"Eh?!"
Completely unexpected that Tanjiro would say this, Zenitsu was stunned for a moment.
Habitually timid as he was, this time not hearing Tanjiro's equally habitual scolding and encouragement made him feel somewhat unaccustomed.
"No, Tanjiro, I'm saying I want to leave! I'm leaving the Demon Slayer Corps, you know?"
"Mm, I heard you correctly."
Sitting by the bedside and nodding once more, Tanjiro replied seriously:
"That's why I said I'll submit an application to Master on your behalf."
No way?!
Hearing his words, Zenitsu—whose entire body was wrapped in bandages—completely couldn't hold it together anymore, nearly sitting up from the bed.
Tanjiro, how could you agree to me so easily! You weren't like this before!
You should first look at me with that disgusted expression, then fiercely scold me a couple of times. After I feel guilty about my behavior, then seriously encourage me to restore my confidence, you know?
How could you just immediately agree to let me quit the Demon Slayer Corps!
You weren't like this before. I don't accept this!
"During last night's battle, you fainted halfway through, Zenitsu, so there's something you might not know yet..."
Not noticing Zenitsu's rich inner thoughts at this moment, Tanjiro simply lowered his head, his face showing a somewhat sorrowful expression.
"Aside from that Child of God with innate Demon Slayer Marks from hundreds of years ago, all other marked swordsmen ultimately cannot live past twenty-five..."
"Eh?!"
"Me too, Zenitsu."
Raising his head to look at Zenitsu's shocked mouth that could almost fit an entire apple, Tanjiro spoke with a somewhat helpless tone:
"Starting from today, I have less than nine years left to live.
"Whether we can ultimately completely slay the demons or not, I will die on the night I turn twenty-five.
"From the moment I awakened my Demon Slayer Mark on Mount Fujikasane, my future was already destined..."
"W-wait! If that's the case, then Tanjiro, you're the one who should leave, aren't you?!"
Raising his hands wrapped into lumps by bandages, Zenitsu shouted loudly.
"You're not like me, with no father, no mother, and no siblings!
"Since you only have nine years left, why continue staying in the Demon Slayer Corps! Hurry up and leave here to find yourself a wife and have children, and properly enjoy what's left of your life—wouldn't that be better?"
"That won't do."
Tanjiro immediately shook his head and refused, speaking seriously:
"How could someone with only nine years left go marry a girl and then disappoint her for a lifetime?"
"Uh... t-then what about your family! I remember your father's health isn't very good, Tanjiro?
"After your father passes and you pass too, what will happen to that large group of siblings at your home?
"By then the Demon Slayer Corps will definitely be gone too. You can't have your mother raise them all by herself, right?"
Hearing these words, Tanjiro raised his head to look at Zenitsu before him, his gaze incomparably serious.
"Zenitsu, in the Corps, you have always been my best friend."
This was certainly not false—Tanjiro truly believed this.
Although the two of them had only known each other for a few short months, they had already experienced several life-and-death trials together.
Although Zenitsu at first glance seemed very timid, afraid of death, always saying discouraging words, sometimes particularly perverted—wanting to approach any pretty girl he saw on the street, shameless, and not handsome enough, basically full of flaws...
But at every critical moment, he could always muster courage and determination, not letting himself fall behind.
This was Zenitsu—someone who always seemed to fall behind normally, but could absolutely be trusted at crucial moments.
From the moment on Mount Fujikasane when Zenitsu was killed by Tsugikuni Mitsuba while covering for him, Tanjiro understood that he would definitely be friends with this person for a lifetime.
And therefore, if he had to choose one person in the Demon Slayer Corps to entrust his final affairs to, Tanjiro would unhesitatingly choose Zenitsu.
This was an absolutely trustworthy man.
"Eh, wait, Tanjiro, do you mean..."
Being watched by Tanjiro's sincere eyes, Zenitsu gradually reacted, his expression growing increasingly incredulous.
"Zenitsu, after I die, I want to entrust my family to you."
Very seriously speaking these words, Tanjiro took out the money bag he had long prepared from behind him and handed it to Zenitsu.
"This contains my salary from these few months in the Demon Slayer Corps. I basically haven't used it. Although it's not much, it's enough to support daily expenses for several years..."
Although Tanjiro was now a Hashira, theoretically he could freely use the wealth accumulated by the Ubuyashiki clan over a thousand years.
But honest as he was, he truly couldn't bring himself to casually take others' money for his own use.
Therefore, for his salary after becoming a Hashira this month, Tanjiro actively chose to demote himself by one level, only receiving payment at the standard of a Rank A swordsman.
Fortunately, the Demon Slayer Corps had always been quite generous with money. Even just one month's salary for a Rank A swordsman was enough for an ordinary family to use for a long time.
"Speaking of which, Zenitsu, haven't you always wanted to find a girl to marry?"
Tanjiro suddenly brought up this matter.
"Honestly, I've always felt that my younger sister Nezuko is quite pretty, and she's only a bit younger than you...
"Of course, although I'm her older brother, I can't casually decide my sister's choices.
"I'm just making a suggestion. As for whether you can ultimately make Nezuko like you, that depends on you yourself, Zenitsu..."
After speaking, Tanjiro slowly stood up.
"Alright, that's all. Zenitsu, focus on recovering from your injuries. I'll head back first."
"..."
"So, what do you think of this girl named Kanae Kocho?"
On the other side, in the Ubuyashiki mansion, in the now empty inner room, Tamayo sat alone in her seat and suddenly spoke, asking.
"What do I think?"
In the empty seat beside her, Mitsuba's figure suddenly appeared. She stood up and walked toward the now vacant main seat.
"What else can I think? Composed and calm, fluent in response, very excellent—isn't she?"
"Do you think she genuinely wants to kill Tsugikuni Mitsuba?"
Tamayo continued asking.
"Heh, who knows about such things..."
Sitting on the main seat that originally only Ubuyashiki could occupy, Mitsuba chuckled lightly.
"That girl showed no openings when facing you. Her heart is unfathomably deep—who knows what she's actually thinking in her heart...
"At the root of it, shouldn't this be something for you to judge yourself, Miss Tamayo? Why are you asking me?"
"Indeed, her performance was too normal..."
Still ignoring Mitsuba's biting words, Tamayo nodded gently.
"Standing from the position of someone determined to wash away her clan's sins and targeting Tsugikuni Mitsuba for death, her performance just now was somewhat excessively calm.
"And the feeling this girl gave me was also different from her companions.
"From the beginning to the end of the meeting just now, the aura and emotions emanating from her person basically didn't change throughout.
"Her thoughts run too deep—so deep that she doesn't seem like a demon slayer..."
During the meeting just now, Tamayo had actually been secretly observing the people around her.
Among them, Kanae—who bore a special mission—was the focus of her observation.
Unlike others whose emotional reactions were relatively obvious, among those present, besides that expressionless Giyu, Kanae was almost the only one who showed no obvious reactions throughout.
This made Tamayo sense something was slightly off.