55 Demon Slayer: Floating Comment

The Butterfly Mansion was in utter chaos these days.

Just as they managed to stabilize one critical patient, another arrived at their doorstep.

Masachika had survived, but his internal injuries were severe. Preserving the functionality of his organs was a stroke of luck in itself. As for whether he could ever return to his former combat prowess—that was left to the whims of fate.

Sanemi paid no attention to the cawing crow that had been circling outside for what felt like ages. Instead, he remained at Masachika's side, not leaving him for a moment. Though, if standing in the corner with a brooding expression while glaring at the Butterfly Mansion's apprentices as they changed dressings could be called "caring."

Meanwhile, on the neighboring bed, Giyu Tomioka—another long-overdue guest—kept vigil as a family member of the injured.

A week later, Sabito finally regained consciousness.

As his condition improved, Giyu also grew less hesitant around Makomo, no longer reacting to her like she was some untouchable tiger.

With Sabito and Makomo's encouragement, Giyu eventually accepted Oyakata-sama's invitation to headquarters to discuss the matter of the Hashira position.

"What was the final decision?" Haruto asked as he peeled an apple with a small knife, placing neat slices into a bowl for Sabito. Then, grabbing another apple that Makomo had just washed, he began crunching into it noisily.

"You don't know? I thought you were a Hashira," Sabito teased, poking at a piece of apple with his knife. Seeing how much Haruto seemed to enjoy his snack, he sat up and popped the slice into his own mouth.

"Giyu's promotion to Water Hashira is practically guaranteed. But you're not far off, right? There's only room for one Water Hashira, they can't just invent a new title for you."

Sabito smirked and gave Haruto a thumbs-up. "Exactly. The final decision was this: Giyu will be the Hashira, and I'll be the Half-Hashira. Aside from the title, there's no real difference—I'll have the same privileges and responsibilities, including participating in Hashira meetings."

Hah, as expected of Oyakata-sama. He would never let a swordsman of Hashira-level strength remain an ordinary Demon Slayer.

But… Half-Hashira?

That sounded so… awkward.

"How did Giyu take it?"

"He said a bunch of things no normal person could understand. Essentially, he thought the titles should be swapped. He lingered by my bedside for ages until Makomo finally shooed him away," Sabito said with a tilt of his chin. "Then his scatterbrained crow came and dragged him off somewhere."

Haruto glanced out the window, catching sight of Sora peeking in with its curious, beady eyes.

Sabito offered a soft, reassuring smile. "Go handle your business. Don't worry about me—I'm feeling much better." His gentle nature hadn't changed and likely never would, a steady reminder of the warmth he carried.

As Haruto stepped outside, Sora perched delicately on his outstretched finger.

"Message from Tamayo in Asakusa, Tokyo. Her research has made significant progress, and she extends an invitation to test her latest medicine."

Returning to Asakusa with Genya, Haruto found the bustling city quieter than it had been during their last visit.

Perhaps it was due to the weight of the times, but today, Asakusa seemed unusually somber.

Once again, they were greeted by Yushiro, his expression as sour as ever. In the years that Haruto had been visiting Tamayo, he had grown used to Yushiro's perpetual glower.

One thing that hadn't changed? Yushiro's irritation.

No, it had only deepened as Haruto had grown taller over the years.

The most infuriating part for Yushiro? That this little demon-eating brat, who was only ten years old, was already nearing his height—even with that ridiculous tuft of hair atop his head.

Damn it. Being 157 centimeters wasn't short!

Inside Tamayo's estate, the air was fragrant with a mix of delicate white camellias and the subtle sweetness of ambergris.

"Oh, this…" Haruto paused, eyeing a familiar white figurine-shaped candle. "Is that the one?"

"No," Tamayo replied as she emerged from the room, fatigue shadowing her elegant features. "But it's the same kind as the one you brought on your first visit. That candle gave me a lot of inspiration, so I found a matching set at the market."

"Inspiration?"

"The candle is called 'Dream Thief.' That's also the name of my new elixir." Tamayo wiped her hands with a clean towel, her tone calm yet deliberate. "Have a seat. Genya, would you like a pear? A patient's family brought some over, and I couldn't refuse."

Genya, feeling the weight of the expectant stares from those around him, nodded quickly.

"Yes, thank you, Lady Tamayo."

"Yushiro?"

"Understood, Lady Tamayo."

Yushiro left to wash the pears, while Tamayo retrieved a row of glass vials from a high cabinet, placing them carefully before Haruto.

Inside the vials, a golden, viscous liquid shimmered faintly, resembling molten gold—or perhaps blood plasma.

Especially unsettling, considering this plasma had come from Haruto himself.

"Dream Thief, or you might call it a Memory Recollection Elixir. Its primary ingredient is your blood, mixed with… other compounds, including powerful hallucinogens."

Tamayo held up one of the vials between her slender fingers. Her violet eyes reflected the swirling gold inside, their gaze carrying a dreamlike allure.

"Perhaps it should be called the 'Serpent of Eden.'"

"I used it once—just once—to test it on myself. Both the physical effects and the psychological euphoria it induced are potent. It's dangerously addictive, for humans and demons alike."

Haruto's hand hovered over the vial. Years of rigorous training told him this was not something to mess with.

"But you're different," Tamayo said, her lips curling into a faint smile. "No snake is poisoned by its own venom."

"That's because no snake would inject itself with venom," Haruto retorted, though his resolve wavered as he took the vial. "What's it for?"

"To uncover deeply buried memories. They may be beautiful… or painful. That depends on the user."

Tamayo lowered her gaze, her expression unreadable. "When I tested it on myself, I felt as if I had returned to my human days. The pain and shadow of death loomed over me, but my husband and child were still alive...

It was a moment I'll never forget in this endless life. But that damned Muzan… he deceived me when I was on the brink of death, turning me into a demon. By the time I regained my senses…"

She took a deep breath, her eyes closing as though confronting the memory—a venomous snake coiled in her mind, or perhaps the apple that had led her out of Eden to bear God's wrath.

Yushiro returned quietly with a plate of pears, his gaze soft with an unspoken devotion to Tamayo—an eternal, unshakable love.

Tamayo opened her eyes with a gentle sigh. "Unless they can break free themselves, the user becomes trapped in their memories."

"And the drawbacks?" Haruto tilted the vial, watching the liquid flow sluggishly within.

"The stronger the demon, the faster they process memory fragments. What might take a human an entire day to experience could take a demon mere moments. As a combat tool, it's practically useless.

But… if a user willingly surrenders their mental barriers…"

Her meaning was clear.

Every demon carried a haunting past in the depths of their memories.

And if this elixir could lead them into that abyss of nostalgia, trapping them in their pain...

For a swordsman, severing the head of such a demon would be as simple as reaching out to pluck a fruit.