Tanjiro couldn't help asking, "Then… does that mean Nezuko might also be able to overcome sunlight?"
He had actually wanted to ask this for a long time. But since Miss Yuko hadn't brought it up herself, he had kept it buried in his heart.
"Of course."
That was how it was written in the story.
Yuko had even noted it down in her little notebook.
But as for whether Nezuko could overcome sunlight right now—Yuko wasn't entirely sure.
Logically speaking, Nezuko should have already consumed the Blue Spider Lily. Maybe, like Yuko herself, she could just be tossed into the sunlight for a bit and overcome it that way.
But ever since Yuko realized that her own freedom from Muzan's control might be related to her unique constitution, she became uncertain.
The main issue was that Nezuko was currently in a deep slumber, and her body seemed to be undergoing some kind of evolution.
Perhaps the ability to conquer sunlight wasn't something gained instantly, but something obtained through evolution.
One of the reasons Muzan kept increasing the number of demons was precisely to find a demon who could overcome sunlight.
In fact, most of the humans who died directly at Muzan's hands were people who simply couldn't withstand his blood.
Not everyone had the aptitude to become a demon.
"That's wonderful," Tanjiro said, letting out a sigh of relief.
All he had ever wanted was to turn Nezuko back into a human.
But now, if she could first overcome sunlight, that would also be good—at least she could live like a normal person.
…
After a moment of silence, Tanjiro suddenly slapped his own face.
Why hadn't he just directly asked Miss Yuko how to turn a demon back into a human?!
How stupid.
After scolding himself internally, Tanjiro asked Yuko about it.
Yuko shook her head.
Tanjiro looked somewhat disappointed. Then again, if it were really possible, Miss Yuko would surely have already become human again.
"Currently, there are no known cases of a demon turning back into a human."
Tanjiro's eyes dimmed a little.
Yuko continued, "But Nezuko is special. She's different from other demons—she's never eaten human flesh, and she even sustains herself through sleep."
Tanjiro froze slightly. Had Miss Yuko… eaten human flesh?
He didn't want to think about it.
"Her body is definitely changing. There's no doubt about that. Perhaps in the future, she'll be able to return to being human."
"Really?" Tanjiro brightened instantly.
"Really." Though that would probably have to wait until the very end.
Yuko didn't say that last part aloud, so as not to dampen Tanjiro's spirits.
After hearing this, Tanjiro was overjoyed for quite a long time.
The two went down the mountain together. At their farewell, Master Urokodaki gave Tanjiro a warding mask to protect him from misfortune.
Compared to a few months ago, when he hadn't been optimistic about Tanjiro at all, Urokodaki now had great confidence in him.
Perhaps it was because the knot in his heart had finally been untied.
After waving goodbye to Tanjiro, Yuko temporarily remained at Mount Sagiri.
There was no way she could enter the Final Selection to help Tanjiro anyway—and with Tanjiro's current strength, there would be no problem.
Urokodaki had gradually begun to understand Yuko's intentions. He had once wondered why Yuko stayed so closely by Tanjiro's side.
Now that he thought about it—
She must be treating Tanjiro as the hope to defeat Muzan.
The origin of all breathing styles.
Sun Breathing…
He had never imagined that child would have such talent.
Even after knowing Yuko's true identity, her relationship with the old man remained just as harmonious.
Although Urokodaki felt that Tanjiro was overly compassionate toward demons, he himself was not a harsh person either.
The fact that he could tolerate Nezuko's existence was proof enough.
While the two were talking, they suddenly turned their heads in unison and looked toward the house.
At some point, Nezuko had blankly wandered to the doorway, staring at them with curiosity on her face.
She tilted her head and looked at Yuko. The confusion in her eyes gradually brightened, and she happily ran toward her.
Yuko caught her and laughed. "Nezuko, you still remember me?"
Nezuko happily rubbed against her.
While hugging Yuko, Nezuko suddenly noticed Urokodaki beside her.
After a brief pause, she let go of Yuko and threw herself at Urokodaki instead.
Master Urokodaki hurriedly caught her, feeling as if raising this child hadn't been in vain after all.
If only all demons were this lovable…
Yuko smiled and said, "Tanjiro will definitely be very happy when he comes back."
"Mhm." Urokodaki patted Nezuko's head, his heart full of relief.
After rolling around in Master Urokodaki's arms for a bit, Nezuko leapt back into Yuko's embrace.
This place felt softer.
Looking at Nezuko's obedient, baby-like demeanor, Yuko couldn't help feeling confused.
Normally, demons could speak, and their thinking ability wasn't inferior either. Their intelligence was about the same as humans.
But Nezuko… she not only couldn't speak—her intelligence also seemed noticeably lower.
Could it be a side effect of evolution?
Her wine-red eyes filled with confusion, Yuko tilted her head slightly.
Nezuko tilted her head along with her.
Probably… about kindergarten-level intelligence.
Yuko broke into a cold sweat.
…
It wasn't until many days later, at dusk, that Tanjiro came back, leaning on a wooden stick, dirty and exhausted.
The moment he saw Nezuko standing outside the door, all the hardship of those days stopped mattering.
"Nezuko, you're awake!"
Hearing Tanjiro's voice, Nezuko turned her head and ran toward him.
The siblings embraced each other tightly.
"You made it back alive, Tanjiro," Urokodaki said emotionally as he stepped forward and wrapped them both in a hug.
Nezuko poked her head out of the embrace and blinked at Yuko, as if telling her to come over too.
Yuko let out a soft laugh and shook her head.
She wasn't very good at handling overly sentimental scenes.
Tanjiro passed the Final Selection, but since he still had to wait for his Nichirin Sword to be forged, he stayed at Mount Sagiri for another half month.
Half a month later, one day, a man wearing a hat with wind chimes, a fiery-man mask on his face, and carrying a long box on his back appeared at Mount Sagiri.
"My name is Hotaro Haganezuka. I am the one who forged the sword for Kamado Tanjiro."
"I'm Kamado Tanjiro—please come in and have a seat!"
Inside the house, Yuzi was playing a preschool hand-clapping game with Nezuko.
Haganezuka's arrival immediately drew everyone's attention.
"The materials for the Nichirin Sword are…" Haganezuka muttered to himself as he gave a brief explanation, then he handed the Nichirin Sword from the long box to Tanjiro.
"The Nichirin Sword is also called a color-changing blade. Its color changes according to its wielder."
Tanjiro solemnly drew the blade, and a streak of black instantly spread to the very tip.
The same color as Yoriichi's.
Yuzi glanced sideways slightly.
"Black."
"Black, huh…"
The subtle tones in both Haganezuka's and Master Urokodaki's voices made Tanjiro feel that something was wrong.
"Huh? Isn't black good? Is it a bad omen?" Tanjiro asked nervously. "But I remember that Miss Yuko's sword is black too, right?"
"No, my sword actually—"
Before she could finish speaking, Haganezuka, whose gaze had shifted toward her because of Tanjiro's words, caught sight of the Nichirin Sword at her waist and quite naturally extended his hand.
"Could I take a look at it?"
Yuko: "…I suppose you can."
---
Currently at chapter 363 for advance chapters
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