After entering the Transparent World, everything became clear.
And in that clarity, Sakonji Urokodaki finally saw what had always been hidden within Soma's body.
On the surface, he looked no different from a human.
But he was no longer human.
Everything about him was too perfect—like the most flawless being in existence. There were no weaknesses, no vital points that could lead to death.
That was not something a human could possess.
Only demons had such traits.
He had never truly believed Soma could be a demon.
Even when his nose—something that had never failed him—picked up something strange, he doubted himself instead. He had never imagined that a demon could stand beneath the sunlight.
But now, within the Transparent World, what he saw told him the truth beyond any doubt.
His senses had never been wrong.
"Sensei…"
Makomo looked up, noticing how tense her teacher had become. She could feel the sudden surge of killing intent directed at Soma, and it left her at a loss.
She couldn't understand what Soma had done to make the man she respected most become like this.
"Congratulations, Urokodaki-san, on stepping into the Transparent World."
Soma stood calmly, a faint smile on his face.
Makomo lifted her head in shock, happiness rising within her at the thought of her teacher reaching such a state.
But Urokodaki felt none of that joy.
He remained silent, his hand already resting on the hilt of his Nichirin Sword.
At this moment, that sharp killing intent was on the verge of being drawn like a blade from its sheath.
The smile on Soma's face slowly faded as he stood there quietly.
Beside him, Kanao Tsuyuri narrowed her pink-violet eyes the instant she sensed the killing intent directed at her uncle.
"Sensei… what's wrong? What's happening?"
Makomo could feel it—the tension of a life-and-death battle about to erupt—and she couldn't understand it.
Urokodaki's lips twitched slightly. He lowered his head, looking at his disciple. Even with the mask covering his face, her anxiety was unmistakable.
For a moment, the old man fell silent.
Then he lifted his head and looked at Soma.
"My body isn't in good condition anymore. Can you carry me up the mountain?"
After speaking, he quietly watched the demon standing under the sunlight.
Urokodaki knew that Soma was already aware his identity had been discovered. He expected him to refuse.
And just as he had anticipated, Soma remained where he stood, silent, making no move forward.
Urokodaki was not surprised. After all, once a demon knew its identity had been exposed, why would it ever turn its back to a demon slayer?
Soma stood there in silence for a long moment. His gaze lingered on Urokodaki before he finally nodded.
"…Alright."
Urokodaki was taken aback.
He watched as Soma walked toward him, step by step.
Not too fast, yet not slow either.
Soma stopped in front of him, glanced at him once, then turned around and bent down.
Urokodaki stared silently at the demon's back now presented before him—
completely unguarded.
At that moment, the hand resting on his sword tightened, then loosened, then tightened again.
If it had been the Wind Hashira, Sanemi Shinazugawa, standing here, there would have been no hesitation.
But for Urokodaki…
confusion rose within him.
Especially when he realized that his heart could not bring itself to draw the blade.
He understood.
Once again, he had fallen into that same state as before—just like when he first faced the Hand Demon and couldn't bring himself to sever its neck without hesitation.
"Am I… going to make the same mistake again?"
It was precisely because of that moment of weakness in the past—because he had failed to sever a demon's neck and allowed the Hand Demon to remain on Mount Fujikasane—that tragedy had later befallen his disciples.
Was he going to make the same mistake again?
At that thought, Sakonji Urokodaki tightened his grip on the hilt of his Nichirin Sword.
The blade shifted slightly within its sheath, just beginning to slide free—
and then stopped.
Because—
beside him, Makomo was watching him with confusion and worry.
Not far away, Kanao Tsuyuri had already moved closer at some point, her hand resting on the hilt of her own blade.
Nezuko Kamado, Tanjiro Kamado, and many others behind them were all looking at him, their expressions filled with confusion.
The atmosphere shifted instantly—from relaxed to tense.
Urokodaki's sense of smell was nearly as sharp as Tanjiro's. He could read emotions through scent, and it was that same ability that had allowed him to detect the faint trace of a demon from Soma the first time they met.
And now—
he could smell something else.
From Kanao, there was a strong, unmistakable concern… directed toward that demon.
From Makomo, from Tanjiro, from Nezuko…
they all cared about him.
"Sensei… what's wrong with you?"
Makomo grasped Urokodaki's hand tightly where it rested on the sword hilt, her voice trembling, on the verge of tears.
On one side was the teacher she respected above all else.
On the other was the person she cherished deeply.
If something were to happen between them—
she couldn't bear it.
"It's… nothing."
Catching the scent of her fear and worry, Urokodaki forced out a faint smile. He glanced once more at Soma who stood ahead with his back turned, already bent down.
After a brief silence, Urokodaki stepped forward.
"You all go on ahead. I'll have Soma carry me back."
He spoke calmly to the group.
Makomo, Tanjiro, Nezuko… none of them wanted to leave. Their concern was clear.
"You should all go ahead," Soma said as he lifted Urokodaki onto his back. "I happen to have something I want to discuss with Urokodaki-san."
Then he added, "Kanao, go with them."
Though reluctant, they trusted the two of them and began to move on.
Kanao kept turning back as she walked away, her gaze repeatedly falling on Urokodaki. But no matter how many times she looked back, as the distance grew, the two figures eventually faded from view.
Once everyone was gone, Soma began walking up the mountain with Urokodaki on his back.
A gentle breeze passed through.
Beneath the tengu mask, Urokodaki's eyes narrowed, growing colder.
Soma walked as if he noticed nothing.
"Since you are a demon… shouldn't you have something to say?"
At last, it was Urokodaki who broke the silence.
Soma paused for a moment, then let out a faint, almost self-mocking laugh.
"To be honest… I thought you would have cut off my head without hesitation."
Urokodaki fell silent.
The truth was, after everyone had left and it was just the two of them, that thought had indeed crossed his mind.
But in the end—
he hadn't drawn his blade.
He didn't even understand why.
He had already made that mistake once before.
And yet now, he was making it again.
Soma resumed walking, carrying him steadily up the mountain.
For a long time, neither of them spoke.
Only after a while did Urokodaki let out a quiet sigh.
"You could have denied it," he said softly. "You could have insisted you weren't a demon. After all, no demon can stand beneath the sunlight. Perhaps… it was my perception that was wrong."
Soma gave a small, calm smile.
"Then I'm sorry."
"I've disappointed you, Urokodaki-san."
"I am… a demon."
This—
was no longer something that could be avoided.
It was something that had to be faced.
...
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