Kyojuro crossed his arms, looking at Tanjiro with an enthusiastic expression:
"Your father? What about him? Go ahead and say it!"
"He was a person with a very frail body...."
"Frail? That's truly unfortunate!"
"But even so, he could perform the Kagura dance in the biting, freezing wind and snow..."
"Umu! That's quite impressive!"
...Tanjiro realized for the first time that if someone responded to every sentence with too much enthusiasm, it could also put a lot of pressure on the other person.
He quickly condensed his words and spoke at great speed:
"Rengoku-san! What I meant to say was, our family's Hinokami Kagura dance can unleash power similar to Flame Breathing! Have you heard of it?"
Kyojuro sat with his arms folded, his piercing gaze fixed straight ahead. After thinking for a long time:
"Umu! Never heard of it!"
"Eh?"
"But Kamado boy, it's a good thing your father's Kagura dance can use the power of Breathing! It might be some kind of derived Breathing!"
"Derived Breathing?"
"Umu! The Flame Breathing I use is one of the five main branches originating from the original Breathing Style! Its core lies in the scorching hot, sun-like flame sword momentum that purifies all things!"
As he spoke, he extended his right hand, fingers spread, as if invisible flame fighting spirit was rising from his palm: "Because the original Breathing is very difficult to learn, the five main Breathing Styles were derived to adapt to each person's different physical characteristics. Your father's Hinokami Kagura is very likely also some kind of derivation!"
"O-oh, I see!" Tanjiro clenched his fist excitedly and was about to ask more, but was directly interrupted by Kyojuro:
"But I don't know anything beyond that! Haha! How about you become my Tsuguko? I'll take care of you!"
"Huh? Won't you say a few more words? And where have you been looking all this time?"
Taka listened quietly from the side, his thoughts churning.
Derived Breathing. The last time Taka heard this term was from Muichiro.
He thought for a moment and asked his own question: "Rengoku-san, I would like to ask you some questions about derived Breathing Styles...."
Following that, Taka and Rengoku discussed the similarities and differences between Wind and Flame Breathing, and Taka expressed his desire to reference Flame Breathing to supplement his own sword forms.
To this, Kyojuro was very generous, stating that of course he could reference Flame Breathing, but they would need to wait until after the mission, return to the Rengoku Estate, and borrow the Flame Breathing Instruction Manual from his father.
"Has the training method for Flame Breathing always been passed down in Rengoku-san's family?"
"That's right! Our family has been swordsmen who trained Flame Breathing for generations. No matter the era, no matter the conditions, we find a way to pass on this power!"
Just as the discussion about Breathing Styles in the carriage was easing their worries about the demon, the carriage door slid open softly.
A railway conductor in a black uniform walked in.
His face was haggard, his steps light and floating, like a puppet pulled by strings.
The conductor walked straight past the other sleeping passengers and came before Taka and the others:
"Good evening, everyone. Please show your tickets."
His voice was somewhat hollow, sounding extremely weak.
'Is this the ticket?' Taka fumbled in his pocket and took out the yellow slip of paper Zenitsu had given him before boarding.
The conductor, expressionless, gently took everyone's tickets and punched them one by one with his ticket punch.
Click! Taka's ticket was also punched.
Sizzle sizzle.
The bright incandescent lamps flickered incessantly.
Hum—!
Taka suddenly felt a very unsettling feeling and immediately gripped the Asauchi at his waist.
'A demon?!'
"Conductor-san, this place is dangerous. Please step back."
Kyojuro immediately stood up, revealing the Nichirin Sword with its flame-shaped tsuba at his waist. "This is an emergency. Please do not hold us accountable for the Sword Abolishment Edict."
Shrrk! Shrrk!
Almost as Rengoku finished speaking, a sudden change occurred!
As if appearing out of nowhere, three demons simultaneously appeared in the carriage.
The first demon sprang up from a rear seat.
He was wearing coal-dusted work clothes, but his neck was eerily twisted 180 degrees, the back of his head split open into a blood-filled maw filled with fangs, lunging straight for the nearest young girl passenger!
