Two days later, the Ubuyashiki Estate.
This was the heart of the Demon Slayer Corps, the residence of Oyakata-sama.
To reach this place, one needed to be blindfolded and escorted by relay through multiple different Demon Slayer Corps' members.
The reason was also simple. If someone were to betray and become a demon, this would at least serve as a defensive measure to mislead the demon's direction, preventing the location from being immediately discovered.
At this moment, Taka was quietly sitting in a secluded Japanese-style room, waiting for the judgment in the front courtyard to conclude.
After the protective battle two days prior, he had learned from other corps members the name of that red-haired boy… Kamado Tanjiro.
As he understood it, Tanjiro should be a fellow disciple of the Water Hashira, Tomioka Giyu, an inheritor of Water Breathing. This puzzled Taka somewhat.
That night, what he had sensed was clearly a scorching sword form....
And the girl in Tanjiro's arms was his younger sister, Nezuko, who had become a demon.
A demon that didn't eat people? This also gave Taka some pause, but it wasn't unacceptable.
Just as he had always thought, demons were merely creatures that fed on humans. It was plausible that some had mixed eating habits.
Regardless, Tanjiro was ultimately taken away by the Demon Slayer Corps' members and was currently undergoing interrogation by the Hashira-level swordsmen in the front courtyard, with Oyakata-sama ultimately deciding his fate.
Unlike the considerations of those important figures, Taka touched the Asauchi at his waist, thinking instead:
'If Tanjiro really was sentenced to death, could his sword techniques perhaps be left behind for me to study first....'
Just as Taka was pondering in the room, the door slid open.
"Taka-sama, Oyakata-sama requests your presence."
The Kakushi member's attitude was unexpectedly respectful, his hands humbly placed on the tatami, which made Taka somewhat unaccustomed.
'What happened?' He didn't ask, silently following the Kakushi member's lead.
Soon, they arrived at the front courtyard of the estate.
At this moment, several swordsmen of various appearances, all seemingly young, were respectfully kneeling on one knee within the courtyard.
Besides Shinobu and Giyu, whom Taka had already met, he also saw his fellow schoolmate, the Wind Hashira, Shinazugawa Sanemi.
But right now, Sanemi's forearm was bleeding, and he was pointing his Nichirin Sword at Nezuko.
'Had they quarrelled?'
"Taka, you've arrived." A gentle and calm voice sounded.
The speaker looked very young, with medium-length black hair, a handsome and fair face, and a voice that sounded light and airy.
Unfortunately, whether due to illness or injury, starting from the bridge of his nose, the young man's face was covered in twisted purple scars, and even his eyes had turned a cloudy grey.
'He knows me?'
"Taka-sama! Please bow! This is Oyakata-sama!" the Kakushi member reminded.
'Oyakata? This was the master that Sensei and the others always mentioned?'
With this question, Taka slowly walked into the courtyard, imitating the others by properly kneeling on one knee and speaking stiffly:
"Oyakata-sama, I wish you a good day."
"Haha, you're not quite accustomed to such formalities yet, are you, Taka?" Oyakata-sama chuckled softly.
'Ubuyashiki Kagaya, the current leader of the Demon Slayer Corps, was called 'a person worthy of respect' by Arasaki-sensei. He probably wasn't a bad person.'
He didn't dwell on this topic, simply turning sideways to show Taka the tense standoff between Sanemi and Nezuko, and slowly spoke:
"I have heard that you once protected Tanjiro and his sister, and also witnessed Nezuko's battle with the Kizuki. Is this true?"
"According to Tanjiro, Nezuko is a demon who does not harm people. Are you willing to testify?"
Looking at Tanjiro, held down nearby by a gloomy swordsman, and then at Shinobu's questioning gaze directed at him, Taka nodded, with no intention of concealing anything:
"Yes, before covering Tanjiro's escape, I personally witnessed the Kamado siblings' battle with the Kizuki. During the brief time I spent with the Kamado siblings, Nezuko also did not harm anyone—"
"Kid! Open your eyes and see clearly! This is a demon!"
Before Taka could finish, he was sharply interrupted by Sanemi's roar from within the room, who shouted unceremoniously:
"A demon is a demon! Even if it doesn't eat people now, it will eventually! Don't be so naive!"
As he spoke, he used his bleeding arm to lure Nezuko, his gaze full of killing intent: "Come on, demon! Eat! This is your favorite human flesh!"
