Chapter 49: Magnanimity |
After those words, the once-motionless form came to life.
Doma froze mid-stride toward Kanae's "corpse," his expression darkening as it began to vanish before his eyes.
In mere seconds, the mangled body dissolved into nothingness along with the frozen blood, and the icicles clattered to the ground with a sharp ring.
"What in the world?" the demon muttered, his mood souring. First, he had narrowly escaped death, then he’d clumsily let the younger sister escape, his pursuit had failed, and now the older sister’s body had evaporated right in front of him.
'Was there poison in her body, or something?' Doma wondered. It never even crossed his mind that Kanae was standing just a few meters away, side-by-side with Mitsuri and Yeruashi, as if separated by an entire world.
Yeruashi first dispersed Kanae's body with a wave of his hand, then flicked his index finger, paying absolutely no attention to the Upper Rank Three. Following that motion, a mesmerizing glow blossomed in the air, and the vanished body gradually regained its physical form.
Yeruashi had simply restored Kanae's body, unchanged.
Then, Kanae's soul felt a strange pull and instantly returned to its vessel. The horrific wounds from the icicles vanished; even her blinded eyes returned to perfect condition.
"Let’s go," Yeruashi remarked over his shoulder, walking away as if nothing had happened.
Soon, their silhouettes were swallowed by the darkness of the night...
...
The Flower Hashira has fallen!
It didn't take long for the news of Kanae's death to reach the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters, causing a great stir.
The death of any Hashira was a heavy blow to the organization. They were not only the elite of the Demon Slayers but the only force capable of holding back the Twelve Kizuki.
Kagaya remained silent for a long time before announcing the funeral.
Kanae possessed a character that was both kind and resilient. She led the medical department and treated many of her colleagues, maintaining good relations with all the Hashira, which made her extremely popular within the Corps.
Thus, everyone mourned the loss of the Flower Hashira.
Crack! With a furious punch, the Wind Hashira shattered a training dummy in his courtyard.
The Stone Hashira prayed silently for the repose of Kanae's soul, his hands clasped before his chest as faint streams of tears rolled down his cheeks.
'Doma, is it? My Flame Breathing is perfectly suited to combat such a Blood Demon Art... one day, I will take his head and avenge Kanae!' After a long silence, the Flame Hashira tightened his grip on the hilt of his Nichirin Sword and asked for a detailed account of what had happened.
The Sword Hashira spent some time silently polishing the blade in her room before grasping the hilt, radiating an exceptionally sharp aura. Although Makomo did not actually swing the sword, a long, thin gash appeared on the wooden floor in front of her.
'Sister Kanae...' she whispered.
More than two years had passed since her parting with Yeruashi, and she was no longer that naive girl. Her sword had grown sharper, her character tougher, and her slender hands were stained with the blood of countless demons.
To her, Kanae Kocho was not just the first Demon Slayer she had ever met, but also a kind, gentle, and caring older sister.
'Doma...' Makomo murmured slowly, placing the blade back on her lap and resuming her silent polishing.
Around the same time, near the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters, three silhouettes stood upon a hill.
Yeruashi gazed into the distance with his arms folded across his chest, while Kanae and Mitsuri whispered behind him.
The kind-hearted and gentle girls had bonded quickly, and Kanae had already learned much about Yeruashi from Mitsuri. Her preconceptions of a God were being shattered time and again...
"They’ve started the funeral," Yeruashi remarked over his shoulder.
Kanae immediately broke off her conversation and followed his gaze, though she couldn't see inside the headquarters and could only imagine what was happening.
The former Flower Hashira recalled the faces of many acquaintances, her thoughts finally settling on her younger sister.
"Can I... see Shinobu?" she couldn't help but ask.
"Yes, but she must not recognize you," Yeruashi replied with a nod.
As he spoke, a fox mask appeared in his hand and drifted gracefully toward Kanae.
She hesitated for a moment before carefully putting it on.
Instantly, her long black hair turned as white as the mask, and her recognizable clothing transformed completely.
"Why can't they meet properly?" Mitsuri asked, her curiosity piqued by the sight.
"Isn't this her own choice?" Yeruashi countered with a wry smirk.
"That's right, it is my choice... and the simple chance to see Shinobu is more than enough for me," Kanae said softly to Mitsuri, who continued to blink her large eyes in confusion.
It seemed to the former Flower Hashira that in just a few days, she had come to understand Yeruashi's way of thinking far better than Mitsuri had.
At first, he had appeared cold, indifferent, and detached from those around him, but over time she had glimpsed his magnanimous nature—the very reason she had been given a chance to change her destiny.
Kanae had no intention of breaking her promise just because she missed her sister; she had already benefited immensely from his generosity.
"Heh, perhaps this time I shall appear as a wicked god..." Yeruashi chuckled suddenly.
"Eh?" Mitsuri raised her eyebrows, confused.
Kanae was also bewildered, but then a thought struck her, though she didn't have time to voice it.
"Don't worry," Yeruashi said, shaking his head. He explained, "You aren't aware yet, but Makomo is my disciple. I rescued her from poverty and taught her the art of the sword."
"Makomo..." Kanae murmured in surprise. She immediately realized where this previously unseen path of the sword had come from: it was his gift as well!
"I could easily alter the destiny of every living being and eliminate all the pain in the world, but what would be the point of that?" Yeruashi said calmly. He added melancholically, "In my view, nothing is more beautiful than the unyielding perseverance and faith people have in themselves. So, I gave them the sword in the hope that they would carve their own path."
"Thank you for everything..." Kanae whispered, pressing her lips together.
"Well then, let’s go. You shall see your younger sister, and I shall see those with unshakeable faith in themselves." Yeruashi began to walk forward with a steady pace.