CHAPTER 113: CHAPTER 113: RETURN JOURNEY

The next morning, Sosuke was jolted awake by a thunderous shout.

"Grandpa! Grandpa! Something terrible has happened! A major crisis!"

Sosuke’s eyes snapped open. Kanae had already sat up, gazing at the rising sun outside the window, her expression momentarily puzzled.

’What could be so terrible this early in the morning?’

’Could Demons now walk in sunlight?’

She glanced at Sosuke. "I’ll go check it out."

Ultimately, this remained a family matter.

Sosuke couldn’t advise Jigoro to expel Kaigaku from the dojo outright. To the old man, this was merely a childish prank.

The difference this time was that the prank had caused severe consequences, making it impossible to dismiss lightly.

Moreover, the direct victim was the current Sound Pillar, Tengen, whose feelings Jigoro had to consider.

At this thought, Sosuke felt a twinge of schadenfreude.

Kaigaku was likely in for a rough time.

A while later, as dawn broke, Tomioka arrived.

Having rushed through the night to prepare for a Lower Moon Demon, he only learned upon arrival that the situation had already been resolved.

He stood there expressionlessly, showing neither joy nor dissatisfaction.

He glanced at Sosuke, his "indifferent" gaze assessing Sosuke’s injuries before turning and leaving.

An outsider might have mistaken his demeanor for deep resentment toward Sosuke.

Sosuke tried getting out of bed and taking a few steps, feeling surprisingly steady. As he stepped outside, he heard Jigoro furiously scolding Kaigaku.

Kanae remarked, "He’s been yelling for an hour now. I keep worrying the Former Sound Pillar might need water."

Sosuke couldn’t help but notice Kanae’s rather unusual focus.

Regardless of the day’s tasks, they still needed to eat.

After breakfast, the Kakushi arrived, bearing a letter and mission from Kagaya.

The Swordsmith’s Shed was to be moved back to the Butterfly Mansion immediately. Sosuke and Kanae were to depart at once, with no further delays.

Meanwhile, a new secluded residence had already been secured for Jigoro, and he was to relocate immediately as well.

Tomioka and Tengen were to remain hidden in the area for two days and nights, observing any developments. Should they discover anything, they were instructed not to act rashly but to report back immediately for further instructions on combat strategy.

With all arrangements finalized, Sosuke was carried by a Kakushi member as he and Kanae set off for the Butterfly Mansion.

As they prepared to leave, Sosuke bid farewell to Jigoro and the others. Zenitsu stood timidly to one side, while Kaigaku, on the other, wore a look of utter impatience, dismissing any lessons with disdain.

Only Jigoro Kuwajima, despite his advanced age, continued to apologize to Sosuke for Kaigaku’s behavior.

What could Sosuke say?

He offered a few words of comfort to Jigoro, glanced at Kaigaku, and ultimately said nothing. Then, he and Kochō Kanae set off on their journey back.

Discussing Kaigaku’s situation now would be pointless.

This man’s deeply ingrained flaws couldn’t be eradicated by a single incident of being drugged, nor could it give Jigoro the profound realization needed to completely eliminate future sources of trouble.

Therefore, the matter would have to be addressed gradually in the future.

Whether through observation or some other means, for now, Sosuke had no effective solutions.

During the return journey, Sosuke received unprecedentedly good treatment, thanks to the Kakushi who helped carry him.

However, Kanae remained concerned about his injuries, so they didn’t travel too quickly.

Overall, the Kakushi chose the safest routes, ensuring they reached the next Wisteria-crested House just before nightfall each day.

This allowed Sosuke ample rest. After a few days, when he felt he could walk without much difficulty, he told the Kakushi to return to their duties, assuring them that he and Kanae could manage the rest of the journey alone.

The Kakushi didn’t hesitate. Everyone had their own work to do, and while their tasks weren’t as dangerous as those of frontline fighters, they were still crucial.

Moreover, the Butterfly Mansion was only two days away at most.

So, after confirming Sosuke’s condition was stable, they bid farewell and departed on their separate paths.

***

Although the weather would gradually warm up after the New Year, this time of year was actually colder than when it snowed more frequently. The air was bitterly cold, and occasional sleet—a mix of icy rain and snow—could freeze a person to the bone.

On the mountain path, Sosuke and Kanae were heading toward Butterfly Mansion. Sosuke casually remarked, "Once we get back, I’ll need to forge a new hammer."

The female Demon’s strikes had been so powerful that she had shattered his hammer into pieces. Without it, Sosuke felt quite inconvenienced.