Although rudely interrupted, Taka's mood was not affected.
He already knew this fellow student's personality, and also knew that his entire family and close friends had died because of demons. His resentment towards demons on this matter was understandable.
Sanemi had a special Rare Blood constitution, which is hugely attractive to demons. Nezuko stared intently at the blood continuously flowing from his hand.
"Ne... Nezuko...."
To steady her sanity, even though he could barely breathe from being held down, Tanjiro still struggled and called out his sister's name.
"Boy, if you forcibly use Breathing Style while being pressed like this, your lungs will burst." Shinobu couldn't bear to watch and kindly warned Tanjiro.
"Bursting is good! Bursting sounds magnificent!" A white-haired swordsman adorned with jeweled hair ornaments and carrying dual blades loudly praised, speaking to himself. He was the Sound Hashira, Uzui Tengen.
Seeing Tanjiro still refusing to give up, Shinobu spoke with slight concern: "Iguro-san, you're pressing too hard. Please ease up a little."
"The boy wants to move recklessly, so of course I have to hold him down. What of it?" The swordsman called Iguro had heterochromatic eyes of gold and green, and his voice sounded gloomy and cold. More astonishingly, a pure white snake was coiled around him.
This person was the Serpent Hashira, Iguro Obanai.
"How pitiful, such a weak and sorrowful child...." The tallest among them, the Stone Hashira, Himejima Gyomei, silently wept, piously pressing his hands together, uncertain whether praying for Tanjiro or grieving for Nezuko.
Just as Shinobu was about to say something more, Taka, kneeling on one knee beside her, moved on his own.
He grabbed Obanai's hand and forcefully tugged it backward, easing the pressure on Tanjiro's lungs.
"What are you doing?" As the Serpent Hashira, Obanai clearly hadn't expected this newcomer to dare lay hands on him. He was about to confront him when Taka calmly spoke:
"Tanjiro still has something to give me. He can't be crushed to death here by you."
"You little—"
"Ah~ Iguro-san's gaze is so dangerous, as tenacious as a snake~"
On the other side, a voluptuous girl with long pink hair who had remained silent all this time watched the confrontation between Taka and Iguro with an agitated expression, a blush creeping onto her face.
She was the Love Hashira, Kanroji Mitsuri.
Thanks to Taka's intervention, Tanjiro managed to break free. Seizing this opportunity, he frantically snapped the ropes binding his wrists and recklessly charged towards the Ubuyashiki Estate!
The expressions of all the Hashira present changed, worried he might harm Oyakata-sama.
But Tanjiro merely ran to the eaves of the estate and shouted loudly towards Nezuko inside the room:
"Nezuko!!"
This call of sibling affection steadied Nezuko's mental state, allowing her to continuously emphasize to herself:
[People need to be protected and helped. I must not hurt them.]
Finally, faced with Sanemi's fresh Rare Blood, she chose to turn her head away, drooling but refusing the temptation.
Sanemi was stunned, clearly not expecting this outcome. He gritted his teeth in disbelief.
"It seems the conclusion is quite clear."
Kagaya's voice sounded, like sunlight warming frostbitten ears, making everyone feel warm and comforted.
"This should prove that Nezuko will not harm others, shouldn't it?"
He looked towards Tanjiro with his sightless eyes:
"Tanjiro, you must remember: Even if I and the Nine Hashira acknowledge this, there will still be those who doubt Nezuko. So you must work hard...."
"Work hard to prove it. Prove that the Kamado siblings can fight as part of the Demon Slayer Corps. Prove that Nezuko is a kind demon."
"Go and subjugate one of the Twelve Kizuki. Then your words will carry more weight, and everyone will accept you more."
Hearing these words, Tanjiro felt light-headed and quickly replied with excitement:
"Yes! I... Nezuko and I will definitely defeat Kibutsuji Muzan! We will surely swing our blades and cut this chain of sorrow!"
"Haha, excellent spirit. But Tanjiro, as you are now, you cannot do it. First, try to defeat one of the Twelve Kizuki."
Oyakata-sama's laughter also lifted the spirits of the Nine Hashira. Everyone couldn't help but laugh, easing the previously tense atmosphere.
He looked towards the other side, at Taka, who had just released Obanai:
"Speaking of which, the Demon Slayer Corps may soon gain another Hashira."
"Nanajuhachi Taka, you have done very well."