After twelve years apart, Yoriichi’s image remained largely unchanged in Rin’s memories.
The only differences were his now much taller build, more mature facial features, and longer deep-red hair.
Yet those clear eyes were still the same—empty and flat as a dead lake, exactly like when he was a child.
If there was any major change worth noting, it lay in Yoriichi’s resolve.
Twelve years of wandering seemed to have worn away the haze of confusion that once clung to his shoulders when he left this residence.
His eyes remained hollow, yet they now radiated absolute determination, accompanied by a faint mist of deep sorrow that still lingered at the corners of his eyelids.
During those twelve years of absence, this boy must have endured countless pains he chose not to share with anyone.
“It’s been so long, Big Brother Yoriichi…”
Rin stared blankly at the silhouette that had suddenly slipped through the open gap of her bedroom window.
Thousands of chaotic thoughts slammed mercilessly into her mind.
She had never imagined Yoriichi would ever return here, so she had no mental preparation whatsoever for such a crazy situation.
Therefore, when the person who had disappeared for twelve years truly stood before her in the flesh, Rin lost every warm word she could have said.
She could only throw out a question in a tone that sounded cold and unwelcoming.
“Is there something so urgent that you suddenly appear in my room?”
Dengan tenang, Yoriichi tidak tampak terusik oleh ketajaman kata-kata Rin.
Kepribadian kakaknya memang terlalu lurus untuk memahami rumitnya emosi manusia.
The boy showed not the slightest sign of offense at Rin’s cold greeting and simply replied in a single heavy tone.
“I came to take Big Brother.”
“Big Brother Michikatsu?”
Rin held her breath for a split second.
Had Yoriichi already met their eldest brother before coming here?
“Mm.”
Yoriichi nodded slowly, confirming his sister’s guess.
After a moment of hesitation, he spoke again.
“Rin, have you ever heard of creatures called demons?”
“Demons…?”
Hearing that unfamiliar word, Rin’s brows knitted tightly.
In her adult mind, she already knew the definition of those monsters from her future knowledge.
Demons were vile creatures born from the distortion of human flesh.
They were granted near-immortal lifespans, possessed absurd regenerative abilities when injured, and some could even wield terrifying supernatural curses known as Blood Demon Arts.
“Last night, Big Brother and his entire troop were attacked by demons while setting up camp in the forest.”
Yoriichi paused, his gaze dropping to the Nichirin sword hilt hanging at his waist.
“Ordinary katana blades can never harm their skin. Only special swords forged from sunlight-absorbing ore and wisteria flowers can sever those monsters’ necks. The creatures are extremely vicious. Without proper weapons, all of Big Brother’s guards were torn apart on the battlefield.”
Yoriichi let out a short breath and continued his story with blood-chilling calmness.
“I arrived in the final moments before the monster’s claws crushed Big Brother’s throat. I managed to cut off its head and snatch Big Brother’s life back from the edge of death.”
Slowly, Yoriichi detailed the entire bloody event that had befallen Michikatsu that night.
He also introduced Rin to the secret demon-slaying organization he had followed for many years—a group known as the Demon Slayer Corps.
The organization operated in the shadows, unrecognized by the shogunate, and was led by the Ubuyashiki bloodline.
It sheltered several hundred swordsmen who moved silently.
Most of them were unfortunate humans whose families had been massacred by demons.
Some were drawn by the Ubuyashiki clan’s charisma, some sought the high pay, and others were simply desperate souls with nowhere left to return to in the outside world.
They gathered under one banner, trained deadly Breathing Techniques, distanced themselves from feudal political intrigue, and dedicated what remained of their lives to erasing demons from the face of the earth.
Yoriichi fell silent once more.
He lowered his head deeply, letting the night’s silence envelop Rin’s room for a long moment before looking up again.
“After listening to my full explanation, Big Brother… insisted on immediately joining the Demon Slayer Corps.”
“Join the demon slayers? What is the meaning of all this?”