"Flame Breathing: First Form: Unknowing Fire!!"
Without another word, Rengoku transformed into a gold-red meteor. His Nichirin Sword, wrapped in explosive flames, swept straight for the demon's throat!
Shing—!!
The flame blade instantly severed the demon's head, incinerating it to scattering charcoal!
The second demon materialized from the shadows of the aisle, shooting up like a venomous snake straight for Taka's back!
Shing—!!
Without even using a Wind Breathing sword form, Taka severed the demon's head. The speed of his draw made even Kyojuro take notice.
"Umu! Just as expected of someone who slew a Lower Moon Kizuki! Excellent!"
As for the third demon, shaped like a hunchbacked old woman, it struggled down from the luggage rack.
Its spine twisted, protruding sickle-shaped bones, sweeping towards the passengers!
"First Form: Water Surface Slash!!"
"Second Fang: Cleaving Cut!!"
Tanjiro and Inosuke struck simultaneously! Blades hummed, sparks flew!
Working together, they immediately parried this demon's attack, preventing the passengers from being harmed.
The next second, Kyojuro struck again!
"Flame Breathing: Second Form: Rising Scorching Sun!!"
Boom—!!
A gold-red streak of light shot up! Scorching flames exploded from nothing!
Accompanied by a bloodcurdling shriek, this demon's neck, along with the connected body, instantly turned to ash in the flames!
In the blink of an eye, all three demons were dead.
The carriage was silent for a moment, then burst into enthusiastic applause and shouts, everyone saluting the demon hunters!
"Well done!" Rengoku sheathed his blade with a laugh. His gold-red haori shook the carriage with his laughter. "Petty demons, how dare they shake our resolve to protect! Hahahaha!"
His laugh was resonant and infectious, dispelling the last trace of gloom lingering in the carriage.
Even Tanjiro and the others, and even Taka's face, showed a relieved smile.
"So strong! Aniki is amazing! Please take me as your apprentice!" Tanjiro danced excitedly, circling Kyojuro and shouting.
"Excellent! I'll take good care of you!"
Kyojuro agreed loudly, his aura surging.
Zenitsu and Inosuke also surrounded Rengoku, shouting in unison: "Take us as apprentices too!"
"Haha! Good! I'll train you all to become excellent swordsmen!"
"Banzai! Rengoku-Aniki!"
"Hahaha!!"
However....
In the distance, the conductor looked coldly at them, as if he hadn't seen the exciting demon-slaying feat just moments ago.
He put away his ticket punch, took out some hemp ropes from his pocket, and gently crouched down.
The world twisted, and all these scenes dissipated.
The next second, the group who had been celebrating moments ago were now quietly sleeping in their seats.
Everything that had just happened... whose dream was it?
He carefully tied the hemp ropes around their wrists and waved towards the other end of the carriage.
Four young boys and girls, as haggard as him, walked in.
"Each of you pick one. I'll take this one...." He pointed to Taka, the boy who was frowning in his sleep.
Saying this, he took an awl from his pocket.
"Are you ready?"
A chilling voice came from above his head.
A hand, just a single hand, using its five fingers as legs, wriggled its way across the ceiling.
The hand had cyan eyes growing on it, and a mouth on its back, grinning with a mouthful of gleaming white teeth.
The haggard-faced group respectfully looked at this hand and responded in a low voice:
"What should we do now?"
"Wait a little longer. Their sleep will deepen... You only need to pass through my Blood Demon Art to enter their dreams."
"Find the spiritual core belonging to their souls within their dreams, and destroy it."
"No matter how powerful the Demon Slayer, they have no resistance in their dreams. Killing them will be easy. Don't be nervous."
The demon hand surveyed Taka and Kyojuro and added: "But these Demon Slayers have very keen senses. They might be awakened by killing intent and demonic aura. Be careful not to touch their bodies...."
"I beg you... Let me see my deceased daughter...."
The conductor suddenly spoke, kneeling reverently before this demon hand.
"Alright. As long as you complete the task, I can give you any kind of sweet dream you want."
It smiled, letting out an intoxicated sound:
"How happy to die in a sweet dream...."