44 Demon Slayer: Floating Comment

Since Sanemi's visit to Sagiri Mountain—deliberately leaked to Genya by Haruto—the boy's demeanor had brightened noticeably. Gone was the constant scowl of bitterness and resentment, replaced occasionally by a rare, genuine smile.

Giyu stood silently behind the door, watching Genya wash dishes with a faint smile on his face. For the first time, Giyu's expressionless visage seemed to show a hint of emotion.

"So, Genya can smile after all," Giyu muttered.

Haruto, lazily passing by with a bowl in hand, quipped, "And here I thought Sagiri Mountain's only perpetually unsmiling person was you."

Giyu turned his head slowly. "You can't mean me, can you?"

"Who knows?" Haruto shrugged. "I've seen Master Urokodaki smile before."

As they spoke, Genya emerged from the kitchen, only to be greeted by an unusual sight: his teacher walking ahead with Giyu hopping after him on one foot, earnestly insisting, "I do smile."

"…"

Genya yawned, dismissing the scene as he headed to his room for a nap. After all, Master Urokodaki always said proper sleep was crucial for growth. The commotion outside? Just another regular occurrence. Master seemed to enjoy teasing Giyu—and his success rate was unmatched.

With winter's arrival, the number of demon sightings surged, as was tradition. Sabito, Giyu, and Makomo were too busy slaying demons to spend much time on Sagiri Mountain. Haruto, now promoted, rarely undertook missions but was responsible for patrolling the mountain and its surrounding vast territory—a region previously overseen by Master Urokodaki before being reassigned by Kagaya Ubuyashiki.

"Sorry, I know it's a large area," Kagaya's soft voice echoed through the crow relaying his words, "but with your capabilities, I'm confident you can handle it."

Haruto's crow added, in an exasperated tone, "Not the most heartfelt apology, is it?"

A chill on his nose interrupted Haruto's musings. Snowflakes began drifting down from the sky.

"Great, better get this patrol done quickly so I can head back for some hot tea." He tightened his haori and set off at a brisk pace.

Of course, wishes spoken aloud are often ignored by the heavens. As he left the mountainous terrain and entered the plains, the twinkling stars above seemed to warn of impending danger.

Southeast.

Haruto's hand instinctively gripped his blade as the oppressive aura of a demon grew stronger. Before he could reach the source, the sound of shouting carried through the air.

Survivors?

His heart raced as he quickened his steps. The noise led him to a cluster of wooden huts in the wilderness. Haruto had passed by here before—a small settlement of three or four families tending their ancestral graves and living off the land.

The stench of a powerful demon filled the air, so potent it churned his stomach.

A Twelve Kizuki?

"Suma, Hinatsuru, Makio! Get them out of here, now!"

"Tengen!"

"Stop crying and pull yourselves together!" Tengen barked at his three wives. "This isn't the time for tears! Get these people to safety—I'll hold her off!"

Ahead of him stood a demon woman with white hair and horns protruding from her head. She perched on a tree branch, licking her claws leisurely. Her eyes, with blood-red sclera, were unnervingly grotesque.

What is this creature? Tengen cursed internally. Despite her slightly elegant features, those crimson eyes ruined any semblance of beauty.

Why did I have to run into something like this the moment I left home? Is this divine retribution for abandoning my clan?

Clenching his teeth, Tengen urged his wives with even greater urgency. Suma was already in tears, Makio snapped at her, and Hinatsuru quietly comforted the crying child of a farmer. Despite the chaos, the three women never stopped working to evacuate the villagers, dragging those too frightened to move.

Good. That's my wives for you!

"How boring… So, so boring…"

The demon woman inspected her sharp claws, then glanced at Tengen with a mocking smile.

"Do you really think you can save them?"

Leaping gracefully from the tree, she landed with a silence that made even Tengen—a seasoned warrior—shiver. Her effortless descent from such a height was unnervingly unnatural.

This is bad. She's a formidable opponent.

Tengen unsheathed his twin blades, crossing them in front of his chest. He strained his ears, hoping to detect any weaknesses through sound.

"A mere human without a breathing technique dares to draw blades against me?" The demon sneered, her expression twisted with contempt. Under the moonlight, Tengen caught sight of two words etched into her right eye:

Lower Four.

A Lower Moon!

From above, Haruto watched as the sight sent a surge of adrenaline through him. His body burned with battle lust, his blade already drawn.

"Another Lower Moon…" Haruto whispered. He dove like a falcon, his Nichirin Blade slicing the night air, leaving a trail of radiant light.

"Breath of Stars, First Form: First Light!"

The strike was blindingly fast and powerful, a streak of brilliance cutting through the dark. Haruto's figure weaved through the night with unparalleled speed.

The demon woman flicked her sleeve, releasing a torrent of blood-red sprouts that writhed like serpents toward him.

"Blood Demon Art: Greedy Sprouts!"

These sprouts, formed from the blood of her victims, carried a deadly poison that corroded everything they touched. But the sound of Haruto's blade sang through the air as he danced between the tendrils, reducing them to shreds with each flash of silver.

Such an elegant technique. Such a dazzling person!

Tengen's eyes sparkled as he watched Haruto's display. The blue-violet glow of his blade, his calm movements, and his sharp gaze—it was all so breathtakingly glamorous. Compared to this, Tengen's own jewelry-adorned style and dramatic makeup felt utterly plain.

The demon scowled. "Your swordsmanship… it's extraordinary. Are you a Hashira?"

Haruto smirked. "And you? Lower Four? Not promoted after Lower Tree's death?"

The demon's eyes widened. "You're the one who killed Wakuraba?"

"Indeed." Haruto's voice was calm but cold. "State your name. A Hashira does not cut down nameless demons."

What a glamorous line! I have to remember that! Tengen thought, his admiration growing.

The demon's mocking laughter turned to fury. "Name? Who cares about names? Do you think killing Wakuraba makes you special?" She slammed her sleeves to the ground, sending tremors through the earth as something monstrous began to emerge.

Haruto turned to Tengen. "Think you can handle yourself?"

Tengen grinned, raising his dual blades. "Of course, my glamorous friend! The dark night, shining stars, a demon, and a stage—could there be a better setting for the Festival God's grand performance?

Come, let us fight together! On this battlefield, we'll compose a symphony of blood and pain!"