Chapter 147 —— I am the eldest son.

Late at night.

Butterfly Mansion.

Second floor.

Creak——

The wooden door slowly closed, making a squeezing decay sound.

"Good, the box is safely placed on Kocho-san's desk."

Tanjiro walked out of the office of the Butterfly Mansion, he made a light action, as if celebrating victory, raised his arm and clenched his fist:

"Great success!"

After all, in the absence of Kocho Shinobu and other Hashira, he successfully controlled the situation of the Butterfly Mansion and arranged the personnel in an orderly manner.

The distance to take care of his younger brothers and sisters as an "adult" has increased a step!

Thinking of Nezuko and Takeo, Tanjiro's mouth couldn't help but rise slightly.

He thinks this level of complacency is necessary.

When Tanjiro turned around and was about to leave the corridor, he suddenly paused.

"Speaking of which..."

He looked back at the door of Kocho Shinobu's office, there seemed to be some doubts in his eyes, and he talked to himself:

"Today... it's strange."

Tanjiro took two steps, couldn't help but stand still, turned his head, and unconsciously looked at the dark sky outside the window:

"Not only is father not here."

"Kocho-san, Kamiki-san, and the few Hashira who were here during the day have not returned."

At this moment, only one sentence echoed in his mind.

Is everyone... okay?

In his dark red eyes, the trembling moon was reflected.

Although the cool night made people calm, a strong unease rose in his heart.

At this time.

Bang!

The door at the other end of the second floor was suddenly pushed open with force.

Agatsuma Zenitsu's yellow hair poked out from behind the door, looked left and right, and seemed to have found Tanjuro's figure in the corridor.

Following that was a long sigh like a sigh of relief, with a crying tone:

"Thank goodness, Tanjiro——!"

Tanjiro turned his head, but just saw Agatsuma Zenitsu pointing to the first floor, the hand of the Butterfly Mansion's main door.

"Listen to me, it's so scary! I'm the only one assigned to this ward!"

"It's super scary! My body is stiff and I can't move!"

"And! There was a strange noise just now, I've never heard such a sound——"

Agatsuma Zenitsu's eyes were filled with tears, he was crying, wiping the corners of his eyes with his burnt hand, his expression seemed a bit scared, and he staggered over.

His ears twitched, stood next to Tanjuro, stretched out another hand, pointed to the door through the window, and chattered:

"Just now, a sound that made people's ears uncomfortable has been ringing... Ah!!"

"It's here——!!" Zenitsu was so scared that he even forgot to cry, jumped up on the spot, hugged Tanjiro's head with one hand, and screamed like a frightened cat:

"——There's something right at the front door!"

He violently shook Tanjiro's head and pointed to the door.

"Zenitsu! Calm down!" Tanjiro was hugged by his head, he struggled to maintain his balance, and his gaze stayed on the slightly moving door.

Butterfly Mansion's main door.

Creak...

The tightly locked door seemed to be lightly pushed from the outside.

Suddenly.

Sniff.

Tanjiro's nose twitched slightly.

!!

Tanjiro's pupils shrank sharply, his hand unconsciously trembled, and a cold sweat broke out along his spine.

He instinctively took a step back.

An extremely familiar smell of blood.

After that snowy night, I never smelled it for the second time, the strong smell of blood that made my throat faintly painful when I took a breath!

At this moment, it is filling his entire nasal cavity!

His breathing gradually became rapid, and a slight tingling sensation came from his body surface.

Tanjiro zlmost instantly, understood the identity of the demon outside the door.

The Demon King who wanted to attack their family that snowy night.

——Kibutsuji Muzan!

...

...

At the same time.

Ubuyashiki Mansion.

Squeak——squeak——

Tiny insects hid among the grass leaves, making a faint chirping sound.

On the tatami.

"Cough...heh ah..."

Ubuyashiki Kagaya's face was pale, his eyes were tightly closed, and delicate sweat made his hair stick to his forehead.

His trembling hand clenched the quilt under him.

"Kagaya!"

Amane sat next to Ubuyashiki Kagaya, her eyebrows furrowed, wringing out the towel in her hand, and wiping Kagaya's sweat with a slight tremor.

Slowly, Ubuyashiki's expression eased a lot.

"...I'm fine." He shook his head slightly, put his hand on Amane's hand, his tone was low, and he sighed:

"It's all the same as predicted in the dream..."

Ubuyashiki Kagaya said, slowly opening his turbid eyes:

"It's tonight."

Upon hearing this, Amane sighed and sat back down.

The moonlight slanted into the room from the courtyard, and under the backlight, only two people huddled together in the dark shadow could be seen.

