6 Vol. II Demon Slayer: Floating Comment

"What's this?"

While Haruto busily adjusted the snacks that Amane had prepared for him in his basket, a gun wrapped in velvet cloth slipped out from the bottom, catching Kagaya Ubuyashiki's sharp gaze.

He picked it up and examined it closely. The sleek, streamlined design of the firearm made him pause, lost in thought.

"These bullets are specially designed to be infused with wisteria poison," Haruto explained as he retrieved the Browning, ejecting the magazine to reveal the custom bullets inside. "When the bullet embeds itself in a demon's body, it bursts open and injects 0.5 milliliters of wisteria poison. It's not a lot on its own, but unloading an entire clip adds up to a significant dose. And…"

He weighed the gun in his hand. "It's not heavy. Even someone with little strength can pull the trigger. Times have changed. This thing? It's incredibly effective."

"Is this a gift for me?" Kagaya asked, testing the weight of the gun in his hand. It felt perfectly balanced, even for someone as frail as him.

Haruto fell silent, unsure how to respond.

"...Well?" Kagaya pressed, his calm gaze locking onto Haruto.

"I could give you another—"

"Enough." Kagaya interrupted, pushing the Browning back into Haruto's hands. "Take it and go. Aren't you leaving soon?"

"But I was thinking—"

"Go already! And if you don't, hand over those snacks—I'll eat them myself."

Haruto slung the basket over his shoulder and replied with a grin, "I'm going, I'm going! Take care of your health!"

As Haruto's figure retreated into the distance, Kagaya lowered his eyes, deep in thought.

Times were indeed changing. Perhaps it was time to reconsider how the Demon Slayer Corps approached both offense and defense against demons.

Outside, Kanae was busy consoling a self-loathing Sanemi, who seemed on the verge of berating himself into oblivion.

Haruto's smile grew wider as he watched. Sabito was chuckling, Giyu was as distant as ever, and the rest of the Demon Slayers... well, they were all their usual endearing selves.

If only they could all live long and peaceful lives…

Haruto eventually entrusted the Browning to Shinobu, suggesting she practice her aim with regular bullets, just as Sanemi did.

"It's too loud to practice at the Butterfly Estate," she said with a slight frown. "Maybe later, after my sister returns, I'll find another place to train."

"Returns?" Haruto raised an eyebrow. Sanemi glanced up from his ohagi, but Giyu remained focused on his exclusive salmon daikon soup, the faintest smile curling his lips.

Ah, so even the people of Sagiri Mountain have started smiling now.

"Yes," Kanae replied with a nod. "It seems there's a demon hiding in Tokyo's Mitama district, likely connected to a religious cult. Several swordsmen sent to investigate have gone missing."

Placing a bowl of fish soup in front of Sanemi, Kanae smiled gently at Haruto.

"Don't worry. I'll be careful."

"Be cautious, no matter what," Haruto said, his tone serious.

If the situation required the intervention of a Hashira, the demon in question was almost certainly dangerous.

At the mention of Kanae's mission, Sanemi lost interest in his ohagi altogether.

After lunch, Haruto hurried back to Sagiri Mountain. He had a patrol to complete in his district that night. By the time he finished, dawn was breaking.

Entering his quarters, he noticed that two of the three futons were gone, leaving only his own in the middle of the room. Sabito and Giyuu had been assigned their own districts. Though they hadn't officially left Sagiri Mountain, their time there would only grow scarcer.

"Busy, busy, busy," Haruto muttered, shaking his head as he placed his Nichirin blade on its stand. He slid into his futon, hoping for a brief nap.

Then, suddenly, words flashed before his eyes like a rolling stream of dread.

[Kanae—heading toward death.]

He jolted upright, his heart pounding.

[The Hahiras are each doing their usual duties—Sanemi yelling, Gyomei weeping, Giyu patrolling—but only Kanae walks alone toward her end.]

[Don't go, Butterfly Sister—he's Douma!]

[I can't bear to watch. Douma's tears cost nothing, but his blades cost lives!]

[Sister's smile was my favorite... After Kanae died, Shinobu rarely smiled again.]

[Shinobu will break. Sanemi will break. And I—I will break too.]

Throwing on his haori and grabbing his blade, Haruto kicked the door open with such force it nearly cracked.

Douma. He knew that name.

The Upper Moon Two.

Kanae's target was him?

Would Kanae really die by his hand?

Even a Lower Moon demon could wreak havoc—what chance did they stand against an Upper Moon without preparation?

But if he joined her… two Hashira might stand a chance.

Clenching his jaw, Haruto quickened his pace. He had to reach Mitama district in Tokyo fast. The journey was long, but he couldn't afford to waste a single moment.

He could still change the future.

He had to.

Kanae moved cautiously toward a nearby village after confirming the demon's whereabouts through local informants.

"The victims were all believers of the Eternal Paradise Faith. The problem clearly lies with this bizarre religion," she murmured, her unease growing as the overcast sky pressed down upon her. A sense of foreboding churned in her chest.

The Eternal Paradise Faith… Just the name reeked of deceit.

Faith in some unnamed deity bringing salvation? It was all too hollow, too false.

Her sandals crunched against the packed earth of the village path as she advanced, the scent of blood faintly wafting through the night air.

A muffled sob carried on the wind, sharp and chilling. Kanae tensed, rushing toward the source of the sound.

"P-Please! Forgive me... Spare me..."

"Oh, don't cry like that~ Didn't you wish for me to deliver you to paradise? I'm merely fulfilling your heart's desire~"

Inside a disheveled house, a trembling girl lay sprawled on the floor, tears streaming down her face. Her body was so weakened by fear that she couldn't even crawl to the door.

Not that it would have mattered—no one outside would help her.

This entire village had fallen under the thrall of the Eternal Paradise Faith, their minds shackled by its leader.

Even her desperate cries for salvation would only be seen as proof of her "unworthiness" to enter paradise.

In the center of the room stood the man revered as a god among these deluded believers.

Dressed in a Western-style kimono, his handsome face radiated warmth, his rainbow-colored irises shimmering under the flickering candlelight. His hair, pale as white oak, cascaded softly over his shoulders.

And yet, the most striking feature of all was the inscription in his eyes: "Upper Moon" and "Two."

Douma.