After Souta left, the three remaining inside the wooden cabin exchanged glances and fell into a long silence.
When Souta had been there, his casual attitude had rubbed off on them. None of them had taken the time to deeply consider what his actions truly meant.
But now that they did, all they could feel was awe and reverence.
Urokodaki glanced at Nezuko and, after a moment, sighed softly.
"You two siblings... have truly met someone extraordinary."
"Yeah. Nezuko was lucky to receive something as miraculous as the system phone. Without it, we'd never have met Souta."
Tanjiro thought back on everything that had happened over the past few days—it all felt like a dream.
Nezuko, meanwhile, stared down at her hands. Remembering the savage instincts from when she first became a demon, her delicate brows knitted in discomfort.
"If only the technique to remove a demon's flaws could be made widespread... it would save so many people from tragic fates."
"I feel the same," Tanjiro said with a gentle shake of his head, "but... I don't think that's possible."
"Judging by Souta's personality, if there were no price to be paid to remove a demon's curse, he probably wouldn't have even mentioned anything about compensation. So, he must've sacrificed something we don't know about."
He turned to Nezuko, speaking with a serious tone:
"Nezuko, we must remember this kindness. We need to find a proper way to repay it."
"I understand, Brother," Nezuko smiled and nodded.
"Don't worry, Souta may be kind-hearted, but I'll never take his help for granted. I'll remember it well. It's just..."
The black-haired girl looked troubled.
"He really doesn't lack anything. I don't even know how to repay him..."
"In that case, I have an idea."
Tanjiro thought back to Souta's behavior and said:
"Well... Souta's a bit, uh, lazy."
"...Lazy?" Nezuko blinked.
Tanjiro gave her a rundown of Souta's many "lazy" antics.
Like when he didn't want to wait, so he slowed his subjective time and fast-forwarded two days in an instant.
Or when he didn't want to walk, so he teleported everywhere—and even turned Nezuko weightless so he could carry her with ease.
Honestly, Tanjiro had never met anyone like him.
Nezuko couldn't help but feel a giggle bubble up—but she held it back out of respect for her benefactor.
Of course, it wasn't mockery. Rather, she found the contrast between his divine status and human-like laziness kind of... endearing.
For a god, laziness came off as charming.
But for a regular person? That was just being lazy.
"So, Nezuko, maybe try to find an opportunity to take care of Souta in day-to-day life," Tanjiro suggested. "He's probably too lazy to even clean his own place."
"Hm... That's actually a good idea," Nezuko agreed.
Repaying a favor meant giving something the other person actually needed.
And for someone who had everything but was lazy, tending to their daily life might be the perfect way to show gratitude.
"I'll keep an eye out for a chance in the group chat."
She looked fired up with determination.
Seeing that expression, Tanjiro felt a warmth in his heart.
His sister felt just like she used to—and for a moment, it felt like home again.
And then he remembered...
"By the way, Nezuko—what exactly happened that day two years ago?"
A shadow passed over Nezuko's eyes.
She fought to hold back the pain and searched her memory.
"I'm not entirely sure. I think someone stormed in and killed Mom and the others. By the time I realized, it was too late. I grabbed Rokuta and ran... and then, just as we got outside, I felt pain in my back... After that, I don't remember anything."
"The Demon Slayer Corps has concluded that your family was murdered by Muzan Kibutsuji."
Urokodaki suddenly interjected.
"Muzan Kibutsuji..." Tanjiro repeated the name. "He's the progenitor of demons, right? You mentioned him before."
"Yes," Urokodaki said, his voice grim. "All it takes is a trace of his blood on a wound—and a human will turn into a demon."
His tone grew colder as he added:
"The final goal of the Demon Slayer Corps is to completely annihilate Muzan Kibutsuji."
"I remember his scent. If I ever encounter him again—I'll recognize him instantly."
Tanjiro's eyes hardened as the memory of that night came rushing back.
The loss of his family was a wound that would never heal.
If there was one person he could never forgive—it was Muzan.
Sensing his disciple's building fury, Urokodaki patted him gently on the head, then spoke in a stern voice:
"Don't let hatred cloud your mind, Tanjiro. Muzan is not someone you can face in your current state. If you ever do meet him and recognize him—do not act alone. Contact the Corps immediately. A Hashira-level swordsman will handle him."
"Understood, Master Urokodaki. I'll keep that in mind."
The seriousness of Urokodaki's tone seemed to calm Tanjiro a bit, and he nodded solemnly.
Nezuko had heard the whole exchange—but didn't care much for it.
Rather than rely on the Demon Slayer Corps, she wanted to be the one to bring down the man who destroyed her family.
There was a post in the group—pinned by Souta.
It said she could use points as payment to ask him for strength enhancements.
Nezuko thought—this must be the real way to defeat Muzan Kibutsuji.
To her, Souta seemed all-powerful. Muzan? Probably nothing in comparison.
Maybe Souta could help her grow stronger—strong enough to surpass Muzan.
And when that day came, revenge would be hers.
With the new group mission, she'd be earning points soon.
Once she paid back the 500 points she owed, whatever remained—she'd use it all to grow stronger.
Yes. To grow stronger.
Not to ask Souta to avenge her.
When it came to Muzan Kibutsuji... she would defeat him with her own hands!
'Mother, siblings... I'll make sure that monster suffers for everything he did to you!'
The black-haired girl made her vow silently.
Meanwhile, in the Souta's world...
Souta suddenly sneezed.
"Hm? Gods can catch colds? Is someone gossiping about me?"
It felt odd, but he didn't dwell on it.
Looking around his apartment, he noticed dust covering the floor and furniture.
He'd been in the Demon Slayer world for over two days, but clearly, more time had passed here.
Too lazy to clean, he simply used divine power to will the entire apartment spotless.
Then, he plopped down on his freshly-cleaned sofa, stretched out, and opened the group chat on his phone.
Souta: "@Athena. I'm heading to your place now. The teleport will drop me right beside you. Shouldn't be a problem, right?"
A reply came swiftly.
Athena: "I am in my own domain. Come."