Tanjiro's eyes widened with a mix of surprise and caution. "You know me?" he asked, his tone betraying his confusion and vigilance. This woman seemed to know his name and spoke his language fluently. In this unfamiliar world, that was a rarity—and suspicious.
"I've been observing you for a long time," I said with a calm voice. "Not only you. I also know your past, your future, and your feelings."
Tanjiro straightened, his expression serious. "If that's the case, can you send me back to my world?"
My lips curled into a faint smile. "Tanjiro, I understand your urgency to return home. But inter-universal travel isn't as simple as hopping on a train to another town. Let me explain two important things first."
I raised two fingers, signaling for his attention. Despite his wariness, Tanjiro focused on her words.
"First," my voice was steady, "I can send you back to your world."
Tanjiro's face lit up with hope, and he immediately interrupted, "Then please, send me back now!"
"Hold on, let me finish," she said firmly. "There's more you need to know."
He nodded reluctantly, letting me continue the speech.
I can send you back, yes. But it will be a one-way trip. No second chances, no turning back. And the journey will be faced with unimaginable dangers." Her tone dropped to convey the gravity of the situation. "You'll pass through the void—a realm filled with creatures that will hunt you. The path itself might collapse, tearing you apart. The only certainty on this journey is..." She paused, letting the silence linger before finishing, "Death."
"Death."
Tanjiro clenched his fists, determination blazing in his eyes. "Even if that's the case, I have no choice. My sister is waiting for me in my world. I'll face whatever comes my way. Please, send me back."
I studied his personality for a moment then nodded. I knew how to make Tanjiro work for me now.
"Very well. But now for the second thing."
"What is it?" he asked quickly, his eagerness unshaken.
"I can't send you back—at least, not right now."
Tanjiro blinked in disbelief. "Wait, what? But you just said…"
"I said I can send you back. But I didn't say I can do it immediately." My tone softened, yet it carried a note of finality. "Right now, I'm bound by my duties here. Until my work is complete, I can't leave this realm to guide you back."
Tanjiro frowned, his thoughts racing. "Why not? Can't you explain it more clearly?"
"To make it simple, let me ask you some questions," I said, gesturing for him to listen.
"First, if you want to go to the market, how do you get there?"
"By walking," he answered without hesitation.
"Good. Now, if you want to travel from a village to a city, how do you get there?"
"Also by walking," he said. "If the village is very far then only by taking the train that you can get there."
"Exactly. And if you wanted to go to another country?"
Tanjiro paused, then replied, "By boat, I think."
"Correct again. Now, think about this—if you want to travel to another universe, what kind of transportation would you need?"
The question left Tanjiro stunned. He furrowed his brow, struggling to find an answer, but his mind spun like an overworked machine, unable to comprehend the scale of her question.
Seeing his frustration, I sighed. "Explaining the complexities of the universe is a story for another time. For now, I am the only person that you can trust."
Before Tanjiro could respond, the sharp sound of a police car's siren echoed through the alley. I glanced toward the noise. "It seems like our conversation is interrupted. Let's move to a new place. Follow me."
As the sirens blared louder, I leaped onto the wall, moving effortlessly as though gravity didn't exist. My steps were silent, my movements precise—like a ninja in the shadows.
Tanjiro, still on the ground, turned and saw a group of uniformed men approaching—the same kind of people who had tried to arrest him earlier. Without hesitation, he followed my lead. He jumped onto the wall, but his feet slipped almost immediately. Not giving up, he pushed off to another wall, repeating the motion with determination. Slowly but surely, he climbed higher, reaching the top of the building.
Panting slightly, he scanned the rooftop, searching for me.
"Over here, boy!" I called out, my voice echoing from a nearby building.
He turned to see me standing on another rooftop. I waved casually at him before spinning around and taking off at a sprint.
Without wasting a second, Tanjiro chased after me. He reached the edge of the rooftop and stopped, staring at the gap between the buildings. It was wider than the last jump, and he hesitated. But steeling himself, he mustered all the strength he had left and leaped forward.
His feet landed unevenly on the rooftop, nearly slipping. He stumbled but regained his footing, forcing himself to move forward. He wouldn't let me get away.
I darted across the rooftops, moving gracefully from one building to the next. My movements were light, each leap calculated and smooth. Tanjiro followed, but his movements were clumsy in comparison. His injuries slowed him down, and sweat trickled down his face as he pushed through the pain.
In the distance, an abandoned building loomed. I changed direction, heading straight for it.
Tanjiro saw my new target and adjusted his course. His face had grown pale, and his breathing was heavy. With every step, the dull ache in his body became sharper—the internal injury he carried was worsening, but he didn't stop.
Finally, I slipped into the abandoned building, disappearing into the shadows.
Tanjiro staggered inside moments later, his breaths ragged but determined.
"Well done, boy," I said, clapping my hands slowly. "I thought you wouldn't catch up with me."
He said nothing, still catching his breath.
"Don't worry," I continued, my tone calm. "Our conversation won't be interrupted anymore. This is a safe place. Now, you can ask me anything you want."
I leaned casually against a crumbling wall, watching him with sharp eyes. My test had served its purpose.
This boy's determination to return home was firmly strong. And I like his determination.
"Follow me," I said, standing up and heading toward the rusty door at the side of the room. As I pushed it open, it creaked loudly, revealing a dimly lit space filled with abandoned arcade boxes. The air carried a faint scent of dust and rust, and the faint glow of an old TV stood out in the middle of the room.
Tanjiro followed behind, still catching his breath.
"While you're resting, how about we watch some videos?" I said, motioning toward the TV.
I walked over, switched it on, and dragged a sofa closer to it. Its worn-out cushions sank slightly as I adjusted its position.
"You can sit here," I offered, gesturing toward the sofa.
Tanjiro hesitated. Despite his exhaustion, he politely declined with a small shake of his head.
"Suit yourself." I sat down instead, settling into the seat and pointing toward the flickering screen.
"You've been wondering why I know so much about you, right? This will answer your question."
Tanjiro's gaze shifted to the screen, confusion etched on his face.
Then the image appeared.
"This... This is me," he muttered, his eyes widening in disbelief.
On the screen, he saw himself—walking through a forest, carrying a bundle of charcoal on his back. His face was younger but unmistakably his.
His confusion quickly turned to shock.
"I know this," he said, his voice trembling slightly.
The scene playing on the TV was a memory—clear as day. He remembered the moment vividly: it was the time he'd left his home to sell charcoal in the nearby village. The events unfolded exactly as they had before—his overnight stay at a kind uncle's house, which ultimately saved him from a demon's attack.
Tanjiro's fists clenched at his sides as the emotions came rushing back. The memories of his family, of that fateful day, and of everything he had lost. Anger, grief, and confusion swirled inside him, battling for control.
I watched him silently, carefully observing the storm of emotions in his eyes. His reactions, his strength of will—it was all different from simply watching his story unfold in the anime.
"Tanjiro," I said softly, breaking the heavy silence. "This is your original life path. If you hadn't been pulled into this place, your entire life would've followed this trajectory—just as you see on the screen."
At those words, Tanjiro's legs gave out beneath him. He sank into the sofa, his face pale and his breathing unsteady. His usually resolute expression faltered as the weight of the revelation hit him.
Tanjiro stared at the TV, unable to move his eyes away.
"If I didn't sleep at the uncle's house, would I save my family from this tragedy?" he muttered unconsciously, the tears slowly running down his cheeks.
"Ah. No. You wouldn't." I frankly answered.
'If you do that, your story will end in one chapter.'