Chapter 49 49: The End of the Meeting
Below the veranda, Kyojuro Rengoku's bright, unwavering gaze fixed on Tanjiro.
"So this is the boy who has inherited Sun Breathing!" he declared, his voice ringing with honest admiration. "Excellent! He has fine spirit!"
Gyomei Himejima clasped his hands together. Tears slipped from his blind eyes, glistening against his solemn face.
"How moving… I wonder if other worthy swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps might also be able to learn Sun Breathing…"
Tengen Uzui folded his arms, studying Tanjiro with open interest.
"So this kid has the potential to become a second Yoriichi Tsugikuni?" His eyes flicked toward Asuramaru, still floating near Kagaya. "And with Asuramaru's help, he might even surpass him in a magnificently flashy way."
No one refuted him.
Absurd as it sounded, the possibility was now standing right in front of them.
Tanjiro possessed the Hinokami Kagura, the surviving form of Sun Breathing. Asuramaru could strengthen his Sword Master through slain demons. If both continued to grow, then perhaps surpassing even the legendary Yoriichi Tsugikuni was no longer a dream.
It was a path.
A difficult one, yes.
A dangerous one.
But a path all the same.
At that moment, the Hashira finally understood why Kagaya Ubuyashiki had placed Tanjiro Kamado's safety above even his own.
As long as Tanjiro lived, killing Muzan Kibutsuji might truly become only a matter of time.
Under the weight of everyone's attention, Tanjiro's face slowly turned red.
"Um… well…" He scratched his cheek, looking increasingly flustered. "What I know is the Hinokami Kagura passed down in my family. If that's the same as Sun Breathing, then… I'll gladly teach it to anyone in the Demon Slayer Corps who wants to learn."
He lowered his hand, then clenched his fist.
"And I'll work hard. I will defeat Muzan Kibutsuji."
His sincerity was so direct that several of the Hashira almost laughed.
Not out of mockery.
It was simply difficult not to smile at the boy's painfully earnest expression. But given the gravity of the meeting, they all lowered their heads and held it in.
Only Obanai Iguro, perched at the edge of the gathering, remained silent. His heterochromatic eyes lingered on Asuramaru for a moment.
There was something he wanted to ask.
A cure.
Not for Kagaya this time, but for the wound hidden beneath the bandages around his mouth.
Yet the words stayed trapped in his throat.
This was not the time. And even if it were, he did not know whether Asuramaru would agree.
Mitsuri Kanroji, on the other hand, could not hold back a tiny giggle.
The sound immediately drew several gazes.
She clapped a hand over her mouth, her face going pink all the way to her ears.
"S-Sorry…"
Inside, however, her thoughts were far less composed.
No, no, I shouldn't laugh! But he's so cute when he gets embarrassed!
Tanjiro's face reddened even more.
This was torture.
A public execution would have been less humiliating.
Fortunately, Kagaya stepped in with his usual gentle timing.
"I believe you can do it, Tanjiro."
The simple sentence settled over Tanjiro like sunlight.
His embarrassment eased, and his heart steadied.
Kagaya then turned toward Asuramaru with solemn gratitude.
"Asuramaru, the information you have given us is of immeasurable value to the Demon Slayer Corps. On behalf of my swordsmen, I thank you."
The Hashira bowed their heads as one.
"Thank you very much!"
Facing their sincere gratitude, Asuramaru's expression remained cool.
Alex knew the performance had worked.
The information had been given. The Demon Slayer Corps had been convinced. Tanjiro's value had been elevated beyond question.
All that remained was to leave with the proper air of mystery.
Asuramaru's crimson gaze swept across the courtyard before landing on Kagaya.
"I only told you these things because Tanjiro is my Sword Master," he said, sounding as if the whole affair had been troublesome from beginning to end. "If there is nothing else, I will return now."
That faintly helpless expression struck Mitsuri again like an arrow through the heart.
So cute… that little annoyed look is too cute…
His words, however, reminded everyone of an unavoidable truth.
Tanjiro Kamado was their only link to Asuramaru.
If they lost Tanjiro, they would lose Asuramaru as well.
That was unacceptable.
Even Sanemi Shinazugawa and Obanai Iguro, who had shown the strongest hostility toward Nezuko, had no choice but to lower their heads before that reality.
Kagaya understood it better than anyone.
His gaze moved briefly to Tanjiro, then to the wooden box containing Nezuko.
A decision settled behind his newly healed eyes.
When he looked back at Asuramaru, his smile was gentle and unwavering.
"Then, farewell, Miss Asuramaru."
Asuramaru turned away and waved a hand impatiently.
"Farewell…"
Black mist began to rise from his body.
Under everyone's gaze, his figure slowly dissolved from the feet upward, scattering into wisps of smoke. Yet just before he vanished completely, he suddenly turned his head back.
His crimson eyes fixed on Kagaya.
"Your desire is strong. I like that." His tone was still irritable. "But next time, don't call me 'Miss.' I'm male."
The final word fell.
His figure dissolved fully into black smoke and returned to the sword at Tanjiro's waist.
The courtyard went silent.
For a moment, the entire scene felt like a dream.
Kagaya stood still, visibly startled for the first time in the meeting.
Even he had not expected the breathtakingly beautiful Sword Spirit to be male.
After a brief pause, he looked toward the sword at Tanjiro's waist and said with sincere composure, "Then I shall be careful next time, Mr. Asuramaru."
The Hashira below finally reacted.
Mitsuri's eyes sparkled.
Eh? Asuramaru is a boy? Such a cute boy… I like him even more!
Rengoku's reaction was far simpler.
"How surprising!"
Only three words, spoken with his usual firm certainty.
Even Tanjiro was stunned.
So Asuramaru was male?
He had also assumed otherwise the entire time.
The realization made guilt rise inside him.
Sorry, Asuramaru. I always thought you were…
Asuramaru's response in his mind was short, flat, and merciless.
"Buzz off."
Tanjiro lowered his head in shame.
The matter did not occupy them for long.
Soon, everyone's focus returned to Tanjiro and Nezuko.
Kagaya spoke first.
"Everyone now understands Tanjiro and Asuramaru's importance. Next, we must discuss Nezuko's situation."
His gaze swept gently over the Hashira.
"I still hope you can accept both of them."
This time, the resistance among the Hashira was no longer as intense.
Asuramaru's existence had changed the weight of the issue completely. Whether they liked it or not, compromise had become inevitable.
But not everyone was willing to accept Nezuko without condition.
Sanemi Shinazugawa stepped forward, his scarred face hard and his eyes sharp as he glared at the wooden box nearby.
"Master, I can agree not to punish Tanjiro or that demon," he said coldly. "But a demon is still a demon. No one can guarantee she won't eat humans."
His fingers tightened at his side.
"So I hope that demon will be kept confined."
.....
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