Demon Slayer: Tanjiro becomes a ghost, Nezuko becomes a pillar!

Chapter 13 The Burden

As Mi Douzi spoke excitedly, she picked up the axe beside her and used it as a cutting tool, carefully cutting the thick black cloth.

Her craftsmanship was surprisingly skillful. Every now and then, she would bring the cloth to the edge of the bamboo basket to compare the size of the gap, and with her fingertips flying, the excess cloth would be precisely cut off. Her movements were so skilled that she didn't seem like a child.

Tanjiro stood quietly to the side, his gaze falling on the broken holes in the bamboo basket, a hint of understanding flashing in his clear eyes.

Once Mi Douzi had cut a suitable piece of cloth, he took the initiative to step forward, gently picked up the cloth, and carefully covered the hole in the bamboo basket. He also gently pressed the cloth to make it fit more snugly.

Seeing her brother's initiative to help, Midouzi's lips instantly curled into a relieved smile, her eyes filled with warmth.

The brother and sister worked together seamlessly, and in no time, the originally dilapidated bamboo basket was wrapped tightly in black cloth, turning it into a completely black "mobile nest" that could completely block out sunlight.

After everything was finished, Midouzi stood with her hands on her hips, looking proudly at the work they had completed together, her face beaming with a sense of accomplishment.

The feeling of working side by side was exactly the same as when she and her brother chopped wood, sewed, and did housework together at home—warm and reassuring.

Thinking of this, Mizuko smiled and turned to look at Tanjiro, about to tell him to crawl into the bamboo basket.

But the words he was about to say came to an abrupt halt, and the smile on his face froze instantly.

She first looked down at the bamboo basket beside her that was waist-high, then looked up at her brother, who was half a head taller than her, and her pupils contracted slightly.

Immediately afterwards, Nezuko shook her head rapidly back and forth, her gaze shifting back and forth between Tanjiro and the bamboo basket, her head buzzing as if she had discovered a huge oversight.

The bamboo basket didn't look small, but my brother was much taller than it and had very broad shoulders, so it looked like he couldn't fit inside!

"well……!!!!"

A surprised exclamation escaped from Mi Douzi's mouth, filled with undisguised embarrassment and frustration.

Her lovely cheeks flushed bright red instantly, and her eyes were filled with helplessness.

After working so hard all day, I completely forgot that my brother was so much bigger than the bamboo basket!

Tanjiro tilted his head, looking at Nezuko squatting next to the bamboo basket with a puzzled expression.

She was drawing circles haphazardly on the ground with her finger, her shoulders slumped, and her face was full of frustration, like a deflated little dumpling.

He reached out, puzzled, and gently touched Mi Douzi's forehead. Her nose twitched slightly, and with his keen senses as a ghost, he instantly caught her thoughts.

【Oh no, the bamboo basket is too small, it can't fit my brother at all. How could I be so stupid? I didn't check the size beforehand, and I've messed everything up...】

After understanding Nezuko's troubles, Tanjiro's eyes flashed with a gentle smile. His gaze swept between the bamboo basket and Nezuko, and he quickly understood the problem.

He raised his hand and gently rubbed Mi Douzi's hair to soothe her downcast mood, then turned around and pulled the bamboo basket next to him to his side.

"Brother, how about we wait until nightfall to continue our journey? During the day... huh???"

Just as Midouzi raised her head and made a suggestion in frustration, her pupils suddenly contracted, and she was so shocked that she stopped speaking halfway.

Tanjiro gently lifted his foot and stepped into the bamboo basket.

As his body gradually sank, his originally tall figure began to shrink at a visible rate!

In a short while, the older brother, who was originally a head taller than Mizuko, shrank to about the same size as his younger brother Rokuta, just big enough to sit steadily in the bamboo basket.

She hugged her knees, looked up at Midouzi with a gentle smile, her eyes full of doting affection.

Mizuko jumped up in shock, stood by the bamboo basket, staring wide-eyed at the tiny Tanjiro inside, her eyes wide with disbelief.

"Brother...you...you can actually shrink!"

"Mmm~"

Tanjiro nodded vigorously, his voice becoming softer and gentler due to his shrunken size, still a muffled but tender response.

"That's great! You're amazing, brother!"

In an instant, Mi Douzi swept away her previous frustration and jumped up happily, her face beaming with a bright smile, her eyes sparkling with joy.

Tanjiro sat in the bamboo basket, quietly watching his sister's joyful expression, his smile growing even wider.

Then, Mizuko picked up the last piece of black cloth and gently covered the bamboo basket, completely shrouding Tanjiro in shadow, her voice soft and gentle:

"Brother, let's set off now for Mount Sagiri!"

"Mmm~" came Tanjiro's soft, sweet response from inside the bamboo basket, bringing a sense of reassurance.

Midouzi bent down to carry the bamboo basket on her back, and staggered slightly as she stood up—not because it was heavy, but because it was too light.

She swayed her back in surprise, feeling as light as if she were carrying a ball of cotton, even lighter than when she carried her younger brother, Liu Tai, on her back as a child.

She paused for a moment, then quickly guessed that it was probably a change in her brother after he turned into a ghost, and quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

What she didn't know was that the moment Tanjiro shrunk in size, a strong subconscious force surged within him.

[Make things easier for the beans.]

Perhaps he himself couldn't explain the reason, he only knew that he couldn't let his sister suffer too much from carrying him.

So he subconsciously lightened his own weight, hiding all the heaviness in his gentle heart.

With the bamboo basket steadily on her back, Mi Douzi walked out of the cave step by step.

The midday sun shone brightly on the snow and also fell on her, giving her a warm feeling.

But she dared not be distracted at all. As soon as she stepped out of the cave, she immediately turned back and looked worriedly at the bamboo basket on her back, her voice full of tension.

"Brother, it's so sunny outside. Are you alright? Are you feeling unwell?"

There was a moment of silence in the bamboo basket, followed by a soft "Mmm~".

Although the voice was soft, it was reassuring enough to put Midouzi's mind at ease.

She pursed her lips, gripped the shoulder straps tightly, and took firm steps toward Mount Sagiri.

Along the way, Nezuko carried Tanjiro on her back and asked everyone she met for directions to Mount Sagiri.

The uncles on the road would point her in the right direction, which made it much easier for her than searching alone.

After crossing the snow-capped mountain that led away from my hometown, a green landscape came into view.

Mizuko marveled at the changing scenery, telling Tanjiro, who was in the bamboo basket, about the sights she had seen along the way.

Tanjiro would also give a simple response.

Soon the sun set and the sky darkened, but thankfully there was a dilapidated temple not far away.

Ni Douzi also ran all the way to the front of the temple.

"Brother, we..."

Before he could finish speaking, Tanjiro in the bamboo basket suddenly leaped up, his body quickly returning to its original shape the moment he landed, the gentle smile on his face long gone.

Instead, his face was filled with ferocity and vigilance. Without hesitation, he stood in front of Midouzi, staring intently at the tightly closed temple gates...