Tanjiro never expected that the key to this entire matter would suddenly fall into his lap.
After Kairo Retsu formally extended the invitation, everyone present turned their eyes to Tanjiro.
"…I'm sorry, Guildmaster," Tanjiro said, lowering his head. "I haven't made up my mind yet."
"That's perfectly fine. You can give me your answer later."
Kairo Retsu glanced at Nezuko and Kanao beside Tanjiro and smiled. "How about this—take your sister, Kanao… hmm, and Yushiro too. The four of you young folks head to the next room and talk it over."
"I'll have a separate chat with Shinobu and Miss Tamayo. Let's regroup in an hour and discuss it again. This is a decision that should involve the people closest to you. You have the right to decide the course of your own life."
"Thank you, Guildmaster," Tanjiro bowed respectfully, then led Nezuko and Kanao to another area of the Butterfly Mansion to talk things through.
Yushiro wasn't too thrilled about leaving Tamayo's side, but at her request, he joined Tanjiro's group.
"Guildmaster, do you have something to tell us privately?" Shinobu watched Kairo Retsu's expression as she asked.
"Not exactly. I've actually said most of this already. Ubuyashiki and I also discussed the future of the Demon Slayer Corps."
"The Corps will be disbanded, but considering Tamayo, Yushiro, and other demons who weren't under Muzan's control—like that man Tanjiro saved in Asakusa—a portion of the Corps' functions will remain."
"Recruiting Tanjiro as a Hunter is one part of the plan. I also wanted to ask you two… if Tanjiro does become a Hunter, that you support him as friends."
"After all, there's a long road ahead. Whether it's Tamayo and other demons, or the future of facilities like your Butterfly Mansion, Shinobu, there's a lot to plan for."
"I trust Tanjiro's character. Even though we Hunters don't have strict rules, we still hold ourselves to a certain code," Kairo Retsu said, gazing at the two scholars in front of him. "This is the best arrangement we can make before we leave."
"I understand." Tamayo didn't refuse. "Consider it part of my atonement. I'll use what remains of my life to help others however I can."
"The Butterfly Mansion's future after the Corps disbands…" Shinobu murmured, then smiled. "Just a few days ago, I never even thought about something like a 'future.'"
"Eh! Well, now you can!" Kairo Retsu held up a finger. "Here's an idea! Turn it into a school! After all, there are a lot of kids at the Butterfly Mansion!"
Shinobu smiled. "I'll give serious thought to the future of the Butterfly Mansion. And Guildmaster, you're always welcome to visit. Naho, Kiyo, and Sumi were really eager to meet you after they heard about you."
"Naho, Kiyo, and Sumi… Oh! I remember now! Those three adorable round-eyed girls from the Mansion!" Kairo Retsu lit up and started chatting enthusiastically with Tamayo and Shinobu.
Meanwhile, Tanjiro was having a serious discussion with Nezuko and Kanao about becoming a Hunter.
Tanjiro wasn't quite sure why Kanao was involved in this discussion with him…
Yushiro, on the other hand, was too impatient to participate. In the end, he just glared at Tanjiro, who had clearly made up his mind. "Are you really sure about this? If you go through with it, there's going to be trouble. I don't want Tamayo-sama getting caught up in your mess. If you need her help, you'll have to go through me first."
"I understand. Thank you, Yushiro, for being willing to help in the future," Tanjiro said earnestly, making Yushiro sigh.
"You… whatever." Yushiro muttered, "Just don't come crying back if there are monsters in other worlds worse than Muzan."
"If that's the case, then there'll be even more people in need of help," Tanjiro replied. "So I've decided…"
"I'll accept the offer to become a Hunter."
Having made his decision, Tanjiro immediately set out to find Kairo Retsu and give him his answer.
He arrived to find Kairo Retsu chatting merrily with the two women while munching on sunflower seeds. Judging from the topic, they'd moved on to child-rearing…
When he saw Tanjiro return, Kairo Retsu instantly understood what Tanjiro had decided.
"Well then, welcome to the Monster Hunter Gathering Hub… as our fifth Hunter!"
Kairo Retsu clapped a hand onto Tanjiro's shoulder. "Let's go! Time to meet Granny Felyne! And make sure you memorize the Hunter's Code!"
"Let's move out!"
The moment Kairo Retsu and Tanjiro stepped out of the Butterfly Mansion, the scenery around them shifted dramatically.
Tanjiro suddenly found himself standing in a vast, bustling hub.
Countless Felynes were hard at work transporting supplies, a scene full of energy and heat.
And in the distant sky, Tanjiro could see all kinds of enormous monsters flying overhead—creatures he had never seen before.
"Welcome to our Gathering Hub!"
Kairo Retsu turned and gave Tanjiro a big hug. "Come on, take a good look around!"
——————————————
Tanjiro spent over ten days just to get somewhat familiar with the massive Gathering Hub.
At the same time, he gradually came to accept the reality of this strange world—and that the Hunters here hailed from many different worlds.
Mr. Joseph was from a world with creatures called Pillar Men and vampires, who also feared the sun. That's why he used that ripple-like breathing technique resembling sunlight.
Naofumi Iwatani and Kazuma, on the other hand, talked about things like otherworld travel, adventures, and saving the world…
Tanjiro, being from the countryside, couldn't make sense of any of it.
Still, they made time to gather for some brief chats, helping everyone grow more familiar with one another.
Tanjiro also learned that Mr. Naofumi had been falsely accused but continued to work to save his world.
Mr. Kazuma traveled as an adventurer with his companions, but if he ever got upset, he'd run back to the Hub and cry to Granny Felyne.
Mr. Joseph apparently had a powerful enemy to defeat—one said to be even scarier than Muzan. So to buy time, he was training hard at the Hub.
The Guildmaster seemed to be moving house, transferring many real-world items into his quarters at the Hub. He even gave Tanjiro a physical set of the Demon Slayer manga… which left Tanjiro incredibly embarrassed to find himself the main character.
After learning all this, Tanjiro realized he couldn't slack off either. While training to use Hunter weapons, he also helped the Felynes around the Hub whenever he could.
Training, eating Meowscular Meals, occasionally returning to his world to do work—Tanjiro found his days rich and full of meaning.
Until one day, not long after…
"There's a new Special Assignment, nya!"