Demon Slayer: Rise of the Third Brother-Chapter 110: Taking Tomorrow Off, Don’t Wait for Updates (2-in-1)

“…But don’t the two of you still retain the emotions you had when you were human?”
“That’s because when I became a demon, one of my obsessions was wanting to tell my brother everything about our family. And since we’ve been together for the past several hundred years, I’ve been able to keep hold of those feelings.
“As for what obsessions my brother had when he became a demon, I’m not sure of all of them, but at least one must be related to me. In any case, don’t place too much trust in demons—even us.”
Hiru looked at Ubuyashiki and stood up.
“Alright. I’ll go find Mikazuki and adjust your prescription again. Get some proper rest. If anything comes up, have the Kasugai Crow come find us.”
Yoriichi put his mask back on and rose as well.
“Then I shall take my leave too. Even if Muzan has yet to be found, I will continue to do my utmost to slay demons.”
“Thank you both for your trouble,” Ubuyashiki said, watching the two of them depart.
He lowered his gaze to the medicine pouch in his hand. After a long moment, he let out a soft chuckle.
“It seems my worries were unnecessary after all.”
...
After finalizing Ubuyashiki’s prescription with Mikazuki, Hiru casually mentioned Ubuyashiki’s frequent stomach pains.
“That shouldn’t be the case,” Mikazuki said, his face full of confusion. “Although the master’s appetite isn’t great, his stomach and intestines are in fairly good condition. I’ve been careful with his diet, and after adjusting his medication, his health improved quite a bit. Lately, there hasn’t even been any loss of appetite… Did you give the master any medicine separately?”
“No. If I had to say…” Hiru stroked his chin. “I just talked with the master privately about some things.”
“What kind of things?”
“…I don’t want to tell you.”
“Then forget it,” Mikazuki said, not particularly bothered as he walked over to the medicine shelves. “But from what you’ve described, this should be stomach spasms caused by psychological shock and rapid emotional fluctuations. I’ll send over some calming medicine later.”
“Alright, I’ll leave it to you. By the way, Shinobu didn’t come with you today?”
“She went to see her older sister,” Mikazuk replied with a smile. “She’s truly a very talented child. She’s not suited to my Stone Breathing path, but she’s exceptionally gifted in Water Breathing. What she’s using now is her own derived Flower Breathing. You supervised the last examination, didn’t you? You should’ve seen her.”
Hiru nodded in understanding.
“Kanae?”
“Yes.” Mikazuki’s smile softened. “Shinobu adapts very well to Flower Breathing. Once she masters it and does a bit more training, she should be able to slay demons. Depending on her progress, I’ll let her take the examination next year or the year after.”
“I feel like even if she grows for another two years, she still wouldn’t be able to cut off a demon’s neck,” Hiru said, the corner of his mouth twitching. “That small frame of hers just isn’t suited to the path of a swordsman.”
“If you hadn’t later sent over those prescriptions, I might really have made Shinobu give up,” Mikazuki said. “But now, as long as the timing is right, those medicines can easily kill demons.”
“…Are you serious? Those medicinal ingredients are absurdly expensive.”
“Mmm… At the very least, my own assets are enough to support a single disciple until she grows up. Growing the herbs myself just takes time, and I can make the medicine on my own, so it’s not much of an expense,” Mikazuki said, a faint smile appearing on his rugged face. “Besides, compared to someone like me who can no longer fight, nurturing the younger generation is far more important.”
After a brief silence, Hiru laughed as well.
“You really are selfless.”
“That’s nothing,” Mikazuki shook his head. “The master’s family is the truly selfless one. At least ninety percent of the Demon Slayer Corps’ operating funds come from the master’s family. The remaining ten percent is covered by the Wisteria House, while the Kakushi handle all kinds of logistical work. The swordsmen only need to focus on slaying demons and honing themselves.”
“Isn’t that basically covering everything? Then why did they charge money for uniforms in the beginning?”
“I heard it was to buy off karma, and that it was only a symbolic amount,” Mikazuki said. “Apparently, because the master’s family married into a priestly family, they can briefly glimpse the future. To avoid interfering with the swordsmen’s fortunes, they did it that way… though that’s just hearsay.”
He pointed toward the door with his only remaining arm.
“And you’re far too relaxed, you know? Hurry up and get back to work. At the very least, don’t disturb me while I’m working.”
“Tsk—so stingy. Staying a little longer wouldn’t hurt…” Hiru muttered as he walked out. “But fine.”
Standing at the doorway, he stretched his limbs, then called out to a passing Kakushi.
“Excuse me, do you happen to know where the Kasugai Crows are gathered?”
...
“Alright, alright, I didn’t do it on purpose! You saw it too—the waterfall just now was absolutely beautiful! That kind of scenery is practically a cleansing of the soul! Wouldn’t it be a shame to miss it?”
“That’s exactly what I said, caw! You should’ve covered your eyes and rushed through! Caw!”
“I can still hear sounds even with my eyes covered,” Hiru said, soothing the hopping Kitaro. “And I was very careful with my grip. Look, you’re still lively as ever, aren’t you?”
“Caw! You’re the most vile Hashira there is! No contest! Caw!”
“Yes, yes—but didn’t we arrive in Yamagata just fine?” Hiru laughed. “Don’t worry so much. Besides, Yamagata’s hot springs are great. Once the joint patrol is over, let’s go take a look.”
“Caw! Letting your guard down like that will get you killed by demons! Stay alert! Stay alert! Caw!”
“Relax—though it’s not obvious, I’m actually pretty strong,” Hiru said, looking toward the town ahead. “By the way, where’s the meeting point?”
“At the Wisteria House at the foot of Mount Zao! Caw!”
