Demon Slayer: The Journey That Began When I Became Yoriichi's Sister

Upon arriving at the foot of Mount Sagiri, a small wooden cabin caught Ikuko's attention.

She sensed it and heard faint breathing sounds coming from inside, the breathing was steady and relaxed, as if someone was sleeping.

Upon arriving at the door, I found it locked. Although I could open it, it would be impolite.

She walked around the house to the back and peered through the narrow window. There, where the sunlight couldn't reach, Nezuko was fast asleep on the bed.

Yuko realized it in an instant.

When a human transforms into a demon, they consume a great deal of physical strength and need to replenish it by eating.

Nezuko is different from her and Tamayo; she has never drunk human blood and can only replenish her energy by sleeping.

She could also replenish her energy through rest, but she wouldn't fall into a deep sleep like Nezuko.

Is this some kind of evolution?

Yuko couldn't help but ponder for a moment.

She looked away and walked back to the front of the wooden house.

This is undoubtedly the residence of Urokodaki Sakonji, the master of the Water Pillar. The presence of the two men's auras still lingers around the house.

At this time of day, the two are probably still training on the mountain.

Yuko gazed thoughtfully at the mountains behind the wooden house.

It seems we'll have no choice but to wait here.

Yuko found a stool to sit on and gently wiped her Nichirin Blade from her waist.

Knife maintenance is a habit, just like brushing your teeth and eating.

"Goo~"

Although she had not eaten for many years.

Sometimes I feel hungry suddenly like this, but if I just endure it for a while, the hunger will gradually disappear.

The sun had risen over the mountaintop in the afternoon.

Faint footsteps came from the woods behind me, so faint... almost inaudible.

Yuko turned her head and saw an old man wearing a celestial dog mask emerge from the dense forest.

He stopped not far from Yuko.

Very strong.

Based on experience alone, I knew that the guy in front of me...

It's incredible.

Is it the newly appointed Zhu?

Do not……

There's a strange scent... hidden within the fragrance of wisteria blossoms...

In the silence, Yuko took off her straw hat and pulled down the white cloth covering her face, introducing herself: "Hello, Urokodaki-sensei, I am Tanjiro's friend, and I have come to visit him."

As she spoke, Yuko pulled a letter from her bosom.

"This is a letter of introduction from the head of the Ubuyashiki family."

Letter of recommendation?

Urokodaki Sakonji remained silent for a moment, not thinking he could teach the guy in front of him anything.

Out of politeness, he accepted the letter.

It was called a letter of introduction, but it wasn't really about asking him to teach anything. It was just to let him know that the person in front of him was trustworthy and not some unknown person.

With Ubuyashiki's assurance, Urokodaki Sakonji's doubts dissipated considerably.

"Tanjiro is still on his way down the mountain. If you want to see him, you'll probably have to wait a while."

Yuko nodded slightly: "It's okay."

She has plenty of time.

Nothing major should happen during Tanjiro's two years of training.

The main characters haven't even appeared yet, so what big moves could they possibly make?

"If you don't mind, you are welcome to stay at my humble abode for a while."

"Then excuse me."

Having been treated to a meal by Urokodaki Sakonji, Ikuko sat in the house all afternoon, until dusk...

Heaving sounds came from outside. Tanjiro, covered in dust and looking disheveled, pushed open the door and gasped, "..."

"Master Urokodaki, I..."

Before he could finish speaking, he noticed the figure sitting upright to the side, and his stunned expression instantly turned into joy.

"Miss Yuko! It's been a long time!"

"I never expected to meet you here."

Yu Zi smiled and said, "Long time no see."

Tanjiro looked very happy, which was understandable, since Ikuko had saved his entire family's lives.

But... what would he think if he knew that Nezuko became like this because of him?

Although she felt that Tanjiro's gentleness would prevent him from blaming her, she felt disgusted with herself from the bottom of her heart.

Tanjiro, who had only exchanged a few pleasantries with Yuko, suddenly seemed to remember something, and his cheerful expression turned anxious.

"By the way, Miss Yuko, Nezuko has been unconscious for quite some time. Could you please take a look at her?"

Yuko shook her head and said, "Don't worry, Nezuko is just recovering her strength."

"Restore stamina?"

Yuko explained the underlying principles to him, and Tanjiro's anxiety finally subsided.

He patted his chest and said, "That scared me to death! I didn't know that was the case."

He was really scared, afraid that something would happen to Nezuko.

"The meal is ready, young lady, please have some too." Urokodaki Sakonji presented a sumptuous dinner.

Yuko belatedly realized, "Ah, I forgot to introduce myself. Master Urokodaki, just call me Yuko."

Looking at the table full of delicious food, Tanjiro was moved to tears.

"This is so lavish..."

“…Ha.” Yuko’s lips twitched slightly; one could sense that these were difficult days.

In order to encourage Tanjiro to eat more, Ikuko only picked up a few bites as a symbolic gesture.

……

Okay, actually it's because it tasted so bad that pretending to eat it was really uncomfortable.

As Urokodaki Sakonji aged, he ate less, so most of the food ended up in Tanjiro's stomach.

Tanjiro, belatedly realizing what had happened, rubbed his large belly, scratched his head, and said with an embarrassed look, "Sorry, I ate too much."

Yu Zi smiled and said, "It's okay. You're at the age where you're growing, so eating more is good for you."

As Urokodaki Sakonji sipped his tea after dinner, he said casually, "The training volume will be doubled tomorrow."

Tanjiro, who hadn't even had a chance to be moved, instantly turned to stone.

Because the cabin was short of rooms, Ikuko was temporarily placed in Nezuko's room.

She briefly examined Nezuko's physical condition and found that almost all of her bodily functions had entered a dormant state.

Relying on sleep to replenish energy is an exaggeration.

This is... some kind of microscopic change, is it at the cellular level?

Nezuko is evolving.

Yuko did not interfere with Nezuko's slumber. Replenishing her physical strength was not difficult; she could recover quickly with the help of human blood.

But Nezuko has never consumed human blood, unlike them, and is a truly good demon.

There is no need to make her suck human blood.

Human blood is not without its drawbacks; any raw food, especially human parts, can easily trigger the instincts of evil spirits.

That is, the instinct to eat people.

Just like drug addiction, the temptation will only get stronger.

……

Silent all night.

The next morning, Tanjiro went up the mountain with Urokodaki Sakonji.

Ikuko did not follow them. While Urokodaki Sakonji was going up the mountain, she drew the demon sword "Shura," forged from her own flesh and blood, and cut down a patch of trees.

She was a little reluctant to use a Nichirin Blade to cut it.

Yuko set up a simple hut next to the wooden house, intending to stay there for a while.

It's a bit inappropriate to squeeze in with a few grown men.

When she and Tamayo were traveling, she often did things herself, so she was quite experienced.