"There are only two Hashira... can they really fight..."

Amane's hesitant voice echoed in the darkness.

She believes in Ubuyashiki's choice, but there is still worry in her heart.

"——Believe in them."

The gentle and convincing voice of Ubuyashiki Kagaya followed, as if his smile could be seen even in the darkness.

Upon hearing this, Amane paused for a moment, she nodded then, no longer speaking. 

The Ubuyashiki family, despite their curse of short lifespan, had also found fortune in misfortune.

They had gained the ability to foresee the future in their dreams.

Although the future they saw was extremely brief and often consisted of static fragments, they were all extremely crucial scenes.

The vast wealth needed to operate the Demon Slayer Corps also came from this.

And Ubuyashiki Kagaya, a few days ago, had already learned in his dreams that Muzan would arrive at the Butterfly Mansion today.

He had also informed the only two Hashira who did not participate in the extermination of the Upper Rank One that day...

...

Butterfly Mansion.

Roof.

Under the moonlight.

Two figures, one tall and one short, stood here, as if they had been waiting for a long time.

Click.

"He's here."

The swordsman with flaming red hair slightly shook his hair, his red eyes moved, his gaze tightly staring at the gate below, his feet stepping on the protruding tiles.

Whoosh!

He raised his fiery patterned haori, revealing the hilt underneath.

Flame Hashira - Rengoku Shinjuro.

"Amitabha."

Next to him, a tall figure slightly nodded his head, softly chanting a Buddhist name, his hands tightly gripping the steel chain.

Under his pale eyes flowed two lines of clear tears:

"Don't be anxious."

"Our task is just... to buy time."

Swish! Swish!

The huge meteor hammer linked by the steel chain was spinning round and round under the swing of his arm.

Stone Hashira - Himejima Gyomei.

...

...

Under the eaves of the two people.

Second floor.

"Hey! Tanjiro! Wait for me!"

Agatsuma Zenitsu reached out his hand, looking fearfully at Tanjiro who was running towards the stairs: "Why are you suddenly running?!"

He looked in absolute terror as Tanjiro in front of him ran further and further away.

Ahead.

Tap tap tap!!

"...What should I do, the situation now is..."

Tanjiro quickly ran through the corridor, his breath was rapid, his gaze passed through the window on the side of the corridor, he looked anxiously at the courtyard gate.

Why would Muzan come here -

- There's no time to think about such a question now!

What should I do!

As his brain thoughts flashed rapidly, the flow of time seemed to slow down.

Think quickly! Tanjiro!

He gritted his teeth, his body unconsciously tensed up due to nervousness.

- What can I do in this moment.

Snap!

He casually picked up the Nichirin Sword of the injured swordsman leaning against the corridor.

And shouted back:

"Zenitsu!"

"Eh?" Zenitsu, who was chasing him from behind, was suddenly stunned.

Tanjiro turned his head, shouting urgently:

"You go and inform everyone! Evacuate the injured! I'll buy time!"

He took a deep breath:

"Quick!"

He stomped on the ground!

Creak!

The harsh sound of his foot rubbing against the floor came.

Tanjiro clenched the Nichirin Sword in his hand, protected his head with his arm, and leaped towards the window!

Bang!

The glass shattered due to the impact, scattering in mid-air, reflecting the dazzling moonlight.

In Tanjiro's imagination.

Now, the Butterfly Mansion is full of injured people, as well as some Kakushi members responsible for logistics.

All the Hashira are out, and his father has not yet returned.

Even the Tokito brothers are out on a mission!

There's no combat power to fight against the demons!

Not to mention Muzan!

In this urgent situation, this is the best solution he could think of.

Bang!

Tanjiro fell heavily in the courtyard, he squatted slightly and slowly propped up his body.

Crack!

He gripped the handle of the Nichirin Sword tightly with both hands, raised the sharp sword outlined by the moonlight, and aimed at the source of the smell at the door.

His mouth opened, and white steam overflowed.

He must not be timid!

His eyes were incredibly firm.

After constant practice, and being taught by Tanjuro.

Tanjiro's Sun Breathing.

Although it has never been battle-tested.

But it has already reached perfection.

...

Outside the door.

Crack——!

The wooden door floating in mid-air slowly opened.

"Is this the place?"

Muzan slowly stuck out half of his head from it, only revealing two scarlet eyes, and his eyes swept across the Butterfly Mansion in front of him with extreme caution:

"The place where the Blue Spider Lily is."

There seemed to be some residual mud traces at the corner of his mouth.

(End of this chapter)

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