As one of Kibutsuji Muzan's closest attendants, Tamayo had once remained by his side almost constantly because of her extensive dical knowledge. Long before she broke away from him, she had even participated in the modifications of Muzan's body in the hope of increasing his chances of conquering sunlight.
Because of that, no one understood Kibutsuji Muzan better than she did.
So when Kanae Kochou asked about everything related to Muzan, Tamayo told her everything without hiding anything. Kanae also learned that for all these years, Tamayo had been searching for a way to kill Muzan.
But the more one understood him, the more hopeless it all seed.
Tamayo had always hoped that another swordsman like Yoriichi Tsugikuni would appear soday. Only soone with strength equal to his could possibly kill Kibutsuji Muzan.
But a swordsman like Yoriichi would never appear again.
And as ti passed, the Demon Slayer Corps had gradually weakened compared to the past. The inheritance of Sun Breathing had already been lost, along with the Bright Red Nichirin Sword and the Slayer Marks. Reaching the Transparent World was even more impossible.
At this point, even Tamayo herself had begun to lose sight of hope.
Was there truly still a chance to kill Kibutsuji Muzan?
If not for the hatred she carried toward him, she felt she would have given up long ago.
…
The Kasugai Crow flapped its wings as it descended nearby. Kanae Kochou stopped speaking with Tamayo, her purple eyes carrying far less suspicion than before.
"Lady Tamayo, it seems you truly weren't lying to . Oyakata-sama has agreed to et with you."
"Thank you."
Tamayo nodded calmly.
"However, before eting him, both of you will need to cover your faces."
"That's only natural. We understand."
Kanae personally stepped forward and blindfolded both Tamayo and Yushiro with black cloth. After that, she summoned mbers of the Kakushi, who placed the two demons inside dark wooden boxes.
…
After being transferred through countless routes, Tamayo remained calm throughout the journey.
Yushiro, however, had long since beco irritated beyond endurance. If Tamayo had not repeatedly cald him down, he likely would have smashed his way out of the box already.
Two days later, the box was finally opened.
Tamayo and Yushiro stepped out from inside.
"We've arrived."
Kanae Kochou looked at the two of them and gave a small nod.
"Thank you for the trouble." Tamayo lowered her head slightly in gratitude.
Kanae said nothing and simply led them forward.
All around them stood rows upon rows of blooming wisteria trees. Walking through this place caused both Tamayo and Yushiro intense discomfort. As they continued breathing in the heavy fragrance of wisteria drifting through the air, their bodies grew weaker and weaker.
"I really hate this place…"
Yushiro grit his teeth as he endured it all. Thankfully, Lady Tamayo had modified his body many tis before. An ordinary demon entering such a densely packed area of wisteria would likely have fainted already.
Before long, a large residence appeared ahead of them.
Two figures erged from inside the house. Both had frost-white hair flowing loosely over their shoulders and wore white kimono while carrying lanterns in their hands. Their small fras and youthful faces made them appear almost identical in both appearance and temperant.
They were Hinaki Ubuyashiki and Nichika Ubuyashiki.
Not long afterward, they arrived at a room, and the two girls quietly withdrew.
Candles burned within the room, their flickering flas illuminating the tall man seated formally on the tatami floor.
From the bridge of his nose upward, most of his face was covered in a dark purple pattern resembling aged tree bark. The lower half of his face was deathly pale.
His entire appearance was deeply unsettling.
"Oyakata-sama." Kanae Kochou bowed respectfully.
"There's no need to be so formal."
Kagaya Ubuyashiki shook his head gently. His voice was soft and warm, yet anyone who heard it would naturally feel comforted. It had a strange calming effect, as though all worries could simply fade away.
Kanae Kochou rose to her feet and stood respectfully to the side.
"It has been a long ti, Lady Tamayo."
Kagaya lifted his head and looked toward Tamayo as she entered the room.
Even after the exhausting journey, Tamayo appeared largely unaffected. Her long black hair was parted neatly down the middle and tied into a large, low bun, secured with a floral hairpin. Her eyes were gentle, carrying the soft haze of pale violet mist, while her lips retained their healthy red color.
She wore a dark purple kimono decorated with pale lavender branches and crimson flowers, tied together with a beige sash around her waist.
Her entire presence felt calm and graceful.
Tamayo quietly looked back at Kagaya Ubuyashiki. The last ti she had seen him, he had still been a child accompanying his father. Now, he had grown older, married, and had children of his own. Because of the curse carried by the Ubuyashiki family, his appearance had changed so drastically that he was almost unrecognizable compared to the boy she rembered.
"You've changed so much… to think it has beco this severe."
A trace of sadness appeared in Tamayo's eyes.
"And yet, Lady Tamayo looks exactly the sa as before."
Kagaya sighed softly.
"You are still as beautiful as ever."
"All demons are like this. They do not age, nor do they die."
Tamayo shook her head with faint self-mockery in her voice. If she had known back then what becoming a demon truly ant, she would never have chosen this path, no matter how tempting immortality and eternal youth might have seed.
"How has your research progressed over the years, Lady Tamayo?"
For many years, the Ubuyashiki family had remained in contact with Tamayo and had even cooperated with her in secret. Otherwise, with only her own strength, there was no way she could have escaped Muzan Kibutsuji's relentless pursuit for so many years without harm.
Their cooperation had always been simple.
They were researching a dicine capable of turning demons back into humans.
At this point, neither the Ubuyashiki family nor Tamayo still held hope that another swordsman like Yoriichi Tsugikuni would appear to slay Muzan.
So they had begun searching for another thod.
One option was to drag Muzan into sunlight. That had always been the goal of the Demon Slayer Corps.
The other was the research Tamayo had dedicated herself to for countless years—
finding a way to turn demons back into humans.
Tamayo believed that against an invincible monster like Kibutsuji Muzan, victory would only be possible if he could be returned to being human once more.
"There has been so progress," Tamayo answered with a nod. "But it is still incomplete."
Kagaya nodded in return before lightly clapping his hands.
Soon, a young boy entered the room carrying a syringe filled with liquid.
The mont Tamayo saw the boy, her gaze wavered slightly.
"He looks so much like you when you were younger… before I realized it, more than ten years have already passed."
Pain flickered through Kagaya's eyes. "If not for the aid of the shrine priests, the n of the Ubuyashiki family likely wouldn't even survive past their early teens. No matter what it takes, we must completely destroy the monster known as Kibutsuji Muzan."
After saying that, Kagaya introduced him.
"This is my son, Kiriya Ubuyashiki."
"No wonder he resembles you so closely."
Tamayo sighed softly, though her attention soon shifted toward the syringe in Kiriya's hand.
"This is wisteria poison capable of killing demons."
After speaking, Kiriya lifted his head toward his father. Only after seeing Kagaya's approving gaze did he continue.
"Mr. Soma once suggested increasing support for Shinobu's toxin research regarding demon extermination. Because of that, the Ubuyashiki family spared no expense in purchasing the most advanced equipnt available from outside sources. Through Shinobu's continued research, she finally succeeded in creating a wisteria poison capable of killing demons."
His voice beca firr as he continued.
"Even an Upper Rank demon may not survive after being injected with it."
Tamayo slowly raised her eyes, disbelief filling them.
For all these years, there had only ever been one true way to kill a demon—
sunlight.
Even when a Nichirin Sword severed a demon's neck, the weapon was rely borrowing the power of the sun itself.
Never before had another thod capable of truly killing demons appeared.
It was difficult for Tamayo to believe.
And yet, the syringe before her forced her to.
...
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