"Thank you for the warning. Truly."
Tanjiro bowed to the middle-aged man, then turned and left without looking back.
He asked for directions as he went, moving quickly through the streets of Shinjuku toward the area near the train repair station. His nose twitched, sorting through the thousand scents that tangled in the city air—coal smoke, oil, sweat, iron, food, damp stone.
And beneath it all, faint but unmistakable—
Demon.
With Asuramaru acting as a second sense, finding demons had beco frighteningly efficient. Tanjiro only needed to locate the general area. Once they were close enough, Asuramaru could pinpoint the enemy's exact position.
But when Tanjiro reached the street in question, he slowed.
The sll was there.
Thin. Faint. Lingering.
"There really was a demon here," Tanjiro murmured. "But the scent is weak. It probably only passed through."
He followed the trace through the street, only for his brow to furrow.
The scent was everywhere.
Alleys, corners, back streets, side roads—all of them carried traces of the sa demon. The creature seed to have circled the area repeatedly, turning the streets into a confusing web of overlapping trails.
For a mont, even Tanjiro found it hard to determine where it had gone.
Then Asuramaru's voice rang in his mind, heavy with exasperation.
"Are you an idiot? If you can't track it, then wait here for it to co back. This is obviously its hunting ground. You could use the rest anyway. Try using your head occasionally."
Tanjiro blinked.
Then realization dawned on him.
That's right.
If the scent was this concentrated, then the demon must return here often. Rather than waste strength chasing a confusing trail, waiting would be better.
"Sorry. I was being too impatient."
It was not without reason. Ever since leaving headquarters, Tanjiro had barely stopped. Day after day, night after night, he had been hunting demons wherever the Kasugai Crow led him.
Even Sanemi, who had been shadowing him from a distance, had begun to look exhausted.
At last, Tanjiro found a quiet, deserted alley and sat down in the shadows. After confirming there was no imdiate danger, he closed his eyes.
Before long, his breathing steadied.
He fell into a deep sleep.
Not far away, Sanemi Shinazugawa also found a place to rest.
For once, both of them had a brief mont of peace.
…
Night fell.
Darkness settled over Shinjuku, swallowing the alleys one by one.
In the black silence, Tanjiro's eyes snapped open.
A foul stench had drifted into the air.
Demon.
He rose at once and rushed out of the alley, his hand already moving toward his sword.
On the street he had co from, a figure was approaching at a terrifying speed.
It was bald, with grayish-brown skin and strange blue markings etched across its body. Its eyes glowed an eerie dark green, and when it saw Tanjiro, its face twisted with open disgust.
"Ptooey. A Demon Slayer?" the demon spat. "I'll tear you apart slowly!"
It laughed and accelerated.
Its body shot forward like a blue streak.
Tanjiro drew Asuramaru. His strengthened vision locked onto the demon's movent, but even then, he could not help muttering, "So fast…"
The demon heard him.
A pleased grin split its face.
"I'm the fastest!"
The words had barely left its mouth before it reached him.
Claws flashed toward Tanjiro's chest.
Tanjiro gripped Asuramaru with both hands and brought the sword down in a clean arc.
The demon's palm split apart from the fingertips down.
Its expression changed at once.
That single exchange was enough for it to realize that the swordsman before it was no ordinary prey.
It kicked off the ground and retreated, grinning as though it had already found another way to win.
"You're not bad. But I'm going to eat humans now. Can you keep up with my speed?"
Its laughter grew cruel.
"By the ti you arrive, all you'll see are the bodies I've finished eating!"
Then it paused.
Its eyes dropped to its split palm.
The wound had not healed.
"What…? Why isn't my hand—"
A nichirin sword appeared behind it.
The demon's head flew.
Before it could even finish its final thought, several more cuts shredded the severed skull into pieces.
Ash scattered into the night air.
Inside Asuramaru, Alex could not help feeling speechless.
Fast arrival.
Fast death.
The one who had appeared behind the demon was Sanemi Shinazugawa.
The Wind Hashira lowered his sword and looked toward Tanjiro with a fierce expression.
"From now on, aim for a one-hit kill," Sanemi snapped. "Don't give demons openings. Got it?"
"I understand, Mr. Sanemi!"
Tanjiro sheathed his sword and answered at once.
Just then, a Kasugai Crow descended above them, flapping its wings in the night.
"Board the Mugen Train! Board the Mugen Train with the reinforcents!"
The crow's voice faded into the dark.
Soon after, three figures appeared at the end of the street.
The first wore a fla-patterned haori and carried himself with the brightness of a blazing torch.
Kyojuro Rengoku.
Beside him were Zenitsu and Inosuke.
Tanjiro's eyes widened in surprise. A genuine smile spread across his face.
"Zenitsu! Inosuke! Mr. Rengoku!"
Rengoku looked him over with those bright, unwavering eyes and laughed heartily.
"You've grown stronger again, young man!"
"Tanjirooo!"
Zenitsu rushed toward him with tears in his eyes, arms wide as if going for a hug—though his gaze kept darting between the wooden box on Tanjiro's back and Asuramaru at his waist.
Inosuke strode over as well, laughing loudly beneath his boar mask.
"Hahaha! I've gotten stronger too, Tanjiro!"
The three young swordsn gathered together, their reunion noisy but warm.
anwhile, Rengoku walked directly to Sanemi and spoke with a sharp, focused gaze.
"This mission concerns the Mugen Train. More than forty passengers have gone missing in a short period. Our objective is to investigate the train and eliminate the demon behind it."
Sanemi gave a slight nod.
"I have no objection to the mission. But if anything happens, Tanjiro's escape cos first."
Rengoku's expression did not waver.
"Agreed. Tanjiro's safety is the highest priority. I will protect him, even at the cost of my life!"
His voice carried no hesitation.
"Also, I have already checked with the train repair station. The Mugen Train resus operation tomorrow. We can board in the evening. Until then, let's find lodging, rest, and prepare!"
No one objected.
Taking advantage of the night, they found an inn and settled in.
…
The next day passed quietly.
At dusk, the group left the inn and headed for the nearby station.
After purchasing their tickets, they entered the platform just as the Mugen Train slowly pulled in.
Steam hissed. Iron wheels groaned. The great black body of the train erged under the fading light like so enormous beast breathing smoke.
Inosuke froze.
Then he spread his arms wide.
"What is this creature?!" he shouted. "It must be the master of this land!"
As he spoke, his hands moved toward his swords.
Tanjiro hurried after him.
"Wait, Inosuke! It might be the guardian deity of this land. If you draw your swords recklessly—"
Zenitsu could no longer bear it.
"You two country bumpkins! It's a train! A train! It's a vehicle that carries people!"
Grumbling all the way, Zenitsu dragged his feet forward.
The group boarded the Mugen Train together.
.....
[If you don't want to wait for the next update, read 50 chapters ahead on P@treon.]
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