As evening approached, the wind and snow outside suddenly picked up. Coupled with the dimming sky, visibility dropped to nearly zero.
And at that moment, Tanjiro still hadn't returned.
Elsewhere, Tanjiro had finished selling his charcoal and was jogging back toward his home in the mountains. But as the snow intensified, he had no choice but to quicken his pace.
"It's Tanjiro, huh? It's getting dark, and the snowstorm's pretty fierce. Why don't you stay at my place for the night? You can head out tomorrow once the snow eases up."
Tanjiro turned his head—it was an elderly man he knew. Tanjiro had delivered charcoal to him many times before, so they were quite familiar with each other.
"Grandpa Saburo, my family's waiting for me at home. I don't dare stay out here too long."
This old man, Saburo, often gave Tanjiro and Kawanishi a place to rest when they couldn't make it home at night.
Saburo frowned and said, "Don't think like that. Your safety comes first. With this kind of weather and light, if something were to happen, your family would be devastated."
"Besides, nightfall is when man-eating demons come out. Better to stay with me and leave tomorrow."
Tanjiro hesitated. What Saburo said made sense—traveling now was dangerous.
After a brief moment of thought, Tanjiro decided to stay the night and return home the next day. This had happened before, and his mother and siblings would understand.
"Then I'll trouble you, Grandpa Saburo. But about what you said… demons? Do they really exist? I've never seen one."
Saburo paused, a look of painful memory crossing his face.
His voice was heavy with suppressed sorrow, and at the same time, Tanjiro caught the scent of sadness on him.
"Man-eating demons... it's best if you never encounter them in your life. Just think of it as a story, Tanjiro."
Tanjiro nodded, but thought to himself, "Such a strong scent of sorrow… could demons really be real?"
......
The small wooden cabin trembled slightly in the wind and snow, emitting faint creaking sounds.
By now, it was completely dark outside.
A single candle flickered in the center of the cabin. Kawanishi sat cross-legged facing Kie, while Nezuko and the others were asleep.
Kie was worried about Tanjiro, but she didn't want to wake the others.
So she spoke softly, "Tanjiro wouldn't be in trouble, would he? By this time, he's usually back."
At the same time, an ominous feeling grew stronger in Kawanishi's heart. Could it be that something was going to happen to Tanjiro?
He forced a smile to reassure her. "Don't worry. The snow's heavy today—Tanjiro probably found somewhere to rest for the night. It's happened to me before too. He'll be fine. He's definitely fine."
These words were not only to comfort Kie but also to calm himself. At this moment, Kawanishi's worry for Tanjiro was even deeper than hers.
Kie said no more, but the tension in her brows made it clear—her concern had only grown.
The same was true for Kawanishi. It felt like a hand was squeezing his chest, heavy and nauseating.
After a moment's thought, he said to Kie, "Mother, how about I go down the mountain and check? The snow's heavy, but it's still passable."
Kie shook her head. She didn't want Kawanishi to put himself in danger. It was likely that Tanjiro was simply delayed by the snow, which wasn't all that dangerous. Her worry came from a mother's instinct.
But if Kawanishi were to go out now, that would be truly risky.
"You're a good big brother, caring for Tanjiro like this. I'm really proud of you."
"But Tanjiro's not a child anymore. He's smart and capable. He can handle this. You shouldn't put yourself at risk."
Kawanishi smiled faintly. "Of course I care. You're my family, after all."
"But I'm still going to look for Tanjiro. I just can't feel at ease otherwise."
Kie considered it. She trusted her eldest son—he had always been obedient and sensible since he was young, never giving her cause for worry.
"If you feel confident, then go ahead."
Kawanishi stood up, ready to set out in search of Tanjiro.
But just then, a chill suddenly crept up his spine.
It was a feeling like a defenseless herbivore facing a ruthless predator—fear, dread, and suffocating pressure.
"Who's there?!"
Kawanishi whipped around, but saw no one.
Still, the feeling clung to his back like a shadow.
Wait—the back? Kie!
"Kawanishi… run… don't look back…"
A faint voice came from behind—his mother's voice, warped by pain, but unmistakable.
Kawanishi looked down. His feet were wet—blood had soaked through his shoes and socks.
He turned around, unable to believe what he saw.
A nightmare he'd never forget unfolded before his eyes.
Mother Kie, Nezuko, Hanako, Takeo, Shigeru, Rokuta.
In just a single breath's time, they all lay in pools of blood.
Nezuko and the others still had peaceful smiles from their sleep frozen on their faces.
Kie had tried to resist the shadow behind her, but her frail body was no match for its strength. She was easily lifted by the neck.
In front of Kawanishi stood a terrifying figure, taller than him by a head.
Its features barely resembled a young man, with a mess of black hair.
But bulging veins covered its body, and its blood-red eyes burned with murderous fury.
Its mouth was filled not with human teeth, but jagged, saw-like fangs.
This was a demon—feasting on humans, bringing chaos to the world.
Unbelievable. The stories from his childhood were true. Demons were real.
Kawanishi's heart pounded violently—on the verge of bursting.
This scene finally reminded him of that nightmare.
So this ominous feeling hadn't been about Tanjiro—it had been about him and his family in this house.
"Let her go!"
His blood surged. Kawanishi's eyes burned with rage.
Facing this horrifying demon, escape never crossed his mind. He grabbed the hatchet used for chopping firewood and swung it straight at the arm holding Kie.
It was a vicious, powerful strike—the strongest he'd ever delivered since he started using an axe.
Having chopped wood since he was young, Kawanishi trusted the power of his swing. He'd even used this very axe to scare off wild wolves and boars in the mountains.
Though the blade was old and worn, it still gleamed with a deadly shine.
But the demon with black hair didn't even try to dodge.
He shook his head and sighed. "Too weak. Is this the strength and speed of a child playing house? Just like that person said—demons are the superior form of life."
With a sudden stomp, the demon cracked the wooden floor beneath him, spiderwebbing fractures spreading outward.
Kawanishi's vision blurred. The next moment, his axe was knocked from his hands, and he felt a searing pain on his cheek.
The demon had lifted him by the head with one hand.
From the corner of his eye, Kawanishi saw his mother tossed aside like a rag doll. Her neck bent at an unnatural angle. She was silent.
"Mo…ther…"
Kawanishi forced out the words. The demon's five fingers dug into his face, and with a slight squeeze, its claw-like nails pierced his skin, shattering the bones beneath.
The broken bones rattled into his brain. All strength left his body, and his consciousness began to fade......
(End of Chapter)