"Eh, eh, eh?"
Tatsuki was lost in thought; Tanjiro, however, gasped in astonishment.
"Mama! Nezuko! Why are you calling Tatsuki 'Master'?"
"Because Master saved me…"
Nezuko's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Saying such things in front of her brother was embarrassing.
"…"
It was even more mortifying for Kie. Addressing him so intimately while her child listened felt unbearably awkward.
"Tatsuki-san…"
Tanjiro turned an imploring gaze on him.
"Cough, well, uh…" Tatsuki cleared his throat. "When I arrived, your entire family had been killed. Only they were still alive, but about to transform into man-eating demons."
At that, Tanjiro suddenly remembered the changes in his mother and sister: blood-red eyes, pointed fangs, talon-like nails.
"Demons? But Mama is still Mama, and Nezuko is still Nezuko!"
"That's because I used my own power to dominate their rational minds, letting their reason suppress a demon's violent urges. So although they've become demons, they've also remained human in spirit."
"But anything—or anyone—I dominate belongs to me. That's why they call me 'Master.'"
"I see…"
Though stunned by Tatsuki's abilities, Tanjiro breathed a sigh of relief at least. His mother and sister wouldn't be a threat.
As for Tatsuki, he found it slightly headache-inducing that anything he dominated was, in principle, his. So how did that work for Nezuko if he needed to bring her back to his world? Would the chat group treat Nezuko and Kie as independent individuals—or as his possessions?
"So, Tatsuki-san… why did you come here?" Tanjiro asked again.
"To…"
He briefly explained his motive to Tanjiro.
"The Blue Spider Lily? So that flower is so special?"
Kie was surprised. She hadn't realized that sometimes they ate those simple blue flowers, which turned out to be extremely important.
"Please let me join the Demon Slayer Corps!"
Learning that the one who killed his family was Muzan, and that the Corps intended to kill that monster, Tanjiro resolved to join. Tatsuki nearly told him that demon matters would likely be settled soon enough, rendering his participation moot, but chose not to rain on Tanjiro's determination.
He told Tanjiro to find a wooden box, gather some Blue Spider Lilies, and—well, Tanjiro ended up carrying a box on his back anyway, even if he wasn't hauling Nezuko. Rather fitting in its own way.
Then Tatsuki brought all three of them to the Demon Slayer Corps.
Their first experience of flight made Tanjiro scream in terror, while Nezuko and Kie clung nervously to Tatsuki's sleeve. Their hearts churned with mixed emotions, occasionally stealing glances at Tatsuki's side profile.
'Hmm… mother and daughter both have a Master now. What a strange feeling!'
…
Back at the Corps' headquarters.
Tanjiro was accepted into the Demon Slayer Corps without issue. But the Pillars reacted violently upon seeing Kie and Nezuko—especially Sanemi Shinazugawa, who attacked instantly, only to be KO'd by a single punch from Tatsuki.
Tatsuki explained that Nezuko and Kie belonged to him. After Kagaya Ubuyashiki intervened, the Pillars no longer objected. Any further protests would end the same way as Sanemi, and they weren't fools.
Kagaya also took the chance to mention his cooperation with another demon named Tamayo. The Pillars, stunned, soon accepted Tamayo's existence as the Master explained.
Thus, they began implementing their plan to bait Muzan. A simple plan: capture a demon, confine it without killing it, then at high noon open the door so the demon glimpses the Blue Spider Lily, and deliberately talk about it out loud. After calling out Muzan's name, that demon would die, but whatever it saw or heard would be transmitted back to Muzan's mind—a rough, simplistic method, yet Tatsuki was certain Muzan would bite.
This wretched "boss" would surely lose his mind upon finding out the location of the Blue Spider Lily. Typically, if Tatsuki were Muzan, he'd have infiltrated high government circles, used humans to exterminate the Corps, or something clever. Instead, Muzan hid for a thousand years like a fool.
…
As expected, come the second night…
Demons arrived. Countless demons swarmed the mountain.
"Lord Ubuyashiki!"
The entire Demon Slayer Corps assembled—Tamayo and her small demon companion arrived as well. Kagaya took a deep breath and declared loud enough for all to hear.
"Today, we end our thousand-year enmity! The demons shall be annihilated!"
"Exterminate the demons!"
A rousing cry echoed from the Corps. Armed with Nichirin blades, they waited for the demons to surge up the mountain path.
As for Tatsuki? With nothing better to do, he opened a live broadcast.
[In the chat group: Tatsuki has started a live broadcast!]
[March 7th has joined the broadcast!]
***
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