“The foot of Mount Zao, huh… That’s not too far,” Hiru said, glancing up at the sky. “Alright, let’s eat first before we head out.”
“Don’t even think about going to a dessert shop, caw! Hurry up! And using sweets as a meal is wrong!”
The Kasugai Crow grabbed Hiru by the ends of his hair and flew up.
“Tonight is the final gathering time, caw! Hurry up!”
“Huh? Today?” Hiru blinked. “Mm…”
He swiftly reached up, grabbed the Kasugai Crow by the wing, and pulled it back down.
“With my speed, there’s no need to rush! We’ll just eat first and then head over at full speed!”
“Caw! No—”
Hiru reached out and grabbed the Kasugai Crow by the neck, his gaze locked onto the town’s sweets shop.
“Relax. I won’t be late.”
Kitaro: Mmph! Mmph!—DID YOU HEAR THAT?!
...
“Could Hiru have gotten lost?” Yukinashi Aoba looked at the full moon slowly rising into the sky, worry evident on his face. “If I remember correctly, Hiru hasn’t patrolled this area before…”
“Even though Hiru does tend to lose his way, he always follows through on what he promises. He’s a responsible kid,” Rengoku Shinjuro said with a smile, arms crossed. “He’s probably just been delayed by something.”
“Have you ever worked with Hiru before, Rengoku-senpai?”
“No, I haven’t. But with such an outstanding older brother, the younger one surely won’t be lacking either,” Shinjuro replied, turning to Yukinashi Aoba.
“Speaking of which, even now I’m still amazed by Yoriichi’s swordsmanship. I finally understand what the family records meant by ‘the swordsmanship of a god.’ Clean and decisive—truly astonishing.”
“The swordsmanship of a god? Isn’t that a bit exaggerated?” Yukinashi Aoba recalled Yoriichi’s usual quiet, gentle demeanor. “Yoriichi doesn’t seem like a particularly sharp or aggressive person…”
“Hahaha, that’s true!” Shinjuro laughed. “Such a gentle person, yet wielding such crisp, decisive swordsmanship—it creates quite the contrast!”
“Could you tell me more about it, Rengoku-senpai?”
“Of course.” Shinjuro glanced around, his left hand still gripping his scabbard.
“Back when Yoriichi became a Hashira, his Breathing Style felt strangely familiar to me. I was so curious that I went home and searched through my family’s records. That’s when I discovered that the Sun Breathing Yoriichi uses is the original Breathing Style—one that no one had been able to master before his appearance.”
“The original Breathing Style?”
“Yes. According to legend, it was taught to the Demon Slayer Corps by a swordsman from the Warring States period. But because it was too powerful, no one could learn it. The Five Great Breathing Styles we use today were all derived from it—and weakened by at least twentyfold,” Shinjuro said with a sigh.
“To be honest, when I first learned that, it was incredibly disheartening. So after the meeting where you and Hiru became Hashira, I invited Yoriichi to my home under the pretense of sparring with him.”
Yukinashi Aoba looked at Rengoku Shinjuro.
“And the result? You won, right, Rengoku-senpai? Yoriichi looks very young, after all…”
“No, I lost,” Shinjuro said, his smile widening.
“And not just lost—I had my sword cleanly severed right in front of my beloved wife and son. It was a total, crushing defeat. I was so ashamed at the time that I wanted to lock myself in a room and never come out.”
“Eh?” Yukinashi Aoba’s eyes widened. “Rengoku-senpai… lost?”
“Yes. Yoriichi’s attacks had not a single wasted movement or opening. When he attacked, it was as though he became an entirely different person—every strike carried incomparable speed and power.”
“I was depressed for a long time after that, feeling that I’d been surpassed by the younger generation,” Shinjuro said, regret flickering in his eyes.
“But the only thing I truly regret now is that we only used practice iron swords. If we’d used Nichirin Blades, I could have witnessed with my own eyes the magnificent scene my ancestors described.”
Yukinashi Aoba’s curiosity was fully piqued.
“What kind of description?”
Rengoku Shinjuro stroked his chin.
“Let me think… My ancestor, Rengoku Tetsushiro, wrote it like this—
【That person’s sword forms were extraordinarily beautiful. Unlike Flame Breathing’s blazing techniques, his forms were also wreathed in fire, yet solely a brilliant, dazzling red. Though lacking Flame Breathing’s overwhelming golden brilliance, they were even more radiant.
When the Nichirin Blade was swung, searing flames entwined around the crimson blade. Vast sheets of red fire encircled that person, obediently burning along the path traced by the sword, casting his silhouette as though he were a god who commanded flames.
Even standing far away, unable to draw near, my eyes could capture only the remnants of the sword’s movements, never the full picture. Yet I could still feel the scorching heat rush toward me, before gently passing by my side… I was certain that under such swordsmanship, no specters or demons could possibly hide.
For even beneath a clear and brilliant sky, those sword forms were no less radiant than the sun itself. One can only imagine how breathtaking they must be when unleashed at night—surely they could cleave the darkness itself and sever despair with ease.
Yet the one who wielded such sharp and decisive sword techniques was a person who, even after suffering countless wounds, remained gentle and tolerant toward the world. Perhaps, just like the name of this Breathing Style suggests, he was someone akin to the sun—bestowing light freely upon all, asking for nothing in return.
Alas, I am but a shallow and ignorant warrior, unable to describe even a fraction of that swordsmanship. I record here only what little of the forms I could discern, in hopes that future generations remember that ‘there is always someone greater.’ Let them never grow arrogant over their own achievements, and instead devote themselves ever more deeply to honing their skills.
If I must choose a single phrase to describe that person, then ‘a god who has descended to undergo tribulation’ would be the most fitting title of all.】