From the moment he left Mount Natagumo, Aoyama did not slow down for even a second.
Tanjiro and Nezuko had been taken back to face judgment.
That meant only one place—
Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters.
What he had to do now was simple.
Get there as fast as possible.
And arrive before the trial began.
His expression hardened.
This world had its rules.
The Demon Slayer Corps had its laws.
And he—
Had his own principles.
The morning sun cast his shadow long across the ground as he ran.
"Before the trial begins, let us first state the crimes committed—"
Shinobu Kocho had barely started speaking when she was interrupted.
"I don't think a trial is even necessary!"
The booming voice belonged to Kyojuro Rengoku.
"Harboring a demon is clearly a violation of Corps law! We, as Hashira, have more than enough authority to deal with this!"
His fiery eyes locked onto Tanjiro.
"Let the boy be beheaded together with the demon!"
Tanjiro's eyes widened in shock.
At the same time, Tengen Uzui chimed in enthusiastically.
"Then allow me to cut off his head in the most flamboyant way possible! I'll make his blood spray more extravagantly than anyone else—so flashy it'll be dazzling! Hahaha!"
He even struck what he clearly considered a "flamboyant" pose.
Mitsuri Kanroji, the Love Hashira, felt a pang in her heart.
She didn't fully agree with them.
But she lacked the courage to firmly voice her objection.
Killing such a sweet-looking boy…
It hurt her heart.
It was simply too painful.
Gyomei Himejima, the Stone Hashira, stood with tears streaming down his face, hands clasped in prayer beads.
"Ah… what a pitiful child. From the very moment he was born, his existence has already been tragic."
His words carried weight from his past.
Long before he became a Hashira, Gyomei had been a monk caring for orphaned children in a temple.
One night, a boy named Kaigaku had accidentally led a demon into the temple.
Almost every child was devoured.
Gyomei fought the demon barehanded until dawn, crushing it into pulp.
Yet his reward for survival was accusation.
The sole surviving girl pointed at him as the killer.
Since then—
He no longer trusted children.
Now, as he faced Tanjiro, he felt only pity.
Nothing more.
Muichiro Tokito, the Mist Hashira, stood blankly, gazing at the drifting clouds overhead.
For him, this matter was insignificant.
Kill the boy or spare him—
It made no difference.
If something was unimportant, he wouldn't remember it anyway.
Bound and forced face-down, Tanjiro strained to look around.
He couldn't see Nezuko.
Nor the wooden box.
They hadn't done anything to her yet… right?
"Hey! What are you looking at? Don't look around while the Hashira are speaking!"
A Kakushi pressed his head down again.
"These are the nine highest-ranking swordsmen in the Demon Slayer Corps!"
Tanjiro lifted his gaze once more.
Hashira or not—
He would not let them harm Nezuko.
That was the only thing in his heart.
Firm. Unshakable.
Gyomei's tearful voice trembled.
"Namu Amida Butsu… I shall be the one to end your life."
In his mind, it was not killing.
It was salvation.
A release from suffering.
"Yes, yes! Make it flashy!" Uzui agreed.
Tanjiro struggled violently.
"Nezuko! Where is Nezuko?! What did you do with her?!"
He forced himself upright despite dizziness clouding his vision.
The aftereffects of Kanao's kick still lingered.
His head throbbed.
"Nezuko! Zenitsu! Inosuke! Senior Brother Aoyama!"
He shouted the names desperately.
They were the only ones he could think of—
The only ones who might help.
All this time, another figure had been present.
Perched casually in a tree above.
Obanai Iguro, the Serpent Hashira.
He had heterochromatic eyes—gold on the right, green on the left.
Bandages wrapped his lower face.
Black hair framed him like seaweed.
A white male snake coiled around his shoulders—Kaburamaru.
"Rather than that," Obanai said lazily, the snake flicking its tongue, "what about Tomioka?"
Compared to killing Tanjiro—
He was far more interested in Giyu Tomioka.
A Hashira who violated Corps law to shield a demon?
That was far more serious.
Tanjiro followed the voice upward.
Another Hashira…
Obanai reclined along the branch.
"He's not even tied up. It gives me a headache just looking at him."
"According to Kocho's report, he violated the rules as well. So how will we punish him? What responsibility will he bear? What consequences should he face?"
His eyes gleamed with anticipation as he pointed toward Giyu, who stood quietly at a distance.
Hearing this, Tanjiro finally understood something.
Shinobu hadn't been exaggerating.
Giyu Tomioka truly was disliked among the Hashira.
Otherwise—
They wouldn't be speaking of him like this.
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