Kanae glanced at him. "You should focus on recovering first before worrying about other things."

After a pause, she added, "We’ll need to report this incident at the Former Sound Pillar’s residence to Lord personally once we return to Butterfly Mansion. And the Tomioka and Tengen found nothing after all."

Despite staking out the area for two days and nights, Tomioka and Tengen had discovered no further anomalies.

Reluctant to give up, they even extended their vigil for another day and night, but still nothing happened.

While Tomioka’s taciturn nature was expected, Tengen was utterly frustrated.

Having lost two Lower Moon Demons in one fell swoop, Sosuke was surprised that the enemy showed no reaction whatsoever. He had hoped to use this opportunity to track down Muzan, but his hopes were ultimately dashed.

Kagaya had instructed them not to act rashly upon any discoveries, likely harboring the same idea.

But now it seemed their efforts had been in vain.

Two mere Lower Moon Demons clearly meant nothing to Muzan.

Or perhaps he had other schemes in mind?

Sosuke had no way of knowing. In fact, he had only learned about Tomioka and Tengen’s situation the previous day, when Kanae had just found out.

With nothing further to add, he was about to change the subject when his brow suddenly furrowed.

A faint, deep, and sinister roar reached his ears, carrying a brutal and bloodthirsty aura.

Sosuke froze, glancing up at the sky.

Dark clouds blanketed the heavens, and fine snowflakes mixed with rain swirled through the air. Yet there was no denying it: it was still daytime!

’In broad daylight? Would a demon dare to come out and devour people?’

Startled, Kanae’s blade flashed from its sheath.

The bushes rustled, and with a rustling sound, a lithe figure suddenly sprang from the undergrowth, lunging straight at Tetsu no Sosuke.

Sosuke focused his gaze and breathed a sigh of relief—it wasn’t a demon!

It was a wolf!

Its eyes glowed with an unnatural crimson light, its jaws and muzzle were stained with fresh blood, and two arrows protruded from its body.

Kanae, who had initially intended to strike first, immediately switched to using the back of her blade upon recognizing the creature. The blunt edge struck down, and the wolf let out a pained howl in mid-air, tumbling to the ground before limping away.

Sosuke and Kanae exchanged glances before deciding to pursue it.

The wolf had appeared dangerous, and the arrows were likely the work of a hunter. Yet the hunter was nowhere to be seen. Considering the blood on the wolf’s muzzle, they couldn’t help but wonder about the hunter’s fate.

Wounded, the wolf left a trail of blood and paw prints. Following this trail, the pair soon found themselves deep within the forest.

Finally, they discovered the wolf curled up inside a hollow beneath a massive tree.

Beneath the tree hollow, its blood-soaked body lay curled up, already dead. Its earlier attack on Sosuke had been its last desperate act.

What was particularly striking was the presence of several wolf pup carcasses beneath its claws.

Sosuke and Kanae stood beside the scene, both feeling a pang of unease.

The law of the jungle dictated survival of the fittest. Though they didn’t know what had befallen this wolf, the sight of both the adult and its pups lying dead left a lingering discomfort in their hearts.

Shaking his head, Sosuke said, "Let’s go."

Kanae hesitated, unable to resist suggesting, "Shouldn’t we bury them?"

Sosuke paused, considering the matter. The law of the jungle, survival of the fittest—their deaths might save other animals.

But this wasn’t a decision he should be making for them. And seeing Kanae’s earnest expression, how could he possibly refuse?

He nodded, and the two began digging a grave on the spot.

Using their Nichirin Blades for digging would be wasteful Sosuke’s toolbox contained some small tools that, while not ideal, would suffice.

They dug a perfectly square pit. Once it seemed deep enough, the two of them lifted the wolf’s corpse and placed it inside, followed by the bodies of the wolf pups.

Sosuke squatted by the edge of the pit, muttering, "We only met by chance. But in this freezing weather, let’s give you a proper burial. Rest in peace."

As he mumbled, Kanae voice called out from behind him, "Sosuke, come quick!"

Her voice was filled with excitement, making him wonder if she had found some treasure in the wolf’s den.

He hurried to the tree hollow and saw Kanae cradling something in her arms, her face beaming as she looked at him. "Look, look! There’s still one alive!"

The creature in her arms was a wolf pup, its eyes squinting as it curiously surveyed its surroundings. It pawed lazily at Kanae’s hand with its plump little paw pads, yawning languidly.

"It’s so soft!" Kanae gazed at the pup in her arms, then at Sosuke, her expression shifting until she declared firmly, "Let’s take it home and raise it, okay?"