CHAPTER 75: CHAPTER 75: WORLD PEACE?

The lodging arrangements were settled. Tanjiro stayed outside to chop firewood while Urokodaki led the other two inside.

As they entered, Kanae glanced at a room to her left.

Through the open doorway, they could see a young girl lying still, her eyes closed and a bamboo tube clenched between her teeth, as if sound asleep.

"She’s likely using this deep sleep to minimize her energy consumption," Kanae explained.

Urokodaki offered a brief explanation, though it was unclear whether he was trying to convince Kanae or himself.

Kanae nodded, and the three of them sat down.

Urokodaki turned his gaze to Sosuke. "You seem quite interested in my new disciple."

Sosuke’s eyes met Urokodaki’s, and he nodded slightly. "Perhaps a little. The hope he still carries burns like a flame, drawing my attention."

"Hmm, because he hasn’t been defeated by despair yet," Urokodaki nodded. "And that child is his last hope, the driving force behind all his efforts."

Glancing at Nezuko inside the room, Urokodaki changed the subject. "I received your letter about creating an Automaton. Is there anything I need to do to assist you?"

Sosuke nodded. "I need a deeper understanding of the ten forms of Water Breathing than I had when forging Tomioka’s Nichirin Blade. Though I made notes back then, I burned them all after memorizing the basic shapes to prevent the techniques from being leaked. With my current knowledge, it would be difficult to create an Automaton that meets your standards."

"I understand."

Urokodaki nodded. Some things only needed a hint to be understood. "Then stay here for a few more days. I’ll demonstrate each of the ten sword forms for you."

"Mm-hmm."

Sosuke nodded. He had almost said "Thank you," but then realized he was also helping Urokodaki, so there was no need for gratitude.

After a brief chat, they called Tanjiro in for lunch.

After lunch, Urokodaki took Tanjiro into the mountains for training.

Sosuke and Kanae stayed behind to prepare and tidy the room.

Since they would be sharing the room that night, they needed to make some arrangements.

With limited space and only one bed, Sosuke decided to make a makeshift bed on the floor.

"You can sleep on the bed tonight, and I’ll take the floor," he said, rolling around on his makeshift bed. It felt surprisingly comfortable, though a bit hard. The novelty of sleeping on the floor made him look forward to it.

Kanae frowned. "The mountains are cold and damp. Won’t sleeping on the floor make you sick?"

"What could happen to someone as strong as me?" Sosuke flexed his arm confidently. "Alright, it’s settled then."

After speaking, he glanced toward the door and said, "Those two have left. Nezuko, the girl, is still sleeping in the next room. What are your thoughts on this matter?"

Kanae sighed softly. "Every demon we’ve encountered so far has been driven by malice. We’ve never seen one capable of controlling their hunger for human flesh. This must be the first exception. I’m very curious to see how she develops—whether she can still find hope."

"...Hope?"

Sosuke leaned against the edge of the bed, his mind drifting to another demon.

A demon who had broken free from Muzan’s control... Tamayo!

"Hope," Kanae said, taking Sosuke’s hand and placing it on her lap. "Demons... they all suffer deeply. Each one carries their own obsessions and sorrows, their souls filled with anguished cries from which they can’t escape. So far, the only way I know to help them is to completely destroy them—to shatter that chaos and liberate their true souls, allowing their hearts to find peace. This is both saving others and saving the demons themselves."

Sosuke had never heard Kanae mention this before, and he stared at her in surprise.

Kanae pursed her lips. "Isn’t it childish? Even though they’re creatures that devour humans, I still feel sympathy for them."

Sosuke shook his head. "That’s precisely what makes you so kind."

"Unfortunately, no matter what mindset I approach them with, the outcome remains unchanged," Kanae sighed softly. Yet when she glanced at the other door, a new light flickered in her eyes. "That’s why I’m so eager to see what will ultimately happen. Once the mist shrouding their hearts is completely dispelled, will the most precious things deep within them still be so cruel and cold?"

Sosuke smiled. "Perhaps the answer has already been revealed. Otherwise, why would she remain in eternal slumber?"

Kanae nodded, then added, "I wonder if they’ve informed Lord about this."

"That’s their concern," Sosuke said with a smile. "But I imagine they wouldn’t keep it from him, would they?"

The conversation ended there. In the afternoon, Sosuke resumed his swordsmanship practice.

However, today’s training felt different. Kanae sat beside him as he pondered Urokodaki’s words while perched on a large rock.

Question your heart!

Question your heart a hundred times!

What do you truly desire to do?

Sosuke had asked himself this question countless times since the beginning.

Initially, he had wanted to become a Demon Slayer Corps swordsman, learn a breathing technique, and gain the power to protect himself.

So... at first, he had wanted to protect himself!

Later, he realized he could only become a swordsmith.

Forging swords for swordsmen to slay demons—for those fleeting days, he had genuinely aspired to become the greatest swordsmith, crafting the ultimate weapon!

That ambition persisted until he met Kanae, who reversed the tragic fate of that night and forcibly kept her by his side.

Then came his entry into the Butterfly Mansion, where his relationship with Kanae continued to evolve, while his connection with Shinobu also underwent subtle shifts.

The number of people around him seemed to have grown.

A sense of responsibility had settled upon him.

Though not yet officially a member of the Demon Slayer Corps, he had already begun considering the needs of its members.

He yearned to contribute to severing the millennia-long chain of sorrow. To enhance the overall strength of the Demon Slayer Corps, he delved into the study of Automata, hoping to use this knowledge to protect everyone around him...

Sosuke suddenly opened his eyes, his expression peculiar.

"So, what I truly want to do... is world peace?"