Tanjiro still could not believe what he had seen.
After that demon appeared out of nowhere, with an aura comparable to Muzan's and no fear of sunlight, and then spoke the name Tsugikuni Yoriichi, the scent coming from Oyakata-sama grew heavier and heavier.
He even firmly dismissed the Hashira, who were filled with worry and fighting spirit, so he could speak alone with the demon who called himself Hiru. The matter of Tanjiro and Nezuko was temporarily set aside as well.
Even when everyone was watching him with murderous intent, he didn't show any hostility… Could Hiru-san be a good demon, like Tamayo-san?
"Hey…"
And he seemed to say he came here because of Tamayo-san's drug. Is he Tamayo-san's friend?
"Hey, kid…"
Mm… I've started receiving treatment, but I'm still being isolated… I wonder what will happen to me and Nezuko in the end. Ow!
Tanjiro clutched the back of his head and looked up beside him. Hiru, who had appeared earlier, was standing there with an impatient look on his face. What confused Tanjiro was that he could no longer smell even the slightest trace of demonic aura from him. Instead, there was only the gentle, sweet scent of wisteria.
Even so, Tanjiro did not dare let his guard down. He stared at Hiru warily, his lips pressed tightly together.
"I heard from Ubuyashiki that you learned Water Breathing. What happened? Didn't Tanjuro teach you?"
Tanjiro had not expected him to ask that. After a brief moment of stunned silence, he slowly answered, "My father wasn't a Breathing Style swordsman…"
"But didn't he know Sun Breathing? And your physique is naturally better suited to Sun Breathing…"
Hiru sat down on the stool beside Tanjiro's bed. Seeing his expression grow more and more confused, he sighed.
"All right, I get it. Another difference between worlds, huh? Could it be because of that time with Kyojuro, when I complained that I should have died hundreds of years ago because it was too much trouble? But that was just venting. I didn't actually regret it. Even for an illusion, there's no need to erase me completely…"
Tanjiro gripped the blanket tightly. He opened and closed his mouth several times before finally forcing out his voice.
"Um… do you know how to turn a demon back into a human? My sister… Nezuko was turned into a demon by Muzan. I want to turn her back into a human."
"Mm… there is a way, but if you come to me, there's a good chance I'll just send her straight into her next reincarnation." Hiru gave a short laugh. "If you want medicine made, Tamayo-san is much more reliable."
"…You know Tamayo-san?"
"Mm. She's an elder who's over a hundred and fifty years older than me."
"Then you…"
Hiru rubbed his chin and thought for a moment.
"At least four hundred… no, five hundred, I guess?"
Tanjiro: Σ(ﾟдﾟlll)!!
Tamayo-san is actually that old?!
"Well, enough nonsense. I came here to teach you something."
Hiru reached out and pressed a finger to Tanjiro's forehead.
"You'd better study seriously, kid."
"Study wha…"
Before Tanjiro could finish asking, his body went limp and he collapsed back onto the bed, asleep.
Hiru looked at Tanjiro's steady breathing and propped up his chin as he thought.
"Mm… I already gave the previous prescription to Shinobu. Ubuyashiki will handle things with the Hashira, and Tanjiro's side is finished too. Good. Now I can go make things unpleasant for Muzan!"
As he spoke, Hiru walked out of the room in high spirits, humming an unknown tune.
"Sure enough, I should go find Doma first, right? It's been so long since I used high-quality paint based on Blood Demon Art. If I want to paint something, I can't go without white~ Ah, right. I need to find a crow to guide me…"
...
"What exactly is Oyakata-sama thinking? That guy named Hiru is clearly a man-eating demon, isn't he? And he just let him leave like that?"
Sanemi looked at the agitated Obanai and could not help glancing at his own right arm again.
"Oyakata-sama must have his own considerations, right? And how should I put it… that guy seems pretty familiar with us. When he came over and bit me a few days ago, I didn't feel even the slightest sense of danger. And just like he said, it was only one bite… Honestly, it's the first time I've ever seen such a restrained demon."
"That doesn't mean we can lower our guard."
Shinobu removed the gloves she had been using for isolation and began writing a prescription for Obanai. A shadow had appeared on her face, which usually wore a smile.
"Demons and humans can never coexist peacefully. Not to mention, this demon keeps spouting nonsense. He actually told me so many wisteria-based demon-killing drug formulas and claimed he developed them himself. A demon developing wisteria-based demon-killing drugs… isn't that obviously a lie?"
"I didn't lie to you."
The sudden voice made all three people in the room tense at once. They turned toward the doorway and saw Hiru standing there with a wooden box on his back.
Ignoring their wariness, Hiru looked at Shinobu and tapped the box behind him.
"Hey, Shinobu, I brought you a gift. Are you excited?"
Shinobu frowned at first, but soon smiled gently.
"Oh, really? I'm looking forward to it."
Who knew Hiru would take one wary step back instead?
"Can you stop smiling? It's kind of scary… Forget it, forget it. Do whatever you want. Come with me to the training grounds. Seriously, you're not cute at all anymore."
Shinobu stared at him, completely baffled. What kind of thought process was that? She really could not understand demons at all.
After letting out a long breath, Shinobu exchanged glances with Obanai and Sanemi, then picked up the sword beside her and walked out of the room.
But when she saw the demon Hiru dumped out of the box, her expression finally cracked.
"…A demon?"
"And Upper Moon Two, at that."
Hiru crouched down, dissolved the white crystals congealed at the back of Doma's head, and put his head and body back together. His expression was relaxed.
"Since Sabito died on Mount Fujikasane, Kanae must have died while investigating the Eternal Paradise Faith. This guy is the cult leader of the Eternal Paradise Faith. So, how's this gift? Thoughtful, right?"
But Shinobu's expression turned furious. She spun around and grabbed the front of Hiru's haori tightly.
"What exactly are you trying to do?!"
Hiru raised a hand, signaling for Obanai and Sanemi, who were about to draw their swords, to calm down. He was still smiling.
"Because Shinobu is very cute, so I wanted to make you happy. Don't worry, don't worry. This guy can't use Blood Demon Art right now. Super safe, okay?"
"Stop lying!"
Shinobu looked even angrier.
"You subdued an Upper Moon so easily and treat him like a toy. You're obviously the Demon King who overcame the sunlight. You're Muzan Kibutsuji, aren't you?
"Those prescriptions were made up to toy with us too, weren't they? What? Do you think joking about this and watching our despair at the end is fun?!"
The smile on Hiru's face faded. One hand pressed down on Shinobu's head, while the other pointed at Sanemi.
"Calling me the Demon King? Fine. Questioning my formulas? Also fine. But if you call me Muzan again, I'll bite that guy. Believe it or not?"
Sanemi, who had just been about to make a move, could not help asking, "…Why is she provoking you, but I'm the one you're going to bite?"
Hiru rolled his eyes and forcefully ruffled Shinobu's hair.
"Nonsense. I finally have an excuse, so of course I'm going to eat something good. Besides, do I look like the kind of person who eats junk food?"
Sanemi: …Well, thank you so damn much for thinking so highly of me.