Demon Slayer: Rise of the Third Brother-Chapter 123: A New Year’s Invitation

After cooperating with the research team for several days, Hiru carefully timed things and headed to Mount Fujikasane together with Ubuyashiki Hinaki and Ubuyashiki Nichika.
There, he also met the boy Sanemi had mentioned—Iguro Obanai.
The two weren’t particularly close, so a simple nod of acknowledgment was all they exchanged—until Hiru received the statistics compiled by the Kakushi.
“Thirty candidates, and only four passed?” Hiru pointed at the figures, fixing the Kakushi in front of him with a grave stare. “Isn’t the remaining number of demons off?”
The Kakushi wiped his sweat. “Hashira-dono, we already made a generous estimate.”
“Then why are there fewer than fifteen left?”
“In past years, the attrition rate was never this high,” the Kakushi explained hesitantly. “But in recent years there’ve been many talented swordsmen… and the demons themselves often kill each other…”
“…Enough. You can go.” Hiru waved him off wearily.
After the Kakushi left, Hiru collapsed into his chair. Only after a long while did he mutter,
“…How did I, the mighty Demon King, end up like this?”
Complaints aside, work still had to be done. As long as he captured the low-grade demons he didn’t care for and sent them away, that would suffice.
In the midst of this busyness, Hiru received a letter from Sabito.
It was an invitation to spend the New Year at Sagiri Mountain.
The letter mentioned that Sabito, Giyu, and Sanemi had built additional houses beside the old cabin, so everyone would be able to stay comfortably this time. It also said that Makomo had made a new dessert—delicious—and hoped Hiru would come try it.
Hiru stared at the letter for a long time.
The New Year.
For a demon, it was a distant concept. Demons lived far longer than humans, after all.
He and his brother hadn’t truly celebrated the New Year in a long time. At most, they would exchange a simple “Happy New Year” at a temple fair. Even back when Yoriichi was still human, they’d rarely prepared for it properly.
After all, during a time meant for family reunions, a New Year with just the two of them felt far too lonely—though that mad-dog kid Yushiro would probably enjoy spending the New Year alone with Miss Tamayo.
“Tell Sabito I’ll go, and thank him for me,” Hiru said to the Kasugai Crow delivering the letter. “I really don’t have time to write a reply right now. Sorry to trouble you.”
The crow glanced at the scattered remains of demons on the ground, nodded, and flew off.
“Kitaro, go tell my brother too.”
“Caw! Then don’t go running around recklessly, caw!”
“When have I ever run around recklessly?”
“Caw! Zero self-awareness!”
“…Do you want to never fly again?”
“Caw! If my application hadn’t been rejected—caw! Despicable swordsman!”
Hiru watched the two Kasugai Crows leave, then lowered his gaze to the short gun in his hand.
During his last battle with Akaza, his weapon had broken yet again.
He’d expected it to be difficult to obtain a replacement, but it had gone surprisingly smoothly—as if Akiha had already foreseen this and resigned herself to it.
Of course, the letter that came with the weapon was just as terrifying as ever:
【Look what you did to my child? If you dare come to the Swordsmith Village, I’ll have someone kill you. Absolutely.】
Hiru had only one thought after reading it.
【I should really avoid provoking him.】
From his perspective, constantly breaking weapons must have felt like selling a painting to someone with no appreciation—who then scribbled all over it without the slightest care.
But heaven was his witness: Hiru truly had never broken a blade on purpose.
After helping the Kakushi pack up the shattered remains of the demons, Hiru followed them to the next signal location.
If he wanted a peaceful New Year, he’d have to work twice as hard from now on.
...
With the first snowfall, red lanterns appeared along the streets, and people began preparing for the most important festival of the year.
Even the usually quiet Sagiri Mountain grew lively.
Before the snow had even fallen, Genya had already heard from Urokodaki Sakonji that this year’s New Year would be especially bustling, and he’d been excited ever since.
As the holiday drew closer, that excitement only grew.
“Master, there are only three days left until New Year’s. When will everyone be back?”
“They’ll be back soon,” Urokodaki said, broom in hand. “Have you finished today’s training?”
“Yes! All done!” Genya clenched his fists. “Is there anything else you want me to do?”
“Then go up the mountain and dismantle all the traps.”
“Huh? All of them?”
“Yes. All of them.”
The smile vanished from Genya’s face at a visible speed, but he still turned obediently. “Yes, Master…”
“If you finish before it gets dark, you won’t need to go back up the mountain until after the New Year.”
“Really?!”
“Yes.”
“Thank you, Master! I’ll go right now!”
Urokodaki watched Genya run off, shook his head, then turned toward the mountain path.
“You can come out now.”
“Hehe, I knew I couldn’t hide it from you, Master~”
A girl wearing a short kimono patterned with plum blossoms leapt down lightly from a tree and skipped over.
“Master, I’m back~”
“Mm. Welcome back.” Urokodaki reached out and rubbed her head. “Makomo.”
“I should be the earliest one back, right?” Makomo said, holding a neatly wrapped gift. “I knew those guys wouldn’t think to come back early to help clean.”
“That’s a bit harsh, isn’t it?”
Makomo turned around and laughed. “Oh, it’s Sanemi? Such a reliable eldest son~”
“That doesn’t sound flattering at all,” Sanemi muttered, lips pursed. He was also carrying a gift. “Happy New Year, Urokodaki-sensei.”
“Mm.” Urokodaki looked him over, his gaze lingering on the increasing number of scars on Sanemi’s arms. “Be careful in battle.”
“Yes. I’ll be more careful from now on,” Sanemi replied respectfully—whether he truly meant it was another matter.
When Genya returned after dismantling all the traps, he was overjoyed to see Sanemi helping with the cleaning. He stuck to him like a shadow, no matter how fiercely Sanemi glared.
Sabito and Giyu returned a day later than Makomo and Sanemi, but they brought back four large bags filled with all kinds of souvenirs.
So much so that Makomo couldn’t help wondering whether Sabito had gone demon slaying or started a business.
“How should I put it?” Sabito said, a triangular headscarf tied around his head as he held a feather duster. “Most of it was given to Giyu and me while we were patrolling our area. We barely spent anything.”
“That guy actually gets gifts?” Sanemi leaned in. “You’re not just saying that to spare his feelings, are you?”
“More like people get fooled by Giyu’s good looks,” Sabito shrugged. “But I did discover something—when it comes to getting Giyu to talk properly, Hiru’s method works better than mine.”
Makomo paused while wiping down a cabinet. “What did Hiru do?”
“He told Giyu that when he doesn’t know what to say, he should just smile and nod,” Sabito said, covering his face. “And not just that—he explained exactly which muscles to use, how much to lift the corners of his mouth, how much to narrow his eyes. A completely formulaic smile.
“I’ve never seen anyone teach like that. And yet Giyu actually learned it. At least three of those bags came from Giyu smiling back at the Kakushi.
“Honestly, I felt incredibly defeated.”
Sanemi: “…Does that guy even smile outside of eating salmon and daikon?”
Sabito raised three fingers in a solemn oath. “I swear on my life.”