Chapter 25: The Return of Urokodaki

Lying on the ground, Tanjiro, completely exhausted, started to doubt himself.

"Tanjiro, your breathing is too stiff, causing your body to react mechanically. Over the past six months, what the old man taught you, you've only memorized in your mind. You haven't integrated Water Breathing into your bones. If you don't overcome this, you won't be able to break the giant stone," Haru slowly pointed out Tanjiro's fatal flaw.

Although the year and a half of training had helped Tanjiro grow significantly, his body hadn't fully absorbed and elevated what he had learned.

Tanjiro's stiff breathing prevented him from unleashing the full potential of Water Breathing. With this level of control, his attacks could not break the giant stone.

Half a year passed in a flash. The world repeated its yearly cycle, and the winter snowflakes once again fell into Haru's hands. Standing outside the cabin, Haru looked up at the sky, murmuring, "It's snowing again! Another year has passed."

During this year, Urokodaki had not appeared again. Haru had been taking care of everything around the cabin, including Nezuko.

Since that duel, Tanjiro had stayed on Mt. Sagiri, never coming down. As a result, Haru had been the one caring for Nezuko. Regularly wiping her body was a part of it, which Haru considered a pleasant task.

This led to Haru having intimate contact with Nezuko. When Tanjiro was around, this duty was, of course, his as her brother.

Wiping Nezuko's body wasn't something Haru did to take advantage of her, but because if left unattended, there would be an odor.

At first, noticing Tanjiro hadn't returned to the cabin, Haru went up the mountain to find him. However, he found Tanjiro talking to the air near the giant stone, as if he had lost his mind.

Just as Haru was about to wake Tanjiro, Tanjiro began to swing his sword. Feeling that Tanjiro's movements had become smoother and his breathing control more fluid, Haru realized that Tanjiro might have entered a subconscious, selfless state. It was a breakthrough for him.

So, Haru chose not to interrupt Tanjiro's transformation but allowed him to fully elevate himself during this process.

Unexpectedly, this wait lasted another six months. During that time, Haru regularly checked on Tanjiro, and each time, he either saw him sword dancing or meditating. Sometimes, Tanjiro seemed to be talking to someone.

The most puzzling time was when Haru stood in front of Tanjiro, but he appeared not to see him at all.

Eventually, with the system's prompt, Haru used his demon power to activate his Demon Eyes and finally understood Tanjiro's situation. It turned out that the spirits of Mt. Sagiri had trapped Tanjiro in a spiritual world they had constructed.

From the changes in Tanjiro, it seemed these spirits were helping him grow. Haru decided not to interfere, instead choosing to wait quietly.

At that moment, Haru saw someone approaching from a distance. He focused his eyes and realized it was none other than Urokodaki, who had been gone for a year.

Haru smiled as Urokodaki walked up to him, saying, "You're back! Old man~"

Urokodaki stood in front of Haru, observing him for a while, then nodded and asked, "Hmm~ Where's Tanjiro?"