Chapter 49: The End

"Kanno, what's the point of joining the Demon Slayer Corps if all we do is guard caravans? This is so boring."

Yujiro complained about their assignment. He'd joined to slay demons, not stand around as an escort.

Kanno glanced at him, his voice trembling. "Isn't this better? Facing demons is terrifying. Have you forgotten those monsters in the trial arena? I only made it out by hiding…"

"And besides, we're weak. The Pillars can handle the demons. Maybe we're just meant to be background characters in this world... the gap is just too wide. Sigh."

Yujiro scoffed with disdain. "Cowards like you don't belong in the Demon Slayer Corps. What the Corps needs is someone like me. So what if I'm weak now? Everyone starts somewhere."

But some people are born strong... Kanno thought silently, choosing not to argue. He was a bit of a coward—he'd stumbled through the final selection and didn't have the courage to face demons head-on.

The night shift was dull, and just as Yujiro opened his mouth to speak again, Kanno suddenly shouted, "Yujiro, dodge!"

A whip of white hair, wiry like steel, lashed out toward Yujiro's arm.

Suppressing his fear, Kanno shoved Yujiro aside, sparing him from injury. He drew his Nichirin blade and positioned himself defensively.

But the hair-whip struck with tremendous force. It wrapped around Kanno's sword and yanked it from his grip. More strands coiled around his ankles and slammed him into the ground before hurling his blade deep into the forest.

Hearing the commotion, the other two Demon Slayers rushed over and stood beside Yujiro, staring tensely toward the source of the attack.

The old demon emerged from the shadows, his mouth filled with jagged fangs.

Panic spread through the caravan. "A monster! Run, everyone!"

Inoshiku jolted awake amid the chaos. He saw the old demon and felt his breath catch in his throat.

It was the same demon. The white hair that moved like it had a mind of its own—the one who'd snatched and devoured Yano's father.

Inoshiku took a deep breath and shouted, "Don't run! We have Demon Slayers here. They'll protect us!"

"It's even more dangerous to run blindly at night!"

Reassured by his words, the people gathered behind the Demon Slayers.

Yujiro, seeing Kanno coughing up blood on the ground, felt rage ignite in his chest.

"Wind Breathing: First Form — Dust Whirlwind Cutter!"

He inhaled sharply, activating Wind Breathing. The air filled his lungs, and the wind answered his call. He felt as though he could cut through anything.

The other two tried to follow suit, but their nerves caused their breathing to falter. Their techniques failed, leaving them no choice but to charge forward behind Yujiro with drawn blades.

Yujiro led the charge, wind blades spinning from his body and slicing toward the old demon.

The demon's hair coiled into a dense shield, blocking the blades with only minor cracks.

As Yujiro closed the distance, his Nichirin sword spun with force, aiming to tear the demon apart.

"Slash!" he roared.

But yelling didn't boost attack power.

Just as his blade was about to connect, something yanked his ankle violently. He was flipped upside down and slammed head-first into the ground.

His mind went blank, and his attack dissolved.

Without him realizing, the demon's hair had snaked around his leg, then flung his sword into the forest before hurling him at the other two slayers.

Their view blocked, the two had no choice but to catch him, only to look up and see a wall of white hair bearing down on them.

They tried to dodge, but the strands snatched their blades and sent them flying.

The crowd panicked again, and even Inoshiku was momentarily stunned.

He didn't know how to fight, but even he could tell—the slayers had been completely overwhelmed.

Despair filled him. "Let's hope this demon's like last time... that he's just here to feed and not for a slaughter. If it's just hunger, most of us might still survive."

Last time, the old demon had only taken a few people, including Yano's father. He hadn't gone on a rampage.

After all, even demons needed sustainable hunting—they couldn't gorge themselves constantly.

But to Inoshiku's surprise, the old demon didn't approach the downed slayers. Instead, he picked up the Nichirin blades and tossed them into the woods.

He glanced greedily at the wounded swordsmen—but after a moment of hesitation, turned and vanished into the forest.

Inoshiku collapsed to the ground, relieved no one had died.

Then he stood up and gently helped the slayers to rest, offering no blame, only gratitude.

"Please don't feel guilty. You should be proud. Thank you for standing in front of us."

They hadn't won, but they'd tried. That alone took courage.

To stand against a demon, knowing the danger—that was bravery worthy of respect, especially when the brave were stronger than yourself.

"Come on, everyone—pull yourselves together. We're all okay. Let's move out quickly."

The caravan picked up speed, moving faster than before.

From the shadows, Kawanishi had watched everything.

He sighed. These slayers… really need work.

Only one of them had successfully used Breathing Techniques. Without those, a swordsman might as well be a regular person.

The one who could use it—just a hot-headed kid. Probably only knew one form. No defense. Got taken out in seconds.

I hope this serves as a lesson. That you'll reflect, and train harder.

These people placed their lives in your hands. And you… you were a letdown.

A dark blur emerged. The old demon returned, reluctantly carrying four Nichirin blades.

If he was going to provoke the Demon Slayer Corps anyway, he might as well have eaten them. Human flesh was better than nothing.

But this wasn't a place to linger. Sooner or later, more slayers would show up. And if he stayed, he'd die.

He was smarter than most demons—knew how to avoid attention. But this time, he'd been forced into it.

And that guy didn't even let me eat anyone. Damn him.

He scowled. "Here. The blades. I can go now, right?"

Kawanishi picked one up, weighing it casually. "Scram. I'm tired of looking at you."

"You…"

The old demon clenched his fists in anger and turned to leave.

Someday… I'll be stronger. I'll eat more humans, gain more power. And when I see you again, I'll make you pay.

But after just a few steps, he heard a sharp whoosh behind him.

He twisted around, sending his hair to shield his neck—but only felt a sudden coldness.

Then the world spun.

He looked up and saw… his own body, headless.

Kawanishi stood nearby, calmly wiping the blood from his Nichirin blade.

It was his blood.

(End of Chapter)