Rin’s pupils shrank sharply.
Her fingers gripped the edge of the wooden dressing table behind her with tremendous force, demanding a logical answer.
“It means Big Brother has resolved to abandon his position as head of the Tsugikuni clan. He chose to live as an ordinary swordsman in order to hunt down the mastermind behind all of this.”
Yoriichi explained with an utterly serious expression.
A deafening buzz instantly filled Rin’s head.
Her body staggered back two steps, leaning fully against the wooden dressing table to support her suddenly weak knees.
Their eldest brother… Michikatsu, had simply thrown away the highest throne of the Tsugikuni clan?
That ambitious man had chosen to walk away from this land, leaving her alone inside this stone castle prison?
Rin stared sharply at Yoriichi’s clear eyes, which remained calm and free of any guilt.
Her lips parted, ready to unleash all the anger burning in her chest, but her throat suddenly tightened, unable to produce even a single sentence.
“Then, what is your response to his insane decision, Big Brother Yoriichi?”
“I am incredibly happy with the choice Big Brother made.”
Yoriichi’s expression remained flawlessly flat as he continued, right under Rin’s gaze filled with overwhelming disbelief.
“The Demon Slayer Corps is a vessel for those prepared to die. To step onto this path, one must burn away their entire identity, great name, and past status in the feudal world. The existence of demons is a walking curse that must be ended immediately. For that noble purpose, Big Brother is willing to discard his honor as a samurai so he can walk this bloody path alongside me. I feel deeply honored by his resolve.”
“Ha… so that’s how it is…”
Hearing the sincere words flow from Yoriichi’s lips and seeing the faint trace of relief on his brother’s face, Rin suddenly formed a cynical smile.
“So that’s all that fills your head, Big Brother Yoriichi…?”
*Then what about my fate in this place?*
At that crucial moment, Rin desperately wanted to scream that selfish question right in the man’s face.
*You two walk away embracing your own freedom, chasing the ambitions you hold so dear.
Then am I deliberately left here to rot alone?!
Are you both willing to lock me inside this empty, ice-cold castle tower for the rest of my life?!*
Yet even as the final night wind swept through the room, Rin chose to keep her lips tightly sealed.
*You are a daughter of the Tsugikuni clan…*
Her late mother’s final will echoed deafeningly once more, chaining down all her courage to rebel.
Because she had been born and raised atop this clan’s pile of luxury, it was only natural under feudal law that she must surrender her entire life to protect what remained of the great Tsugikuni name.
All this cursed destiny had already been locked in place from the very beginning.
“Rin, I’m entrusting Big Brother’s wife and child to you.”
Seeing Rin’s stony silence, Yoriichi finally delivered his last will.
He slowly turned his body, preparing to leap out into the darkness through the window.
Even until that blazing red silhouette completely merged with the thick night, Rin did not lift a single finger to stop him.
Time would never slow its rotation just because of human prayers and lamentations.
It always moved forward relentlessly, leaving those who were broken behind without ever looking back.
With the announcement of the “sudden death” of the family head, Michikatsu Tsugikuni, deep in the forest, the only remaining blood heir was his infant son—a little boy who had not even reached two years of age.
Given the child’s extremely young age, he was in no position to shoulder the bloody responsibility of leading troops and managing the clan’s bureaucracy.
Therefore, after intense debates among the elders and loyal guards, Rin Tsugikuni—who had now reached eighteen years of age and was still unmarried—was temporarily placed in the highest position as the acting head of the Tsugikuni clan.
She accepted the seat with an absolute promise: she would return all authority to Michikatsu’s son once her nephew reached adulthood.
For Rin, sitting in the seat of leadership was not a surprising new matter.
Even while Michikatsu was still in charge, Rin had often handled bureaucratic documents and arranged city logistics in her brother’s name whenever the samurai led military expeditions outside the territory.
Now, the position had simply become more official and absolute on clan documents.