Demon Slayer: Taking Care Of Tanjuro's Wife And Daughter

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"This is... how could this happen?" Tanjiro muttered, his face pale as he turned away, retching.

The horrifying scene overwhelmed him, leaving him unable to process the devastation before his eyes.

Ryuji, looking troubled as well, steeled himself and stepped further inside.

Signs of a struggle lay everywhere—furniture overturned, blood splattered across the walls. It was clear the family had tried to resist.

But it was all in vain.

The entire family had been slaughtered.

And in the most gruesome way possible.

After emptying his stomach, Tanjiro steadied himself and hurried to join Ryuji.

"Could it be wild animals from the mountains...?" Tanjiro asked, still struggling to understand.

Ryuji glanced back at him. "Do you really believe a wild animal could do this?"

Tanjiro lowered his gaze, unable to refute it.

Ryuji moved to the window, examining it closely. The glass was cracked, and the door was sealed from the inside. Whoever—or whatever—committed this atrocity didn't break in like a wild animal.

"It wasn't animals," Ryuji confirmed. "Maybe... bandits."

Tanjiro hesitated. Deep down, he suspected the truth, but he couldn't bring himself to accept it.

"Let's gather the remains," Ryuji said quietly, kneeling down to collect the scattered bones.

Tanjiro watched his uncle's back, his emotions churning, before he bent down to help.

...

Soon, a single grave appeared in the family's yard. The bodies had been so mutilated it was impossible to tell them apart. They were laid to rest together, as one.

The wind rustled softly through the trees, carrying a mournful sound, as if the air itself grieved for the dead.

Standing before the grave, Tanjiro bowed his head, fists clenched tightly.

"Uncle, I knew this family," he said, his voice trembling. "They were hunters from the mountains... They had such sweet children and a gentle old man... They were happy together..."

He closed his eyes, remembering a peaceful scene of the family he once passed by—a scene filled with warmth and laughter.

But now... that happiness had been torn apart by blood and violence.

Tanjiro's body shook.

"I don't understand... Who could be so cruel? How could anyone do this?" he asked, his voice breaking as the massacre replayed in his mind.

Ryuji stood beside him, silent for a moment before speaking.

"Tanjiro, you already know the answer," he said calmly. "So why ask me?"

"I just... don't want to believe it," Tanjiro admitted, bitterness seeping into his voice.

Ryuji had told Tanjiro about demons, explaining their existence and the dangers they posed. Tanjiro had known he might face one someday.

But he had never imagined it would happen so soon.

He had always thought demons were far removed from his life.

Now, he understood how close they truly were.

"Uncle... why are demons so cruel?" Tanjiro asked, raising his head to meet Ryuji's gaze. "Weren't they once human? How can they be so heartless toward the people they once were?"

Ryuji placed a hand gently on Tanjiro's head, meeting his sorrowful eyes.

"Because the moment they become demons, they stop being human," Ryuji explained. "From that point on, they're no longer like us. They transform into monsters that live off human flesh. To them, we're just prey—food. And when they see food, all they want is to devour it.

"The moment they became demons, they lost who they were."

He gave Tanjiro's shoulder a reassuring pat. "Tanjiro, understand this: you must take control of your own fate. Don't end up like this family, unable to defend themselves."

"If you're not strong enough, what happened to them could happen to us. And those of us who wield Breath of the Sun... we're hated even more by demons."

---

After returning home, Tanjiro was unusually quiet.

His training intensified, each day pushing himself harder than before.

As for Ryuji, he took to the mountains more often, hunting prey with renewed purpose.

The scene they had witnessed had left a deep scar on both of them. It was the first time they had truly confronted the brutal reality of demons' cruelty.

And it had awakened them to a sobering truth.

---

The forest.

Snow drifted softly around them.

A massive, silver-furred wolf raced through the woods, its body nearly the size of a calf—a powerful and dangerous wolf king. Despite its size, it moved gracefully, its paws making barely a sound against the snow.

But today, the wolf glanced back frequently, fear glinting in its eyes.

It was afraid.

The silver wolf's tail was tucked low, its body taut with tension.

Days ago, a human had invaded its territory.

As the leader, the wolf had rallied its pack to drive the intruder out.

But the human had slaughtered them all.

Only the wolf king had managed to escape.

Now, the same human had returned with another.

No matter how far the wolf ran, they found it.

Before long, two figures appeared from the shadows of the forest.

One was a tall man in a fur coat; the other, a young boy with fiery red hair, a visible scar on his forehead, dressed in a green-and-black checkered haori.

It was Ryuji and Tanjiro.

"Which way did it go?" Ryuji asked, looking to Tanjiro.

Tanjiro closed his eyes, inhaling deeply. After a moment, he opened them and pointed to the left.

"The scent is strong—this way."

"Good." Ryuji nodded, and they moved in that direction.

It wasn't long before they spotted the wolf king ahead, still fleeing through the snow.

Upon seeing Ryuji and Tanjiro, the massive wolf halted, its fur bristling like needles. The wolf's paws stomped anxiously in the snow, its jaws parting to reveal sharp fangs.

"Roar..."

The silver wolf growled, trying to intimidate them.

But its fearful eyes betrayed it.

"If we kill it, that pelt alone will fetch a good price," Ryuji said calmly, pulling the axe from his waist. "With that, moving won't be an issue."

Tanjiro tightened his grip on his own axe. "Uncle, this wolf looks dangerous. Let me help. I might not be as strong, but I can ease the load."

"No need," Ryuji replied, shaking his head.

It wasn't that he didn't want Tanjiro's help; he was concerned Tanjiro might strike first and end it prematurely. Ryuji had a reason beyond money—he needed the experience of taking down the wolf himself.

Tanjiro didn't argue. Instead, he held his axe at the ready.

The wolf seemed to realize that running was futile. If it continued, it would tire and lose the strength to fight. Lowering its body, it growled a low, menacing warning.

"It's fully grown," Ryuji muttered, taking a step forward, gripping his axe tighter.

"Roar..."

The silver wolf's growl deepened, its body tensing as it prepared to strike.

Then, in an instant, it lunged at Ryuji, launching itself from the snow in a final, desperate attack.

Each bound brought it closer, a blur of silver fur and lethal teeth. When it reached Ryuji, it leaped, jaws wide, aiming its fangs at him.

But in that moment, Ryuji swung his axe with deadly precision. A faint flame flickered along the blade as it sliced through the air.

The man and the wolf crossed paths in a flash.

Ryuji landed softly.

Behind him, the silver wolf fell, its head severed from its body. Blood sprayed onto the snow, staining it red.

Though dead, the wolf's body continued to twitch, a testament to its strength.

A cold, mechanical voice echoed in Ryuji's mind. "Congratulations, host. You have slain the silver wolf king and earned 0.2 attribute points."

Ryuji wiped the blood from his axe and sheathed it, his face calm.

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