Demon Slayer Chapter 1

Chapter 1 "Cruelty" serves as the tragic beginning of Demon Slayer, establishing the emotional foundation and core themes of the entire series. The story opens on what appears to be an ordinary winter day, with Tanjiro Kamado shouldering the responsibility of caring for his mother and five younger siblings as the eldest son. Following his father's early death, this fifteen-year-old boy must bear the burden of supporting his family. On this snowy day, Tanjiro decides to descend the mountain to sell charcoal in the nearby village, hoping to prepare a feast for the upcoming New Year celebration.

Tanjiro demonstrates his kind and hardworking nature throughout the village, earning the affection of the residents who appreciate this honest young man. As he prepares to return home, an elderly man named Saburo warns him about man-eating demons roaming the mountains at night, urging him to stay overnight. Although Tanjiro doesn't believe in the existence of demons, out of respect and consideration for the old man, he agrees to stay. This seemingly ordinary decision unexpectedly saves his life while foreshadowing the tragedy to come.

When Tanjiro rushes home the next morning, the scent of blood leads him to discover a shocking scene of carnage. His entire family has been brutally slaughtered, with his mother and siblings lying in pools of blood, only his sister Nezuko showing faint signs of warmth. In desperation, Tanjiro carries Nezuko on his back toward a doctor, but during the journey, Nezuko awakens and attacks him. It's then that Tanjiro realizes Nezuko has transformed into a demon, yet her scent differs from that of the demon who killed his family, convincing him that Nezuko is not the murderer.

The appearance of Giyu Tomioka, one of the Demon Slayer Corps' Hashira, brings a turning point to this tragic story. While Giyu initially intends to kill Nezuko, Tanjiro's desperate determination to protect his sister, combined with Nezuko's protective instincts toward her brother rather than attacking him, reveals the special nature of these siblings to Giyu. Nezuko's retention of familial protective instincts despite becoming a demon represents an unprecedented phenomenon that convinces Giyu to give them a chance, pointing Tanjiro toward the path of becoming a Demon Slayer. This chapter not only establishes the motivation for revenge but also demonstrates how the light of humanity can still shine even in the darkest depths of despair.