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Butterfly Mansion – Infirmary
After Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke arrived at the infirmary, their treatments began.
Tanjiro: Facial injuries, multiple abrasions, full-body muscle strains, fractured jaw.
Zenitsu: Severe condition—limbs showing signs of transformation from Spider Demon poison, shortening and becoming numb.
Inosuke: Relatively minor—throat and vocal cord contusions, though mentally drained.
Nezuko: Sleep deprivation.
Zenitsu was particularly dramatic, constantly crying about the bitter medicine. Only Aoi seemed able to manage him.
During recovery: Tanjiro endured his pain, Nezuko slept constantly, Zenitsu whined nonstop, and Inosuke remained dejected.
———————
Hashira Meeting
"The Hashira assembled here represent the most elite swordsmen since the 'Original Breathing' users of the Sengoku period."
"Tengen Uzui."
"Kyojuro Rengoku."
"Shinobu Kocho."
"Mitsuri Kanroji."
"Muichiro Tokito."
"Gyomei Himejima."
"Sanemi Shinazugawa."
"Obanai Iguro."
"Giyu Tomioka."
"Kanae Kocho."
"Ryūjin Kaidō."
"My beloved children, I look forward to your performance."
"I believe that in our generation, we will eliminate Muzan Kibutsuji."
———————
After the meeting concluded and everyone left the building, Sanemi called out to Kaidō.
"Kaidō, wait!"
"What is it, Sanemi?"
"I apologize. Urokodaki-san is your mentor, yet I spoke so disrespectfully. I am truly sorry." Sanemi bowed deeply.
"Hah, it's fine. You were just thinking of everyone's safety."
"But—"
"No buts. If you really feel guilty, consider it a favor you owe me. I'll let you know what I want later. Deal?"
"Deal!"
Watching Sanemi leave, Kaidō headed to the Butterfly Mansion to check on Tanjiro and the others—and especially Nezuko.
'I'll visit Tanjiro and the others first, then see Nezuko last. I need to use Demonic Eye to confirm something. If what I suspect is true, I'll need a different plan. But if I'm wrong... I need to apologize.' His expression grew serious.
Arriving at the Mansion, he heard Zenitsu's wailing from outside.
"NOOOOO!"
"This is too bitter! I really can't drink anymore! Five more times? For THREE MONTHS?"
"You have to drink it. Your condition is the worst."
Entering the ward, he found Murata chatting with Tanjiro.
Everyone turned to look at Kaidō.
"Yo! Hello, everyone! Murata's here too!"
"Such a beautiful girl... like a white fairy. Have I seen her somewhere before?" Zenitsu stopped complaining, staring at Kaidō with recognition.
"Dragon Hashira-sama!" Murata greeted respectfully.
"Kaidō-san!" Tanjiro called out.
"Huh? Kaidō? Isn't she a girl?" Zenitsu shrieked in confusion.
"No, Kaidō-san is male—he just looks like a girl!"
"WHY WHY WHY? Why isn't he a girl? Wouldn't being a girl be better? Commit seppuku! SEPPUKU!"
Seeing this, Kaidō instantly appeared in front of Zenitsu.
Murata: "!!"
Tanjiro: "!!"
"Zenitsu-kun, what did you just say? I didn't quite hear. Could you repeat that?" Kaidō's smile didn't reach his eyes as he slowly leaned closer.
Zenitsu leaped over Inosuke's bed and dove behind Tanjiro. "A DEMON! Tanjiro, he's definitely a demon! Did you see? He appeared right in front of me instantly! Terrifying!"
"No, Zenitsu—Kaidō-san is a Demon Slayer Corps Hashira. He's incredibly strong."
As they talked, a girl's voice rang out.
"How lively!"
Murata jumped at the voice behind him. Turning, he saw Shinobu.
"H-Hashira! Shinobu-sama!"
"Hello."
"Ah, hello! Sorry for the intrusion! Goodbye!" Murata bolted from the room.
"How is your recovery coming along?" Shinobu asked.
"Much better, thank you!" Tanjiro replied.
"Then you should be ready to start physical rehabilitation training soon?"
"Physical rehabilitation training?"
———————
While Tanjiro and the others prepared for rehabilitation training, Kaidō followed Tanjiro's directions to find Nezuko's room.
Entering, he found her sleeping peacefully. The curtains were drawn, blocking all sunlight.
Approaching the bed, he gently pinched her cheek.
"Just as adorable as in the story. But Nezuko, I need to confirm something. Please help me with this."
He took her small hand and placed it on his face. "If what I suspect is wrong, I need to apologize."
Activating Demonic Eye, he connected with Nezuko's mind, searching for answers...
Half an hour later, Kaidō withdrew from Nezuko's consciousness. He had found what he was looking for.
Recalling the scenes he had witnessed in her mind, he reflected for a moment before laughing self-deprecatingly. 'Heh... This is my fault. If I hadn't skipped chapters when reading the manga in my previous life, I wouldn't have jumped to such absurd conclusions.'
"I need to apologize. This mistake is on me."
He laid Nezuko's hand down and tucked her blanket in properly.
'Thank you, Kaidō-oniichan!'
As he turned to leave, he thought he heard Nezuko's voice in his mind. He paused, then smiled.
"Nezuko, I should be thanking you."
Exiting the room, he summoned Kuroha and asked the crow to inform Kagaya that he wished to see him.
———————
Ubuyashiki Estate
Arriving at the estate, Kaidō met with the Master.
"Child, is something troubling you?"
Kaidō bowed deeply. "Master, I apologize. I shouldn't have doubted you." He explained his previous suspicions to Kagaya. (Chapters 3 and 4)
After listening, Kagaya smiled. "Child, please stand and raise your head."
Kaidō obeyed.
"Though I don't know what made you think that way—I assume it related to the Kamado siblings—you have done wonderfully."
"But I doubted you. Aren't you—"
"Not at all. The fact that you are telling me your thoughts is the best apology you could give. Everyone has witnessed your contributions to the Demon Slayer Corps."
Hearing Kagaya's words, warmth flooded Kaidō's chest.
After chatting with the Master for a while, he departed.
Watching Kaidō's retreating figure, Amane asked her husband, "Kagaya, why did he have those suspicions? I feel like he's carrying some burden."
"You cannot really blame him. For nearly a thousand years, Muzan has hidden in large cities without showing himself. The Kamado family lived on a remote snowy mountain—there is no obvious connection between the two."
"Muzan going to that mountain in the dead of night was likely coincidental—he was looking for something or planning something, which is why he slaughtered Tanjiro's family."
"The root cause of all this tragedy was Muzan Kibutsuji himself."
"I understand."
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