.
Well, it couldn't be helped. He would stay for one night.
With his characteristic, simple kindness, Tanjiro didn't even consider the possibility that the old man might be genuinely fearful.
Caw! Caw!
Crows cried out in the evening sky. Despite it being nearly nightfall, the Hashira from across the country had been summoned to a sudden, emergency gathering.
"Oyakata-sama... is the news true?"
The words tumbled's from Sanemi Shinazugawa's mouth, his voice trembling with a mixture of disbelief and shock. He couldn't wrap his head around the intelligence they'd received.
"If it's true, then it is a truly flamboyant victory!"
Tengen Uzui, the Sound Hashira, was crouched on the ground, his expression equally stunned.
Cough! Cough!
"After several verifications... and the disappearance of the family curse..."
"It has been confirmed. Muzan Kibutsuji is dead."
"We do not know the exact circumstances of his passing... but it is an absolute fact."
Kagaya Ubuyashiki stood before them, his face clear of the disease that had plagued him for years. The curse that had haunted his bloodline for a thousand years was gone, and he stood as a healthy man.
"It's... it's hard to believe."
Sanemi bowed his head, lost for words. They had been training and pushing themselves to the limit to eventually face the Demon King, only for the monster to suddenly drop dead in some unknown corner of the world?
Without anyone even knowing who had killed him?
It felt like a fever dream, too surreal and dramatic to be real. But they only had to look at Kagaya's healthy face and the complete lack of demon activity over the past few days to realize it wasn't a dream.
"From our scouting over the last few days, there has not been a single trace of a demon appearing at night anywhere."
"Combined with the healing of my body and the health of my children, we can state with certainty: the Demon King is gone."
"Therefore... as of today, the Demon Slayer Corps is officially disbanded."
"Thank you all for your tireless efforts and your unwavering support."
"Hah! Hyo! Hah! Hyo!"
"Kyojuro. There is no longer any need to swing that sword."
"What did you say, Father?!"
The loud, energetic voice filled the courtyard. Kyojuro Rengoku froze as his father, Shinjuro, who had been in a state of perpetual depression, suddenly spoke up.
"The Demon King is dead. There are no more demons in this world."
"There is no need to keep practicing Flame Breathing."
"Hah?!"
Shinjuro's eyes were still somewhat dull, but he was thinking deeply. The enemy that the Demon Slayer Corps had fought for hundreds of years--the enemy that even the creator of the original Breathing Styles had failed to kill--was just... gone?
No one in the Corps had even seen the killer, and no one had encountered the Sun Breathing swordsman. So how did Muzan die?
Did some unknown master really just wander by and snuff him out?
A landslide of questions hit the survivors. They couldn't understand it. How could Muzan just "die unexpectedly" without a sound or a single word of explanation?
It made the hundreds of years of struggle by the Corps feel almost... awkward. They had fought and died for generations without ever seeing the man, and then he just died on his own.
Even Kagaya Ubuyashiki had no clue. He had tried to contact his "partner" who had been working against Muzan from the shadows, but there was no information there either.
If anything, that partner was even more baffled by this sudden "miracle."
"Tamayo-sama?"
"It's wonderful... it's so wonderful..."
"He's finally dead!!"
The rage that had been buried in her heart for centuries finally found release. Tamayo had never felt this light, this free.
Muzan was dead.
The bastard who had ruined her life...
Was gone from the world.
Tears streamed down her face as she wept with a joy she hadn't felt in hundreds of years. She didn't know who had done it, but she was profoundly grateful to them. For the sake of the world, for the sake of all who had suffered--the greatest evil had been erased.
"Uh..."
Yushiro stared at the scene, completely lost on how to comfort her. He had been confused by the letter Tamayo was reading, and then the next second she was sobbing uncontrollably. It took him a while to realize those were tears of liberation.
He didn't quite understand the "how," but if Tamayo was happy, he was happy.
"Tanjiro, go on home now."
"Goodbye, Old Man Saburo!"
"Next time I'll bring Hanako and the others with me!"
As morning broke and the blizzard settled, Tanjiro left the old man's house. He walked through the fresh snow, his empty basket on his back, making his way toward his family mountain.
"I didn't smell anything strange on the way back... honestly, why would there be demons? Old Man Saburo is just too lonely."
"I'm a bit late getting back, though. Hanako and Takeo are definitely going to complain."
"Haha..."
Despite the cold, Tanjiro's heart felt warm. He had sold enough charcoal to ensure his family could spend the winter in comfort. They could have a truly wonderful New Year together.
He left a trail of deep footprints in the snow as he passed through the forest and up the mountain trail, finally spotting his familiar house.
Sniff. Sniff.
He caught the familiar scent of woodsmoke and home, and his heart leaped with joy. He walked toward the door, which was suddenly thrown open.
Figures rushed out of the house toward him.
"Ah! Big Brother is back!"
"Really?!"
"Big Brother!! Welcome home!!"
"Ah... Mother, Takeo, Shigeru, Rokuta, Hanako... and..."
"Nezuko."
"I'm home."
[Translated and Rewritten by Shika_Kagura]